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[Packers4Glory]

I don't think he's a headache at all. It's not as if Freeman is the only one having issues w/ their new coach. That team is on the verge of mutiny and right now Freeman is the scapegoat. He's a guy that could actually win you a playoff game w/ the right talent around him. He's a good QB. Just too bad he took the fall for what's going on in TB. players and fans are not all that excited w/ the new staff. One of the first things they did was throw the old coaching staff under the bus. how professional of them. I'm siding w/ Freeman on this one.

[Guiness]

After Thursday night's game, two more possible destinations for Freeman! Both starting QBs go down. Cleveland has Weedon, hard to tell how willing they are to let him start for more than a game or two. All Buffalo has is a UDFA if Manuel goes down for any period of time - they could be looking for a rent-a-player.

These Thursday night games...seems to me I saw an article that implied the number of injuries that night were disproportionately high. Teams used to say how much harder it was on them to play on a short week after a Monday night game, this has to be 10x harder. Thursday nights are obviously here to stay, you'd think the NFL and NFLPA would do a better job of bending the schedule so those short weeks don't happen. The solution seems to be staring them in the face: teams play on Thursday the week after their bye. What could be simpler???

[ThunderDan]

After Thursday night's game, two more possible destinations for Freeman! Both starting QBs go down. Cleveland has Weedon, hard to tell how willing they are to let him start for more than a game or two. All Buffalo has is a UDFA if Manuel goes down for any period of time - they could be looking for a rent-a-player.

These Thursday night games...seems to me I saw an article that implied the number of injuries that night were disproportionately high. Teams used to say how much harder it was on them to play on a short week after a Monday night game, this has to be 10x harder. Thursday nights are obviously here to stay, you'd think the NFL and NFLPA would do a better job of bending the schedule so those short weeks don't happen. The solution seems to be staring them in the face: teams play on Thursday the week after their bye. What could be simpler???

Two younger mobile QBs go down. EJ Manuel made the classic mistake. He had the first down, all he had to do was go out of bounds. Instead he tried to get another 5-8 yards and got tackled inbounds on his knee.

[Maxie the Taxi]

Two younger mobile QBs go down. EJ Manuel made the classic mistake. He had the first down, all he had to do was go out of bounds. Instead he tried to get another 5-8 yards and got tackled inbounds on his knee.

Same with Hoyer. He had the first down, then it looked like he was thinking about sliding and got tackled in the process.

[denverYooper]

I just hope Minny doesn't pick him up. They might actually be a good offense with a real QB.

[Fritz]

I think the Freeman troubles in Tampa merely confirm that Greg Schiano is a shitty NFL coach who should've stayed in the college ranks.

He's not losing because he's still adjusting or isn't in a decent situation; he's losing because he's the classic case of the coach still coaching like his players are college kids. It doesn't work.

[Guiness]

Same with Hoyer. He had the first down, then it looked like he was thinking about sliding and got tackled in the process.

Yup, and the defender took no chance that he'd change his mind and laid into him. It's hard to figure out exactly how this is evolving, but I'd guess that the defenses have decided they have to brave the potential penalties if they make a mistake and tackle a guy who actually goes into a feet first slide.

[Cheesehead Craig]

Freeman is in a tough spot. With the QB draft class coming up, teams likely are more looking forward to bringing in one of those guys and working with a clean slate vs what baggage Freeman may be bringing with him. Josh may have to be willing to be a back up and beat someone out of a job vs have one handed to him.

[Patler]

Here is an interesting article that attributes much of Freeman's problems to issues of throwing mechanics, with comparative pictures to back it up:

http://nfl.si.com/2013/08/07/fixing-...and-greatness/

[Maxie the Taxi]

Yup, and the defender took no chance that he'd change his mind and laid into him. It's hard to figure out exactly how this is evolving, but I'd guess that the defenses have decided they have to brave the potential penalties if they make a mistake and tackle a guy who actually goes into a feet first slide.

I contend that the game is getting too fast to enforce the new rules consistently. It's surely getting too fast for players to make split second decisions...like Hoyer and the defender who flew into him. They're going to have to change the rules to allow more hitting (which won't happen), or the game is going to evolve into flag football.

[ThunderDan]

Yup, and the defender took no chance that he'd change his mind and laid into him. It's hard to figure out exactly how this is evolving, but I'd guess that the defenses have decided they have to brave the potential penalties if they make a mistake and tackle a guy who actually goes into a feet first slide.

Hoyer I think would have been OK if his cleat hadn't caught in the turf and made his knee go into a crazy position. He was trying to do it right if not a little late.

EJ fucked the play up. He was definitely running and not attempting to go out of bounds or sliding.

[mraynrand]

Here is an interesting article that attributes much of Freeman's problems to issues of throwing mechanics, with comparative pictures to back it up:
Here is an interesting article that attributes much of Freeman's problems to issues of throwing mechanics, with comparative pictures to back it up:
http://nfl.si.com/2013/08/07/fixing-...and-greatness/

That was interesting, but I felt like I had to take the expert's word on it - the pics weren't that convincing to me. In light of what D-yoop wrote and this article, my question is: who is the Viking QB coach and could he fix Freeman? If so, look out GB.

[Cheesehead Craig]

That was interesting, but I felt like I had to take the expert's word on it - the pics weren't that convincing to me. In light of what D-yoop wrote and this article, my question is: who is the Viking QB coach and could he fix Freeman? If so, look out GB.

The Vikes brought in Cassel this offseason to play in case Ponder couldn't perform and that's exactly what he's doing. What would be the point in bringing in Freeman this year? He'll have to learn a new offense and essentially get anointed as the starter over Cassel. The issue is he wouldn't do any better than Cassel, and likely worse. Then what happens with Ponder when he's not in imminent fear of death with his broken rib and all healed up? He was deemed their QBOTF. No way they sign Freeman this year as it would be a PR nightmare along with causing a lot of havoc within the team. At best he's an offseason acquisition.

As for the QB coach, given they haven't been able to groom a QB since forever, I'm not too worried about them fixing Freeman to make him a solid QB.

[mraynrand]

Cheesehead: I don't think you can 'groom' Ponder - there's only so much you can do with the material that's there. Like grooming this:



As to Freeman, I wasn't thinking about this year, but next. Still, the Vikings may be drafting in the top 5. Good opportunity to select a QB bust.

[pbmax]

Reports have both Browns and Bills uninterested in Freeman now. Bills because they really believe in Manuel; Browns because they might have convinced by Hoyer (and he will be back next year) plus they knew they would be QB shopping next year anyway.

How about the Texans with Kubiak to mold him?