Can Josh Freeman be Eli Manning?

[michael89156]

Best Case Scenario: Can Josh Freeman be Eli Manning?


Jan 6th, 2013 at 10:21 am

 by Leo Howell






 
At this point in Josh Freeman’s career, most Buccaneers’ fans have given up on the hope that he can be as good as Ben Roethlisberger, who was one of his main comparisons coming out of college.  Josh will never have the accuracy of Big Ben, and it appears he’ll struggle to have his limited interception numbers again either. In fact, it appears that NFL.com was a bit more accuracte when they said his NFL comparison was Jason Campbell. Campbell, like Freeman, was only a handful of years into his career when he was cast aside by the Redskins, and Freeman could face a similar circumstance if his 2013 fails to impress. There are more telling bits of information on Josh’s draft profile on NFL.com, and things he still struggles with, such as:


 Fails to step into his throws

 Inconsistent accuracy from the pocket and throwing on the run

 Sometimes getting the ball to his receiver a second early or late

 Prone to turnovers, makes poor decisions trying to make plays that aren’t there.

 Lacks touch on shorter throws.

 
So what is the hope for the Buccaneers quarterback? What is the scenario that could play out to make the Buccaneers regret letting him go? What could make me seem like a complete idiot for doubting Freeman’s potential? The often inconsistent and regularly inaccurate QB could still turn into Eli Manning.
 





When Eli Manning broke into the Giants starting lineup, he was not very good, to put it simply. His first season, which was a half season like Josh’s first season, was very poor, and he led his team to 1 win in 7 tries as the starter. Eli did not have the breakout year in his second year like Freeman did, but he did drastically improve, as his TD/INT ratio improved, completion percentage improved, and pretty much every other metric took a strong leap forward.
 
Manning’s third and fourth years were also similar to Josh’s third and fourth years, with plenty of ups and downs, including an awful stretch at the end of his 4th year, stemmed by a good performance in week 17 against a high-flying number 1 seeded team. (sounds eerily similar, doesn’t it?)
 
Manning never had a good completion percentage in his first few years in the league, and would go on runs of games with poor QB ratings on a regular basis.  The main difference between Freeman and Manning at this point in their careers was the team surrounding Manning, and the success they were having. The fourth season of Eli Manning’s career culminated in a Super Bowl victory. The fourth season of Josh Freeman’s career ended in the regular season.
 
So could Josh Freeman become more like Eli Manning? Manning took a huge step forward after the Super Bowl victory, improving his numbers yet again, and developing into a consistently top-10 quarterback.  His completion percentage never dropped below 59.9 for a season since he won the Super Bowl, and he increased his output in terms of yards and touchdowns as well.
 






But let us also consider the Mike Sullivan affect. One of the reasons Sullivan was brought in to be offensive coordinator was because of his success coaching Eli Manning and developing him into a better quarterback. Manning’s yards and touchdowns took a step forward in 2010 and 2011 under Sullivan’s tutelage, but his completion percentage went down, and his interception numbers went back up sharply in Sullivan’s first year with Manning. Sullivan obviously prefers a more aggressive approach, and that led to Manning sporting the highest TD% and INT% of his career in 2010, the first year Mike was the QB coach in New York.
 
So could this be yet another trend that Josh will follow? Will the increased in interceptions be temporary, as Freeman gets used to Sullivan’s offense? Will he be able to develop into the powerhouse quarterback that Manning became in his second year under Sullivan, posting almost 5000 yards and 29 touchdowns? That’s the question here, because if Freeman is able to do so in 2013, it makes the decision to keep him a no-brainer. However, if Freeman fails to move forward in 2013, is the potential still there? Manning showed considerable improvement in year five of his career, and would continue to post more and more impressive numbers in the following seasons.
 
Josh Freeman will be the key figure for the Buccaneers in 2013, because his personal success will determine the Buccaneers success on the field, and his performance will determine the future of the franchise at the quarterback position. If Freeman is able to progress and improve his numbers as Manning did in his fifth year as a pro quarterback, the Buccaneers will likely want to keep him around and build up a Giants-like offense around him, which already has a good foundation with big play receivers and a workhorse running back. They’ll also need to build up a Giants-like defense, able to rush the passer and create turnovers. But the Bucs can only get into that New York state of mind if Josh Freeman can take the next step and become a franchise QB in 2013.





http://thepewterplank.com/2013/01/06/best-case-scenario-can-josh-freeman-be-eli-manning/

[Legend]

We are stuck with him for aleast 1 more year. Hopefully the light comes on, because he has those great games and follows them up with a game full of turnovers and poor throws.

[Heisenbuc]

He could be. His brightest points have been right up their with the elite QBs. His low points have him in the Fitzpatrick/Weeden/Cassel/Sanchez class. Keep in mind that this season was only his second offseason as starting QB. He wasn't a starter in 2009 and there was no offseason in 2011. Offseason programs in the NFL are almost as important for QB development as the season itself. Josh has had a new system every year like Alex Smith had in the beginning of his career.

However, this instability does not completely excuse the inconsistency and lack of poise that he displays at times. Another offseason with this scheme, Douggernaut and VJax will do wonders for his development. He should hopefully play his ass off too in a contract year.

The Bucs don't have a great history with QBs and if he improves statistically and gets us to the playoffs, they will give him a blank check and give him every penny he wants. If he fails, we clean house. New QB, new GM, new coach.

He has the talent and potential to move into the top 5 after Brady and Peyton retire. Does he have the consistency to put himself in that category?

[The Anti-Java]

Agree, but losing Sully could hurt.

[McCoy93]

I don't like the Eli manning comparison

[McCoy93]

The Jason campbell comparison is more accurate

[The Anti-Java]

The Jason campbell comparison is more accurate

Big Ben?

[caradoc]

The Jason campbell comparison is more accurate

Big Ben?

John Madden is more mobile than Josh these days...

[Morgan]

The Jason campbell comparison is more accurate

Big Ben?

Watching Flacco yesterday......looked like watching Freeman, except the WRs don't make those catches that Boldin was making.  But playing like Flacco isn't a good thing.....and watching RWI yesterday makes watching Freeman even more difficult. That guy is a baller.

[XXXVII Champs]

Freeman should be the punter.  At least when the other team gets the ball, it is intended.

[bucinnj]

Agree, but losing Sully could hurt.

Completely agree with this.  Plus, one glaring issue is the difference between the Giants and Bucs is on the other side of the ball.
Over the past few years, the Giants D has kept their team in some games in which Eli's play put them in a significant hole.
Tampa Bay's defense isn't on that level yet.

[The Anti-Java]

The Jason campbell comparison is more accurate

Big Ben?

Watching Flacco yesterday......looked like watching Freeman, except the WRs don't make those catches that Boldin was making.  But playing like Flacco isn't a good thing.....and watching RWI yesterday makes watching Freeman even more difficult. That guy is a baller.

Boldin was amazing, very impressed.

[1sparkybuc]

Eli had the benefit of a better balanced defense and still missed the playoffs. Freeman threw for more yardage and one more TD. Eli blew it with a veteran team and an established coaching staff. He threw two fewer interceptions, and didn't throw 4 interceptions in a single game twice. As far as I am concerned, the Giants can keep Eli. He made a couple of key plays in his SB wins, but it was the Giants' defense that allowed it to happen. Eli is still erratic at times, but he has help from his defense. Freeman needs help from his defense, and a second season with decent coaching. Hopefully Sullivan comes back, but if he doesn't Schiano will help the transition.

Schiano is quick to attack any problem he sees looming. He will fix this defense, adjust Freeman, and lead the Bucs to the playoffs in 2013. I have no doubt at all.

[Feel Real Good]

The Jason campbell comparison is more accurate

Freeman is much more of a playmaker.

[1sparkybuc]

The Jason campbell comparison is more accurate

Freeman is much more of a playmaker.

And a lot more durable.