Many questions with the Bucs offense have been surrounding the play of four-year quarterback Josh Freeman. In Tampa Bay’s new system one of the glaring differences has been that Freeman has appeared at times to be glued to the pocket and hasn’t been able to use his legs to extend plays the way he did in his best season, 2010.

Maybe the biggest question should be – is Freeman being used to his fullest potential?

Thursday afternoon, Freeman spoke to the media and was very candid about the future of the Bucs offense and his role in it.

“Each each play has a starting point and you set out to execute your job to the best of your abilities.” Freeman said. “Sometimes you get stepped up, flushed out, whatever – and then you end up running, but for the most part you drop back with the mindset to throw the ball.

"Like I said, if it’s going to be a situation where something opens up or I’m right there, but my main goal is to get the ball into the hands of the guys that are paid to run, meant to run.”

Part of the problem has been getting the ball into the hands of the receivers. In the first three games, the Bucs receivers caught 41 passes out of 79 targets. Following the loss at Dallas, head coach Greg Schiano said the offense wasn’t “in sync”, particularly in that game, there was eight different receivers that caught a total of 10 passes.

The question was posed to Freeman if he and his wideouts have been able to build trust, and Freeman was quick to answer yes.

“I have all the confidence in the world in those guys that they’re going to be where they’re supposed to be and vice versa,” Freeman said, “They know I’m [going] to put the ball up there and give them opportunities to make plays. No I don’t think there are any trust issues.”

Freeman admits there is a natural learning curve, but that the offense can execute and be productive right now. Some of the offensive woes can be attributed to playing tough defenses while execution has been another major deficiency.

“Like anything, there’s going to be a learning curve;” Freeman said, “Like we’re not as good now as we’re going to be down the road. But at the same time, I feel like we’re at a very high level of operating, executing our offense from the stand point of route execution. Now it’s just a matter of putting everything together.

“You look at when we protect up front, we get out there - those guys go out and make plays. It really is a team effort and I feel like everybody goes out and we prepare extremely hard throughout the week and you’ll find out if there’s anything you’re not right on the same page because you cover everything. We go out, if there’s any question in anybody’s mind, that’s what we’re working on [during] individual, that’s what we’re working on during special teams periods, whatever it is. Also I feel like from the stand point of understanding the offense from a receiver and quarterback stand point I think we’re pretty on par.”

Freeman continued, explaining that what seems like a conservative-based offense is the Bucs trying to play fundamentally sound football, and that begins with ball security, one of head coach Greg Schiano’s hot buttons.

“This offense, I think it’s a great offense.” Freeman said. “We call up plays with shots built in and a lot of opportunities, and really going out with the mentality of playing ‘ball secure football’, you might not take as many shots down the field, as many chances down the field. But when we get one-on-one coverage with Mike (Williams) or with Vincent (Jackson) - the problem is getting those guys one-on-one coverage - you saw the game where we got a lot of single-high, you got a lot of man looks, both those guys were making plays down the field. But it’s all about the opponent you play.

“I feel this offense is going to be a great opportunity for me to showcase my abilities as far as throwing the ball down the field and also showcase Mike and Vincent with the way they can go up and make plays on the ball down the field.”

For any Buc fan that has watched the first few games of the season, the offense has to be a concern, regardless of the reasons Freeman and Schiano have given. At times, it has been conservative and predictable. The former first-round pick out of Kansas State says to be patient, there is a lot more of the playbook to show and it may include using his athletic ability.

“I definitely feel I was blessed athletically,” Freeman said, “But yeah when I do get out of the pocket, when we do have a naked or a boot, or we’re setting up outside I can make the throws to make for this offense but it’s all about game plan; it’s all about who you’re playing.

You talk about playing the Cowboys – a 3-4 team, bringing it off the edge is their No. 1 thing, it’s going to be hard to run a naked and have DeMarcus Ware screening off the edge on the backside, especially.

“It’s still extremely early in the season, we still have a lot of our offense that we’ve yet to display on a Sunday. So, talking to Coach Sullivan, this plan this week, I’m really excited about some of the stuff we’re going to have the opportunity to go out and run, I think we have a great plan of attack.”

Game planning is something the Bucs speak about often. Each week, Tampa Bay approaches each game as a season, preparing for each individual team one week at a time. However, playing their third NFC East opponent in as many weeks, although a challenge due to the competitive level in which all the teams in that division play, the Bucs can take advantage of seeing additional game film on each team.

“The great thing is the Giants have been running that offense for however many years, especially playing their division opponents, [we] had a lot of great tape versus the Cowboys, a lot of great tape this week against the Redskins,” Freeman said, “So I think that gives us an extra advantage from the stand point of we’re going to be running a lot of similar things as the Giants. Coach Sullivan has a lot of insight as what the defense is trying to do and the plan we’re trying to install and go out and execute.”

Freeman brings it back to basics and remains confident in what the coaching staff is trying to accomplish. Remaining positive and executing the game plan are at the top of the offense’s priorities not just against the Redskins, but moving forward through the remaining 13 games.

“It is football. When it comes down to the end of the day, we got through all the hiccups of terminology and this routes a little different, a little deeper; you knock that out during OTA’s, you knock that out in training camp, so I feel like we’re in a good place right now. Yeah, sometimes you lose a game, sometimes you lose a couple games, it happens. But I feel our team mentally is where we need to be. We’re pushing forward, talk about the next fight, and this week, execution, preparation, focus, intensity – they’ve all been amped up and the guys are excited about another opportunity to go out and find a way to win.”

Finding a way to get back to .500 will show more than anything that the offense is moving in the right direction. Freeman, himself, without a doubt has the ability to change direction. It will come down to the game plan allowing him to showcase it.