Prospecting the Draft: Prospect #6 QB Josh Freeman

by Craig T on Apr 7, 2009 10:31 PM EDT

Time to look at the guy many pundits have the Bucs pegged to take in the first round. QB Josh Freeman has emerged as the perennial favorite to be the third quarterback selected on April 25, and, with the number of teams interested in taking a run at Jay Cutler, there may be plenty of suitors for a QB in the first round, as the quality of prospects tend to fall off the table after the first three. What concerns me overall about Josh Freeman is his consistency and decision-making. His completion percentage is well below the NFL mendoza line (60%), but then again, so is Stafford's... so take that for what it's worth. However, he threw 34 INTs in 35 career games, so with those struggles in college, you've got to wonder if he can handle more complex and faster NFL defenses.

Check out MockingtheDraft's report on Freeman here...

Here are his career stats:

Passing Stats
YEAR	TEAM	CMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	AVG	TD	LNG	INT	RAT
2006	KSU	140	270	51.9	1780	6.6	6	80	15	103.45
2007	KSU	316	499	63.3	3353	6.7	18	68	11	127.26
2008	KSU	224	382	58.6	2945	7.7	20	77	8	136.48

Rushing Stats
YEAR	TEAM	ATT	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD	FD	FUM	LOST
2006	KSU	54	-21	-0.4	24	2	0	0	0
2007	KSU	53	-40	-0.8	15	4	0	0	0
2008	KSU	107	404	3.8	29	14	0	0	0

All in all, I see alot of Jamarcus Russell in Freeman, which is not good (not just in the fact that they are both big kids, with Freeman at 6-6, 250). He wasn't particularly noteworthy at K-State, although he had a significantly improved statistical output in 2008 than in his previous 2 seasons. He also showed the wherewithall and skills to make some plays with his legs, which invariably opened up some passing opportunities. Also, the Big 12 was a defensively-challenged league last year, so stats may have been a bit inflated. There's no doubt he throws the ball with alot of zip and can sting it into tight places over the middle. We can see that on the video. However, he tends to hold the ball low, which matters since he'll face better and smarter pass rushers in the NFL. His accuracy has also been closely scrutinized by scouts. His completion percentages by year yoyo'd from 51% to 63% back down to 58%. Although some pundits point to 2008 as his breakout year (20/8 TD/INT ratio), 8 of his 20 TD passes came against the powerhouse competition of North Texas, Montana State, and Louisiana-Lafayette. In the remaining 9 games, he threw 12 TDs and 8 INTs. Gah. The decreased interceptions in 2008 is encouraging, but because of his prolonged inconsistency in college, one has to wonder how long it will take him to get a grasp on NFL-calibur defenses, if ever.

What do you all think about Freeman?

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Comments

Eat your words..

Most of you all will eat your words on what you guys say about Josh freeman. i can’t wait to see him play.

by Maxumas on Apr 8, 2009 2:19 AM EDT reply actions

I have no idea anymore about this QB situation

I really do not know if this is going to be a good decision if he is drafted or not. We have young QBs now that need to develop; throwing another into the mix may not be the best move. McCown or Johnson may step up and become the QB we need. Freeman does look to be a good QB, I just feel like there may be better options for our first pick.

by JRyan on Apr 8, 2009 2:48 AM EDT reply actions

Dont get me wrong

I wanna see JJ or Mccown Start. but i honestly won’t be to mad if they draft Josh Freeman. and if theres anyone that understands we need more important positions filled, it’s me. i also fell we can fill some of those spots in free agency. Such as Tank jonhson, Ken Lucas, etc.

by Maxumas on Apr 8, 2009 3:18 AM EDT reply actions

They don't need another project.

Josh Johnson had a far better INT/TD ratio. Therefore, statistically speaking, he should be the favorite to be the project for next year. Freeman’s got prototypical size, and there’s no denying his upside… but it’s the first pick for the new regime, and they’re not going to waste it on someone with a high risk/reward ratio. If they have any sense at all, they’ll trade down before they select Freeman.

by OfficerRodFarva on Apr 8, 2009 3:31 AM EDT reply actions

completely agree

though i wont fault them for taking a chance on Freeman if they truly in fact believe in him…

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by JScott on Apr 8, 2009 7:56 PM EDT up reply actions

well

Josh Freeman isn’t Exactly a High risk/reward Ratio and trust me i would like JJ to start to just as bad as the next person, i’m just simply stating Josh Freeman Is a Great Athlete and i think he will do good with any team he goes to.

by Maxumas on Apr 8, 2009 5:35 AM EDT reply actions

yea like he did kansas.

i dunno what games you guys watched but this KIDS nothing special. I live in montana , and the local div. 2 team played kansas state to start there season, Freeman scored four times the week after he scored five TDs against north texas. So 9 of his twenty touchdowns came against D2 schools and his losses and interceptions were against the likes of TEXAS and OKLAHOMA.. what a winner.. NOT !

by the420bucsfan on Apr 8, 2009 7:29 AM EDT reply actions

History tells the truth

Take 5 minutes and look up all the 1st round QB’s with a lower than 60% passer rater rating and see where they are playing. Most of them aren’t. And if you can’t put up better numbers against mediocre Big 12 defenses, how are you going to do it in the NFL?
There’s always a chance he’ll catch on eventually and do well but I don’t think the Buc’s should take that chance! Not with a first rounder. Now Mark Sanchez…He’s going to be a real pro in my opinion. What are the odds we could move up to get him?

by Crimsonkrush on Apr 8, 2009 12:18 PM EDT reply actions

it's hard to argue

his completion percentage, it’s just not where you would like it to be… i can’t see us trading up in this draft. we already enter without a 2nd round pick.

with the way the off-season has gone i wouldnt be surprised if they did

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by JScott on Apr 8, 2009 7:58 PM EDT up reply actions

It is not what you know but who you know...

I agree with those who say that this guy is nothing special and he hasn’t really done much to deserve the attention he is getting. The Bucs have enough projects to manage since they are changing at many different possions and doing so with a new coach and GM. The only reason whatsoever I see the Bucs drafting Freeman is not so much his abilities or accomplishments but rather because Coach Morris has been a part of the same team with him and it would be a move more prompted by coaches favortism than need. If we do in fact Draft Freeman then Johnson is sure to be released and if so I hope they are sure that he is not the QB we need. We already have our veteran in Griese and our experienced Youth in McCown so really all we need is a QB to train for the future. Two of them would just be a waste of money in my opinion because you can only play one QB as a starter and the time that you spend training the second young guy is just taking more time away from the other. The third QB only gets so few snaps as it is so a fourth would make them even more less. I think that we should NOT miss out on some good quality defensive player OR if he is really, really talented than a WR with our #19th pick just because our coach knows the guy.

by Tye on Apr 8, 2009 1:16 PM EDT reply actions

hopefully

Raheem doesnt pick him via familiarity, that would set a bad precedent for the ball club, though we would never know if he did…

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by JScott on Apr 8, 2009 8:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Just read my first post on the very top

Alot of you guys are going to be surprised when you see Josh Freeman Play. just watch before you Open the mouth(KEyboard XD)

by Maxumas on Apr 8, 2009 3:15 PM EDT reply actions

I've watched.

Seen my share of KSU games and clips. Maybe he brings something different to the NFL, who knows. But what’s I’ve seen so far hasn’t been first-round worthy.

I’m not just basing my feelings off of the stats I can look up on the Internet.

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by The Bull Gator on Apr 8, 2009 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions

not saying your wrong

But his stats Was not that bad. not that good either but not bad. and i see him doing Good in the NFL. call me crazy

by Maxumas on Apr 8, 2009 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree with that...

…his stats aren’t bad, they just aren’t anything to write home about either. I’m just wary about a guy that didn’t absolutely light up Big 12 defenses when it seemed like everyone else did. I just feel to truly be a first-round quarterback, this kid should have blown some people away with his performances. So far all we really hear about is his potential. Not too much about what he’s already done. The best quarterbacks in the league typically had some darn good college seasons as well.

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by The Bull Gator on Apr 8, 2009 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions

lol

i did.

by Maxumas on Apr 8, 2009 5:23 PM EDT reply actions

Ewwww

I see a return of Ryan Leaf in drag, proving again scouts should be fired for errant recommendations.

by Mac Brock on Apr 8, 2009 7:49 PM EDT reply actions

Query: I forgot but didn’t this guy play against South Florida and get his ass handed to him?

by witty on Apr 9, 2009 10:31 AM EDT reply actions

I don't believe...

…USF and Kansas State have played each other. At least not during Freeman’s time in college.

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by The Bull Gator on Apr 9, 2009 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions

USF

will have their ass handed to them this season by FSU though, ha!

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by JScott on Apr 9, 2009 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions

And then have their asses

ripped from them again by the Canes in November. Ha, HA!

Cannons... fire them.

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by Craig T on Apr 9, 2009 7:31 PM EDT up reply actions

but not before the Noles

embarrass the Canes on a National Stage to open the season…. ZINGER!

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by JScott on Apr 10, 2009 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Ok

Let’s start by going with the good:
Cannon Arm, Somewhat elusive speed, improved decision making, ability to make most throws, big dude (avoids most sacks)
Bad:
Played against big 12 defenses (not good), low completion percentage, is a boom or bust project, interceptions against major teams a problem, incostistent

My opinion: if every other good worthy player is off the board then pick him, otherwise leave him and hope he is in the 3rd or 4th. His decision making skills scare me, he almost throws into double coverage every time

by CB,DT,LB,OR DE is what we need on Apr 10, 2009 9:33 AM EDT reply actions

I think

We should Focus on Defense this First round and Worry about QB next year.

i mean think of it this way, If Mccown or JJ start it gives them both a chance to prove themselves. And if one of them Succeeds and Gets us Lots of wins and very few errors then we found OUR QB, But if they fail then we would obviously lose alot and alow us to pick high next year for a QB.

by Maxumas on Apr 10, 2009 6:10 PM EDT reply actions