Per Cris Collinsworth Via Rotoworld...

[RHEC]

Josh Freeman has been organizing offseason workouts with his Bucs teammates since late March.

We haven't heard of any teams starting so early. "You have got to be up to speed and be ready to go out and win football games," said Freeman. "And we're taking steps right now to be in a position like that." Freeman just turned 23 and is entering just his third NFL season, second as a full-time starter. NBC's Cris Collinsworth recently ranked Freeman as the ninth best quarterback in the league, ahead of Matt Ryan and Eli Manning, among others

This guy really thinks Freeman is better then Ryan?!?!?! Eli Manning blows, but Ryan!?!? Hmmmm...I dont think so.. Freeman is definitely top 15 though, and has a cannon arm, but not the smarts of Ryan

Not surprising since everybody thinks Freeman is better then Ryan which Freeman not even close to the level of Ryan lol.. but it's the bucs, what can we say? Media loves the bucs.

Edited May 24, 2011 by Skar

[Magic Man]

I'm still wondering about the "Smarts" thing.

Is it really "cerebral" to be afraid to tempt fate by throwing the ball down the field a lot?

Is it "cerebral" to have an all pro RB, WR and TE that can run through or in the TE/WR's case, catch everything thrown their way?

Freeman, with a rookie WR and RB, upped his teams record from 3-13 the previous season, to 10-6 last season. Once his Oline gels a little more, I think the kid will have a better record than Ryan. Since, apparently, wins are what a qb gets all the credit for. Which is kind of messed up, since not many people put the blame on Ryan's shoulders for those two playoff blunders against the Cardinals and Packers, in '08 and '10.

Ryan wasn't covering the third tight end on the 3rd and 16 conversion that the Cardinals hit in 08...Brooking was. I don't think Ryan played his best game that day, but I think trying to pin it on him, when our "veteran LB" made such a bonehead play is ludicrous.

[Tax-Falcon]

Last year Matt Ryan hit 32 passes over 20 yards. Josh Freeman hit 45 passes over 20 yards. You guys blame it on your receiving options, but in Tampa our top 3 WR's were 2 rookies and a journey man kick returner in Michael Spurlock.

And stop trying to discredit your receivers. Mike Williams didn't play like a rookie and Spurlock emerged as a pretty good slot guy.

[bucspirate]

And stop trying to discredit your receivers. Mike Williams didn't play like a rookie and Spurlock emerged as a pretty good slot guy.

I more meant to point out the flaw in the argument that you had to draft Julio Jones so Ryan would be able to hit more passes down field. The Bucs had rookie recivers, but they came up with 3 good ones in Williams, Benn, and Brisco (who is going to be a stud). Spurlock and Sammie Stroughter are both very good players as well.

[Daytona1]

Let me see here...The Bucs had more big play receivers last year. The Bucs had Blount who came out of no where, and straight up owned Turner. Not to mention, had more variety in offensive play calling. The wonderlic test is pointless as ****. Lets be honest. Its commonsense. Lets figure it out this way. Lets switch Ryan to the Bucs, and Freeman to the Falcons. You know **** well that the play calling on the Falcons is ********, and would limit anything Freeman could do. The Falcons play calling screws Ryan, with the most obvious, stupid calls.

[BleedBlack&Red]

Gotta disagree.

If we had Freeman on the field last year in the playoffs against Green Bay we would have at least had a puncher's chance to get back in the ball game. This guy can stretch the field and you don't have to make bizarre trades to coddle this young man.

I think Collinsworth might be on to something here.

You and Collinsworth are related huh? To call your self a Falcon fan and go against your team as much as you do you have to be. I understand a realist opinion, like: Is Matty Ice going to reach Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Payton Manning, Phillip Rivers status this season with his new toys on offense (Quiz, JJ11)? Probably not.

But to say Freeman is better than Ice, especially when it is clutch is a definate no.

[chitowndirtybird]

Last year Matt Ryan hit 32 passes over 20 yards. Josh Freeman hit 45 passes over 20 yards. You guys blame it on your receiving options, but in Tampa our top 3 WR's were 2 rookies and a journey man kick returner in Michael Spurlock.

Matt Ryan is a clutch player, no argument. The 3rd and 20 conversion against Tampa was a great play, a lot like the play he made to steal the game against Chicago his rookie year. Still you'd like to see Ryan make plays more consistently if you're going to call him a top QB. I do think Atlanta needs to tweek their offense slightly to get the most of Ryan, but IMO I don't think they're going about it the right way putting all of their eggs in the basket of a rookie WR.

Those are only the most recent eggs we acquired, you forgot about all the others that have hatched already.

Oh and it's our offensive (no pun) play-calling that limits Ryan's deep shots.

[BleedBlack&Red]

Those are only the most recent eggs we acquired, you forgot about all the others that have hatched already.

Oh and it's our offensive (no pun) play-calling that limits Ryan's deep shots.

Your avatar is a hilarious pick of Turner.

[Matty ICE]

Freeman is a punk. Unfortunately, a talented one. Hate him.

[BleedBlack&Red]

Is my avatar a pic of Quizz with no helmet or a Asian woman?

[HouTexFalcon]

Gotta disagree.

If we had Freeman on the field last year in the playoffs against Green Bay we would have at least had a puncher's chance to get back in the ball game. This guy can stretch the field and you don't have to make bizarre trades to coddle this young man.

I think Collinsworth might be on to something here.

:blink: Really?

[Banned]

I'm pretty sure Eli Manning doesn't blow but Matt Ryan should definitely be a front-runner on the QB totem pole.

[I MUS WRITE]

I like Freeman as a QB the guy is everything you look for at the position.Big strong,smart,rifle arm,leader.I honestly think TB will be our biggest road block in the division this year. I think in the long run freeman will be just as good or better than Matt Ryan. Im gonna need a bigger sample size though.

[Voice of Reason]

Until I see a team hand over the play calling to E. Manning, Freeman, Flacco, Bradford, Stafford, etc. the way we do with Ryan, I think there's no comparison. Only Payton has more freedom with play calling.

Just facts, people. Just facts.

[mrs falcon]

I am not sure on this but has Collinsworthless ever gotten anything correct in his life? He is so messed up, please get him some help.....somebody!

Why does he keep getting hired? I hate his squeaky whiney voice!

[BigMikey]

Too bad Freeman only plays well against crap teams/teams resting their starters.

WEEK OPP RESULT CMP ATT YDS CMP% LNG TD INT RAT ATT YDS AVG TD

1 CLE W 17-14 17 28 182 60.7 33 2 1 88.7 2 34 17.0 0

2 @CAR W 20-7 12 24 178 50.0 40 2 0 102.4 4 43 10.8 0

3 PIT L 38-13 20 31 184 64.5 46 0 1 67.1 6 15 2.5 0

4 Bye Week

5 @CIN W 24-21 20 33 280 60.6 37 1 1 85.4 3 20 6.7 0

6 NO L 31-6 25 43 219 58.1 27 1 0 79.5 3 2 0.7 0

7 STL W 18-17 23 40 212 57.5 21 1 0 80.4 5 40 8.0 0

8 @ARI W 38-35 18 25 278 72.0 53 1 0 121.8 2 22 11.0 0

9 @ATL L 27-21 11 22 189 50.0 58 2 2 72.0 4 26 6.5 0

10 CAR W 31-16 18 24 241 75.0 29 2 0 134.2 5 19 3.8 0

11 @SF W 21-0 13 20 136 65.0 33 2 0 117.9 5 15 3.0 0

12 @BAL L 17-10 17 37 162 45.9 30 1 0 67.6 6 27 4.5 0

13 ATL L 28-24 19 38 181 50.0 28 1 1 61.4 4 28 7.0 0

14 @WSH W 17-16 15 25 266 60.0 64 1 0 109.8 6 10 1.7 0

15 DET L 23-20 (OT) 21 32 251 65.6 26 1 0 99.9 5 29 5.8 0

16 SEA W 38-15 21 26 237 80.8 29 5 0 144.2 4 23 5.8 0

17 @NO W 23-13 21 26 255 80.8 54 2 0 133.2 4 11 2.8 0

[BigMikey]

For those of you who are too lazy to read, ol' Joshie Pooh finished with a sub-80 QB rating in all games against teams with a WP>.500 ( except the saints in week 17, who had nothing to play for)

[falcon70]

For those of you who are too lazy to read, ol' Joshie Pooh finished with a sub-80 QB rating in all games against teams with a WP>.500 ( except the saints in week 17, who had nothing to play for)

Laziness is when you use stats to determine a qb's ability. Laziness is when you judge a qb by qb rating and not by watching him play.

It's 3rd and 15. A surprising number of nfl qb's will throw a 6 or 7 yard pass. It improves their rating. Doesn't help the team win games (dare I say PLAYOFF GAMES).

A winner is going to try to get the first down. It's gonna hurt his qb rating because there is a higher likelihood of an incompletion, but at the end of the day, he is gonna be the better qb.

"Joshie Pooh" has got nothing to be ashamed of. Nobody is gonna ever call him Check Down Charlie that's for sure. And you know who I am talking about. Now, don't get me wrong, just because Ryan is a "check down" guy, that doesn't mean he is not a good qb. Matt Ryan is an excellent qb. But he does have his limitations. Thus it would behoove you to surround him with as many pro-bowlers as you can. Buck Beleugh had Herschell. Just imagine if he had a pair of Heisman Trophy winners lining up on the outside. Now you talking MattyRattic levels of performance.

No Pain... No Pain...

Edited May 25, 2011 by falcon70

[BleedBlack&Red]

Laziness is when you use stats to determine a qb's ability. Laziness is when you judge a qb by qb rating and not by watching him play. It's 3rd and 15. A surprising number of nfl qb's will throw a 6 or 7 yard pass. It improves their rating. Doesn't help the team win games (dare I say PLAYOFF GAMES). A winner is going to try to get the first down. It's gonna hurt his qb rating because there is a higher likelihood of an incompletion, but at the end of the day, he is gonna be the better qb. "Joshie Pooh" has got nothing to be ashamed of. Nobody is gonna ever call him Check Down Charlie that's for sure. And you know who I am talking about. Now, don't get me wrong, just because Ryan is a "check down" guy, that doesn't mean he is not a good qb. Matt Ryan is an excellent qb. But he does have his limitations. Thus it would behoove you to surround him with as many pro-bowlers as you can. Buck Beleugh had Herschell. Just imagine if he had a pair of Heisman Trophy winners lining up on the outside. Now you talking MattyRattic levels of performance. No Pain... No Pain...

Not exactly following you here man, Ryan is only limited by MM if you ask me. So I hope you not talking about his QB'n ability, I really think its good and will only get better with time and WRs that consistently catch the ball. Then again you didn't ask me so no harm no foul. Edited May 25, 2011 by BleedBlack&Red

[falcon70]

Not exactly following you here man, Ryan is only limited by MM if you ask me. So I hope you not talking about his QB'n ability, I really think its good and will only get better with time and WRs that consistently catch the ball. Then again you didn't ask me so no harm no foul.

Ok. Let me put it to you in a way you might best understand.

Has a team ever won a post season game with MM as offensive coordinator?

Maybe tonight you will find the answer to your question if you truly seek enlightenment grasshopper.

When you discover the truth, you will also discover...

which cylinder is not firing.

Don't give'm no trophy... Give'm guts.

[BleedBlack&Red]

<BR>Ok. Let me put it to you in a way you might best understand.<BR><BR>Has a team ever won a post season game with MM as offensive coordinator?<BR><BR>Maybe tonight you will find the answer to your question if you truly seek enlightenment grasshopper.<BR><BR>When you discover the truth, you will also discover...<BR><BR>which cylinder is not firing.<BR><BR><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#8b0000>Don't give'm no trophy... Give'm guts.</FONT></FONT></FONT><BR>

<BR><BR>Well anyway I don't need a lesson Sensai. You gotta look at the one team you speak of, of course they'd win a playoff game do you not remember "The Bus", that team is also loaded with Antwaan Randle El and Hines Ward. They really didn't have to do much to win a Post Season game. <BR><BR>You cannot limit Matty Ice ability just yet. However, you can call someone out who controls the WHOLE offense. It looks like this season IMO will be a lot different for the Falcons just because AB is throwing in all his cards so we'll see where Matt stands. And besides there were not as many good teams then as there are now, so it would have been a little easier to win a play off game. <BR><BR>A abundance of teams have come a long way, its getting harder to win in the NFL. Even "bad teams" can win. <BR><BR>Btw it is 12:31pm where I live. Edited May 25, 2011 by BleedBlack&Red

[youngbloodz]

Josh is a good QB. Don't know about him being better than Matt. But it doesn't matter. Both are great in their own ways

[Guest Spot On Dtan]

For those of you who are too lazy to read, ol' Joshie Pooh finished with a sub-80 QB rating in all games against teams with a WP>.500 ( except the saints in week 17, who had nothing to play for)

Yeah but unlike Freeman, Matt Ryan is afraid to throw any route over 15 yards or to anyone other than gonzo and white

[Guest Spot On Dtan]

Josh is a good QB. Don't know about him being better than Matt. But it doesn't matter. Both are great in their own ways

Josh will be the next great QB. We should have move up and gotten him instead of Piss-in-eye-ra Jerry

[falcon70]

<BR><BR>Well anyway I don't need a lesson Sensai. You gotta look at the one team you speak of, of course they'd win a playoff game do you not remember "The Bus", that team is also loaded with Antwaan Randle El and Hines Ward. They really didn't have to do much to win a Post Season game. <BR><BR>You cannot limit Matty Ice ability just yet. However, you can call someone out who controls the WHOLE offense. It looks like this season IMO will be a lot different for the Falcons just because AB is throwing in all his cards so we'll see where Matt stands. And besides there were not as many good teams then as there are now, so it would have been a little easier to win a play off game. <BR><BR>A abundance of teams have come a long way, its getting harder to win in the NFL. Even "bad teams" can win. <BR><BR>Btw it is 12:31pm where I live.

I am not limiting his ability...

The extra shallow, underneath coverage is.