Last season Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman had six interceptions in 16 games. This season Freeman has six interceptions in five games. Bucs coach Raheem Morris is concerned that Freeman has grown overconfident.
“No, he has not made great decisions up to this point,” Morris told the Tampa Tribune. “He’s got to do a better job of going through his progressions and getting into his check-downs and into his relay routes. Sometimes he’s just relying on his arm a little bit too much. So [our opponents] have definitely touched too many balls downfield that have been picked off or could have been picked off.”
Last week against the 49ers, Freeman went just 17 of 33 for 187 yards, with no touchdowns and two interceptions. ESPN’s Merril Hoge noted on NFL Matchup that Freeman didn’t look like he was reading the 49ers’ defense at all, and was simply throwing to his first option instead of going through his progressions.
“His worst game as a pro was last week against the 49ers,” Hoge said. “He can’t play like that against the New Orleans Saints.”
For his part, Freeman believes he’s actually throwing the ball better this season than he was last season. He just isn’t making as many good decisions about where to throw the ball.
“We went back and watched the tape, and the way the ball’s coming out of my hand and things like that, I feel it’s better than it was last year,” Freeman said. “But obviously the interceptions and the turnovers are unacceptable. I have a lot of confidence back there, but it’s a matter now of me pulling back on some of these shots downfield that I want to take and looking to play another down rather than making a mistake.”
If the Bucs want to win the NFC South, a good time for that to start would be today against the Saints.
