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 This is the first edition of what will hopefully be a weekly and insightful look at one of the Rookies from the past week’s game.
In this week’s Rookie Spotlight, I’m going to breakdown Quarterback Josh Freeman against the Atlanta Falcons. For all football fans to be able to understand, I’ll try to keep some of most of the terminology simple. Just a quick explanation for some of the terms that some may not know: - The “Ace” formation is also known as the “Single back” which means only one Running Back in the backfield.
- If the formation is “Strong,” the Running Back is lined up on the same side as the Tight End and it’s “Weak” if he isn’t.
- The “Flood” Routes are generally (at least what I’ll be referring to this article) when the Receivers Flood to one side, one running a DRAG, another an OUT or IN (pending on what side their flooding too), and the far Receiver on the flood (already starting on that side) running a FLY.
- A “Jumbo” formation I’ll be referring to as one with an extra Offensive Lineman that is lined up as an eligible receiver in the Tight End position.
- “TE Stack” formation is one in which the Tight Ends are lined up on the same side.
Oh, and to keep things simple as well, when Kellen Winslow is split out into the slot (which is frequent), I’ll just be referring to him as a Wide Receiver when listing the formation. Also, if you couldn’t already tell, I’ll be capitalizing all the Routes just to give them distinction. This game came down to the wire as Quarterback Chris Redman, replacing injured Quarterback Matt Ryan, led the Falcons to a game-winning touchdown with only seconds remaining on the clock. But, I believe it was Freeman who performed better in the game. Here is the breakdown: Play recap:1st Pass. TB 7. 9:10 1st Q. 3rd and 7.
Shotgun. 1 RB. 2 WR’s. 2 TE’s.
-Atlanta comes with a 4-man rush and Freeman throws short to Tight End Kellen Winslow for a 1st Down. Took his time given the light rush and made the right read against a Cover 4 look. 2nd Pass. TB 15. 7:51 1st Q. 2nd and 10
Ace. 3 WR’s. 1 TE.
-Simple underneath routes, but Freeman made a great play nonetheless. He gunned the ball between two defenders to Maurice Stovall for a 1st Down. Fit it into a tight window. 3rd Pass. TB 31. 5:55 1st Q. 1st and 10
Shotgun Tight Strong. 1 RB. 3 WR’s. 1 TE.
-Freeman actually audible to this formation, which gave more of a spread out look, but kept blockers in and max protected. The pass wasn’t anything special, but got it Tight End Jerramy Stevens who pulled the pass in on a nice catch. The rookie showed some nice Football IQ on this play though. 4th Pass. ATL 49. 3:53 1st Q. 2nd and 9.
Ace. 2 WR’s. 2 TE’s.
-Flood routes. Freeman tried to hit Winslow on the DEEP OUT, but the ball fluttered as his arm was hit. 5th Pass. TB 46. 3:43 1st Q. 3rd and 14
Shotgun. 2 RB’s. 3 WR’s.
-Freeman evaded pressure, and threw a nice pass, but Earnest Graham couldn’t come up with it. Freeman tried to lead Graham so he could pick up some yards after the catch, but Graham looked like he was just expecting a dump-off. Drive Result: Punt 6th Pass. TB 20. 10:44 2nd Q. 1st and 10.
Shotgun TE Stack. 3 WR’s.
-Simple clearing routes. Freeman dumped it off to Wide Receiver Maurice Stovall for 8 yards. 7th Pass. TB 28. 9:30 2nd Q. 3rd and 2.
Shotgun. 1 RB. 4 WR’s.
-Called an audible due to the man coverage and tried to hit Wide Receiver Sammie Stroughter on a quick OUT and missed. Good to see the confidence of the team to put the ball in Freeman’s hands on 3rd and short, but he needs to convert. Drive Result: Punt 8th Pass. TB 20. 6:31 2nd Q. 1st and 10.
Weak I. 2 WR’s. 1 TE.
-Sells a Play Action beautifully and hits Wide Receiver Antonio Bryant down the middle on a POST for 41 yards. The ball placement was excellent as he put it in front of Bryant and allowed him to run after the catch. 9th Pass. ATL 42. 5:49 2nd Q. 1st and 10.
Ace. 2 WR’s. 2 TE’s.
-Another well executed Play Action by Freeman. He rolled away from the rush well and threw a dart to Antonio Bryant. Displayed great situational awareness on the play because the Cornerback was running with Bryant with his head turned, and Freeman put it above Bryant’s head in a spot where only he could get it. The only reason this pass goes incomplete is if the Cornerback (Tye Hill) faceguards or holds Bryant, which would (hopefully) induce a Pass Interference. Win-win situation. Drive Result: Touchdown 10th Pass. TB 34. 3:50 2nd Q. 1st and 10.
Ace TE Stack Left. 2 WR’s Right.
-Goes through his progressions well and this Stovall for a quick 8 yards. 11th Pass. TB 42. 3:14 2nd Q. 2nd and 2.
I-Form. 2 WR’s. 1 TE.
-Another max protect look. The Wide Receivers and Winslow went out on ALL GO’s play (everybody that is running a route is running a FLY route), and hits Winslow perfectly over the middle for 21 yards. Put it in a spot where only his man could get it. Great throw by Freeman. 12th Pass. ATL 41. 2:00 2nd Q. 2nd and 14.
Shotgun. 1 RB. 4 WR’s.
-Another simple OUT and FLY combo. Targeted Stroughter like on the 7th Pass. Got it to Stroughter this time and was helped by a personal foul on Curtis Lofton. 13th Pass. ATL 18. 1:10 2nd Q. 2nd and 8.
Shotgun Strong. 3 WR’s Left. 1 TE.
-Tried to set-up a quick dump-off to Stroughter, but Freeman simply put it too high and killed the play. 3 Yard loss on the play. 14th Pass. ATL 21. :28 2nd Q. 3rd and 11.
Shotgun Weak. 3 WR’s. 1 TE.
-Tried to hit Stovall on a HITCH on the outside, but missed it wide. I thought their might’ve been some miscommunication, and the analyst for the game, Charles Davis, thought likewise. Had Stroughter wide open on a POST. Missed a Touchdown there. Drive Result: Field Goal 15th Pass. TB 20. 15:00 3rd Q. 1st and 10.
Weak I, 2 WR’s.
-Freeman went through his progressions well and dumped it off to Earnest Graham who was wide open. Fought for the 1st Down and picked up 15 Yards on the play. 1st Run. TB 37. 13:49 3rd Q. 2nd and 8.
Ace. 3 WR’s Bunch Left. 1 WR Iso Right.
-Play Action to the left, flood routes to the right. Designed rollout where Freeman made a great move to avoid John Abraham 1v1, then ran for 8 Yards. Didn’t force it and made the smart play given the down. 16th Pass. TB 43. 13:03 3rd Q. 3rd and 2.
Shotgun Weak. 3 WR’s. 1 TE.
-Stepped up into the pocket well, evading the rush, and kept his eyes downfield. Didn’t properly step into his throw though, resulting an incompletion. Targeted Stroughter. Drive Result: Punt 17th Pass. ATL 8. 11:53 3rd Q. 1st and Goal.
Shotgun Strong. 3 WR’s. 1 TE.
-Smash Routes (CORNER and HITCH combo) and threw a hitch to Stroughter too low. Base was too wide on the throw. 18th Pass. ATL 8. 11:48 3rd Q. 2nd and Goal.
Shotgun. 2 RB’s. 2 WR’s. 1 TE.
-Pick route with Running Back Cadillac Williams running a FLAIR route out of the backfield, and Stovall running a SLANT. Cadillac was open and Freeman got it to him, simple as that. Drive Result: Touchdown 19th Pass. TB 22. 6:37 3rd Q. 1st and 10.
I-Form. 2 WR’s 1 TE.
-Play Action. Stood in the pocket a little too long, but was bailed out because of Holding. The play “doesn’t count,” but it was a bad play on Freeman’s part, hence why I brought it up. 19th Pass. TB 10. 5:53 3rd Q. 2nd and 22.
Shotgun. 1 RB. 4 WR’s.
-Quick Bubble Screen to Antonio Bryant that was dropped. Pretty bad time for that given the down and field position. 20th Pass. TB 10. 5:37 3rd Q. 3rd and 22.
Shotgun Strong. 3 WR’s. 1 TE.
-Delayed Blitz from Atlanta. Atlanta covered deep, so Freeman took what they gave him, dumping it off to Winslow. Took the smart play given the nearly impossible down. Drive Result: Punt 21st Pass. TB 33. 1:55 3rd Q. 3rd and 2.
I-Form Jumbo. 1 WR.
-Play Action sold well by Freeman. Hit Winslow on a DEEP OUT. Made a nice read against soft coverage, but the pass was low and he was aided by a great catch from Winslow. 22nd Pass. TB 48. 1:27 3rd Q. 1st and 10.
Shotgun Weak. 3 WR’s. 1 TE.
-Clearing routes. Hit Derrick Ward for a short gain. 23rd Pass. ATL 49. :13 3rd Q. 3rd and 7.
Shotgun Weak. Bunch Right. 4 WR’s.
-Freeman threw of his back-foot to Kellen Winslow. Led to Winslow receiving a good pop on the play. Rookie mistake, leaving his receiver out to dry like that. Drive Result: Punt 24th Pass. ATL 41. 13:47 4th Q. 1st and 10.
I-Form. 2 WR’s. 1 TE.
-Play Action. Evaded pressure, but threw totally off balance. Antonio Bryant was covered deep on a HITCH N’ GO, and Freeman missed Graham in the flat. Could’ve been a lot worse though due to the poor mechanics on the play. 25th Pass. ATL 39. 13:03 4th Q. 3rd and 8.
Shotgun. 1 RB. 4 WR’s.
-Second time Freeman missed Stroughter on a quick out. Again, not properly stepping into his throw. Drive Result: Punt 26th Pass. TB 7. 10:52 4th Q. 1st and 10.
I-Form. 2 WR’s. 1 TE.
-Very impressive play here. The confidence displayed by the Offensive Coordinator in Freeman, Freeman’s confidence in himself and his arm, and Freeman’s confidence in his Receiver. Ran a CORNER and OUT combo, and Freeman drilled it to Winslow on the CORNER for 18 Yards. Excellent pass to get them out of deep territory. 1st Sack. TB 29. 9:01 4th Q. 3rd and 6.
Shotgun Weak. 3 WR’s. 1 TE.
-Freeman tried to escape pressure and was running with the ball out, resulting in a strip on the sack. Freeman recovered, but it was a rookie mistake that almost cost them. Drive Result: Punt 27th Pass. TB 35. 6:0 4th Q. 2nd and 8.
Ace Tight. 4 WR’s.
-OUT and HITCH combo. Hit an open Antonio Bryant in stride which resulted in a 1st Down. Good play to move the chains. 28th Pass. ATL 49. 4:08 4th Q. 3rd and 5.
Shotgun Weak. Bunch Right. 5 WR’s.
-Pretty pass to Stroughter for 10 Yards. Stroughter ran a curl route, and Freeman went through his progressions, then hit Stroughter with excellent ball placement. Put it on Stroughter’s left shoulder as Curtis Lofton was closing in on the right. Great pass to move the chains. Drive Result: Missed Field Goal 2nd Run. TB 20. :16 4th Q. 1st and 10.
Shotgun Weak. 3 WR’s Right. 1 WR Iso Left. 1 TE.
-Took off for 8 Yards. Everything was covered downfield and Freeman was forced out of the pocket by pressure. Lived to see another day. 29th Pass. TB 28. :09 4th Q. 2nd and 2.
Shotgun Weak. 3 WR’s. 1 TE.
-Hitch by Winslow and they tried to run some laterals. Needless to say, didn’t work. Drive Result: Fumble. Game Over. Stats: 20/29 (69%), 250 Passing Yards, 8.6 YPA, 2 Passing Touchdowns, 0 Interceptions, 2 Rushes, 14 Rushing Yards, 0 Rushing Touchdowns, and 1 Fumble. Overall Impressions:Freeman had a very good game for the most part. Had a few rookie mistakes which showed he needs to continue polishing up his technique by throwing with a narrower base and stepping into his throws better. Overall though, it was a great performance by Freeman who displayed excellent accuracy, ball placement, and high Football IQ. The Offense is fairly conservative for the most part, but Freeman makes his share of audibles and is consistently making protection shifts. Very efficient outing that almost led to an upset. The potential is through the roof with this kid and he’s one of the few rookies where playing early is the wise thing to do.
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