After a 4-12 season in 2011 which saw Freeman fall back to an average quarterback, the offseason brought much promise as the Bucs went out and signed a trio of free agents luring Carl Nicks, a two-time All Pro offensive lineman away from New Orleans to help bolster their offensive line. They also signed two-time Pro B owl WR Vincent Jackson, who had been Philip Rivers’ number one target in San Diego. And Tampa Bay completed their offseason by signing cornerback Eric Wright, previously of the Lions.
The Bucs started out the 2012 season by beating Carolina 16-10 at home while allowing just 10 rushing yards (a new franchise record) and picking off former Rookie of the Year, Cam Newton twice. In week two, the Bucs lost to the Giants 41-34. The Bucs were up 27-13 in the third quarter, only to collapse and be outscored 22-7 in the fourth. After a 16-10 loss to Dallas in which the Bucs only gained 166 total yards, they fell victim 24-22 in their most recent defeat to Washington on a last second field goal. This latest loss has dropped their record to 1-3. The defense so far has been serviceable, ranking 15th in the league in points allowed per game. But the offense has been miserable.
The Bucs are 29th out of 30th in passing yards and have seen Freeman gradually get worse as each game goes by. he has yet to throw for more than 299 yards or rush for more than 13, pretty sad when he was coming out of college as a possible dual-threat quarterback. Freeman can’t get all the blame for the offense’s woes; the running game has been absent as well. After rushing for 95 yards in 24 attempts vs. Carolina, rookie Doug Martin out of Boise State has seen his yards decrease from 66 to 53 to 33 over the next three weeks respectively.
The Bucs are on a bye week this week so their next game will be week six at home against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs are one of the worst teams in the NFL sitting with a record of 1-3, with their only win coming over New Orleans 27-24 in overtime. They do have a premier running back in Jamaal Charles, which is why they are ranked second in the league in rushing yards per game (173.5).
The Bucs should be able to exploit the Chiefs’ quarterback dismay (Brady Quinn anyone?) and week six as a week to get an easy win and help the team get back in the grove and try to gain some momentum for when they play division rival New Orleans the following week.
To win this game the Bucs are going to need Josh Freeman to take the reigns and use all the weapons he has, both his talented group of receivers and his mobility, which he hasn’t been keen on showing this year.
The Bucs had more hope coming into this season with big name free agents, a new coach and a fresh new beginning to improve on a 2011 collapse. They’re not showing it right now though. If they keep it up, they’re a 6-10 team at best.