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Freeman a classic passer

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By ROY CUMMINGS

rcummings@tampatrib.com

Published: October 29, 2009

TAMPA - In at least one respect, the timing of the Bucs' decision to name rookie Josh Freeman their starting quarterback couldn't be better. He is, after all, something of a throwback to the old days.

At a time when the transition to the more mobile passer who can make plays with his feet is ongoing, the Bucs have moved the other way by appointing Freeman their starter.

"He's a guy that's going to stand in the pocket and deliver the long throws downfield on time and in rhythm off the play-action pass and the drop-back pass," Bucs coach Raheem Morris said. "He stretches the field a bit more."

The Bucs started the season with a quarterback like that in veteran Byron Leftwich. They then went to the more mobile Josh Johnson. Freeman is something of a cross between the two.

He's not as mobile as Johnson, but he's a lot more mobile than Leftwich. He is particularly adept at moving around in the pocket and buying time to keep plays alive, and it's usually his arm that he uses to make those plays.

"Josh (Johnson) has the ability to run out of (the pocket) on third-and-15 and make a play, whereas you might see Freeman try to stick the ball in there a little more," Morris said.

Bucs offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Greg Olson said the Bucs have been watching Freeman make a lot of those kinds of plays in practice the past few weeks, and they are confident the move will work out over time.

"There were probably two or three times a week when the coaching staff on both sides of the ball would walk into the office afterward and kind of say, 'Wow, did you see the throw he made today?'

"He has the abilities. Now it's just a matter of him getting the confidence within the system and getting out there and getting some live snaps."

The price is right

The Bucs are in need of some help at fullback, and Hudson resident Jason Krupinski is willing to give it to them - for free.

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Ridgewood High graduate sat on a curb in front of One Buc Place on Wednesday morning holding a sign that read: "I will play for FREE. D1 & Arena experience."

"I'm just going to sit here and hope they see me," Krupinski said. "If I get in there and I get a look and I don't make the cut, I'll go home. But I'd like a chance."

The epitome of what the NFL calls a "street free agent," the 25-year-old Krupinski played for Middle Tennessee State from 2003 to 2005 before taking his college career to Canada.

He has experience as a pro playing for the Austin Wranglers of arenafootball2 and for the Marburg Mercenaries of the German Football League, and he said he is more than a fullback.

"I've played a little tight end, too, and I've played outside linebacker," Krupinski said. "I don't see them doing worse with me or without me. I don't think I can do them any harm."

The Bucs didn't have plans to look at Krupinski, who might have been a victim of bad timing. Earlier Wednesday, they signed FB Chris Pressley from the Cincinnati Bengals' practice squad.

Bucco Bruce

The Bucs began preparing for their throwback game against the Packers in appropriate fashion on Wednesday. Though they continued to wear red-and-white shirts, the players wore the throwback helmets they will wear on Nov. 8 against Green Bay.

"I thought it was very cool," LB Barrett Ruud of wearing the retro white helmets with orange and red stripes and the Bucco Bruce logo on the side. "I'm a fan of any tradition; any old type of old school, throwback type of game I'm a big fan of, and I think it's pretty neat to wear it, actually."
Bucs bits

In addition to signing Pressley on Wednesday, the Bucs also re-signed DE Maurice Evans to the practice squad. Evans was acquired off waivers on Sept. 6.

After being released on Sept. 14 he was re-signed Oct. 7 before being released a week later. ... The Bucs have one more workout scheduled for this week, today at 11 a.m. They will then be off until Tuesday, when they will pick up their preparation for their game against Green Bay.

Roy Cummings

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