Bucs' Van Pelt, Freeman have instant bond

Checking in from the Buccaneers flight deck, Alex Van Pelt reports all systems are go.

Tampa Bay's new quarterbacks coach has formed an instant bond with Josh Freeman after observing the second-year pro from afar in 2009.

"The most exciting thing about interviewing for this job was the chance to work with Josh," said Van Pelt, who started only 11 games under center in a nine-year career with the Bills. "His attitude, work ethic, intelligence and leadership skills are all in place. Once I started watching tape of his rookie year, you could just see the growth."

Van Pelt broke Dan Marino's college passing records at Pittsburgh, but never made his mark in the pros, backing up Jim Kelly in Buffalo and learning how to be a supportive No. 2.

"I followed Alex's career and watched him grow," Bucs general manager Mark Dominik said. "When we talked to him about this job, he came across as very cerebral in terms of understanding the position. He called plays last year as offensive coordinator in Buffalo and he has come up with new drills we've never seen before."

Tampa Bay coach Raheem Morris has no regrets about hiring Van Pelt, an eighth-round pick of the Steelers in 1993 who played his entire NFL career in Buffalo. Van Pelt also spent some time learning under Joe Montana as Kansas City's fourth-string quarterback, but he did not play.

"He's been around great quarterbacks, where he knew the supporting role, so he's able to teach a Josh Johnson and a Rudy Carpenter," Morris said. "He has a bunch of tapes, he collects a bunch of info and he's developing these guys into pro quarterbacks. He and (offensive coordinator) Greg Olson sit in there talking about football in ways we don't even imagine. It's a beautiful thing."

Van Pelt said the 6-foot-6 Freeman reminds him of Drew Bledsoe, a 6-foot-5 gunslinger who threw for 44,611 yards and 251 touchdowns during a distinguished 14-year pro career.

"The thing that jumped out at me on tape was Josh is a guy I can work with," Van Pelt said. "He's got the feet, the arm, the smarts. Now we need to reel him in a little and teach him not to make the throws downfield that aren't there. There's nothing wrong with checking down to Cadillac Williams.

"It's that young bull mentality. Right now, we've got a middle-aged bull. We're trying to get him to be an old bull. Let's get the ball in our backs' hands and let them work. Let's check it down to our tight ends and keep those chains moving."

It is Van Pelt's job to help Freeman make Olson's plan come to life.

The Bucs failed to establish an offensive identity during last year's 3-13 debacle as they started three quarterbacks and were held to 14 points or fewer in half of their games.

"I think our fans will see a balanced offense," Van Pelt said. "We've got physical guys up front who can move people off the ball, so I definitely believe we'll be able to run effectively. That will help a young quarterback. We've got enough skill guys on the outside that we'll be able to throw it, too."

Van Pelt hadn't been in Tampa very long before he realized what he was dealing with in Freeman.

"We were watching some film together one day when Josh told me he wasn't going to be around during this particular weekend in March," Van Pelt said. "I asked him what he was doing and he said he was taking his offensive linemen to the Bahamas. I looked at him and said, 'Man, you've got it.' That's a Joe Montana move ... a Jim Kelly move. You can't coach that. You either have it or you don't.

"The arrow's going up with this kid. You can tell that all of our guys respond to Josh Freeman. As he grows, they'll grow."