Tampa Bay Bucs' Offensive Woes: Is There Too Much Pressure on Josh Freeman?

After the breakout season Josh Freeman had in 2010, the expectations for the young Tampa Bay Buccaneer quarterback were through the roof.

After all, 25 touchdowns and only six interceptions later, it was hard not to begin talking about his potential output for years to come. Many considered him a top 10 quarterback, with intelligence and maturity beyond his years.

Fast-forward to this season, an above-average one for a team that may have came in thinking that the sky was its limit.

That's what many thought of Freeman. Were we wrong? Not necessarily. Do we need to take a step back on how quickly we thought he'd progress? Absolutely.

Freeman threw four picks against the Bears this past Sunday, and that probably wasn't even his worst game of the season (San Francisco). He now has thrown 10 interceptions in seven games. Think about that number for a second. He had six in all of last season.

So, what's the matter with this once-thought-to-be star quarterback? Well, there's no one thing to put your finger on.

As much as Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Drew Brees have accomplished without much of a running game to aid them in the past, Josh Freeman isn't one of those guys.

The Bucs need to have some form of a running game, and it's not their fault that they don't. The team's 1,000-yard rusher, LeGarrette Blount, has been on the mend, and now Earnest Graham is done for the year.

Without the ground game, more pressure is put on Freeman. Not to say that he can't handle that pressure, but his trying to do too much has proved costly several times this season.

He's thrown four picks on first down in the Red Zone, and he's been inconsistent pretty much everywhere else, too.

Besides the obvious run factor, defenses have also adjusted to Freeman's style and have kept him contained in the pocket, thereby forcing him out of his comfort zone.

Without the option in extending a play while scrambling, Freeman will have to learn to adjust his own game.

The offensive line should take no blame in this. After all, Freeman was sacked 28 times last season. This year, he has only been taken down for nine.

It isn't more time that he's not fond of, it's being trapped inside the hashes.

His completion rating is actually better than it was last season, and the offense is in the front-half of the league when it comes to total yardage.

But it all comes down to finishing drives, and whether by forcing throws or having too much confidence in making somewhat impossible passes, Freeman hasn't been able to get his team in the end zone.

So, maybe it's Freeman putting more pressure on himself, than anything else.

We all have to remember though, Bucs' fans would still rather have him than fellow-draftee Mark Sanchez. Oh yeah, and he's still just 23 years old.

Either way, the Bucs will look to heal and correct during their bye week before taking on the rival Saints.

Limiting mistakes is the name of the game for the Bucs right now, and that all starts with Freeman.