No More Excuses: Josh Freeman’s Struggles Can’t Be Blamed on Anyone But Josh Freeman by Leo Howell

Sep 15, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Darrelle Revis (24) reacts as he leaves the field after they lost to the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium. The Saints won 16-14. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Things are on the verge of going very, very wrong in Tampa Bay, because now yet another star player has something to be upset about.

Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports reported on Fox Sports Live that Darrelle Revis is upset with Greg Schiano’s rules, and the amount of zone coverage that’s being played in Tampa Bay. Check out the video below.

I will give full credit to Sander at Bucs Nation, who expressed concerns over the offseason that Greg Schiano did not commit to using Darrelle Revis in the typical “Darrelle Revis” fashion. Acquiring the best cornerback in the league, who is dominant in man coverage, and then running zone defense seems to make about as much sense as getting an athletic quarterback and not allowing him to run or get out of the pocket.

(See what I did there?)

This is big news, and further evidence of where the issues in Tampa Bay seem to be coming from. As I wrote not so long ago, Greg Schiano just doesn’t seem to “get it.”

He has some of the best players in the world on his team, and he’s continually failing to put them in a position to succeed. Using Darrelle Revis in zone coverage, not utilizing Josh Freeman’s mobility and running bad stunts on the defensive line are all symptoms of the same problem.

Greg Schiano does not prepare his team based on their abilities, but rather on his own ideals.

And that’s fine in college, because many players are run-of-the-mill average athletes who can succeed when placed into a certain role and allowed to exceed expectations because they’re being used in a specific way that hides their flaws.

But in the NFL, players have elite skillsets that must be used to gain an advantage on the opponent. Darrelle Revis is the best cover corner of this generation, and one of the best in the history of the NFL. Using him in zone more often than he wants to be used in zone is absolutely unacceptable.

It seems like Greg Schiano’s welcome is wearing out very quickly in Tampa Bay. So far, it’s all just reports and rumors. But those generate from somewhere, and where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Schiano needs to be careful, or he will lose this locker room in a hurry, if he hasn’t already.