Tampa Bay Needs to Stick with Josh Johnson

Josh Freeman's time is nearing. Many Tampa Bay fans and writers were thinking this the day after he was drafted. Raheem Morris was dreaming it after he realized the crop of passers he had just weren't that tempting.

See: Brian Griese

See: Luke McCown

See: Byron Leftwich

And now we're on Josh Johnson, the skinny, raw, athletic, no-named product from a small, no-named school.

But Morris and co. shouldn't be holding his size or school against him. The kid has heart. And even more than that, he has talent. A lot of it.

No, Tampa Bay hasn't won a game with (or without) him, but the offense has moved better and looked better since he stepped under center.

After his solid effort in a blow-out loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Johnson almost one-upped last week's performance with a victory, as he passed for 147 yards, rushed for 45 more, and only threw one interception.

It's quite clear to Tampa Bay and everyone around the organization that Johnson has talent. It's also obvious that this is virtually his "rookie" season, and well, he's playing the part of a rookie.

He's learning, and growing, and if things would have swung Tampa Bay's way, Florida could now be saying he's winning.

But even though he hasn't stopped the Buccaneers from falling to 0-6, that doesn't mean it's time to stop, erase all of his efforts, and start the same process over with another young signal caller.

This is Freeman's team. This is his organization. His draft pick status tells us that, and so do the gushing eyes his coaches have when discussing his potential.

But we're not there yet. Freeman getting on the field doesn't equate to automatic victories. His presence won't magically heal the defense or take pressure off the running game.

What this team needs, at least for now, is the athletic Johnson to play it cool, and the ball off, and learn some NFL football.

Because if Tampa Bay doesn't do that, they won't just be short-changing Josh Johnson. They could be short-changing themselves.