Winslow Dedicated Mentor; “Tenacious Blocker”
November 14th, 2009
Kellen Winslow Jr. is one of the more colorful players in Miami Hurricanes history, so it’s understandable why the South Florida MSM is interested in his return to Miami with the Bucs on Sunday.
Carlos Frias, of the Palm Beach Post, blew out a feature story on Winslow in his new role as mentor to Josh Freeman.
Morris watched as Winslow stayed late in the film room and just talked football with Freeman, weeks before the rookie took over. They would go over the young quarterback’s progressions, Winslow teaching him how to use the film to help him on game day, Morris said. And when Freeman finally got his shot last week, he showed what he had learned, throwing for 205 yards and three touchdowns — one of them to Winslow — in the 38-28 upset of Green Bay.
“I have watched him bond to Josh, grab Josh by the neck and bring him into the room with him and those two sit for hours at a time and go through the process … whether Josh is playing or not,” Morris said. “It has been fun to be able to watch those two work together.”
It’s a well-written feature that Joe highly recommends.
One of the more compelling quotes comes from Dophins head coach Tony Sparano, who called Winslow a “tenacious blocker.”
Joe can’t help but mention that former Bucs defensive end and JoeBucsFan.com analyst Steve White recently lauded Winslow’s blocking in his weekly film breakdown.
Kellen Winslow. This guy has made a believer out of me. Not only because of his great day catching the ball. But also because of the effort he gives as a blocker. Now nobody will ever confuse him with an offensive tackle but he goes hard on every running play and you can see that it matters to him when he doesn’t make his block.
Aside from Sparano and White, Joe hasn’t seen or heard that assessment of Winslow, who came to Tampa Bay with a reputation as a disinterested blocker, anywhere else.
At this rate, if Joe were still referring to Winslow by a different name, Joe would up his rank to Major.
November 14th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
I thought that Clayton was our tenacious blocker? We need KW catching passes. Let Clayton do the blocking, since he can’t hold on to a football.
November 14th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
If he can help Freeman to reach his potential, and keep catching touchdowns, he’ll be worth every penny.
November 14th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
When we made the trade for KW someone noted he was one of the better blocking TEs in the league. Makes Jerramy Stephens look like the “disinterested” one. Despite our poor W-L record, KW has gotta be glad to be outta Cleveland. Thanks for the effort, KW! Hoo-Rah
November 15th, 2009 at 12:28 am
Joe’s on a happy news roll tonight
November 15th, 2009 at 6:16 am
The Winslow trade garnered a lot of questions and heat around the area during the off-season. Sure is looking well worth the price. Can’t wait to see that dynamic play out even more on the field between Josh and Kellen in the future.
November 15th, 2009 at 6:27 am
Freeman and Winslow road together to the Packers game. We were entertaining some friends at the official Bucs tailgate (not really worth $29.95 per person I might add) and one of the cool things is the players enter the stadium next to the tailgate.
Winlsow was driving a black hummer truckster and Freeman was with him.
Winslow was grinning from ear to ear as he went in but Freeman while smiling was much more serious although he signed plenty of auotographs.
So this article does not surprise me at all.
November 15th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
I respect Steve White’s opinion, but, I’ve seen Winslow give up early and miss key blocks in the past, maybe he’s been working on it. Stevens on the other hand, doesn’t and couldn’t block a “kleenex”.
November 15th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Pete, Stevens couldn’t block a “kleenex” because he’s too busy waving it in surrender!