“Not Everybody Can Handle That Platform”
March 26th, 2015
Jack Del Rio gave Joe a great take on young QBs at the NFL Owners Meetings.
Joe really enjoyed sitting down with Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio at the NFL Owners Meetings this week. What an intense but fun dude with a quick wit.
Previously a head coach in small-market Jacksonville, Del Rio quickly will become a national celebrity if he can succeed in Oakland.
The former All-Pro linebacker coached his share of starting quarterbacks during his nine-year run with the Jaguars, from David Garard to Blaine Gabbert, who went from a college spread offense QB, the 10th overall draft pick in 2011, to a 21-year-old NFL starter.
Joe asked Del Rio about rookie quarterbacks adjusting to the NFL from various college offenses, and Del Rio took the conversation off the playing field.
He firmly believes QB success is much more about the player’s skills and his personality versus his college system.
“You know, the quarterback and the head coach are the two guys that answer to the media, and they’re the two guys that are tied to a won-loss record,” Del Rio said. “Not everybody can handle that platform. I think it’s important the guy you have in that position can.”
Yes, the media is a big deal for NFL quarterbacks. No, news conferences don’t win titles, but the NFL requires quarterbacks to talk to media. It’s a responsibility that can negatively affect the player. That pressure is unavoidable. Even Bucs co-chairman Joel Glazer acknowledged to Joe that impatience and pressure is rising across the NFL.
Of course, the Bucs-related point here is that Jameis Winston sure seems NFL-ready when it comes to the media part of his job. The guy has been succeeding under massive scrutiny for a long time. Marcus Mariota might be his polar opposite in that realm.
March 26th, 2015 at 5:18 pm
Lets see our pick….likely Winston on the platform in Chicago receiving his #1 Buc jersey and wearing his hat after his hug.
Being the face of the franchise starts right there….
I predict his agents will tie his appearance to an early contract signing.
March 26th, 2015 at 5:18 pm
Jameis will Love Tampa not so sure Mariota will enjoy St Louis
March 26th, 2015 at 5:25 pm
Joe, thats a low blow on Mariota…. and you know it. Just because he’s doesn’t have the charisma of a game show host doesn’t mean he cant handle the media. He’s done more than fine. Besides, we don’t have to worry about him standing on the tables at One Buc Palace acting like a jerk OR stealing seafood from one of many fresh seafood vendors in the Bay Area.
March 26th, 2015 at 5:25 pm
Rule #1 – There’s no crying on the podium.
March 26th, 2015 at 5:38 pm
I can say one thing…. A Jameis Winston radio show would be much more entertaining than a Marcus Mariota show due to the personality differences.
March 26th, 2015 at 5:38 pm
I guess it is true that Mariota has not faced any scrutiny really outside of his transition from his Oregon offense. He is so humble that he hasn’t really come off as extremely confident that he will make a quick transition; but that might just be his hawaiiness.
But it’s impossible to say whether or not he’d do well with the media when times are hard because he hasn’t been in that situation in his life. Oregon was always winning. FSU was too; but Winston was under attack by the media most of his career.
March 26th, 2015 at 5:39 pm
Agree with Rayjay.
I’m not a fan of the no-personality drone-like QBs. I want some personality. It’s a game and supposed to be entertaining in the end
March 26th, 2015 at 5:42 pm
I think there is a big difference between being humble and being timid. Mariota is timid. does not make him a bad guy. I want the leader of my team to have the IT factor that clearly Winston has. It was obvious even Mariota gravitated towards Winston at the cobine. He was also loser around Winston. Does not make Mariota a bad dude and I don’t hate the guy just don’t want him as my starting qb or leader of my team and thankfully he will not be.
March 26th, 2015 at 5:47 pm
Related to the media is how the QB handles winning and losing. WS99 has already ruled out any crying. LMAO
I agree with him but there’s more. Does the guy sulk or does he simply become more determined. Is he quick to throw teammates under the bus or does he support them?
I’ve always been the team is family kind of guy. I want only praise or defense of a teammate in public and then do the chewing out behind closed doors in the locker room.
The flip side is winning. What if we do patch our OL and get a rush. What if the young QB is successful quickly ala Russell Wilson. While that is our fantasy that’s also a challenge. Fameis will have to age a decade to develop enough maturity if he wins in year one! Can you imagine. Fameis would become FAMEIS!!! He’ll be the toast of the town. Our first franchise QB(at least that succeeded in Tampa and not somewhere else) and from a state school no less with a Heisman and a National Title. Hard to keep your head straight under that kind of adulation.
Honestly I can see it going both ways for Fameis. On one hand he failed miserably at handling it Tallahassee. On the other hand that could actually work to his benefit. Maybe he learned a very valuable lesson.
I’m all in boys. Roll the dice and lets see what happens. Nothing good ever happened from imagining disaster. So I”m going to jettison my pragmatic self and go all in. Fameis leads us to the playoffs with ten wins. We’re one and done but the town is crazy with the possibilities.
2016 we draft some more help and Fameis takes us deep into the playoffs.
2017 we win the Super Bowl. I can see it all now. That’s my visualization!
And far stranger things have happened! Trent Dilfer won a Super Bowl!!!!
March 26th, 2015 at 6:05 pm
Has nothing to do with media interviews or charisma or any of that crap.
Winston is just the better QB on the field. Period. I dont understand why it is so hard for people to understand that.
March 26th, 2015 at 6:10 pm
Nothing is a low blow on Mariota….because he doesn’t matter anymore.
Everyone feel free to say whatever you want about Mariota….
March 26th, 2015 at 6:11 pm
This is Joe’s site and he’s a mark for Winston. So yes, everything’s pro Winston and anti Mariota.
#DP #HGH #PEDs #BrainDeadRetard
March 26th, 2015 at 6:18 pm
Stpetebucsfan…some of these posters might remember my proclamation from 2 months ago.
“Jameis Winston will win a Super Bowl within the first 3 years of entering the NFL, whether it be with Bucs or another team.”
Nothing’s changed on my end since I typed that….so bring on the Super Bowl.
March 26th, 2015 at 6:21 pm
Mariota will succeed long term and I hope we draft him #1. As for his eventual backup, that has to be Glennon for the price. Otherwise we can trade Glennon and pay way too much for a backup who has less talent and brains.
March 26th, 2015 at 6:23 pm
Rocky Balboa to his loan-shark boss:
“How do you spell Del Rio?”
March 26th, 2015 at 6:33 pm
@’87
I think everybody here remembers your prediction of an SB in year 3! 🙂
Life is full of uncertainty but here is something you take to the bank. If FAmeis is that successful everybody will give you credit for being the first on the bandwagon!
March 26th, 2015 at 6:38 pm
Rule #2 – Winston must be intro at every pc as the Crab-legs-stealing, BB-gun-shooting, obscenity-hollering, Heisman-Trophy-winning, former national champion Jameis Winston, the pride of Buccaneer football.
March 26th, 2015 at 6:54 pm
How many more of these articles?? I’ve been ready for this since Week 2. It eas never a debate between the two. Again I saw the dude play live HE WONT MAKE IT IN THE NFL UNLESS HE ENDS UP WITH CHIP KELLY
March 26th, 2015 at 7:01 pm
Noticed even Del Rio would name Shameis (the next tenant for the Orient Street Hotel) as the QB the Bucs should pic, Joe tied his own personal opinion in.
March 26th, 2015 at 7:21 pm
Dealing with the media can be learned…..I am sure there are plenty of examples of both QBs interacting with media from their college games….Marcus Mariota has more experience simply because of the additional games.
It is possible that Mariota will end up in NYC…..how ’bout that for media?
March 26th, 2015 at 7:32 pm
Yeah JOE, Don’t you think you should stop referring to Jameis as Crab-legs-stealing, BB-gun-shooting, obscenity-hollering, Heisman-Trophy-winning, former national champion Jameis Winston, the pride of Buccaneer football. I mean he will be the QB soon and will probably read your articles if he hasn’t already. I WOULD HATE FOR THE NATIONAL MEDIA TO START REFERRING TO HIM AS ALL OF THOSE THINGS LIKE IT’S A BADGE OF HONOR.
March 26th, 2015 at 7:48 pm
@TBBF
“It is possible that Mariota will end up in NYC…..how ’bout that for media?”
Do you believe Whisenhut was just blowing smoke hoping to work the Jets for a big pickup of draft choices?
I kind of think Mariota may end up in Nashville.
March 26th, 2015 at 8:19 pm
I think Del Rio will do a good job making the Raiders relevant again. Anybody in that division besides Denver pushed relentlessly will be better. The Broncos have been on TV so much I’m sick of watching them.
March 26th, 2015 at 8:32 pm
It’s nice not to have the Mariota snow blowers in here insisting he’s the guy anymore.
March 26th, 2015 at 8:40 pm
@St.Pete
Said possible NY…not probable….& yes, I think Tenn takes him…..NY could trade up from 6-2 but unlikely.
March 26th, 2015 at 8:48 pm
The “dealing with the media” part of the job is not nearly as important as leading one’s team to victories. Winston has charisma galore -so obviously his ability to handle the media and look good doing it is a given. But to the other and more important point.
The majority of NFL games are decided by 7 points or less. Both Winston and Mariota have good and winning records in College. Partially because they both played on good teams. But one of them had a record of 2-3 when the game was close (7 points or less) and only one 4th quarter comeback. The other had a 7-0 record in close games with SIX 4th quarter comeback wins – including clutch play during the waning seconds in the biggest game of his life to lead his team to winning the National Championship. Hmmmm.
March 26th, 2015 at 8:58 pm
I’ve literally never heard anything resembling a mean or negative comment about Mariota. Not until people started critiquing his game for the draft, but even then it’s always caveated with “I love Mariota the person.”
That stuff’s going straight down the toilet as soon as he starts 2-5 and has a lopsided TD:INT. It can be Nashville or NYC, he’s going to get serious criticism. I know how JW will handle it, not so sure on MM.
March 26th, 2015 at 9:19 pm
We know Winston will blame others as he usually does and Mariota would be fine I’m sure. He hasn’t had to deal with it because he is a winner on the field and off of it. He is a professional and very humble. He’ll be alright.
March 26th, 2015 at 9:24 pm
Titans or Skins will take Mariota if we don’t. Jets would have to trade up.
March 26th, 2015 at 10:17 pm
Skyline Crew Says:
March 26th, 2015 at 9:19 pm
“We know Winston will blame others as he usually does”
And…you get this from where?
March 26th, 2015 at 11:42 pm
2nd chances? Lovie is right now sitting in the cat bird seat. Once he pledges allegiance to Winston, he will save his head coaching job (knowingly it will be Mariota all along). Let’s say that the Glazer clan gives the stamp of approval to bother Winston & Mariota….we’re really getting soundbites from a non-decision maker in Lovie…it is ultimately Licht’s call on personnel…Joe go for the jugular now…ask Licht! Who really is it going to be?
March 26th, 2015 at 11:45 pm
With the slip of the tongue, you can see if Licht possibly says neither, we’Re trading down! Lol.
March 26th, 2015 at 11:50 pm
…and Long live MGM!
March 27th, 2015 at 12:04 am
I just wrote the this exact same claim on a previous comment. Jameis has been thru it all already and thats a good thing. Now (hopefully) we have a fiery 21 year old QB that REALLY sounds like he wants to win a super bowl
March 27th, 2015 at 12:35 am
The last time 2 Heisman QBS were drafted in the same year…2010…Sam Bradford 1/1. & Tim Tebow 1/25.
March 27th, 2015 at 1:53 am
Pat Says:
March 26th, 2015 at 11:42 pm
“it is ultimately Licht’s call on personnel…”
Is this true? I don’t think so. If you have some insight or proof of this I & I believe many other Buc fans would like to see it.
March 27th, 2015 at 7:02 am
Pat…If you REALLY think Licht has full control over personnel, please do tell us why you think that. Because most of us don’t think so at all.
March 27th, 2015 at 8:03 am
@StPeteBuc
“to throw teammates under the bus or does he support them?
I’ve always been the team is family kind of guy. I want only praise or defense of a teammate in public and then do the chewing out behind closed doors in the locker room.”
————————————————————————————-
In regards to Winston, to answer the first part ill use the Rose Bowl..When FSU was down and getting blown out he was the one on the sideline trying to keep his team motivated to play hard, after Dalvin Cook fumbled for the second time, Winston was the one putting his arm around him telling him to keep his head up. He’s the ultimate team player…
Take the Clemson game for that matter.. during that whole game he was right next to Jimbo and when McGuire came of the field he was right there coaching him up. McGuire even said after the game how helpful it was having Jameis there.. Winston could have easily parked his butt on the bench or just let McGuire fall on his butt , but he didn’t..
And if you’ve ever heard Jameis talk over the past 2 seasons at FSU, all he preached about was FSU being a family..
March 27th, 2015 at 8:07 am
Im pretty sure Lovie has control over the draft and Licht has control over the 53 man roster….But with this pick i can assure you the Glazers will be the ones giving the go ahead.
March 27th, 2015 at 9:06 am
Okay, unless Jay Glazer reneged on the initial statement giving full control of draft to Licht, just google it.
March 27th, 2015 at 9:34 am
i have it backwards….you are correct Pat..
March 27th, 2015 at 1:00 pm
@Josh P
OK based on your assessment Fameis sounds like my kind of leader.