Jameis Belongs “On The Bench”
September 5th, 2015
It’s not about that. … More nonsense is flowing.
There is some credibility, Joe believes, to the notion that rookie quarterbacks learn best from the sidelines.
It is no coincidence Aaron Rodgers had years to acclimate to the NFL while watching Brett Farve work his magic. When Rodgers did assume signal-calling duties for the Packers, made about as smooth of a transition as you will ever see.
Again, Joe doesn’t believe in coincidences.
But we live in a 1,000-satellite-channel, instant-gratification, housefly-attention-span, fast-food-drive-thru world. The masses demand results. Now.
Thus, expecting a highly drafted quarterback to sit two or three years is basically out of the question. Matt Waldman, NFL analyst for Football Outsiders, believes in a perfect world, America’s Quarterback, Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston, should be a spectator, not a participant.
Jameis Winston’s footwork is as off-balance and erratic as the Seminoles quarterback’s behavior on and off the field. He’s so charismatic that teammates would walk over hot coals for him on the field, but there are enough questions about maturity, self-awareness, and accountability in his everyday life that the team picking Winston would be idiots not to realize they’ve just strapped their organization into a roller coaster. …
Winston has streaks where the term “ineptitude” would be too complimentary of his play. However, much like the bumblebee that doesn’t know it shouldn’t be able to fly, this lack of awareness can work in his favor. Winston doesn’t dwell on his mistakes. He’ll make three errors in a game that would put most quarterbacks in a funk, only to lead his team back from a deficit for the victory. Call it mental toughness, lack of conscience, or comfort in chaos. Whatever it is, Winston shares it with Russell Wilson, Brett Favre, and Eli Manning — especially Manning, whose extremes of play are often maddening to fans. …
Truth be told, [Jameis] belong[s] on the bench this year. Winston’s not ready to assume a leadership role until his off-field life has more balance, but he’ll be tested immediately.
First, it sure seems like this off-field nonsense is just that: nonsense. Jameis has this label — he made his own bed — that for some he will never shake.
Thus far, nothing off the field is hampering Jameis in any way, but as Waldman points out, his footwork is another issue. When Jameis is able to get time and step into his throws, he’s magic. When he doesn’t, his passes need a GPS system to track.
Of course, having time to set up and step into throws is a whole ‘nother matter.
September 5th, 2015 at 8:15 am
Not just sitting and waiting…players need good coaching and consistency. Aaron Rodgers was in the same system and had virtually the same coaches and got to gel with his o-line as well. Aaron Rodgers situation was unique because his team didn’t NEED him to play right away. They had an all time great in there.
September 5th, 2015 at 8:16 am
The key to Jameis’ success….as will be the Buc offense will be Koetter’s playcalling. If Koetter is able to anticipate when to run….when to throw short…then when to take a shot downfield…..Jameis has a chance to succeed.
We absolutely must give Jameis the time…..and if we can’t Koetter needs to design and call plays that get the ball out very quickly.
Other teams do this to us all the time….there should be no reason why we can’t.
September 5th, 2015 at 8:24 am
Just a decade ago, and for decades before, it was pretty much protocol that a rookie QB would ride the pines and carry a clipboard while he learned the pro game from a veteran. Times have changed and today the young QBs are thrown into the fire.
Still, I couldn’t help but think the other night, as I watched our throwers pummeled by opposing defenses, that we would be better off letting Glennon start the season, perhaps for 4-8 games. Glennon has a couple of years experience under his belt playing with no protection. Letting him start these early games might just give our o-line some time to jell.
September 5th, 2015 at 8:25 am
there is some validity to this but i think he should sit because he may get killed this year with that ol
September 5th, 2015 at 8:27 am
As I have said many times on this site, Jameis Winston needs to sit this year and be ready for the 2016 season. Joe and others have been very critical with this viewpoint, however, the pre-season has proven my point of view. Jameis is NOT ready to be a starting QB in the NFL at this time. The Bucs are two years away from being a competitive team and this year, they must focus on building a good offense around a good OL. Mike Glennon should lead this team this year with the understanding that he will not be back next year and at that time, Winston steps into the starting QB role, with a year’s experience of watching and learning. With time, Winston will become a terrific NFL quarterback but NOT this year.
September 5th, 2015 at 8:33 am
Can’t have it all ways Joe. Pretty sure that dating back to the pre-draft days, you were adamant that Jameis was far more ‘pro-ready’ than Marcus Mariota was … even though he only had 2 years of college ball under his belt. Big selling point was that he could step right into the starting QB spot and lead us on to victory much quicker than Mariota could. After all, Marcus would have to sit for at least a year before he could even operate under center.
The Bucs made their choice, and chose Jameis, a pocket passer with an excellent football mind, great leadership skills and charisma, a rocket arm … and the footwork of a baseball pitcher.
I’m convinced that both Jameis and Marcus will turn out to be excellent NFL QBs, given a decent supporting cast and if folks are patient with them as they develop. But neither of them will get the luxury of ‘sitting and watching’ for a year, or a month, or a day. Nor does either need that. Jameis in particular just needs fans and sports writers to realize that he’s a 21-year old rookie QB with a lot of learning to do. He’s not ready to be dubbed ‘America’s QB’ or whatever at this point in his career.
September 5th, 2015 at 8:46 am
Not worried about Jameis. I am worried about our O-line. That makes me concerned for Jameis staying healthy. I think Jameis is smart enough that he’ll start making the right calls to burn defenses if they blitz too much. He just needs to get enough looks to get it all figured out. If the O-line can mature and gel then by mid season the team should start to excel. I think the first 8 games are going to be rough.
September 5th, 2015 at 8:59 am
Bobby Says:
“Not worried about Jameis…..the first 8 games are going to be rough.”
IF YOU ARE CORRECT THEN YOU SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT JAMEIS!!!
September 5th, 2015 at 9:02 am
No way u sit a player with such a competitive nature for winning. Let’s not put the cart before the horse…Winston is not our problem but the OL. If Glennon is starter behind that same line he would get destroyed n we eventually will have to put Winston in who is durable n mobile unlike the aforementioned Glennon. Y do folks continue to harp on mischievous n immature behavior of a 18 yr old kid who was hanging out with other 18 yr old kids who displayed childish behaviors no different than politicians, responsible parents, n influential people when they were 17,18, n 19 yrs old. N for starters, the Bucs don’t need an appetizer, we r past due for the main meal. Luck didn’t sit, RWilson didn’t sit, n Matt Ryan didn’t sit as rookies n nor should Winston. The more he makes mistakes the better he becomes. With Winston opponents may win the battle but he’ll win the war.
September 5th, 2015 at 9:08 am
Honestly, when’s the last off-field incident we’ve heard anything about? The student union thing? Which was nearly a year ago? Whether he had a come to Jesus moment or someone gave him one, he’s been locked down since then.
September 5th, 2015 at 9:08 am
@dmatt … “With Winston opponents may win the battle but he’ll win the war.”
Bingo! Well put.
September 5th, 2015 at 9:25 am
It might be helpful for writers to remember that Jameis’ “off-field” activities haven’t cropped up in any way as an NFL player. I guess it makes it harder for TMZ/Sports to write an interesting story about…FOOTBALL….without adding a little T&A.
What’s troubling about this line from the author???
Hmmmm..??
“Jameis Winston’s footwork is as off-balance and erratic as the Seminoles quarterback’s behavior on and off the field.”
Perhaps combining an “athletic critique” of his professional development with a “bad character critique” of his college days is just rubbish?
The rest of the author’s comments are a classic case of “damning with faint praise”. Why doesn’t the author just call him a “sociopath” and stop playing “Wheel of Fortune”.
“Yes Alex, I’ll add I-S-T to R-A-P-E”
Oh, Brother..!!
September 5th, 2015 at 9:57 am
lol no.
September 5th, 2015 at 10:00 am
BumbleBee Jameis!!
September 5th, 2015 at 10:02 am
He’s as ready as any other NFL rookie. Throw out that “allegation” and this kid hasn’t done anything worse than anyone else at that age.
September 5th, 2015 at 10:31 am
Didn’t have to read this article to agree completely. Aside from the learning curve, we know this season is not a play-off run due to the offensive line (and it is offenive.) So why risk your franchise QB on injury and a higher probability of disappointment?
If the season sucks and Lovie is gone, Licht gets to stay (he didn’t even hire Lovie.) Licht move Keotter up to HC, draft some good OL talent and sign some.
September 5th, 2015 at 11:29 am
It’s certainly a valid discussion Joe. Glennon is no Favre, but there’s a lot of NFL league history to show JW should learn from the sidelines first. Besides, Glennon’s trade value should only improve with him getting to start with all the offensive weapons on board this season. In the meantime, JW can take dancing lessons because he will be dodging a lot of DL until the OL improves.
September 5th, 2015 at 12:55 pm
I accept your basic point Joe but Aaron Rodgers is a horrible example.
He is the best player in the NFL!!! OK JJ Watt fans may argue but clearly Rodgers is a generational talent at QB. I think more highly of him than Luck at this point.
In addition we have no way of knowing whether Rodgers could have duplicated Luck’s performance and won 11 in his first year. I think that would have been possible. But there is NO WAY a rookie is going to beat out a beloved HOFer.
I think Favre played at least one year when Rodgers may have been the better choice.
And to all who blame all of the sacks on our OL…WRONG…Fameis has as much to do with it as our OL. Yeah there were some gap blitzes that went unblocked and that’s on the OL or Koetter’s lack of prep for them. But Fameis held the ball freaking SEVEN seconds on one of those sacks and one of his rookie deficiencies is simply learning to throw the ball away when there is no play.
MG8 gets when a play is over and you just have to cut your losses…Fameis does not YET.
In addition to Fameis and our OL I hold Koetter responsible for not preparing better for these blitzes. But again as TBBF and even Fameis have said Koetter is not about to show his “get aways” as Fameis calls them before the real games.
September 5th, 2015 at 2:56 pm
Joe would walk over coals for a peak at Jameis in the shower. Keep fighting joe. Hope u guys work out. Joejameisfan.com
September 5th, 2015 at 3:26 pm
@Bird
Forgive my limited comprehension. I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make.
If it’s simply that you don’t like Joe or respect his opinion that begs the question as to why are you here?
Or is it that you simply hate Fameis and resent the fact that Joe supports him?
September 5th, 2015 at 4:10 pm
it would be nice if he could sit for a year but come on. No to 10 pick is ever going to sit.
September 6th, 2015 at 4:03 pm
I’ve been saying this all along. We should have drafted Mariota. But that is in the past. Turns out that some of us”haters” who dared to question drafting JW may have been right all along. Joe’s, what happened to “pro ready” and comparing him to Andrew Luck. Not so much! This is going to set the franchise back another 5 years. This is Freeman, the sequel.
September 7th, 2015 at 4:43 pm
Pleas let us all allow our rookie QB to show us what he can do on the NFL field and not be labeled before he has even played in his FIRST NFL game.
He looks to me, good in somethings and not so up to speed on some other things. Needs to learn to play on this level. Can and will Mr Winston have success maybe even major success as a starting NFL QB, I don’t know I have my fingers crossed.