“He’s The Leader”
November 3rd, 2015
Bucs GM dishes on America’s Quarterback.
Joe understands Bucs fans enjoy hearing national voices discuss the pewter pirates, especially if they’re being positive.
Just last night on Twitter, some scribe asked, “What three players under the age of 25 would you start a franchise with?” And many NFL writers responded including America’s Quarterback, Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston.
My how the tide is turning? Just a few weeks ago, many national types thought Jameis to be a slug if not a wasted pick.
Trust Joe when he tells you eyes also are opening at NFL Network studios towards Jameis. So much so that Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks, who co-host a weekly podcast that is also uploaded to YouTube, invited Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht on to discuss Jameis and the other Bucs rookies.
Of course, Jameis was the main topic.
“Maybe the smartest young quarterback at this stage that I have ever been around and the hardest worker on the team,” Licht said. “The team already knows he’s the leader.
“Those were the things we were looking for in addition to being able to throw the ball and identify defenses and ability to change the play. He is doing some veteran things out on the football field that you rarely see a rookie do, in terms of flipping the formations and changing the calls, changing the play, being aware of the play clock. All those kind of things you expect that a good veteran does, [Jameis] is already doing.”
To that point, Joe remembered a play in the Dixie Chicks game where Jameis clearly checked out of a play at the line of scrimmage, and with the crowd roaring, Jameis went up and down the line making sure all of his teammates heard the calls, and then threw for a critical first down conversion.
That right there showed Joe what offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter said last week, that Jameis “is growing fast.”
November 3rd, 2015 at 8:09 am
I find this footage as yet another glaring indictment against the so called leadership of Gerald McCoy, look is he a good player, sure. What isn’t he? A leader, a dominate player or a franchise centerpiece, so please, let’s stop!
Would Ray Lewis, Derrick Brooks, John lynch have ever let a offensive guard giving that speech and ball to a hurting defensive player ?
The Buc’s need to stop trying to make McCoy something he is Clearly not!
~nick
November 3rd, 2015 at 8:16 am
Other than this site… has anyone else validated the use of “America’s Quarterback?”
November 3rd, 2015 at 8:18 am
In ts video you can clearly see that the national media does not have a clue about what us going on with this defense or they do not have time to elaborate why the bucs pass defense is struggling..
November 3rd, 2015 at 8:30 am
Marlo1976 NO! They have not, it is only thru Joes opinion and keyboard strokes that we are blessed to read that fluff every time joes post anything about Mr Winston.
So far Mr Winston is looking good, for a rookie he looks very solid in his play most games. He is definitely a leader with his actions and his words. Glad he is part of our future. He is “Tampa Bays QB” for sure. As he has not yet played and won on the national stage yet, when and if he does he might just earn the title Joes keep trying to anointing him with…
Go Bucs!
November 3rd, 2015 at 8:44 am
Marlow, if you do not understand the reference at this point, trying to explain it to you in a manner you would comprehend would be a task similar to trying to bail out the Titanic with a paper cup.
November 3rd, 2015 at 8:48 am
Nick is right. Gerald McCoy, while being a very good player and an excellent example of how to conduct oneself, is not capable of being the emotional leader of this football team. Guess what… That’s okay. Not everyone is capable of doing so. He is still one heck of a football player! Someone else needs to step up and lead from the front. We may very well be watching Mr. Alexander do just that. He is a talented young man, who plays with intensity, emotion, and fire! Let’s not forget that he loves to “make people fell me!” when he delivers a hit, there’s nothing wrong with that!
Also, Jameis Winston is America’s Quarterback!
November 3rd, 2015 at 8:52 am
Clearly the wins so far have nothing to do with Lovie
November 3rd, 2015 at 8:54 am
Look the kid has played turnover free football in the past 3 games over the past month and has not turned over the ball since that Carolina game so even the biggest Winston haters are finding it hard to rip on the guy. Has he been perfect???? Absolutely not but right now he is playing really well for a rookie quarterback; quite the contrast of what people thought in September when the national media were already handing the ROY award to Mariota after week 1 and labeling Winston as the next Jamarcus R. Another rookie that looks amazing has been Marpet and Kwon has been the one player on D who actually looks like he could start on another NFL defense; looks like Licht did dial home a decent draft this spring and it was needed after guys like ASJ bring down the 2014 draft grade. Right now give credit to Winston; he has played well enough to have the Bucs 4-3 at worst and possibly 5-2 if the defense and the special teams merely played average vs the Skins and Texans…..
November 3rd, 2015 at 8:58 am
@911bucs…they certainly don’t…he’s holding this team back now with his horrible defense and terrible in game coaching and time management….waiting on the real head coach now to take us to the promised land…
November 3rd, 2015 at 9:03 am
Probably just wishful thinking but maybe, just maybe, we are turning the corner. Do you guys remember the time in 1996 right before the Chargers game when Sapp, Brooks, and Lynch were sitting in a hotel room listening to the pre-game commentators calling us the Yucs and they decided right then enough was enough? We kicked their ass and started the best run in Bucs history. Could we be witnessing a similar thing, this time led by Jameis? Let’s hope so. Enough is enough!
November 3rd, 2015 at 9:06 am
Marlow, Jameis Winston is referred to as ‘America’s Quarterback’ by Joe bcuz he’s nationally famous and he moves the meter for everyone, one way or the other. There are very very few players that virtually all sports fans have a strong opinion about, and he is one of them if not the only one at this point.
November 3rd, 2015 at 10:13 am
in a locker room devoid of championship-caliber leadership, it falls on the most talented players to wear the mantle. that isn’t always the best thing for the team and the player. i think we have some true leaders emerging, jameis first and foremost, and maybe players like mccoy and david will be more comfortable being betas than they were being alphas by default
November 3rd, 2015 at 10:28 am
JW is about to “show em all” what he’s all about. Once that happens and everyone gets him, then he will be deemed “Americas Quarterback”. Hey maybe he’ll even get a commercial…must say I’m really tired of seeing MM instead!! MM hasn’t earned such prestige. I think JW is on verge!
November 3rd, 2015 at 10:36 am
I said after the draft that Bucs fans didn’t realize how lucky they were to have this kid as their QB. I think they’re starting to realize it now
I don’t want to take away from Kwon’s day and make his performance into a JW talking point, because what he did was all about Kwon and his family and he’s the one that deserves all the praise for that performance. But hearing Jameis talk about it after the game and watching the emotion in his press conference while talking about a guy who he has been teammates with for all of 6 months….I’m not going to lie, it made me very emotional to see that level of love for one of his brothers
November 3rd, 2015 at 11:16 am
911bucs Says:
November 3rd, 2015 at 8:52 am
Clearly the wins so far have nothing to do with Lovie
Clearly, you’re an idiot….
Thank you…
“It’s as simple as that” – Lovie Smith
“Changing coaches about halfway through a rebuilding effort is a recipe for perpetual failure.” – Johnny “America’s Commenter” Dejay
“If Lovie don’t no how to coach so be it… Hard to believe he would get a job offer and you wouldn’t…. Wonder why??? Your idiots that’s why…” – JAB83
“So my advice would be, yes, it’s okay to throw things at your TV when your team has a monumental collapse like the Bucs did on Sunday in Washington. But take a deep breath and understand that it is only going to get worse if you continue to jump from one coach to the next.” – Peter King
November 3rd, 2015 at 12:47 pm
You’re wrong, Joe.
Everyone on this board said that Jameis was the wrong pick and that Mariota would be the better QB.
Surely they all know more than the people that do this for a living.
November 3rd, 2015 at 1:36 pm
on the topic of the “America’s Quarterback” moniker (which I love), and “moving the needle” — Jameis has a major opportunity to make some national waves over the next three weeks, with the Giants and Cowboys coming to town, followed by a trip to Philly. These are the teams/games that the national media pay attention to, the NFC East powers. Can you imagine a four-game Bucs win streak, to 6-4? Wins over those media giants? An SI cover might be in the cards for America’s QB …..
November 3rd, 2015 at 1:58 pm
I was one of the draft Marcus crowd. I admit that Jameis scared me with the interceptions and the off the field stuff. I don’t post here much, I did come back after the draft and said I would support Jameis as he is our QB. I said as long as he remains Jameis or becomes Fameis I would support him. I am not that suprised that he is playing well as his die hard supporters said this is who he was.
I was wrong about Jameis and I’m here to admit that. I’m proud of his growth and leadership. I look forward to watching his continued growth. I know he may have more rookie mistakes but I’m okay with that. I have also not been a supporter of Lovie and the last game was encouraging as he showed that he has a little gambler in him. going for it on 4th down on your own 40 showed both the offense and defense that he trusted them.
Here is to hoping the streak stated on November 1, 2015. Remember, real football doesn’t start until November.
November 3rd, 2015 at 1:59 pm
started not stated
November 3rd, 2015 at 4:13 pm
Thank you Erik. That makes sense. Also, you have allowed me to find my paper cup… now I can Dreambig.
November 10th, 2015 at 2:10 am
I’m a Winston’s fan, not a Bucs’ fan, I dropped my beloved Bears, bought my first season pass to any professional sport teams because of Jameis. I love his poise standing behind the lectern. His mantra from the second regular season game, is beginning to influence the other leaders (McCoy and Evans), that he must improve and has, is the mark of a true leader.
He has not criticized the OC for his pedestrian play calling inside the red zone. Give thanks, the play book is being expanded.
He is only 21 years old.
To use the term America’s Quarterback, let give him a couple of seasons and Super Bowl win(s).
It must be the people who did not follow his career at FSU. When he was selected number 1, he became the face and leader of Tampa Bay.
No offence to Gerald, to tell Jameis is to enjoy his rookie year before becoming the leader and face of the Bucs, is clear people are now coming to grip, this is a once in lifetime player.
When I read America Qb, Roger Staubach comes to mind. Jameis has a decade to go before such moniker can even be consider.