Jameis: Slow Starts On Me
August 25th, 2016
Takes blame
If there is anything close to a trademark of Dirk Koetter’s offenses with the Bucs through one season and two preseason games, it is a slow start.
Last year, Lovie Smith — and this year Koetter — preached the gospel of fast starts. Yet for reasons unknown, the offense is all too often mired in first gear for the opening minutes of ballgames.
This, of course, paints the entire team into a corner. With a slow start, opponents force the Bucs into catch-up mode That’s not good.
Yesterday, America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, stepped to the podium at One Buc Palace, verbally patted patted his chest and in so many words said, the slow starts are on him.
“Yeah, like I said, I’m getting better every single day and I do because it starts with me,” Jameis said. “I’ve got to get it going – similar to that Jacksonville two-minute [drill] during practice. We started off fast and practice ended up really good. I’m supposed to be the leader of this team, so I’ve got to start fast. It starts with me.”
Joe is unsure why the offense sputters early. It almost reminds Joe of how in every game, seemingly, Raheem Morris’ teams found themselves down by two scores (or more) early, only to watch the Bucs bounce back with solid play in the second half. Almost weekly this was the case for a long stretch.
Raheem sure seemed very good at adjusting on the fly but his game prep or his scouting was always off.
Could we be looking at the same thing with Koetter? Are his gameplans off to start games? Is he missing something in breaking down film while spending 40-plus hours formulating a gameplan?
The pattern of poor starts makes Joe wonder.
August 25th, 2016 at 7:13 am
Lol, Joe you find the Craziest pictures of JW to use for your articles.
August 25th, 2016 at 7:17 am
As Koetter says “forget about last year” – I think Jameis is right, it all starts with him. He needs to make those early throws. As I said before, ASJ has caught 18 first down catches from 21 catches he had last year. That is a league high 85%. You need to have your high % first down playmakers on the field. If every one is covered, release it to your TE. Even the dumbest Buc fan realizes, that has killed this defense for years. It’s time we starting using that with our tight ends!!!
August 25th, 2016 at 7:48 am
Nice nugget on ASJ Wombat, that was a refreshing take. Yes, Greg Olsen them to death..
August 25th, 2016 at 7:55 am
just putting it out there, the bucs have been one of the youngest teams in the league going back to raheem. I wonder how much this affects the slow starts.
August 25th, 2016 at 7:57 am
Didn’t the offense drive down to Jacksonville’s 10 or 15 yd line with either the first or second drive of the game last week? The drive ended with a missed field goal because Jameis was flushed out of the pocket due to quick pressure from the left side on 3rd and 2 but they moved the ball. There were a few penalties on Jacksonville but 1 was a late hit on the QB and the other was a pass interference against Brate. So I’m not sure I completely agree with all of the slow start talk from last week.
August 25th, 2016 at 8:25 am
Sadly if you watch the film most of the slow starts seem to begin up front. The oline often struggles to open holes, block pass rushers and get called for penalties early in games. Yes Jameis misses some throws, but if we don’t get stoned on the running plays his throws get a lot easier.
August 25th, 2016 at 8:30 am
We were dead about 3 times on that drive in Jax……their penalties bailed us out…..and, we’ve got to make 3rd and 2 in the red zone.
Jameis can’t miss easy early throws….and we should use the TE & RB on third downs more often.
Now…with FG kicking inconsistency…..there may be a silver lining and that is we go for it on 4th more often…..so, let’s work very hard on our short yardage packages…..and, I’d like to see more sneaks from Jameis especially rather than handing it off to a RB 5 yards into the backfield to try to make a yard…..
August 25th, 2016 at 8:47 am
With slow starts continuing to be an issue, this could be why Koetter is focusing more on the hurry up offense. We’ve seemed to do pretty well with it thus far. Why not start the game in hurry up? It’ll put the defense off balance right off the jump, potentially get us some quick points to start the game, and help pump up the rest of the team. I’ve been advocating this ever since Buffalo was so successful with it in their Super Bowl years. They did it all the time, and no one could consistently stop them. I think the no huddle isn’t used to its fullest potential.
Putting that aside, I think the improvement of our defense will greatly help make up for any future slow starts, so that we won’t have to start in the hole so often.
August 25th, 2016 at 9:11 am
Imagine if we simply came out in a no huddle hurry up offense in that first series against Atlanta. Perhaps we could jerk #3’s head into the game immediately.
He seems to play better when we play really really fast.
August 25th, 2016 at 9:22 am
more often than not the slow starts are due to miscues and not the gameplan….how many opening drives were undone by foolish penalties? how often have we opened the game with a bad turnover (or two)? it doesn’t matter what plays you are calling….if you are holding, lining up wrong, or making an illegal hit in the first few minutes of every game you are inviting your opponent to lead the game early and often
August 25th, 2016 at 9:46 am
Opening the game in hurry up is great if you are completing passes and getting positive runs. If you hurry up to 3 plays and minus 2 yards you haven’t accomplished anything.
August 25th, 2016 at 9:51 am
Appreciate all the good info in the comments. Bucs been slow starters for years. One reason why they’re called “cardiac Bucs/kids.” 🙂 This is a potentially very talented offense. It’s fun watching it develop. Go Tampa Bay!!
August 25th, 2016 at 10:02 am
It’s frankly just Jameis being inaccurate early. Simple as that. Everyone seems to be forgetting though that outside of the fumble, Jameis was sharp as hell throwing the ball against Philly in the first game.
August 25th, 2016 at 11:24 am
Slow starts because the starting opposing defence is teeing off on your butts. So slow starts don’t concern me much as long as the slowness kicks into hyper mode to win the game when it counts. Like you say forcing a punt is some fine play.
August 25th, 2016 at 11:39 am
NOT TRUE JAMEIS. Maybe you’re the one throwing the ball but I’ve also been hearing you and others saying we have to come together as a team to put up points. There is also a defensive side to a slow start. Cant let them get these runs/check downs for 5-15 yards every play early on like the Jags were doing. I think Martin Gramatica was still around when Rah was here (someone please correct me if I’m wrong), but I remember a lot of those bounce back games being like 23-21 with the kicker putting up three at the end, so Aguayo better learn how to handle the pressure or whatever excuses you people are making for him if this is gonna be our method of winning
August 25th, 2016 at 11:40 am
Not sure about the slow starts for the season remarks…Bucs had 18 drives end with points in the 1st Qtr last year….tied for 8th in NFL
That’s not opening drives and only a gross look at the data.-Joe
August 25th, 2016 at 12:36 pm
Jameis start slow at Florida State also.
August 25th, 2016 at 1:05 pm
Jameis misses receivers that are open. How is that a problems with the gameplan?
I think Jameis might be best served by spending the pregame and warmups in a kind of meditative quiet to get himself relaxed. He needs to let somebody else do the pregame ritual screaming. I know this may seem to take away from one of his strengths as a leader, but it’s more important that he starts the game calm and focused and ready to hit those early throws.
August 25th, 2016 at 1:09 pm
And who says there has to be a screamer in the circle? That’s become a football cliché that really is only good for TV. So if your leader needs to be quiet and focused to get his head right, then let that be the character of your team. All that yelling and screaming wears a little thin anyway. I mean, it’s like the boy who cried wolf… Save it for when it’s really necessary.
August 25th, 2016 at 2:12 pm
Oh man I love my boi Jaboo but he went 0/6 with an Int in the first qrt. 3/10 for 28 yards in the game with 1td/1int.
The two 1st downs on the opening drive were courtesy of roughing the passer and a pass int penalty on the Jags. Then we missed ME on 3rd&2 then we missed a 32yard FG. Then we gave up a TD and that’s the end of the first qrt.
August 25th, 2016 at 5:03 pm
@DB55:
Looks like someone watched the same game I did. Kudos to you for your honest and accurate (way more than Jameis’) assessment.
tickrdr
August 25th, 2016 at 5:17 pm
Tickrdr
You know me and you are down like 4 flat tires. I speak the TRUFF!!
August 25th, 2016 at 6:01 pm
That’s a new one on me, but LMAO!
tickrdr