“I Know I Take Some Unnecessary Hits”
November 29th, 2016
(Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Eighty hits have been absorbed by America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, this season.
It’s a blistering pace for the guy who led the NFL last year with 109 hits.
So who’s to blame?
What’s the fix?
Should Team Glazer be on the phone to Dirk Koetter and Jason Licht and order immediately protection for the franchise QB? The guy’s getting belted at a stunning rate.
Joe’s not blaming the offensive line. The pass blocking largely has been strong this season, including from running backs.
Some of the hits relate to the Bucs’ style of offense. Many of them are on Jameis because he won’t let plays die.
He talked about that today with ProFootballTalk.com guru and creator Mike Florio on PFT Live on NBC Sports Radio.
Mike Florio: There’s always worry about quarterbacks taking hits. and you take a lot of hits and you welcome that. It’s part of your competitiveness. … How do you balance protecting yourself with embracing the physicality of football?
America’s Quarterback: I’m still learning that the definition of a quarterback is supposed to protect himself. Because I’m just out there being a football player. I know I take some unnecessary hits, and that just ties in to me just throwing the football away, or ducking out of the way of a defender coming at me. You know, but I really embrace the mentality that football is a tough sport. You know, so I go out there every day, and I think my teammates like to see me compete out there, but I bet they’d like me to get down a couple of times, too.
Yes, Jameis must get smarter about throwing balls away and giving up on plays, but he just can’t do it.
It reminds Joe a lot of Jeff Garcia, signal caller for the last Bucs playoff season (2007). Throughout Garcia’s career, he was a guy that wouldn’t slide and had issues giving up on plays.
Garcia always fought for yardage head-first. It was in his DNA, and he took some tremendous hits to his small frame.
Joe hopes Jameis can figure out that those extra hits add up, and eventually one of them will cost him important games.
November 29th, 2016 at 10:30 am
I say let Winston play his game. It’s what makes him good. As soon as u start trying to change a player you change his game and his big play ability. Only thing winston should work on is continuing to grow as a qb wit footwork, accuracy, reading defenses etc. if he gives up on plays we don’t get that 18 yard run we needed in Atlanta game and many of the other plays he has made
November 29th, 2016 at 10:40 am
Speaking for Pablo
‘Pablo’s favorite QB before Haboo is Heff Garcia…..Pablo is very happy that the Hoes give credit to Heff for being fearless. Pablo is also fearless by working on hot Pasco County roofs…..and really fearless swinging his elongated arc in front of drunken Pablo fans.”
November 29th, 2016 at 10:46 am
The pass protection of the OL has been largely strong this season? Ugh, don’t agree with that. They’ve been very good the last 2 games, and have played better recently, but the Cards, Rams, Broncos, & Bears games all happened. A lot of it is Winston evading the rush/sack, making a play and still getting popped. He needs to throw it away more, but as Bucsfan4life said, let him be him. Hopefully the OL continues their dominant play the last 5 games.
November 29th, 2016 at 11:27 am
Famous doesn’t have the IQ of a turnip. He’s been playing and loving football since he was a kid. He knows what his body can take. He also knows DK is putting together an offense that will equal the great Buc defenses. It is slowly starting to blossom. Back in the Stone Age, Doug Williams took abuse that makes 2016 look like heaven. JW will be fine.
November 29th, 2016 at 12:00 pm
Did he even get hit against Seattle? Seems he hasn’t gotten lit up as bad the last few weeks
November 29th, 2016 at 1:34 pm
There are hits and there are hits! Like any QB I’ve seen #3 get caught a couple of times flat footed in the middle of a throw and get really clocked. But not that often.
#3 seems to have evolved so much into a QB that throws best on the run that like Wilson he may get sacked but not really creamed. It’s not like #3 is getting blind sided from the left over and over again.
I think #3 has some deceptive and therefore underrated talents. He’s not a fast man but he is pretty quick and agile. He won’t win foot races but he has football speed and smarts and seems to have more talent with his feet than he was given credit for coming out of school.
If there has been one very pleasant surprise for me about #3 it’s how this “pocket” QB has done such a great job scrambling and in the mark of all great QB’s keeps his head and eyes down field for the entire effort….running only as the last option.
I trust #3’s instincts right now. Let him play football! Dude is a playa!!!
November 29th, 2016 at 2:40 pm
he”s not getting lit up like Cam..and he”s always looking downfield, sometimes i wish he would run more
November 29th, 2016 at 7:49 pm
I was a big Jeff Garcia fan. For not a big guy, he was tougher than woodpecker lips…
November 30th, 2016 at 2:41 am
That scramble and pass in the Chicago game would’ve never happened if he gives up.