Jason Licht Explains Tech-Friendly Jameis
March 26th, 2017
Somewhere, Jameis is smiling.
It’s no surprise that America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, embraces cutting edge technology, even if it’s not yet perfected.
Give Jameis a shred of a shot to gain an edge, and watch the smile grow on his face.
Two years ago, the Bucs jumped quickly into a virtual reality system to help develop quarterbacks. One year ago, though, Bucs quarterbacks coach Mike Bajakian told Joe the virtual-reality training was very much a work in progress — not a factor.
Last month, general manager Jason Licht was asked the state of the system on SiriusXM NFL Radio. The GM said he likes it because of the response from his gunslinger.
“I know our quarterbacks, particularly Jameis, really like it. So if he likes and it and feels like he’s getting better, then I’m all for it,” Licht said.
“You know, we’re always tinkering with things. We don’t necessarily want to be the pioneer on everything, because a lot of times you invest in something and you find out you really didn’t need it or you don’t use it, but it sounds cool that you’re the first to do this. So we want to make sure that anything we invest in — and once again, I have the green light to spend as much as money as I want on things that are going to make our team better — just make sure it’s something that we will be using.”
How the technology has evolved or really helps is a mystery. If it was so incredible, Joe suspects every team in the NFL would be using it. But that’s not the point.
If it gives Jameis an ounce of an edge, even if that’s just confidence, then it’s worth every Team Glazer nickel. And as Licht went out of his way to remind the nation in this interview, he has an open checkbook to improve the Bucs.
March 26th, 2017 at 9:34 am
Then, can he spend money on an indoor practice facility?
March 26th, 2017 at 9:57 am
The team immediately announced after drafting Jameis that an indoor facility was going to to soon be built. What ever happened to that????? Every time I drive by the facility I look for it but not sure if its there or not.
Joe???????????
As for the virtual reality stuff I can see it as a tool somewhat but nothing will ever be like the real thing. Mixed feelings on that stuff
March 26th, 2017 at 10:08 am
The Glazers took their time building the current Bucs facility. I seem to remember that they promised it at the same time that the new stadium was built in 1998. It didn’t happen until well after the 2002 Super Bowl.
March 26th, 2017 at 10:41 am
Maybe Licht can get Winston a copy of Madden to play, ya know for that ounce of an edge.
March 26th, 2017 at 10:58 am
Interesting concept…..the Rays move to Tampa, proper, and that leaves the fruit dome unoccupied…..instant indoor facility
March 26th, 2017 at 11:23 am
A year ago this week Joel G. told Ira that the indoor facility would be finished in 12-18 months. That’s March-Sept ’17. We will see if he keeps his word but it’s not looking good.
March 26th, 2017 at 11:27 am
lol Jameis…confidence via machine. lol
March 26th, 2017 at 11:28 am
They are starting on the indoor Monday actually. But what kinda indoor quality-wise are they gonna throw-up in 4-5 months? It’s been to,d to employees in the building it will be ready by Sept. It took Fsu & Fla both over a year to build theirs. Typical Bucs going cheap as usual.
March 26th, 2017 at 12:38 pm
Kobe Bryant and many athletic greats could credit “visualization” as helping them reach their levels of success and personally I think VR is far more relevant than mere visualization so I’m all for it!
March 26th, 2017 at 2:46 pm
VR could be, in the very near future, incredibly helpful for reading defenses and what WR to throw it to, etc, but the software I saw that is out there is awful and unrealistic. The graphics don’t need to look real for it to be helpful – but it needs to move like the real game and be done in 3D to have any chance of not being a waste of time. It is the future people – VR and AR (augmented reality) and it’s really awesome. If you got the money and a high end PC pickup a Rift with touch controllers, then get a chick and put her in a virtual haunted house and enjoy the show.
March 26th, 2017 at 6:43 pm
I work in construction. Any timeline is possible. A one or 2 story state of the art building can be built in less than 6 months no problem.
Im currently building the milwaukee bucks training center. We started in December, should be finished in another 2 or 3 months. And this was an easy going schedule, no OT, no hard pushing for deadlines. A wide open indoor field with some locker rooms should be really fast to be put up.
March 26th, 2017 at 6:51 pm
And actually if the building is just a practice field (no locker rooms or other offices/kitchens) then it should go up really fast. 3 or 4 months should be easy. It would basically just be big pole barn with air conditioning. Easy peasy.
March 26th, 2017 at 8:35 pm
I question the value.
Jameis is going to put in more hours than anybody else on the team. That’s a given, he’s that kind of player. The question is, how many hours does he need to be alone? or should be alone? Let’s be clear about this, if JW is in a VR machine none of his teammates are improving. The defense isn’t practicing against him, the WR’s are not developing timing, he is on a developmental island. Maybe that’s good, but I don’t think so.
Reschedule the practices if need be, bring in the offense before the first string defense, or vice versa, mix it up however it makes sense. Putting your biggest asset into isolation doesn’t make clear sense to me.
March 27th, 2017 at 4:59 am
I guarantee you if the Bucs weren’t doing this, Bucs fans would be crying:”See, they won’t spend money”, but now they are TRYING to get better and you guys are still crying. Give me a f-ing break. At least they are trying, imperative word, trying. All the years of crappy teams I’ve/we’ve had to put up with ANYTHING that even gives them a remote possibilitie of being better, I’m all for it. Let’s give it a chance guys, who knows we may be ahead of the curve on this thing. One day we may look back and teams might be saying “Tampa led the way on this thing”
March 27th, 2017 at 7:35 am
I work in construction too. Lots of governmental, institutional and private projects all around the state. Indecision, funding and layers of approvals are what slows down the government work. Not so much in the private sector. Depending on the structure, there is no reason it couldn’t be finished at the conclusion of Training Camp. It’s probably little more than a big box.
March 27th, 2017 at 8:28 am
You know what I never understood, why players and coaches can’t have meetings more often in the offseason. Why can’t they even do some individual work with position coaches. Some of the best around are always practicing on their own. It’s not like the NFL is telling players not to train. I believe the second the new league year hits players and coaches should be able to get some kind of practice.
The NFLPA and NFL should be capable of coming up with restrictions like only individual and non contact drills can be done. They can also limit the time they can meet and practice. It’s ridiculous how players can’t even used the facility’s practice field to hiold a players only practice. These guys are professionals why not allow them to get better with their coaches