Recruiting Jameis
June 6th, 2017
Salesman.
Fascinating story in SI.com on just how speedy DeSean Jackson wound up wearing Bucs colors.
Jonathan Jones of SI.com, who was at One Buc Palace last year, dug deep and found out the genesis of getting Jackson actually began at training camp in 2016.
The Bucs confessed to Jones they knew the team lacked speed last summer when the team reported to One Buc Palace in late July.
When Jackson hit the free agent market, the Bucs, perhaps without saying anything, unleashed their secret weapon to lure Jackson: America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, types Jones.
Before the Bucs could sign Jackson—the league’s leader in 50-yard-plus receptions since 2008—to a three-year, $33.5 million contract, there was a recruitment process. Jackson, a three-time Pro Bowler, was about to be on his third team in 10 seasons and Jameis Winston wanted to be sure he landed in Tampa. So the third-year quarterback wrangled Jackson’s number and texted him nearly every day.
Winston then encouraged his top receiver Mike Evans to get in on the text game. Evans had played against Washington and Jackson twice in three years and considered the speedster a friend. He realized that he had Jackson’s number and shot him a text.
“Come holla at us” was the summary of Evans’ text to Jackson, who fired back, “How’d you know?” By the time Evans had texted Jackson, he had already made up his mind to be a Buccaneer. The next night, Evans, Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Monken were eating dinner together, getting to know each other and talking about the things to come.
Cool stuff. And notice that Monken broke bread with Jackson? Hhhmm? Maybe the two really do have a bond as Monken seemed to suggest.
Also in the story, Jones apparently asked Winston how can he keep all his receivers, including O.J. Howard, Cam Brate, Chris Godwin and Adam (Rudy!) Humphries happy with just one football? Jameis had a cool answer.
“I don’t discriminate. I throw to the open guy.”
Joe cannot remember the last time Joe was this stoked for an NFL season to start in June. Had to be 2002 when the Bucs traded for Chucky.
This should be fun.
June 6th, 2017 at 8:31 am
Backup Cannons will be require at Ray Jameis Stadium!!!!
Winston will wear them down to retirement! New ones will be ready on game days!!!
Go Bucs!!!
June 6th, 2017 at 8:38 am
I was pretty stoked in 2011 as well….but.
June 6th, 2017 at 8:42 am
Gotta stay healthy.
June 6th, 2017 at 8:43 am
Bucs fans should embrace what is happening. This should be a great Bucs team. The sky is the limit. Positive things to come. Stop being so pessimistic GO BUCS!!
June 6th, 2017 at 9:12 am
Jim right on, as a bucs fan, the bucs have won the pre-season on paper football several times, the bucs O weapons wise looks crazy, but the OL is shaky and Winston cannot be running for his life making crazy plays like the bears game last year, where each OT threw lookout blocks for jameis
June 6th, 2017 at 9:13 am
The thought of a nice LONG run of quality play frm this team is very exciting. This team has some great YOUNG talent to grow and play together for a very long time. starting of course with the franchise QB.
June 6th, 2017 at 9:29 am
@Jameis … “I don’t discriminate. I throw to the open guy.” Best response I’ve ever heard to that question.
June 6th, 2017 at 9:30 am
The new bucs give us hope. It’s the hold overs gmc, Martin and dotson who will derail the train. They simply don’t know how to win.
June 6th, 2017 at 9:42 am
Strategic.. So Monken had already had grub with Desean. Kinda easy to see that statement made that had everyone all up in arms was a stunt. More so for the public than it was for Desean.
June 6th, 2017 at 9:53 am
That’s certainly an awesome answer; however, it’s easier said than done. QBs generally get between 3 and 5 seconds to release the ball. Most QBs don’t get past their second read on any given play before they have to make a decision. In situations with 5 guys out in patterns, it’s nearly impossible to make all 5 reads.
But don’t take my word for it, look at the tape. You’ll see plenty of plays where Winston forced the ball to Evans when somebody else was wide open. NFL caliber QBs don’t toss 18 interceptions throwing to open receivers, that happens with bad reads and forcing the ball to covered receivers.
June 6th, 2017 at 10:26 am
Can’t wait.
June 6th, 2017 at 10:26 am
Can the Bucs average more than 40 points per game this year? Can the Bucs defense take a step forward? Wow! This could be fun to watch!!!!
June 6th, 2017 at 10:52 am
Joe cannot remember the last time Joe was this stoked for an NFL season to start in June.
It’s a FEVER Joe and we all have it!!!
Break out Carly Simon’s “Anticipation”.
June 6th, 2017 at 11:05 am
Yes, it is an exciting time!!!! But what was the most least exciting off-season Joe????
I would have to say when mark dominik recruited Jeff Jagodzinski and Jim Bates and all those failed and bad signings and draft of 2009!!!!!! 2014 was a very close second!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!
June 6th, 2017 at 11:39 am
Realist
Yes a tough call…for me though…as soon as I learned we had pinned our hopes on Josh McCown…that was the worst.
June 6th, 2017 at 11:42 am
“You’ll see plenty of plays where Winston forced the ball to Evans when somebody else was wide open. ”
Maybe over an entire season sure but this is idea that Winston was missing tons of open WRs every game is a myth that the tape doesn’t support…
Go look up all NFL QBs and their tape and all the wide open WRs they’ve also missed over the course of an entire season and get back to me on how badly Jameis compared….
All i know is he is the first QB in history to throw 4000+ yards 2 seasons in a row; and threw almost 30 TDs in his 2nd season despite having only 1 great skill WR; a bad o-line; and no run game. Worst YAC of any team in the league…
He also threw 1/3 of all his interceptions in 3 games out of 32 played. To act like he’s turnover prone every week is not a realistic observation. He’s 23 years old. I’m happy as f*ck he’s our QB.
June 6th, 2017 at 11:43 am
Who wouldn’t want to play for this guy?!
June 6th, 2017 at 11:48 am
“Jim Says:
June 6th, 2017 at 8:38 am
I was pretty stoked in 2011 as well….but”
Difference is that in 2010 we didn’t beat anyone worth sh1t. Last year we beat some very good playoff teams and our defense performed well against top offenses in the league.
In 2010; like last year; we finished with a great stretch of defense in terms of PPG allowed.
The difference – is that in 2010 the offenses we faced over that stretch were all terrible and ranked like 22-32 in PPG scoring – just go look it up it’s honestly remarkable how lucky that schedule was.
Last year over that 8 game stretch almost everyone we played had a top 10-15 offense and we still were a top 3 defense in PPG allowed (Saints x2 / Charges / Chiefs / Seahawks / Cowboys / Panthers – most are ranked top 10 and at worst like 15-16). THe Bears were literally the only team in that 8 week stretch that didn’t have a solid scoring offense and we absolutely destroyed them.
Have faith!
June 6th, 2017 at 11:58 am
LordC
Excellent point about other QB’s missing wide open receivers as well. Sometimes though I suspect for QB’s that break contain and keep plays alive…can you say #3…. it looks even worse on TV.
Once the QB is flushed from the pocket and running for his life routes are finished…players do whatever they can to get open…#3 or any QB tries to scan the field to find the open guys…but unlike a route where he knows precisely where to look for that guy…once plays are broken and dudes start freelancing it’s gets that much tougher to spot open guys. We see them easily from up high and on replays…QB’s are on a crowned field with big giants trying to crush them and impeding their vision.
June 6th, 2017 at 1:11 pm
@ St Pete
I just don’t think people have a realistic outlook about the NFL in general sometimes and seem to judge our players against unrealistic standards in a box…
to read a statement like “NFL caliber QBs don’t toss 18 interceptions throwing to open receivers” you would think that Winston is one of the worst QBs in the league or not even an “NFL caliber QB” as if he should be on the bench or something lol. And no one throws ANY interceptions throwing to open WRs lol… but NFL caliber QBs throw interceptions at an average of about 12 a season.. Take out Winstons 3 terrible games and he’s basically been throwing a completely normal rate of interceptions the other 29 games.
June 6th, 2017 at 1:11 pm
Keep them all happy is simple “just win!!! “
June 6th, 2017 at 1:24 pm
who doesn’t want to be a buc with a QB like Jameis…..GO BUCS!!!
June 6th, 2017 at 4:37 pm
All will need on O is 1 more point than what the D lets up when the clock hits 00:00 4Qtr. In the words of Lou Brown, “Starting to come together, Charlie… Starting to come together!”
June 6th, 2017 at 4:56 pm
But who does Jameis hit when there are 2-3 open receivers on every single pass play???
A good problem to have, I’d say….