Improved Accuracy
August 22nd, 2017
Getting better.
The elevated accuracy of America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, has been a recent subject of chatter.
Winning Bucs coach Dirk Koetter said accuracy was an offseason focus and charting every throw in practice shows about a 10 percent improvement for Jameis.
Jenna Laine of ESPN believes Jameis might have improved even more.
The numbers suggest it. Winston’s completion percentage has shot up from 59 percent last preseason to over 71 percent in 2017.
Some of that is the result of throwing more check-downs and taking what the defense gives him, a good thing for a young quarterback who still tries to do too much.
Now obviously this is good news, but again, preseason. Also, as much as Joe likes Jameis, Joe is not expecting Jameis to throw for a 70 percent completion percentage in the regular season. If he does, then playoffs is not an outrageous expectation.
Of course, it helps Jameis that instead of the schlock (sans Mike Evans and Cam Brate) he was throwing to last year, Jameis is throwing to Evans, Brate, DeSean Jackson, O.J. Howard and Chris Godwin.
August 22nd, 2017 at 7:13 am
Jameis will be considered elite after this year and I believe he will eventually be the top QB in the NFL
August 22nd, 2017 at 7:19 am
He does look better so far. Just win baby. Stats are stats. Doesnt matter to me who did what n who made the pro bowl, well unless its a losing season. Almost time for the real thing yeeeeeaaahhhhhh. Go Bucs
August 22nd, 2017 at 8:08 am
We already had a QB many JBF readers called “Captain Checkdown”. Hopefully Winston won’t receive the same treatment. I don’t care if Winston does a check down all game long if it means the team is making first downs or getting to 2nd and short.
August 22nd, 2017 at 8:31 am
Don’t forget Rudy. He catches everything.
August 22nd, 2017 at 9:06 am
The jump is because of fewer drops. Imagine if he’d had good WRs to throw to last year. He might have reached 5,000 and really set a record.
August 22nd, 2017 at 9:16 am
HE Had good receivers to throw to last year, he has better this year. It should be a much more accurate season for JW. The offense should have more sustained drives which will only help out the defense as well.
August 22nd, 2017 at 9:28 am
Bonzai, ‘fewer drops’ is certainly a big part of it, but receivers are also getting open more AND Jameis’ throws look to be more accurate from what I’ve seen (less over-throwing receivers, etc). And thus far Jameis doesn’t seem to have thrown all that many swing passes to the RBs (those are traditionally high percentage throws … Martin last yr caught 87%; Barber 83%; Rodgers 81%).
August 22nd, 2017 at 9:34 am
Of course, it helps Jameis that instead of the schlock (sans Mike Evans and Cam Brate) he was throwing to last year, Jameis is throwing to Evans, Brate, DeSean Jackson, O.J. Howard and Chris Godwin.
Of course I agree with Joe about that reason. I would add that IMHO it’s actually a combination of things…including the improved targets.
The OL in the first quarters of these two preseason games has looked a LOT better than last year’s team…and Ali didn’t even play in the Bengal game. I’m getting pretty excited about the potential of this OL.
And we should give a lot of credit to #3. In the Jags game he had time and he read through his progressions and found the open guy…this is simply maturity after two years in the league. In addition #3 FOCUSED on accuracy in the off season and his practice regimen seems to have paid off.
It’s all coming together…and is you set aside the huge wild card in the NFL…injuries…if we stay healthy…I think this team is just beginning to realize it’s potential…on defense as well as offense. I think we are a team that nobody will want to play in the second half of the season and first round of the playoffs.
August 22nd, 2017 at 9:44 am
Hitting a WR in stride (regardless of their talent or catch radius) leads to a lot more YAC. It’d the hidden benefit of accuracy, not just completion %. I hope to see Evan’s YAC go up and hopefully Hump and the others as well.
August 22nd, 2017 at 10:16 am
I could be wrong but I don’t think there’s ever been a team that had a quarterback that threw for over 70% that did not make the playoffs
August 22nd, 2017 at 10:47 am
@sb… no one typically throws for 70%… this is the preseason. Last only bradford threw for over 70%. He has to eliminate the stupid pass
August 22nd, 2017 at 12:25 pm
better targets….better protection….another year under his belt….GO BUCS!!!!
August 22nd, 2017 at 12:41 pm
better weapons + improved accuracy + better protection = a scary good offense in 2017
August 22nd, 2017 at 4:08 pm
As critical as I am of Winston’s accuracy, I have seen vast improvement. That toss behind Evans against Jacksonville was a little ugly, and I thought he overthrew OJ in the end zone (which may be expected as he figures out where his new weapons like the ball). But he needs to improve that from last year for us to see more points on the board, keep drives alive, and cut down on the EIGHTEEN turnovers from ’17.