Moving Forward With Jameis Winston
November 19th, 2017
Guest column by The Optimist
Once upon a time on JoeBucsFan.com, Joe used to share the words of THE OPTIMIST each week. THE OPTIMIST is Bucs fan and writer Nick Houllis, a lifelong supporter who wrote about the Bucs for years — even for the Washington Post — and still drops some thoughts at BucStop.com.
Given these very trying times for Bucs fans, Joe thought it would be a good time to call upon THE OPTIMIST for his thoughts. He will shine that positive light in your eyes — like it or not. THE OPTIMIST’s views are his own.
We have waited a long time for a franchise QB to make his way to Tampa Bay, so we can watch NFL Highlights and see our guy throwing TDs instead of all the others.
Finally, we have our own right here and it’s overdue for the Jameis Winston questioners to put away their pencils and paper; the exam is over. Grade is in.
Jameis Winston is a Grade A quarterback headed toward an all-star career, for those that question whether he’s is the right guy or not — or who may want to waste a draft pick on a QB “just in case.”
NFL greats Joe Montana, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Kurt Warner, Russell Wilson, Brett Favre, Drew Brees, not a ONE OF THEM (or anyone else) has had a first two seasons like Jameis did.
Not just two 4,000 yard seasons in his first couple of years, which is hard enough to do even if you join a great team. No, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had nothing in common with the concept of turnkey club, except the Bucs coaches who turned the keys in their car every two years to get the heck out of Dodge!
This was a franchise that was 2-14 and finishing seasons in the division cellar year in and year out. That’s what welcomed Winston into the National Football League. His first pass was a pick-6 against the Tennessee Titans, yet Jameis Winston overcame that poor start and threw for more NFL yards passing before his 23rd birthday than any other QB in history (and 66 yards short of another record).
Jameis threw 22 touchdowns yet no player caught more than four of them. Three other players caught three TDs. In year two, Winston improved TD totals, completion percentage, and quarterback rating.
And yet you still hear the negativity when the Bucs lose, “Do we want to stick with Jameis?” or “Mike Evans makes Jameis a good QB, it’s all Evans.”
Evans had 1,200 of Winston’s rookie 4,000-yard season, and 1,321 of the next. That’s just over 25 percent of his yards. In fact Jameis spread the ball around to 10 players in 2015, and nine last year without anything that resembles a running game.
- Franchise record 4,090 passing yards in a season: 2016
- Franchise record 28 passing TDs in a season: 2016
- Second all-time in the NFL, passing yards in first two seasons (8,132)
- Only NFL QB with two 4,000 passing yard seasons in first two years
If you take Jameis away, what you have is the last few weeks; non-competitive offense, interceptions and turnovers, basically Bucs football before Jameis Winston.
November 19th, 2017 at 6:20 am
You can pump those stats all you want. It’s absolutely meaningless. All of them.
You know why? He has a losing record as a QB and that’s the one stat that matters.
All those other QB’s you mentioned are Super Bowl winners.
Jameis has a long long way to go to get one of those.
I like Jameis but a ton of those stats are garbage time stats. Truth.
Be real.
What matters more? Throwing for 350 in a loss or 175 in a win?
November 19th, 2017 at 6:31 am
I agree with Sweep, stats mean nothing.
Its the win loss column. I look at
November 19th, 2017 at 6:33 am
Just imagine if Jameis had an accurate deep ball throw. I mean if he even completed one out of five throws over 30 yards downfield we would have won more games for sure. Only stat that really matters is wins. The Bucs sure don’t seem like they are threatening to have a winning record anytime soon let alone make the playoffs. The Jameis train is crashing or at least coming off the tracks and it will take a miracle to right this ship. Go Bucs!
November 19th, 2017 at 6:37 am
Jason Licht has a horrible record as GM. It’s time for him to go, too many wasted draft picks. Too many bum free agent signings, 20-37 record.
November 19th, 2017 at 6:49 am
It is funny how short of a memory people have. We ALL used to watch Bucs football for how great the defense played and we HOPED the offense would not screw up too badly. Whoever was at QB was never exciting to watch. They were all true “game managers”.
Now we have a QB is clearly exciting to watch, he can scramble to keep a play alive, thread the needle on a pass and you wonder how he did that. But the fans grow impatient with his growing pains. I am as frustrated with the Bucs season as anyone – I have been a fan for almost 30 years. But it is not all on Jameis. Our defense sucks; we have NO pass rush and glaring weaknesses at defensive back; we have NO running game – no matter the talent level of players that surround Jameis, in the NFL, how does a team do well on offense with no running game? Not shoring up the DE and RB positions this year was beyond questionable (reminds me of some of Lovie stupidity).
Personally, I think the QB position is the last thing I would be concerned with. I like Licht, but he gets a failing grade this year in my book
November 19th, 2017 at 6:50 am
Sweep nailed it.
He’s to inconsistent all the time, never known when and you know he will decide to make that Jameis mistake. Teams don’t fear him. Good guy just not a franchise QB.
November 19th, 2017 at 6:50 am
Nice try Joe, appreciating that optimism is good. Usually. But the offense has sputtered this year with or without Jameis, even when they were 100% (or close) to healthy. Franchise quarterbacks don’t find themselves continuously at the center of controversy. I’m not believing or saying Jameis did the sex crime alleged, but important to note is franchise QBs don’t allow themselves to be put into positions of being involved with them. They don’t hang around people that do it. What happened in March of LAST YEAR was the very first NFL offseason (test) for Jameis…and with a civil suit already over his head he still got mixed up in a mess…and worse, apparently didn’t tell his team who placed great faith and risk in him about his involvement in the very type of behavior they were concerned about. Franchise QBs don’t put themselves into situations where they may get a six game or worse suspension. Winston’s accuracy for having played 40 NFL games plus is sub-par, and his on-field decision making is as suspect as his off-field decision making.
Indeed, there is not enough yet to make a good call on whether Jameis is a franchise QB, but with what I see overall so far, right now the answer is he is NOT one. His development has flatlined this year (if not regressed), and his character is back into being suspect.
The best assessment and outlook, down quite a bit from the end of last season, that I can come up with right now for Jameis is he is a solid NFL QB but is not reliable to get the job done consistently on the field because of his poor decisions and lack of accuracy, and he is not someone you want as the face of your franchise because of what the public sees as flawed character.
At worst, Jameis is an immature BS artist who is not reliable or consistent, who uses poor judgment on and off the field; he is somone who will never lead an NFL team to any kind of championship and you certainly don’t him to be your posterchild for your team.
November 19th, 2017 at 7:00 am
Let me first say my comments are only related to play on the field. No doubt about it. Jameis has the skills and the heart we have been looking for. He is still so young that it his hard to predict if he has peaked or not. We don’t know if or when he is going to grow up when it comes to his actions on the field. Only time will tell. This season has been so depressing all around that fingers are going to be pointed. The run game has been a joke. When was the last time we scored a TD in the first half? Why does the O line keep getting penalties during promising drives. This team has bigger talent and coaching issues right now than QB…or so it seems.
November 19th, 2017 at 7:05 am
I only counted 52 players getting on the bus to the airport yesterday. Did not see Jameis. I am betting he did not make the trip because team ownership and GM did not want to see him around…for media and maybe out of disgust? The other two guys who are “out” today, VHIII and Will Gholston, did make the trip.
If the injury wasn’t already enough impetus, the NFL investigation is plenty. I think we’ve see all we’re going to see of Jameis on the field this year. If the allegations are true, I’d say we’ve seen all we’ll see of Jameis actually playing for the Bucs. I sure hope he didn’t do it, and really hope he can produce the receipt that shows multiple passengers, or gets some favorable testimony. Even then, he’s in deep trouble if he knew about it and said nothing to the owners who took great risk and put their trust in him…only to have him screw up in his very first NFL off season, which is the first test of any player with a history of trouble.
November 19th, 2017 at 7:08 am
You are all a bunch of whiney ass losers!
If you had Montana and 15-1 record you’d whine that you should be undefeated and we need a change.
You all seem to have a entitled attitude and the reason why is a mystery,since the Bucs have never been cosistently a contender in fact just the opposite, and Roy you’ve proven your ignorance in many posts
November 19th, 2017 at 7:08 am
Most sad of all…Doug Martin, Mike Evans, Jameis Winston (for not telling his team of the incident, if he didn’t)…each players who are or have been considered posterboys for the team…have screwed up big over the past year.
And by the way, we are still firmly in the NFL South basement.
November 19th, 2017 at 7:09 am
Notonline4…thanks for the words.
November 19th, 2017 at 7:17 am
Sad…..
November 19th, 2017 at 7:20 am
The Pessimist happens to be an Uber driver.
November 19th, 2017 at 7:21 am
Notonline I agree 100% with you. Our fan base or whiny little bitches base as they should be called needs to grow a pair and find the fault where it really lies…. with our pathetic defense and some stupid moves by Licht. Period!
November 19th, 2017 at 7:24 am
Jameis touters fins his recent allegations hard to gro… er grasp
November 19th, 2017 at 7:29 am
Find*
November 19th, 2017 at 7:31 am
Set a few records in garage time and your a franchise quarterback? Okay dokie buddy and we all know #1 picks always turn out to be Superbowl winning Qbs who stay with there team 4-ever and Mary Poppins flies with an umbrella
November 19th, 2017 at 7:31 am
Totally disagree Joe. Assuming you realize Joe didn’t write this. –Joe If you take Jameis away, with all of his hype and non=completions..And give us a great Defense, you have victories and a shot at a superbowl. I’d rather have an average QB and a great Defense anyday. What good is scoring 30 when your opposition scores 31? Jameis is piling up the stats, We want playoffs and a SB victory, Not a..Dan Marino!
November 19th, 2017 at 7:35 am
??
November 19th, 2017 at 7:46 am
If Baker Mayfield falls to the second round I say we draft him for insurance. He’s gonna be a helluva player in the NFL
November 19th, 2017 at 8:01 am
Looks like all the wannabe GM’s were dead wrong about choosing Shamus over Marcus.
November 19th, 2017 at 8:03 am
I agree with the sentiment and facts of the optimist.
#3 has shown us enough to realize he’s a legitimate franchise QB with plenty of strengths and weaknesses. He’s still very much a work in progress and so the jury is still out…most of his flaws are easily fixed…it’s called maturity.
If I had a concern it’s his judgement both on and off the field. He’s just now 23 his last “incident’ was when he was 21. Not defending the stooopid decision making on or off the field…just giving a possible explanation and a reason to keep hanging one for one more year to see what we’ve got…and that goes for Licht, Koetter, Smitty….#onemoreyear
If we got a ton of draft picks I could see trading GMC..and I’m a huge GMC fan…just might be time though for the right compensation.
November 19th, 2017 at 8:11 am
As soon as he stops eliminating the “atta boys” with those “oh sh*ts”, especially the absolute moronic “oh sh*ts”, he can be great. It does little good to pass for 60 yards on a drive and then do something stupid in the red zone because you think you’re invincible.
November 19th, 2017 at 8:18 am
I believe in you Famous!
November 19th, 2017 at 8:22 am
looks like one of the guys that was in the back of the car with JW3 came forward!!!!!!!!
Again, take the accusations seriously, but let an investigation go forward before jumping to conclusions like the media with an agenda!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!
November 19th, 2017 at 8:29 am
a franchise qb should NOT be inaccurate , can’t connect on the long ball or make poor decisions on the field….
November 19th, 2017 at 8:38 am
All of you “it’s all about the W’s” people do realize it’s a team game? I know it’s fun to say “well you can put Tom Brady on the Browns and they’re instantly a winner” but that’s just dumb. Jameis made this lousy football team better instantly but let’s not forget, they were lousy! While it’s the most important position on the field, it’s still just one position.
Now, he and the team showed great improvement in year 2 so everyone was super psyched for year 3. But this is not the same team. Defense has been horrible most of the time and we have zero running game. Again, I don’t care who you put at QB of this team in its current condition they will struggle.
I have seen enough of him at FSU and here to know this guy, if he keeps his head on straight (and that’s a big if) will be a superstar in this league provided the coaching is also here. I hope all of you saw Marcus Mariotta the other night. People in Tennessee are starting to turn in him saying he stares down one receiver and doesn’t have the head for stardom.
November 19th, 2017 at 8:55 am
I wish all those posting non-stop negative comments could be traded in for new fans.
Seriously, our fan base is embarrassing.
November 19th, 2017 at 9:10 am
We don’t see the game films. But we do attend the games or watch them on TV. Winston has the talent and the stats. But is not accurate with the long passes, gets frustrated too often and throws interceptions or fumbles. In their 3rd year the coaches say QB’s should really improve. Winson seems worse this year to me. And Fritz won a game with the same O Line, running game, defense. How is that when Winston could not?
November 19th, 2017 at 9:48 am
I’m always shocked how little about football SOOOO many of the commenters here know. It’s borderline SAD!
Jameis is 23. How many of those dudes above had won a Super Bowl by they time they were 23. I’ll wait while you look it up… Go ahead, use spell-check…
The beauty of taking a QB so young is that he gets those years to hone his talent. This season, Jameis is the same age as most rookie QBs are (historically) during there first years. How were Manning’s stats during his age 23 season.
Those of you who dismiss what he’s accomplished by the age of 23 and spout off stuff like, “the only stats I look at from my worn out 80’s era barcalounger while dreaping cheap yellow beer is wins” are just clueless.
November 19th, 2017 at 10:07 am
Stats are worthless. The culture of losing is created by this lack of accountability, lack of maturity and and selfish attitude and lack of character displayed by JW, Evans, Martin…Litch has drafted or re-signed these children and he should have been fired long time ago.
November 19th, 2017 at 10:44 am
I have ONE answer Joe, as the most pure keep it 100 fan there is..
GUILTY OR NOT THIS WHOLE FRANCHISE NEEDS A BIG BROOM SWEEP OF THE LOSING ALL THE WAY IGNORANT ATTITUDE
GLAZERS !!!! BILLION DOLLAR FIX…..HIRE GRUDEN…GIVE THAT LONG TIME JOB YOU PROMISED TO BROOKS……KEEP JAMEIS ON A YR TO YR BASIS ….DRAFT BAKER MAYFIELD OR JOSH ALLEN AS A JUST IN CASE ….
BAKER HAS 70% PERCENTAGE COMP RATE ALL KINDS OF TDS ….ALLEN IS A JOSH FREEMAN 10=6 TALENT MINUS THE CRAZY
BROOKS WILL TAKE CARE OF TALENT BROUGHT IN ON DEFENSE
KEEP MIKE SMITH OR HIRE ONE OF THE BEST PERSONNEL PRE GM IN A VERY GOOD DEFENSIVE TEAM…..
BRING BACK CREAMSICKLES!!!!! #LAVONTESAIDIT PUT A MEAN PIRATE FACE ON THERE GET RID OF THE ORANGE FACE….AND BRING A WHOLE NEW FRONT OFFICE UNDER BROOKS AND PEOPLE HE CAN BRING IN
AND IF JAMEIS ISNT TOP LEVEL BY NEXT YEAR…..THATS IT…..I DONT WANNA HEAR ITS A NEW SYSTEM CRAP FROM YOU IGNORANT FANS…BECAUSE OTHER QBS ARE PERFORMING ….NOT 2 GOOD GAMES…..AFTER YOU REBUILD BOTH LINES…..YOU HAVE THE OFFENSIVE TALENT TO WIN WITH JOSHUA ALLLEN GO BUCS!!!!!!!!
BRING BACK THE CREAMSICKLES!!!!!!!
November 19th, 2017 at 10:45 am
It’s a simple test. When Jameis drops back to pass does your heart rate speed up with fear? His stupidity on and off the field makes him a bust. I watched his antics at fsu – remember his behavior on the sideline during that one game suspension? He doesn’t get it and never will.
All of those passers you compared him to don’t give their fan bases heart palpitations when like Jameis does. Piling up stats in garbage time when the game is out of reach is worthless. Let me know when he comes out and dominates from the first snap. He has only done it once and that was two years ago against the eagles.
November 19th, 2017 at 11:04 am
Charter Season Ticket Holder: really? A win against the Jets is your litmus test? By the way, it was an ugly win and Fitz looked pretty mediocre if you ask me. The difference was the defense played well against a very poor offense.
Also, as Tony From LA accurately points out above, Jameis’ stats are better than most QB’s at this stage of their career. Annnd, we showed significant progress from year 1 to year 2 with him at QB. Unfortunately, this team has taken a step back this year in other years, namely Defense and OL. In fact, the coaches are being very upfront that these are the problems with this team.
Can Jameis play better? Absolutely. But he has played well enough for this team to have won more games with all things being equal to last year. Jameis did not lose the NE game and he basically won the Buffalo game for us if the defense played at all. That would make us 5-4 now and everyone would be singing a different tune.
November 19th, 2017 at 11:05 am
Should say “other areas” ^^
November 19th, 2017 at 11:39 am
Da Bucs Says:
November 19th, 2017 at 8:55 am
I wish all those posting non-stop negative comments could be traded in for new fans.
Seriously, our fan base is embarrassing.
____________________
Fan base is embarrassing? This sad sack of an embarrassing “organization” should be thankful they still have any fans. What’s embarrassing is year after year being told this is the year, only to have this team suck again. What’s embarrassing is having the face of the franchise, America’s Groper, who is viewed as a serial sexual assaulter by a majority of the United States population not living in the greater Tampa Bay area. Keep this up, and you’ll be able to count the number of fans on your fingers and toes. The Bucs are a joke!
November 19th, 2017 at 12:03 pm
Lightningbuc – amen brother! The kid is a headcase and not worthy of being the next $100MM qb.
November 19th, 2017 at 12:32 pm
Trade me in. I’m done with it. Watching young men sacrifice their future health and mental facilities for our entertainment has been steadily eroding any enjoyment from enriching billionaires. When Winston, a child in a adult rapists’ body, was drafted, I had a premonition that this would be the end of my 41 year fandom. Now we are adrift. Go down with the ship if you will. I won’t be here.
November 21st, 2017 at 10:22 am
SweepTheLeg- The stats are all that matters, and all we can grade Winston on at this time. A TEAM wins a Super Bowl, which is why Marino has as many Super Bowl rings as Archie Manning.
The stats say, he’s doing something no one else has done, and no matter the accuracy, no matter the groping allegation outcome, which happened after I wrote this, Jameis makes the games competative. In a year in which Mike Evans has taken the year off, the whole year seems like that year that young good teams have in between a breakout year, and the years of consistent winning. Lets hope so at least.
November 21st, 2017 at 10:27 am
Harry In Costa Rica, Thats because most of these people haven’t been Bucs fans for very long. They probably couldn’t name the other two QBs who started for the Bucs in 2010, Josh Freemans rookie year, much less watch a single down of Dungy Defense Bucs football to k now what were talking about.
ANd for those who feel W/L is more important than stats? OK. if you feel the QB is the only player on the team responsible for a win. If you feel Jameis deserves the L vs Pats as opposed to Special Teams…then sure, its more important. 9-7 last year is sure better than cellar dweller.
November 21st, 2017 at 10:35 am
Oh Im with Lightning Buc, our fanbase is embarrassing. You guys turn on the team just a few GAMES after things get tough. Not a few seasons of tough… GAMES. You were probably all GUNG HO Jameis is God after opening day, printing Super Bowl tickets, and now everyone is ‘Im done” because his polish on deep balls with a new WR isn’t just right yet. You act like Jameis hadn’t thrown any deep TD passes to Vincent Jackson or Mike Evans over the last few years.. maybe the timing was better?
Its the reason we get the name “Gooberville” from national columnists, because of fans like you guys who pull your Bucs magnets off your refrigerators the first sign of trouble, but then jump on the bandwagon so fast when the winning begins again, then gets offended when anyone has the audacity to say your a fair weather fan. Thats why there are 20k other team fans in our stands every year, until the team goes 10-6 a few years in a row, and you cant find a seat in the place. Fair-weather fans we have in Tampa Bay, and the new batch is doing NOTHING to quell that notion. To the faithful like LIghtningBuc and others who dont care what the record is, I salute you all! Go Bucs