Jason Licht On Jameis: “A Lot Smoother Player”
January 9th, 2018
Ahh, the evolution of Jameis Winston. It’s been a wild, wild ride.
America’s Quarterback has grown in so many ways and regressed in others.
For example, take Jameis’ fumbling problem. As a rookie, he actually was among the best QBs in the NFL at keeping his hands attached to the football. In the 2016, Jameis got a lot worse. This season he was the most charitable player in the league.
But Jameis also had some of his best career games this season and managed to cut the rate at which he throws interceptions and his completion percentage improved, despite a messed up shoulder.
Bucs general manager Jason Licht was waving a proud flag for Jameis last week on the Buccaneers Radio Network, just before Jameis shocked the NFL and beat the Saints with a winning TD bomb — after tossing three interceptions.
“He’s just got, in the last month since he’s been healthy, just a different mindset,” Licht said of Jameis. “You see a more relaxed feel to him. You still see the energy. You still see the fire in his eye. But he’s just, on the field, a lot smoother player. Those are some things we’re going to see going into next season, I’m sure.”
We shall see.
Less DeSean Jackson seemed to make Jameis a “smoother player.” Perhaps that’s just a coincidence?
Jameis has a lot to prove, and lots of room to grow. At least cut the turnovers in half, Jameis, and find a way to play solid football in the first halves of games. That would be Joe’s basic advice.
Hopefully, the Bucs will help Jameis — and the national perception of him — with a defense that doesn’t make you close your eyes.
January 9th, 2018 at 3:36 pm
Joe, serious request, is there any stats out there that breakdown the type of play calling? I say that Dirk changed his playcalling quite a bit starting at that Atlanta game, but perhaps it was in GB, and that changed the entire flow of the offense. If there are stats on things like play action passes broken down by quarter I’d love to know if Dirk used it as rarely as I thought in the first half early in the year, yet used it much more later, that’s my memory of it as it really stood out as being different. Also early in the year I think a lot of the yards came after the Bucs were down by a couple of scores as they played catch-up, but I wonder if that’s in my mind or real. I very much believe Dirk, when coaching for his job at the end of the season, he changed up his play calling quite dramatically and wasn’t nearly as conservative or predictable.
Again I have no idea if those stats are available anywhere, but if you find them, it would go a long way towards proving or disproving Dirk changed when his nuts were on the fire.
January 9th, 2018 at 3:47 pm
im so tired of stats…..stats are for losers…..
I just spoke to a guy that has been an eagles fan since the 70’s and asked him what was there offensive ranking?….he didn’t know….
I asked him about the defensive rankings and he replied,” I don’t know, their good tho”…..
now when it came to “X’S” and “O’s” he was spot on…..loved the defense shwarts brought in and talked about how wentz started to develop late in the season…..talked about how once they got ajayi they became more balanced….
but he could not tell me what they rankings were…..
regarding the bucs, all we talk about is stats…..NOT WINS!!!!….but stats…..and EXCUSES!!!!!…..
GO BUCS!!!!
January 9th, 2018 at 3:49 pm
preach on boi !
January 9th, 2018 at 4:12 pm
Nick Saban proved once again that’s it’s all about the 4th qrt. That’s when Jameis thrives.
January 9th, 2018 at 4:12 pm
Yes, I agree “stats are for losers” I want to read about what they’re doing about this last god awful season, are they seriously ok with this staff? Playoff teams are making changes, not the Bucs though, 5-11 must be ok.
January 9th, 2018 at 4:15 pm
Code for: My selection of Jamies was genius. I do like Jameis but Licht’s transparent way of congratulating himself is laughable. Sure seemed like Licht was in hiding for a while until it was announced he would be back.
January 9th, 2018 at 4:15 pm
Stats give you insight into what you are doing well, not doing well, and where you need to improve. It is a part of the equation. You know why stats are quoted when guys make the HOF? Because stats give you insight.
January 9th, 2018 at 4:15 pm
The OLine’s play certainly factors into Winston’s fumbles Joe.
2015 was our best Oline play in recent memory and Jameis had his least fumbles of the 3 seasons that year. Coincidence? I think not.
January 9th, 2018 at 4:16 pm
The bottom line is that Jameis is too competitive…..and yes, I believe you can be….there is always a point where the odds are great against making a viable play….at those times, Jameis needs to shut it down….both passing and trying to avoid sacks……take the sack, throw the ball away….even an intentional grounding is better than a sack/fumble.
Koetter can help Jameis with his playcalling…..call more play action on 1st downs…..call more passes on 2nd & 3rd and short…..don’t use an empty backfield unless absolutely necessary….more short passes…..screens and dinks & dunks….and, by all means improve his offensive line and get him a premier RB.
January 9th, 2018 at 4:22 pm
Thank you Pilgrim!
January 9th, 2018 at 4:23 pm
Put Jackson in the slot.
January 9th, 2018 at 4:26 pm
Licht promotes Jameis ever chance he gets because he knows his job security depends of Jameis’ success.
I think when the Glazers only extended Licht’s contract for one year, reluctantly brought Koetter back and with Jameis going into his contract year, I think that was the Glazer’s way of telling them “you guys have one more year to turn this thing around”
January 9th, 2018 at 4:29 pm
813Bucboi
All this is:
Trying to make something from nothing
Trying to spin a negative into a positive
January 9th, 2018 at 4:30 pm
Jameis is still a work in progress. I thought he made progress this year but his bum shoulder kind of messed up his season.
I thought he did a much better job of just dumping the ball off when receivers were not open and the play was dead…but he still has trouble with his pocket clock when it comes to the blindside. That’s a “feel” thing that I think will improve a lot the next two years or so.
January 9th, 2018 at 4:36 pm
You,re 9-7 in 2016
You’re 5-11 in 2017
But you have many positives about the season
SMDH
January 9th, 2018 at 4:46 pm
Actually stats are what you get into when your team doesn’t play for another 9 months. If you want to talk about wins then check in September and in the meantime just walk around mumbling to yourself about remembering to stick your face in a lawnmower. LOL!
January 9th, 2018 at 4:49 pm
“he still has trouble with his pocket clock when it comes to the blindside. That’s a “feel” thing”
Or is it a Donovan Smith “thing”. Most of the bad “blindsides” on Jameis this year came pretty damn quickly… along with at least a couple/few of those fumbles Joe is now continually railing about.
January 9th, 2018 at 4:49 pm
Y’all can blame Jameis all you want. They’re lesser qbs in the playoffs than him right now. Let’s see Jameis with a running game and a half way decent defense. Then we can judge. I seem to remember one of the greatest qbs of all time throw 9tds/17int and won the Superbowl. Who you might ask the immortal Peyton Manning. That season they won games with him throwing 5ints. Come on we need a great defense. So any of y’all think bortles is better than Jameis. If you do your lying to yourself. All qbs have their flaws. No qb wins the chip without a great d. Falcons had a historic offense last Superbowl. They folded under pressure like all Georgia teams do. Lol
January 9th, 2018 at 4:49 pm
Alot smoother?
If that’s the way Licht description of it I’m for it. Jw did look like a whole new qb coming back from injury. I’m happy w him and Licht
January 9th, 2018 at 4:53 pm
Pickgrin – Also I’d like to point out again that the fumble numbers are fake news. For example they counted the fumble at the goal line in GB against Winston, yet you watch the play and the fumble is by Barber who failed to secure the handoff. Because Barber never had possession of the ball, Winston was credited with a fumble.
How many more plays like that happened this year? Real question – I’m not sure.
January 9th, 2018 at 4:56 pm
Jameis the last month just looked like something clicked. He would take his checkdowns and even take off when necessary. He just made smarter football decisions and was more patient, rather than try to get chunk plays.
Also Dirk got his out out his turd cutter and switched up his playcalling. Lot more screens and short passes, and more importantly got the run game going by letting Barber fet some carries. This opened up the field for PA and screen game.
Hopefully Jameis and Dirk can pick up where they left off.
January 9th, 2018 at 4:59 pm
Also Dirk got his head out of his turd cutter****
January 9th, 2018 at 5:01 pm
Y’all can blame Jameis all you want. They’re lesser qbs in the playoffs than him. Let’s see Jameis with a running game and a half way decent defense. Then we can judge. I seem to remember one of the greatest qbs of all time throw 9tds/17int and won the Superbowl. Who you might ask the immortal Peyton Manning. That season they won games with him throwing 5ints. Come on we need a great defense. So any of y’all think bortles is better than Jameis. If you do your lying to yourself. All qbs have their flaws. No qb wins the chip without a great d. Falcons had a historic offense last Superbowl. They folded under pressure like all Georgia teams do. Lol. Go Bucs
January 9th, 2018 at 5:14 pm
“folded under pressure like all Georgia teams do” Ouch – too soon perhaps?
January 9th, 2018 at 5:14 pm
Luke Stocker is playing next weekend with the Titans….happy for him
that said that article is a perfect example why stats should only be used as part of an overall conclusion….OJ Howard with be just fine
January 9th, 2018 at 5:14 pm
LakeLand Says:
January 9th, 2018 at 4:36 pm
You,re 9-7 in 2016
You’re 5-11 in 2017
But you have many positives about the season
SMDH
^^BINGO^^
I wish the owners and licht would come up and say,” this season was a failure and if things don’t get better soon as in 2018 changes will be made”….
that would give me confidence that were headed in the right direction….but maybe they had that convo privately with dirk….GO BUCS!!!
January 9th, 2018 at 5:15 pm
well espn has Bortles rated MUCH higher the Winston. ..no love for the bad bucs!
January 9th, 2018 at 5:16 pm
Syl Says:
January 9th, 2018 at 4:23 pm
Put Jackson in the slot.
^^BINGO^^
GO BUCS!!!!
January 9th, 2018 at 5:18 pm
@BucThis
lol I’m seriously starting to wonder if PFF is an anti-Bucs website or is just a big trolling organization in general.
That graphic is one of the dumbest things I’ve seen all year:
Mike Williams / Corey Davis / John Ross all did better than OJ Howard and Evan Engram? Lmfao. Ok. O f*cking K.
Patrick Mahomes graded out better than Trubisky who graded out better than Deshaun Watson – WTF hahaha?! Seriously – WTF?
Fournette behind McCaffery my 4ss. Fournette was their entire offense basically all year. Stewart was a better inside runner than McCaffery.
Seriously what a joke..
January 9th, 2018 at 5:19 pm
BucThis those grades are so laughable. They had John Ross (1 play and fumbled) and Mike Williams (hurt and didn’t do squat all year) rated higher than OJ and Evan Engram. Just pure garbage.
January 9th, 2018 at 5:21 pm
BucThis – That’s hilarious, OJ had a great season as rookie and looks like a future star. Those Irish potato smugglers at PFF really don’t know what they’re doing a majority of the time.
January 9th, 2018 at 5:22 pm
Alaskan – I totally missed on Ross being there, that’s even more fantastic. What a bunch of drunks they got working there.
January 9th, 2018 at 5:26 pm
The Bucs were 2-14 in 2014
6-10 in 2015
They fired the Head Coach and his defensive staff
They couldn’t find enough positive to retain them
The Bucs were 9-7 in 2016
The Bucs were 5-11 in 2017
But now they find a lot of positives about the 5-11 season
Bottom Line
This franchise is a joke
January 9th, 2018 at 5:28 pm
^^BINGO^^
what @Lakeland said!!!!!!!
pissing in the wind indeed!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
January 9th, 2018 at 5:33 pm
Joe’s,
When do you think we will hear from Jason Licht, it initially seemed like he was going to be a GM that was more accessible and I feel like he has been hiding behind closed doors and letting Dirk get murdered. Can we expect an end of season press conference?
January 9th, 2018 at 5:33 pm
I was going to post that PFF stuff earlier but it was off-topic on the thread I was on. Probably best example yet of how utterly insignificant many of their stats are.
January 9th, 2018 at 5:33 pm
It almost seems as if Winston is a 24 yo qb learning how to play the the position with no running game and a suspect oline and defense. I think we should cut him now and start over though…after all there are other qbs who played below average, got very lucky and won playoff games (don’t look at the supporting cast please…its all on the qb)
January 9th, 2018 at 5:49 pm
Look, ownership and Licht are trying to put the best face on a calamity of a season. Honesty and forthrightness left the building… or perhaps never entered the building. I suppose they think we’re stupid. Between the crappy season and the protests, Ray Jay will be half to 3/4 full next season. Believe me on this one.
January 9th, 2018 at 5:57 pm
In 2015 the Bucs started 6 rookies
And the rookies played well
But they couldn’t find anything positive about the season
So they fired the Head Coach and defensive staff
January 9th, 2018 at 5:57 pm
Lakeland right on, its crazy how lcht is trying to spray perfume on this turd, licht has no clue on the identity of this team and you have to be craxy to think top flight FAs gonna want to come here in this lame duck year, you know djax and swaggy are telling ppl to stay clear of cleveland south
January 9th, 2018 at 6:02 pm
The only time they want to talk about us was when Gruden was “rumored” to come back. Now it’s just negative bullish!t. I hope Dirk Licht Winston Evans and Kwon read all this sh!t and we kick some arse next year.
January 9th, 2018 at 6:04 pm
Not for nothing but any coach that can win a SB with this franchise deserves 20mil per year.
January 9th, 2018 at 6:47 pm
The rules for success are different for Jameis than they are for a Carr, Mariota, Wentz, Golf, etc.
January 9th, 2018 at 6:50 pm
Stats are for people who understand them. If you do not understand statistics, it is no different than eating W’s.
January 9th, 2018 at 7:16 pm
Funny how when Jameis has had a decent game or two Licht is everywhere singing his praises. When Jameis has stunk up the field Licht is nowhere to be found
January 9th, 2018 at 7:32 pm
Please tell me how this state is known to be one the most football rich yet we have some of the most clueless fans on the planet. And to boot most of them comment on this hear site
January 9th, 2018 at 7:38 pm
Clueless franchise, that’s why they are in a 10 year playoff drought. So much for the football rich state of Florida.
January 9th, 2018 at 7:46 pm
Bucs finished 5-11, we dont deserve to be talked about. Lets not fool ourselves, Jameis is only 23 and has a huge future ahead of him. It might be a Vinny Testaverde kind of future but he is good enough that he will be in the league a long time. Until he gets his head right and can play the best in the biggest moments, patience is our only option. At this point he is falling short of our crazy expectations but the bar is set so high how can that not be the case. Our best hope in the near future is a good O-line, a good complementary running game and a hell of a defense. Funny how that sounds like most of the playoff teams this year.
January 9th, 2018 at 7:52 pm
The problem is Licht has had no plan on building this teams identity. The best formula to a winning team. Great team. Superbowl caliber team. Great running game great defense. How can you spend so many hours in football and not know that look at the jags. I wouldn’t be surprised if they won the Superbowl. Tom Coughlin knows it’s all about the defense. And dline in particular. Why Licht has only selected 1 second round de and a 7th round dt. He should be fired just for that. Build the trenches out. Imagine instead of Mike Evans we had Aaron Donald and gmc on the same line come on man. Licht #buildtheTRENCHES!!
January 9th, 2018 at 7:53 pm
Dreambig
I hope you’re not pinning your hopes on Jason Licht building a complete team. If you are, then you are in for a major let down. You have better odds of winning the Powerball.
January 9th, 2018 at 8:00 pm
Licht should spend all our draft picks on dline. Since we all know he can’t sign good free agents. We don’t need pro bowl cbs if you have a dominant pass rush.
January 9th, 2018 at 8:04 pm
When the Bucs went All-Offense in the 2014 Defensive Loaded draft. I knew then that they didn’t have a clue and the franchise was headed for major failure. But that wasn’t bad enough, they drafted one defensive player the next year (4th round). So here we are a few years later and people are whining about the defense.
January 9th, 2018 at 8:44 pm
this licht should be the last one speaking ……
koetter has a right to remain more than him….anyone fool can hit on high draft picks how sorry we WERE/ ARE
but he cant hit on late round picks HARDLY EVER…..and gets credit for a one off Camron brate and thinks he is a GOD GM
January 9th, 2018 at 8:51 pm
Lakeland – I wish I could disagree.
January 9th, 2018 at 8:53 pm
Jason Licht = Chief Turd Polisher
January 9th, 2018 at 9:04 pm
Lakeland
U r right about that. We still have a veteran defense who are established in this league than to offense is all young guys. (Vets are my biggest disappointment of the year player wise) . these articles from Joe is all but saying that this Defense coach staff have not proven to develop young players. So we must go veteran on that side.
January 9th, 2018 at 9:18 pm
Lamarcus
What young players on defense?
Kwon Alexander
Vernon Hargreaves
Noah Spence
Ryan Smith
Devontae Bond
Stevie T
Justin Evans
How can you develop them while they’re on IR?
January 9th, 2018 at 9:27 pm
These are the defensive players that Jason Licht drafted.
Kwon Alexander missed 8 games in 3 years
Vernon Hargreaves missed 7 games in 2 years
Noah Spence has missed 10 games in 2 years
Ryan Smith drafted to be Safety, playing corner
Devante Bond missed 18 games in 2 years
Stevie T missed all of 2017
Justin Evans is coming along good
January 9th, 2018 at 9:27 pm
Why is Devante Bond on this team??? Why?? Can someone please?? That guy is such a non factor
Hargarves is a good man to man corner and that tape doesn’t lie. But in this system where is his upside?? Nickel??
Kwon puts Vasoline on jersey before game time cuz his tackling is meh
Spence is too small and outmatched
Ryan smith is not good yet
Evans is good and a starter
Stevie T low impact.
The most impact your getting is from the vets. Mostly I do believe cuz msmith can’t develop young players. It’s the whackest defensive scheme I ever seen
January 9th, 2018 at 9:35 pm
Those Jason Licht draftees has missed a combined total of 64 games. That’s a lot of games in such a short period. How can they be developed? Watching films or in the spa?
January 9th, 2018 at 9:48 pm
I forgot about Kendell Beckwith, he’s coming along good, but he’s a natural ILB.
January 9th, 2018 at 9:51 pm
@Dusthty Rhothdes … “Its crazy how Licht is trying to spray perfume on this turd, licht has no clue on the identity of this team and you have to be crazy to think top flight FAs gonna want to come here in this lame duck year.” Dusthty I think you’ve hit upon what could be TWO major issues in this coming off-season.
Bucs are caught in a no-man’s land much like the Saints were a couple years ago. They want to be an Offensive team, BUT … their defense was badly neglected & it cost them big-time. Now that they’ve improved their defense, they’ve got a legitimate shot to contend for the SB title. Licht poured lots of resources in the Offensive side of the team, but neglected the Defense. Now we’re paying the price, just like the Saints did.
FAs may think twice about coming here, but 2 things work in our favor. First, we’ve got $$$ in CAP space, whereas a goodly % of the teams don’t (last I heard, FAs still like money). Second, Bucs’ core, offense AND defense, is still young with many of them quite talented. For some FAs, that could be quite enticing. Don’t anticipate us fixing our problems overnight, but they are fixable in 2-3 years IMO.
January 9th, 2018 at 9:53 pm
They can be developed by coaching. Even injury u can learn things from a different perspective.
To fix 80 percent of our problems is cutting dm and getting a stud rb that can close out games then u can lesson the pressure off of everyone and alota areas.
January 9th, 2018 at 10:02 pm
Wow Lakeland, you’re hot tonight. Great observations, especially about the 2014 draft, about the injuries to our young defensive players, and their impact on player development.
D the Bucs Fan hit it on the head when he wrote “The problem is Licht has had no plan on building this teams identity.” He obviously wanted an Offensive identity, but has come to the realization that that doesn’t work all that well in today’s NFL. There has to be some semblance of balance on both sides of the ball to be competitive today.
January 9th, 2018 at 10:11 pm
Defense Rules
2-3 years is a long time to fix things don’t u think? I say we are not that far off a few players here and there
Get a run game and a pass rush and we are good
January 9th, 2018 at 10:31 pm
You can coach players a scheme. But remember every game they miss, they also miss a week of practice. And the Bucs young guys has missed a total of 64 games. That’s 64 weeks they have miss, it’s easy for young guys to fall behind the veterans.
January 9th, 2018 at 10:41 pm
If I start a new job tomorrow and I start learning the job. Then after a few months on the job I get sick and have to miss work. That will set me back because I haven’t completely learned the job. There’s a lot that I haven’t learned about the job.
January 9th, 2018 at 10:43 pm
The Bottom Line
Rookies can’t afford to miss time
January 10th, 2018 at 6:40 am
Most mis-used catch phrase in sports, “stats are for losers.” Any and all (ALL) competitive enterprises known to man use stats. They are for everyone. Winners use them to justify what they are doing right/wrong just as much as losers.
January 10th, 2018 at 9:29 am
Draft this guy a kicker or another linebacker oh wait… really need 1st round full back or don’t let a long snapper fall to the 3rd round Jason!!! So many needs!