True Believers, Jameis & Leading Brett Favre
April 18th, 2018
BY IRA KAUFMAN
Jameis Winston is bubbling over with good stuff you can’t teach, yet he has so much to learn.
To say this is a big season for No. 3 is a little like saying Tropicana Field occasionally has some seats available.
Obvious, obvious, obvious.
When Winston took to the podium earlier this week as players filtered back into One Buc Place, his wide smile was on display once again.
That’s because football is Winston’s oxygen — he can’t live without it.
That’s why, despite Winston’s career record of 18-27, everyone in the building believes he is destined for big things.
Count me in as a true believer.
In the NFL, you can only fake passion and enthusiasm for a while before you’re exposed as a fraud. Demar Dotson said he can spot a fake very quickly … and I think that holds true for Buc fans as well.
Say what you will about Winston’s fumbles, interceptions and poor reads, but never doubt the man’s dedication to this sport and his teammates. When we sat down with Joel Glazer last month, the co-owner of the Bucs couldn’t stop talking about Winston’s work in the community and his fervor for the game.
Big Talk, Big Appreciation
Those remarks made their way back to a fourth-year quarterback who appreciates the support.
“It meant a lot to me because I know my work ethic for this organization and for this team is unparalleled,” Winston said.
From someone else, those words can be seen as boastful and self-serving. Guess what? Winston isn’t someone else.
“Every day I walk in this building. I’m trying to be the best I possibly can be and be a great leader for this organization, so to have the support of ownership, it really inspires me to continue to work hard and continue to be the leader that I am.”
Winston certainly didn’t lack for targets last year as rookies O.J. Howard and Chris Godwin made an immediate impact. A shoulder injury forced Winston to miss games for the first time as a pro, but he still has to take his fair share of the blame for an offense that topped the 21-point mark only six times in 16 games.
There’s no excuse for Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson to combine for only eight touchdowns, so it’s up to Dirk Koetter and Todd Monken to figure out a way to maximize Tampa Bay’s offensive talent.
Bad Favre Comparison
It would help immeasurably if the ground game can be resurrected after two years of lousy production. That 4.8 average yards per carry in 2015 is a high bar, but Koetter knows 3.7 and 3.6 won’t get it done.
As a result, Tampa Bay’s offensive balance isn’t what Koetter envisioned.
Winston is averaging 34 pass attempts per game, which is more than Brett Favre averaged for his career. In this case, less would be more, at least until Winston is established as a winning quarterback.
The Bucs had no option but to pick up Winston’s fifth-year option. He knows he still has a lot to prove on the NFL stage, but he plans on beating everyone into the building once again this fall.
If Winston doesn’t earn a second contract here, it won’t be from lack of effort. He remains the smiling face of this franchise.
Ira Kaufman is the most revered sports personality and writer in town. He has hung his hat at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters since July 2016. Tampa Bay’s only Pro Football Hall of Fame voter, Ira busts out columns here every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and his award winning podcasts fire Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can also hear Ira on SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio Wednesdays during football season, and see him now on Mondays at 10:30 p.m. on Spectrum Sports 360 (aka BayNews 9). Ira also is part of the FOX-13 Tailgate Sunday and enjoys beet salads, Riesling, Chiefs victories and needling Joe.
April 18th, 2018 at 12:13 pm
“Less is more”- I keep saying this. If Jameis is throwing 35+ a game, we are in trouble. That means we’ve abandoned the run-game (AGAIN!) and are willing to take our chances and put more pressure on the O-line to protect and the defense to make stops.
Balance, coach, balance. Put JW in position to be successful. The kid’s working hard, don’t ruin that.
April 18th, 2018 at 12:19 pm
Hey Bucsfanman, can always count on you for words of wisdom!!! I coached for 27 years and that was always my go to “Less is More”! That says a lot if it is taken and used in the right way!!! Keep em coming Bubba! Have a great day my man. GO BUCS!!!!
April 18th, 2018 at 12:30 pm
@ bucsfanman
Being behind by a wide margin doesn’t allow for much of a run game. Forgot what it was like to pull for a Buc team where a three and out didn’t automatically mean they would allow the other team to score. Rewatched some of the Arizona game from last year— pitiful display of defense. Down 21-0 before you could open a second beer. They made Adrian Peterson look like he was 25 again after looking horrible before and after that game.
Gotta get stops this year or it won’t matter who the QB is!
April 18th, 2018 at 12:43 pm
Yep !…..
“Jameis Winston is bubbling over with good stuff you can’t teach, yet he has so much to learn.”….perfect observation
April 18th, 2018 at 1:23 pm
Tandyman! What’s happening my man?!
I definitely think it’s telling when you put the ball up that many times.
JA- Agreed. It’s a GOOD sign when your QB finishes with less than 35 attempts. It means your run-game is working and the defense is stout. Usually, of course. There are exceptions.
I will say this though JA, the Pats continued running the ball in the SB 2 years ago. You don’t have to COMPLETELY abandon it once you’re down. A bounce here or there and you’re right back in it. It takes patience and coaching, IMO.
Why? Why would you re-watch THAT game?! We let an old man run through us like a sieve. Nothing good can come of watching that type of game. You’ll need rehab if you continue!
April 18th, 2018 at 1:26 pm
We are LOADED with targets for Jameis…weapons? See targets since we lack a running game. Putting aside the OL which certainly needs some upgrading…the rest of this offense is ready except for one position.
Can you imagine the impact Barkley would have on this team. I think it goes beyond his actual talent and running stats…psychologically a lot of attention and pressure gets removed from #3 and dumped squarely on Koetter.
If we could get Barkley the media will obsess on him…with a running game AND this lineup of targets for Jameis…we’d simply have to hope Koetter doesn’t choke on too many options.
Seriously….think about Jameis…all of these targets…and perhaps the best running back to come out in decades!
April 18th, 2018 at 1:48 pm
Another great piece Ira.
You my man, are the gem of the Tampa Bay Sports-writing world.
Last year’s results were tough on EVERYONE. A real kick in the nuts of a season if you will.
This team is loaded with young talent – let there be no doubt of that – and the GM is poised in great position to add more young, talented players next week.
This year’s draft – while not a great one overall – does match up well talent wise with a # of “needs” that the Bucs currently have. RB, CB and OG in particular.
If Licht can come away from days 1 & 2 of the draft – with a desired player at each of those positions – the Bucs will be in the best shape possible (offseason talent acquisition wise) of moving into this season with the proper tools needed to succeed. To WIN!
Winning is the only thing missing from Winston’s Pro resume after completing 3 years as an NFL starter at the young age of 23 years.
“Build it – and they will come” The WINS that is.
I think Jason Licht is doing an excellent overall job of “building” this team into one that is capable of long term success.
So many complain about THIS need or THAT need not having been procured yet – thus the GM sucks…
None that feel that way are considering the chit show of a situation that Jason Licht walked into when he 1st came through the doors at OPB just over 4 years ago.
Mark Dominik drafted exactly 2 very good players and maybe a handful of decent ones in FIVE YEARS!
Jason Licht by contrast has drafted FOUR nfl starter or better level talents with each of his 1st 4 picks – TWICE out of the last 3 drafts. A feat no other NFL GM has achieved in that time frame.
The Wins are coming folks. And when they come – they are gonna stick around for quite awhile.
Despite last year’s kick in the nuts season – the future is bright for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Jameis Winston is the centerpiece of that bright future.
April 18th, 2018 at 1:55 pm
I believe Koetter should look at the win percentage numbers for the team that scores first(even a field goal), because then maybe he would quit deferring every coin toss victory to taking the second half kickoff. The Bucs can score points , so give the offense a chance to do that when you win the toss Dirk.
April 18th, 2018 at 2:20 pm
OMG
Ira didn’t mention Uber. How can that be?
April 18th, 2018 at 2:22 pm
bucfan, it also means that our defense isn’t playing up to par. giving up fourth qtr leads consistently is the recipe for mediocrity.
April 18th, 2018 at 2:26 pm
Pickgrin, tell me you’re not seriously using Mark Dominik as any type of a measuring stick for what a GM should accomplish. He was the Yugo of the GM world. Jason Licht is now into his FIFTH year as GM. And no, he didn’t start with a bare cupboard, but he did give away several pieces of china unnecessarily. He’s drafted reasonably well IMO, but I’m less than impressed about his FA pickups … until this recent round I’d add. We’ve got a lot of young pieces in place (again, going into the 5th year), but we’ve still got a LOT of holes just in terms of starters & key rotational players (2 RB, G, T, DE/DT, CB, SS as a minimum). Our lack of depth is obvious (just look at our past record).
This really is a make-or-break year for a number of folks, Jason Licht among them. With a strong draft & a couple of FA pickups before season start, the Bucs can have a decent year (guess? 10-6 to 8-8 depending on how our division competition shakes out). But without that strong draft we could just as well match last year’s 5-11 fiasco. If we had to start the season with what we’ve got on the roster right now, I’m not sure I’d even bank on 5-11 (just too many starting holes). But with a good draft, I’m ‘cautiously optimistic’.
April 18th, 2018 at 2:35 pm
Playing catchup ball game after game means interceprtion city unless perhaps you are one of the elite QB’s in this league. And Jameis is nowhere nears this yet despite what many Buc fans may think. I think Koetter knows we gotta get our run game going this season. its a must. Jameis is ok in spots. But when you make him a..throwin Somoan, he’s gonna let you down by virtue od so many throws. And even Jose Feliciano can See..Our defense gotta come alive this yr by leaps and bounds. I can’t wait. They say..Pressure makes Diamonds. Koetter and Smitty, You’s under pressure!
April 18th, 2018 at 2:42 pm
Fanalyzer- “our defense isn’t playing up to par”?!!! I’d say you’re being generous with THAT statement. They were horrible!
You still have to complete drives with TDs and not FGs and milk the clock when your D is not “up to par” though.
Koetter’s M.O. has been that once a team goes up by even a FG, we abandon the run and start throwing the ball every down. It’s NOT a scenario that puts Jameis in favorable conditions.
April 18th, 2018 at 2:46 pm
This is very, very simple.
Give the man a running game and just a halfway decent defense and he will bring a Championship to Tampa.
Sure, he will fumble and throw interceptions….but much of that is because of a one-dimensional offense and constantly playing from behind.
Our QB is the very least of our problems…..hopefully we are close to finding a fix.
April 18th, 2018 at 3:12 pm
If Jameis isn’t resigned in Tampa there will be a legitimate bidding war for him next off-season and someone will make him one of the highest if not the highest paid QB in the league, book that. Unless he absolutely stinks up the joint this year.
April 18th, 2018 at 3:15 pm
DR – Dom is the only “measuring stick” we can truly gauge Licht vs because Dom is the primary reason the Bucs near complete rebuilding effort under Licht was necessary in the 1st place.
Those few decent “china pieces” you referred to that were jettisoned were eliminated at Lovie’s request. He DID have full control over personnel at the time if you forgot that fact. Penn. Zuttah and Revis are the only ones I can think of that perhaps could/should have been retained an additional year or two – but all 3 were over paid compared to what they had just put on tape the previous season – so I imagine that Licht did not put up much resistance against cutting any of them.
Licht has made some “mistakes” along the way as any NFL GM is bound to do – but in the grand scheme of things – GM Licht has done a very solid job of building the talent level of this team up to a pretty high level at quite a few positions.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have NEVER had this much young talent assembled on the same team in 42 years. Of that I am positive and I say that even before Licht adds at least 2 or 3 more really good young prospects in next week’s draft.
The near future is assuredly bright. If Koetter and Smith can’t have at least a decent showing in the win column in 2018 – then another coaching regime will be brought in and will have a great chance to “succeed” immediately.
The Buccaneers will be on the path of fairly consistent winning – starting this year or in 2019 at the latest. I am convinced of this. No way this talented young nucleus doesn’t start winning more games than they lose at some point soon.
April 18th, 2018 at 3:29 pm
He is starting what? His 4th year?
So technically, he’s got 2 years before he has to get a contract, right? And that is assuming they do not franchise him.
April 18th, 2018 at 4:07 pm
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have NEVER had this much young talent assembled on the same team in 42 years
————–
I thought the Bucs made the POs 13yrs ago (lol smh) with 10 rookies starters, am I wrong?
April 18th, 2018 at 4:13 pm
12th best qb
April 18th, 2018 at 4:15 pm
BucFan, I saw no need to say what even Stevie Wonder could see… LOL
April 18th, 2018 at 4:37 pm
Dang this guy just went on a full blown rant about how good we are. Ya don’t se that one very often.
April 18th, 2018 at 5:38 pm
@StPeteBucsFan continues to make a ton of sense, especially in paragraphs 2 and 3, and sees the Bucs BIG PICTURE.
StPeteBucsFan Says:
April 18th, 2018 at 1:26 pm
We are LOADED with targets for Jameis…weapons? See targets since we lack a running game. Putting aside the OL which certainly needs some upgrading…the rest of this offense is ready except for one position.
***Can you imagine the impact Barkley would have on this team. I think it goes beyond his actual talent and running stats…psychologically a lot of attention and pressure gets removed from #3 and dumped squarely on Koetter.
If we could get Barkley the media will obsess on him…with a running game AND this lineup of targets for Jameis…we’d simply have to hope Koetter doesn’t choke on too many options.***
Seriously….think about Jameis…all of these targets…and perhaps the best running back to come out in decades!
Nicely done @StPeteBucsFan!
Go Bucs! Go Bold! Go Barkley! Go Primetime!
April 18th, 2018 at 6:54 pm
Its all on Koetter. Two years ago everyone was calling Jared Goff a bust his first year. Change of coach and play calling now all of a sudden people think his better than Jameis. Who has never been considered a bust. Koetter needs to stop coaching scared. Play to win like coach Pederson for the eagles.
April 18th, 2018 at 7:51 pm
Too bad Winston is saddled with the Glazers dysfunctional franchise.
April 18th, 2018 at 10:11 pm
A somewhat mediocre running game gives Jameis the goods for greatness. Which is why Nelson is a game changer, he springs average backs to look like stellar backs.
April 22nd, 2018 at 12:36 am
I’m still not sold on Jaimes. He hasn’t improved one bit when it comes to reading defenses. That’s what doesn’t make sense to me. Also he needs to work on his upper body strength and his pass touch. Last season he over and under threw Jackson who was wide open in stride multiple times. He doesn’t seem to have the ability to put air under the ball to buy his receivers time. Have you ever seen Jaimes audible at the line. He doesn’t because he doesn’t have the ability to see the blitz. We need Barkley or an explosive runner to keep the defense honest.