Jameis Takes Load Off Of Jensen
June 1st, 2018
Workin’ with America.
For Bucs fans who may not have a roster handy when they attend training camp practices in a couple of months, new Bucs center Ryan Jensen is easy to pick out.
Aside from playing center (an easy position to locate), Jensen has long, flaming red hair. Think Carrot Top. There are few very large men with a long Carrot Top-like mane walking the streets of Tampa much less on an NFL roster.
One hope in Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht’s quest with signing Jensen stems from him coming from a winning organization (Baltimore), where a season without a playoff berth is borderline criminal if not a pox upon the community. That’s unlike here in Tampa where an NFL playoff-less season has become the sad expected norm. Licht and the Bucs hope Jensen brings some of that magic of high standards to rub off on his new teammates.
Jensen, speaking yesterday after underwear football practice, stated he had a lot of responsibilities on his shoulders while in Baltimore.
That is not the case here with the Bucs, Jensen said. Why? Because America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, assumes a lot of the details for his offensive line.
“It’s been a little bit different,” Jensen said of practicing with Jameis and the Bucs. “Jameis takes a little bit more control of things, MIKE [linebacker] points, etc., where I was used to doing everything [with the Crows].
“Getting that chemistry with Jameis is really starting to come along. He plays off of me and I’m starting to play off of him and it’s been good. We’ve been getting that chemistry down.”
After hearing Jensen yesterday, this crossed Joe’s mind: We can all just about agree that as Jameis goes, so do the Bucs, correct? Perhaps it may be wise if Jensen can take something off Jameis’ plate to give Jameis an item or two less to concern himself with, so he can focus more on simply executing his position.
If Jensen is already used to doing a lot of line calls, and he apparently excelled at that, why not ease some pressure off Jameis?
June 1st, 2018 at 8:23 am
It’s a good question Joe. I’m also hoping that this year will see someone else take over the pre-game hyping responsibilities. Jamies often comes out cold, possibly to amped up from trying to get his teammates fired up. The more we can just let him execute as our QB, the better for all of us, Jamies included.
June 1st, 2018 at 8:41 am
No question
The bucs go as Jameis goes. No more excuses this year. To much talent on this roster and no “huge” glaring holes even though some spots need improvement
June 1st, 2018 at 8:56 am
Taking pressure of Jameis is a smart move, unfortunately this isn’t the smartest coaching staff #JIMSCHWARTZ2019
June 1st, 2018 at 8:57 am
This is very similar to the issue around who calls our plays. I hope Koetter will see his way to give Moncken a shot. And I agree with Joe that if Jensen is capable the more we can take off of Jameis the better.
I trust both Koetter and Jameis but we should use all of our resources to the max.
Using Jensen and Moncken gives more time to Koetter and Jameis to work on other parts of the game or team.
June 1st, 2018 at 8:58 am
I noticed him pointing in one of the pics and thought about this exact article. With Jameis having had difficulties in the past going through progressions and such, I think allowing Jensen to a least “Help” is the right way to go for sure. The less he has to think at the line of scrimmage the better he plays.
June 1st, 2018 at 9:06 am
One has to wonder, Even though the Bucs have the highest paid center in the league!! Is he the third best center in the division?????? When Atlanta has Alex Mack and New Orleans has Max Unger it is very easy to see the Bucs with the third best Center!!!!!! Maybe that can be Joe’s countdown to train camp special, of how each position matches up in division???????
And Joe, JW3 is a “past pro bowler” no “pro bowler”!!!!! When it happened 3 seasons ago, you have to use past tense!!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 1st, 2018 at 9:08 am
I like that Jameis is more aware of blitzes than many veteran Quarterbacks. That will give him an edge as he gains even more experience in the league.
June 1st, 2018 at 9:14 am
Do you feel better now, Realist? Get it all out. Atta boy. It’s nice to get all that Jameis hate out of your system early in the morning. Now, go back to bed.
June 1st, 2018 at 9:34 am
@Joe … “If Jensen is already used to doing a lot of line calls, and he apparently excelled at that, why not ease some pressure off Jameis?” Silly me, I kinda thought all teams did it about the same. Apparently Dirk has his own way of doing things. Wonder if the Bucs have evolved to that over these past 3 years out of necessity, or if that’s the way Koetter has always had his QBs operate. In any event, i agree with you Joe … why not let Jensen take some of the pressure off of Jameis.
June 1st, 2018 at 9:49 am
DAILY REMINDER THAT MATT RYAN DIDN’T THROW FOR OVER 4000 YDS UNTIL HE WAS 27
June 1st, 2018 at 9:59 am
Back before Licht the Center was making the Line Calls for the Bucs. Nice to know our new Center is experienced at reading NFL defenses and making the calls Jameis is doing now. We need to leave our system as it is now. But once Jensen gets comfortable working with our line and Jameis and we come to our break after our Chicago Bears Game, then Koetter needs to lighten Jameis’ load and try letting Jensen make those calls. Jensen is being paid as the top NFL Center and needs to earn that money doing all he can to help the Bucs win!
June 1st, 2018 at 10:26 am
There is something very nasty about the phrase “taking a load off” when you’re talking about Jameis being under center The only thing worse would be to say “taking a giant load off”…….sort of sounds like he’s got an ASJ in his hands……best wash thoroughly after practice.
June 1st, 2018 at 10:34 am
While I get Joe’s point, formations and play dissections are one of Winston’s biggest strengths. Why would they take that away from him?
June 1st, 2018 at 10:40 am
Even if Jensen takes over line calls, Even he said in a recent interview that he is learning the playbook still and players are helping them with that!!!!! I have no problem with a Veteran QB in his 4th year of an offense doing line calls for a new center that has been at practice a couple of days!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!
June 1st, 2018 at 10:56 am
Hasn’t this been one of the questions since day one with JW3 – whether the coaching staff is putting too much on his plate at such a young stage of his career? He has been challenged since day one in terms of the throws he is required to make, the line calls, the percentage of the offense that runs through him (as opposed to the run game), etc. My sense is that he is well ahead of the curve compared to many, if not all, of the young QBs in the league in his ability to run the offense (as opposed to simply managing it) but his learning curve has been steep and he is experiencing growing pains early in his career that some of the other QBs (Dak and MM come to mind) are spreading out over a longer period of time. JW doesn’t have the safety net that others have in terms of pre-designed reads, heavy run game emphasis, short throws, and O-line calls. Point is, JW’s numbers don’t tell the whole story. He handles things on and off the field that the other young QBs aren’t being saddled with.
June 1st, 2018 at 11:02 am
Maybe Jameis took so much on his plate because he was covering for a Pro Bowl caliber RG that was inexplicably moved to center and may not have understood coverages. Just Sayin’
June 1st, 2018 at 11:41 am
Considering it was the defense that cost us a winning season last year (Jameis led us from behind to take the lead, only the have the defense blow it 4 times), I think it depends on Jameis AND the defense.
Flip those 4 losses into wins with a better defense, and it would have made us 9-7.
Jameis was injured too…now he’s not, and he’s been working on things this off season just like every other one. I’m pretty confident in Jameis and the offense.
My concern is more the defense, and with the additions made…I don’t see how it can’t be better…except for those blasted injuries that tend to hit the Bucs hard.
June 1st, 2018 at 11:50 am
I am in the minority probably, but I like that Koetter requires things from Jameis that are not his strengths. Repetition is how you turn those things into strengths.
The only downside is the developmental time and lack of patience on the part of fans. People claiming Winston has not improved since drafted are not paying proper attention. He has…in many ways.
June 1st, 2018 at 11:51 am
because jameis has been making the calls since college? because a lot if not majority of qbs make a lot of the line calls for the center ?? why would they change that? makes no sense and no joe it’s not as jameis goes the bucs go that may be true for the offense witch is the case for every single starting qb in the nfl but he has no control over what the defense puts on the field this year. that’s all on mike smith and those guys.
June 1st, 2018 at 11:52 am
Jameis calling the plays will help him learn to spot different looks easier over time. That’s one of the things we all know an elite QB needs to do. He;s not elite yet, but he is on track for it.
June 1st, 2018 at 12:50 pm
Concur w/ Bonzai’s first comment…not sure the Bucs go as Winston goes. To my mind and eye he is the leader of 1/3 of the equation. On subject, I like the fact that Winston can make the calls and that the center is experienced enough such that when he learns the offense they can back each other up.
Go Bucs!
June 1st, 2018 at 1:55 pm
Bucs go as JW goes to a point… DK and JL will have him on a 5 game leash. if we only have 2 or less wins, and there have been turnovers, we will see the Fitzy.
June 1st, 2018 at 3:32 pm
I am not sure if Jameis making line calls is a positive or a negative.,but watchiing the 30 second clock run out is also frustrating. Sometimes defenses shift just to make you make the wrong adjustment. I am all for good plays and
hopefully good execution.
June 1st, 2018 at 9:09 pm
Well let’s hope so or we will start counting the cost of everyone of his snaps.
He is the highest paid center in the league
June 3rd, 2018 at 7:30 am
Maybe it helps Winston start his progressions and helps him read the defense? Maybe it helps him focus on his task more so he doesn’t over think? Kwon said he’s more into the game when he’s calling the defense plays and keys. Says it helps him know where everyone is on offense.
Maybe the same works for Winston?