Confidence-Sparing Suspension
July 12th, 2018
There are many ways to view the three-game suspension of Jameis Winston.
Is it a silver lining? One prominent and powerful NFL insider believes so.
Some consider America’s Quarterback to be a developing youngster after 45 career starts and a Pro Bowl appearance, and NFL super-insider Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com and NBC Sports seems to be one of those guys.
Florio contended, via his PFT PM podcast recently, that Jameis and the Bucs potentially going 0-3 against the Saints, Eagles and Steelers could have shattered Jameis’ confidence and 2017 season. So, per Florio, Tampa Bay kind of caught a break with the schedule combined with the Jameis suspension.
“He could come out of there in such a down, feeling so badly, and beaten and discouraged that it makes the next 13 games more difficult,” Florio hypothesized. “Whereas if he misses the three due to suspension, he comes in invigorated, chip on his shoulder — they’d have been 0-3 with or without him. He’s not ruined potentially by those first three games.”
It’s a thought-provoking take that has a few kernels of merit, but Joe simply can’t buy into the notion that the Bucs probably would be 0-3 if Jameis were the starter in Weeks 1, 2 and 3.
If that happened, well, then there would be much bigger issues than Jameis’ confidence going forward.
July 12th, 2018 at 11:13 am
Unlikely he is invigorated and he isn’t likely to respond well with any chip on his shoulder. And we could be easily 0-3 with America’s Choir Boy. But Florio can dream too.
July 12th, 2018 at 11:14 am
If i had to bet betwen 2-1 and 1-2 as the result of the first three games even if Jameis played, I would place my bet on 1-2 in a heart beat. Just what it is.. very tough start to the schedule, probably toughest first 3 games out of any team in the league. So I do think Florio has a interesting and valid take on it. Its kinda minor but I think theres truth to it. The problem WInston faces is if we do go 1-3 or 0-3, and then finish out by narrowly missing the playoffs.. hes going to be facing scrutiny by fans saying if Jameis didnt screw up, wed be in the playoffs.. and itd be a reasonable thing to say. There not as many positive scenarios as there are negative ones for how this can all play out. One of the only way this doesnt finish ugly is if Fitz wins us just 1 game, not enough to start past the frist 3 games, and then Winston takes over and leads us to 9+ wins. Or Fitz plays real well and wins 2 out of three, we decide to hand it off to Winston, and he plays even better and leads us to playoffs.. both seem a bit wishful
July 12th, 2018 at 11:16 am
I still can’t buy into the notion that Joe believes we have a 90% chance of going 0-3 with Fitz.
July 12th, 2018 at 11:18 am
Can’t believe Joe thinks Florio is a prominent and powerful anything. Q
July 12th, 2018 at 11:22 am
Would be funny if with Fitz, they win a couple of times and then Mr. Incompetent will return and the losses pile up again.
July 12th, 2018 at 11:27 am
WTH is going on around here.
This is the NFL dammit – I dont wanna see all the doom and gloom
This team (and its fans) needs to suck it up and quit crying about the schedule
I personally see it as a way to redeem ourselves in this league
Go out there and kick some ass and lets seee how the narrative changes!!!
GO BUCS!!!
July 12th, 2018 at 11:29 am
Unbelievable cheerleading. He is who he is. Period.
July 12th, 2018 at 11:34 am
The last time Jameis Winston faced the Eagles he beat them 45-17 and threw for 5 TDs
July 12th, 2018 at 11:36 am
not worried about Winston’s confidence….its the team and coaching staff’s confidence that im more concerned about…..
we go 0-3 and “the team” not jameis might mail it in…..this team is so mentally weak and that starts at the top with dirk…..dirk wakes up with a hang nail and he’s “facing adversity”….lol….
que the excuse mob
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!
July 12th, 2018 at 11:39 am
Agree with BucNole.
I like our chances.
July 12th, 2018 at 11:39 am
Anybody that thinks that’s a silver lining should just give up before the preseason even starts. Wow.
July 12th, 2018 at 11:41 am
Again as I said yesterday all of the people saying we will go 0-3, 0-4, 0-5 are the same ones that last year said we were going to the playoffs and were the next great team. So they were all wrong last year what makes us think that they are automatically right this year?
They are 100% focused on the QB, which is important don’t get me wrong, but there is no way that anyone can say that our defensive line is not better, or our RB group is not better (Barber was way better than Martin last year when they actually played him!!!), or that our o line will be not improved with better center and guard play. Also we went out a got a legit kicker that other teams actually wanted. Again we will be world beaters, maybe not, but they are acting like none of these improvements happened which just shows again how clueless they all are just like they thought last year they thought we were going to be great with Ayers, Spence, Baker, Phamphile, Folk, Sweezy, Ryan Smith and Doug Martin. So all you folks on here rooting for us to fail don’t get too excited just yet.
July 12th, 2018 at 11:42 am
I don’t intend to diminish the importance of the starting QB…..vital….but not the only factor.
It is very possible as in many other sports that the team will step up to overcome the loss of a player(s). Give our coaches and team some benefit of the doubt here……we are 0-0 now….and until the games are played our predictions and everyone else’s, while interesting, are meaningless.
July 12th, 2018 at 11:51 am
The only silver lining is that he has 13 games to redeem himself and help this team get back to the playoffs, and hopefully he is sharp and ready to go come game 4.
July 12th, 2018 at 11:55 am
@Tbbf
Give our coaches and team some benefit of the doubt here
———————————————-
I’ll give the team the benefit, because I love me some Bucs …but these coaches? Man that’s hard to do.. The only people with more of a “prove it year” on their plate, than JW, is this staff. Jameis has been so-so, but DK and Smitty…yuck.
They couldn’t really get the job done, after a 9-7 year (flukey though it was). I don’t see how they pull it together with this years craziness added on top. Let’s face it, DK ain’t no Parcells or Belichick. Or Sean Mcvay, or Dan Quinn..etc,etc,etc.
July 12th, 2018 at 11:56 am
The last time Jameis played Philly he torched them in Philly. He had a last second victory against New Orleans the last time they played. Pittsburgh plays down to opponents.
July 12th, 2018 at 11:57 am
“Its amazing how people steal my intellectual property with absolute no care in the world. this is exactly what i posted yesterday”
Kobe Faker
“To Shady Mccoy, my son and I want to say thank you”
Jameis Winston
“
July 12th, 2018 at 11:58 am
Our first three opponents LOST 11 games last year.
We should have whipped the vaunted NE Patriots last year…we had no kicker but certainly played well enough to win.
It’s the freaking NFL…On any given Sunday. I can’t believe how many “experts” would concede three losses for the Bucs without even playing the game.
July 12th, 2018 at 12:02 pm
Does Fitz turn the ball over as much as Winston? Doubt it. Does he have the same skill level at Winston. Don’t think so; that’s why Fitz is a b/u. Can he make as good or better decisions as Winston? Yes. Absolutely. Is he as mobile? Yes. Is Fitz surrounded by a wave of rolling dark clouds sure to cause distraction before every game. No. It’s a mixed bag here. Not about “potential” but actuals. So, I remember Joe put out something a week or so ago that, unless I’m mistaken, said there was not much difference in Vegas numbers for win projections of whether Fitz was in for those three games or not. I give the Bucs decent odds for these games with either QB. As far as confidence? Any QB who starts 0-3 and that shakes him should not be starting in the NFL.
July 12th, 2018 at 12:03 pm
As a fan without rose colored glasses i wonder what I am missing. They did a hell of a job upgrading the defense this offseason. We had zero pass rush last year and a weak secondary outside of Grimes. We add JPP, Vea, two CBs and a safety, and a 2nd year safety that should be even better this year. We also added an electric RB and a stable ful of stud recievers and TEs. Why cant this team beat anyone they play. I think this team should be vastly improved and I am amazed that Joe basically thinks its a given that we will go 0-3. Hell we beat the Saints at the end of last season with that shtty defense we were rolling out each Sunday.
July 12th, 2018 at 12:18 pm
I, for one, am glad we have the schedule we do. I like a lot of the moves made during the offseason and on paper, we look pretty good. Because of the schedule, we will know early what this time is capable of. If Fitz plays average and we do some curb stomping early, there is no reason we cant win often. Now if this team repeats the bed shatting of last year, the coaching search will be on. Until then, I wont be giving up on the season as many already have.
GO BUCS!!!
July 12th, 2018 at 12:28 pm
@TDTB
Why cant this team beat anyone they play.
Coaching, coaching, and coaching. They get paid to get the best out of the team. Think about DK whining about bad practices last year. Don’t whine fix it.
When your D finishes 32nd, but looked more like a 42nd ranked D, get a new coordinator. There are coaches who get the most out of what talent they have, or at least get them to play with heart and mind. None of that last year. Not respectable.
The laziness on D last year is a slap in the face to You, Me, Buc fans everywhere, Selmon, Brooks, Sapp, Lynch, MacDill AFB and the entire Tampa Bay community. DK should have sent at least one player packing mid season last year, just on principle.
# NoExcusesNo Explanations
July 12th, 2018 at 12:28 pm
Didn’t Fritz win 10 games in NY with far less weapons
Our short pass game is on point
If he can stretch the field a little and this new RB comes out like I believe there is no reason we can’t win with Fritz
Winston is Good but he can’t hit long pass and has other problems Fritz doesn’t have
Fumble
July 12th, 2018 at 12:35 pm
We will lose in Chicago with dumb as a bag of hammers JameISNOT starting, if he starts which I hope he does not. Florios take is ridiculous. Winocheo is supposed to be the captain and leader of the team and missing any time should be painful. He is also lying to all of us by saying he has been sober for over a year now AND why did he not “get sober” immediately after the Uber incident that took place two years ago. Reason why….. he has something else that occurred in the 27 months since the Uber grope, and it will come out soon enough.
July 12th, 2018 at 12:41 pm
fitz might not light it up…but they’ll go 2-1
I think any group of men would play harder for the guy they trust (you know the one who didn’t lie to all of their faces)
July 12th, 2018 at 1:23 pm
This is a pile of hot steamy dung!
July 12th, 2018 at 1:25 pm
If Florio really watched Jameis, he would know that very little shakes his confidence.
July 12th, 2018 at 1:27 pm
Fitz will win the first game, then drop two. Winston will become a hero again.
July 12th, 2018 at 1:31 pm
Those wanting Dirk Koetter replaced?
Please name me another available coach who will absolutely do a better job.
July 12th, 2018 at 1:58 pm
Belichick would be a losing head coach with JameISNOT as his starting QB
July 12th, 2018 at 2:07 pm
What Robert said…
July 12th, 2018 at 2:10 pm
The back up QB is always popular.
Until he has to play….
July 12th, 2018 at 2:16 pm
Why? Why shouldn’t the Bucs expect to win those games? EVERY team is beatable. We need to start acting like it!
July 12th, 2018 at 3:04 pm
ATrain
Yes he had far less offensive talent in that 10 win season but he had a solid defense.
So if our defense is as good on the field as on paper…Fitz could succeed.
July 12th, 2018 at 3:19 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
July 12th, 2018 at 1:31 pm
Those wanting Dirk Koetter replaced?
Please name me another available coach who will absolutely do a better job.
HARBAUGH!!!!!!!!!!!…JIM SCHWARTS!!!!!!!!!…..
they’ll be available 01/01/2019!!!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
July 12th, 2018 at 4:06 pm
Florio has a point.
If Jameis started those 1st 3 games and went 0-3 , many fans would be calling for Fitz and Winston’s weak mind may not have been able to handle that. We probably would have seen more temper tantrums on the sidelines.
However, we will now never know because America’s Crotchgrabber And Liar went out and did something really stupid, lied about it, embarrassed the Franchise and got himself suspended
July 12th, 2018 at 4:17 pm
If the Bucs expect to have a winning 2018 season they’ll have to do it as a T-E-A-M (for a change). It’s NOT about ONE player; never was & never will be. The keys to this season are (1) much-improved DEFENSE; (2) much-improved RUNNING GAME; (3) fewer TURNOVERS by the offense.
Last year’s Saints provided an excellent example to emulate IMO. Drew Brees threw for all kinds of passing records in the 3 years prior (2014-2016) yet the Saints went 7-9 in each of those seasons. Why? Crappy defense & average run game. But in 2017 their defense played quite well (#10 in POINTS ALLOWED & #17 in YARDAGE ALLOWED) and their running game excelled (over 2,000 yds rushing), even though Brees passed for fewer yards (ONLY 4,189 YDS PASSING) last year.
Result? Saints went 11-5 and made the playoffs. The Saints passing game still did quite well, but it didn’t scored nearly as many TDs in 2017 (23 TDs) as it did in 2014-2016 (averaged 34 TDs passing). But their RUN GAME improved a bunch, and it scored 23 TDs in 2017, versus an average of 16 TDs in 2014-2016. Their DEFENSE improved even more, giving up only 326 pts in 2017 versus an average of 451 in the previous 3 years. Let that sink in for a second: Saints DEFENSE allowed 7.8 FEWER POINTS PER GAME in 2017 than it had in 2014-2016 on average. I’ll say it again … IT’S ABOUT T-E-A-M.
July 12th, 2018 at 4:36 pm
cop-out plain and simple
July 12th, 2018 at 4:42 pm
say what you want about Winston but confidence is something you don’t have to worry about with him…let’s just hope he’s learned his lesson with the keeps growing as a person and a player. I think the horse is dead already. # BelieveInJameis
July 12th, 2018 at 4:46 pm
Excuses for losing. No thank-you,
Florio. We’ve had that the last eleven years. Besides, Jameis’ confidence would have been fine. The team’s confidence? Who knows, but I’d like to think we’ve gotten mentally stronger. And going 0-3 is not a given. Each year is different, each team is different, each game is different. Who says we can’t go 2-1 or 3-0?
July 12th, 2018 at 5:01 pm
DR
sound to me that its about the coaches….as you stated, saints were pass happy….once they crafted a game plan around the strength of their players they had success…..
if sean doesn’t look himself in the mirror and switch things up(their identity) they’re 8-8 with him being on the hot seat…..
coaching is the key…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!
July 12th, 2018 at 5:52 pm
Been saying Jameis is going to dominate
July 12th, 2018 at 5:59 pm
I assert unequivocally that the Bucs will NOT go 0 and 3.
_________
Go Bucs!!!!!!
July 12th, 2018 at 6:16 pm
Bunch of B.S. THERE? I will bet ANYONE a Cnote that we win at least one of those first three with Fitz.
July 12th, 2018 at 6:18 pm
In fact I have offered said bet to at least ten of my buddies up here and they won’t take it. They (whom none are Bucs fans ) think that at this point in time Fitz and Jameis are a wash when it comes to who performs better.
July 12th, 2018 at 6:38 pm
Sorry doom and gloom crowd but we are going 10-6.
If not…bye bye coaches and GM. I like our GM very much too, especially in some of the drafts but I can’t excuse another losing season. You’ve had time to build and develop, so now it’s time to put it together.
Fitz goes 1-2 and Jameis 9-4 with a top 12 defense and another top 5 offense. Oh and hopefully a kicker that isn’t a choke hazard.
Jameis has a coming out year and all the nancy-boys retreat to their mom’s basements, secretly hoping Jameis does something else to prove you were right about him all along.
July 12th, 2018 at 6:47 pm
Defense Rules assessment is spot on. It’s not all about coaching at this level. You need players at every position. The more assets and less liabilities you have on your team the more successful your team will be. Of course a coaching change can make a world of difference (Rams) especially when you tune out a bad coach (Fisher) and replace him with a young energetic coach (McVay).
July 12th, 2018 at 7:49 pm
Cracks me up when people think they know who’s going to win regular season games in July. For all anyone knows all 3 of those teams could lose their starting QBs before the games. Any number of things can happen. And then they actually have to line up and play. I wouldnt be surprised if the Bucs won all 3, nor if they lost them all.
July 12th, 2018 at 8:51 pm
If we have back to back hurricanes weeks 2 and 3,
Jameis may not start until Halloween
July 13th, 2018 at 1:46 am
Don’t count on 0-3 just yet. I predicted that last season would be abysmal when most were expecting playoffs, and I’ll tell you what. Expect the Bucs to get off to a 2-1 start.
THAT will actually cause more of a dilemma, especially when Winston returns for game 4. Does Koetter stick with reliable game manager Fitz or hand it back over to risk-taker JW who will also be rusty having not taken snaps?