“Ideal Situation”
September 21st, 2018
Relax and enjoy.
In so many words, a national columnist is telling Bucs fans, sit back and enjoy it.
While some Bucs fans demand that America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, be lifted back unto his rightful spot as starting quarterback when he returns Tuesday after serving his three-game sentence handed down NFL strongman Roger Goodell, other Bucs fans (and one star player) thinks the team is out its mind not to ride the hot hand of NFL vagabond quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Meanwhile, Sean Wagner-McGough of CBS Sports thinks the Bucs may be the luckiest team in the NFL.
Wagner-McGough writes that some teams don’t even have one reliable quarterback, but when Tuesday rolls around the Bucs will enjoy football riches few teams can boast with two quarterbacks at their disposal.
If Fitzpatrick plays well against the Steelers, I’m not really sure how the Buccaneers will justify sitting him down. At the very least, they can play Fitzpatrick until he struggles — given that he’s still Ryan Fitzpatrick, he probably will struggle at some point — at which point they can insert Winston into the starting lineup. Fitzpatrick hasn’t been a good enough quarterback over the course of his career to earn complete and total job security after two incredible performances and Winston hasn’t been a good enough quarterback over the course of his career to automatically get his starting job back over a quarterback playing out of his damn mind.
The good news for the Buccaneers is that this unexpected conundrum is the good kind of problem to have. Nobody expected the Buccaneers to start 2-0 without Winston, but they did. Now, they have one of hottest quarterbacks in football as their starter while a pretty darn good quarterback waits for his chance to regain his starting job as soon as the hot hand cools off. In a 32-team league that so rarely features 32 starting-caliber quarterbacks, that’s an ideal situation for a team to find itself in.
This sums up the Bucs situation perfectly and makes the most sense. No one in their right mind two weeks ago would ever suggest Fitz was a better quarterback than Jameis, except for the avowed Jameis haters who couldn’t get past the first line of an eye test because they are so blinded by rage over the guy.
Benching Fitz while he’s this hot is more stupid than pulling a pitcher who is throwing a no-hitter in a playoff game citing pitch counts.
Is it Fitz, is it Jameis, is it Todd Monken, is it Dirk Koetter, is it the offensive line? Who cares, the Bucs are winning. Don’t rock the boat.
September 21st, 2018 at 11:04 am
Again, I think this whole thing is a media-generated controversy. There are two people in the Bucs organization that know full well that Jameis is the long term QB for the team. Jameis knows it, and Fitz knows it. When Fitz finally cools off, Jameis will pick up right where he left off. No controversy here, nothing to see…
September 21st, 2018 at 11:11 am
Jeff,
You are correct, it is media generated. The real PROBLEM is, you have stupid fans or trolls that believe everything is Winston’s fault. He has his issues and he has put himself in some really stupid positions. I’m just thankful that the team doesn’t listen to the fans.
September 21st, 2018 at 11:12 am
“Who cares, the Bucs are winning. Don’t rock the boat.”
Agree!
Fitzmagic will end at some point sooner than later and Winston will get his chance soon enough. I expect Jameis will play really well when that time comes and also that he will understand the positive situation the team is in and be super supportive of Fitz in a back up roll if Winston is not named the starter next week.
September 21st, 2018 at 11:13 am
yeah, ok, what’s the Fitz record vs. WinSTUNNED as a Bucs QB? all that needs to be said…
September 21st, 2018 at 11:16 am
Yep! This is a QB Luxury – akin to Wentz/Foles last year. I’ll take the wins however they come and feel super comfortable about our backup QB if Fitz struggles or gets hurt.
Hell our 3rd string QB looked really good in preseason too. We might have the best 3 man rotation there in the league this year
September 21st, 2018 at 11:34 am
Joe, how many times, with Jamies, did we have the lead in the first half and going into halftime? How many points in first half?
You keep shoving the passing yards stats of Winston when he always plays from behind. This doesn’t mean anything.
You kept saying it was the defense dragging us down when we couldn’t score and now you see perfectly how an offense can carry the defense on its back.
You see how real and mature leadership looks like. Leadership thats speaks to vets.
Im no JW hater and I think the uber thing is probably overblown but come on.. JW is not the better qb. He just isn’t. And don’t tell me about preseason. Please.
September 21st, 2018 at 11:36 am
It’s even a luxury to win the 1st games and become 2-0 against the Saints and Eagles. I’m just enjoying winning. I’m not into all that Qb controversy as it is ruining the fun
September 21st, 2018 at 11:37 am
Got news for ya buddy it’s more than “one star player” they’re just not saying it publicly!
September 21st, 2018 at 11:44 am
If we win this Game you can almost guarantee we get a few games flexed this season……Mark My Words. I also think tickets sales will go up, not only from playing better but with a few night games if at home in the cooler months would definitely be more appealing. =)
Go BUCS!!!!
September 21st, 2018 at 11:45 am
@Joe …. Eye Test ? My wallet has paid for My eyes to watch three seasons of Jameis’ shorty footwork and terribly inconsistent throwing of the football . The only people who can’t get past the first line of the eye test are FSU fan boys like you guys who see the field through Garnett and Gold lenses .
September 21st, 2018 at 11:46 am
Yes, Fitzpatrick is playing like he has made a deal with the devil, and some regression to the mean is inevitable. But many Jameis Winston sycophants and apologists are trying to say that he would have been even better is utterly ridiculous. I cannot remember even ONE off-target pass or mistake by Fitz in TWO games. Many are proffering various reasons for his success, which likely are contributory, however few seem to be willing to give him credit for the two most remarkable, if not perfect, consecutive games in the history of the Bucs, or even the NFL.
Do you REALLY believe that Jameis would be better than 800+ yards passing, 8 TDs, only one interception on a fumbled pass that was perfectly thrown, one rushing TD, and 9 of 9 with 3 TDs to DJax?
Yeah, …………………… me neither.
tickrdr
September 21st, 2018 at 11:59 am
Speaking of those people who didn’t think the Bucs would win a game through week 4, where are you at?
I know where you’re at! You’ll be back when we lose a game.
tickrdr- Your posts are quickly becoming some of my favorite. I don’t understand why there are so many who just won’t give Fitz the credit he is due. Lord knows that if it were Jameis, they’d be shouting from the mountain tops, heck I’d be too. If we’re winning, who cares?!
Fitz is not alone is these victories. It’s a TEAM. How about we give props where they are due?!
September 21st, 2018 at 12:03 pm
I still think Jameis will start Week 6 (after the bye) against Atlanta. That gives him two weeks preparation. Everyone keeps saying Fitz can’t keep this up forever, so why not put the franchise QB into the mix now. Are we going to wait 1 game, 2 games, or 3 games to determine that Fitzmagic has left the building? That could be 3 losses. I think we need to get Jameis in there to get him some reps so he’s good to go when we hit the playoffs (yep, I said it). So, what if we ride Fitz and he goes flat toward the end of the season, and then Jameis has to step in without all the experience that comes with reps in games. He was great in preseason, and Monken’s offensive play calling will fit him well.
September 21st, 2018 at 12:05 pm
Not an avowed “Jameis hater,” and have been saying Fitz is the better QB for much longer than two weeks:
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99.97.92.55.47.40.28.20.7 Says:
May 1st, 2018 at 11:17 am
We have a top 10 QB on our roster.
First Name: Ryan
Last Name: Fitzpatrick
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#FreeTheAmishRifle
September 21st, 2018 at 12:07 pm
Joe this is your website however your description of Jamie’s Haters is too strong. It seems like your tone makes you appear to be the hater of Jamie’s critics. I have always contended that Jamies needs to improve his long ball. Jamie’s needs to change his mind set from a pitcher to a passer. His mindset is to throw the ball stationary person like a pitcher does. He needs to throw to where the receiver will be when the football gets there. This goes to the heart of the Bucs issue in the past and is why Bucs have struggled with YAC’s
September 21st, 2018 at 12:11 pm
Not to be greedy…but yeah we have depth at the most important position on the field…QB.
It’s not just Fitz and #3…we’re not even sure that Ryan Griffin isn’t an NFL QB. He certainly has the arm and the powers at OBP seem pretty sold on him. Three deep at QB…awesome baby!!!
September 21st, 2018 at 12:28 pm
Classic same old speech from joe es
If you criticize Jameis you are a hater. He is a buc so I support him. However, you guys have gone out of your way since day one to give Jameis all the credit when the bucs win. And blame the coach , running game and defense when the bucs lose.
Talk about blind love. I mean I can understand a man crush on Aaron Rodgers type player but Jameis …wow
Your 10 articles a day and coverage of one player and not the team is why some people don’t think of Jameis as their favorite player on the team. Not even top 10 for me.
So thanks to you I guess. Everyone knows Fitzpatrick can’t walk on water forever but you have written 4 or 5 articles about him. If this was Jameis , it would be 50. And that’s a fact. He moves your needle We get it. How bout focusing on the incredible season Fitz is having instead of waiting for him to falter
September 21st, 2018 at 12:37 pm
I admit I am a Winston fan and want to see him back on the field. That said, I think what we are seeing is the new Fitz. This is not an aberration. I believe he’s finally put it all together with just the right team for his skill set. He may not be offensive player of the week every week, but he will move this team down the field. He’s got the weapons he needs and he knows how to use them. Winston may have trouble getting his slot back for a while.
September 21st, 2018 at 1:15 pm
This article and commentary. Spot on.
September 21st, 2018 at 1:26 pm
I’m hoping to have a 28 point lead on the 4th quarter so we can see RG4 in action Monday night.
Go Bucs!!!!
September 21st, 2018 at 1:29 pm
@Joe … “No one in their right mind two weeks ago would ever suggest Fitz was a better quarterback than Jameis, except for the avowed Jameis haters.” I see that the “Jameis haters” paintbrush is still alive & well Joe. PERHAPS (just maybe) our Bucs’ world isn’t QUITE as black & white as you keep trying to make it out to be. (BTW, good job Billy Bob, StPete, Bird and 99+15).
@IsrBuc … “now you see perfectly how an offense can carry the defense on its back.” Interesting perspective IsrBuc, much I still prefer to see it as COMPLIMENTARY FOOTBALL. The Philly game was a classic example of that IMO. Our beaten-up defense was out on the field in 100 degree temps for 60% of the game (Joe prefers ‘trainwreck’ but ‘beaten-up’ has a nicer ring to me). That’s 79 defensive snaps for our defense versus only 58 defensive snaps for the Eagles defense. JPP got 67 of those D-snaps and GMC got 65, but guess what … Beau Allen (hurting) only got 20 D-snaps & Jerel Worthy got 23. Hmmm, wonder why the DLine looked so pooped in the 4th qtr? And our young Secondary? Evans played all 79 D-snaps, while Davis got 77, Ryan Smith got 71 and Stewart got 67. Man I sure do wish that Smitty knew how to develop young players in the Secondary (OK, sarcasm font off again).
THAT same defense held the Eagles to 3 TDs and 0 FGs … enough for us to win. Not only that, but it contributed TWO turnovers to help our offense (that turned it right back over after the 1st turnover), while limiting the damage that Philly did as a result of our offense’s miscues (2 turnovers) to ZERO points. Come the 4th qtr, that same beat-up defense had been on the field that game for a LOOONG, long time … and it gave up 2 TDs in the last 16 minutes. Again … COMPLIMENTARY FOOTBALL. Did the offense REALLY carry the “defense on its back” IsrBuc? Or did they BOTH work TOGETHER as a TEAM to win a hard-fought game?
September 21st, 2018 at 1:32 pm
Article spot on; Joe’s Winston commentary way off. We don’t hate Winston, but we prefer the Harvard man who has experience. We folks who actually use our eyes see one QB (who is 4-1 with the Bucs) getting the ball out quickly because he can read defenses, making throws to the open man, and not forcing it to Brate and Evans every time…
September 21st, 2018 at 2:05 pm
So if QBs get credit for wins does that mean Tyrod Taylor get the credit for the Browns first win? QB records are just not common sense
September 21st, 2018 at 2:14 pm
@Defense Rules That really wasn’t my point and btw, what about the saints game?
Anyway, i was referring to the joe who’s glorifying jamies and putting blame on everyone else when team loses or fail to identify that jw winning season was made by the play on the defensive side. telling us about 4k yards seasons and not mentioning playing from behind and being forced to throw the ball.
September 21st, 2018 at 3:28 pm
I think Jameis does force the ball- he’s too anxious,
However, he’s got all the intangibles and should be able to grow into these things and into who he needs to be as a person- I say we keep him and let him reach his full potential. He lied and that’s broken some trust. He ought to be able to figure this out-
September 21st, 2018 at 3:29 pm
His upsides tremendous. He could conceivably have games like fitz every game with his talent level
September 21st, 2018 at 4:12 pm
Fitz is 4-1 as a starter here. He needs to keep playing until he colls off.
September 21st, 2018 at 4:28 pm
I think we might be looking at a ‘Kurt Warner when he took over the Rams Starting QB job and the Greatest Show on Turf was born’ type of situation here with Fitz….
September 21st, 2018 at 4:29 pm
Fitz or Jameis, everybody gets to play sooner or later. Off topic those garnet and gold glasses must be cracked watching that powerhouse.
September 21st, 2018 at 5:09 pm
I agree with this 100%
Jeff Says:
September 21st, 2018 at 11:04 am
Again, I think this whole thing is a media-generated controversy.
^ This is also correct.
September 21st, 2018 at 9:07 pm
” No one in their right mind two weeks ago would ever suggest Fitz was a better quarterback than Jameis, except for the avowed Jameis haters who couldn’t get past the first line of an eye test because they are so blinded by rage over the guy.”
I don’t think most people are saying that Fitz is a “better” QB. Certainly not more physically talented! Just that Fitz has learned that he should take what is there and not try to push the envelope when the Defense is giving you something Much easier. Move the chains then score. You don’t have to score on every play or force the ball to your favorite. JW3 will learn this at some point in his career. HOPEFULLY it is right after getting his job back and he goes on a run that makes Fitz look small!!!
September 21st, 2018 at 9:08 pm
Sup UB! Hope all is well with you.
September 21st, 2018 at 9:30 pm
Lamarcus Says:
I’m just enjoying winning. I’m not into all that Qb controversy as it is ruining the fun.
—————
This post wins the day.
September 21st, 2018 at 10:50 pm
“ Ideally “ we keep winning.
September 21st, 2018 at 11:13 pm
I’m a Jameis fan and do want to see him start again but Fitz is playing lights out so keep him while he’s hot!
IsrBucs what are you talking about? If anything the incessant Jameis haters blame all the losses on him and credit wins to everbody else, go back and look. Plus you people always ALWAYS only point out his bad points never giving him props for the things he does good. Then you roll your eyes and suck your teeth when Joe or anyone on this board bring up his stats or says anything good about him. You guys are some incessant whiners crying about you’re called haters😢😢😭😭but look at the names you call us. I have not seen one Jameis fan not say Fitz is playing great and only one who says Jameis should start soon as he gets back. You people point to Jameis’s record as a starter but conveniently forget Fitz had proved himself no more than a journeyman back up who one season led the league in turnovers and his history has proven the bottom is never too far away to fall out yet you guys hang our season on him.
September 22nd, 2018 at 8:58 am
Joe is 1OO% correct when he says jameis haters. There many idiots on this board who only write negative comments about the guy regardless of the article. Joe writes about community service with jameis and the haters come out. Stop lying and saying these idiots are not haters. They are the exact definition of hater. By the twisted logic of these haters, russell wilson is garbage. His oline sucks yet he can not win. Why is that? “Great” qbs should be able to overcome lousy oline play according to the haters. Where are the haters that were crying for nick foles? Nick foles sucks yet he won a bowl with great defense, running game, oline, and skill positions. Jameis is bettter period. And jameis did not lie. He was drunk and he does not remember that night. Dont give me that he hurt our trust mess. We have a leader that doesnt drink that has lied 5OOO times in a year and a half yet the jameis hater still back him. Go figure.