Run Jameis, Run
October 25th, 2018
Good Jameis.
Sometimes what you see with your eyes isn’t the whole picture when you have the luxury of watching the tape.
That’s the case with jet-flyin’, kiss–stealin‘, data-analyzin’, Bucs-film-studyin’, limousine-ridin’ Thomas Bassinger of the Tampa Bay Times. While watching the Bucs beat the Browns on Sunday, Bassinger came away thinking America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, had a meh kind of game. But after watching the All-22 tape, Bassinger raised an eyebrow and nodded his head.
In particular, he liked both why and how Jameis ran the ball.
There were some aspects of his performance Sunday, however, that I appreciate more after watching the tape, particularly his scrambling. He rushed nine times (excluding a kneel down at the end of the first half) and gained a first down or scored a touchdown on five of those carries. He added more value rushing in Week 7 than any other quarterback except the Bears’ Mitchell Trubisky, according to ESPN’s Total QBR.
In general, Winston leading the team in rushing yards (55) isn’t a winning formula. He’s not Randall Cunningham. But his runs Sunday were significant for a reason beyond yards and first downs. Winston has shown a tendency to force passes to receivers even when they’re well-covered. Does he do that because he feels he can make the tight-window throw? Does he do that because he wants to give his teammates a chance to make a play? Probably some of both.
Against the Browns, though, there were instances where in the past I would have expected Winston to force a pass and instead he took what the defense gave him. These weren’t just runs born of desperation; they were smart decisions. On a couple of plays, including his 14-yard touchdown run, Cleveland rushed three defenders and dropped eight into pass coverage. With no one open and no one spying Winston, he wisely took off and ran. Eight defenders to cover five receivers — that’s some fast math with 275-pound monsters looking to take your head off.
In short, Bassinger writes, Jameis was taking what the defense gave him. No one open, no one spying him, there’s green grass ahead, go!
Now the flip side to this is Jameis may just get his head knocked off, but from what Joe remembered, Jameis smartly slid when needed.
If defenses start to worry about Jameis burning them for a first down on the ground, then that should, in theory, open up passing lanes.
October 25th, 2018 at 5:36 am
Good. He needs to do more running when there’s no plays elsewhere.
October 25th, 2018 at 6:33 am
“from what Joe remembered, Jameis smartly slid when needed.”
I think there was one instance when he fought for extra yards on a run. He took a couple hits before going down on that one.
Jameis is always exciting when he runs, and usually gets results. I like it, but I also like when he makes the defense think he is running and completes a pass instead.
October 25th, 2018 at 6:41 am
This offense has so many weapons its sickening
It needs to be putting up 30 a game. Scoring is up all around the nfl. The bucs should be no different.
And why do people keep commenting on koetter’s safe play calling ? Or his run up the middle call? Monken is calling the plays. Nothing has changed since the preseason or game 1? If you are gonna be critical of someone (and not Jameis of course ) then point the finger at monken
October 25th, 2018 at 6:48 am
No question Jameis came back in better shape and has been really good on the run. But , some of the best running QB’s have sustained serious injuries while
doing that. We need to improve the O line blocking and RB play so they are
are getting chunk plays out of the backfield to some of the decrease some of the double coverages. Last week there was a well thrown and executed screen to Ronald Jones that gained 15 yards. We need more of that,IMO.
October 25th, 2018 at 6:54 am
Bird
This offense has a lot of weapons
They also has a lot of ‘cold streaks’
Pittsburgh 23-7
Chicago 48-3
Atlanta 21-6
Even Cleveland outscored them 21-7 in the second half to forced overtime
They have been ‘ hot-cold’ for the last 4 games
And a 1-3 record to show for it
October 25th, 2018 at 6:56 am
One of the reasons the offense was better in 2015 was the effective use of
Screens and dumpoff passes to RB’s to both our RB’s. Well over 2000
yards from the running backs.
October 25th, 2018 at 7:05 am
The one thing missing to make all phases of the running game work is a
“Logan Mankins” type of guard that will help this O line gel and get more production from our run game.
October 25th, 2018 at 7:15 am
In the past that might have been my biggest frustration with Winston. No one within 15 yards and we only need three or four for a first down and he forces a pass. Not sure why after 50 or so NFL games he is just starting now but I like the effort.
October 25th, 2018 at 7:27 am
OMG! I’m fatter I mean I’m flattered! 😢
Watched week 1 and week 3 again last night to take a good look at what everyone has been saying in terms of Fitz “outplaying” Winston and I concluded that you guys don’t watch film and have selective memories.
Seriously I think the offense is antiquated. Fitz got people “killed” by defenders like poor Chris Godwin who took two hits that could send any grown man to the hospital. Ball thrown long and short. Missed kicks, turnovers, you name it.
Koetter playbook literally sends receivers into harms way. Nothing Fitz or Winston can do. But I’ll say this Fitz had a much better rushing attack than jaboo and yes as far as the deep ball is concerned Fitz connected but the rest of the plays weren’t exactly hof worthy. Lastly I will admit the team seemed to run better with Fitz, oddly enough it appeared as though the chemistry was better? He still sucks though. Lol
October 25th, 2018 at 7:29 am
While Jameis will never be the kind of athlete a Cam Newton or Marcus Mariota is he easily could be the same kind of athlete a Big Ben is, as long as he gets through his reads and finds that a run would be the best option I’m all for him running all day, opens up our playbook if he does.
October 25th, 2018 at 7:33 am
Jameis is and always has been a more effective runner than most people realize.
Doesn’t always look the prettiest or smoothest or fastest when he runs – but Jaboo flat out gets the job done with his feet whether scrambling to buy time for a pass down field or taking off for whatever yards the defense allows him to run.
Glad to see Winston utilizing that running ability so effectively last week. It absolutely made a difference and contributed to the WIN.
October 25th, 2018 at 7:36 am
I hear a lot on the run game
It will open up the pass
You know what else will open up the pass is the long ball
This spreads the field also holds the safeties back
Which in turn would help the run game not so may in the box
Oh But Wait Ever Defense in the league knows Jamies can’t hit it
October 25th, 2018 at 7:54 am
Ummm
Why are my post showing up so late??
October 25th, 2018 at 7:58 am
52 pass attempts for a 24 year old quarterback is way too much… Jameis has been asked to throw way too much in general since he’s been a buc
We have to find some balance on this offense if we want to become a playoff team; an 85/15 pass to run ratio is the definition of a pass- first/pass- happy offense…in my honest opinion offensive line should be at the top of our draft list…we need to take a gaurd and a tackle early, the right side of our offensive line sucks…
October 25th, 2018 at 8:01 am
I have been saying this all the time
A smart QB will take what the defense give them
He will do whatever it take to get the win
That’s why I like Cam Newton so much
Cam is not a ‘Box Score’ QB
He don’t care about the 400 passing yards, 5 TD
All he care about it moving the chains, scoring points
66 career wins, only one 4000 yards passing season
But he has run for 4577 yards, 57 TD
October 25th, 2018 at 8:03 am
The browns are an extremely aggressive defense and play a ton of man, so it seems that winston should run, think lewis runs a similar defense to the bucs just with better personnel so should be interesting on Sunday, but jameis is what he is a 26-30 turnover a year 26-30 td guy a year and that is what he is
October 25th, 2018 at 8:15 am
He made some smart plays with his feet and showed some toughness. He needs to do more of that with his arm, take what the defense gives you.
October 25th, 2018 at 8:27 am
Dusthty
That’s a good observation
October 25th, 2018 at 8:47 am
bob
I agree….
I miss Charles sims….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
October 25th, 2018 at 9:11 am
JW is much faster now that he got in shape, he is probably in the 4.8 range after running 5.1 out of shape during the combine, he’s only going to g ed t better, he was fantastic down the stretch, hopefully his running game can get going, need to find a RG, Caleb isn’t the answer
October 25th, 2018 at 9:58 am
2 picks against cinci and Bucs lose 31-17
October 25th, 2018 at 10:24 am
Man just get the W!
October 25th, 2018 at 10:54 am
The problem that I could see with him last Sunday his passing looked off. He didn’t appear to be placing the wear a receiver could catch it without getting killed. The runs were great but the passing was off.
October 25th, 2018 at 12:28 pm
Ensch
That’s normal passing for JW