Jameis The Scrambler
December 4th, 2018
Smarter with the ball. (Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.)
Many of the critics of America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, are driven up a tree because they believe he never learns from his mistakes.
Listening to Bucs Bit-O-Honey-snacking, Ozark-watching, yams-eating coach Dirk Koetter yesterday in his day-after presser, Jameis very much is evolving into a smart runner.
“I think the key to those scrambles is that once you get through the traffic, how quickly you get your eyes back downfield,” Koetter explained as a key. “Then there a lot of moving part there’s because there’s always those guys chasing you. He’s gotten stripped from behind before, so he’s doing a lot better job of keeping two hands on the ball and then he’s keeping his eyes downfield and then very rarely now is he drifting and running sideways. He’s getting north and south and making quick decisions.”
Jameis led the Bucs with 48 yards rushing against Carolina. That’s not ideal for your quarterback to lead the team in rushing. And with his lack of ball security in the past, Jameis’ running was dangerous.
One thing that frustrated Joe about Jameis was fumbles. No, not the picks. If a quarterback is going to wing the ball as many times as the Bucs do, there are going to be interceptions.
But the fumbles, those got Joe irritated.
Sunday, Joe noticed something he never saw before, Jameis running with the ball and covering it with two arms when he heard footsteps,, almost like what you would see with a fullback plunging into the line.
That, friends, is progress. Joe nodded in approval seeing that.
Maybe benching Jameis, while in the short term killed the team, benefited the Bucs in the long run if it results in this new brand of Jameis.
December 4th, 2018 at 9:18 am
He took the sack instead of flinging the ball to the other team. I was surprised and hopefull.
December 4th, 2018 at 9:19 am
Dilli Dilii 🍺
December 4th, 2018 at 9:19 am
You can see he’s made an effort in ball security. Watch the Giant’s game where he held the ball loosely while running towards the GL. Then watch the last two games where he breaks through the line and is now holding the ball high and tight. I wonder if he went home and watched ‘The Program’ where Omar Epps had to carry the ball around campus and people would try to knock it free. Whatever it is it’s working.
December 4th, 2018 at 9:20 am
A positive about Dirk’s vertical offense is once you get past the LOS the secondary is 10+ yards down field allowing the Qb plenty of room to run.
December 4th, 2018 at 9:25 am
well, we saw this “new” jameis at the end of last year too….playing very well the last month of the season…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
December 4th, 2018 at 9:25 am
“Five years and the quarterback is the lead rusher?…
Read that 2 more times…
And it will lead to 1 and only conclusion…
Fire Jason Gump”
Kobe Faker
December 4th, 2018 at 9:27 am
The Defense is improving, Jameis is playing well, AND I made the playoffs in all three of my FF leagues
Today is a good day
December 4th, 2018 at 9:27 am
I like Jameis, but you would think that running with the football away from the body so that others can easily swat it out of your hand would have been something that was understood and, for the most part, corrected years ago.
December 4th, 2018 at 9:28 am
^^ Great point, @Dewey, and yes it has been great to see Jameis with the 2 hand lock on that football when he is headed downfield. He is clearly as focused on ball security as he could possibly be. It bodes well.
There will come a day down the road when this part of Jameis career has passed (the heightened awareness of trying NOT to turn it over) that he will be free himself to take a few chances again… but GOOD chances, and letting his natural talent kick in… making a few big splash plays, but keeping mindful always of ball control.
December 4th, 2018 at 9:29 am
I couldn’t agree more with the last line. I don’t think Jameis was listening to coaches before being benched. I think benching him was huge. He’s being much more conservative in how he is playing. I think this may help him develop into the quarterback that everyone knows he can be.
December 4th, 2018 at 9:30 am
That’s all you can ask for. The biggest fault with his game is the “need” to make a play. Eat a sack, throw it away, scramble for a couple. Take care of the ball.
December 4th, 2018 at 9:31 am
He’s beginning to show signs of learning! Solve that number of turnovers problem, and he’ll be awesome.
Hope in reality is the worst of all evils because it prolongs the torment of fans.
December 4th, 2018 at 9:32 am
@813
Totally agree. Im glad there was someone that watched those 5 games end of last year. JW was playing top 5 elite level even though his shoulder wasnt completely healed. The only game during that stretch where he had turnover issue was the last game when our klueless turtle gameplan to throw to mike Evans to get him over 1000 yards. JW forced throws to ME to get the 1k yards. JW still played very well and threw the last second bomb to Godwin to win the game and save Klueless job
December 4th, 2018 at 9:35 am
I am starting to see a new Jameis, and I like what I see!
Jamies IS our QB, so unless he totally tanks these next games, people need to get used to it.
And, if we continue to play as well as we have been playing, Koetter will be our coach next year too.
December 4th, 2018 at 9:38 am
rumor has it the restaraunt I jump my wi-fi off of is closing, so I won’t be seeing yall so much.
I’ll try to pop-in when I find new digs.
December 4th, 2018 at 9:39 am
Hopefully Jameis gets “it” now….slow learning curve for “the most NFL ready QB” in the 2015 NFL draft…time will tell
December 4th, 2018 at 9:41 am
@Kobe Faker,
@Gb, 1 fumble
Det, 1 int, 2 fumbles
Atl, ZERO
@Car, 3 fumbles
NO, 3 int
3 games with 3 turnovers, 1 game with 1 turnover, 1 error free game. Pesky facts.
December 4th, 2018 at 9:43 am
I think people forget that Jamies is only 24 years old.
The potential with Jamies is off the charts. Unfortunately he has been saddled with questionable coaching, a bad running game except one year, bad defense and bad kicking.
The last few games the Bucs have had a good defensive play, outstanding kicking game, but a poor running game still.
I have said this before. If the Bucs have an average defense and a good kicker(looks like they finally may have found one) then Jamies is talented enough to overcome a subpar running game.
December 4th, 2018 at 9:48 am
Alright Robert, we argue back n forth a lot, but sending ya good vibes to get on again soon. Go Bucs
December 4th, 2018 at 9:49 am
An effective scrambler is a game changer. Let’s hope he keeps it going.
December 4th, 2018 at 10:10 am
Nobody was harder on Jameis than me… but if he can play like this… and you know, stay on the field and not embarrass the team and the city, then you could so worse I guess. I’m willing to see it go for another year any way.
December 4th, 2018 at 10:29 am
Winston is not accurate throwing the long ball and isn’t a qb’s main job is accuracy ? A total of only 249yds in the game for a win is great but… Bucs have had to change the offense to boring for Winston’s success . Fitz was much more fun!!
December 4th, 2018 at 10:36 am
Mark Alstott also fumbled a lot
December 4th, 2018 at 10:42 am
maybe if you low standard fools put the same level of frustration in LOSING year in and year out than you do focusing on Winston turnovers glazers would be forced to field a NFL caliber team versus this minor league garbage they have been trotting out on the field for nearly 2 decades.
December 4th, 2018 at 11:12 am
Jameis works extremely hard each year to improve his weaknesses.
Last year fumbles were a HUGE problem. This offseason he worked tirelessly to correct it and it appears he has solved that issue. I do not believe he has a single fumble all year.
Jameis is still so young with so much room to improve. There might be issues with his game and natural abilities that he’ll never fix. But I dont think that with the god-given talent he already has, and his insane work ethic, that there is any way he wont develop into one of top 10 or higher QBs in the league
December 4th, 2018 at 11:16 am
Now if he can learn to THROW IT AWAY instead of taking a sack…
December 4th, 2018 at 11:54 am
Jolly, he fumbled for a TD to Evans against the Giants
December 4th, 2018 at 12:01 pm
Buc4life
“Now if he can learn to THROW IT AWAY instead of taking a sack…”
Much smarter to take the sack when he see’s the pocket is collapsing than to throw it away. He’s very good at getting out of a collapsing pocket and he’s a strong bodied QB that has finally started using his good legs to gain yards.
December 4th, 2018 at 12:22 pm
It amazes me the stupidity of the fanbase and as people in general
who becomes a HOF QB in 4 years?
At 24 years old an attorney or doctor has peaked in all his facets of his profession
there is a famous quote that you must perform a task 10,000 times to be a habit, learned behavior (?)
Kobe isnt going to ggole that. I have more important things to do than post here.
Kobe has posted this many times. JW while naturally gifted in throwing downfield unlike most QBs, JW will be slow in other aspects of his game/overall development
JW WILL NOT BE ELITE/PEAK the next 3-4 years
JW will get his superbowl when he 28-30 years old
IS THAT AGAINST THE BIBLE?
That is how life works.
My apologies but JW wont win the superbowl for the next 4 years but
WHEN JW is 29 years old He will be elite like Brady every year
“Back to pan handling”
Kobe Faker
December 4th, 2018 at 12:48 pm
Kobe,
Most QB ‘s are gifted with the ability to throw the long ball. That’s why they are QB ‘s, and with the exception of only two of 32 current starters , all have played since they were in Jr high.
Why do most if not all QB’S begin playing the position …..because they could throw the ball
longer down the field better than anyone else on the team.. That’s natural ability. ..
December 4th, 2018 at 3:05 pm
D1- Another aspect that’s conveniently lost when folks use the “he’s 24” excuse is that he’s been in the SAME offense all 4 years in the league. Maybe it’s not possible to know EVERY nuance, but surely he should know enough to take the checkdown and have a general “feel” to the offense.
December 4th, 2018 at 3:28 pm
DJ,
all the rookie QB are checkdown charlies because their team is scared to death for them to throw downfield
Have you not noticed they cant even throw for 150 total yards
they cant throw 20 yard pass patterns between the middle levels
they run or throw screens but they cant move the ball to score
throw many bombs? which game was that? this year? last 5 years? teams are throwing bombs after bombs?
nfl football?
December 4th, 2018 at 9:13 pm
thats exactly what I said about jamies and him coming back better and humbled in my post you didn’t post…. way to steal my stuff “Joe”
December 4th, 2018 at 9:32 pm
SOEbuc, it’s not smart to lose yards and in most cases he has time to throw it away but thinks he make something out of nothing all the time! Throw it away…
December 4th, 2018 at 10:44 pm
vinny:
Not very cool to make up stuff about Joe.
December 4th, 2018 at 11:51 pm
sorry Joe, I love y’all boys, just passion bleeding out
December 5th, 2018 at 12:40 am
vinny:
Passion is a wonderful thing.
December 5th, 2018 at 1:09 am
Mike Alstott had fumblitis and so did Legarette Bount early on. They both had/ are having decently long careers.
We all hope the light has finally come on for Jameis Winston.
_____________
Go Bucs!!!
December 5th, 2018 at 2:27 am
Kobe,
Different discussion altogether.
Naturally gifted throwing the ball downfield is what you said, and If I completely dismiss what nature’s gifts are and stick with your second expanded explanation..then yes I agree.
Moving on..
I also understand what you’re saying about rookie QB’ s checking down. Those are two separate ideas and if you’re expecting me to fill in the gaps between the two so it makes sense ….that’s a sign of ultimate trust that not only I can but I’m willing.
Because we’re buc fans, I’m willing….But frankly it’s not possible especially in light of your 482,000 thousand previous posts that present an additional amount of creativity to reconcile. But perhaps it’s clearer in your mind than what you’ve expressed. I’m limited to the words you write and I have no idea how elastic you expect them to be.
I am interested in how you can reel in these opposing thoughts and unify them into a singular point.
December 5th, 2018 at 2:34 am
Bucsfanman,
I’m going to celebrate Jameis Winston’ s birthday with an ice cream cake, candles
, all the fixings, personally I can’t wait to start a new chapter …He’s only 25…..
an David the following 364 days of something new.