Better Defense = Better Jameis
August 9th, 2019
In the mind of a well-respected NFL scribe, in looking to improve America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, look to the other side of the line of scrimmage.
NFL writer Mike Sando of The Athletic recently held a Q&A on his site. There, Sando talked about Jameis’ ceiling. In so many words, he said it’s simple: Fix the defense and watch Jameis improve.
Robert G.
What’s the best case scenario for Jameis Winston in Tampa?Mike Sando
Best case is that [Todd] Bowles comes in and that defense goes to middle of the pack or better. People forget that when Bruce Arians won with Carson Palmer in Arizona, the Cardinals were good on defense. The Bucs have been horrific. Defensive improvement, which is a realistic expectation, would mean the Bucs could ask less from Winston. From there, best-case scenario is Winston clicking with the new coach, Winston taking well to some hard coaching, Arians quietly restoring some balance to the offense (helped along by an improved defense), and Tampa surprising within the NFC South, maybe getting to 9-7.
Joe has been screaming about this for years. Disgraced former Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith didn’t just get Dirk Koetter (and many others) fired, he may have paved the road to run Jameis.
Think about it: Imagine if Jameis only needed to score 21 or 24 points a game… instead of 45? Running him off would only be discussed by the avowed haters.
Now Koetter should share blame for retaining Smith after his 2017 debacle. So too should the entire organization. Someone above Koetter should have grown a pair after 2017 and told Koetter unless he gets rid of his good friend, then someone else will.
Keeping Smith was an organization fail from Koetter right up to the family that cuts the checks.
It blows Joe’s mind to ponder how many years this franchise has been set back and how many careers were blown apart by the ineptitude of Smith2.
August 9th, 2019 at 8:07 am
Perhaps a person to oversee the football operation side of things instead of the Glazer boys, could have had the common sense to get rid of Smith.
August 9th, 2019 at 8:08 am
When did the defense impact Jameis’s decision making on the field?
When did the defense make Jameis over throw open receivers?
When did the defense tell Jameis to throw into double coverage when other options are open?
When did the defense make Jameis not throw the ball away?
When did the defense force Jameis to give the opponent free points and good field position with turnovers?
Enough with the blame game, let’s start expecting more from a #1 overall pick
August 9th, 2019 at 8:10 am
Enough with all that b.s. tell us joe how did Mayfield, Murray, Daniel jones and darnold played last night. I wish i didn’t watch. Lost all passion and whatever excitement that i had. What zip these guys put on the ball. The accuracy. Unbelievable. Coming out of college, no experience .. doesn’t matter. Not the same league.
Trade everyone for pics. Evans, howard.. the whole bunch. Start over with a new qb.
August 9th, 2019 at 8:11 am
Very true! Jaboo not having to come back from 3 scores down every week should
help tremendously!!!
August 9th, 2019 at 8:14 am
Obviously joe didn’t watch Mayfield, Murray, nines and darnold play last night. Made me sick to my stomach
Can’t wait till we draft a new qb.
August 9th, 2019 at 8:20 am
In case you think talent is more important than coaching—the Jaguars thought they had gotten rid of all their problems by getting rid of their QB Blake Bortles and hiring Super Bowl winning QB Foles. They even kept their first pick RB from last year and hired a very experienced OL Coach in Clueless Warhop who wasted no time setting up his OL to his liking like he ruined ours. Result—The Jags got slaughtered by Oakland 29-0! LOL!!!
August 9th, 2019 at 8:21 am
It blows Joe’s mind to ponder how many years this franchise has been set back and how many careers were blown apart by the ineptitude of Smith.
Yeah Lovie.
August 9th, 2019 at 8:23 am
Always somebody else’s fault. And why was the defense on the field so msuch. The defense held teams to 27 points or less how many times? Where was the high, high scoring offense Lead by Jameis? Running up and down the field between the 20’s. He will keep his job safe or get himself Run!
August 9th, 2019 at 8:25 am
“Imagine if Jameis only needed to score 21 or 24 points a game… instead of 45?”
The Bucs defense
2016 23.1 pts per game
2017 23.9 pts per game
That is a far cry from the 45 pts needed!!!!!! The defense could have been better, sure!!!! the roster could have been better too!!!!! Why don’t we start asking the “real” question!!!!!!!! Why don’t we ask why the two most exciting stretches with the Bucs was the 5 game steak of the defense in 2016 and the offensive streak in 2018 lead by Fitz!!!!!!!!! notice the absence of the game managing lying qb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why do we not ask if jw3 is actually holding the offensive weapons back!!!!!!!!! If the Bucs had a “real’ qb in 2018, we should have seen in offense as potent as the KC Chiefs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! why do the sheep want to pay elite money to a sub par qb that needs the same formula for a “rookie” to win with!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2019 will reveal answers to the sheep, that the “REAL” fans already know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 9th, 2019 at 8:33 am
It seems that BA, Bowles & Licht agree…..fix the defense….that is why our first 4 draft picks were on the defensive side…..
I presume that is why they traded GMC for Suh…..
Fix the defense…..fix the kicking game…..improve Special Teams
August 9th, 2019 at 8:34 am
So, the answer is….we need a good defense so that a below average QB can win.
Groundhog Day. Again.
August 9th, 2019 at 8:39 am
Bucs are following the Jville/Blake Bortles model which I said all along.
Pick up the 5 year opt – improve the Defense and let him fight for his contract.
Im watching Palmer highlights and I just don’t see JW making these throws. The playaction I think JW can be decent on but these timed routes are just going to drive Winston bonkers. Yeeesh.
August 9th, 2019 at 8:53 am
Jameis haters are the funniest, dumbest SOBs this site has. Tell me the other teams with Defenses ranking last or close to it, where the QB ALONE gets them to the playoffs and beyond. Go ahead I’ll wait.
August 9th, 2019 at 9:02 am
Only because he won’t handle the ball as often….
August 9th, 2019 at 9:03 am
You can’t find much better examples of a great defense helping a QB than our SB defense and the Ravens defense for SB winner Trent Dilfer…..
Of course a good defense helps a QB in that it gets the ball back for him more often…..helps with field position and takes pressure off to make up from large scoring deficits.
Does Jameis need to improve….yes….but does the defense?……ABSOLUTELY!!!
August 9th, 2019 at 9:26 am
if Jameis only needed to score 21 or 24 points a game… instead of 45?
——–
Thanks Ice Cream McIceCream 🤣🤣🤣🤣
August 9th, 2019 at 9:36 am
The defense held teams to 27 points or less how many times?
————–
Lmao!!!!
Cleveland – win
Redskins – loss – Fitzmagic – 16-3
49ers – win
Carolina- win
Ravens – loss
3 out of 4 not bad. If you guys only had 1 clue, just 1 small tiny clue. 🤦🏽♂️
August 9th, 2019 at 9:39 am
If the def held everyone under 27 your talking about a 12+/- win season
August 9th, 2019 at 9:58 am
@chan
Other qbs have bad defenses and win more than 3 wins
Franchise qbs shouldn’t go winless on the road for two years
August 9th, 2019 at 10:09 am
IsrBuc- STFU and watch tonight’s game, it is a new season with a new coach, a new defensive coach and new ST coaches. You have no idea how Jameis will come out tonight. Quit your idiotic ramblings until we play a game please.
August 9th, 2019 at 10:16 am
Loyal
I’m intrigued which QB won more than 3 games when their def gave up more than 27 points?
August 9th, 2019 at 10:26 am
And I’m not accounting for the games where Jameis gave us a lead late in the 4th and the defense still gave up the booty ala week 16 vs the falcons.
August 9th, 2019 at 10:27 am
They didn’t play last night. Regular season begins in Sept.
They did practice last night.
August 9th, 2019 at 10:31 am
“and the offensive streak in 2018 lead by Fitz!”
Lmao at a 2 fluke games to begin the season being a “streak”. By week 3 he was exposed and he threw more INTs than TDs from that point on.
Dude is losing it hardcore this offseason.
August 9th, 2019 at 10:31 am
Coaches with the last name of Smith apparently suck at coaching defense. Mike and Lovie.
August 9th, 2019 at 10:34 am
Loyaltotheend Section 312 – Bad defenses are one thing, HISTORICALLY BAD, is entirely another. But sure go ahead and blame Jameis for all of the teams woes, that’s a take, an incredibly stupid take but a take none the less. Let’s also totally disregard some of the worst coaching the league has ever seen… SMH
August 9th, 2019 at 10:35 am
2016 was the only year the defense was average. I don’t care that it was a 1 PPG difference between 2017 and 2016. It’s all about performance relative to the rest of the NFL or these #’s mean nothing.
They were MUCH worse in 2017 than 2016.
2017 Bucs were 29th in points per drive given up and 31st in yards given up per drive.
In 2016 they were 17th in points per drive given up and 13th in yards per drive given up.
2016 is the only year the defense was ADEQUATE / AVERAGE. Despite a bottom 5 run game and bottom 5 special teams, we had a winning record with Jameis Winston + an AVERAGE defense.
I will keep making this point until we see a season where Jameis is given a decent defense and still has a bad record and season. Because that hasn’t happened yet in his career. The entire team outside of QB + pass catchers has been bottom 5 basically at everything outside of 2016.
August 9th, 2019 at 10:38 am
Why does not having a defense, kicking game, running game, not matter to a QB? I seem to remember 3 or 4 years back Brees had 3 loosing seasons in a row due to terrible defense’s. People were saying he was near the end of the road. Then management got him a defense and he’s back good as ever. Now Winston isn’t the best QB in the league but he’s far from the worst. Unlike Brees, Winston has to deal with not only a awful defense, a nonexistent running game, no help from the kicking game. It’s a wonder we have been in as many games as we have the last 4 years. I just want to see how good Winston can be with maybe 2 out of the three parts of a team that lead to wins. Just my opinion.
August 9th, 2019 at 10:38 am
I watched every throw he made for miserable 4 years you moron what do i need to see? I get it that all the other young qbs have the perfect coaches to step on the field and tear it up from the get go. Add mahomes and other young talented, accurate, good mechanics, right mentality, well spoken, cool and collected, no off the field issues, settlements to that list. Jw is not in the same league. Never was. Never will be. Outside of tampa he’s only known as a joke, crab legs w’s eater and other stuff. No other fanbase would have liked to have him. Its a fact. Connect to reality and look at the browns. Look closely.
August 9th, 2019 at 10:39 am
“we should have seen in offense as potent as the KC Chiefs!!”
1. Andy Reid is a bad4ss playcaller and offensive mind compared to Koetter.
2. Chiefs were a top rushing team in 2018. Bucs were worst in the league.
3. Chiefs had a much better D than the Bucs in 2018
4. Chiefs had a much better O-line than the Bucs in 2018
and 5. Why are we setting the bar of expectations at 50 TD passes but excusing the bottom 3 defense of 2017? Way to stay even keeled lmao.
GO BUCS!
August 9th, 2019 at 10:51 am
SSSSHHHHH!!! Please do not let facts get in the way of a beautiful argument by the unhinged.
August 9th, 2019 at 10:59 am
Joe
What are you talking about
All those QBs played last night. And played well
So preseason games are just practices now and don’t count.
So the preseason game for Bucs tonight has no bearing on regular season.
So if a QB looks solid in preseason debut we shouldn’t be excited
So if a QB looks lousy in preseason debut we shouldn’t be concerned. If QBs strings together multiple bad preseason games (3) no concern
You were concerned a week ago after a few practices with Jameis play.
Dude. Stay off the meth.
August 9th, 2019 at 11:06 am
Bird:
“This Joe” has little to no use for preseason games. Nothing more than a glorified scrimmage — to “this Joe.”
Therefore, “this Joe” puts no stock into performances in preseason, good or bad. For example, Daniel Jones completed all his attempts in his debut. Does that mean he’s a Pro Bowl QB already?
August 9th, 2019 at 11:07 am
When bucs allow 24 or less with Winston as starter they are 19-8 (70%). You can’t have a bad defense and missed 30+ fgs and expect a qb to win
August 9th, 2019 at 11:08 am
@Bird
He’s not saying it doesn’t matter at all IMO just emphasizing that these performances are essentially glorified practices and he’s right.
In general I think the point is don’t draw some hardcore conclusions off these young QBs based on 1 series in 1 preseason game like some of the nuts in this comment section are doing.
GO BUCS!
August 9th, 2019 at 11:12 am
nvm that Joe apparently puts nothing into preseason lol.
I think that’s wrong. You can definitely judge line play and depth in preseason and RBs and some other things
i.e. run game / rojo looked terrible in 2018 preseason and that translated
i.e. the offensive line looked horrifically bad 2014 preseason and that translated
i.e. defense not getting any pass rush in preseason the last however many years and that translating
I remember years ago when the Broncos were just destroying O-lines in preseason with constant sacks and pressure (before they had established themselves as an elite D) and i drafted them in fantasy in every league I was in. They went on to become the elite defense that eventually won a SB.
August 9th, 2019 at 11:15 am
@Loyaltotheend Section 312
When did the defense impact Jameis’s decision making on the field?
When the allowed the other team to score on damn near every drive which put the team behind which affected Winston’s decision making because now he is trying to force things to catch up.
When did the defense make Jameis over throw open receivers?
Can’t dispute that one.
When did the defense tell Jameis to throw into double coverage when other options are open?
Once again the defense was so terrible Jameis feels like he has to make the play. Plus it wasn’t like the OL was stellar, he probably didn’t see the open guy.
When did the defense make Jameis not throw the ball away?
See previous answers for questions 1 & 3
When did the defense force Jameis to give the opponent free points and good field position with turnovers?
See Previous answers for questions 1 & 3
Enough with the blame game, let’s start expecting more from the defense, the running game, and the coaching.
August 9th, 2019 at 11:16 am
How dare you use facts and logic!
🙂
August 9th, 2019 at 11:29 am
Joe Says:
August 9th, 2019 at 11:16 am
When bucs allow 24 or less with Winston as starter they are 19-8 (70%). You can’t have a bad defense and missed 30+ fgs and expect a qb to win
How dare you use facts and logic!
——————–
Amen! It is ridiculous how lazy fans and reporters are when commenting on the Bucs. The Bucs have a good QB and he could become great, but nobody can win if you have a poor running game, horrific kicking game and one of the worst defenses in NFL history. Jamies needs to reduce turnovers, but again no QB can win with those hurdles.
I really like Ira, but he is one of the reporters that doesn’t seem to understand the QB, despite being the most important position by far is not the sole reason a team wins or looses. To the contrary the #1 ranked Bucs offense led by Jamies Winston kept the Bucs in games, while the rest of the team blew game after game after game.
August 9th, 2019 at 11:37 am
LOL… I love this place
August 9th, 2019 at 11:45 am
“Better defense”= better TEAM. Complementary football, just like less turnovers= better TEAM, better kicking= better TEAM, better run-game= better TEAM, etc….
August 9th, 2019 at 11:49 am
Sean Bunting > Greedy Williams said no one ever.
August 9th, 2019 at 11:57 am
Saw Williams got an INT on a terrible overthrow where it basically fell into his lap.
Other than that he gave up a big TD on bad coverage.
Then again preseason and no sample size of meaning
August 9th, 2019 at 11:59 am
“Murray and his 2 yard pass plays wont work in the big boy leauge
Kobe is predicting alot of humble moments for the rookie and last year class QBs
JW3 HAS NOT PLAYED A DOWN YET THIS YEAR
IT IS SO EVIDENT NOW THAN EVER
IT IS TIME FOR A QB CHANGE IN TAMPA
THE FANS HAVE ALREADY MADE UP THEIR MINDS AND NOTHING WILL CHANGE
FOR A BETTER FUTURE OF JW3 AND THE BUCS FANBASE…
TIME TO MOVE ON
KOBE FAKER AS JW3 PERSONAL UHAUL DRIVER
HAS STARTED THE ENGINE”
Kobe Faker
August 9th, 2019 at 12:18 pm
Time for 2019 . But when Jameis can put up 21 points against teams not named Atlanta, then BA just might be successful in turning our team around. Jameis only
had 10 TD’s in his 7 other starts.
This staff is doing some things that will help our success. The question is when all facets will gel together and complement each other..
August 9th, 2019 at 12:41 pm
Just a reminder to some, Winston is still only 25; very few QB’s past or present have more production by this age…
Anybody who knows football, knows that you must surround a young QB with 2 things if you want them to be successful #1. A good defense and #2. A solid running game…2 coaching staffs have failed to do this…This isn’t about making excuses for Winston, it’s just Football Facts/Common sense…
While talented, you can’t throw a young gunslinger into the fire immediately without at least these two things and expect him to win and not make mistakes…especially one with the technical flaws Winston came in with…
He’s still a work in progress obviously but he’s definitely a hard worker that really isn’t as bad a young QB as he’s made out to be, and he’s gotten better every year…
August 9th, 2019 at 1:05 pm
If Jameis had just a “league average”, as in 16th ranked, run game and defense every year, the Bucs would have made the playoffs the last 3 years in a row.
August 9th, 2019 at 2:27 pm
I read @ Loyals first 2 sentences 2nd post and quit reading LMAO
Obviously doesn’t get it.
A bad defense effects EVERY decision Jameis makes on the field.
EVERY SINGLE ONE
August 9th, 2019 at 2:49 pm
Isr- the other QBs (other than Baker) played 1 or 2 series against vanilla defenses Genius- nice comparison- go away hater
August 9th, 2019 at 3:35 pm
Winston is the QB. Any questions?
August 9th, 2019 at 4:15 pm
Seems a lot of people didn’t watch many Bucs games and just go off of stats. How many times did opposing offenses take their foot off the gas and coast until the clock ran out? Don’t act like you didn’t see that damn near every week.
A game that the Bucs defense allowed 27 points could have easily been a another two tads on the board had the other team not felt bad for us. It’s coaching.
August 9th, 2019 at 6:15 pm
It’s coaching! It’s the DL! It’s the OL! It’s Jameis!
Let’s face it gang, it’s the Bucs!!!!
Until this team shows that it can turn around this submarine and surface with at least a 50-50 record it’s all the above.
Nice to be a Pollyanna and see playoff tickets in your dreams but, what in the world makes you guys think that this is the year? DW instead of Kwon? Getting rid of poor McCoy? BA? I’m not sure any of those factors will make a difference. Come on- -let’s hear exactly why this is the year?
August 9th, 2019 at 6:17 pm
The article is dead on. The Bucs stand no chance with worst defense in league. mike smith should of been run off after 2017 year. what he did to hargreaves should of been noted too–he was a first round pick allowed to become a bust. That was Mike smith fault also–was glad to see koetter fired as he accepted that and did NOTHING!
August 9th, 2019 at 7:03 pm
@ Oregon, I have them at 8-8. I’m optimistic about improving across the board.
#1 Arians
#2 team speed is much faster