“He’s Playing The Best Football Of His Career”
September 28th, 2019
Likes America.
Long-time Bucs fans will remember this name, and probably not too fondly.
So Joe left for Los Angeles to cover the Bucs-Rams game early on Thursday. Joe had never been to Los Angeles and for the longest time, Joe wanted to pay respects to the master comedian of the 20th century, a true comedic genius who’s act has never been replicated and thousands have tried.
Joe pulled in to his hotel just in time to watch the Eagles-Packers game. The game ended at roughly 9 p.m. Los Angeles time and the local FOX affiliate had an hour to kill until their local 10 p.m. newscast. So the local FOX affiliate ran an hour-long pregame show which is basically what the station runs on Sundays both pregame and postgame on Rams broadcasts.
Joe didn’t catch the name of the woman hosting the show (all the TV chicks in Los Angeles look the same, dress the same and have the same hairstyle. Odd.) but her two full-time panelists were former longtime Rams offensive lineman Jackie Slater and the first Rams quarterback to lead the team to a Super Bowl, Vince Ferragamo.
Yes, the first time the Rams went to the Super Bowl they beat the Bucs 9-0 in the 1979 NFC title game.
At any rate, the show about 40 minutes breaking down the Bucs-Rams. Since this was a Rams-oriented show, much of the focus was naturally on the Rams. This stands to reason. For example, on FOX Tailgate Sunday, which internationally popular JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman appears on weekly with WTVT-TV Channel 13, it is a Bucs-focused show. So tomorrow, you won’t see the gang discuss the Rams much.
But Ferragamo and Slater were discussing Bucco Bruce Arians. Ferragamo said his magic is already working on America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, and it is obvious.
“I think he’s playing the best football of his career,” Ferragamo said of Jameis as he waved his hands over the anchor desk as if to say, no doubt about it. “He is calm; he is poised in the pocket. His demeanor is now more like a leader
Jameis “has better mechanics. Sometimes, it takes a coach to know how to handle a quarterback.”
Guess it is fair to say Ferragamo was no fan of Jameis eating “W’s.” He also added how much he liked how Jameis is taking much better care of the football.
Now Joe can hear the haters start their shrill screaming and running to the bathroom to rip the mirror off the wall and throw it at the dog with a blood-curdling scream at the first mention of “interceptions.”
That’s all the haters ever talk about. Interceptions. Interceptions. Interceptions. These folks are obsessed. Yet one stat geek suggests in the passing league the NFL is, picks are blown out of proportion.
Of course, pick-sixes are killers.
The turnovers that got Joe nuts about Jameis was the fumbles, which are largely simply sloppy football. These drove Joe nuts.
There is evidence to what Ferragamo was saying. Earlier this season, even Arians joked how a hit on Jameis last year would have resulted in a fumble. So far through three games, Jameis has only lost one fumble. And he doesn’t lead the NFC South in interceptions.
Joe thought this was a very interesting perspective from someone who doesn’t read or hear people scream about Jameis’ picks on a daily basis, and coming from a former quarterback himself.
Sometimes to get a better perspective, one has to take a few steps away.
Los Angeles is far from Tampa Bay.
September 28th, 2019 at 1:58 pm
LOL. Ferragamo is an idiot then.
Winston hasn’t improved at all. He and his mechanics looks the same as he’s had for the previous 4 seasons. This guy clearly hasn’t much Jameis play much.
Jameis is still throwing tons of INTs, holding the ball too long and taking drive-killing sacks, and stinks in the red zone. And oh yeah… has accuracy issues as well.
Enjoy the Jameis Winston Farewell Tour, his days are numbered as the Bucs QB. Book it.
September 28th, 2019 at 2:03 pm
OH and as far as “he’s poised in the pocket” REALLY? REALLY?
One only had to compare what Daniel Jones looked like in the pocket compared to how Jameis always bounces around on his feet constantly looking uneasy.
Winston has TERRIBLE poise. You can tell by his footwork.
This stuff really isn’t rocket science.
September 28th, 2019 at 2:13 pm
The clown show starts at ^^^^^ 1:58. One interception in the last two games is ‘tons’.
You can’t make this stuff up. Hollywood couldn’t do a better job.
September 28th, 2019 at 2:16 pm
TBBF was at that game vs Rams in ’79……in the rain……
And for disillusioned Buc fans…..keep in mind we hosted the NFC Championship after starting 0-26 in ’76, so turnarounds are possible.
As far as Jameis, and this is coming from a documented supporter, he has failed to improve as a QB in his 5th year thus far.
And, I’m glad to see Joe watched the Packers game where they threw an interception at the end of the game…..sure, they had to go for the TD…..but the Bucs didn’t vs the Giants…
The Bucs had no business trying to throw passes anywhere with 13 on the board, trailing by 1 with a chip-shot FG…….it was inexcusably missed.
September 28th, 2019 at 2:19 pm
@Tampabaybucfan Turnarounds happen just not here.
September 28th, 2019 at 2:20 pm
So a guy drops a ball that falls into a defender’s hands and a team should replace a Hall of Fame quarterback with a fullback and never run??? Please!
I’s not like the Packers had Marshon Lynch or Mike Alstott on the roster.
Settlng for field goals is losing football.
September 28th, 2019 at 2:25 pm
Aaron Rogers is a turnover machine. The Real AtM cost his team a lost. What a loser!!! I want Aaron Rogers to be like RG4 Aaron lied to his team and said he loves McCarthy. Character issues made his mom burn in her house and he couldn’t even get her a hotel. What loser in life. His own family hates him. Lol. I could here Packers fans now
September 28th, 2019 at 2:28 pm
Yes, yes, yes … ‘Settling for FGs is losing football.’
September 28th, 2019 at 2:29 pm
Turnovers kill. But I agree he’s playing a lot better this season. He’s only thrown 4.
September 28th, 2019 at 2:30 pm
Aaron Rogers. Stats are for losers. You have HOF numbers but you have not been winning. He needs to step it up that was a bad pick. Why would Rogers throw it to him anyway? He wasn’t open. He can’t read the field probably. He is not that accurate anyway Rogers have big eyes cuz he is a deer in the headlights always trying to be a one man show a hero
September 28th, 2019 at 2:34 pm
Gotta comment
Rodgers and Jameis are the same
Last year Rodgers was 6-10. Whatever he turns over the ball.
25 and 2 td to Int.
That 12-1 . But dB5s I love Jameis girth . Country bumpkin
DB loves dem ball. Lamarcus loves dem balls . Ndog loves dem balls
September 28th, 2019 at 2:37 pm
Crazy
Tom Brady says he watches1 qb
Rodgers
He ignorant …aka dB
DB he hate country bumpkins
September 28th, 2019 at 3:00 pm
He love dem balls
September 28th, 2019 at 3:02 pm
Shouldn’t we focus on the Bucs and winning? We keep hearing about how much better Jameis is playing while somehow ignoring the fact the Bucs are losing. Last seven games: 1 and 6. Let’s start playing winning football as a team, instead of worrying about how Jameis looks…
September 28th, 2019 at 3:08 pm
Dem balls
September 28th, 2019 at 3:12 pm
Yes, winning is the elixir for all NFL teams. If Winston and Bucs in general want less fan heat, stack some wins up. I hope the D looks better this week; last week was a gut punch outside of Shaq performance. Rookie QB should not go down the field 3 times with 75 yard+ drives.
September 28th, 2019 at 3:16 pm
40th anniversary of 79 Bucs. No throwback game?
September 28th, 2019 at 3:24 pm
You are not settling for a FG when you are down by 1 point with little time left (no time for the opponent)
Joe is missing the point….I am not talking about the previous drive where we didn’t go for it….I’m talking about the end of the game….
And….balls bouncing off of a receiver’s hands could have well happened to us if we tried for the touchdown when all we needed to win was 2 points.
September 28th, 2019 at 3:27 pm
I want Jameis to succeed so we don’t have to waste a draft pick on a qb next year. That said, he has always been inconsistent as hell. This year he has one absolutely horrible game, one decent game, and one good game. No quarterback will be flawless for 16 games, but the ones making the big bucks are consistently good for long stretches and almost never completely implode a few times a year like Jameis does. It’s still early, but it looks like same old Jameis to me.
September 28th, 2019 at 3:31 pm
We need to draft the LSU Qb!
September 28th, 2019 at 3:33 pm
im starting to believe we should be looking towards the future at qb. im not sure jameis is the guy anymore.
September 28th, 2019 at 3:47 pm
Jameis doesn’t lead the NFC South in Interceptions?
Then who does?
Wait, who is their coordinator?
Oh the same coordinator Jameis had every year of his NFL career?
Oh ok. #BlameJameis
September 28th, 2019 at 3:48 pm
If we can pick up 2 or 3 comp picks next year it might be worth drafting a QB in the first round….I am assuming that Jameis doesn’t improve…..
It would be a time to rebuild (even though BA says that’s not what he’s doing, he is)
I am convinced he didn’t tie his fortunes to Jameis with the Glazers….
They were desperate to hire someone like Arians and he likely told him that he would try to fix Jameis but if he couldn’t he’d draft and groom a new QB.
The other issue is money…..with a rookie QB, you free up $25 million or so.
September 28th, 2019 at 4:01 pm
Might as well enjoy your time in LA Joe – as I’m pretty sure you will never want to go back. Talk about a sh!thole… LA is the worst…
September 28th, 2019 at 4:35 pm
BucsBandit man do you just sit around all day waiting for an article on Jameis so you can say the same ignorant and inaccurate crap? Get a clue bro and a life while your at it.
September 28th, 2019 at 6:14 pm
@TBBF,
The rain game was against KC and we won 3-0 to get into the playoffs.
The NFC Championship Game was no rain….. just cold as sh!t!
I was lucky enough to be at both…wish we could have went to the Superbowl that year even though I doubt we would have stood a chance against the Terry Bradshaw Steelers.
September 28th, 2019 at 6:16 pm
Ndog
Take it easy bro. Bird’s house got a flat tire and he didn’t find anyone who would suck his duck at his family reunion.
bandit just got back from “finding” a case of pseudoephedrine. No coincidence he started his bs rants at 7am and is still tweaking hard.
These guys want to be Dylan roof so bad but arent tough enough. If you catch my drift. Explains why they loved McIceCream so much.
And don’t even get me started on dooosh, at least he’s self-aware.
September 28th, 2019 at 6:43 pm
Dude
Dem balls.in you head kid. Dem ball
All day dawg
You luv dem balls
September 28th, 2019 at 6:44 pm
Dang DB55 you make Donald Trump look serious and thoughtful.
“These guys want to be Dylan roof so bad but arent tough enough. If you catch my drift.”
Who couldn’t catch your “drift” racist?
Now you’re accusing those who disagree with you on JW of being white supremacists and not stopping there…saying those who disagree with you about JW as the equivalent of a racist murderer.
You disgust me DB55…you are the worst racist here at the moment. You are every bit as bad as the toothless rednecks who came here to call JW dumb, a thug and all the code. You are every bit as bad as they are you sick racist.
September 28th, 2019 at 6:45 pm
CrAe craw dog
You luv FSU nuts
September 28th, 2019 at 7:06 pm
Bird
We should sit and discuss this like civilized men although I realize you are neither civilized nor a man but I’ll make an exception.
Are you free tonight or is tomorrow better for you? We can hit the links and talk JW. If you can’t afford it I’ll buy the round. Lmk.
September 28th, 2019 at 7:20 pm
Where bro?
I’m o town
You got crazy bro
September 28th, 2019 at 7:22 pm
I call balls and strikes
Is Jameis my fav?
No?
Is he a buc?
Yah dawg
September 28th, 2019 at 7:27 pm
Golf invite is cool
My back is so jacked we will see
Pain changes a life
DB – straight bro.
September 28th, 2019 at 7:40 pm
I’ll be at the cotton club then Hollywood nights. HMU I’ll buy you some yak.
Btw haven’t seen an FSU game all season.
When Jim Leavitt’s takes over I’ll start watching again.
#RealRecognizeReal
September 28th, 2019 at 7:45 pm
Bandit you have issues man
September 28th, 2019 at 8:24 pm
I don’t have issues, I have FACTS.
Winston has SUCKED this year on average. The only game he shined (for a half) was against the Giants… WORST SECONDARY IN THE NFL.
Yet people think that’s somehow indicative of his “Newfound Play for 2019” and they quickly forget only 2 weeks prior he threw 2 Pick Sixes and could have had 5 total turnovers.
We’re a single Hargreaves tackle from being 0-3 and most of that is on Winston. Sure, Gay missed a short kick and that was on him, but anyone that thinks played well in the 2nd half (aside from that last drive) needs to check themselves into a mental hospital. Football is 4 quarters. You have to play them all.
September 28th, 2019 at 8:29 pm
It really is a shame we missed that freaking kick. Either way Winston put the team on his back and delivered a game winning drive.
Doing that is exactly what a franchise QB does. But without the actual win it doesn’t silence the haters.
Now they are out in full force knowing we play a top end defense this week and expecting another loss. &expecting Winston to be limited.
What they aren’t realizing is this ain’t the same Bucs team that won’t roll over. We gonna have our chances tomorrow. We get the win we build some serious confidence and if we start stringing together some wins it’ll shut these haters up for good (most of em anyways).
September 28th, 2019 at 8:45 pm
SPBF
😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘
Luv ya buddy
September 28th, 2019 at 8:50 pm
Bandit quit lying to yourself. If your gonna pat yourself on the back about stats don’t insult our intelligence playing the what if game about the Hargreaves tackle……last I checked that was not the last play of that game with plenty of time remaining to comeback had we needed.
And spare me the could of INTs. If that the game we are playing then you better be adding the TDs that were dropped or called back too.
You wanna play the could of and what if game on one side and not the other just makes you two Faced.
September 28th, 2019 at 8:51 pm
***Meant to say facts in that first sentence**** not stats
September 28th, 2019 at 8:52 pm
2nd sentance***
September 28th, 2019 at 8:53 pm
Sentence***
September 28th, 2019 at 9:03 pm
JJ – LOL. Easy there, Tiger.
I was talking about we could easily be 0-3 right now and clearly said it wasn’t all Winston’s fault. BUT…
He still sucks. Turnover machine, inaccurate, holds the ball too long and takes huge sacks that kill drives, and more.
You’re in for a rude awakening if you think Jameis is going to play well against an actual decent Defense tomorrow.
September 28th, 2019 at 9:29 pm
I was at that game in 79. Bucs beat the Eagles 24-17 the week before and I was fortunate enough to attend that game as well. Jack Youngblood played with a broken leg in the 9-0 loss. He was a certified badass. I was in 3rd grade. My dad brought my brothers and me. A memory of a lifetime. Eagles/Bucs my first NFL game and we went the next week and watched the Bucs lose. I’ve been a Bucs fan ever since. They used to have pep rallies in Tyrone Square Mall in front of what used to be Maas Brothers. Thanks Joe for the memories.
September 28th, 2019 at 9:32 pm
Yes, OK. You said it wasn’t all Winston’s fault. You just said it was mostly his fault.
Hey don’t look now but the dude is playing good football. You go ahead and blame Winston, ahem, mostly blame Winston for last week’s loss while the rest of us realize he led us on a game winning drive.
And hey give Hargreaves the credit for our one win. Our QB did run a 8or minute drive that put points on the board that made that play possible. There’s a fact for ya.
All good bro. Winston gotta proove it to you against a good D……Cause I guess the Panthers got a soft one(idiotic). That’s what we should expect from a franchise QB. At least your standards are high.
September 28th, 2019 at 9:33 pm
Oh yeah Joe ints are meaningless, they mean nothing at all. Being the LEAGUE LEADER in ints since being in the NFL is of no consequence at all. That has no baring at all when it comes to wins and losses. The Joe’s no here are absolute f***** clowns! I’ll be so glad when Jaymiss gets the F outta here so we don’t have to see or here this s###.
September 28th, 2019 at 9:37 pm
Bandit when did 4 in 3 games become a ton this year SMMFH 🤷♂️😂😂😂
September 28th, 2019 at 9:40 pm
But no matter how this road trip goes. I’m supporting this team and this new Era of Bucs football.
When they get back home this city needs a win badly and we need a team that can give us a winning record at home.
That crowd last week was pathetic and we gotta do better. I’ll be at that Cards game pumping up that South Endzone in the first quarter.
Need you JBFers to get there and get us back our home field advantage. That includes you Bandit. Support the name that’s on the front of the jersey….not the back. We are Tampa Bay!!
GOOO BUCS!!!!
September 28th, 2019 at 10:39 pm
Jimmy – I’d hardly say Winston is “playing well” right now. He had a big half against arguably one of the worst secondaries and defenses in the NFL. That matters. He disappeared in the 2nd half… against one of the worst defenses in the NFL.
Against the Panthers, Winston didn’t play that great either. A C+ outing.
Against the 49ers, well, we all know how that went.
Let’s see what he does tomorrow against a solid team. If he plays really well and I will be back here to give him the credit he deserves. But I’m not holding my breath expecting him to play well.
September 28th, 2019 at 11:33 pm
I’m all for giving credit when it’s deserved. That’s why I say he’s playing good football right now cause that’s what it is.
You can call it a disappearing act in the second half all you like but when that same half includes a game winning drive any stats or arguments you wanna make basically fall to spit.
That drive he gave us to end that game was indeed a franchise QB type drive whether you wanna give it credit or not. Now he gotta keep it up.
Don’t know how official your C+ rating is for the Carolina game but I say you’re expecting too much. Carolina got a good D bro and you gotta pick your shots against them types of teams. Last I checked he picked his spots well and was on the mark. Can’t expect any QB in this league to put up 30+ against every defense. That’s not realistic and not what makes a franchise QB.
He won the game and anchored a long sustained 4th quarter drive which was the difference on on scorboard. That’s what a franchise QB should do against a stout D.
I would expect tomorrow to be similar to the Carolina game. More methodical with only a few shots taken. Just give us a clean game and give us a chance to win. And make a few big plays to give us an edge……..Expecting a huge onslaught of offense just aren’t realistic. Look to New Orleans for that.
If that’s only good enough for C+ then your expecting too much.
September 29th, 2019 at 12:02 am
Jameis, like it or not, is frustrating as he||. All his scripted plays look decent. It’s not until they get past the first 15 to 20 or so scripted plays that he begins to adlib that gets him into trouble. That’s when he makes most of his mistakes in the pros, when he turns every play into a schoolyard scramble drill. Maybe we should script his first 40 plays. After all they did want him at Stanford. I swear if he wasn’t a half second behind on every decision to finally throw the ball, he wouldn’t feel he had to throw it like a frozen line fastball to get it to a receiver on time 10 yards away. That’s what also impacts is accuracy as well. He seems unnecessarily skittish back there at times and it’s affecting his progressions. Because he does receive so much pressure he sometimes hears ghost, and gets those happy feet a stompin’.
September 29th, 2019 at 12:21 am
Jimmy, it’s not expecting too much. He was a #1 overall pick. And now he’s in line to get a cap-busting payday of $30M+/year if they extend him. Expecting a lot for that kind of salary is merely being responsible. It’s a salary cap league. If you overlay someone, especially the QB, it can crush the team for many years, which is what I want to see them avoid.
You’re throwing “franchise QB” around a little too loosely. Again, the Giants are one of the worst defenses in the NFL. Every starter in the league, all 31 other QBs, would most likely do the same with Mike Evans matched up against that terrible secondary.
Winston is no franchise QB. He’s not elite, he’s about average. He’s worth about $12M/year, but that’s not going to happen. It’s either $30M+ or let him walk. I’m in the let him walk camp.
September 29th, 2019 at 12:53 am
Bucbandit we know who Jameis is, who are you?
September 29th, 2019 at 1:01 am
BucsBandit Says:
“If you overlay someone, especially the QB, it can crush the team for many years, which is what I want to see them avoid.”
I’m sure someone at One Buc will read your comments and take them into consideration. Until then maybe get some help. Somewhere.
September 29th, 2019 at 2:00 am
BucsBandit,
I agree with your viewing Winston’s play with a cap or financial impact lense. That is part of the professional game. Players get paid and when a GM makes a decision it’s always with one eye on the cost and the other on projecting performance for a said period. It’s a business.
I disagree with the valuation you assign winston. It’s not where the market is currently. I’m saying an agent can make a great case that he’s worth double.
And it wouldn’t be tied to winstons stats only the market.
Jean,
I just ordered a pair of Ghost voices cancellation Headphones for Jameis. Express shipping to the teams hotel. Tomorrow Ghost Voices will not be a problem.
September 29th, 2019 at 3:39 am
Jimmy,
You said winston is playing good now or something like that. You do realize that winston is ranked in the 20’s and his ints are tied for 3rd most in the league. If you believe He’s playing well now it’s just not supported by the numbers or youre limiting the sample size to the point it’s not realistic.
Personally, this going to extremes from one week to the next is just so much more meaningful to fans who really want to be correct about their opinions.
There’s been 3 games, it’s a new offense and all new coaches. It’s far to early to even understand what teams are good and which arent. That’s because preseason has shifted to the first 4 actual games .
Teams are still working out who they are now and to be so narrowly focused on a single player after 3 games is more psychic predictions than quality analysis.
The fact is there’s not enough data to make any concrete conclusions just yet.
Especially if your stating winston is playing excellent, because that hasn’t been a problem for winston . (Good play in short stretches is what he’s always done)
He hasn’t been able to be consistent for a quarter of a season much less an entire season. He’s among the top in the league in variance per games played.
Great game one week, good the next, bad the following. 2.36 is his stat line. He may be on his way to a great season . I hope he is. But it’s prudent to, at least wait till he reaches or exceeds his own stat line . Otherwise there’s no new data to support he’s improved.
I think He’s due for a big game today. and the team. A win will put us at 500 for the qtr. Respectable and within striking distance of the playoffs. Even if Winston’s terrible it’s early in the process and too early to speculate on the season. No reason to panic with a loss or celebrate like it’s the superbowl if we win.
That said , that’s what will happen right after the game and thru the week. Always amusing watching passion overwhelming reason and critical thinking.
It’s undefeated.
September 29th, 2019 at 5:17 am
There are some stupid GM’s out there and I would take advantage of them. I would dump JW, Brate, and VH. I would send Dotson to retirement. I would search for a teachable right tackle and right guard. Next would be to bolster the LB corp with a prospect off someone’s roster and maybe a safety. Bye, Bye 40 million of the cap. What we have done is not working and I would do what the Rays did, a major turnover. If your prospects look slim, what do you have to lose?
September 29th, 2019 at 8:17 am
pathaden
September 29th, 2019 at 8:22 am
TBBF it didn’t rain that game. It rained in the last game of the season where they beat KC 3-0. Think that’s the one you mean. Except for the game, the 9-0 loss to the Rams was a beautiful day.
September 29th, 2019 at 9:10 am
Hey Bandit I am going to go out on a limb and guess that you won’t shut the f*$K up about Winston even if he goes out and balls out against a “real defense” today. If he does, will you promise to be quiet and go cheer on the the Titans?
September 29th, 2019 at 11:23 am
With the Bucs fans don’t know what to expect week to week. But the lean towards the negative is higher than the positive. Still going strong.