2015 Season “Not About Wins”
September 9th, 2015
Former Bucs QB and current BSPN talking head Trent Dilfer explains his recent conversation with America’s Quarterback.
Sunday will be an interesting day for Joe and the Tampa Bay sports scene. It is the official debut of America’s Quarterback, Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston. A new, much-needed era.
However, on the other sideline for the Titans is wily veteran defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau and his Super Bowl rings (won with the Steelers), and his crazy zone blitzes.
Just what will LeBeau’s trickery do to a possibly too smart quarterback like Jameis in his first NFL game?
That was a discussion between co-host Pat Kirwan and Jameis confidante and former Bucs quarterback Trent Dilfer of BSPN yesterday, when Dilfer dropped in on “Movin’ the Chains,” heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio.
Dilfer noted Jameis has contacted him recently in an effort to elicit as much information as he can from trusted sources, in order to make his NFL debut as smooth as it could possibly be.
Pat Kirwan: What are your thoughts on Opening Day, Dick LeBeau, here comes Jameis. My observations with Jameis, there are going to sack him a bunch. He got hit a bunch this summer already. What do you tell him that you don’t take the spirit out of him? Because he’s going to want to let one go while he is getting sacked. And those are the pick balls.
Trent Dilfer: I asked [Jameis] about that – he called. If I could go back and change anything, I would change a lot as both of you know. I would change a million things. Maybe the biggest thing I would change is that I would have told myself and convinced myself to be a completion junkie and not to wear the Superman cape. And I would have taken the first completion that I saw on every first and second down and not try to do more but do exactly what the play called for. I mean exactly.
I tell coaches all the time: force your quarterbacks to do exactly the way you ask. Not kind of the way you ask, but exactly the way you ask. When quarterbacks start acting outside those boundaries when they are young, that is when the catastrophic mistakes happen. And I made a bunch of them
I told Jameis: Get the ball out of your hand. A one-yard completion on first down is a successful play when you are a rookie. Learn how to stack completions upon each other. What you will do is protect your offensive line. You will protect your field [position]; you will protect your defense. You will get everybody moving in the same direction.
I hate to say this: It’s not about points. It’s not about wins for the Bucs. It is about Jameis growing into the position the right way so there is a long-hill for success for the Bucs, not a short hill. That is the advice I gave him. I really hope he takes it.
This is sort of what Joe has said since the Bucs drafted Jameis: 2015 is all about Jameis. Yeah, Bucs fans want wins and Lovie Smith may need wins, but the most important element of the season is to develop the rookie starters on offense, none more important than Jameis.
If Jameis has a nice year and the Bucs struggle, fine. Jameis potentially could guide the Bucs to years — maybe a decade — worth of winning. He’s like a major investment you don’t want to blow right away, preferring to let it pay off greatly down the road.
The last thing Jameis and the Bucs need is for Jameis to be the next version of David Carr and get physically beaten to a pulp and mentally fried.
September 9th, 2015 at 9:46 am
Dilfer says: “I told Jameis: Get the ball out of your hand. A one-yard completion on first down is a successful play when you are a rookie. Learn how to stack completions upon each other. What you will do is protect your offensive line. You will protect your field [position]; you will protect your defense. You will get everybody moving in the same direction.”
Interesting that this is everyone’s advice… Just be ready to be labeled “Captain Checkdown” on these boards.
September 9th, 2015 at 9:55 am
Captain checkdown sounds better than captain turnovers
September 9th, 2015 at 10:02 am
What???? He advised him to be a “game manager”. Too funny!
tickrdr
September 9th, 2015 at 10:02 am
Actually good advice.
September 9th, 2015 at 10:03 am
Im ok with that as long as he isn’t stifled. He has the arm and needs to be able to go for a few plays a game.
September 9th, 2015 at 10:09 am
Checkdowns & being a game manager will allow him the opportunity to go downfield on occaision….hopefully when he is protected and has time.
I think the advice is good….and I suspect he is getting the same advice from Koetter & Bajakian.
September 9th, 2015 at 10:10 am
Dilfer refused to listen to a QB coach who helped pioneer the WC offense with Bill Walsh and a coach who was Joe Montana’s QB coach. Later he developed Boomer Esiason. He had credentials but young Dilfer thought he knew better.
I have not seen a hint of this from JW so far. Yes he’s confident but he seems to realize he can’t do this alone and that he needs mentors and coaches. Hopefully that will translate to fewer mistakes.
But I’m sorry Joe…I want wins. I’m not going to start the year making excuses. Again the little train chugging up the hill saying I think I CAN’T..I think I CAN’T!!!
I am NOT that patient. I get that we do not have enough depth and experience to do anything in the playoffs…one and done. But JW does not have to CARRY this team at all for us to win ten. He simply has to not screw it up!!!
I am patient enough to wait for JW to grow into Bret Favre in the next couple of years. But he can still play well enough, not to carry us, but to not LOSE game this year. IE He can play like Dilfer did in the Ravens SB year. Of course our D is NOWHERE near that Ravens D and so yes the W’s and L’s will be different.
I am patient enough to see Dungy/Gruden/Lovieball for yet another year.
We have two rookie OL who will need time to master the intracies and teamwork required to pass block. However they’re both big beasts and one of them already has a rep as a mean mauling road grader type..despite lacking the more technical pass block skills. That screams run the ball!
We have arguably a top ten running back with Martin’s return to form…that screams run the ball. We have an improving young D that should be at least in the top half of the league. And we have a kicker with unlimited range. Three tall receivers for possession and Louis Murphy a crafty possesion receiver. We lack a real burner.
As much as I wish it was Koetter, Fameis, the Dunkaneers and bombs away that’s not really our forte and so I will have patience enough to run a boring offense and play conservatively….FOR THIS YEAR!! Next year will be different.
September 9th, 2015 at 10:12 am
I find it very encouraging that Jameis is reaching out to past QB’s to seek advice. It shows that he is very determined to be successful. I remember Russell Wilson doing something similar when he asked Terry Bradshaw questions about his success. Let’s just all hope it translates onto the field.
September 9th, 2015 at 10:13 am
“If” Winston did go the route of David Carr, Does that mean that all of us will have to admit that the “Trade Down Mob” was the correct one of the three?????????
September 9th, 2015 at 10:13 am
What I took from this?
Jameis is calling guys who have experienced it all in the NFL, and asking them, even guys who have rings (despite Dilfer not being elite), what they would do differently.
Tell me that’s not impressive.
September 9th, 2015 at 10:14 am
Jameis will struggle at times. He has a lot against him right now. A horrible offensive line and horrible head coach who struggles with game day management. In addition the same head coach also has final say on all personnel movies and the final roster. Lovie has NEVER built a successful oline. EVER
I wish all of you that chime in on Jameis interceptions this and interceptions that crowd would have the same passion about winning games. Yes, interceptions can cost you games but not taking chances can have the same exact result. Look at Mr Glennon all you want to point to 19-9 which totally is irrelevant when the only number you need to understand and the only number that matters is 5-13…. If I am not mistaken Brett Farve is not oly the all time leader in touchdowns but also interceptions.
I love when people call the incompetent Lovie Smith a conservative coach. He is a conservative play caller and plays prevent defense with a 3pt lead in the first qtr which results in all the second half collapses that being said he is far from conservative when dealing with personnel. He is gambling with Jameis life by not securing a decent line to protect him. Not to mention all of his free agent gambles with injury prone vets. It’s more important to have good football players than losers familiar with a dead scheme or injury prone has beens or never was players (conte, melton, jenkins, mankins, etc…) Lovie is gambling they either stay healthy or regain the fountain of youth that made them once good or average.
Glazers need a president of football operations to study this team this season for the new regime coming in next year to hopefully fix the mess Lovie has created.
All Hail Jameis… Run for your life son…
September 9th, 2015 at 10:14 am
Hawaiian beat me to the punch again! Always appreciate your thoughts.
September 9th, 2015 at 10:16 am
Joe:
Some posts are blocked as spam with error message 3.5. What am I doing wrong?
tickrdr
September 9th, 2015 at 10:16 am
Got a feeling that this piss poor Oline will make all the best advice in the world moot. This kid is going to have to run for his life and slap a cape on his back if we are going to win any games this year.
September 9th, 2015 at 10:28 am
@tickrdr – Imagine you’re not doing anything wrong. Guessing it’s cleared up by now. Posts aren’t spam, of course.
September 9th, 2015 at 10:37 am
Thanks for responding! It’s OK now. I actually use four different devices to access the site at times, and I wonder if that is not part of my problem.
tickrdr
September 9th, 2015 at 10:38 am
This is what I was trying to repost. A simple word of caution from a few days ago, please ignore.
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Here is a little tidbit that I found interesting.
Dick Lebeau, now the defensive coordinator for the Titans, has a 19-2 record for his team against rookie quarterbacks.
The first loss was against Troy Smith, in a meaningless game 17 in 2007, when the Steelers did not play their starters.
The second loss was against the immortal Brandon Wheeden (Cleveland), who threw for 158 yards as well as a TD and INT. The Steelers offense had EIGHT turnovers that day, and their offense was 1 of 9 on third down.
But “America’s QB” don’t need no “stinkin” offensive linemen.
tickrdr
September 9th, 2015 at 10:38 am
Those who can’t do, teach. To me, Dilfer’s advice is spot-on.
September 9th, 2015 at 10:43 am
@Dallasbuc
I agree with you about the O-line, If I was coaching, On Saturday I would load all the videos to Jameis’s Surface Tablet of all the cut ups from the Rocky Movies of Rocky getting pummeled and Mic yelling ” Get Up Rock! Get up!!!! “
September 9th, 2015 at 10:51 am
@Realist….To answer your question..NO! If BOTH JW and MM are busts then you could make that claim.
@tickdr As always appreciate your stats and it’s certainly a valid point. However last year MG8 took a 2-14 team into Pittsburgh and beat LeBeau whose defense at that time was obviously totally familiar with his system because of his tenure.
I have a great deal of respect for LeBeau but he’s also in his first year with a group of guys who still have to prove their talent. He’s good but he isn’t superman. And this to me is a sidebar to the game just as interesting as JW vs MM. LeBeau’s defense in his first year against a respect OC Koetter’s Offense also in his first year.
@Hawaiian. Agree with LWD..your posts are always excellent great take.
@Tmax…Again your opinion matches only Dallas and Realist. Virtually the entire NFL disagrees with you three. You’ll forgive us I hope if we take your opinions on Lovie with a grain of salt…actually a half grain of salt.
September 9th, 2015 at 10:52 am
I’m paying to win it all …not develop. that’s what college was for Rome wasn’t built in a day… yes but Rome was built by the people they conquered . ..now let’s destroy some teams
September 9th, 2015 at 10:52 am
@Realist:
Too funny, especially with that squawky voice like the Penguin.
tickrdr
September 9th, 2015 at 10:54 am
If Winston does not beat Dick LeBeau, does that mean we should had started Glennon?
Glennon beat Dick LeBeau last year in Pittsburg.
September 9th, 2015 at 10:55 am
if you take the easy completions and force teams to respect the fact that you aren’t trying for the TD on every dropback, a funny thing happens. defenses start worrying about the mundane completions and suddenly that TD throw is there to make. brady and manning’s TD passes make the highlight, but it’s their ability to reel off first downs with safe throws that puts them in position to do that more than any other QB. as you become experienced, you will find “easy” completions in the 5 to 25 yard window more often, not just passes behind the LOS or 5 yard dumpoffs
September 9th, 2015 at 10:56 am
i hope the legendary dick lebeau’s first year with the titans goes about as well as the legendary monte kiffin’s first (and only) year with the cowboys
September 9th, 2015 at 10:57 am
No. It means the offensive line should be locked in prison.
September 9th, 2015 at 10:59 am
@SPBF:
Just to clarify, those were against rookie QB’s. I still think Glennon is better than Winston at this point in time. Witness a jailbreak blitz against MG8, with an audible then called, and subsequent TD pass to Shepard. Perhaps JW3 has a much higher ceiling, but we shall see.
tickrdr
September 9th, 2015 at 11:00 am
Don’t think LeBeau has the same talent in Nashville as he had in Pittsburgh.
September 9th, 2015 at 11:11 am
@joe
Joe Says:
“Don’t think LeBeau has the same talent in Nashville as he had in Pittsburgh.”
Then good coaches will adjust, won’t they!!!! Cannot wait for Sunday!!!
September 9th, 2015 at 11:14 am
The Buc Realist Says:
September 9th, 2015 at 10:13 am
“If” Winston did go the route of David Carr, Does that mean that all of us will have to admit that the “Trade Down Mob” was the correct one of the three?????????”
Have to wait 3 years to find out though…
September 9th, 2015 at 11:16 am
@tickdr
That’s a very valid point. MG8 is clearly ahead of JW in terms of game management and understanding when the play is over or when you can try that pass he made into the end zone. I certainly respect your view. MG8 has two more years of experience than JW and that counts for something.
It will all depend on how Koetter manages JW and how quickly JW learns the ropes.
September 9th, 2015 at 11:18 am
“Don’t think LeBeau has the same talent in Nashville as he had in Pittsburgh.”
——–
I think we can all agree Monte Kiffin was a great DC. Probably one of the greatest of all time. However, how did he do after he left us? Not as well is the answer, and that’s putting it nicely. I don’t care how good of a coach you are, you aren’t going to be successful without great players. Now I don’t think I can name 2 players on the Tennessee defense, so I could be wrong, but I just don’t see them anywhere near as talented as pretty much any Pittsburgh defense.
September 9th, 2015 at 11:35 am
Is it Sunday yet?? OT Sorry.
Joined my son-in-law’s fantasy football league, and drafted my team last night. Even though I tend to be a homer, the only Buc I could get was Brindza, hoping he could duplicate some of that > 50 yd magic in Miami. Two things I hate about FF:
1) It’s hard for me to root for players on my team from the NFC South.
2) I never want to root for an injury to opponent’s players. They are all just tremendous athletes and fun to watch.
tickrdr
September 9th, 2015 at 11:39 am
since when did dilfer accomplish enough to become a qb guru? GO BUCS!!!
September 9th, 2015 at 11:43 am
tickrdr Says:
September 9th, 2015 at 10:59 am
@SPBF:
Just to clarify, those were against rookie QB’s. I still think Glennon is better than Winston at this point in time. Witness a jailbreak blitz against MG8, with an audible then called, and subsequent TD pass to Shepard. Perhaps JW3 has a much higher ceiling, but we shall see.
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Glennon is not better than Winston. If he was, then the bucs would have never drafted Winston. They would have continued to develop glennon. You pick out one audible play in the preseason for Glennon, but you do not mention the audibles Winston made during the preseason where the results ended in completions for him? What about the two ints Glennon threw during the fourth preseason game to milk truck drivers? Glennon is not better than Winston, he is a back up period.
September 9th, 2015 at 1:07 pm
Wasted my money on season tickets, again. Maybe this team will be good again by the time my 2 year old is an adult
September 9th, 2015 at 1:52 pm
One thing Jameis will never be is a “Capt. Checkdown, game manager”. It is in his DNA to push the ball downfield. Koetter’s too.
Sorry to hear you think you “wasted my money” to go see Bucs games this year Tony. I just can’t understand the mindset of those who seem to relish negative projection upon that which they claim to support.
Tickdr – if Glennon gets traded – would we ever see you post here again?
September 9th, 2015 at 2:26 pm
@pickgrin I don’t hope for losses or to waste my money. After 2-14, a horrible “dress rehearsal” and no improvement I’m not sure how any smart fan can expect optimism.
When a analyst says it’s not about wins that ticks me off!!! I want progress and wins as I’m sick of the losing. The Joes, media and these analyst don’t pay to get into games, I do. I’m not going to see progress I’m going to to be entertained and to see wins.
September 9th, 2015 at 3:50 pm
That’s why. I’m for keeping. Mg. til end of year. Jw gets beaten up we got a decent back up who can win.
September 9th, 2015 at 4:13 pm
TampaTony- some love to act like being a good fan means not having expectations for greatness. Then there are those of us that expect greatness and get ticked when the Bozos running this team hire losers like Trash McCown to be our QB. Sick of all the damn excuses for why this team sucks stinkhole year in and year out. I expect more because that is how it should be.
September 9th, 2015 at 6:20 pm
@pickgrin:
I will likely still be here, till the Joes get tired of me, but I am a loyal reader here, and read every article and every single post, even those from my LFP’s i.e.
least favorite posters. (BTW, you’re not in that group)
I have been a season ticket holder for several seasons now, and my account manager has given me two extra tickets for this game for free, as I have been a “loyal customer” through thick and thin, ………. but mostly thin.
I have admitted several times that I am a “stats nerd”, and IMHO the turning point for most QBs occurs about the 18th to 20th game, if you look back over their careers. That is “when the lights go on” for many. I thing Glennon has been upstanding despite his “demotion”, and I am most bothered by the hypocrisy of Lovie who started every conversation last year with “but we were 4-12”.
tickrdr