Learning Jameis
November 6th, 2015
The NFL education of Jameis.
The biggest thing for rookie quarterbacks is learning. You cannot improve if you don’t learn.
And from just about everyone directly or indirectly connected to the Bucs, there are all sorts of stories about how America’s Quarterback, Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston, is learning. One example is the box scores of recent games.
But so too are people outside of One Buc Palace learning. Many, many, many people.
Count Yogi Berra-worshiping, urinal picture-taking, video game-playing, Taylor Swift-listening, pickpocket-thwarting, Bucs-uniform-frowning, Allie-LaForce-smitten, Big-Ten-Network-hating, pedestrian-bumping, olive oil-lapping, popcorn-munching, coffee-slurping, fried-chicken-eating, oatmeal-loving, circle-jerking, beer-chugging, cricket-watching, scone-loathing, college football-naïve, baseball-box-score-reading, NPR-honk, filthy-hotel-staying, fight-instigating, barista-training Peter King, of Sports Illustrated and NBC Sports fame, as one of the countless football folks learning about Jameis.
King asks rhetorically, were people so freaked out by Jameis the personality, that they took the lazy approach and didn’t consider the talent and the skills and the traits of Jameis the quarterback?
In short, watching the Atlanta game on tape, you see good signs for Winston. And I wondered: Is it possible we were so consumed with questioning everything about Winston after last season that we didn’t see enough of what the Bucs saw? We questioned his goodness and character after the sexual-assault charge. We questioned his judgment after the shoplifting incident at the grocery story. We questioned his football smarts after his 18 interceptions in 2014. We questioned his dedication to football (well, not many did, but some) after he told me he’d love to play baseball too, someday, and maybe play two sports at once. (He was Florida State’s closer in college, and could throw 95 mph.)
But what the Bucs have found in Winston, those around the team say, is a competitive player who leads better than a rookie should (he led the pre-game huddle, urging his mates to pick up linebacker Kwon Alexander, whose brother was shot dead two night before the Atlanta game) and has learned early that his college team could survive his carelessness, but his pro team cannot.
“Our offense has come together quicker, hit on all cylinders before we expected,” said Winston. “Our offensive line’s been blocking great, with all the changes there. I think I am being way more patient, at least with reads, seeing things, seeing the whole field. I have always been an aggressive kind of guy, but you realize you have put the offense in jeopardy when you’re too aggressive. So it’s a learning process there. I am proud of being patient, and putting my energy into all the little things, concentrating on all the details, the mechanics, and not just thinking, ‘I’ve got to make a big play.’”
See how a guy who so, so many thought was immature is actually mature beyond his years? He’s not even halfway through his rookie year and he is talking like a three-year vet. Impressive.
Jameis very well could go out there Sunday and lay an egg against the Giants. Remember: the guy is a rookie. He will have ups and downs. The past three weeks Jameis has been on an uphill climb. The law of averages says Jameis is bound to stub his toe sooner or later.
But damnit, it sure seems like the Bucs finally have a quarterback. Joe cannot tell you how happy he is that Stuart McClown is gone.
November 6th, 2015 at 6:53 am
NFL ready.
November 6th, 2015 at 6:54 am
I concur..
November 6th, 2015 at 6:55 am
That gave me chills. Finally, a real QB in Tampa. How many years did we wait for Freeman to turn the corner and find that missing piece!
November 6th, 2015 at 7:10 am
I think it’s officially time to say that everyone making Jamarcus Russell comparisons and calling Jameis and idiot… Was in fact an idiot! I’m gonna go back and dig up some of the moronic jargon that people were spewing earlier in the year
November 6th, 2015 at 7:26 am
Our franchise QB is coming along just fine. He is surpassing my high expectations even in his rookie year. Dude is a winner and a leader and loves his team and his teammates.
Pinch yourselves Bucs fans. The “IT” factor is legit and we are all starting to see it.
November 6th, 2015 at 7:35 am
Great amounts of credit go to some of those who surround Jameis…..Koetter, in particular….perhaps even Lovie…..Jameis is obviously being coached well and may have turned the corner in-so-far-as his off-field behavior……of course, we haven’t gone through an off-season…..but things are looking good.
November 6th, 2015 at 7:44 am
JABOOWINS
November 6th, 2015 at 7:53 am
Franchise quarterback. The long drought is over.
November 6th, 2015 at 8:03 am
Peter King had Mariota over Winston pre-draft
November 6th, 2015 at 8:03 am
THE MESSIAH! Dam it feels good!
November 6th, 2015 at 9:04 am
Maybe the media was just lazy and didn’t want to look beyond the surface when reporting on him. I don’t blame non FSU fans for simply accepting what was being reported.
But, having seen him in from the start, I knew what was being peddled by the media was NOT who he is, as player, nor as a person.
November 6th, 2015 at 9:19 am
These tears, these tears are tears of joy
November 6th, 2015 at 9:30 am
Mac, so did draft “gurus” Mike Mayock and Chris Landry
November 6th, 2015 at 10:15 am
@Fsuking
The two comments prior to the draft that were the most biased were the comparisons to Russell and those who called him a thug or gangster.
Russell had a poor work ethic, didn’t have the football acumen Winston displayed in college, and he vaulted up the boards after a great Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame. He came out of school with all of physical traits but his work ethic and ability to read a defense were question marks.
Winston showed tremendous work ethic and the ability to read defenses at FSU. He paternity consistency through his 2 years and finished his career with an ok game in a loss.The only thing connecting them was Fishers as a coach.
Winston had legitimate red flags but the people that brought up these things I feel didn’t want Winston for a reason they were too afraid to actually post
November 6th, 2015 at 10:16 am
“Taylor Swift listening”
LOL I always get a kick out of hearing how men in their 50’s listen to Tay Sway. I’m a fan of everything this girl has ever done. Followed her since she was like 16 years old. I knew this girl was going to be an uber-star someday when she only had like 2 songs out back in her country days.
Friends and family get such a kick out of my affinity for her music. I’m never ashamed to admit that I’m a Swifty. Been there since the beginning. Then again I like all genre’s of music. From late 70’s punk rock, 60’s psychedelic, Sinatra and the Rat Pack, 90’s alternative, 80’s gangsta rap, bang your head Metallica, thrashers like Slayer, George Strait, Etta James, Grateful Dead on and on the it goes. I’m all over the map, but Tay Sway, oh boy that’s a freaking talent in so many ways. Always wanted to attend one of her concerts and not being able go to the one @RayJay on Halloween ate me up the whole damn day.
Just thought I’d share that random thought with the gang. Something outside of football anyways. Just seeing her name in print makes me want to talk about this kid.
November 6th, 2015 at 10:25 am
The National sports media is finally coming around to seeing the Jameis that FSU fans knew for two years.
November 6th, 2015 at 11:10 am
87… Taylor Swift who? I don’t and won’t have a clue who she is or what she sings. I’m guessing teenybopper music. That’s a sign of the times. Nowadays music is a cruel joke, that ain’t music.
November 6th, 2015 at 1:58 pm
37…oh but you just have no idea. The girl is a lyrical genius that rivals Elton’s Bernie Taupin. Yes she used to be considered teeny-bopper a few years back. It’s her lyrics more so that impresses me than anything else. She used to have a base set of fans called Swifty’s, but now she’s just shot into the stratosphere. She’s broken countless numbers of records beating out the likes of the Beatles and Elvis Presley all in an era where someone can get their music by clicking a mouse without even purchasing the content. I’m a 45 yr old man and I never thought I’d be hooked on this girl, but she did it. That was about 6-7 years ago too. I watched her evolve as well. She’s got a great story to her too. Wiki her story if you find compelled to someday. Clean, not slutty, no drugs, grew up on a Christmas tree farm. Her parents sold the house and farm just so they could move her to Nashville. That’s how confident they were in their 14 year old daughter. It’s a good story man.
November 6th, 2015 at 3:38 pm
One thing that bothers me in Kings quote, and I think it’s bad for for a reporter to make this mistake, Jameis was never charged with sexual assault. He was accused, but never charged. A reporter shouldn’t make those sorts of mistakes.
November 6th, 2015 at 8:11 pm
funny all those guys that doubted Winston on here are gone… kudos to the ones that are still here that admit they may have been wrong and are being won over