Jameis Surprised Bucs’ Brass
November 6th, 2015
Changing the culture.
Exhaustive pre-draft research of America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, let the Bucs know Jameis was their guy — barring something earth-shattering like the Colts trading Andrew Luck for the No. 1 overall pick.
Tampa Bay believed it finally had that bigger-than-life personality of a quarterback, with talent to match his Magic Johnson-like charisma that this franchise possibly never had enjoyed.
Like how fellow rookie Ali Marpet surprised the Bucs by being far more advanced than thought out of the second round, so too did Jameis surprise the Bucs.
To read the words typed by good guy Peter Schrager of FOX Sports, by the time players walked off the practice field at the University of South Florida on a rainy Saturday night to finish their first training camp workout, it was clear to Bucs coaches that it was already Jameis’ team.
Already behind the 8-ball, the team could have taken a mulligan on the session. Instead, Jameis Winston, named the Week 1 starter days earlier, did something every coach dreams of seeing. He got the first-team offense out there on the field right away, got under center, and looked the part from the get-go. Despite the weather and the hassle, they got a practice in. A real one.
In the coming days, the rain cleared, and Winston revealed something the coaches weren’t quite expecting. He’d already learned coordinator Dirk Koetter’s playbook, front to back, over the summer. Whatever play was called, Winston nodded, checked something at the line, and ran it with precision.
The Buccaneers coaches tried to contain their enthusiasm. The verbiage, something different from what he’d used at Florida State, was already nailed, down pat. He was walking around the facility, tied to the hip of quarterbacks coach Mike Bajakian, using it like it was his first language. No one could deny that this was Winston’s team, and he’d yet to take an NFL snap.
We all saw the video of Jameis firing up the Bucs before the Dixie Chicks game.There was old vet Clinton McDonald, a guy with a Super Bowl ring, standing right behind Jameis, nodding his head like he was at a tent revival.
That isn’t the first time Joe noticed McDonald standing beside Jameis as he addressed the team. And, shoot, Vincent Jackson cannot stop raving about Jameis and how he has galvanized the offense.
The young turks are taking over. It is clear that after this past week, if Kwon Alexander ever speaks up to the defense, or even the entire team, then he will have full attention of the room.
Marpet is not the vocal leader Jameis is but he already has mad respect in the locker room. It’s not only his blocking; it’s for his hint of a mean streak, especially when he is fighting to protect Jameis from cheap shots.
Yes, it is clear there is cultural change at One Buc Palace. Shoot, even Mike Evans admits he doesn’t know what pressure is. That is a Jameis saying.
And that cultural change is being led by guys that legally have only been allowed to drink a beer for a few months.
November 6th, 2015 at 9:14 am
Full disclosure: I’m not high on many things Bucs, and I wasn’t the biggest JW man coming in.
But, I really like the development going on here. I really like whats going on between his ears and in the huddle. As this game continues to slow down for him, he develops chemistry with Evans/Martin/the OL, and he takes care of the ball (ignore whatever that idiot said the other day about gun slinging and tossing picks)…I believe this guy can develop into something special
November 6th, 2015 at 9:26 am
Jameis is the much needed adrenaline shot that this team needed that I posted numerous times before the draft. The swagger of Warren Sapp, playing QB. All of this comes as no surprise to me and a few of my FSU brethren. This is Jameis. It really had nothing to do with what school he attended though. Hell of course I’m no expert on QB’s. I was a Freemanite, but when the Freeman bashers and a few Gator fans agreed with what I was saying about this kid, it told me something. Not that I needed that reassurance. I was already all in on Jameis back in 2013. Said so on these boards back then too. While Joe was clamoring for Johnny. I said to forget Johnny Football, there’s a much better QB coming out next year. That QB was Jameis Winston. I proclaimed that Jameis Winston will be in the SB within 3 years of entering the NFL with or without the Bucs.
Then I found this other dude actually writing that very same thing back in 2014 long before the Bucs were even on the radar to get him.
http://tampa.cbslocal.com/2014/05/13/why-the-bucs-will-be-in-the-super-bowl-in-3-years/
November 6th, 2015 at 9:36 am
It’s really hard to contain the excitement when I see the culture shift taking place
Not only the full team, but look at this rookie class. I’ve heard 4 different rookies talk about how close this calls is and how they all came in with a chip on their shoulders. That’s the Jameis effect as well.
These guys are turning into a group of brothers before our eyes. Sure, I’ll give Jameis the credit for that but it doesn’t matter. Anyone who has ever played any team sport knows how important that is
November 6th, 2015 at 10:06 am
So far things are looking good with picking Winston. I was no fan of the pick, but the guy seems to have had the light bulb come on as far as acting mature on and off the field as well as displaying the work ethic and leadership that 1987 and other Winston supporters claimed. I still havent abandoned the Cannon known as MG8, but I’m fully supporting JW3 as long as he keeps doing what he’s doing to try to become an elite NFL QB someday as well as a respectable face of the franchise. No hopefully Lovie can start showing me something to make me admit I was wrong about him too…
November 6th, 2015 at 10:10 am
The swagger of Warren Sapp, playing QB.
******************
Man get out of my head. As I’m reading I’m saying “that’s because he Warren Sapp 2.0”. Refuse to lose! Failure is not an option! If they couldn’t stop me in the skreets they damn sure ain’t gonna stop my on the field.
I’d just want to give a big S/O to our savior’s parents and his grandmother for raising such a great kid.
To whom much is given, much is required!
November 6th, 2015 at 10:19 am
Time for McCoy to step down as self proclaimed team leader and hand the reigns where they belong. Gerald has been a captain of nothing but losing teams. He needs to recognize that the new blood is the only way to change the culture. Of course I’m getting a little nervous on how much attention Winston is getting. That usually results in a bad outing or a ‘I still have a long way to go’ moment.
November 6th, 2015 at 10:40 am
Their is a shift of chemistry unfolding before our eyes. I love that Jameis is taking the Bull by the horns and came ready to play and lead by example. We haven’t had this type of leadership since the glory days of our vaunted defense and now we are witnessing that same attitude with this defense that seems to be becoming very physical whether running or passing.
The young rookies are impressive and this draft is looking awesome.
Have to give props where it is due and say that our front office and coach got it right with this draft and hiring Koetter was exactly what this team needs. I’m willing to give Lovie a few more years to get this team seriously rolling and get it to a dangerous level where teams fear playing us.
Go Bucs!!!
November 6th, 2015 at 10:42 am
Should have been same attitude with this offense.
November 6th, 2015 at 10:48 am
KIRK COUSINS > JAMEIS WINSTON
November 6th, 2015 at 11:03 am
Largo
Please tell me you’re being joking or clinically insane?
November 6th, 2015 at 11:03 am
Kirk Cousins and every scrub QB in the NFL>Lovie’s defense
November 6th, 2015 at 11:04 am
X the being
November 6th, 2015 at 11:10 am
87
Let’s hope and pray for more out of the defense this week! Or we just might have ourselves a “shoot out” come Sunday. More gunslinging. Hope our sheriff and deputies come out on top! Go Bucs !
November 6th, 2015 at 11:12 am
This not surprising giving his history….
LargoSamIm Says:
February 19th, 2015 at 2:20 am
@Pickgrin
If what you say is true about Tenn and Winston and the rumors that the Bucs are also leaning toward Winston – then, given the history of BOTH teams first round QB picks – I would say that Mariota is the one who will be the most successful !
November 6th, 2015 at 11:19 am
LargoSamIM Says:
September 3rd, 2015 at 11:17 am
“I “hope” that Jameis is HALF as good this year as the Joe(s) think. But… there has never been much doubt that Mariota is far superior athletically and that he is a “leader” (by example, not hype or vocally).”
“I sincerely hope that the Joe(s) haven’t brainwashed themselves and painted themselves into a corner with their Jameis adulation (bordering on idolatry).
I mean, face it guys, Mariota has far outshined him in the preseason and shown “unexpected: abilities to handle “pro style” while Jameis has certainly NOT shown MORE than what was expected, But, everyone to their own opinion, Let the Joe(s) (typically) blame the offensive line for the discrepancy in performances between the two players – they ALWAYS DO !”
A leopard can’t change it’s spots….
November 6th, 2015 at 11:21 am
While we’re all slurping ourselves with our predictions I might as well point out that my MM prediction was that he would NEVER play a full 16 game season at the NFL level
November 6th, 2015 at 11:22 am
87
I would have preferred that he was just joking, now I have feel sorry for him! To be so wrong for so long. It must hurt!
November 6th, 2015 at 11:31 am
Let’s also not forget that Jameis threw interceptions during training camp and Mariota didn’t
November 6th, 2015 at 11:49 am
Cream
Rotf
November 6th, 2015 at 11:52 am
Right on Cream
I remember when you said that!
And the training camp interception remarks almost drove me insane. Really training camp! Geez…
November 6th, 2015 at 11:54 am
DB55…it’s a wild one on here today…you want to rotf go down to the Adam Schein article.
November 6th, 2015 at 12:01 pm
Would someone please tell me what rotf means? I’m a rookie:)
November 6th, 2015 at 12:04 pm
Rolling of the floor (laughing)
November 6th, 2015 at 12:04 pm
Newbucsfan …since you’re my favorite girl and all.
Rolling On The Floor
November 6th, 2015 at 12:07 pm
America’s Tent Revival Quarterback… we might be onto something
November 6th, 2015 at 12:11 pm
Rotf.. I thought it meant rub out the friction.
November 6th, 2015 at 12:16 pm
Thanks 87!
Even though I’m most likely the only girl here:)
November 6th, 2015 at 2:35 pm
Newbucsfan if you had been on this site during the offseason you would have seen approximately 20 dumb quotes a day from LargoSamIam. ’87 could have sited several hundred more if he felt like it. Haven’t heard much from Sam since that TN game when he declared the Bucs got the wrong guy. He looks like the biggest bozo now. He was the most vocal hater and has been proven to be completely wrong! I wished I had saved a few of my favorite. Even though Im not an FSU fan I was right there with ’87 the whole time. Winston was the obvious choice all along and those who disagreed don’t know football very well and didn’t put in the research on Winston. The leader and player he is now was easy to predict.
November 6th, 2015 at 2:37 pm
Holy crap did I put research into this kid!
November 6th, 2015 at 3:25 pm
not true NewBucsFan. I followed Jameis from FSU’s Tomahawk Nation to Tampa Bays’s JoeBucsFan. LOL
I never really had any interest in Pro Football until Jameis announced he was leaving FSU for the draft. I’d check on favorite FSU players during draft days and look for their names after pro football games but never with much intensity until now. I think it was the whole alleged assault debacle that grabbed me. Having been on campus (and knowing some involved) when Bundy terrorized FSU I’ve been over sensitized to campus assaults. When the news came out about JW, my first reaction was to believe it. Still, I made the effort to find out all I could about it before jumping head first down that black hole. Have to give HUGE props to Tomahawk Nation for keeping FSU fans’ on the straight and narrow during that horrible time. Many FSU insiders providing actual facts as the information became available but not allowing fans on the site to go nut job on EK either (no matter how much she deserved(s) it). I followed the FACTS and the facts only and truly became completely disgusted in the media narrative against Winston. I even stopped reading the NYT when I realized how far they had fallen by allowing the multiple, totally one sided articles. I had never before realized how even supposedly ‘legitimate’ sports and/or news organizations will report/print complete lies simply to gain an audience. Worst of all was the realization that they did so knowing that they were printing lies. All of that and seeing Jameis persevere through it all, made me a lifelong fan of Jameis Winston. When he was drafted by the Bucs, I followed. : )
For all you a$$hats still spouting his ‘bad behavior’ while in college, think for a moment. Had not EK (or her family more likely) not gone after Winston none of his other supposed ‘bad behavior’ would likely have EVER come to light. Or, if it had, it would have been laughed off as typical college kid stuff. Any of you that went to college know that in your hearts and your insistence on constantly repeating it is due to your own long standing bias against JW and your refusal to completely admit you were wrong!
Welcome NewBucsFan! Glad to have another acknowledged female on the board. Maybe we can get the Joes to do away the with soft porn images!
November 6th, 2015 at 6:13 pm
Jena W
I think we could be real good friends 🙂 so glad you’re on this site! Thank you for the insightful post, I’m in total agreement. Go Bucs
November 6th, 2015 at 7:46 pm
I wish I was a girl right now, could of joined you ladies, lol
November 7th, 2015 at 9:59 pm
BOO soft porn images censorship! 😉