Fast Starts
July 12th, 2017
Too hyped? (Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Yes, Joe is on an explosive play-kick today.
In the latest “Ira Kaufman Podcast,” winning Bucs coach Dirk Koetter discussed explosive plays and how the Bucs were awful at generating them in 2016, which is a big reason the Bucs beefed up the receiving corps this offseason.
Of course, even when the Bucs had explosive plays, like they did in 2015, few came from America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, in the first quarter.
As noted by no less an authority than eye-RAH! himself, in Jameis’ 32 starts, only five times did Jameis throw a touchdown pass in the first quarter. Five! Now that’s a terrible average.
Of course, 16 of those starts were when Jameis was a rookie. So some context has to be applied. Even so, it wasn’t until the sixth game last year before Jameis threw a first-quarter touchdown, in a rout of the pitiful 49ers.
In only three games last year did Jameis throw a first-quarter touchdown. Against Seattle, Jameis and Mike Evans hooked up for a pair of touchdown passes in the opening quarter.
Now if that is because of Jameis or because of bad game-planning or a combination of both, Joe isn’t sure, but that simply has to improve. Joe may be way off base here but it seems at times, Jameis is so hyped before games he’s not fully focused. There’s a fine line between getting cranked up for a game and being too fired up. Yeah, Drew Brees often leads his team in pregame hollering and stomping and it doesn’t seem to get to him. Again, there is a fine line between being fired up and being too fired up.
In other words, Jameis’ heart may be in the right place but he has to make sure his mind is right to start a game as well.
July 12th, 2017 at 10:17 am
Imagine tryin to pump yourself up before each game. It starts hours before kickoff. Goin over game plans, running through plays, warm up, hi five all the guys, have an explosive intro at Ray Jay…. you go through all this to get your mind right and just when ya think your ready to go out there and start ballin ypu have to settle down, stand quietly for the anthem and sit through the coin toss, oh, and one more word or two from our sponsors. It could just be something simple like that but I have noticed that if Jameis dont come out throwin darts, its gonna be a long quarter. Maybe he just needs to get knocked on his fanny sometimes to activate Famous Mode
July 12th, 2017 at 10:23 am
I think the blame falls equally on Jameis and Koetter. Dirk needs to get less predictable in his calls and maybe start off the game with throws that Jameis is comfortable with. Get the QB into a rhythm and Jameis needs to execute those throws properly. Remember the Carolina game where the Bucs started the game with 10-12 consecutive runs? Yeah they were successful but that to me showed that Dirk either didn’t trust Jameis or he didn’t trust his personnel matched up with a secondary that got torched a few weeks prior.
As much as fans love jameis and are desperate for a QB he has A LOT to work on to fully become the franchise QB we all want him to be
July 12th, 2017 at 10:24 am
That’s a very true assessment Joe…
It’s been an issue for Jameis since his FSU days…I personally love the Fire Jameis brings to the table but he could stand to turn it down just a pinch…again, we all tend to forget how young J3 is…Hopefully this is something that will be less of an issue the older he gets…All in all, the good with Jameis out weighs the bad so it’s something that we as fans may have to learn to live with….
July 12th, 2017 at 10:34 am
No more jiggily girls, Joe ?
July 12th, 2017 at 10:46 am
I must have missed something… what happened to Morning Cup of Joe?
July 12th, 2017 at 10:53 am
If ya so invested in starting fast then you should have drafted Mariota. Jeez 4 days in a row with the same bs. JW is a closer always has been always will be.
The 4th qrt is where games are won, ask Tom Brady and Matty Ice. Just don’t ask your capeless Hero Mrrrrrrr. Iiiiiiiice Cream Man! Here I come to melt away!
I can’t decide if all of you are trolling JW or just a bunch of haters.
NEWS FLASH: He starts slow AND throws INTs yet was undefeated lifetime until he got to Tampa. Coincidence? I think not!
Of course with Tampas rich history of winning football the media is in the perfect position to fix Jameis both on and off the field.
“I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it! I would rather you just said “thank you”, and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post. Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think you are entitled to!” – Col. Nathan R. Jessup
July 12th, 2017 at 10:59 am
I think there is a pink elephant in the room. lol
Well, if comments were low Joe, your pink elephant will create more.
Kidding a side, if you are under the weather, I wish you well.
July 12th, 2017 at 11:02 am
@DB55 – You ordered the CODE RED!!!!! lol
I love that movie!!!!
July 12th, 2017 at 11:03 am
Better than Lovie crushing the momentum before the game even kicksoff
July 12th, 2017 at 11:11 am
DB55- Nothing in college matters when you get to the NFL. And didn’t Jameis lose 2 games in college? Hard to hang your hat on a QB’s Win/Loss record in college when college teams only play 2-3 good teams a year.
Jameis has showed promise after 2 years, but needs to work on quite a bit to earn the franchise label some too eagerly give him.
July 12th, 2017 at 11:12 am
Win or lose with Jameis a splendid time is guaranteed for all. It ain’t over until the hyper sped up clock ticks away.
July 12th, 2017 at 11:33 am
Stud
I only remember the loss to the ducks for the championship. Think about that! Can he improve? Certainly and he’s working to do so but in the last week his FANS(?!) have said he throws too many INTs, his accuracy sucks and he sucks in the 1st qrt. Not the 4th where games are won or lost but in the first.
With friends like this who needs enemies?
July 12th, 2017 at 11:38 am
@DB55- I looked back and you are right FSU only lost to the Ducks in his final year. I thought with all the close games they won in his second year they lost another one.
There is some truth that his deep accuracy sucks, he does turn the ball over too much and the slow starts do put you in a hole especially when your d sucks for 10 of the 16 games you play. But he’s a young player that’s why I’m not giving up hope on him, he can definitely learn to be more protective of the ball and make smarter decisions but as a fan you have to know your teams strengths and weaknesses. I know jameis’s weaknesses but come sunday I’m screaming my head off hoping for the best.
July 12th, 2017 at 11:42 am
the problem aint jameis….I love his attitude and passion before each game….he’s not doing it for him, he’s doing it for the players that need an extra boost….
the problem hasn’t been jameis being too hyped or him needing to start fast….the problem has been 2 things…the talent on the offense and play calling….we’ve got better talent…now dirk needs to use better play calling….
JAMEIS is a Tiger!!!…stop trying to turn him into a pu#$y cat!!!….we’ve had too many of those type players in the past and some still lurking on the team…..GO BUCS!!!!
July 12th, 2017 at 11:45 am
Jamis gets over hyped and erratic! With Maturity that will fade.
July 12th, 2017 at 11:48 am
” But he’s a young player that’s why I’m not giving up hope on him”
Jesus Christ you’d think we have some struggling young QB who was bottom 5-10 in the league based on this comment; and not a QB who just threw for 4000 yards each of his 1st 2 seasons (the only player in NFL history to do so…)
Can his game get better? F&ck yea. But how can you talk about possibly giving up on a guy like this. He’s the soul of this team right now
July 12th, 2017 at 11:52 am
More no huddle to start the game. He thrives in that ish. Seen some rookie season, last year a complete no show. People still talking bout deep ball accuracy hog wash. I’m still waiting on someone to give me the QB that connects on passes over 20 yards more than 65% of the time. Take your time wit dat, be thorough in your research.
July 12th, 2017 at 11:53 am
I’ll tell you how Lord C,we have some extra dumb@$$ fans.
July 12th, 2017 at 12:02 pm
There’s not a player on this roster that can’t improve. I applaud Jameis’ continued efforts to be “the best”.
I think that we can all agree that if the Bucs are to hoist a Lombardi, it will be with Jameis at the helm.
July 12th, 2017 at 12:11 pm
@Lord C-You are taking the comment the wrong way- When I say “I’m not giving up hope on him” I’m meaning I’m not giving up that he won’t improve. You can get all hot and bothered by back to back 4,000 yard seasons but if the Bucs even had a decent ground game he doesn’t hit that in 2016. Heck Andrew Luck was close to doing that but had a better ground game his second year.
As fans if we don’t see a reduction in turnovers, better & quicker decision making and improved accuracy on balls thrown over 20 yards in the air you definitely have to take a hard look at him going down the line and ask is he really a franchise guy or just a average QB who will tease you just enough to break your heart.
July 12th, 2017 at 12:13 pm
the problem is the offensive line! Not only is the man running scared on every snap (rightfully so) they can’t even block for the RBs. So he’s got no run game and one NFL level WR. Ok!
Then his defense gives up points like it going out of style.
At fsu when Jameis struggled D. Cook would turn on the juice and his defense would get him the ball back. Here he has a Def captain that can’t stay insides, gets run over on every 3rd&short or goalline scenario, a 5’2″ cornerback and a safety who’s made out of wet paper.
Now this year we expect him to win 10+ games with a stable of rookies on offense and a make-shift oline. Ok! He’ll succeed dispite the GM and owners. And he’ll do it like he always has with heart determination and a sheer will to win.
Better hope DJax doesn’t “pull a hammy” (wink wink see: Todd monken) during TC. Without DJax against NY and NE we might as well start scouting next years draft.
July 12th, 2017 at 12:33 pm
jesus DB55 I don’t evneJesus DB55… I don’t even know where to begin.
1. Let’s wait and see on the O-line please before dooming the sh1t out of them. They’re one of the youngest lines in the league and they were actually rated pretty decent in pass coverage last year and to my eye weren’t that bad outside of the crazy RT play in the Dallas game. The run blocking was the visible problem and even then Jac Rodgers had 4.2 YPC behind that line and 4 of those starters were on a line that was top 5 in rushing. The interior should be bigger and D Smith / Marpet are entering their 3rd years.
2. Wtf do cornerbacks and def captains have to do with Dalvin Cook at FSU? Just weird crazy sh1t to say…
3. Winston won 9 games last year with LESS talent and a more difficult schedule. We objectively added more talent to our team than anyone else in the NFC South according to pretty much every analyst. He’s entering his 3rd year which is typically the biggest jump in improvement. Seems pretty reasonable to expect that we can win 10+ games….
4. The defense was top 5 in the league the last 8 games in PPG given up. The team was 6-2 in the 8 games that McCoy/Ayers/McDonald started. We added more DT depth and have 2 cornerstone players entering their 2nd years; and added S talent. These are the facts and reason to believe the D should be pretty damn solid as they were the last 8 games of last year. Did you even watch last year’s games lol?
5. So you want to give up on the season by week 5 or 6 due to Djax possibly being out? I don’t even know what to say to crazy sh1t like this.
July 12th, 2017 at 1:04 pm
@Lord C- I think DB55 needs a hug! Very pessimistic outlook DB, that’s not your usual M.O.
It seems we have all forgotten how awful this team was 2 seasons ago. No QB on the planet could’ve done a better job with so many injuries and such little talent. Now is the season for optimism.
To use your “ice cream” reference, last year it was Rocky Road this year it’s Mint Chocolate Chip……….MINT!
July 12th, 2017 at 1:09 pm
Lol. I’ll admit I did ramble on there. I get heated when people talk about Jameis.
All valid points Corn.
Ali > Hawley but still got my suspicions about Sweezy.
I was trying to say that at fsu his teammates stepped up, here not so much.
The same top 5 def that lost to the saints? And Dallas? We just needed one more win. Idk about that one Corn.
It would not be the first time TB’s season is over by week 5. Ijs
July 12th, 2017 at 1:25 pm
@DB55-The top 5 D talk is quite hilarious as this team got gashed on the ground the final 3 weeks and let a rookie set a record for completion percentage. Playing good defense for 5 or 6 games out of 16 is not a good sign.
July 12th, 2017 at 1:44 pm
250+ yards rushing against Dallas. On primetime TV. And Jameis still had us in the game with 5 mins left in the 4th. Too bad Jameis couldn’t block and throw at the same time or else we would have won.
Based on what I saw Jameis the only one getting waped around here.
July 12th, 2017 at 2:12 pm
“definitely have to take a hard look at him going down the line and ask is he really a franchise guy or just a average QB who will tease you just enough to break your heart.”
@Stud – he is already statistically a top 1/3 QB. He is already changing the culture of this team and already establishing himself as a franchise QB. He could not improve at all from 2016 and still be the best Buc QB we’ve ever had and shatter every Buc record. This is why your comments still confuse me… You seem to suggest he is statistically a borderline average to below average QB.
13th in QBR
12th in yards
7th in TDs
This was despite having the worst YAC% in terms of WR help in the entire league. If his yAC % was league average then his passing yards project to 4900 yards.
Seriously. 4900 yards. For a Bucs QB. That’d be ridiculous.
Turnovers and accuracy can improve ( and need to for the playoffs / SB appearances to come); but he also had 1/3 of all his turnovers in his career in just 4 games (or 2 per season). He’s actually been pretty consistent in the other 28 games.
July 12th, 2017 at 2:15 pm
Jameis does not start slow…like I’ve said before his FRESHMAN year at FSU he had a awesome crew on thw field, they started with all cylinders open, his SOPHOMORE year much less talent, so he couldn’t get it going
til the playcalling was able to get dialed into the opponent.
It is Jameis job to execute…NOW with more reliable players perhaps the playcalling will adjust faster!!!
Dirk admitted that some of the slow starts was due to the playcallers getting familiar with yhe opponents.
THANK YOU @DB55 and LC
These Bucfans shisssssh#?!
July 12th, 2017 at 2:33 pm
I swear I love it when You quiet the board with cold hard facts Lord C. You need to teach me how to do that ish.
July 12th, 2017 at 2:58 pm
@Lord C-YAC is interesting as it’s also dependent on the QB’s accuracy if the QB is off with his throws and is throwing behind or high to a WR it is hard to get YAC on bad throws.
If you take into these stats and not just cherry pick stats you will see where the middle/average QB comments come from
2016 Rankings from NFL.com
23rd in Completion Percentage
2nd in Interceptions
16th in Yards per game, which is not very good since he was 11th in Attempts
Along with 6 fumbles
Let’s not get caught up in Bucs records as this franchise has been a joke on the field for the majority of their existence. So being the best QB with the list of losers the Bucs have had is not impressive.
July 12th, 2017 at 3:05 pm
Regarding YAC
Only 1 team in the top 10 of YAC yardage by receivers had a QB that completed less than 65% of their passes that was the NY Giants. To get YAC you need an accurate QB
July 12th, 2017 at 3:06 pm
YA both right
July 12th, 2017 at 4:07 pm
@stud
You’re suggesting that Jameis Winston left almost 1000 yards on the field because he didn’t hit WRs in stride with just average accuracy compared to an average NFL QB. That’s absolutely ridiculous.
You’re suggesting he is basically the worst QB in the history of the game at short passes which statistically isn’t backed by anything. He has solid soft touches on most screen plays and can hit a slant in stride just fine. Those are the types of plays that most YAC come from. Not intermediate or deep routes. His largest inaccuracies have been on deep routes… not underneath plays for YAC… What you’re saying makes absolutely no logical sense.
QBs with tons of YAC typically have high completion % because they operate a quick passing offense… hence the higher YAC and hence the higher completion %…
Those same QBs typically have WAY less average air yards per pass than a guy like Winston who didn’t have a lot of underneath plays due to the offensive personnel and play calling last year. Think Alex Smith. There’s your completion % / YAC % monster and the ultimate check-down charlie QB of the league who made Jamaal Charles his #1 WR one year.
Koetter himself has said his offense is not one designed for high completion % like 65-70%..
In regards to stats – you just cherry picked some negative ones. I did cite his total QBR which takes into account all his stats and more. I brought up his turnovers which were high and said he needed to improve on his accuracy.
But the bottom line is he has already been better than an average NFL QB; and he’s already been better than at ton of QBs who get paid $17-$18 million plus.
His game would have to fall completely off a cliff this year for people to doubt his ability to be a franchise QB.
July 12th, 2017 at 4:09 pm
Another weird stat I saw the other day
Stafford is 5-46 against winning teams
Winston had 3 wins against winning teams last year alone (3-3 last year)
July 12th, 2017 at 5:47 pm
I really feel bad for missing this PM; there were some great comments in there. Most of this ‘Fast Start’ discussion seems to focus on Jameis’ 2016 performance as if it was linear, but reality is that Jameis was very much ‘up-and-down’ not only game-to-game but also within games. I’ve jokingly called it ‘good Jameis, bad Jameis’ before, but reality is that’s not too far off from what I saw week-in-and-week-out. I’m convinced though that we’ll see a lot more of ‘good Jameis’ this year, and that he and the Bucs will start games ‘faster’.
Bucs went 1-3 in the first 4 games last year as we all know. At the end of the 1st qtr of those games, we were tied in 2 games (Cardinals & Broncos … both of which we lost) and behind slightly in 2 games (Falcons & Rams … one of which we won and the other we definitely should’ve won). A couple interesting nuggets pop out though when you dig a little deeper. First, the other team had the ball first in the 1st 3 games, and they ended up having over 20 more 1st qtr plays than the Bucs. Bucs had the ball first in the 4th game, and ended up with far more plays than the Broncos. First qtr advantage to the team who gets the ball first? Perhaps … if your offense is better than your defense. Second, Jameis threw 3 INTs in those 4 games in the 1st qtr, resulting in 14 pts for bad guys. Given that the Bucs only scored 16 total pts in those 4 games in the 1st qtr, one could probably conclude that yes, Jameis (and the Bucs) do need to start a bit faster this year. And they will, partially because Jameis is more experienced, partially because he has better weapons around him, and partially because our defense will be better to start the season this year. Can’t wait.
July 12th, 2017 at 7:32 pm
Drew Brees wasn’t doing that s*** when he was 22 and 23 years old. His arse was on the bench
July 12th, 2017 at 9:58 pm
@SB, so was Brady’s.