Has Jameis Learned?; Ronde Barber Speaks Out
September 9th, 2017
Maturing?
It’s not a huge secret that America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, hasn’t met a play he didn’t like or didn’t think he could make.
In a lot of ways, that’s good. And in a lot of ways, that’s bad. That’s why Joe thinks Jameis is the second coming of Brett Favre. He had the same mentality, even though Jameis may be closer to Aaron Rodgers stats-wise.
But things may be a changin’ with Jameis. Remember winning Bucs coach Dirk Koetter propped up Jameis for recognizing and asking for a play call to Mike Evans in the loss to Dallas but Jameis missed the throw? Koetter raved about that because, he said, it showed the growth of Jameis as a quarterback. They play was there.
Koetter has been trying to instruct Jameis that not every play will work and that he shouldn’t be scared to change a play if the defense calls for it.
Well, former Bucs great and preseason TV analyst Ronde Barber is seeing more evidence of Jameis’ maturation. And of all places, Barber noticed it on “Hard Knocks.”
Recently, Barber, who also is a member of Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht’s kitchen cabinet, did a spot with his brother Tiki on CBS Sports Radio and explained.
Tiki Barber: When Jameis came into the league, “The first thing you said was, ‘He is the real deal.’ So, how much of a deal is he?
Ronde Barber: He has come a long way. He has to take that next step, he certainly has a bunch of talent. His only problem has been trying to do too much. … He has it in his mentality, he has it in his DNA that he wants to make every play and to do everything himself. And to be honest with you, he doesn’t have to. He has enough talent to distribute the ball.
And Ronde Barber thinks Jameis is coming around to the fact he doesn’t have to be a hero on each and every play. Barber cited the “Hard Knocks” scene in which, after the Cleveland preseason game, Jameis told Browns rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer his best friend was a checkdown. (Video here)
Barber said he thinks a guy like Jameis who has “this Cadillac for an arm, this Howitzer for an arm” telling a younger quarterback to use more checkdowns is a sign Jameis is coming around to allow teammates’ talents to make plays for him — that he doesn’t have to be the guy to make every play.
It is a very interesting observation by Barber.
September 9th, 2017 at 9:15 am
I like what I saw from #3 the first two preseason games. He came out in each game and instead of looking like he had just washed down a handful of amphetemines with Monster Energy drink and playing out of control he showed poise and moved the team from the very first possession. That’s growth I was happy to see!!!
And again that Jax game pretty much illustrated what Ronde was pointing out.
The OL played great that game and it was exciting to watch #3 go through his progressions and take what the defense gave him. Yet he still found the time on one play to throw a perfect TD bomb to ME13 which was unfortunately dropped.
I want to see if he can play under control the first Q of the Chicago game. That will be the first real test…at home…everybody waiting an extra week…all the ingredients for #3 to come up too jacked up and tossing ints. I think he’s grown…we’ll soon find out.
September 9th, 2017 at 9:41 am
There’s a moment in hard knocks when rex Ryan ask JW what he needs to win. After going through the list of WRs, TE, RBs and solid offensive line. What more does JW need to win?
That question really sinks in when you do look at the talent we have.
September 9th, 2017 at 10:31 am
Sleet, snow not hurricane winds can stop JBF from bringing us the best Bucs cover in the world. Tip of the hat to you my friends. Now go get ready for the storm. Please.
But yea the oline will make or break Winston.
September 9th, 2017 at 11:53 am
He might regurgitate “check-down” to another QB, much like a kid will remind another kid of the rules right in-between breaking them himself. Plays like the “ass-pass” are VERY discouraging and fly in the face of maturation. I hope my suspicions are wrong but, he may make many more bone-headed plays and lose games before he truly understands the value of a check-down.
Also, if recognizing that throwing the ball to Evans is wise, than I must be a genius.
Jameis MUST make better decisions and improve his accuracy, despite how many yards he has thrown for or how garnet and gold ones glasses are!
September 9th, 2017 at 12:13 pm
Brett Favre is the all-time INT leader.
Manning (both of them) threw more INTs in their first two full years as starters than Winston did.
Drew Brees, if you make his first two years as a starter to be 16 games he threw more INTs than Winston did.
Heck Joe Montana threw more INTs in his first two years as a starter than Jameis Winston did.
You know who didn’t throw more INTs? That would be Mike Glennon.
You people complaint about turnovers – that gets fixed (generally) with experience. If he Bucs wanted nothing but a game manager then they could have just kept Glennon.
September 9th, 2017 at 12:18 pm
Good research Rod, thank you.
September 9th, 2017 at 2:11 pm
Well stated, Rod.
Jameis is STILL only 23….
Just let that sink in for those who complain he hasn’t improved enough yet.