One Concern Looms Above All Others
December 13th, 2017
Ira Kaufman is the most beloved, revered and esteemed Buccaneers columnist in town. He has hung his hat at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters since July 2016. Tampa Bay’s only Pro Football Hall of Fame voter, Ira busts out columns here every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and his award winning podcasts fire Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can also see Ira every football Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on FOX-13, Scott Smith’s Tailgate Sunday.
BY IRA KAUFMAN
So many things have gone awry for the 2017 Buccaneers, it’s fruitless to try and list them all in one column.
Great expectations have given way to feeble reality as the Bucs slog their way toward an offseason that will likely be marked by significant changes. But of all the sub-plots lurking at One Buc Place, one story line carries the most weight.
Beyond the woeful pass rush, the soft coverage and issues along the offensive line, one concern looms above all others: Jameis Winston is now under scrutiny.
How can he not be, considering he hasn’t progressed as a passer, he faces a potential suspension and he is now facing questions about his relationship with Dirk Koetter?
For two years, Winston’s skeptics have been in the bunker, biding their time. They remained silent as Winston proved productive on the field and incident-free off the field.
Now, they are coming at No.3 in droves and it’s not a pretty sight.
Painful Points
The national media is weighing in on Winston’s travails, even to the point of questioning his potential as a franchise quarterback.
“While Winston has talent, leadership ability and a desire to win, the first overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft lacks in decision-making, accuracy and knowledge of situational football,” says David Carr, the first overall pick in the 2002 draft and now an NFL Network analyst.
“The Bucs were one of the most hyped-up teams in the preseason. Now, Winston’s inconsistency has defined the Bucs’ 4-9 record. Even with all of the weapons at his disposal, the Bucs have struggled to get into the end zone.”
Carr has a point, a painful one for Buc fans. Tampa Bay averages only 20.3 points per game, ranking 21st in the league despite adding DeSean Jackson, O.J. Howard and Chris Godwin.
The Bucs score fewer points than the Titans, who have eight less takeaways and don’t have Winston’s weapons.
Despite attempting the third-most passes in the league, Tampa Bay has only three completions of 40 yards or more. That’s tied with Buffalo, Cleveland and Chicago and ahead of only Denver.
Jackson, who registered at least one 60-yard catch in each of his first nine NFL seasons, hasn’t had a reception longer than 41 yards as a Buccaneer.
Missed Goal
That’s a big problem because Koetter said a major priority coming into the season was improving Tampa Bay’s big-play capability.
“Winston’s lack of on-field growth under Koetter might lead to an organizational makeover far before the Super Bowl is played in Tampa Bay in 2021,” Carr said. “If Winston doesn’t show improvement over the final three weeks of this season, with both parties not seeing eye to eye, something’s got to change, and it’s likely Koetter will be the first to go.”
We can argue all day whether Winston has regressed — but that’s not the point. What’s clear is he hasn’t taken the next step forward in a division crammed with elite quarterbacks.
If Winston isn’t progressing, that’s on Koetter. If Winston is suspended, that’s on Winston.
Either way, Winston has made himself a target for critics who didn’t want the Bucs to draft him in the first place. Finishing up strong in the final three weeks would go a long way in restoring his reputation.
“Winston will be on his rookie contract through 2018 (with a fifth-year option in 2019),” Carr said. “I think the Bucs will give him one year with a new coach to prove he’s their franchise quarterback for the long haul. Winston’s a solid quarterback, but he will never be great until his situational football is better than his physical play. Winston’s running out of time. If there’s not a noticeable improvement, he could have a new home before too long.”
December 13th, 2017 at 1:04 pm
All of the Bucs young players has regressed under Dirk Koetter.
December 13th, 2017 at 1:05 pm
Carr was a human punching bag in Houston. His brain is mush hardly a credible source. Winston has regressed just like every player that comes in contact with cancer93 the leader of the losing culture.
December 13th, 2017 at 1:10 pm
Don’t know what to say. I’m still dumbfound by the whole team’s regression except a few players.
December 13th, 2017 at 1:18 pm
The Bucs score fewer points than the Titans, who have eight less takeaways and don’t have Winston’s weapons.
—————-
Nice try Ira! Are you a UF alum too?
Mariota – 62.2 comp – 10TDs – 14 Ints- 76.9 rating
Winston – 62.6 comp – 14 TDs – 8 Ints- 89.7 rating
And oh btw Winston doesn’t have arguably the best rb duo in the league or a stout oline like Mariota. Nor is he afforded to opportunity to dink and dunk for 5 yards at a time like Mariota bc Koetter is obsessed with getting the ball deep to Djax who is possibly the laziest receiver I’ve seen in years if not ever.
Please try again!
December 13th, 2017 at 1:21 pm
Jameis Winston will get several head coached fired during his NFL career due to poor play, not progressing and never living up to his over exaggerated potential.
The Bucs will have to decide to either fish or cut bait with him soon
December 13th, 2017 at 1:25 pm
He doesn’t have the head for it, to play smart, or the needed accuracy…BYE, BYE after 2018…Testaverde territory all over again…
December 13th, 2017 at 1:35 pm
Jameis Winston made the Pro Bowl during his one and only season with Lovie Smith.
Facts not fiction
December 13th, 2017 at 1:36 pm
Agree Lakeland
Not just JW. Me13 looks like Maurice stovall is damning and Marpet …everyone has decline
December 13th, 2017 at 1:37 pm
This blame should be on JW and the Coaches. Look at the 49ers back in the day, Bill Walsh developed both Montana and Young, he coached them up and taught them to be timing and anticipation QBs throwing to spots and they adjusted to his style of offense, but Walsh had to coach them “up” to that. I don’t think we have the right coach to get JW to that next level..IMO
December 13th, 2017 at 1:38 pm
DB55
Maybe you should be the one to try again. Ira said the Titans score more than the Bucs (which they do, 273 to our 264) , not that Mariota scores more than Winston.
December 13th, 2017 at 1:38 pm
People can say a lot of things about Mr “Lick my fingers”
BUT what they can’t deny is that every game he makes stupid decisions or turns over the ball.
Every Sunday with JW in the game I say to myself “Ok, what stupid thing is Jameis going to do today?”
……I mean ,that is really really sad to have those kind of expectations.
December 13th, 2017 at 1:39 pm
I wonder what he has to say about his brother these days?
December 13th, 2017 at 1:39 pm
Lakeland
Jameis backed into the Pro Bowl because several other quarterbacks backed out. Just sayin’…..
December 13th, 2017 at 1:40 pm
My biggest concern and always will be is to WHY IS JW CARRYING THIS PISS POOR TEAM?
We need some different type of vets around JW not these Bker/Gmc dancing dou. He need big brother type players Terrell suggs or guys he can look to.
December 13th, 2017 at 1:40 pm
The Glazers made a huge blunder when they fired Lovie and promoted Dirk Koetter. No one want to admit it, but I am bringing it out in the open. Players who have regressed since the firing of Lovie Smith.
Jameis Winston
Mike Evans
Ali Marpet
Donovan Smith
Doug Martin
Kwon Alexander
Lavonte David
Gerald McCoy
William Gholston
These are players who were expected to take it to another level
This list don’t include the players who are no longer with the team
December 13th, 2017 at 1:43 pm
Lakeland
dude please get help immediately…. you have either purposely or accidently digested a lot of drugs…. lovie smith really… I know you love the old days man but you can’t sell that BS to anyone…
December 13th, 2017 at 1:43 pm
Honestly, I can’t help but wonder if we’ve seen Winston’s ceiling already. He doesn’t seem to be particularly coachable. He is a walking platitude, so it’s hard to get an idea about where his head is really at, but it seems as though the repeated mistakes and the fact that we’re talking about the same issues in year 3 in the NFL as we did when he was at FSU says that what we see may be what we get with him. He’s lived his whole life simply willing his teams to wins and having people buy in to his brand. Right now, his brand isn’t winning and sheer will alone won’t win for long against professionals. A lot of them have that same will, but they’re honing their craft and improving their game. Jameis isn’t doing that. He’s giving speeches and saying what he thinks that the media and his teammates want to hear. i think we’re all pretty well finished with hearing anything out of Jameis. It’s time that we started seeing things. Things like hitting receivers in stride, like starting games like they want to score points for all 60 minutes and not just the last 30, like protecting the football. You’d think these would all be basics for a QB that came out of college as “the most pro-ready QB since Andrew Luck”, but this is our reality.
December 13th, 2017 at 1:44 pm
The Titans have 9 more drives than the Bucs, nearly the equivalent of playing one more game. When you have a defense that’s 30th in both yards per drive and points per drive, it takes opportunities away from your offense. It could be a lot worse, two or three games the other team went into a shell after getting 3 or 4 score leads.
Punting 6 times on 4th and less than 5 inside the opponents 45 and playing at a slow pace offensively will make points per game look bad.
December 13th, 2017 at 1:47 pm
“I think the Bucs will give him one year with a new coach to prove he’s their franchise quarterback for the long haul. Winston’s a solid quarterback, but he will never be great until his situational football is better than his physical play. Winston’s running out of time. If there’s not a noticeable improvement, he could have a new home before too long.”
… My thoughts exactly.
Only thing I would change is the word ‘will’ in the 1st sentence to ‘should’.
December 13th, 2017 at 1:48 pm
Patrick
You are 100% correct.
The Jameis we see now is the one we will always see.
December 13th, 2017 at 1:50 pm
3 plays over 40 yards with brate, oj, evans,and djax… you have to be kidding. UGLY!
December 13th, 2017 at 1:51 pm
Right now, he does NOT look like a legit franchise QB. Coaching is a factor but the kid’s tendencies are to make a bone-head play once a game. We will only go as far as the QB goes. He regressed, we regressed 4-9.
I can’t emphasize enough how much coaching plays into this. Whoever takes the reigns next year better get this kid locked in or we are going to continue to dwell in the basement.
December 13th, 2017 at 1:52 pm
Titans has 8 wins yet Mariota has 14 Ints 6 more than Jameis.
December 13th, 2017 at 1:54 pm
Bucsfanman
you know as well as anyone that i have never been wrong about a single buc player… i assure you jameis will go down as the greatest buc of all time easily surpassing lee roy selmon and the underachievers ahead of him. I have never been wrong before sir and you know that.
December 13th, 2017 at 1:55 pm
@Lakeland – it’s like you’re ignoring 2016 –
ME had his best year under Koetter in 2016
Lavonte is having better years under Koetter
Gholston had his best year under Koetter in 2016
Ali Marpet had his best year under koetter in 2016
McCoy has been at the same level regardless of coaches
Donavon Smith has been better than under Lovie
The only player who regressed in any obvious was is Martin; but Koetter as OC is the one who revived him; so that goes both ways too.
Winston’s regression is debatable. ALl his #s are basically better outside of TD%. I would say he’s slightly improved; but didn’t make anywhere near the leap we were hoping for.
December 13th, 2017 at 2:01 pm
Jax 9-4 record bottles 19-8
Cam 9-4 record 17-12
Matt Ryan 8-5 record 17-11
December 13th, 2017 at 2:04 pm
@Ira … “Beyond the woeful pass rush, the soft coverage and issues along the offensive line, one concern looms above all others: Jameis Winston is now under scrutiny.” One concern looms above all others? To that I’d agree. That Jameis is that one concern? Not even close.
Bucs have a LOT of problems right now. Jameis isn’t even in the Top-5. To my way of thinking, we have no idea how good Jameis can be until 5 things happen. First, fix the OLine. Second, get him a decent RB to take some of the pressure off. Third, replace the OC. Fourth, provide him with a better QB coach. And fifth, get him healed up.
Jameis has regressed somewhat this year IMO … in some areas. But those are SYMPTOMS, not CAUSES. I still can’t pinpoint in my mind what’s CAUSING him to do some of the things he does on the field. Is it that Jameis can’t process situations fast enough on the field? Is it that his baseball throwing motion is screwing up his accuracy? I can think of 100 questions to ask, but don’t know any of the answers. What I do know is that Jameis is the closest the Bucs have come to having a franchise QB in many years. I have no desire to see us give up on him prematurely.
Fix what needs fixing, then let’s see what we’ve got. Whether that’ll happen with Jason Licht as the GM is a much bigger question-mark than Jameis is.
December 13th, 2017 at 2:04 pm
Jameis Winston performed exactly the way he’s performing now when he was at FSU. The difference is that you cannot get away with ineptitude in the NFL. Not even his “speeches” are original–he listens to self help tapes and when he improvises, well, you get the “Eating the W’s” performance. Winston is the Eddie Haskell of football.
December 13th, 2017 at 2:08 pm
I look at that play where Winston had open field in front of him yet didn’t run, but kept pump faking and rolling until he was over the line, and still threw the ball anyway. That’s a QB who has been told “DON’T RUN.” This coaching staff has gotten into Winston’s head and hampered the things that made him so good in college. They’ve got him playing tentatively, trying too hard to minimize mistakes so that when he does take a risk, it’s all the more glaring.
December 13th, 2017 at 2:10 pm
I just thot of this. You mean to tell me that a franchise like Bucs who haven’t won jack crap in a very long time that they drafted a winner (JW 38-1) is now a bust????
I don’t care what ppl on here say….. this franchise ruined him Bucs track record of young QBs and the it’s inept ways of never having a franchise Qb and probably still don’t tells me black and white that this franchise can’t handle it.
If JW doesn’t work here I’ll be pissed and can’t image myself going all in on the next guy. Like real successful football orgs they better find a way to make it work.
Uber incident is on the ownership when option like Jerry Jones did for Dez when he drafted him he hired him is own security team. Jones got reemed but it was genius. It’s called protecting ur young men and caring. JW had character so why not?? Things like this separate us from the rest and it’s why we get called BROWNS.
December 13th, 2017 at 2:11 pm
DailyRich
Gawd bless you son. You must be originally from up north or something, true? You got brains and you don’t find that much around these here parts.
December 13th, 2017 at 2:12 pm
2017 Tampa Bay Bucs
Doug Martin, 4012 rushing yards, 3 TD
Charles Sims, 89 rushing yards, 224 receiving yards
Mike Evans, 760 receiving yards,
Kwon Alexander, 43 solo tackles, 22 AST, 3 PD,2 INT
Lavonte David, 69 solo, 16 AST, 0 INT, 1 PD,
Gerald McCoy, 29 solo, 11 AST, 5.0 sacks
William Gholston, 15 solo, 12 ASt, 0 sacks
2015 Tampa Bay Bucs
Doug Martin, 1402 rushing yards, 6 TD
Charles Sims, 529 rushing yards, 561 passing yards
Mike Evans, 1206 receiving yards
Kwon Alexander, 59 solo,34 AST, 9 PD, 2 INT
Lavonte David, 85 solo, 62 AST, 13 PD, 3.0 sacks, 3 INT
Gerald McCoy 26 solo, 8 AST, 8.5 sacks
William Gholston, 47 solo, 20 AST, 3.0 sacks
The team obvious has regressed since the firing of Lovie Smith
I could post other players numbers
But why? A blind person can see the difference
December 13th, 2017 at 2:15 pm
Jameis’ 7 healthy games extrapolated over a full season = 4,885 pass yards with 32 TDs and 14 INTs which is awesome … talking heads on tv are stupid
December 13th, 2017 at 2:16 pm
The people with an agenda because they never liked jameis are way off. Dirk is the problem. We will see that once the new staff gets jameis on track. Djax longest catch 41 yards. That was a slant that he caught 2 yards from the line of scrimmage. Great run after catch. How many slants have we seen since? Or all year. For some reason dirk loves routes that take too much time to develop and that puts wr in position for no yac. Bunch of outs and comebacks. He shouldve helped jameis progress this year with good game plans, instead he is setting him up for failure.
December 13th, 2017 at 2:18 pm
@tmaxcon …delusional and you lost all credibility with the Jameis love, must be family…He’s great in garbage time with soft zone defenses so he can rifle bullets into a zone…Worked in college to be down by 14, but it wont work in the NFL…
December 13th, 2017 at 2:19 pm
@Lakeland … “The Glazers made a huge blunder when they fired Lovie and promoted Dirk Koetter.” Agree with you partway Lakeland. Firing Lovie was a no-brainer IMO (although I too hated to see the coaching carousel start turning yet again). His defensive coaching staff had become a joke, and he apparently refused to rectify that (hey, who wants to fire their own kin?). The Glazers real biggest blunder was when they hired Lovie in the first place, and gave him all the power that they did WITHOUT having a GM in-place. Lovie’s initial personnel decisions set this franchise back for years. Dumb, dumb, dumb.
Far as hiring Dirk Koetter as Head Coach goes, it was dual-hatting him as HC-OC that was the real killer. Without the OC responsibilities, he MIGHT be a fairly good HC. Without the HC responsibilities, he MIGHT be a fairly good OC. But with BOTH the HC AND the OC responsibilities, he’s drowning. Few experienced HCs could handle being dual-hatted as the OC or DC (Lovie couldn’t) so saddling a first-year HC with OC responsibilities is the kiss of death IMO. But I don’t put that on Koetter … that bad decision falls squarely in the laps of Jason Licht and the Glazer boys. Koetter never REALLY had a chance.
December 13th, 2017 at 2:20 pm
******************
W/L records cloud the media’s judgment as they are lazy and don’t do any real research many times
Mariota’s TEAM is 8-5 so he’s being shielded from criticism BUT he has turned into one of the WORST starting QBs in the entire NFL this year … he’s in the DeShone Kizer, Trevor Siemian area … horrible
Jameis’ TEAM is 4-9 so he’s being killed but his actual numbers are very good and his 7 healthy game numbers show great progression and blow most QBs out of the water
However, anyone with a brain and who isn’t lazy, can evaluate talent independent of TEAM success … and when one does so, one still sees that JW is an elite talent and a monster when healthy
*****************
December 13th, 2017 at 2:23 pm
If you add in 2016 numbers, they are still worse for most players that was here in 2015. Especially the weapons for Jameis Winston, Doug Martin and Charles Sims.
Doug Martin 2015
1402 rushing yards, 271 receiving yards
Doug Martin 2016
421 rushing yards, 134 receiving yards
Charles Sims 2015
529 rushing yards, 561 receiving yards
Charles Sims 2016
149 rushing yards, 190 receiving yards
The regression of Doug Martin and Charles Sims has hurt Jameis Winston
The Bucs added O.J Howard, DeSean Jackson, Chris Godwin
But what Jameis Winston need is production from the backfield
Not the Wideouts/TE
I made an error, Charles Sims receiving not passing
December 13th, 2017 at 2:26 pm
Nflnut
Educate young lady educate these fools.
December 13th, 2017 at 2:26 pm
Ira, I keep hearing that Winston hasn’t progressed, but that’s just not true. Each year, his completion percentage, passing yards per game (I’m not counting the two full halves of football he’s missed this year), and QB rating have all increased. There’s actually been a good amount of progression in Winston’s game. He just hasn’t progressed as much as we all hoped he would. Maybe we all were a little too overzealous? I just don’t think it’s fair to say that he’s “regressed.” Facts are facts. He hasn’t improved in some areas (i.e. wins, deep ball accuracy, fumbles, living for another down), but those are all teachable and can get drastically better with time. Talent, desire, passion, leadership…those are all traits that aren’t coachable. Winston will be fine if we all don’t run him out of town.
Let’s not forget, this is the first year where he’s had to deal with an injury. And not just any injury, but one that affects his throwing motion (i.e. accuracy). The defense has regressed. The running game has regressed. I think these two area are the biggest culprits as to why we aren’t winning. It’s not Jameis.
December 13th, 2017 at 2:31 pm
at the nfl combine M,M, beat Winston in EVERY category … faster foot speed ,.higher ftball iq, more accurate and yet bucs still took Winston.. Bucs new coach , Gruden also stated M.M. was a better prospect when draft started … so another reason Light needs to go also
December 13th, 2017 at 2:31 pm
Joe thought he was the only guy to suggest Winston (aside from his fumbling) hasn’t played badly.
December 13th, 2017 at 2:34 pm
Lakeland
Injuries have played a part in that too though ….not in the teams record ( (because it should be better regardless)
but individually ……the 2015 bucs stunk under lovie but won by creating turnovers #1 in the league a crazy oxy moron
while the offense stunk that year under koetter as OC too…only 20pts per game (the yardage #5 team rating only wins you half your games) hence 9-7…and missed playoffs
I mean we fired Gruden for two back to back 9-7 years and the one he got fired in wasn’t even his fault it was monte and tennesee
December 13th, 2017 at 2:35 pm
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive stats for 2107
3406 passing yards, 1190 rushing yards
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive stats for 2016
4090 passing yards, 1616 rushing yards
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive stats for 2015
4042 passing yards, 2162 rushing yards
It’s obvious the O-Line, RBs, has regressed since the firing of Lovie Smith
Those are the QB main weapons
You can add a thousand TEs and WRs
They will never be as important for a QB success like O-Line and RBs
December 13th, 2017 at 2:36 pm
I don’t know LC. I think those #’s are deceiving. I’m not saying it’s un-fixable but, he is clearly not seeing the field as he should. Outside of the TOs, we have left so many points on the field as a DIRECT result of Jameis’ inconsistencies.
IMO, he gets a pass for THIS year only. If he’s still doing the same things next year, we have to reconsider the position.
December 13th, 2017 at 2:38 pm
at least he took us to the playoffs twice with Garcia and Simms….one year losing to the superbowl giants Defense
WITH THOSE TWO GARBAGE QBS…smh Jameis better shape up
December 13th, 2017 at 2:38 pm
Ben … you’re right about Mariota beating Winston in the “measurables” at the combine … and yet, three years into their careers, Mariota has turned into one of the WORST starting QBs in the entire NFL and looks like a career back-up while Jameis is about to become the ONLY QB IN NFL HISTORY to throw for 11,000 yards before his 24th birthday … Licht obviously made the right choice.
December 13th, 2017 at 2:41 pm
The Bottom Line:
Jameis Winston is not playing bad
Give him some production from his RBs, like he got in 2015
A QB best friend is a good O-Line
A QB 2nd best friend is a solid backfield
A QB 3rd best friend is his Receivers
December 13th, 2017 at 2:44 pm
The Bucs are going to have one heck of a decision if they have to decide between drafting Bradley Chubb and Saqon Barkley … man, that’s a hard choice … but I’d have to take Chubb … I know a RB can keep the defense off the field and all but I think this team needs to be built to score a lot of points on O and force TO’s on D and Chubb could be a perennial pro bowl DE …
December 13th, 2017 at 2:46 pm
When a QB is not getting production from the O-Line and RBs, he will struggle. That’s just common knowledge, anyone with a drop of football knowledge should understand this.
December 13th, 2017 at 2:55 pm
Give Jameis a defense that’s ranked in the top 15 in points allowed, and you’ll see his turnovers decrease significantly. He tries too much because he really does need to sometimes. Our defense is just terrible – hard to watch!
December 13th, 2017 at 2:56 pm
so your probowl guard from the patriots retiring and a rookie ali marpet had nothing to do with that OL regression
passing yards hide too much needed info…..you have to look at scoring offense and total defense scoring
yards varies from year to year based on schedule too….the bucs schedule has consistently gotten harder…since lovie
as the division got better too….as you see the top results of that this year
December 13th, 2017 at 2:58 pm
you guys and the numbers LOL …”just win baby”, was a well said mantra
December 13th, 2017 at 3:00 pm
^^^^^^^^makes it worse when the bucs haven’t improved
it was koetter running the offense and lovie the defense those years anyway
I guess Lakeland your saying lovie had a better more experienced coaching staff but both head coaches are no better
December 13th, 2017 at 3:26 pm
The team young players were progressing under Lovie, they have been regressing under Koetter. This is a bad sign, it’s not good for the direction of the team. Something has to give, it’s not my job to make personnel decisions. I’m only stating facts, you can ignore the facts. but the 4-9 record speaks volumes.
December 13th, 2017 at 3:41 pm
Media is lazy! That’s why I watch the games for myself and look up my on stats!
@DB55
@NFLNUT
@LORD CORNELIUS
I appreciate you guys, because I honestly am not feeling these so called media experts, who with every stroke expose their bias.
They seem to be trying to pin Dirk’s demise and the team’s production on JW.
PLAYERS PLAY, COACHES, COACH
Anyone who wants to know the true stats for JW vs MM can google them and find, the Titans are leading inspite of their QB (Mariota), they have an effective running back, you can look at New Orleans, and see how a RB has helped the great Brees.
Anyone interested can go to this link below or to instagram (it is in 3 parts) and ck JW’s msg to a kid about ignoring bulling and human cruelty:
https://www.facebook.com/JameisWinston/videos/1608640779182670/
December 13th, 2017 at 3:41 pm
Here’s what I see so far. Jameis looks basically the same to me with some improvement from his first year but not a lot really. His on-field awareness just doesn’t seem to improve. He doesn’t pick up on the blitz very well, and still stares down receivers. He did this in college as well. He keeps going to the same guys Brate and Evans and defenses know that. He is taking too long to get rid of the ball since I do not believe he is aware of where ALL his receivers are. The long ball, well it’s no better now than in college. He’s not regressing, but he’s not progressing either. For all we hear of him being in the playbook and watching film, etc, that does not seem to translate to the field. Don’t get me wrong, I blame Koetter for much of this fiasco. How can we get down too much on Winston when the entire team is not ready to play on gameday? If we are going to blame the O-line, how come Russell Wilson still wins games? Elite QBs can overcome shortcomings of their support cast, AND they do not make crucial (see- bonehead) mistakes game in, game out. Jameis is not Elite and has not proved that he can be Elite yet. Right now he’s a pretty good QB that has some shortcomings and limitations. Right now that puts him middle of the pack in the NFL. He’s not Deshone Kizer but he’s not even Carson Wentz at this point.
December 13th, 2017 at 3:50 pm
Despite attempting the third-most passes in the league
Because We CANNOT RUN the ball………………….
O-line FAIL…FIRE LICHT
December 13th, 2017 at 4:27 pm
It bugs the hell out of me that this guy who had a terrible NFL career can look at Winston and lob criticism at him. It’s almost like listening to Hillary Clinton say “all women must be believed.” What a disgusting hypocrite.
December 13th, 2017 at 4:30 pm
All you head cases calling for Winston head I truly want to thank you for the bottom of my heart from me and everyone who wants koetter run out of town. For all you Madden football trade guru’s out there in franchise mode all year long, lol you guys are nuts talking about trading Winston
1. What trade value do you think you would get from players you don’t want? Madden addicts
2. He has more value to this team and your not using a high draft pick on a position after using a first overall pick if you have the worst d line in the league
3. See 1 & 2 lol if Winston will be here, calling for his head is basically calling for Dirk’s head, if he can’t develop the franchise quarterback it’s much easier to replace that coach than Winston and if we’d stay with GMC all these years I ignore this talk about getting rid of Winston
All the Winston haters thank you so much for helping get this coaching staff fired
December 13th, 2017 at 4:42 pm
For whatever reason, running the football was not priority like passing game- that’s part of reason Peyton Barber has seen limited playing time – he’s not a great pass blocker. Protecting Jameis is game plan every game. O-line needs improvement on running game coaching or talent or both and the play calling is predictable at times…
Draft some offensive and defensive linemen in the 1st 2-3 rounds ! Then get your great running back another year
December 13th, 2017 at 4:43 pm
Let’s just be honest. It is not just Winston. D has been garbage, playcalling is garbage on both sides of the ball, and it took us forever to find a freaking kicker. There is no one person to blame. We don’t have enough fingers to point with.
December 13th, 2017 at 4:50 pm
And I have to add that in 2015 the Bucs rushed for 2162 yards. They gave up 27 sacks. This despite starting a rookie LT and RG, Demar Dotson went down during the preseason. So they brought in Gosder Cherilus, who started 13 games at RT. In 2016 the Bucs rushed for 1616 yards and gave up 35 sacks. So far after 13 games in 2017 The Bucs has rushed for 1190 yards and given up 30 sacks.
Something serious is wrong with this picture
December 13th, 2017 at 4:59 pm
Lakelands 1st comment says it all..A lot of Bucs players have regressed under Koetter and Smitty. Why have they been skipping their..AA meetings?
December 13th, 2017 at 5:12 pm
DB55 Says:
December 13th, 2017 at 1:52 pm
Titans has 8 wins yet Mariota has 14 Ints 6 more than Jameis.
i’ll take wins over stats any day…..GO BUCS!!!!
December 13th, 2017 at 5:23 pm
Wow. I just don’t know how so many of you are so certain. Not me…at all!!!
I do not know if Jameis will shake off this season and blossom into a true franchise QB. I obviously hope he does. He’s no Josh Freeman, but I can see his career kind of wandering off…no championships…then again perhaps they turn everything around.
All they really need is a massive upgrade in both of their lines. Our OL cannot run block and our DL cannot rush the passer. Those are two fundamentals that need to be addressed big time this year. First five draft picks….FA’s…pull out all the stops to rebuild our woeful trenches.
December 13th, 2017 at 5:24 pm
813
Duh. These fools are saying that we’re 4-9 bc of Jameis TOs. I’m saying there are qbs in the league With just as many turnovers if not more and More wins
December 13th, 2017 at 5:32 pm
Honestly: If the Glazers moved the team it would probably be a lot better for Howards health.
Everyone was expecting playoff contention.
Instead we get crisis mode that makes Lovie
and Schiano look pretty good in retrospect.
# Move the Bucs to England!
December 13th, 2017 at 5:45 pm
Some of you need to stick with madden and fantasy playing.
Short of injury Jameis will never be a Josh Freeman even if he have to leave this mentally soft town.
If you can get it go to the link below and listen to how JW advises the kid on withstanding bulling, ridicule about his intelligence…etc
PLAYERS PLAY, COACHES, COACH
Anyone who wants to know the true stats for JW vs MM can google them and find, the Titans are leading inspite of their QB (Marcus)
Anyone interested can go to this link below or to instagram (it is in 3 parts) and ck JW’s msg to a kid about ignoring bulling and human cruelty:
https://www.facebook.com/JameisWinston/videos/1608640779182670/
December 13th, 2017 at 5:59 pm
After all the abuse fans in this town have endured its a miracle that there are any fans at all.
To take shots at the long suffering fan-base is beyond reprehensible and the product of a sadistic and sociopathic mind.
December 13th, 2017 at 6:06 pm
If you’re mad at the Winston bashers then please limit your insults to them and not the city or the fan-base in general.
December 13th, 2017 at 6:47 pm
@Lakeland
Agree our O-line is worse, do you think our running game is down though because more men are in the box? We take shots deep and can’t hit them so why respect that? 3 plays over 40 yards for the year, and one was a slant to DJ against the Pats! Our offense has not carried a single game this year for us the full 60.
December 13th, 2017 at 7:16 pm
Trade Winston draft Baker Mayfield,
December 13th, 2017 at 7:17 pm
Nole4Jaboo
No problem! All we do is fight for Jameis up in here, well at least the smart ones do.
Now go tell Jameis to ignore Koetter and go win these next 3 games.
Oh and tell breezy boo I said hi. If she ever wants to grab a coffee or shoot some hopes I’m happy to hang with her. 😁
December 13th, 2017 at 8:13 pm
^ If we lose the next 3 we’ll probably be able to draft Bradley Chubb, Saquon Barkely or Minkah Fitzpatrick … if we win even one we’ll probably end up with Derwin James (a poor man’s Minkah Fitzpatrick) or Clellin Ferrel (a poor man’s Bradley Chubb) and if we win 2-3 we might end up with a bench player … I know wins are important for confidence but confidence is one thing I don’t think Jameis lacks, or even Kwon, Evans, OJ, etc … so personally I’d rather have the best player in the draft than a few meaningless wins … imagine if we had Jalen Ramsey instead of Vernon Hargreaves!
December 13th, 2017 at 11:05 pm
Man the Bucs are close!
IF the Glazers can make the right decisions and we can hold it together for this next draft!. I believe the Bucs will be there and once the Bucs get there, Jaboo will keep us there for years to come☠
If we can start seeing the forest instead of the trees! GO BUCS☠
December 14th, 2017 at 7:13 am
Jameis is a great cheerleader. I’ve seen enough. Draft a QB that can communicate with Koetter. Give the coach at least one year without a handicap at QB. We need an accurate and decisive leader on offense. A decent RB would help. It’s not all on Winston, but he’s the key to the failure on offense. I doubt he will suddenly “get it”. Don’t waste any more time on him. Move on.
December 14th, 2017 at 9:02 am
Listen, you can blame the defense all you want… I’m not gonna stop you. But to think the offense has little to blame for this horrible season is just plain crazy! This offense through the first 3 quartets is not good at all. Their 4th quarter numbers are better but I think that’s due to the game already being a blow out and the opponents defense is playing relaxed at that time.