“One Of The Better Competitors In This Game”
December 15th, 2017
(Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com)
America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, has played one home game since October.
He takes the Tampa turf on Monday with a ton to prove.
Jameis has looked like a middle-of-the-pack NFL starter the past couple of weeks. He had success but didn’t find a way to win while finding ways to give away the football. That’s not what the great QBs do.
The greats also find a few games in each season to put their team on their back and win.
Jameis has done that before, and Monday’s opponent, the Falcons, knows that well. See 3rd-and-19 in 2015. (Video here)
Falcons defensive coordinator Marquand Manuel gave Jameis an ultimate compliment this week, via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“One of the better competitors in this game. That’s what he is. Will fight for the last yard and the last play of the game. That’s what he’s been about from the first time that we saw him even at Florida State.”
…“We have to do a good job plastering (receivers) on the back end and rushing him consistently,” Manuel said.
There are some other differences with Winston at the controls.
“You’ve seen the screen game pick up a little bit,” Manuel said. “They are running the ball a lot better than they were previously. They are not asking Jameis to do a lot, but be consistent drive-in and drive-out.”
Monday will be Jameis’ first home game on Monday Night Football. He’s been questioned this year from many angles, including rumors of his attitude toward Dirk Koetter, plus a report of him crotch-grabbing a female Uber driver.
The distractions are flowing, and the Falcons are the defending NFC champs marching toward a return to the playoffs.
Joe really wants to see that big game from Jameis come now. He has it in him, his weapons are healthy, and the Bucs likely will be starting their best running back for the first time.
December 15th, 2017 at 10:03 am
Jameis has not won a football game in 75 days……stat dat !
December 15th, 2017 at 10:04 am
Will be nice for Gruden to get an up close look again at Jameis before making any decision.
December 15th, 2017 at 10:08 am
Hasn’t won but delivered the lead or tie in three games in the 4th quarter. Bills, Green Bay. Detroit.
Until the mighty defense folded like a cheap suit.
I expect a big game from him Monday.
December 15th, 2017 at 10:09 am
Because Jameis is the only guy on the team… how about Mike Evans??? That guys hasn’t had a big game all year… desean Jackson??? A ghost as well. I’m wondering how many people on here are just plastered the whole game and only remember the bad plays. Also… just to get this strait with all the Gruden drones… BEST Bucs coach ever, but he was fired for a reason, and for that reason he will NOT be back in Tampa. Sorry. Not gonna happen.
December 15th, 2017 at 10:11 am
Falcons smell blood in the water. They know he’s got no blocking and Koetter doesn’t want him to run, that is if he’s able to run effectively with all the injuries and all. #excuses
Falcons also know Koetter playbook in-and-out.
There’s no hope for this game. It’s going to be a complete embarrassment and one that can send Jameis packing with 4 Ints 2 lost fumbles and a pick 6. Jameis hasn’t played well under the lights.
December 15th, 2017 at 10:13 am
DB55 …dire….
December 15th, 2017 at 10:18 am
Fire…do a little research before you try to stain Gruden. He did have some issues…but listen to most of the guys that played for him like Sapp and such…and see what they think. Just do a simple search and read some articles.
December 15th, 2017 at 10:19 am
“One of the better competitors in this game. That’s what he is. Will fight for the last yard and the last play of the game”
Exhibit “A” as to why this team’s “losing culture” will be turned around sooner than later. Winston can’t do this by himself – but with the help of other young studs with ‘tude and a burning desire to win like Evans, Marpet and Kwon – it WILL happen.
December 15th, 2017 at 10:22 am
Jameis will go down as the greatest buc of all time. The bar is set very low and he will win multiple championships. He will overcome the glazer clowns. Cant wait to watch the same 15 haters squirm when JW holds up the lombardi…. Get rid of cancer93 and the rest of the hold over leaders of the losing culture and watch jameis lead these men to places the little boys led by captain blowout cancer93 could never achieve and that is a meaningful win. 8 years not a single win from your captain and super hero yet you morons put the blame on a qb that is given the same pansy arse defense leads late in games and captain blowout and his heartless / gutless defense has laid down quicker than a crackwhore needing fix.
Jameis is not the problem the ownership, the losing culture and pathetic leadership by the doll playing POS is the problem. hard to create a winning atmosphere when your highest paid player and captain is a fragile soft quitter. the defense has taken on the personality of their clown leader.
December 15th, 2017 at 10:24 am
bore….yawn…
December 15th, 2017 at 10:27 am
Jameis is 3-1 against the Falcons.
December 15th, 2017 at 10:29 am
Gm dude
True story not 1 division leader has a weak defense.
Seattle’s offense has the same problems as ours but Russell is so nasty at evading these rushers. Idk if jw can do it like Russell. He needs to learn that spin move ala Rodgers. Backspin run to sideline and chuck the ball maybe out-of-bounds sometimes.
The old forward lateral as you’re going to the ground isn’t working.
December 15th, 2017 at 10:42 am
I think the team was built incorrectly around Jameis. He didnt need weapons for Winston. I think he would more effective with an A rb with C’s for receivers, rather than As and Bs for receivers and D’s for rbs. With the salary cap, you cant build a complete team. Oline, Dliine and RB, and Jameis can do the rest on offense. Plus Licht seems to be good at finding decent, cheap receivers in the draft anyways.
December 15th, 2017 at 10:44 am
This game reminds me of an old Orlando Magic game. After shaq left, Penny carried the team, in the playoffs Penny looked as good as Michael Jordan ever did. HOFer Chuck Daly was the broadcaster for the games. He was so impressed with penny, he came out of retirement to coach him . Hopefully Jameis put on a show and Gruden follows Chuck Daly.
December 15th, 2017 at 10:50 am
Winston is the least of our problems…..our problems are the HC, DC, and OC…..send them packing and watch Winston and others develop and take off!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
December 15th, 2017 at 10:57 am
@CLOD
I agree….Winston won at fsu with a nasty defense and average playmakers on offense….he had oleary….karlos Williams…rashard green…are they even in the league right now?….the “X” factor was KB, and we have that in ME….
IMO, player wise, its an easy fix….this year and next we simply draft DE’s..DT’s…S’s…CB’s….throw in a olineman this year and next and we’ll be fine….
but it all starts with sending dirk and smitty packing 01/01/2018!!!!….that will be the first step at getting better!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
December 15th, 2017 at 11:00 am
Geez, Winston is below average qb with all the weapons and has made numerous mistakes on the field. If he is your neighbor or dates your sister great but he is nothing to brag about under center.
December 15th, 2017 at 11:31 am
Sunshine…many of the Jameis posse are blowing smoke up… where the sun don’t shine….he is just one of the many Bucs that have suited up before him since 1976…..and I wanted every one of them to be the ONE…..Parnell Dickinson …pay dirt !….Doug….on and on….and on….
I hope Jameis can become what everyone hoped he’d be….thing is there ain’t no hope in football….
December 15th, 2017 at 11:38 am
The best year Rich Gannon ever had before he came to Gruden in Oakland was 2300 yards and 10 touchdowns.
With Gruden he averaged 3700 yds a season and 28 touchdowns.
But, Chucky doesn’t know squat. These other nobodies we have hired since are clearly the answer.
Keep the plan going its working so well.
December 15th, 2017 at 11:48 am
You have two years to feel out Winston with his 5th year option.
December 15th, 2017 at 11:55 am
Dilly dilly….which is why the franchise needs to hedge their bet….they understand better than us outside looking in whether they have faith in Jameis….the prudent thing would be to draft a QB high….let it sort itself out going into 2020…until I see accuracy on unforced throws in particular longer passes…Jameis MUST prove he is the QB going forward…
December 15th, 2017 at 11:57 am
Jar Jar
December 15th, 2017 at 12:47 pm
[That’s a bit over the top. Might want to be more careful in the future if you want to continue commenting. — Joe]
December 15th, 2017 at 1:07 pm
I say we trade Evans. He will demand a Kings ransom anyways. We won’t be able to afford everyone that’ll need paid in the coming years. I’m not too keen on paying wrs tons of money. Trade him to get a lineman or rb. Godwin, OJ, and Brate are enough. We need linemen more than Evans.
December 15th, 2017 at 2:37 pm
For the haters, Jameis is one player on a 53 man roster. We were in a position to win the last two weeks until our defense folded. Does Jameis play defense? Yes he has too many turnovers, no question about it. But the kid still set offensive records his first two years in the league!
The power of a consistent running game cannot be underestimated. Look at Dallas last year and Dak. With no running game we are one dimensional and that allows defenses to tee off. Dirk’s play calling, while better the last two games, has been pedestrian all year. It takes a team to win and a team to lose, yes Jameis needs to play better and be more consistent but the lack of a running game and an abysmal defense is, as we all have witnessed, a recipe for disaster.
December 15th, 2017 at 3:42 pm
Much is being made about Winston BUTT..20 to 27 points is enough to win in this league. Problem is..we can’t stop the other team from scoring..more than us! Sit back, have a drin Monday night and ask yourself..Why can’t we stop these Falcons? The answer will be sitting in the pressbox with a pair of binoculars!!
December 15th, 2017 at 4:31 pm
@mike… we are giving up 24 a game. That’s enough to win with the weapons we have. 23rd in scoring o is a big problem too
December 15th, 2017 at 4:34 pm
Good point MikeJohnson.
December 15th, 2017 at 7:40 pm
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Jameis reminds me of an NFL version of Allen Iverson … people either loved or hated that dude and the media had a massive love/hate relationship with him as well … he was the ultimate competitor and had some great games and seasons but could never overcome playing on a GARBAGE team for basically his entire career …
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