Winston Fits Bucs’ Puzzle

May 15th, 2015

jameis 0508b

Joe scoffs at the wet nurses out there who didn’t want the Bucs to draft a quarterback because the guy might bust out.

This just in: Any position might bust out. Roughly 50 percent of first-round picks are flops, regardless of position.

If you are scared to draft, then go all George Allen and trade away all draft picks (and brace yourself for a lot of losing).

Joe noticed a lot of folks wanted Bucs general manager Jason Licht to draft a defensive end. Funny, since the Bucs have swung and missed in the draft at that position more than any in recent memory.

Noted football analyst Louis Riddick of BSPN was not in the camp that thinks “America’s Quarterback,” Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston, is the next Andrew Luck. But Riddick believes Jameis is one helluva talent. If Riddick had to lay cash on a rookie making it in the NFL, then he would drop money on Jameis because he fits the Bucs’ offensive puzzle just about perfectly.

For starters, head coach Lovie Smith is universally respected in the coaching profession for his credibility as a leader, his competency in the X’s and O’s element of the game, and for his positive impact on the coaches and players around him. New offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter ran a multiple offense with the Falcons in terms of personnel groupings, formations and route designs, and those things aren’t foreign to Winston after what he was asked to do at Florida State.

GM Jason Licht has titles on his résumé as both a coach and a front-office executive, so he knows what a successful program is supposed to look like. Moreover, he has surrounded Winston with the type of big, tall perimeter weapons that he likes (WRs Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans and TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins) and took two offensive linemen (Donovan Smith and Ali Marpet) in the 2015 draft who should upgrade a weak unit from 2014, particularly in pass protection.

If the Winston pick is to ultimately be a success, all of the listed variables will have to work in lockstep, creating an environment in which it is difficult for him to fail. Time will tell, but I think this match can work.

A lot of pressure will be put on the two rookie offensive linemen the Bucs drafted this month. They almost certainly will have growing pains and struggle to play like veterans.

If Donovan Smith and Ali Marpet can eliminate their rookie learning curves (both doing so seems a stretch), then it should be a smooth transition for Jameis. That is, as smooth as a rookie quarterback could hope for.

35 Responses to “Winston Fits Bucs’ Puzzle”

  1. Patrick in VA Says:

    I’m a little concerned about half of our offensive line and our QB hitting the “rookie wall” at the same time.

  2. Ray Rice Says:

    This is what Koetter will bring to the YUCS with Savage Mike and VJax outside and competent slot receiver. I feel sorry for the division opponents. Can’t wait!

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3OYLO8WixKY

    P.S. It’s a good clip @JOE. Don’t remove it man.

  3. Casual Observer Says:

    Although I suspect that both the top 2 QBs will have excellent NFL careers, I do think Winston will star with the Bucs. Just seeing him interact with folks, it is clear that he has an undefinable charisma that may work wonders for team chemistry. And don’t overlook the strong possibility that a veteran offensive lineman or two will be acquired through the waiver wire this summer. The Bucs have first pick and they are watching and waiting. Need some veteran OL line depth, if nothing else. Reason to be excited about the season.

  4. bucs4lyfe Says:

    A lot of pressure will be put on the two rookie offensive linemen the Bucs drafted this month. They almost certainly will have growing pains and struggle to play like veterans.

    no joe that’s media talk….theres no pressure on either one of these guys. who says ali marpet was drafted to be a starter? who said Donovan smith was drafted to be a day one starter if he has to beat out whats his name to be the starter? it helps no nfl franchise to put pressure on draft picks….fast tracking the first overall pick is completely different than 2nd 3rd and 4th round picks are not held to that standard

  5. ToesOnTheLine! Says:

    Busting just hurts a little more when it’s the #1 pick and some warning signs were there. But hey the organization did its research, so either the kid pans out or we get a new HC/GM…win-win

  6. bucs4lyfe Says:

    @ToesOnTheLine!

    that’s pretty much the way it works with every franchise most of the time doesn’t it? well unless your the bengals head coach, losing every playoff game you ever coached in like 10 years is just not a good enough reason to get fired. there was no scenario where josh freeman played out his contract moves on to another team and Dominick kept his job even though it didn’t work out that way….schiano got fired for wasting money on garbage free agents and drafting mark barron and mike glennon and generally just being a bad coach.

    whether lovie smith gets fired will not depend on Winston atleast in the next two years, I tend to think if his defense is garbage again this year that would have a bigger impact on their decision than a rookie quarterback

  7. WS99 Says:

    Word on the street is that Mankins is a man on a mission. I hear he’s making everyone on the oline run sprints and suicides when they should be resting. I hear that during ST practice mankins got the whole oline running. I hear he came to camp with a six pack (abs that is) for the first time in his career. Also he was the first to reach out to Ali and Smith after the draft.

    Awesome if true, I guess he’s over his shellshock!!

    It’s a new day!

  8. Buc1987 Says:

    Tampa Bay is the perfect match for America’s QB.

  9. bucs4lyfe Says:

    a lot of fans don’t like lovie but that doesn’t matter honestly, the players like playing for him unlike some former bucs head coaches…the fact that this team seems to have more veterans and players that know how to run the defensive scheme makes me feel at ease about this season. there is no way anyone can tell me that playing Winston is more risky than starting josh mccown

  10. Debbie Downer Says:

    if thats true WS99 it would be awesome.

    I didn’t know OL guys had six packs. that part is a bit far fetched. lol

    we can dream, rumors and hope. it’s that time of year.

  11. bucco brice Says:

    at least we now have a set plan for a starting five OL…still didn’t have any idea in training camp last year…AND never mind the Pamphile at LT bit…get D.Smith and Marpet in the starting rotation immediately and gel this group asap…

  12. BuccaneEric Says:

    Im hoping Whitworth gets cut and we can claim him. He’s only and can sound like an a$$, but he’d be a good insurance policy if Donovan struggles year one

  13. bucs4lyfe Says:

    if you haven’t brought in anyone that can beat out mankins or pamphile or anyone on your offensive line from last year than you haven’t really upgraded the position…..I understand hyping up the team but the offensive line gets no love until they wipe that awful season from my memory

  14. Buc-A-New Says:

    Man, I am telling you what, if we can fix our OLine problems we are going to see something that I have not seen in 39 yrs. An Elite Offense. Go Bucs

  15. Buc-A-New Says:

    @ DB
    You just gave me a woody with that post bro.

  16. WS99 Says:

    Buc lmao you sir must have a screen name generator. Lol

  17. lurker Says:

    ok, i tried to like “america’s qb” for jameis but it just flops. sorry, joes, but it is not one of your better names. america’s qb is tom brady! need something new…since you obviously do not like famous jameis.

  18. Joe Says:

    Word on the street is that Mankins is a man on a mission.

    Which street?

  19. Debbie Downer Says:

    let’s ask joe.

    joe have you seen mankins lately

    has he transformed to the shape of rocky III?

  20. Buc1987 Says:

    Joe Says:
    May 15th, 2015 at 12:39 pm

    “Word on the street is that Mankins is a man on a mission.”

    “Which street?”

    PR Street and BN Street.

  21. Joe Says:

    Debbie:

    Have not seen Mankins since last year.

  22. Stanglassman Says:

    @BuccanEric

    I mentioned that before the draft that the Bengals were looking to cut OT Whitworth and/or Andre Smith due to cap concerns. They drafted OT Ogbuehi and Fisher one and two and the Bucs have 1st choice off the waiver wire. The Bucs are not finished getting OL personal yet.

  23. Debbie Downer Says:

    wow, thx 87. I just read that. looks like mankins is bringin the heat.

    some guys need a big plate of crow, namely robert 9 and capt doom

  24. Danati74 Says:

    I’ll just say I’m happy we went WINston over pocket pool Mariota. Time will tell if we made the right pick, but all signs point to that. Soon excited for Buc ball again. Last year may have watched 2 whole games. Didn’t even request time off to watch a game,….but now I will quit my job.

  25. BuccaneEric Says:

    Stan, yea, I saw their draft and am expecting the cut. Might not happen till preseason though. Of course, the Bucs might not be interested. I hope they are.

  26. BuccaneEric Says:

    A Falcons fan friend of mine gave me $hit at work yesterday because he wanted Swearinger. Lol

  27. WS99 Says:

    @joe

    What 87 said. I read it on PR as I think BN is hot garbage. You the best Joe!!!

    I love JBF, it’s the best!!!!

  28. SOOFIERCE Says:

    All that outside hate and focus against Winston succeeding and establishing himself and the team in the NFC South will force this odd offensive line to forge itself into 300 from that Spartan movie.

    The more the haters try to bring down mighty Winston, the more Winston and the rest of the team will want to gut it out.

    It all starts with a long completion to V-Jax

  29. tval Says:

    Lovie is about to rewrite his legacy, which was already solid minus good qb play. If you give him 6 years i bet you have 2 sbs..forget luck, jameis is better..time will tell but im fans of both and dont see the wide gap people are seeing between the two unless its in jameis’s favor. Some just have to see it to believe it. Ive seen enough to predict that type of success..ill be disappointed in jameis if he has lucks numbers after 3 years

  30. StPeteBucsFan Says:

    @Tmax

    Love ya dude and agree with most of your posts unless they’re about Lovie.
    I hope we have a tight enough relationship now that you don’t mind me effing with you a bit so I feel the need to bold this…

    For starters, head coach Lovie Smith is universally respected in the coaching profession for his credibility as a leader, his competency in the X’s and O’s element of the game, and for his positive impact on the coaches and players around him.

    LMAO…:-) Just funnin you. It’s BSPN and they don’t know any more than you and I’m being serious not snarky. And while I do not think Lovie sucks like you do I have to say that some serious hyperbole on the other side of the argument.

    I like Lovie, respect his character, his leadership of men but “competency in the X’s and O’s part of the game”. Really?

    I can understand why this would make Tmax choke on his dinner. I don’t believe I’ve ever read about Lovie’s mastery of X’s and O’s.

    If Fameis succeeds the only thing Lovie will have to do with it is to turn the offense AND the X’s and O’s over to Koetter.

  31. WS99 Says:

    Tval

    forget luck, jameis is better.

    …………..
    There you go brother, that’s what I’m taking about. If you gonna BELIEVE then do it BIG

  32. Joe Says:

    What 87 said. I read it on PR as I think BN is hot garbage. You the best Joe!!!

    What is “BN?”

  33. lurker Says:

    pewter report and bucs nation

    jbf = joe bucs fan

  34. Brandon Says:

    Patrick in VA Says:

    May 15th, 2015 at 11:06 am

    I’m a little concerned about half of our offensive line and our QB hitting the “rookie wall” at the same time.

    ————–

    QB’s are highly unlikely to hit the rookie wall. The wall is a physical one that happens rookies around week 12 or so, when the college season would normally be winding down. Rookie, and first year starting, QBs generally hit a wall between their first 3-5 games. In the first few games a new QB starts, generally speaking, coaches mostly only run plays their new QBs are comfortable with and have their best chance of success. It doesn’t take defenses long to figure out what QBs are good at and are trying to do and then try to take away what they do best and force the new QBs to beat them with their weaknesses. The QBs that make it in the league, usually have well-rounded games and can beat you in a lot of different ways.

  35. Rock n Ron Says:

    Got one thing to say deflate brady!! Bucs are on a mission from God! Got a Evans shirt last year and a Winston is on the way!!