The Calculated Block
November 6th, 2015
Just yesterday morning, Joe wrote about how the Bucs largely are keeping Jameis Winston, America’s Quarterback, away from media, except for his accommodating local news conferences and postgame chats.
Well, that changed a few hours later.
Jameis was on the telephone with Yogi Berra-worshiping, urinal picture-taking, video game-playing, Taylor Swift-listening, pickpocket-thwarting, Bucs-uniform-frowning, Allie-LaForce-smitten, Big-Ten-Network-hating, pedestrian-bumping, olive oil-lapping, popcorn-munching, coffee-slurping, fried-chicken-eating, oatmeal-loving, circle-jerking, beer-chugging, cricket-watching, scone-loathing, college football-naïve, baseball-box-score-reading, NPR-honk, filthy-hotel-staying, fight-instigating, barista-training Peter King, of Sports Illustrated and NBC Sports fame.
Jameis was asked about sprinting up the gut to throw a block on a linebacker in overtime — on a basic run play to Doug Martin.
The decision to play fullback for a snap was calculated, Jameis said.
“I just want to win so bad,” [Jameis] told me over the phone from Tampa. “Will to win. And you have to understand what was going on at the time. I looked at our line in the huddle. This was overtime. This was toward the end of a 15-play drive. It’s hot. They’re beat. Tired. I just felt like we needed a spark. I just felt like I needed to try to do something to get us going. We’re all tired. Maybe they see me doing that, and they say they’ve got one more play in ‘em. That could make a difference.”
Pretty heady leadership stuff from a 21-year-old playing in a high-pressure spot in super-loud and hostile dome.
Unfortunately, if you slow down the film, it appears Jameis got in Martin’s way, but you never know. And on the next play Jameis short-armed a sure touchdown to Adam Humphries. After the game, Jameis quipped that he would complete that throw if he wasn’t blocking, implying that maybe his arm was weakened temporarily.
Regardless, the decision to block was stunning, all part of the growing Jameis lore.
November 6th, 2015 at 12:17 pm
This kid really is growing on me.
I’m holding my breath to see how he behaves this off season though. His first off season is filled with plenty of new experiences to keep him busy. His second one give him more time for a personal life.
To me, that will give us a glimpse as to whether there will be behavior issues.
That said…he’s given me no true reason to worry much, not at all actually.
All he’s done is impress me. No, he hasn’t played perfectly. He’s a rookie and I didn’t expect him to. But how he handles the mistakes and adversity, how he responds…how he treats his teammates…how he acts on the sidelines (almost always studying playbook or cheering on the defense)…how he reads defenses. So many things have impressed me about this kid.
The ONLY thing that could ruin it is off field behavior. That’s something that can only be proven over time though. In the meanwhile, I’m behind this kid 100 percent.
November 6th, 2015 at 12:17 pm
Listened to mike evans show last night and then reading and hearing jameis, these 2 have teh fire in their gut that ho hum GMC and lovie just dont have…evans and winston want to give their left arm to win…GMC and Lovie are like shucks we will get em next time…..LOVE Evans and Jameis Passion, maybe GMC will catch what those 2 have
November 6th, 2015 at 12:21 pm
Joe is more excited than if he had Rachel playing – ride’em horsy- on his pelvis.
Speaking for 87
I’m so excited
And I just can’t hide it
Oh no no no
I’m about to lose control
And I think I like it.
November 6th, 2015 at 12:23 pm
Jameis running, blocking, now that’s a trip in itself right there. Looking at him, no way can this guy run, one would think. He just looks awkward feetwise. Looks like that myth is out of the way.
November 6th, 2015 at 12:31 pm
37
I understand where you’re coming from but then you see him bust out a 22 yard run with seconds left in the 2nd qrt which set him up to run it on for a TD on the next play. I think JW is right behind Cam for rushing TDs with 3 vs 4 but I might be wrong about that.
November 6th, 2015 at 12:36 pm
I can’t hate on Jameis Christ for WANTING to WIN, but he has to PROTECT his BODY! I want to see less and less of those plays in the future!!
“It’s as simple as that” – Lovie Smith
“Changing coaches about halfway through a rebuilding effort is a recipe for perpetual failure.” – Johnny “America’s Commenter” Dejay
“If Lovie don’t no how to coach so be it… Hard to believe he would get a job offer and you wouldn’t…. Wonder why??? Your idiots that’s why…” – JAB83
“So my advice would be, yes, it’s okay to throw things at your TV when your team has a monumental collapse like the Bucs did on Sunday in Washington. But take a deep breath and understand that it is only going to get worse if you continue to jump from one coach to the next.” – Peter King
November 6th, 2015 at 2:19 pm
Love the reason he threw the block..,,just hope he never does it again! Careful out there JW, those are some big As& boys out there. Yikes!
November 6th, 2015 at 3:01 pm
Winston did crushed the linebacker he was blocking. However, I agree he doesn’t need to be risking his body by being the lead blocker but he did gain the respect of his team mates by putting it all on the line to win the game
November 6th, 2015 at 3:02 pm
“If Lovie don’t no how to coach so be it… Hard to believe he would get a job offer and you wouldn’t…. Wonder why??? Your idiots that’s why…” – JAB83
—————-
If you’re going to quote people, can you at least correct the bone-headed errors made in the statement? Seriously, “…no how to coach…” and then the infamous “Your idiots…”? Ugh, my head is hurting!
November 6th, 2015 at 4:10 pm
Come on people, this is NOTHING NEW for Jameis!! 2013, FSU vs Syracuse, Jameis runs 40 yards to throw the final block that gave Kermit Whitfield his 74 yard touchdown run (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCb4hkpfsKY). He threw a great block in the Bethune Cookman game.
Jameis scoring touchdowns with his own legs isn’t unusual either. Winston scored 7 touchdowns with his own legs in his two years at FSU. Once, famously jumping over his own player into the endzone. 40 yard dash speed doesn’t mean crap unless you’re either a running back or wide receiver.
Guys, seriously, Winston IS YOUR QUARTERBACK. Do some actual research on his abilities rather than simply spout back the lies of the media narrative and look like a slack jawed moron when he does something great that he’s actually been doing for years. Don’t you wonder why all the FSU fans here AREN’T surprised by JW’s abilities? You’re at the computer, do a simple ‘Winston’s FSU football hightlights’ search. If you’re too lazy, simply choose any link from this page (http://bit.ly/1iIhuxW).
November 6th, 2015 at 5:31 pm
Jena
That block was epic. Almost forgot about that play.
November 6th, 2015 at 5:35 pm
DB55 – Epic it was! I remember reading a couple of pro head coaches thought that play by Jameis was more telling of whom he is as a player than any of this passing touchdown plays.
November 6th, 2015 at 7:02 pm
Jameis has all the tools man! I think I was one of the most vocal supporters of him here this summer… And I also told you guys about this weeks game the second the schedule was released! This truly is my Super Bowl this year!!! Any chance to beat the Midgets and show off our charismatic, talented young qb for a city full of “Duh Eli” lovers I’m in!!!
November 6th, 2015 at 7:19 pm
Jameis is the real deal folks, the Bucs finally have a QB who will take us to the promised land. He was the only QB I wanted this year. I prefer the rah rah type players who play with emotion versus the quiet players who play without.
November 6th, 2015 at 8:08 pm
Jena
That was an epic JW moment! Thanks for the memories! The exciting part is that there is more to come! You just never know what he might do to win for his team. That’s one reason his fans are so crazy about him. One reason out of many actually! Take it to em Jameis!
November 7th, 2015 at 7:33 am
decent player…emotional retard that will go over the handle bars…stay tuned
November 7th, 2015 at 8:27 am
Dear Jameis,
There hasn’t been any credible criticism of your will to win or your leadership. Most of the credible criticism focuses on your decision making and your mechanics. The decisions on that sequence illustrate that criticism perfectly. You made a bad decision to block, which bottled up Martin and helped Atlanta stop the play. Then you one-hopped the sure touchdown pass on the next play.
Those types of sequences are not the kind of leadership that will bring consistent victories. Those decisions will cost your team the win in many cases.
You are a very promising young player, but your game has some significant limitations. Please learn to play within those limitations and cut out the bone headed decisions. If you can do that, you will be a perennial Top-10 QB, which will net many victories, earn admiration from the entire community, and make you rich beyond your wildest dreams.
This town is thirsty for a charismatic winner and you are at bat. Don’t strike out swinging at pitches that are in the dirt. Be smart.
Sincerely,
Johnny “America’s Commenter” Dejay
November 7th, 2015 at 8:43 am
This is the NFL, not Syracuse or Bethune Cookman College. Successful QB’s do not block downfield or make reckless decisions. While improvisation against markedly inferior opponents is exciting in college football, it doesn’t work in the NFL and it gets people injured and produces losses.
Do you want another RG3, Kaepernick, or Manziel? I’d rather have the next Brady, Rogers, Manning, Brees, or Big Ben. Pocket passers with rocket arms, precision passing, and excellent decision making are the ones that are successful long term in the NFL.
Jameis has the tools to be either the next Josh Freeman or the next Aaron Rogers. Let’s hope the pro football coaches outweigh the college football fans and Jameis focuses on being a smart pocket passer.
November 8th, 2015 at 1:56 am
Johnny “America’s Commenter” Dejay
YES!! I do want a QB who is going to do what needs to be done to help his team win the game! It’s not a matter of whom they play – it’s HOW they play and Jameis plays to WIN! If that means throwing block that may help put points on the board, hell yes, go for it! Kickers who are willing to help on blocking win props for those plays all the time!
Certainly Jameis should choose those moments carefully and be aware of keeping himself safe from harm (if possible). Still, the kind of blocking Jameis has done in the past and likely would focus on in the future, is more of just being an obstruction and not a ‘grab and hold’ blocker.
Imagine any QB in the league in their biggest game (Super Bowl?) of the season and the difference between a win and a loss is a QB who refused to put his body at risk for sure points by a teammate. Is THAT what you want from your QB? Is that the kind of teammate any NFL players wants next to him?
I want Jameis to BE Jameis. Anyone who tries to corral him, make him less than he is, does a disservice to Jameis and his team.