“I Am Driving The Winston Train”
September 8th, 2016
All aboard! (Photo courtesy of Pat Donovan/WDAE-AM 620)
Bold prediction from Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com.
In a podcast episode titled “Go Get My Lunch,” with his colleagues who type up the “Around the League” blog, Greg Rosenthal’s troupe of football writers made bold predictions, and if a prediction doesn’t pan out, then whoever made it has to buy sandwiches after the season.
Rosenthal jumped at his chance and predicts America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, will become an elite NFL quarterback this fall.
“I am driving the Winston train,” Rosenthal said. “I can’t wait to watch him all year. He will finish in the top-five! In the league in passing yards. He will have to throw for 4,500 yards.”
Well, on face value, not even Joe, an unabashed fan of Jameis, won’t even predict top-five for Jameis. But 4,500 yards? That’s not unreasonable.
Jameis finished 11th overall in the NFL in passing yards last year with 4,024. As a rookie. And he started off the season poorly, sans the win at New Orleans in Week 2.
So given that information, if Jameis really does improve the way folks believe he will, throwing for an additional 500 yards over the course of 16 weeks is not unthinkable.
Last year, the No. 5 quarterback in passing yards was Matty Ice with 4,591. So the more Joe pondered this prediction from Rosenthal, the more Joe believes Jameis could throw for over 4,500 yards and be in the top-five for passing yards this fall.
The Jameis chatter in the podcast linked above begins at the 27:00 mark.
September 8th, 2016 at 7:56 am
He’ll have a second year similiar to Marino. And I believe he went to the Super Bowl that year.
September 8th, 2016 at 8:20 am
DUDE! I got news for you. YOu ain’t driving the Winston train unless you are bad enough to Push me out of the Drivers seat
September 8th, 2016 at 8:31 am
If Winston does throw for 4500+ yards, that means a lot of things are going right on offense and we will be better than Joes 8-8 prediction and in serious wild card contention. We will need a bit of luck from the injury gods but it could happen!
September 8th, 2016 at 8:42 am
Less of a bold prediction and more like stating the obvious. Everyday I say we will lead the league in overall rushing(like we did 2015) I also point out my belief that we will lead the league in QB sacks and pressures. The combination of these three factors not only make us a hell-of-alot better than 8 and 8 they make us Superbowl champions. 8 and 8 is like saying this team is better than last years team and that you basically believe Famous will regress this season.
September 8th, 2016 at 8:45 am
I meant no better-my bad. And to be honest with upgrade in coaching staff,and the additions made to this team. The work Ayers mention yesterday that he sees guys puttin. And Famous entering his second season. A prediction of 8 and 8 is disrespectful.
September 8th, 2016 at 8:47 am
Newsflash for the “want to be” engineers…. Jameis is driving the Winston Train. We fans are all along in the passenger car for what seems to be a great ride into the future. The Glazer’s own the railroad company, Licht and Koetter are the conductors, and Joe is among the guides…doing an excellent job, if I may add. Let’s all get on board and enjoy the ride.
September 8th, 2016 at 8:47 am
No worries tho, you all will soon come around.
September 8th, 2016 at 8:52 am
We have to get Winston more weapons in next years draft.
Imagine him with fournett and another badass wideout.
Unstoppable. Problem is we need other things. You want a top 3 offense get him some money players.
September 8th, 2016 at 9:03 am
If Winston’s weapons can stay healthy, particularly ASJ and V Jax, and the RB’s do there thing again then that is certainly a achievable goal. Am I the only one who’s a little worried about the O line?? They had a grateful year last season but don’t forget that Jameis got knocked around alot. If not for his instincts and getting rid of the ball fast there would of been alot more sacks, so I give Winston credit for alot of that as well. I’m worried about the left side, hopefully they can hold up cause Jameis can’t keep taking all that punishment and expect to keep getting up every time. Shocking he did last year, there were a few times where I didn’t think he was gonna get up. Gotta protect the franchise QB.
September 8th, 2016 at 9:14 am
I’d recommend that everyone listen to the whole podcast and check them out even when they’re not talking about Bucs related topics. I’ve been listening for about a year and they’re pretty entertaining. I wouldn’t call it hard hitting football analysis, but it’s interesting and fun.
September 8th, 2016 at 9:42 am
If Evans and VJax stay healthy, there is no reason Winston won’t surpass 4500 yards.
September 8th, 2016 at 9:52 am
I kind of disagree with 4,500 yards being a good thing. Sure it’s attainable, but does it mean wins?
Winston is going to win us some games, for sure, but I’m of the opinion that balance will be the key to success. A lot of those 4,000 yards he threw for last year were in “garbage time” where we had no shot at winning. I would rather see 3,500-4,000 yards with 2,000-2,500 team rushing yards. That would indicate offensive dominance and an improved defense.
Is he capable? Of course! We can’t have a one-dimensional offense though.
I’m OK with less yards and more wins. It’s a team game after all.
Go Bucs!
September 8th, 2016 at 10:29 am
I own the Winston Train on this site.
You ALL can take a trip on it from time to time.
Even you remaining doubters.
But…. it’s mine.
September 8th, 2016 at 10:31 am
Lovie’s position on the train is the crazy traveling hobo named Patches.
September 8th, 2016 at 11:52 am
Well I Hear my train a comin’
Hear my, hear my train a comin’
Ay yeah
Well I wait around the train station, waitin’ for that train
Take me, take me, take me away
From this lonesome town
Lonesome town
Too bad you don’t love me no more girl
Too bad your people put me down
Yeah
Tears burnin’ me
Tears burnin’ me in my eye…
Way down, way down in my soul
Tears burnin’ me way down in my heart, yeah
Too bad you don’t love me no more girl
Too bad you and me had to part, had to part
Hear my train a comin’
Hear my train a comin’
Hear my train a comin’
Hear my train a comin’
Well I hear my train a comin’
Hear my train a comin!
September 8th, 2016 at 12:09 pm
SOE….good think I put my coffee down, or it would be all over the keyboard. I thought Lovie, Schiano, and Raheem were in…or maybe under or on top of the caboose, the owners of the train was smart enough to cut the caboose loose and we watched it slip back down the track and around the bend.
September 8th, 2016 at 1:17 pm
@unbelievable – pulling out the Hendrix lyrics. – NICE!