Good Ayers; Bad Jameis

June 14th, 2017

“Watch out for me, Jameis.”

It could have possibly been a “Bad Jameis” play. It most certainly was a good play by Mr. Beasting, Robert Ayers.

In the first minicamp practice of underwear football season yesterday, America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, either didn’t see Bucs defensive end Robert Ayers, or Jameis thought he could throw through him.

On a pass that looked to Joe to be intended for Mike Evans or perhaps Charles Sims — you can watch the play here — Ayers jumped and grabbed the football midair for a pick.

Winning Bucs coach Dirk Koetter seemed to dismiss the play after underwear football practice, believing if pads were on and hitting allowed, Ayers wouldn’t have been in position to make that pick.

“That’s one of those ones where, if you’re in a real two-minute drill, Robert Ayers is probably trying like crazy to sack the quarterback,” Koetter said.

The pick came in a two-minute drill. “In underwear football, he’s playing a little softer at the line of scrimmage. I don’t think Jameis saw him. It was a nice play by Robert.”

It was still cool to see Ayers get a pick. He rumbled more than he ran, and after would-be defenders were surrounding him, Ayers just went to the ground to protect the ball.

29 Responses to “Good Ayers; Bad Jameis”

  1. ndog Says:

    I went back and watched that Seattle game again and man Jameis sure does make some poor decision with the ball sometimes. I am the biggest support he has but he HAS TO clean those up as if he does we could be one of the best teams in the league. There are times when it is like he just has this blind faith in his WR when it is just not needed as their is a check down 4 yards away wide open. When he learns to make that throw instead, we will be fantastic. But plays like this one (and I know it is just practice) makes me worry he is not going to ever live up to the tremendous potential he has. This year it is time as there are no more excuses, he is not a rookie, not learning the offense and has the weapons, so no more just throw it up plays are acceptable. Year 3 needs to be the year he stops those poor decisions and that will cut 5-10 picks off his total.

  2. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    To his credit those hands looked real sticky for a D linemen. I expect one next season now.

  3. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    You ever stood in a pocket with 300 pounders bearing down on you ndog??? Kinda easy to “go back and watch film” and call yourself critiquing someone’s game that actually does stand in a pocket for a living. If “you people” are Ex NFL employees then I can respect your insight. If you JAG like myself and others spare us all that.

  4. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    Let me guess it was a poor decision when he drop that dime over Wagner to ME because another defender was in the picture huh.. Riiiggghhtt,gotcha bro. Look if y’all want safe QB play go watch marita games,we trying move chains in the bay homie.

  5. Destinjohnny Says:

    3 needs to tighten up his accuracy

  6. webster Says:

    Jameis will not be the problem holding this team back. Anybody that thinks that does not know football.

  7. ndog Says:

    NOS don’t be ridiculous that was of course not a bad decision, but the throw in the end zone in to a double team that Cam Chancellor picked off was a bad decision, the throw in the first half deep to Cecil Short into a double team that they dropped was a bad decision, the throw out of our own end zone again the Saints into a double team was a bad decision. Those cannot happen when they are not bang bang plays and it was very clear to see as he had time on all of those. He would 100% agree that those cannot happen and were horrible throws. He needs to erase those and no one is saying play safe were saying don’t play stupid and those 3 examples I just listed were flat playing stupid.

  8. German Buc Says:

    If Jameis has the choice between a sure 5-yard pass and a 50/50-bomb over 50 air yards between two defenders he’ll throw the long ball.
    And that is why we love him!
    Need a prove? Go to: http://www.buccaneers.com/videos/videos/Play-of-the-Year-Humphries-TD-vs-Dallas/df2f811c-4f9b-4d3a-ac64-92006461548b

  9. ndog Says:

    This (below) must be removed from his game and argues needs to pick a new sport to watch.

    http://www.buccaneers.com/videos/videos/Watch-Bucs-vs-Seahawks-Full-Highlights/f5b1802d-8a4e-4a8c-b5aa-d1c7b2ca9d6f

  10. ndog Says:

    Sorry I should have said at the 4:47 mark.

  11. ndog Says:

    German that is an example of the kind of chance he should take as it is giving his guy a chance to make a play. That is completely different than the plays I was referring to where our guy had no shot as it was a easy pick thrown into a clear double team. And one of those he threw kept us from trying a 30ish yard field goal to put the game out of reach and the one in NO put the game away for them as it gave them the ball at the one yard. Again I love the guy and would take him everyday I am just saying for him to be what he can be that is the major next step he must take as those throws are not acceptable.

  12. Stpetebucsfan Says:

    I see both sides of this debate but I come down on the side of those who are defending #3.

    Two years ago #3 was a rookie and gooolllleeee as Gomer might say…he made rookie mistakes. Who would have thunk it?

    Last year he improved…but he clearly has a LOT of upside and he should make some more great strides this year.

    While I respect Ndog’s point I’m more with German Buc. If we want a swashbuckler gotta take some bad with the good.

    However Coach K has pretty much reiterated Ndog’s point saying that is one of the major areas of improvement Coach K expects from #3. To learn when a play is dead and throw her out of bounds.

    There were times the past two years when I found myself yelling “throw it away dammmit…toss it in the cheap seats….of course several times when I yelled that #3 would run around and then miraculously from the end zone he finds ME.
    That’s what German is talking about. Do we really want to give that play up.

    I think this is a very very fine line for #3 and I think Coach K is well aware of that. He doesn’t want to kill that which German and me and many others love in our QB….but he does have to get it a little better under control.

    Bottom line…it’s all good…sit back and watch a great QB grow.

  13. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    All I know is ndog Bret Farve has many NFL passing records. He’s a Superbowl champion,a HOFr. He also if I’m not mistaken the NFL leader in Ints. I’ll take some bad if it comes wit a whhooollle lotta Good my G.

  14. tnew Says:

    I guess I have to find a new sport. Let me highlight what I saw this as.

    Lets look at the game situation:

    First off, lets not overlook the previous play, a nice play by Jameis to Brate for a touchdown to put the game away that is nullified by a Demar Dotson penalty.

    4:15, 4th quarter, 3rd and 18. at the 20 yard line. Bucs with a 9 point lead. An incomplete pass gives a 37 yard.. should be automatic field goal, but our kicker wasn’t automatic by any stretch last season.

    A made field goal gives the Bucs a 12 point lead, two score game, same as the 9 point game, neither of which are “out of reach” If you are going to argue a 12 point game is out of reach then so is a 9. I won’t argue the fact that 12 is better but, a touchdown ends the game. The only underneath route was Brate who was in blocking and released very late.

    I would argue the bad decision came from Dirk Koetter. Run the ball, take either at time out (most likely) or 40 seconds away from the Seahawks.

    Now what Jameis did was a HORRIFIC throw. Big difference. That throw has to be to the back pylon where Mike Evans and only Mike Evans makes that play.

  15. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    You internet gurus kill me☺

  16. tnew Says:

    And on Ayers play, he’s gonna have a much harder time making that kind of play rushing the QB, engaged with an O lineman.

  17. Lord Cornelius Says:

    @ndog

    Yeah he makes mistakes. All QBs make mistakes every week pretty much. He’s still better than any QB we’ve ever had imo. Still produces more big plays to mistakes than any other QB we have. I’m grateful. Still expect improvement.

    Looking at the highlights of that game; I only caught 1 bad play; which was the forced throw in the end zone when we were already up by 2 scores with 4 mins left. That was on 3rd and 18. For all we know Aguayo misses the FG anyway lol… Sure a 12 point lead is better than 9 but a TD ices the game right there and puts you up 3 scores. Here’s the other plays:

    1st offensive play shown – avoids what looks like an obvious bad sack for like 15 yard loss and hits Evans in traffic with beautiful accuracy for a 1st down
    2nd play – 3rd and 12 – clean pocket – nice time – delivers 30 yards down the field and into red zone
    3rd play – solid TD pass in traffic to ME
    4th play – 1st and 10 from 50; solid pocket; finds Brate for 25 yards
    5th and next play – hits ME for a perfectly thrown /timed corner end zone pass in Sherman’s face for TD
    6th play – 2nd and 10 in own end zone – throws open ME on an out route to get a 1st down but a Stocker holding penalty negates it for a safety

    Didn’t see the Cecil Shorts play.

    In the end yeah he can improve like anyone…but grading him on a scale compared to other QBs in their 2nd year he’s about as good as anyone. People tend to overlook the amount of great plays he makes for first downs that extend drives; or 3rd down conversions. Little plays that keep the offense on the field longer even if we don’t eventually score. He’s one of the best QBs in the league on 3rd down.. we just needed to give him more to work with to make his life a little easier imo and he won’t have to force it as much.

    I still laugh at people who think we had all these wide open WRs running around every game and he was ignoring them to throw interceptions. Sure it happened but some people make it sound like he could have thrown 5000 yards and 40+ TDs with 5 interceptions or something if he just dumped it off 5 yards to all these supposedly wide open guys every play

  18. tnew Says:

    Nole.. that play really stuck out to me last year as a collection of bad plays that led to the ultimate bad throw by Jameis. A throw that never had to happen.. But I argued this last year. He has to make that throw. Game situation dictates the throw to the pylon. Mike Evans can out leap anyone around him. Just a bad, bad throw.

  19. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    What Lord said. Pssss.

  20. tnew Says:

    Lord C.. you summed it up the best. With great plays come mistakes, if Jameis isn’t the type to make that throw then the great plays can’t come. My thing is the decision was spot on, I want my QB making the decision he made and I trust that he will make better throws. I’m willing to take the bad with the good with Jameis, there will be more good.

    I’m not saying he makes perfect decisions, but the mistakes he makes are those from aggression.

    I can give a long list of young aggressive QB’s that learned how and when to take chances as they matured.

    Can anyone name the young game manager that started taking the chances and making the great throws late in his career?

    What sets the great one’s apart is they have the stones to fail and the ability to succeed.

  21. 813bucboi Says:

    jameis still has work to do no doubt…..but his mechanics have improved from his rookie year….his footwork isn’t as sloppy and choppy…his release isn’t as long…with the addition of djax and oj, his deep ball accuracy and decision making will improve….no longer will he be forced into locking on to ME….no longer will he be forcing passes to ME….he has 3 new weapons that will help spread the field….with the additions we made thru the draft and thru FA, it will cut his turnovers in half….turning the ball over is one of the last things he needs to clean up….he’s led the league in turnovers the past to years….I don’t see it being a third…GO BUCS!!!!

  22. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    Me either 813. And Tnew that last line Salute my G.

  23. Mike Johnson Says:

    KInda sick of hearing about Mr. Ayers..the Big mean Defensive Bad a.. How many sacks did he have last year? maybe if he spent has time jaw jacking and improving his game………….

  24. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    “The stones to fail and the ability to succeed”. That’s Fameis people.

  25. Mike Johnson Says:

    I meant less time jaw jacking and improving his game.

  26. ndog Says:

    All I am saying is that he needs to get rid of the ridiculously horrible throws as he needs to keep his aggressiveness and playmaking but it does not have to be all or none as the great ones do both. You see guys I don’t want Brett Farve with one superbowl and done, I want Joe Montana, I want Tom Brady I want to win over and over and over again. This kid has that ability but only if he learns he cant just give the ball away as mistakes are going to happen but when you have the chance to avoid them you should. That is all I am saying.

  27. Lord Cornelius Says:

    Ayers had pretty solid production in the 12 games he played. We were 6-2 in the games in which he/mccoy/mcdonald were all healthy.

    6.5 sacks / FF / 21 solo tackles isn’t bad for a rotational DE that missed 4+ games and played injured in others. If he played the full season he likely would have hit 9-10 sacks.

    For the $$ his production is great. No complaints here.

  28. BigHogHaynes Says:

    Will Jameis continue to improve, I hope that he will ….I know that he will, bringing in better talent will improve decision making. I have no worries about the Famous One he wants to be great! Preseason will tell us everything we need to know about our Offensive Line, plays will be made against our Defensive Backfield but constant pressure from our Defensive Line will be the key!!

  29. The Buc Realist Says:

    Don’t worry bighog, The great coaches they have now will cover up most of the imperfections!!!!! Glad to see that you are on board this year!!!!! I told you that the pirate ship will be the “fun side”!!!!!!! now you just have to earn your keep!!!! start off as a “cabin-boy”!!!!!!!!

    And don’t watch too much of the pre-season and grade the lines as they usually won’t double team the other teams best players on the lines!!!!!

    Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!