After the three-game suspension, Jameis Winston’s personality is still highly controversial due to an incident of harassment against an over-driver two years ago. Some voices even suggest the Tampa Bay Buccaneers should part with their chosen franchise quarterback. An idea the Bucs should keep away from for the time being.
As if the question marks that accompany Jameis Winston’s game were not big enough. Now Tampas quarterback will be suspended for the first three games of his fourth season in the NFL. And not because of an offence with exclusively sportive relevant effects, but because of the annoyance of an over-driver.
Winston, whose ban also costs him $124,000 of his base salary, is no stranger to questionable behaviour alongside the football field. Already during his college years at Florida State, the 24-year-old was charged with sexual assault, but was never indicted for lack of evidence. The plaintiff finally sued him under civil law, but an out-of-court settlement was finally reached.
The Uber incident two years ago could be the last warning shot for a career that began with many laurels, did justice to some of them, but also contained many points of criticism, the improvement of which the young quarterback still owes today. The West Coast Florida franchise had already been facing a difficult season for many of those in charge, and the Winston case would have been a thing of the past.
The former Heisman Trophy winner and first overall pick of the 2015 draft class is on its way to becoming the best quarterback in the franchise of all time. But on the other hand, he still has to fear for a second contract in the pirate country.
It was a surprise for many that head coach Dirk Koetter was allowed to keep his job for the coming season (5-11) after an excessively disappointing season. Even more surprisingly, the team, which had entered 2017 with clear play-off aspirances, had held onto defensive coordinator Mike Smith, even though it had been found in several of the most relevant statistics (Team DVOA, Opposing Yards, Opponents. yards per play, sacks, sack rate, pressure rate, tackles for loss, third down stop rate).
And even managing director Jason Licht, who took over in 2014 and is accordingly responsible for a large part of the squad, which is still looking for a franchise after its first playoff participation for ten years, is followed in the eye of criticism and rumours of expulsion. For so many, the job is at stake in the coming season.
But even the general conditions in one of the most difficult divisions of the league are not exactly promising. The other three NFC South teams all made it into the playoffs last season and do not appear to have worsened.
Tampa, for its part, primarily addressed its largest construction sites – and there were many of them. A completely overhauled defensive line should finally put pressure on quarterbacks thanks to the commitments of Jason Pierre-Paul, Vinny Curry, Mitch Unrein, Beau Allen and First-Round-Pick Vita Vea. The team invested two second-round picks in the draft for the Cornerbacks M.J. Stewart and Carlton Davis.
On the offensive side, the line was upgraded by Ryan Jensen, who started all 16 games as the Ravens’ centre in 2017. The almost non-existent running game, on the other hand, should shine in fresh splendour due to the speed of Ronald Jones, also drawn in the second round.
The offensive side of the bucs, apart from problems in the Red Zone, is far more reliable, but good statistics are partly based on the truth of the picture. The Bucs-Offense made comebacks in the second half, mostly out of large arrears. Great space gains were achieved against Prevent-Defenses, whose priority was to run time off the clock.
Basically, the offense is based far too much on the physical advantage Tampa hopes to gain from Wideout Mike Evans and Tight End Cameron Brate. The route concepts seemed far too simple. Underneath routes were rare. Only Houston’s Deshaun Watson had more intended air yards per pass attempt than starting quarterback than Winston. Moreover, Tampa Bay never managed to integrate newcomer DeSean Jackson into their game.
Under these conditions, Winston has been oscillating between genius and madness since the beginning of his NFL career. He passed the 4,000-yard mark in his first two seasons and would have done so last season if a shoulder injury hadn’t put him on the sideline in three games.
However, the 24-year-old’s game also suffers time and again from serious mistakes in his choice of passport. Jameis also ignores a double-coverage once he has chosen his favorite receiver. The scheme also forces him to hold the ball in his hand for a long time. Fumbles are a similar problem to the many interceptions that have already cost the Bucs several games.
In three years at the NFL, the 44 Winston picks are a dark side of the 69 touchdowns he has thrown. The question of whether the mistakes Winston’s Gunslinger mentality brings with it are not too much to do justice to franchise quarterback status is still omnipresent after three years.
However, none of his mistakes could cost him more than the one he made two years ago off the field on an evening in Arizona.
Page 1: Gunslinger Jameis Winston and his missteps
Page 2: Jameis Winston faces uncertain future in Tampa Bay