Oct 25, 2015; Landover, MD, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) looks over the line against the Washington Redskins during the second half at FedEx Field. The Washington Redskins won 31 – 30. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
As we well know, the quarterback position is the hardest position to play in the NFL. Most rookies, unless their team is using a spread system to their foes aren’t used to, struggle when they first come up. The quality of the pass defense usually has a whole lot to do with how they look in a given game as well.
In his first outing, against the Tennessee Titans and their No. 2 ranked pass defense, Winston looked like a deer in headlights. Titans defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau and his complex schemes is very hard on rookies. So it was no surprise that Winston was lost and confused out there in a bad performance.
Then he bounced back from his lost to Marcus Mariota to beat Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints. It’s funny to put it like that when it’s the defense Winston played against and it’s not on the level of that in Tennessee. Either way, Winston performed well and won Pepsi Rookie of the Week honors in Week 2.
Then he was so-so against the Houston Texans in Week 3 against their middle of the pack defense. In Week 4, against the Carolina Panthers No. 8 pass defense, he was good, throwing for 287 yards and two TDs but horrible, throwing 4 INTs. In Week 5, he came up with another Pespi Rookie of the Week performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars’ No. 22-ranked pass defense.
After a bye in Week 6, Winston was to face the Washington Redskins, who have the No. 10-ranked pass defense in Week 7. And Winston handled it well, throwing for 297 yards and two TDs, looking like he was in full control, even against he blitz. Winston was calm under pressure, accurate, had great pocket presence and showed the big arm on a 40-yard TD pass.
He put up 30 points, which should have been good enough to win but head coach Lovie Smith’s defense gave up a 24 point lead. Winston had one TD pass called back for offensive pass interference on nice scramble to get away from pressure. It looks like Winston is getting the so need to build and offensive line and a defense around him.
In that order because the offensive line he’s playing with coud get him killed.
Next: 2016-nfl-mock-draft-two-rounds-week-7