Jameis Winston starting to put it together

Nov 1, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) passes the ball downfield against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half at the Georgia Dome. The Buccaneers defeated the Falcons 23-20 in over time. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Tampa Bay Buccaneers No. 1 overall Jameis Winston is starting to show why he was picked No. 1 in the 2015 NFL Draft. He began the season showing the same things that concerned a lot of the NFL personnel world.  On opening day against Marcus Mariota and the Tennessee Titans, Winston was pedestrian 16-33 for 210 yards, two TDs and two INTs.

Much was made of No. 2 overall Marcus Mariota being the quarterback that beat him but the wasn’t the case. In the 42-14 loss, the Buccaneers’ Tampa-2 defense put up little resistance while Titans defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau threw the kitchen sink at Winston. Winston looked like a deer in headlights, something LeBeau does to rookie quarterbacks.

And at the same time, he was out there trying to do too much without Mike Evans, his No. 1 receiver. Then after letting the game come to him in a win over Drew Brees’ New Orleans Saints, he started trying to do too much again. In his first four games, he completed 54 percent of his passes for 965 yards, six TDs and seven INTs.

In his last three games, Winston has done a better job of letting the game come to him and taking care of the football. In that span, he’s completed 65 percent of his passes for 683 yards, four TDs and no INTs. He’s doing a much better of managing the game and despite his defense giving up a big lead, he pulled out a victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

The Buccaneers are in last place of a much improved NFC South but at 3-4, the Buccaneers have already won more games that last year.

That’s the impact of Winston, who’s just starting to put it together.