The Pewter Plank
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Buccaneers Jameis Winston the key to bringing the team together

By Alan Schechter

Dec 24, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) looks to throw against the New Orleans Saints in the first quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 24, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) looks to throw against the New Orleans Saints in the first quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Buccaneers have Jameis Winston to thank for pulling the team together during the off-season.

The Buccaneers enter the 2017 season with a stacked roster. DeSean Jackson and O.J. Howard have joined an already potent offense looking to take the next step. Noah Spence is already a talented pass rusher and the defense has improved with the addition of Justin Evans. It showed signs of dominance last year and is looking to build on that success in 2017.

But the games aren’t played on paper. When you bring in new players they have to be able to co-exist. They have to learn the system and get up to speed with the incumbent Bucs players. The personalities have to meld together as well. Jackson has had his personality clashes, for example. Howard is a rookie. Do we know for sure that he will learn the system fast enough? There are no guarantees.

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So, who brings the team together? Well, Jason Licht went on Good Morning Football and talked about this very topic. He mentioned the role of a third-year quarterback named Jameis Winston. I think we are all familiar with that guy:

"“As you guys know, sometimes on paper things look really great, but it doesn’t work out that way. So we want to make sure that it does work out for us. So it starts with them getting here, working together, gelling, getting the playbook down and being together,” Licht said Tuesday on Good Morning Football. “Just forming that camaraderie and I feel like we’re going to be one step ahead with that quarterback … who does a great job of doing that and getting them together.”"

Winston’s ability has grown every day in a Bucs uniform. He is driven to succeed and at times makes his voice heard on what the team needs to succeed. Winston shoulders the responsibility when his team loses, praises his teammates when they perform well, and represents his team in the community. He is a fine face of the franchise.

Now, this is a lot of faith to put in a third-year player, but third-year quarterbacks take a step forward. Peyton Manning went over 30 passing touchdowns in his third season. Russell Wilson posted a career-low interception total in year three. Eli Manning‘s completion percentage jumped up five percentage points in his third season. There are countless other examples. Quarterbacks in their third year take big leaps, and the Bucs are counting on Winston to do the same.

Next: Competition to backup Winston?

I, for one, think Winston will be just fine, how about you?

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