4 impressive moments from Bucs’ Week 1 preseason game

Aug 15, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) throws during the first quarter in a preseason NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Winston’s first NFL completion

Winston’s first NFL completion was more than just a monumental accomplishment in his hopefully illustrious career, it showed us what he is capable of doing under center for the Buccaneers for years to come. Aside from the praise he receives for his arm, Jameis is also known for his poise in the pocket. If Winston is going to get hit for the sake of a completion, then so be it.

The Buccaneers got off to an atrocious start in their third series after rookie left tackle Donovan Smith got schooled by Everson Griffen en route to a quick sack and a nine-yard loss. Following a five-yard scramble by Winston, the Bucs set themselves up for another third-and-long. Then, Jameis worked his magic.

Even with the pressure collapsing in on him, Winston stayed in the pocket and found Vincent Jackson over the top for a 40-yard catch. Jameis paid for his persistence, getting hit in the midsection and in the back by accident. Still, he shook off the contact, quickly got up and sprinted to the line of scrimmage to run a quick play.

With so many questions surrounding the effectiveness of the offensive line, it’s important for the Buccaneers to have a quarterback who can not only handle the heat in the pocket, but can still get the job done in those situations. On this play, Winston rose to the occasion. The greedy Bucs fan wants to see Jameis put more air under that ball and find V-Jax in stride, but after what we witnessed last season, this was still a beautiful thing to see.

Next: Why Jameis Winston is just what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers needed