Jameis Winston: It’s not about me vs. Mariota
By David Rumsey
Bucs Wednesday Recap
With just four days remaining until the Bucs kick off the 2015 NFL season, it’s been all business at One Buc Place. Bucs Head Coach Lovie Smith, Offensive Coordinator Dirk Koetter and Quarterback Jameis Winston all spoke with the media Wednesday afternoon to talk about getting ready for the Tennessee Titans. The big news of the day was that WR Mike Evans was held out of practice again with the same hamstring injury.
QB Jameis Winston
The Bucs rookie QB is obviously excited to play in his first regular season game and he let that be known Wednesday.
“I’m excited because this is a dream,” Winston said.
Winston said he will want to come out and be aggressive right away, but he knows he has to be careful. He said he plans on taking what the defense gives him and just keep moving the chains.
When asked about Marcus Mariota, Winston only had good things to say and dismissed any competition between the two. He said it’s all about the Bucs vs. the Titans now, not Winston vs. Mariota.
“This game is the beginning,” Winston said.
It is indeed a huge game and it was obvious he is just as excited as every Bucs fan out there.
OC Dirk Koetter
Koetter wouldn’t start comparing Jamies Winston with Marcus Mariota, who was drafted one pick after him in this year’s draft. All Koetter would say is that the Bucs and Titans each have their quarterback and there’s no reason they can’t both be great.
When the questions came about the Bucs offensive line, Koetter defended the group he has.
“Your guys are your guys,” he said. “I think they’re all five going to the pro bowl…we’ll be fine.”
Its great that Koetter has confidence in his players, but the starting five will have a lot to prove on Sunday. Koetter acknowledged that Tennessee definitely didn’t show everything they have defensively during the preseason so the Bucs won’t really know what’s coming.
Koetter did say Winston sees the field well, but he’ll have to make the right play. He said Doug Martin was the X-factor of the offense, but in the end it doesn’t matter who he likes or dislikes, only the team’s overall play will matter.
“We are what our record says we are,” Koetter reminded everyone. “And that’s how we’re going to be judged.”
HC Lovie Smith
Smith didn’t talk too much about Mike Evans’ injury status, but reminded everyone that he wouldn’t be rushing any player back from a hamstring injury. Smith they don’t have a specific date for Evans to be ready to go, only that he’ll play when he’s ready.
The Bucs Head Coach wouldn’t give much away as usual but he did announce the team’s captains for this year. On offense it will be Logan Mankins and Vincent Jackson; on defense Gerald McCoy, Lavaonte David and Clinton McDonald; on special teams Russell Shepard.
Even though Jamies Winston wasn’t voted as on the team captains, Smith said he will still be expected to play a leadership role on the team.
“Jameis Winston is fun to be around,” Smith said.
Smith has talked all preseason about being “Tennessee Ready.” Well now the time has come to see if the Bucs are indeed ready; Smith said it best himself.
“A lot of questions will be answered this weekend,” he said.