Analyzing Jameis Winston’s 2015 Dropbacks: Week One

First and ten, Buccaneers’ 38: The Bucs are down by a lot and it is the final quarter, so it’s quick tempo for them the rest of the way. Winston is lined up in the gun, and Adam Humphries is wide to the right. Similar to the play run with Jackson a couple of times, Humphries runs a double move, and finds a soft spot in the Titans’ zone. Winston drops in the perfect pass between the cornerback and the safety for a 12 yard gain and a first down.

Second and four, Buccaneers’ 44: Winston is under center, Humphries is wide to the left. Humphries runs a quick slant, but Winston’s throw is a bit too far in front of him, so it falls incomplete.

Third and nine, Titans’ 49: The Buccaneers have crossed midfield, albeit by one yard. Austin Seferian_Jenkins is wide to the right, and Winston is in the shot gun. Seferian-Jenkins runs an out, and Winston hits him for an eight yard gain, leaving the Bucs at fourth and short, and obviously in four down territory.

Fourth and one, Titans’ 41: From the shotgun is Winston, and again Seferian-Jenkins is lined up on the outside to the right. He runs a post pattern, and Winston hits him in stride. The young tight end takes it 41 yards to the house, giving Winston his second career touchdown pass.

First and ten, Buccaneers’ 37: Winston is in the shotgun. The formation starts with four wideouts, three to the right and one to the left. Charles Sims is behind the line next to Winston, but then splits out to the left side. At the snap, Sims runs a “wheel” route, getting himself open in the flat, and Winston hits hm for a modest five yard gain.

Second and five, Buccaneers’ 42: Operating out of the no-huddle, Winston is in the shotgun, and his targeted receiver is lined up in the slot to the right, Russell Shepard. Shepard runs an “out”, Winston makes a perfect read and throw, and Shepard picks up six yards.

First and ten, Buccaneers’ 48: Winston is under center coming out of the stoppage (the previous play went out of bounds). Winston drops back, and he has good protection. However, nobody is open, and he holds the ball a long time. Finally, he tries to force the ball into Louis Murphy down the middle. With three defenders around him, the pass falls incomplete.

Second and ten, Buccaneers’ 48: This time Winston is in the shotgun running the no-huddle. Vincent Jackson is on the right in the slot, then Seferian Jenkins motions inside of him to his left. Jackson runs a post pattern and finds a soft spot in the zone. It became an easy pitch and catch for Winston to Jackson for 12 yards and a first down. The Buccaneers could have exploited this all day long.

First and ten, Titans’ 40: Seferian-Jenkins is lined up in the slot to the right, with Winston in the shotgun. The tight end runs an out, but the throw is too far to the outside, and it falls incomplete.

Third and twelve, Titans’ 42: It’s third and long for the Buccaneers, and Winston is looking for his reliable tight end, Seferian-Jenkins. ASJ runs down the field about 15 yards and stops, again right in a defensive soft spot. Winston hits him, and his guy does the rest, taking the ball 35 yards down to the Titans’ seven.

First and goal, Titans’ 7:Winston is in the shotgun, and he is looking for Vincent Jackson. Jackkson is wide to the right, and runs a post pattern. However, he is well covered, and Winston throws the ball out of the endzone, incomplete.

Second and goal, Titans’ 7:This time the Bucs line up trips left, three receivers stacked closely together to ensure a free release off of the line of scrimmage. Vincent Jackson runs a route to the end line, and broke along the line towards the corner. Winston hits him with a pass up high, and it looked like Jackson came down in bounds, but the refs ruled it incomplete. It was a great throw in a perfect position by Winston, but Jackson just couldn’t get both feet down.

Third and goal, Titans’ 7:Winston takes the snap from center, nobody breaks open, so he scrambles to buy as much time as possible. The play ends with Winston throwing the ball out of the endzone, incomplete.

The next two plays consisted of Vincent Jackson catching a TD pass that was called back for offensive pass interference, followed by an incomplete pass that gave the Bucs a first down after an illegal contact penalty.

Second and three, Titans’ 5:Winston is in the shotgun, with two backs, one to either side. Bobby Rainey is the running back to Winston’s left, and Winston hits him with a shovel pass that only picks up one yard.

First and goal, Titans’ 6: Vincent Jackson is split wide to the right and Jameis Winston is in the shotgun. Jackson comes into the picture running a quick slant, and Winston makes the right read in throwing it to him. The throw is accurate but the defender makes a great play to knock it down, incomplete.

Second and goal, Titans’ 6: This time, Winston has no chance. At the snap, Angelo Blackson, working from his left defensive end spot, executes a perfect swim move around his man, and is in Winston’s face before he can get rolling. Winston is sacked, and fumbles, although he recovers it on his own. It goes as a sack and a five yard loss.

Second and goal, Titans’ 11: Winston takes the snap in the shotgun, and nobody is open. He scrambles to the right, and smartly, Charles Sims follows his quarterback. Winston lets it go, but the pass falls incomplete.

Fourth and goal, Titans’ 16: For Winston’s final pass of the day, the Buccaneers go five-wide. Vincent Jackson is in the slot to the right. Jackson runs his route up the field to the post, Winston fires in his direction and the final pass for the day falls incomplete.

More buccaneers: Inside the Numbers of Jameis Winston

The opener had its moments for Winston, but as expected, the jitters were obvious.  Overall, I would give him a C+.  He went 16-33 for 210 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.  His potential showed with some terrific throws, but the usual problems came up, like staring down receivers.

It’s only one game, give him time.