Final Grades for the Buccaneers 2016 Season
QUARTERBACK: B-
You didn’t need to see the “C” on Jameis Winston’s chest to see he was a leader inside the locker room and on the field for this year’s Buccaneers squad.
The team seems to have found their franchise quarterback, and he became the first quarterback in NFL history to fire the pigskin for over 8,000 yards in his first two seasons.
What looks on the surface to be a disadvantage is one of the things which makes Winston’s early success all the more incredible.
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His lack of legitimate receiving targets is well known as he has one legitimate starting receiver at his disposal, and just this year found a tight end worthy of regular targets from the former Seminole quarterback.
Still, as amazing as his total numbers might be, it wasn’t always easy to watch him stack them up.
Three times this year he failed to reach 200-yards passing and threw multiple interceptions in four games while having just five efforts of zero-turnover football.
While his completion percentage went up from year one to year two, it sat at just 60.8% in 2016 and ranked him 23rd among starting quarterbacks in the NFL while his interception total (18) was second to only Philip Rivers who threw 21 for San Diego this year.
So it wasn’t all roses this season, but you can’t deny the ability being contained within the 22-year old who will enter his third professional campaign looking for the playoffs.
It’s important to note as well, that while coach Koetter once declared his team a running team, Winston threw the ball 33 more times this year than last despite winning three more games.
On top of this, Winston finished fourth on the team in rushing with 165 yards on 53 carries.
He obviously sees the ability in his young leader, and while there’s room for improvement, his future looks bright.
For what it’s worth, backup Mike Glennon got 11 passes in against the Atlanta Falcons in the Bucs’ Thursday Night debacle which we’d all rather soon forget.
The 4th year player completed 10 of those throws and scored a touchdown despite the lopsided loss.
He’ll likely be donning a different uniform next season, and could be one of the most sought after free-agents at the quarterback position this off-season.