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Buccaneers: Jameis Winston focused on staying patient and slowing the game down

By Alan Schechter

TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 30: Quarterback Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs off the field following the Bucs' 30-24 loss to the Oakland Raiders in overtime of an NFL game on October 30, 2016 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 30: Quarterback Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs off the field following the Bucs' 30-24 loss to the Oakland Raiders in overtime of an NFL game on October 30, 2016 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /
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Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston is focused on staying patient and keeping the game calm for everyone around him.

The NFL is such a quarterback league, making the Buccaneers lucky to have one. Football is a team game, but without a quarterback it all falls apart. Ask the New York Jets and the Cleveland Browns as two examples. Having Jameis Winston gives the Bucs a leg up on many teams in this league. He can make all of the throws and make athletic plays that others simply can’t. Don’t forget his ability to use his feet. Winston really is the total package.

But he hasn’t been perfect. Winston still has fallen to poor decision-making at times. Though he did increase his touchdown passes from 22 to 28 last season, his interceptions went up from 15 to 18. That has to change. That will be the difference between a good quarterback and an elite one.

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Moving forward, the key for Winston is going to be patience. Does he have the patience to give up on a play and get ready for the next one, each and every time the situation calls for it? He must have the ability to throw the ball away instead of forcing it.

Knowing that, we learn why Winston has the greatness in him. It’s because he knows what he has to do to improve (via team website):

"“Patience as a form of controlling everything. People use the term ‘game manager’ and that’s really what it is. I always have to be calm, cool and collected. Everything can be going fast for others, but everything has to be slowed down for me. When I step in the huddle, I have to slow everything down no matter what happened the last play, no matter if we scored a touchdown, no matter if we had a turnover. I have to be the person that brings everybody together, be patient, calm and just put us on chill mode.”"

Patience is a huge element to playing quarterback. Winston has to keep his cool otherwise he will continue to force plays. But he is right as well as far as how it impacts others. If he keeps things slow, the team will rally behind him. If he doesn’t, the offense will become frenetic and will fall apart in front of him. Winston really can keep control of every aspect simply by being patient.

Next: 3 Pro Bowl locks for 2017

The fact that he is aware of it shows how good he really can be. Good players don’t look for ways to improve. Elite players do.

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