Buccaneers Extra Points: A Review of 2017 So Far

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 24: Andrew Sendejo #34 of the Minnesota Vikings breaks up a pass intended for Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the ball was intercepted by Harrison Smith #22 of the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth quarter of the game on September 24, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /

THE PASSING GAME

JAMEIS WINSTON’S RISKY PASSES

We Buccaneers fans know that Winston has the skills to make every throw on the field, which he did in week two against the Bears when the Buccaneers had the lead the entire game, and he was able to make more careful throws. Completing 18-of-30 passes (60%) for 204-yards and one touchdown with no turnovers.

This resulted in him only needing to attempting seven deep passes the entire game and completing three (43%) of them for 54-yards. Focusing mainly on the careful short passes hitting on 15 of his 23 pass attempts (65%) for 150-yards and one touchdown.

Every quarterback who plays with a lead tries not to do anything that would jeopardize that and given the time is able to look for and find the open check down receiver option because they don’t need to take the extra risks that come with throwing the deep ball.

Which is what Winston did in week two against the Bears attempting only three deep passes in the second half and four in the first half because the game was in hand and those risky throws were needed.

Then we go to week three against the Vikings and the Buccaneers were down by seven 4 minutes into the game, and Winston had to make the more riskier passes to try to keep the Buccaneers in the game. He had ten more attempts but also ten more completions and actually had a better completion percentage then week two.

Must Read: Week 3 Giants Film Study

Completing 28 passes of 40 attempts (70%) for 328-yards, two touchdowns, but three interceptions, and two of those interceptions came on deep pass attempts.

Being behind the entire game, Winston had to be more aggressive in his passing and take more risks and in the process attempted ten deep passes completing five (50%) for 109-yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.

Still he was deadly accurate on the short safer passes completing 23-of-30 attempts (77%) for 219-yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.

Being that Winston is a high risk/high reward quarterback (Gunslinger) he will always take the deep shot but he needs to remember that even though the team is behind he doesn’t have to score on every play, and instead can move down the field fairly well by hitting the more accurate open short passes.

Which is what he did in the Bears game but when the team was down in the Vikings game he took more risks trying to hit guys in triple cover down the field instead of taking the short wide open check down route. If they are tripling Mike Evans or doubling DeSean Jackson that means another wide receiver is in single coverage and has a better chance of being open.

So for the Buccaneers to be successful sometimes he needs to make less risky passes and just hit the open guy for the gain and continue the drive.

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