Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jameis vows to maximize DJax

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston responds to an article about DeSean Jackson’s impact last season and his impact moving forward.

Thomas Bassinger of the Tampa Bay Times dove into DeSean Jackson‘s usage and impact from the 2017 season and predicted his release was imminent. That Jackson wasn’t the final missing piece so many believed him to be. That with a $10 million dollar cap hit in 2019 with no dead money, that the Buccaneers could easily move away from him.

I’m certainly not here to say Bassinger is wrong. In fact, I think it is extremely likely this is Jackson’s final season in red and pewter.

That is, unless, quarterback Jameis Winston is right.

Winston took to Twitter to express his feelings on Jackson and how things will look in the upcoming season;

Right now, we all hope that Winston is able to predict the future and Jackson becomes a key piece to the Bucs’ offense. I was critical of the usage of Jackson last season both here and on the Walking The Plank and Locked on Bucs podcasts.

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When you have a weapon like Jackson, it seemed silly to run bubble screens to Adam Humphries and Freddie Martino. It seemed silly to only use Jackson as a deep threat or have him run out routes to the sideline.

Jackson is incredibly dangerous with the ball in his hands in space, yet we rarely if ever saw him receive a screen or slant pass. Virtually nothing to him in the middle of the field where he could dominate the defense with his speed.

As for the deep passes? Well, it’s difficult to get those completed when your quarterback had a busted throwing shoulder.

That’s not an excuse, however. Winston has never been the best deep ball passer and he and Jackson never really seemed to get in sync with one another. Another off-season, another training camp, a healthy Winston – these are a recipe for success if there is going to be one at all.

Jackson was a “sexy” free agent signing. A big name, a big weapon, a big contract. The kind that makes headlines on SportsCenter or NFL Network. That wasn’t a guarantee it will work. If they get things on track this season, it could provide the advantage the Buccaneers need to become the playoff contender so many believed they would be last season.

If it doesn’t, the Buccaneers will move on from Jackson, just as Bassinger said they will.

This falls on the shoulders of Jameis Winston and Dirk Koetter. Koetter needs to find better ways to get Jackson involved in the offense that doesn’t rely strictly on go routes and out routes where he has no room to run after the catch. Winston needs to be better at connecting with Jackson when Jackson inevitably gets open. There were plenty of missed opportunities last year.

Next: Buccaneers Draft Profile - RB Saquon Barkley

If they become missed opportunities again in 2018, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their fans may be in for another long, disappointing season.