2019 is make-or-break for Winston
The first step that the Buccaneers have to make is getting their franchise quarterback. The hope for efficiency and consistency is that this player is Winston. All of the teams that made the playoffs last year have quarterbacks that are franchise players and are leaders on their respective teams.
The quarterback drama that occurred in Tampa last year cannot be repeated. There cannot be cases made for other quarterbacks to get the reins in the middle of the season. For the Buccaneers to succeed, they have to have a leader in the form of their starting quarterback.
Winston has proved at times that he can be a very talented NFL quarterback, but has looked like a third string player in other instances. Winston has to mature both on and off the field as the first step in the Bucs’ transformation.
The following points made in this series may be negotiable, but having a franchise quarterback that is a leader is a point that cannot be contested. The position is just far too important to the game.
After the quarterback role being filled, there are several other points that the Bucs will have to address in order to turn the page on this era of Buccaneer underperformance. The next point to be examined will be the Buccaneers run game related to the rest of the NFC South.
While not a perfect comparison, the Buccaneers can look to their NFC South counterparts and successful teams throughout the NFL to take away winning strategies to implement in 2019.