The Pewter Plank
FanSided

3 ways Buccaneers can cater offense to quarterback Jameis Winston

By Cory Kinnan

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 06: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reacts after being sacked by Cameron Jordan #94 of the New Orleans Saints during the second half of a game at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on October 06, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 06: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reacts after being sacked by Cameron Jordan #94 of the New Orleans Saints during the second half of a game at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on October 06, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 12: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs with the ball in the third quarter during their game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on September 12, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 12: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs with the ball in the third quarter during their game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on September 12, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /

Roll him out on occasion

For whatever reason, the Buccaneers have decided to keep Winston in the pocket, neutralizing one of his natural gifts: his legs. It is most evident when Winston is sitting in the pocket for over four seconds before inevitably taking a sack; let the man run and teach him to slide down.

In addition to allowing him to step through the pocket and upfield, the Buccaneers should roll Winston out on occasion and allow him to simplify his reads to one side of the field and make a decision from there; if nobody is open, then his momentum is already garnered and he can take off and run.

Too often the Buccaneers give Winston too many options, and as he is working through his reads, the pocket is collapsing on him. Why not simplify the offense down a bit to his strengths: his legs, throwing on the run, while at the same time cutting in half the amount of reads he has to make?

Instead this week against the Saints, Winston was fed to the wolves as he stood in the pocket, waited for routes to develop, and sometimes be forced to make upwards of four reads in one play. Every once in a while, give Jameis a break, cut the field in half, and roll him out to his advantage.

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