Buccaneers Jameis Winston: All signs point to his departure, except one
By JD Stenger
That is the one constant throughout his play from high school, college, and a few offensive coordinators with the Bucs. All different systems to differing degrees. His interception problem has reared it’s ugly head throughout. So using the second year in the Arians System excuse doesn’t fly in the Jameis Winstons situation.
When Bruce Arians was hired I think most Bucs fans believed as Bruce did, like I did, that he could fix the problems and cut way down on the picks Jameis threw. The first part of the season every time Winston threw interceptions or pick-sixes, there he was standing up for his quarterback.
There wasn’t a second thought as he threw other players under the bus. The receivers were running the wrong routes. The ball was where it was supposed to be. Not Winston’s fault. The point is that he steadfastly, and with a matter of fact tone and volume beat back the press off of his star pupil.
It was obvious Arians was doing everything he could to not blame his team captain, and possibly damage his player’s psyche. He held his guy up high, basically blameless for his transgressions. He did not want to jolt that confidence. After every game, Arians and Byron Leftwich worked with Jameis trying to turn him around.
It went like that until the London Game at Tottenham Stadium against the Panthers. The Bucs looked good against Carolina in the first matchup at the Panthers place. This time though Winston made sure it wasn’t going to go down like the last one. In his worst game as a pro in a prove-it year, he handed out interceptions like candy at Halloween. He handed out five interceptions, plus two fumbles, one that he lost.