The Buccaneers have a huge decision to make with their quarterback Jameis Winston. This is the third is a series looking at the options the Bucs have with Winston.
The Bucs should let Winston walk and start over at the quarterback position.
1. Winston is a turnover machine, and seems to regressing and not getting any better.
The Bucs brought in Bruce Arians to help coach and improve the overall game of Jameis Winston. Arians has worked with with and helped improved the play of Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, and Carson Palmer throughout his career.
In year one under Arians, Winston threw 30 interceptions which was a career high for Winston.
For his career Winston has thrown 88 picks and averages just over 17 a season.
He had three games of four or more picks this season. Five against Carolina in London, four at home against New Orleans, and also four against the Houston Texans.
Winston also has the most fumbles of any quarterback in the league since his rookie season of 2015 as he has fumbled the ball 56 times.
2. The team is not improving under Winston. The Bucs were 6-10 under Winston his rookie season and finished 7-9 in 2019.
The Bucs narrowly missed the playoffs in 2016 with a 9-7 record, but followed that up with two 5-11 seasons.
Quarterback wins is not a stat. But the good quarterbacks do enough good things throughout the course of a game to put their teams in position to get a win. Winston has not been able to do that consistently.
The Bucs record is 34-48 since Winston arrived as the starting quarterback.
3. Winston continues to make poor decisions with the football.
At the half way point of the season when the Bucs were 2-6, there was a report that the Bucs offensive coaches were perplexed as to why Winston continued to turn the ball over like he did and make those poor decisions.
After hours of film study, hours of one on one coaching, hours of practice in OTA’s and training camp, Winston continued to make the same mistakes.
Winston happens to think that he is one of the best quarterbacks in the league. After the Atlanta game in which he threw a pick six in overtime to give the Falcons the win, when asked about the picks Winston said, “That’s the last thing on my mind. I’m focused on how I can get better. Because I know if I eliminate those [turnovers], I’ma be the best. So that’s bar none. You better check your sheet. If I eliminate those, I’ma be the best.”
Wow. My stat sheet says that you threw 30 interceptions, fumbled the ball 12 times and you were sacked 47 times. Your team missed the playoffs again and finished 7-9.
Those numbers do not mirror the stats of one of the best quarterbacks in the league.
After five years, you would like to see some improvement with the turnovers and much better decision making. That has not been the case.
After five years and starting 70 games, the turnovers and decision making have not improved at all.
4. Winston is going to ask for top dollar for a new contract. The rumor mill is buzzing that Winston will ask for at least $30 million a year on his new deal.
This is way too much money for a mid tier quarterback that has yet to win anything or prove that he can be consistent in his performance.
At this point the Bucs would be wise to thank Winston for his years of service, bring in a veteran quarterback that can start the next few seasons and plan for the future.
Should the Bucs go this route, they would need to draft a quarterback in the draft and begin grooming him to be the starter in Tampa.
