Dec 9, 2018; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) throws during the second half against the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium. Photo Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
New Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich is one of the up and coming coaches at his position in the NFL. Now part of the next step in his ascension to a potential head coaching job is grooming quarterback Jameis Winston into a more efficient quarterback who will cut down on his well-documented interception rate.
As Winston enters his fifth year in the league, he now has a head coach in Bruce Arians with whom he has had a past relationship, dating back to high school, and an analytical intricate mind in Leftwich, which should help him settle and navigate the position at a higher level.
Leftwich says Winston has picked up the new approach well, as the new coaching staff has continued to lay the groundwork for how they want him to approach the position.
“It’s just getting through the little new offenses and having an understanding of how we manipulate defenses and how we are able to operate at a high level,” said Leftwich.
Patience and then footwork are two variables that have held Winston back in some cases. He often starts to scramble at the first signs of duress and then plants his feet and throws, and in more cases than not, goes out the window.
“The rest of your career, you’re always working on footwork, because that really determines how accurate the ball is going to be,” explained Leftwich. “The lower half of your body really operates the upper half, so we’re just trying to get him as clean as possible.”
Leftwich downplays the fact that the footwork issue is only attributed to Winston’s game. Maybe he does have more problems with that fundamental aspect than others; however, according to Leftwich, it’s a problem across the NFL and all levels of the game.
The thought process with which a quarterback must operate is a huge variable as well. Leftwich continues to study why Winston makes the reads he does and how he approaches the game. This is going to be a large portion of the success he can have right away with the new offense and coaching staff.
Leftwich preaches honesty, no matter the situation.
“I always tell him, ‘I don’t care what your answer is, just tell me what you were thinking on this situation, that situation,’” explained Leftwich. “It helps me learn him and the more I can learn Jameis, the better I can call plays for him.”
The communication has been excellent so far between the two. Leftwich says whether or not Winston, or any quarterback, is being honest is usually still a guess. However, Winston has told Leftwich what he is seeing and so far that dynamic is working in the offseason approach.
The trust that a coach has in the quarterback enables the honesty and then the results will come.
“We have to understand that we must have the mindset that we expect to play well every week and I expect them to play well from a numbers standpoint, but putting our team in position to win football games, because ultimately that’s what it’s all about,” noted Leftwich.
Winston played all 16 games in his first two seasons and then 13 and 11 the last two as injuries and his suspension with the well-renowned incident with the Uber driver led to even more choppy play. Winston is still only 25 years old and the maturing process on and off the field will lead to improving his focus and allowing him to have continuity throughout this season and his career.
