Sep 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) drops back to pass against the Arizona Cardinals during the first quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium. Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
TAMPA, Fla. — Good Jameis or bad Jameis.
The Buccaneers haven’t really been sure what they are going to get on Sundays when it comes to quarterback Jameis Winston.
One week after throwing four touchdowns passes in a 31-24 win at Atlanta, Winston reverted to making inaccurate passes and was intercepted four times in a lopsided loss at Arizona on Sunday. He also lost a fumble.
The Buccaneers targeted receiver Mike Evans 17 times on Sunday and he caught only six passes for 70 yards and a touchdown.
But Winston’s chemistry with No. 2 receiver Vincent Jackson is even worse. The first two weeks Jackson has just six catches for 62 yards despite being targeted 17 times.
“We’re having too many instances where Jameis and Vincent, the precision isn’t there right now,” coach Dirk Koetter said. “The precision that we need. We’re talking about our two captains on offense and the precision between those two players just isn’t where it needs to be right now. That’s something that we’re going to need to get straightened out real soon.”
Winston said, “I have to get (Jackson) the ball. His job is to get open and catch passes. My job is to get him the ball. If the ball is not getting to him, whether he’s doing something or I’m doing something, it’s my fault. I’m the quarterback; the ball is in my hands. He’s just running the route. I’ve got to get him the ball.”
It didn’t help Winston or the Tampa Bay offense that RB Doug Martin was lost to a hamstring injury in the first quarter. Martin will be evaluated Tuesday, but it looks as though he will not play this week against the Los Angeles Rams.
The game plan against the Cardinals was to exploit the one-on-one matchups outside. But Winston and his receivers weren’t good enough.
“They were aggressive like we thought they were,” Koetter said. “They did a good job of running their backers downhill.
“They brought their safeties. They matched Patrick Peterson on Mike. That’s the defense we expected to see. They did a good job. They did a better job than us. They did a better job coaching. A better job playing.
“It’s a humbling league. We got beat up all over the field. Hats off to the Cardinals for a job well done. I didn’t a good enough job getting these guys ready to go. We turned it over way, way too many times.”
