It started with a mistake.
Jameis Winston expected Vincent Jackson to zig, and instead, Jackson zagged. And the ball was intercepted by the Atlanta Falcons.
It was early in the Bucs’ 31-24 victory over Atlanta, however, and Winston was just getting started. He responded with four touchdown passes, and 281 yards, and the victory.
It wasn’t the first time Winston has responded. Coach Dirk Koetter says he hasn’t seen another quarterback who can move on from mistakes as quickly.
“No I haven’t, that’s a really good point.” Koetter said. “Most guys go into a funk or go into a pout and Jameis, he’s great about that. I don’t like yelling at the quarterback on game day and Jameis will sometimes say, ‘Hey, you’ve got to coach me harder!’ Again, I go back to his training with his father and then with (Florida State Head Coach) Jimbo Fisher. They both trained him very well.”
It was only one game, but Winston appeared to have progressed from his rookie season.
“Jameis yesterday did what Jameis does best and that’s play football,” Koetter said. “Jameis is a football player and it’s not always pretty, it’s not always how we draw it up — I’d like every play to go exactly like we draw it up — but that guy, he has a unique ability to make (plays).
“He’s going to make some plays you don’t expect him to make, he’s going to miss some plays that I’m going, ‘Jameis, you’ve got to make that play.’ And he’s the same all the time. He’s focused on winning, he’s focusing on leading our team and he’s tough as nails. Boy, he will stand in that pocket and that rush bearing down on him, he’ll stand right in there. He’s a lot better moving in the pocket than people might think.”
Winston and the Bucs travel to Phoenix to play the Cardinals this week.
