Going against the Houston Texans, one the main disadvantages for the Bucs is simple: Jameis Winston has won only one time as a starting quarterback.
On the other hand, Texans’ quarterback Ryan Mallett doesn’t have any more.
So can either team score?
Mallett hasn’t won since a 30-20 victory over the Cleveland Browns last season. Last week, in a 24-17 loss to Carolina, Mallet completed 27 of 54 passes for 244 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Winston won his first game last week against New Orleans, a performance that won him the Pespi Rookie of the Week Award.
“He has a very strong arm,” Bucs’ defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said. “We think he is an accurate passer as well, that arm strength, his ability to be able to get the football down the field, that’s a concern. He’s familiar with this offense having worked with their head coach in the past. He is a guy we’ll have to contend with, with that live arm that he does have.”
As far as Winston is concerned, however, teammates continue to rave about his presence.
“I think as an entire offense, we did a better job of getting him in a rhythm early in the game, getting the ball out of his hands, putting him in situations where he can make quick reads and make good decisions,” said receiver Vincent Jackson. “I think that as an offense, as long as we do things right, everybody else is doing a little bit better around him, he’s going to be just fine. He just, again, has been super consistent. He comes in the huddle with a great attitude, great energy, no matter what has happened, and that’s what you want from your leader.
“A lot of times guys can get rattled. Things get loud or you’re backed up in your own end zone, things like that. That stuff doesn’t affect Jameis. I haven’t seen him show any signs of ‘hot feet’ or whatever you want to call it – getting in the pocket and starting to get antsy or anything like that, he sits in there. He’s a confident guy, he’s a big, strong kid that wants to win. I couldn’t be happier to have him calling our plays.”
Jackson said he had never seen a rookie with the poise or leadership of Winston.
“Not a rookie, especially at that position,” Jackson said. “He comes in there and he’s been that way since he showed up back in May. It’s not a cockiness, it’s not an arrogance, it’s just a simple, ‘Hey, we work really hard at this, I put a lot of time in, I’m confident in what I’m doing. I’m going to lead you guys.’ That’s what you want. He makes everybody else around him better. He’s just continuing to improve each and every week. It’s a lot of fun playing with a guy like that.”
