The NFL draft is coming up quickly, rumors are spreading like wildfire and they are close to being proven right or wrong. Out of all of the skeptical theories, the one that has been most debated over is without a doubt the decision held by the Tampa Bay Bucks whether or not to pick up star quarterback Jameis Winston.
With the Tampa Bay Bucs being 2-14 last season, they are desperate for a wind of change. They have the first pick in this year's draft and viewers are eager to see their choice of player. After the cut of previous QB Josh McCown, they are thirsty to fulfill that QB position with something fresh and just as eager to turn the team around as they are. New to the Draft, both Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota are up for grabs. The Bucs remain hesitant to lean towards Winston due to publicity issues, however recently they have announced that they feel a little more comfortable with 21 year old Jameis Winston and consider him a good prospect.
It wouldn't be suprising if the Bucs ultimately chose Winston over Mariota. After analyzing the strategy of both star quarterbacks, you can see that Winston has played his career in a pro-style offense, meanwhile Mariota has spent a lot of time undergoing spread offense. With this being said, it would be difficult for coach Lovie Smith of the Bucs to mold Mariota into the pro-style offense he needs. After the harsh 2-14 season, and the cut of QB McCown and release of previous coach Greg Schiano the Bucs and coach Smith have very little room for error.
The greatest concern held in mind about Jameis is the potential problems that may occur due to past publicity. It's the continuation of publicity that media continues to push out that deters ccoaches and teams from picking Winston. Jokes have sprawled all over the internet and reputation is at stake. Skippers smokehouse in Tampa Bay FL has vowed to give free crab legs at anytime to Winston If he is drafted to the Bucs.
Personally, I feel that the Bucs would be making a tragic mistake passing up on Winston. Do not get me wrong, Hiesman Marcus Mariota is not a tragic second pick; however, I feel it is time to put the focus on his past to rest. The fear that Jameis will act out and bring poor publicity to the team needs to be let go of. He is now entering a professional league where he knows what is expected of him and learned the consequences from past events. If they can set aside the off-field presence he once had, then maybe they can realize and appreciate his 26 straight wins as a starter. He was the first to do this since 1964-65. Hiesman winner and talented athlete to say the least is not the image they are focusing on which is a mistake. According to the scouting community, “he has an incredible ability to scan the field and get through progressions”. The only Down fall I can see in Winston's strategy is his tendency to throw into unsafe windows rather than the secure route. However as we learned in the final play prior to the victory of the 2013 BCS national championship, sometimes the riskier route is the most rewarding. As always, go Jameis, Go noles.
