Bucs Offensive Coordinator Dirk Koetter takes the podium at One Buccaneer Place around noon every Wednesday and usually spends 10 to 15 minutes chatting it up with members of the media. Koetter is not one to sugar coat things, so when he began glowing while talking about Jameis Winston's ability to pick up game plans, the room was all ears.
"Jameis is unbelievable how quick he can look at a game plan, take it out on the field and just in a walk-through – it really is impressive," Koetter said. "That's one thing that has amazed me and I'm not easily amazed. That has really amazed me about how fast he can pick things up. It's not just lip service when he gets up there and talks about learning and getting better. He is really into it and he's a fast learner."
Through 12 weeks, Winston has steadily improved. Koetter cites Winston's ability to protect the football as his biggest improvement so far, and, in previous press conferences, Winston has agreed. Since Week 4, Winston has thrown just three interceptions. He's gone without a pick in five of his last seven games.
"I would just say that the main thing is this is just an overall thing [of] how much better job he is doing overall of taking care of the football," Koetter said.
He put together the best game of his career two weeks ago in Philadelphia, throwing five touchdowns without an interception, and broke the Bucs' rookie passing record last weekend against Indianapolis. For his efforts, he was named the NFL's Rookie of the Month for November.
Winston hopes for an improved performance against Atlanta on Sunday. When the two teams met in Week 8, he threw for 177 yards, the fewest of his short NFL career.
Photos of Jameis Winston's 245 yards, 1 TD performance against the Colts on November 29th.
