FSU QB Jameis Winston had everything, now needs patience

Jameis Winston was the king of college football, but he’s realizing he must learn patience

It’s never easy for a player to return to college football after winning the Heisman Trophy. It’s never easy to return to college football after winning the National Championship. And It’s never easy to return to college football when you’re rumored to be a potential future first overall pick. In 2013, Jameis Winston put checks in all of those boxes. In 2014, he has shown how hard it can be to follow your own act.

Even though Winston wasn’t even eligible to leave for the NFL, it seemed like he was ready. He’d accomplished so much in such a short time. This year, he looks different. All his momentum is coming to an abrupt halt.

He’s been erratic, particularly against Oklahoma State and NC State. He was suspended for the entire Clemson game for off the field issues. He’s lacked the flash that he had in 2013. Part of that has to do with the departure of wide receivers Kelvin Benjamin and Kenny Shaw. Part of that also seems to be in his head. Winston looks like he thinks he needs to put the team on his shoulders. And thus, he makes mistakes. He’s on pace for about 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions — which is nothing compared to his 40 touchdown, 10 interception season last year.

So let’s reevaluate the young quarterback. Where does he stand?

Deep Passing

Last year, the FSU offense depended on the deep game. It was their bread and butter. This year, not so much. Winston seems to be playing with the same aggressive 2013 tendencies, but his surrounding cast isn’t as talented. The result is more turnovers and a lower yards per attempt for Winston, who threw 10.6 ypa in 2014 and is now at 8.9 ypa for 2013.

Winston has a Chris Johnson mentality. He’s always looking to extend plays — he’s always looking for the end zone. But like CJ2K, he has struggled to do so. Unlike CJ2K, he can turn things around. It’s just that he has to adjust and see the field differently. He can be just as efficient, but he needs to take fewer shots. Shaw averaged 17.3 yards per attempt and Benjamin averaged 18.7 in 2013. Rashad Greene and Jesus Wilson have averaged 15.2 and 14.1, respectively in 2014. He’s not working with players form-fitted for the deep game. Thus, he can’t favor it quite as often.

Winston needs to pick and chose on the deep ball. He must be more selective and more efficient. The offense has regressed, but it’s not his fault. It’s also not his job to carry the whole team. So, he’s got to find the sweet spot. It seems like he’s getting there:

Short/Intermediate Passing

Here is one of those moments where Winston wants to do too much and extend the play. FSU was losing 24-21 to NC State. It’s a first down. Winston needs to throw this ball away. Instead, he scrambles in the pocket and forces it into traffic. The result is an interception and NC State marched down the field for a touchdown. NC State: 34, FSU: 21.

To his credit, Winston followed this interception by scoring 21 points on the following three drives, during which he threw two touchdowns. Winston is still very talented. He just needs to manage that talent better. Sometimes, he rushes the ball into tight spaces.

This next interception is a careless error — a matter of not knowing where the defenders are on the field before and after the snap. He forgot there was a linebacker, lost sight of him and threw it straight to him.

This interception strikes me as a bit flukey. Winston probably won’t have many like it this season. But it shows carelessness and a lack of awareness that needs improve. He seems to be in such a hurry to get up the field. But in the 2014 offense, he can’t show urgency. His offense requires more plays and more patience to get into the end zone. He needs to take more care in the short and intermediate passing game — because it seems like it needs to be FSU’s bread and butter.

Running Back Involvement

Former Seminole and current Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman was anything but a check down. He was an explosive option out of the backfield and averaged 12.6 yards per reception with a long of 48 yards. Again, the averages are down in 2013. Running back Karlos Williams has 12 reception for 9.3 ypc. Mario Pender has five receptions for 5.4 ypc. Dalvin Cook has two receptions for 9.5 ypc.

Williams projects for about 29 receptions this season. His 9.3 ypc doesn’t exactly make him a check down, but he’s a more conservative option that Freeman was. That’s what Winston has this year — conservative options. Again, no flashy but effective.

Where does Winston stand?

Winston is trying to keep balance on shaky ground. Bottom line: the 2013 Seminoles’s offense was better this 2014 version. As a result, Winston has looked worse. But that doesn’t mean he’s a worse player for it. He may come out the other end of this season galvanized as a better decision-maker and more efficient passer. He will have less opportunities to get the ball downfield, and so he must hit his wideouts when they create space — no matter where they are on the field. He’s got to take what the defense gives him and capitalize. His stats may not be gaudy, but he could return to another National Championship.

Winston will have to push himself out of his comfort zone. He had everything he wanted right away. Now, he’s got to be patient.

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