Jameis Winston didn't look much like the first-overall pick in his preseason debut on Saturday, but that's to be expected. Rookies -- especially quarterbacks -- need time to develop and that can take weeks of regular-season action and often months. It's why Winston is asking Buccaneers supporters for a little patience while he adjusts to the NFL's steep learning curve.
“Fans, please don’t panic about one half of football,” Winston told WDAE, via JoeBucsFan.com. “Please, there’s no reason to. We did some great things and we’re going to build on the positives.”
And while the positives were hard to come by, there were glimpses of Winston's potential. And at this stage of the process, that's important to keep in mind.
“Stay with us,” Winston continued. “Come witness a chance for us to win a game.”
In fact, the rookie quarterback has big plans for this offense, and second-year wideout Mike Evans in particular.
"I'm a big dreamer and I always tell Mike, 'Mike: Joe Montana, Jerry Rice,' just things like that, building our heads up," Winston said via the team's website. "That was one of the best duos of all time. But I love this game of football so much, so I try to relate me and a great receiver like him to other players that have done it before ..."
Also unconcerned by Winston's performance: second-year coach Lovie Smith.
“I thought he seemed into the game,” Smith said after Saturday's game. “He wasn't rattled or anything. Disappointed when he didn't do some things that he knows he can do better. Felt pretty good about the good things he did. I thought it was a typical Jameis Winston day.”
