Winston will go from having two designed packaged play calls (1 run or 1 pass) based on the defensive alignment - Winston will have added responsibility with a total of four play package calls in 2016.... He will now have a total of four packaged plays (three normal packaged play calls and one blitz audible) to choose from per play based on the defenses pre-snap coverage disguising, or what is commonly known as stemming, to give the impression they are running a different coverage than they actually are.
Last fall, Winston had the benefit of matriculating from a Florida State pro-style offense that many in league circles believe to be as complicated or more complicated than others in the NFL. Still, Koetter—then the offensive coordinator—slowly brought along Winston, limiting him to half-field reads and beginner-level pre-snap duties early last season. Like millions of high school and college kids across the country, Winston is graduating this summer.Koetter says those pre-snap duties weren’t as limited as people think during Tampa's 6-10 finish—though Koetter worked to keep protection calls off Winston’s mind with more max protection scenarios than most teams, the rookie did have play packages at his disposal. (For example, Winston had the option to call either a certain run play or a certain pass play based on the defense’s alignment and apparent coverage.) In 2016, Winston will be asked to do more. Where there were two-play packages that Winston could call at the line in 2015, there will now be three-play packages plus a blitz audible. Plus: More no-huddle is planned for 2016, one of Koetter’s signatures when he took the Tampa coordinator job in 2015.“Jameis is a good communicator at the line, good at the no-huddle, studies like a wild man, and that’s what we love about him,” Koetter says. “I trust my judgment and I trust the judgment of our coaches. We’re around Jameis every day and we know what he’s capable of.”The first-time NFL head coach, who turned 57 in February, draws from his experience with former first-rounder Blaine Gabbert in Jacksonville when deciding what to put on Winston’s plate and when. Koetter was in his fifth season as offensive coordinator when the Jags drafted Gabbert 10th overall in 2011. Gabbert started 14 games that season, completing just over half of his passes with 12 touchdowns, 11 picks and 14 fumbles. Gabbert was gone after three seasons.“I think when we had Blaine Gabbert in his first year—and I’m not criticizing anybody—but there’s an example where Blaine maybe got forced into situations a little bit too early,” Koetter says. “I’m a fan of Blaine and I wish him the best, except when he plays us.”One of Koetter’s biggest challenges has less to do with Winston and more to do with the makeup of his team—the Bucs were the 11th youngest team in the NFL last season and figure to rank high on that list again. A snapshot: On the phone last week, Koetter and I spoke about the potential of Austin Sefarian-Jenkins, the third-year tight end who has missed about half of the past two seasons due to various injuries. Koetter would like to see the former second-round pick be the kind of tight end you can split out on one side of the formation by himself, creating mismatches and helping the quarterback identify coverages the way Tony Gonzalez did when Koetter coached in Atlanta.“I love that package,” Koetter says. “Thing is, roles on a young team are ever-changing based on production and health. We’ll see how it works out on the field.”Several hours after Koetter and I spoke, the coach kicked Sefarian-Jenkins off his practice field.Why?Said Koetter: “He didn't know what he was doing.”MMQB LINK
Going from undoubtedly half field reads to full field reads and additional duties with play call selection based on pre-snap defensive alignments. How much will this hindered Winston in the early going or will he be able to master the nuances and intricacies of reading complex coverage's and put the offense in the right play call and position to produce early? It would also appear that Koetter wants ASJ to be an even bigger part of the offense and help Winston to be able to ID coverage's easier by having ASJ be the tell.
