QB Winston going to be ‘somebody,’ Koetter says
Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Jameis Winston passes during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday in Philadelphia. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS By Ira Kaufman | Tribune Staff Published: November 25, 2015 at 08:10 PMTAMPA — Heading into Sunday’s matchup at Indianapolis, Jameis Winston is a confident rookie quarterback coming off a record-setting performance.The first overall pick in the draft threw five touchdown passes at Philadelphia in Sunday’s 45-17 romp, giving the former Florida State standout nine scoring passes and only two interceptions in his past six games.It’s no coincidence the Bucs are 4-2 in that span.“I think it shows him that he belongs in the NFL,’’ Bucs offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter said Wednesday. “Jameis likes to say he’s nobody yet, but he’s going to be somebody. At some point, he’s going to be somebody.’’Winston’s passer rating (86.5) continues to soar and seven of his 15 touchdown passes this season have come on third down. Against the Eagles, the Bucs rolled up 521 yards while converting 10 of 16 third downs.“Jameis continues to improve,’’ Koetter said. “By the same token, that was one day. That was one day in the life of a rookie quarterback. Now we know where the high end is. Unfortunately, we also saw the bottom end of it a couple of times earlier in the season. Let’s hope we don’t see that version anymore.’’Injury updateThree Bucs did not practice Wednesday and three others were limited.DE George Johnson (calf), C-G Evan Smith (knee) and S Keith Tandy (concussion) were sidelined, while rookie G Ali Marpet (ankle), TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins (shoulder) and DE Josh Shirley (calf) practiced on a limited basis. Coach Lovie Smith said Seferian-Jenkins, inactive for eight consecutive games, has not been cleared for contact.Ten Indianapolis players missed practice, including eight starters: QB Andrew Luck (abdomen/kidney), LT Anthony Castonzo (ankle), CB Vontae Davis (hamstring), RB Frank Gore (ankle), LBs Erik Walden (foot) and Robert Mathis (not injury related), S Mike Adams (ankle) and WR Andre Johnson (not injury related).Better With AgeIndy QB Matt Hasselbeck hasn’t lost his sense of humor at age 40. Told that Winston said he looks better at 40 than some 20-year-old players, Hasselbeck had fun with the concept.“That’s very kind of him,’’ said Hasselbeck, 3-0 as a starter filling in for Luck. “I did not look good as a young player. I was balding — I’m bald now, but I was balding when I was like a second and third-year player in Green Bay and balding in Seattle.“It was just a really bad look. A good friend should have come to me and said, ‘Hey, let it go, man. Shave the head or something.’ I had a bad look going when I was younger. I set the bar low. I don’t know what else to tell you.”Extra pointsThe Bucs signed DB Akeem Davis and C Ben Gottschalk to their practice squad. ...Eight Bucs have started every game this season -- Winston, RB Doug Martin, rookie LT Donovan Smith, RT Gosder Cherilus, DT Gerald McCoy, rookie MLB Kwon Alexander, OLB Lavonte David and S Bradley McDougald. ...The Bucs have generated 12 runs of at least 20 yards this season while allowing only three.Ira Kaufman
