Bucs notes: QB Winston shows mobility in the pocket
Jameis Winston was not sacked in Sunday’s 19-9 loss to the Houston Texans. Head coach Lovie Smith credits the offensive line, but also Winston’s mobility in the pocket, for that outcome. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS By Roy Cummings | Tribune Staff Published: September 28, 2015 at 10:05 PMTAMPA — The ability to stand inside a collapsing pocket, keep his eyes downfield and deliver the ball accurately has long been considered one of QB Jameis Winston’s greatest strengths.The ability to move around in the pocket or escape it when necessary are proving to be strengths, as well.Winston didn’t take a sack while facing one of the fiercest defensive fronts in football on Sunday, and his coaches are giving Winston as much credit for that as they are his offensive line.“The offensive line played well,’’ Bucs coach Lovie Smith said Monday, one day after a 19-9 loss to the Texans. “They gave us an opportunity to do some things, especially throwing the football. But Jameis, I thought he was in control throughout.“His mobility in the pocket, there were a couple times where he had to get out of trouble and he was able to do that. He looks comfortable and there were a lot of good throws he made (Sunday). I think that’s going to be a common topic that we’re going to have — how comfortable he looks in the pocket and how much better he’s getting each time we see him play.”For startersThe Bucs have done a lot of mixing and matching with their personnel in the secondary the past two weeks, including starting Tim Jennings ahead of Alterraun Verner at cornerback on Sunday.The start for Jennings broke a 16-game starting streak for Verner, who might have to play his way back into the starting lineup.“If you see a guy’s time increase or decrease, it’s based on the play on the football field,’’ Smith said. “In Vern’s case, Mike Jenkins was nursing an injury and he’s back now. So, Alterraun Verner had an opportunity to play earlier, and then we brought in a new player in Tim Jennings, who we hadn’t had an opportunity to see play.“So, we wanted to take a look at those guys. And I like what I see from them. But as you see time increase or decrease it’s based on film study, what we’ve seen in practice and who we think gives us the best opportunity to have success.’’Scoop and scoreEven on defense and special teams, the Bucs’ objective is to score on every play. That’s why Smith wasn’t critical of DE Josh Martin’s decision to try to scoop up a loose ball near the Texans goal line Sunday.Martin had an opportunity to fall on a fumbled ball following an early third-quarter Bucs punt, but Martin failed to pick up the ball, and Houston recovered. Still, Martin’s decision was not the wrong one, Smith said.“We would like for them to pick it up, of course, and run with it, always,’’ Smith said. “Our number one goal every play is to try to score. And the only way to score is to pick the ball up.’’No pain, no gainDT Gerald McCoy wasn’t at full strength Sunday. Nursing a sore shoulder, he participated in only 56 of 93 defensive plays.“He was definitely limited,’’ Smith said of McCoy, who hurt his shoulder late in the Week 2 game against the Saints. “No doubt he was playing with pain. But he wasn’t playing with an injury. He was playing with pain. I just know that another week should put him in an even better place. Hopefully, he’ll be able to do a little bit more this week.”
