Mistake As A Teammate: Maybe

With columns you usually have your definitive answers (that’s the whole point), but the answer to this question can’t be stated as fact from my side of the locker room door. However, even though I can’t give for sure answer on how DeSean Jackson is as a teammate, I can give you my thoughts and which way I’m leaning.

When things didn’t start off the way the team wanted in terms of hitting the deep passes and getting Jackson involved early in the year, the questions started to come up for Winston and for Jackson whether or not there was any kind of rift between them or frustration. After all, you have to remember that Winston was reportedly a big reason why Jackson came to Tampa Bay and it was Winston that couldn’t get the ball where it needed to be early on (and Jackson was open on many of these occasions).

As the season continued and the production did not increase, fans started to notice little instances of Jackson, perhaps not giving it his all. After the first half of the season, Winston had more overthrows and missed passes to Jackson than he had catches and completions beyond 20 yards. That led to a little frustration in Jackson’s voice when answering questions on the matter and ultimately resulted in the media no longer even asking Jackson questions because of the attitude towards the.

Bucs WRs Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson and QB Jameis Winston – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

If Jackson isn’t giving it his all, sure, that’s a problem. But, even though I think there are signs that point to that, I’m not convinced it’s something that can’t be saved or is even as much of a problem as it sounds. As I stated in the “on the field” section above, I don’t exactly think Koetter has designed a good offense for Jackson to thrive. If Jackson figured that out midway through the year and realized that it wasn’t going to get any better, can you totally blame him? I can’t.

I’ve given up on Koetter on this side of things, why would I condemn another human being for logically coming to that conclusion as well? Now, it is a little different for Jackson because he’s involved in that whole process and he does have a job to do. But, it’s not that I think Jackson isn’t doing his job, I just think the signs that he may be mailing it in come from him no longer trusting those designing this offense or calling this offense to be anything more than it’s been – disappointing.

I think there’s been some frustration between Winston and Jackson  – that’s natural. Perhaps it’s come from the fact that Winston is still a 23-year-old kid who was just given a player who he’s probably watched his whole football life and might feel some pressure to appease him. And maybe that is the case and Jackson isn’t doing the best job of putting out that fire which has caused some stress in the mind of his play caller and quarterback. But, between Winston and Jackson, that’s nothing that I don’t see that can’t be fixed with a better offense.

Is Jackson a bad teammate? I can’t say that for sure because I’m not his teammate. All I can say is that if he’s frustrated, I can understand that. But, I also don’t think it’s anything that can’t be fixed.