Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston is in a critical contract year and is learning a
new offense for the first time since arriving in Tampa Bay in 2015.
PewterReport.com will chronicle each one of Winston’s practices during camp
in the Winston Watch.

After a couple practices where his performance was mediocre to average, Winston fired off his best practice of the 2019 training camp so far. From beginning to end he was precise and consistent for the most part.

From the get-go he looked on the same page with his receivers. It started off in simple 1-on-1 drills where completed balls to Bobo Wilson, Chris Godwin and Just Watson on three separate reps. These drills aren’t the most difficult as it’s more focused on just the receiver and corner, but the momentum was carried over into the next drill.

In the first 11-on-11, the difference in Winston’s performance could be seen. He was making much quicker decisions, getting the ball out in a timely manner instead of the waiting for the pocket to collapse around him. He connected with Mike Evans three times, including a deep ball down the sideline, that was slightly inaccurate as Evans could have scored the touchdown with a slightly better ball. Winston even scrambled twice, showing the ability to bail on a play and make something out of it rather than forcing a throw into coverage.

Winston really got it going in the following drill when 11-on-11’s took place at the 30-yard line heading towards the end zone. His first pass was a great ball to O.J. Howard in the back of the end zone where it was placed just for him, but it ended up going incomplete due to an excellent play by Jordan Whitehead after it his Howard’s hands.

He then went on fire and threw for three touchdown passes on his next three attempts.

First was a dime of a pass on the very next play to Scotty Miller on the opposite side of the end zone. It was in the window of beating the corner and before the safety could get over.

Next was a throw on the run to Mike Evans.

The third act in the touchdown trio went to Cam Brate while under pressure on somewhat of a 50-50 ball. But sometimes you’re hot and you throwing to a player with the size of Brate, you catch some breaks.

The Bucs then moved on to 7-on-7 where he cooled off but still played adequately. He hit it off with O.J. Howard during this time, completing three to him. There was one that he got away with as the pass came out wobbly, but Howard was able to make the reception. It was just Winston’s day.

He also completed one over the middle to Mike Evans and a nice strike to the sideline for Chris Godwin.

The final two sessions of practice consisted of some goal line work and a simulated two minute drill that saw him make a few passes mixed in with some incompletions. Practice was close to wrapping up and not many throws were left, Winston wasn’t just done yet playing football.

One throw to Ronald Jones saw the running back break some tackles and get all the way downfield, but Jones then fumbled after getting hit and Jordan Whitehead took it the other way. Winston sprinted down and dove at Whitehead to stop him, eventually assisting Brate after he got him close to the ground. Bruce Arians and Bucs fans would prefer if Winston not do that.

As a whole, Winston made excellent strides during Tuesday’s practice. The Bucs will have a day off on Wednesday before resuming practice the following evening. On a day where he got the best of the defense, Winston’s improvements are coming at the right time.