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Clyde Christianson doesn't think Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jameis Winston is a lost cause. In fact, he thinks the quarterback could turn out just fine.
Winston's main, perceived, problem has been interceptions. He threw 58 interceptions over his first four years. Just like Andrew Luck threw 55, Cam Newton threw 54, and Matthew Stafford threw 54 (despite missing 19 games due to injury). Peyton Manning threw 81.
Christianson is less concerned than some on this.
Article Continues Below“Your first four years, you throw a bunch of interceptions,” Christensen said over his cell just after the Bucs broke for summer last week. “Almost all of them did. [Matt] Ryan had less, but they ran the ball in Atlanta, he went to a little bit better football team … So I wasn’t aware of it, but his numbers were solid for a guy who missed a couple of games with injury. Right up in there with all the others, what we would assess as really good players.”
Tampa Bay has done all it can this offseason to aide its embattled signal caller. They hired Bruce Arians — whose memoirs were entitled The Quarterback Whisperer — as head coach. Arians hired quarterback gurus Christensen and Byron Leftwich.
Leftwich, who played under Arians, was Josh Rosen's offensive coordinator last year in Arizona. In Tampa, Leftwich's job is getting the most out of Winston, who was benched for Ryan Fitzpatrick last season, though over the final seven games Winston threw 13 touchdowns against just four interceptions. Winston, who will make $20.9 million this season, is in the final year of his rookie deal.
Ultimately, Tampa Bay's success will come down to Winston, who has done all the right things during the offseason.
