The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are trying to shake a four-game losing streak, and Jameis Winston shared a key reason for the team’s inconsistency.
According to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, the third-year quarterback said the offense doesn’t know what it is yet.
“I think this team has to find its common ground and our team, we’re still learning what that is. Last year, there was a point in the season where we found our identity. We’re still trying to develop our identity and use it to get better. Because every team has its own identity and we’ve got to find it.”
What exactly do the Bucs want their identity to be? It sounds vague, and the term sometimes gets thrown around without an answer.
Tampa has leaned on Winston’s throwing arm, since he’s logged 152 attempts and taken 11 sacks. Factor in occasional scrambles, and the Bucs have safely called more passes than runs. Only the New England Patriots have tallied more passing yards per game.
But the team’s production hasn’t been consistent.
Although Winston has played through a shoulder injury, his velocity seems to be fine. Poor footwork, questionable decisions and downfield inaccuracy are bigger factors in his shaky performances — most recently a 210-yard, two-interception day in a 17-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers.
Plus, the offensive line has struggled to regularly create running room for Doug Martin and Co. The Bucs are averaging a meager 3.7 yards per carry and rank 29th in total yards per game so far this season.
Tampa wants to rely on Winston, but he’s not that quarterback yet. The offense is more effective when Martin can run, but the Bucs can’t be confident in their blocking.
Until one of those negatives is solved, Tampa won’t have an identity.