Winston says Bucs lacking an identity
TAMPA — The Bucs added a lot of new faces in the off-season, so it’s no surprise that at 2-5, they don’t recognize the team that posted a winning record last season.
In some ways, quarterback Jameis Winston said the Bucs are victims of identity theft.
“I think this team has to find its common ground and our team, we’re still learning what that is,’’ Winston said Thursday. “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.
“Anytime you have new pieces to the puzzle, you’re always seeing how you can work it. I’m ready for us to go ahead and find our identity. ... It’s a completely new team every year.’’
Of course, Winston is the focal point for the Bucs problems. He’s playing with a sprained AC joint in his right throwing shoulder and Tampa Bay has lost four games in a row.
Once one of the darlings of the 2015 NFL draft as the No. 1 overall pick, Winston drew instant comparisons to Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota, who went one spot below him. With the success of the Eagles Carson Wentz, the Rams Jared Goff, the Texans’ Deshaun Watson, the Cowboys Dak Prescott and Mariota, Winston’s inability to make the Bucs a consistent winner is starting to pale in comparison.
“You really can’t compete with nobody when you’re losing,’’ Winston said. “Stats don’t really matter. Wins matter, especially at this position. So I’m competing against everybody. I’m not just competing against the young guys. The young guys are doing real good, though. But I compete with everyone.
“But the ultimate thing that defines the quarterback is that win column. So it doesn’t matter how good someone is looking or numbers, you’ve got to win. That’s what I’m not doing right now. You’ve got to win. That’s in my blood. I’ve got to find a way to do it.’’
Whether it’s the passing game or the run game, the answer to the Bucs’ offensive woes can begin at the line of scrimmage, where the line goes into Sunday’s game at New Orleans wanting to be a catalyst for change.
“We have to be on point. It kind of all starts with us,” guard J.R. Sweezy said. “Nothing really works without us, so we have to be on our stuff, playing on top of our game for everybody else to play at the top of their game.”
The offensive line hasn’t been bad in 2017 — the Bucs have allowed 13 sacks in seven games, putting them on pace for five fewer than the 35 allowed last year. Tampa Bay’s run game is 29th in the NFL at 81 yards per game, and 24th in yards per carry at 3.7.
“The biggest thing for us, it’s getting back to our technique,” said Evan Smith, who has split time with Kevin Pamphile at left guard. “We’ve been doing a lot of really good things. The biggest thing is consistency, week in and week out, always being the same group.”
Bucs coach Dirk Koetter said success on either side of the ball starts with the line, for his team and any NFL team.
“Everything starts at the line of scrimmage — we’ve all seen what happens when any team doesn’t play well up front,” Koetter said. “That’s every offense in the league.”