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Bucs’ Clyde Christensen: Jameis Winston will become an elite quarterback

The quarterbacks coach says he feels like he failed Winston, who is still looking for a new NFL home.
 
Bucs quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen, center, expects Jameis Winston to thrive in the NFL with another team.
Bucs quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen, center, expects Jameis Winston to thrive in the NFL with another team. [ Times ]
Published April 3, 2020

TAMPA — Jameis Winston has made a lot of promises, but none more serious than when he married his high school sweetheart, Breion Allen, in a ceremony last Friday.

But the former Bucs quarterback still is looking to partner with an NFL team. After leading the league with 5,109 passing yards, Winston is available more than two weeks after the start of free agency.

The reasons are unclear. A restriction on travel for NFL players during the COVID-19 pandemic may be a big one. The fact that Winston has led the NFL in turnovers, including 30 interceptions and five lost fumbles last season, since entering the league in 2015 is another.

Related: How the Bucs decided to cut ties with Jameis Winston

Tampa Bay signed Tom Brady to a two-year, $50 million contract and had Winston ranked third behind the Patriots quarterback and Saints backup Teddy Bridgewater entering free agency. Bridgewater, who backed up Drew Brees and went 5-0 with the Saints last year, signed a three-year, $63 million contract with the Carolina Panthers.

Bucs quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen, however, says he believes Winston will be an elite quarterback in the NFL and feels like he let down the former Heisman Trophy winner from Florida State.

“He works. It was a shock to me,” Christensen said Thursday on the Pat McAfee Show. “He is humble, he works every bit as hard as Peyton (Manning) and Andrew (Luck) did. I mean he works. This guy overworks, probably over-trains is one of his problems. But I think it’s going to click. Hopefully, he lands exactly in the right place. I trust God he’ll get to the right place.”

Christensen went on to talk about the expectations and pressure that come with being a No. 1 draft pick, and that while the Bucs were not a good fit, he is confident another team will be.

“I loved Jameis Winston. I loved working with Jameis Winston,” Christensen said. “I really believe he’s going to get the right chance at the right place. Maybe like (the Titans’) Ryan Tannehill. He may take a step backward, who knows what the scenario will be? But he will rise to the top. I think he’s a starting, upper-echelon quarterback in this NFL and I do think he’s going to get these interceptions under control a little bit.

"In some ways, I feel like I failed him. As a coach, you take that personal. Whatever, I didn’t get it done. I didn’t help this kid. This kid is better than 30 interceptions and we didn’t get it done and that I have to live with. But I do think he’s a great kid and he’s going to some great things.”

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Related: Bucs’ Chris Godwin: Jameis Winston took ‘more of the blame than he deserved’

Winston, 26, has demonstrated flashes of greatness. He leaves Tampa Bay as the franchise’s all-time passing leader with nearly 20,000 yards. But turnovers have been the downfall of his career and he knows it. His 88 career interceptions are second only to Vinny Testaverde for most in club history. Last season, opponents scored 112 points off Winston’s turnovers.

Winston, however, is among only six players to have thrown for at least 5,000 yards in a season, a list that includes Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Dan Marino and Matthew Stafford.

“He threw for 5,000 yards and you look at that list and it’s six players that have done that," Christensen said. “His good was really good. You’ve got to change about 15 plays and you’re going to have a heck of a quarterback on your hands."