Thoughts From the Morning After: FSU 24 UF 19

Nov 29, 2014; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jameis Winston (5) comes off of the field after throwing an interception during the first half of the game against the Florida Gators at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

Jameis Winston’s Worst

Without a doubt, by almost every measure, yesterday was Jameis Winston’s worst game. The redshirt sophomore QB threw three first quarter interceptions and one in the second half, setting a new career high for picks while also setting career lows for completion percentage and passing yards.

“It’s crazy to throw three picks in the first quarter. That’s wild. I was like, wow,” said Winston after the game. “But like I said, I’ve got to keep the intensity up. I can’t let guys see me struggling. People can say, ‘oh, Jameis is struggling on the field,’ but I’m never going to let my morale as a person or my ego change because of a bad performance by me. So my job as a quarterback is to lead the guys. Sometimes I didn’t lead by example, but I still lead mentally.”

Maybe the best way to frame it is to consider just how uncharacteristic yesterday was for the reigning Heisman winner– that’s never happened before.

Winston is now 25-0 as a starter. If he turns pro after the season he will have never lost a regular season game in his college career. That’s unheard of. It hasn’t been done since the 50’s when Oklahoma was on it’s record win streak. And that guy wasn’t slinging it like Winston.

Florida State fans don’t — and likely will not until it’s too late — realize how spoiled they are right now with Winston at QB. Quarterbacks don’t just come in and — from the first game — start their careers as one of the best quarterbacks in the country. Some may develop into that. But most have growing pains. There are interceptions that come in bunches. It may take a while to iron out mechanics. Maybe he has to learn not to stare down receivers. Or to read more exotic coverages. Or to run less. Or more.

That has not been true of Winston. There have been little things, but for the most part his biggest issues have been a long release and the fact he always wants to attack rather than checking down and taking what’s there for him underneath.

Other than that though, Winston hit the ground running at FSU and hasn’t looked back.

While Marcus Mariota is impressive at Oregon — and often pointed to as Winston’s contemporary — it’s worth pointing out that Oregon’s offense has historically produced impressive QB numbers. Mariota’s numbers have been the best, and he’s a rare talent, but when you compare those stats to the ones Darron Thomas and Dennis Dixon put up, it becomes clear the offense lends itself to impressive numbers.

Jimbo Fisher on the other hand runs an offense that has produced three consecutive first round quarterbacks– none of whom came close to running Fisher’s offense at the level Winston does.

In 25 starts this was the first time Winston has ever had what you could consider a bad game. And even then it looked worse than it actually was. There were a few egregious mistakes on Winston’s part, but the Gators also made a pair of absurdly difficult interceptions on passes that had little business getting picked.

Granted, it’s a better team around him, but this was not EJ Manuel’s four turnovers. This was no where near as fatal.

And it also underscores how gifted Winston is. As Jimbo Fisher likes to remind people, ‘it’s ball.’ People are competing. Players are going to have bad days.

Usually a lot more often than once every 25 games.

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