Chop Chat
Fansided

Opinion: 3 reasons Deshaun Watson isn’t Jameis Winston

By Kelvin Hunt

Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Deshaun Watson (Clemson) is selected as the number 12 overall pick to the Houston Texans in the first round the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Deshaun Watson (Clemson) is selected as the number 12 overall pick to the Houston Texans in the first round the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
Dec 18, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) talks to wide receiver Mike Evans (13) before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) talks to wide receiver Mike Evans (13) before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

X’s and O’s

I disagree with Shaw when he said Watson is slightly ahead of Winston when it comes to X’s and O’s. I think there’s a significant gap between the two players.

Clemson uses a HUNH (Hurry Up No Huddle) spread offense that’s particularly dangerous with a mobile quarterback.

The offense was brought to Clemson when Chad Morris became their offensive coordinator in 2011, and they kept most of it after he moved on to become the head coach at SMU in 2015.

I don’t want to call it a gimmick offense, but it isn’t a pro-style offense like the one FSU implores with Jimbo Fisher.

Basically, Clemson uses tons of formations, tempo and the threat of Watson running to create mismatches against opposing defenses.

How much of Clemson’s offense is transferable to the NFL level? If Clemson ran no huddle most of the time, how is Watson going to command the huddle in the NFL? How’s he going to perform when he has to recite a play that’s told to him in his helmet instead of looking at signs on the sidelines.

Another considerable factor is Clemson’s propensity to run plays from the shotgun. Watson almost never went under center, even when Clemson was in the red zone which cost them a number of times.

I’m not saying Watson won’t be able to learn these things, but these are two areas where Winston had a huge advantage coming out of college.

It was clear early on Jameis Winston was going to be the day one starter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after he was drafted No. 1 overall in 2014. However, it looks like the Houston Texans will take it slow with Watson as he gets acclimated to the pro game.

Home/Florida State Seminoles news