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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 /
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Sep 5, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive back Marquez White (27) against the Mississippi Rebels during the second half at Camping World Stadium. Florida State Seminoles defeated the Mississippi Rebels 45-34. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 5, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive back Marquez White (27) against the Mississippi Rebels during the second half at Camping World Stadium. Florida State Seminoles defeated the Mississippi Rebels 45-34. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Watson’s College Success Doesn’t Mean NFL Success

How much of Watson’s college success can be attributed to his ability to run the ball?

When Jameis Winston left Florida State he had rushed the ball 145 times (27 games) over two seasons. In contrast, Deshaun Watson ran the ball 435 times (38 games) during his three years at Clemson.

Watson averaged nearly 12 rushes per game while at Clemson, and frankly was a large reason for their success the past three years.

If you look at every big game Clemson had to win, Dabo Swinney ran Deshaun Watson in the dirt:

2016

  • Auburn-11 rushes
  • Louisville-14 rushes
  • Florida State-17 rushes
  • Virginia Tech-17 rushes
  • Oklahoma-15 rushes
  • Alabama-21 rushes

2015

  • Louisville-12 rushes
  • Notre Dame-16 rushes
  • Florida State-16 rushes
  • South Carolina-21 rushes
  • North Carolina-24 rushes
  • Oklahoma-24 rushes
  • Alabama-20 rushes

That’s a lot of running

If you take away Watson’s ability to run the ball, how effective is he going to be in the NFL? Jameis Winston can run too, but he can carve you up from the pocket even better.

He did it at Florida State and he’s doing it in the NFL. Winston is the youngest player with 3,000 and 4,000 passing yards in NFL history.

You don’t see Cam Newton running like he used to in the NFL. What about Colin Kaepernick or even Russell Wilson?

Wilson has gone from over 100 rushing attempts in 2014 and 2015 to just 72 in 2016. Cam Newton went below 100 rushing attempts for the first time in his career last season.

NFL defenses have adjusted to spread concepts introduced a few years ago, and if quarterbacks get blasted if they can’t drop back and throw the ball.

Jameis Winston could beat you from the pocket as a rookie, I don’t think the same can be said for Deshaun Watson.

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