FSU Alums: Bucs coaches want one thing from Jameis Winston in 2019

Former FSU quarterback Jameis Winston is entering his fifth season in the NFL – and the newest coaches in Tampa Bay are asking for one thing from him.

While the FSU football family is, without question, focused on what the Seminoles will do on Saturdays during the 2019 season, there is of course a segment of the group that will be focusing just as much on what the dozens of former Seminoles are doing in the NFL each Sunday…and Monday…and the occasional Thursday.

From Atlanta to New England and Minnesota to Oakland, the lineups across the 32 pro teams are full of former FSU stars – but the biggest name that will be watched for many wearing garnet and gold to start the week will be in Tampa Bay for what may be the final season of quarterback Jameis Winston in the 813.

Winston, who dominated for FSU in his two seasons as starter that included a 26-1 record along with two ACC titles, a national championship and spot in the College Football Playoff along with the Heisman Trophy, is entering his fifth and final season of his rookie contract with the Buccaneers.

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It will also be a new beginning yet again for Winston when it comes to his coaching staff with Bruce Arians taking over in Tampa – the third head coach to lead the Bucs since Jameis was drafted before the 2015 season.

Arians is also bringing with him a new offensive coordinator in former NFL quarterback Byron Leftwich. After taking over the play calling duties for the Arizona Cardinals last season, Leftwich was praised for his work and now has a chance to up his resume for a possibly head coaching job – if he can get the former FSU champ to play along with his gameplan.

For everything to work out, Leftwich told CBSSports.com that there needs to be one main thing from Winston – trust.

"“‘I don’t care what the answer is, just give me honesty,’ because once I know how he’s winding and how he thinks, I can begin to call plays for him. It’s hard to really communicate and talk to people you don’t know.Jameis and I are building a friendship also, like I’m doing with the rest of these players, we’re building friendships with these guys because that’s what you ultimately want. Family — everybody preaches family around the league, but this is what it means.”"

Considering the Bucs have had just one winning season in the four years that Winston has played for them, anything that would increase the number of wins (Tampa Bay went 5-11 each of the last two seasons) would be a bonus for everyone in the picture.

Winston has faced as much pressure for self-inflicted issues off the field dating back to his time with FSU, so if he can be honest with his coaches and grow up off the field at the same time there is no reason to deny that good things can take place inside Raymond James Stadium during the upcoming season.