Jameis Winston had a very successful rookie season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but there are plenty of areas in which he could improve. One of them is his conditioning and fitness, and Winston recently acknowledged that.
In an interview with Peter King of The MMQB, Winston said he realized during his trip to the Pro Bowl that he needs to get in better shape.
“The most important thing I learned is I have to get my body in shape, because those men look good,” the former Florida State star said. “Not just the other quarterbacks—everyone. Their bodies look good. But also, Russell Wilson’s preparation at the Pro Bowl. You know, it’s a relaxing event, and he is still doing everything the right way. He is the first one to the huddle, leading guys in stretches, running everywhere you go.”
By getting on a more strict fitness routine, Winston is hoping to improve his quickness in the pocket.
“I want to work on my foot quickness,” he said. “I believe I have good pocket presence, but you never can be too good with your feet, so I have to make sure my feet are quicker. Sometimes I get too wide in the pocket, and I need to keep my feet up under me and be a little smoother in the pocket. I need to improve everything, really, but I just have to get quicker.”
If you remember, an unflattering photo that showed Winston working out before the draft last year led to a great deal of criticism. The former Florida State star had supposedly lost weight before that, but another photo a month later showed him looking just as chunky. At one point, Winston even cracked a fat joke at his own expense.
Winston acknowledging that he needs to improve in many areas — including getting into better shape — should be music to Bucs fans’ ears. Being self-aware is incredibly important for an NFL quarterback.
