Buccaneers' Jameis Winston: Working on no-huddle and scramble drills in mini-camp

Winston is being put through increased no-huddle and scramble drills during mini-camp now that he has a full grasp of the offense, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports. "Jameis can handle a lot and does handle a lot every day," said [head coach Dirk] Koetter. "He can handle more than we're giving him. Compared to last year at this time, he knows way, way more than he did a year ago at this time. Also if you remember a year ago at this time, he was probably throwing three or four interceptions every single day and you saw even when things broke down today, Jameis pulled the ball down and ran. That's one thing we've been working hard on is our scramble drill."

Analysis:

The second-year quarterback heads into his sophomore campaign with considerable expectations due to his stellar rookie season, as well as his notable physical improvement this offseason. The benefit of working in head coach Dirk Koetter's offensive system for a second consecutive year is also reason for optimism, and the experience Winston gained while starting all 16 games in 2015 has coaches confident he's ready to take on additional responsibility this season. A new-look defense courtesy of first-year Bucs coordinator Mike Smith is also helping the effectiveness of the drills, as the unfamiliarity of the scheme has helped test Winston's decision-making with respect to when to take off on the ground as opposed to forcing a throw. Winston is also enjoying the pace of the no-huddle drills, as he feels it accentuates his natural abilities, along with those of his offensive teammates. "I think me playing fast-paced, the more you can cut out thinking, the better you are," said Winston. "Especially for the young guys that we have, we just get up there, you call a play and you go with it. Any time you can create rhythm and repetition of the same stuff it's good and it works, so I like no-huddle. Everyone likes no huddle."