The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been one of the most disappointing teams in the NFL this season, and they have been one of the worst teams in the NFL for decades. It is a shame because they have a plethora of talent on their team, with Jameis Winston, Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson, and Gerald McCoy. They also have a coach who has a brilliant offensive mind in Dirk Koetter, and a general manager who is not afraid to make big moves. He traded for Jameis Winston, who threw for a league high 4,042 yards and 26 touchdowns. He also traded for DeSean Jackson, who is providing yet another dimension to their offense. Finally, they traded for Gerald McCoy, who is a great player himself,
It’s been a long time since the Saints invested in a wide receiver to replace the production of Marques Colston, but they may have finally found their man in Michael Thomas. Thomas joins a Saints team that is struggling to find ways to get the ball into the hands of their playmakers, especially after star running back Mark Ingram was lost for the season due to injury. If the Saints are to turn their season around in 2017, Thomas will need to be a key part of the offense.
After a disappointing year, New Orleans Saints receiver Michael Thomas has a lot to prove this season. Of course, his success depends heavily on what happens to the quarterback. While Jameis Winston has far more experience as a passer than Taysom Hill, that doesn’t mean Thomas should be excited about taking over. Thomas has every reason to be concerned about his future, given the events of Winston’s final year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Saints move on with Jameis Winston or Tysom Hill as starting quarterback
. The Drew Brees era finally came to an end this season. Although he didn’t get his second Super Bowl ring before retiring, the future Hall of Fame player was an elite quarterback for New Orleans for more than a decade. When Brees finally left the game, it opened the door for a new starter. Saints coach Sean Payton will spend the summer watching Winston and Hill compete for the QB1 role. The two players couldn’t be more different stylistically, which would make the match even more interesting. On one hand, Winston fits the prototype of the NFL quarterback. At 1.90m and 80kg, he has the perfect height for the position. He also has a strong arm and enough mobility to move in the pocket. But every analytical report on Winston should feature his penchant for intercepting balls in bold. In his five years in Tampa, the former Florida State star threw 88 interceptions and committed 50 fumbles in 72 games (including 15 in 2017). He also failed to live up to his first choice title in terms of leadership qualities. Hill, meanwhile, brings unique skills to the game with his ability to contribute in a variety of ways. But after spending his NFL career as a gadget player, the fifth-year pro will face an uphill battle to prove he can suddenly become a starting quarterback at 31.
Michael Thomas must be worried about Winston taking over
New Orleans Saints receiver Michael Thomas looks to the crowd while quarterback Jameis Winston stands in the pocket, ready to throw. | Mitchell Leff/Getty Images Chris Graythen/Getty Images With so much uncertainty at the most important position in the sport, it’s hard to predict the Saints’ offensive performance this season. In particular, predicting the kind of performance Thomas will deliver remains an incredibly difficult task. Given Winston’s recent track record, he may not be the best option for the team’s top receiver. Taking a closer look at Winston’s work, Thomas should indeed be very worried about his future. Larry Holder of The Athletic has a detailed analysis of the quarterback’s stats when throwing slant routes. In 2018, Winston threw a catchable pass 80% of the time on slant routes. He completed 68% of his attempts and scored 255 yards and two touchdowns. His quarterback rating was 127.9. But in 2019, Winston went in the exact opposite direction. In his final season with the Bucaniers, his catch rate dropped nearly 19%. At the same time, the completion rate fell to 52.8%. He threw one touchdown and two interceptions, and his quarterback rating was 58.4. Winston’s breakdown should make Thomas nervous. According to Holder, the 6-foot-3, 212-pound wideout was targeted 59 times in 2018/19 and caught 53 catches for 560 yards and four touchdowns. Because Thomas has no superior speed, he relies on his size and strength to beat defenders on short and medium routes. Brees was able to hit it, but the fact that Winston threw so poorly slants in his senior year in Tampa doesn’t bode well for Thomas.
Can both players leave after the 2021 season?
For some reason I feel compelled to remind TL that neither Jameis Winston nor Taysom Hill are under contract until the end of next season. – Amie Just (@Amie_Just) April 29, 2021 If Winston and Thomas don’t come to the Magic this season, will the Saints be able to do without both players? It’s not as unfathomable as you might think. With Winston on a one-year contract, it’s clear that New Orleans will wait to see his long-term future with the team. Maybe he’ll surprise people by taking better care of the ball and leading the Saints to another double-digit season. But if he doesn’t master his slant routes (and other elements of his game), Winston may have to look for a new home in the NFL next spring. What about Thomas? His name surfaced in trade rumors last year. Can New Orleans drop him if he doesn’t return to the level of a top receiver? The Saints can waive his contract after the season if they are willing to accept $22.7 million in dead money. And if they do it right, they can spread that capital expense over two years. If Thomas doesn’t live up to his expensive contract after an injury-plagued season, don’t be surprised if he plays for another team in 2022. All contract details are provided by Spotrac. COMPARED TO: Seahawks should ignore Russell Wilson’s desires to play with Julio Jones if they know what’s best for them
