New Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Todd Monken admits he was “dead wrong” about his initial impression of second-year quarterback Jameis Winston.
“I think that’s one thing that’s a misnomer,” Monken said, via the Tampa Bay Times. “I think from the outside you would’ve looked at it with all the things that were publicized in the past about him and who he is. I was dead wrong. He wants to win as much as we do. He’s a competitive joker, man, he’s smart, he’s intelligent…you can win a lot of games with guys like that.”
As a rookie, Winston threw for over 4,000 yards, with 22 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He made the Pro Bowl as an alternative add-in, while also avoiding the negative headlines that plagued his rocky time at Florida State.
After spending a few months with Winston, Monken has a whole new perspective on the young quarterback.
“I think that’s just general in life, especially with social media today, but even before then,” Monken said. “Without knowing a person, we make judgements without ever being around them. I think that’s just common, that’s not just Jameis, that’s people. You make thoughts, impressions when you meet someone on Facebook or Twitter or (Snapchat), you think you know them. You think you’re a part of their life, you have no idea what they’re like until you get around them and you’re around them day to day and see what they’re about. That’s in terms of life, not just him.”
The Buccaneers won six games in 2015, leading to the dismissal of head coach Lovie Smith. He was replaced by offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, who hired Monken—the former head coach at Southern Mississippi—to be his new offensive coordinator.
Koetter and Monken will now be tasked with getting the very most out of Winston—as a player and a person—moving forward.
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