Jameis Winston's monster performance last night had the nation taking notice. (Credits: Justin A. Keller/Getty Images) |
Before redshirt freshman Jameis Winston ever started a game for the Florida State Seminoles, he had already made headlines. By admitting he had to avoid getting the "Manziel disease," one of cockiness, arrogance and bad press, he thrusted himself into the national spotlight. He could have just said that he needs to keep focus and be humble, but instead he used Manziel's name, perking up the public's ears. Pressure certainly cranked up on a notch on the kid. The Noles were excited for E.J. Manuel's replacement in Winston, but they weren't sure exactly how much they could expect from this 18-year-old quarterback. Monday night, they quickly learned the Winston way.
You could just look at the stats and tell Winston had a monster game, throwing for 356 yards and four TDs at a 25-of-27 rate. Add 25 rushing yards and a TD and you have one hell of a debut. Argue all you want about this game being against a Pittsburgh team that barely won six games last year, but Winston was sensational. His composure was tested at the on-set as coach Jimbo Fisher let him sling it play after play. He started out 11-of-11 and absolutely tearing the Pitt defense to shreds. It was like watching a master at work and yet this kid was playing his first collegiate football game in the rain and on the road. But, it ain't no thing to Winston.
Florida State was supposed to manhandle Pitt. So they did. Was Winston supposed to have the game he had? No. You can't expect a guy, in his first start, to have such a spectacular performance. People would have forgiven Jimbo Fisher if he ran the ball 40 times and kept the rock out of Winston's hands as much as he can. But, the trust the coach put in his QB tells me that the entire FSU team's confidence is sky high. How could you not be confident in him, when his first touchdown pass was a perfect 24-yard-strike as he was falling backwards under heavy pressure. It was a no-doubter "Wow" moment. This guy knows when to get rid of the ball, where to get rid of it and does so in blink-of-the-eye fashion.
Knowing the Doak Campbell faithful, Winston will get a raucous applause when he's introduced in two Saturdays at home against Nevada. The place should be absolutely buzzing at what could be the arrival of the next great QB in the program's storied history. With his talents, fans could be dreaming even bigger. You just got that feeling last night that this kid is going to be special. That feeling that he's going to make FSU fans very happy for a few years to come. You felt it before he even took a snap and now it's hard to ignore. Nevada very well could be walking into a buzzsaw.
Winston might have used a Manziel comparison in a negative way, but Jameis looks to have possess all those same positives Johnny football does. Sure, it's only Week 1 and it was against Pitt, but I have a feeling the rest of the ACC has been put on notice.
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