Head Coach Dirk Koetter did not need a lot of time to announce the starter for the week 11 matchup in New York. On Monday, he confirmed in a press conference that he will stick with Fitzpatrick.
Considering Fitzpatrick’s performances after the first two games, this decision is highly questionable to say the least. Fitzpatrick lost the last four games in which he started and had 8 interceptions and one lost fumble in those games.
In a desperate attempt to find a way to hold on to his job, which at the moment seems like mission impossible, Koetter is starting a 36-year-old journeyman quarterback with an all-time record of 50-74-1 who has been struggling mightily as of late rather than the franchise’s first overall pick drafted less than four years ago.
Let that sink in. That speaks volumes about what the Buccaneers think of Jameis Winston at the moment, which is obviously not much. Otherwise they would have started their high investment at a point where the season seems as good as lost and the newly announced starting quarterback has been struggling immensely.
Now would be the perfect time to insert Winston and figure out what he brings to the table in the last seven games of the season, a perfect scenario for the front office to find out whether he has what it takes and whether to stick with him in the future.
What are they going to get if they start Fitzpatrick now? Do they still believe he could save the season and get the Bucs into the playoffs? That is highly doubtful. So why not start Winston and find out whether he is worth sticking with in 2019? The front office seemingly has seen all it needs to see from Jameis Winston, otherwise the move to stick with Fitzpatrick at this particular point makes no sense at all.
