The Bucs know Jameis Winston will experience some growing pains as a rookie quarterback starting from Day One. If the offensive line in front of him doesn’t start playing better, Winston will have other pains, too.
In a rough showing Saturday night, Winston was sacked four times by the Browns defense. He completed 6-of-15 passes for 90 yards and was intercepted.
It was a short week for the Bucs, who also played without top wide receiver Mike Evans. But Winston was much better in the second preseason game last Monday than he was in the first, and he and the Bucs failed to build on that performance against the Browns.
The Bucs got just one first down in their first four series Saturday. A 26-yard Winston pass to Vincent Jackson and a 19-yard run by Doug Martin made for a quick two-play touchdown drive in the second quarter, but the Bucs then missed a field goal and then went three-and-out before halftime.
For the second straight week, cameras caught Winston limping on the sideline after being sacked. He’ll learn, eventually, to protect himself from big hits, and the spotlight will be on the Bucs’ offensive line to perform and protect him.