TAMPA — The Buccaneers were down by nine and struggling to move the ball late in the first quarter of their preseason opener against the Vikings when rookie quarterback Jameis Winston combined into one play all the skills that made him the first pick in the 2015 NFL draft.
As he dropped back to pass on third-and-14 from his own 18-yard line, Winston saw safety Robert Blanton take a step toward tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins and knew immediately that wide receiver Vincent Jackson would be facing single coverage while running a post pattern deep down the right sideline.