TAMPA — Buccaneers rookie Jameis Winston is one of a dozen starting quarterbacks who has been sacked at least once every dozen times he’s dropped back to pass this season. That sack rate has some, including coach Lovie Smith, wondering if more padded practices would help young offensive linemen learn the art of pass protection.
“I would agree that when you’re a young player, every practice you have or every padded practice for a lineman only stimulates their growth,’’ Smith said. “I would agree with that point.’’
In an effort to reduce injuries, the NFL agreed to a clause in the most recent Collective Bargaining Agreement that limits the number of padded practices each season to 14.