NFC Notes: Buccaneers, Panthers, Redskins

Buccaneers

New Buccaneers HC Bruce Arians believes a lot of Jameis Winston‘s struggles can be related to some mechanical issues. 

“I’ve studied a bunch of them,” Arians tells Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. “Clyde [Christensen] has watched every throw he’s made since his rookie year and Byron [Leftwich], too. And it’s like you’re trying to look safeties off too long and your feet are crossed. So much of it is mechanical.”

Arians added that new coaching staff should really help Winston out. 

“I like to call it the driving range, taking him to the range,” Arians said. “Clyde is one of the best and we go to the range 30 minutes a day, just footwork and drills and throwing off balance and making these throws. You don’t get to stand there and throw it (overhand) perfectly all the time.

“One of the great feelings as a coach is when you do a drill and you see it in the game. That’s exactly what we practiced last Wednesday and the guy can do it now. That’s coaching.”

Panthers

Panthers HC Ron Rivera is well aware of the fact that he’s going to have to keep evolving as a head coach in order to retain his job long term. 

“I have to evolve, I have to change,” Rivera said, via Jourdan Rodrigue of the Charlotte Observer. “This team has to evolve, this team has to change. … I’ve got to step up. I’ve got to set the standard.”

“The biggest mistake, the biggest realization, I wish had come (earlier),” Rivera added. “But we were playing well. We were winning. It’s not like we were getting blown out, other than in Pittsburgh. I missed it. That’s why I missed it. If, after Pittsburgh, Detroit had been a 17-point blowout, now all of the sudden the bells and whistles are going off.”

Redskins

• According to JP Finlay of NBC Washington, the word around the Redskins is that they won’t consider the “nuclear option” for QB Alex Smith and release him this offseason, which would result in a $40 million cap hit. 
• Redskins president Bruce Allen has said that they’re holding out hope Smith can return from his significant leg injury and Finlay says if that ends up being the case, it’s possible Washington may not be interested in drafting a quarterback in round one this year. 
• Finlay points out that the Redskins have Colt McCoy under contract for the 2019 season and could always sign a reasonably priced veteran to serve as their backup before seeing if Smith is able to return for the 2020 season.