Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston's pro-day workout Tuesday might not have added any question marks for NFL coaches and scouts about the potential No. 1 overall pick, but it didn't appear to answer any, either. Winston's private quarterback coach, George Whitfield, said before the workout that the 102-throw script would include its share of throws to show Winston's improvement in maintaining his balance while throwing on the run and with a simulated pass rush forcing him to adjust.
That part of the workout didn't go well.
"The frustrating thing watching it is, as a quarterback, you want to see him get into a rhythm," NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah said during NFL Network's broadcast of FSU's pro day. "To me it looks like there's so much movement stuff they're trying to sell and show that Jameis hasn't been able to get comfortable and get in that rhythm."
Added analyst Kurt Warner: "Every time he's been on the move, he's been off a little bit. ... We've seen some throws (behind) receivers."
Winston's status as the draft's top quarterback, and the presumptive target of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the top pick, wasn't at risk in a pro-day setting. Still, NFL Media analysts saw some of the same struggles from Winston on Tuesday that were apparent in his game film. Analyst Brian Baldinger questioned the structure of the workout itself.
"I am surprised that George Whitfield OK'd this here today," he said. "I think it's unnecessary, what he's doing. This looks like the workout any quarterback would do at their first minicamp," Baldinger said. "I don't think this is putting him in the best light."
While Winston struggled early in the workout when asked to throw the ball more on the move, he threw effectively on deep passes from the pocket, and finished with a series of red-zone throws that were praised across the board.
"I thought his red zone was really, really good. I saw the bounce back in Jameis Winston's stride at that time," analyst Charles Davis said.
Jeremiah described Winston's throwing session as a basketball workout that began with 360 dunks and ended with the lay-ups.
All 32 NFL teams were on hand to not only watch Winston, but evaluate a lengthy cast of other Seminoles prospects including center Cam Erving, defensive linemen Eddie Goldman and Mario Edwards Jr., cornerbacks Ronald Darby and P.J. Williams, and several others. Five NFL coaches attended FSU's pro day, including the Saints' Sean Payton, the Buccaneers' Lovie Smith, the Titans' Ken Whisenhunt, the Jets' Todd Bowles and the Steelers' Mike Tomlin.
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