Jameis Winston excelled in play-action, Donovan Smith inconsistent

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost to the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, and Pro Football Focus has their opinions ready, as usual. They have a few interesting notes, most notably on where Winston excelled in a tough game, and how Donovan Smith played.

Quarterback Jameis Winston fielded the league's best NFL QB Rating on play action passes in week 8. He completed 6-of-6 attempted play action passes for 90 yards and 1 TD. His 158.3 NFL QB Rating was 42.3 points higher than the next closest QB on play action passes during week 8.

I keep hearing people call for more and more no-huddle, because folks mostly remember all the successful drives, and not the ones where no-huddle just leads to quick three-and-outs and a punt. But statistics like this throw a wrench in those assessments.

That’s not to say there’s no room for no-huddle and hurry-up offenses, but they have their place and time, and they’re not a panacea. Winston’s throws won’t suddenly be accurate just because he’s getting to the line more quickly, nor will receivers not drop balls because they had to sprint to get back into position.

PFF also had something to say about Donovan Smith, as they always do. Surprise: not particularly impressed.

LT Donovan Smith has allowed 2 or more QB hurries in every game this season as he allowed the 2nd most total QB pressures among NFL tackles this week. His 6 total pressures allowed were tops in the NFC as he allowed 1 QB Hit, 1 QB sack and 4 QB hurries - the latter being good enough to place him 3rd in the NFL for hurries allowed among tackles.

Donovan Smith continues to get poor reviews from Pro Football Focus, who certainly aren’t the be-all end-all of football evaluation, but do actually watch these folks play — and Smith certainly got beat a few too many times, as he does in many games.

Smith’s play has been inconsistent this season, and he’s alternated good and bad games. The focus on pressures isn’t all that illuminating, necessarily, because those are also affected by the quarterback and offense in general — but they do say something. Smith still has potential and he’s not the single biggest problem on offense, but he’s not exactly a high point, either.