Jimbo Fisher worries about Jameis Winston getting bored
Jimbo Fisher’s main goal for Jameis Winston this season is easy — make sure he doesn’t get bored.
After Winston won the Heisman Trophy and led his team to an ACC title and a national title, Fisher said it’s easy for a player of his caliber to get complacent.
“I think sometimes great players, great teams, greatness in general, can be dethroned, for lack of a better term, from boredom,’ Fisher said during ACC media day on Monday. “You get bored of doing the same thing over and over and over and over again, and when you have success, it's consistency and performance over a long period and you've got to do the same thing. And sometimes, it's human nature, you get bored, and I think that's going to be a huge challenge for him.”
If Winston was bored he sure didn’t show it on Sunday when he met with the media and couldn’t hide his excitement for the upcoming season.
While many might believe Winston is the best player in the game, Fisher said there are plenty of things Winston can do to become a better player this year.
It’s scary to think, but Winston, who was by far the most dominant player in the game as a freshman a year ago, could be even better as a sophomore.
“I think as a player you have to continue to grow yourself physically, and his footwork, his eye movement, his eye control, looking guys off even more,” Fisher said. “And I think understanding defenses even that much better, recognizing certain things, blitzes, scenarios, that much quicker because he can process the game and get the ball out even quicker, which he does tremendously now.
“But I think you can always get better in those things, and I think being patient — it's going to be a challenge to be patient because people aren't going to try and give up big plays to him this year, but acknowledge them when they're there, and just making sure you don't get bored with the game.”
Winston also noted Sunday that he needs to be more accountable to his teammates and stay out of off-field trouble. Much of this offseason's headlines were dominated by allegations of sexual assault and a shoplifting incident at a local grocery store. Winston said he’s learned a lot about the way he’s perceived off the field and the damage that can do to his team.
Fisher acknowledges Winston’s learning as well and said that’s also part of the process Winston will have to go through this year to become a better player.
“The thing about Jameis that amazes me is his ability to learn,” Fisher said. “The thing about Jameis that no one knows, and I think you got it yesterday, he's a genuine people person. He enjoys who he is. He loves being in front of people. If there's 300 people in a line, he'll sign every autograph before he leaves, shake every little kid's hand. He understands that.
“His ability to learn, his intelligence level, not just as a football player but as a person, as a student, all the things, he's a true student athlete. I think from that standpoint, his ability to learn is why he will always continue to grow and be successful because he understands mistakes, he's willing to accept them, he learns from them, he moves on, but he won't make those same mistakes twice. And I think his character and down deep who he truly is, is remarkable, and the more you're around it, the more you're amazed by him.”
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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at dr.saturday@ymail.com or follow her on Twitter!Follow @YahooDrSaturday
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