SOONERS, SEVEN YEARS LATER
"His size and speed combination is amazing. But at the end of the day, just like at Florida State, we're going to go out there and compete," Winston said.
TRIPLE DIGITS
Over the past six weeks of NFL regular-season games, dating to Dec. 11, 2016, Minnesota's Adam Thielen and Tampa Bay's DeSean Jackson are tied for most 100-yard receiving games with three each. Jackson was with Washington last season. He's the new speedy complement to the strength and size of leading receiver Mike Evans.
The Buccaneers forced four first-half turnovers and built a 26-0 lead at the break over the Bears last week.
DEFENSE NOT DOMINANT
Now well-established as one of the league's premier interior defenders, with five Pro Bowl selections,NBA Jerseys China, McCoy has waited nearly five years for a crack at a sack or two of Bradford, his fellow Oklahoma City native.
"Jameis is Jameis," Rhodes said. "He's confident in everything he does."
Jameis Winston won the Heisman Trophy the following year while leading the Seminoles to the national championship.
"He's just a guy who built up confidence. He carries himself like a leader, which he is," Cook said.
The Vikings tied for seventh in the NFL last season with 27 forced turnovers, just two fewer than the Buccaneers, but they've gone two games without one this season.
No, speed is not part of Winston's elite skillset. His official 40-yard dash time at the NFL combine in 2015 was 4.97 seconds .
Winston will face an accomplished defense in Minnesota, with the Pro Bowl cornerback Rhodes one of the standouts.
Just about everything else is. With the Vikings uncertain this week about quarterback Sam Bradford's status, having started Case Keenum at Pittsburgh because of an injury to Bradford's left knee, the Buccaneers are clearly Winston's team.
Cornerback Robert McClain returned one of two interceptions of former Buccaneers quarterback Mike Glennon for a touchdown in the opening 29-7 win against Chicago , the league-leading fifth pickoff that the Bucs have scored on since Smith's arrival. Denver and Kansas City have four apiece.
Tampa Bay and St. Louis squared off in 2010 and 2012, splitting those matchups, but Bradford was injured and absent against the Bucs in 2013 and 2014 with St. Louis and 2015 with Philadelphia. Kellen Clemens, Austin Davis and Mark Sanchez started those games, respectively. So if Keenum is again asked to play, well, that's not going to change much of the defense's approach.
FILLING IN
TAMPA BAY EQUALS TAKEAWAY
"They might not go on that 'hut.' They may go on the second 'hut,' but once they hike that ball, the ball's going to the quarterback. Whoever's holding it, it's my job to get to him. I don't really care."
"They are some savages, man," wide receiver Mike Evans said. "I love our defense."
They're also in the bottom third of the league so far in points and yards allowed. The biggest disappointment, however, has been penalties.
"Those things,wholesale jerseys, they're correctable," coach Mike Zimmer said. "We've got to be more disciplined with our hands. We've got to be in a better position."
The Bucs again will play without running back Doug Martin, who must sit two more games to fulfill a suspension for violating NFL policy on performance-enhancing drugs. Martin had his first of 11 career 100-yard games on Oct. 25, 2012, at Minnesota. In his absence, Jacquizz Rodgers carried the ball 19 times for 67 yards and one touchdown against the Bears.
Here are some other topics pertinent to the game on Sunday:
"He always wanted to race. He thought he was the fastest person on the team, knowing he was the slowest. He was competing in everything, thought he had the best hands, thought he could cover anyone," said Rhodes, who'll be defending Winston on Sunday with the Minnesota Vikings. "I'm like, 'Bro,Cheap Jerseys Store, you're just an all-around athlete, huh? Running a 4.8, huh?'"
The defense has accounted for 10 of 21 infractions committed by the Vikings,Cheap NFL Jerseys From China, with pass interference calls on Rhodes (22 yards) and Trae Waynes (49 yards) each extending a touchdown drive by the Steelers last week in a 26-9 defeat .
"Look, they're going to put one football down,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, and they're going to say, 'Hut,'" McCoy said.
Vikings running back Dalvin Cook, a freshman in Winston's final season with the Seminoles in 2014, recalled a certain read-option play where Winston would han