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Bucs plan to buy virtual reality system to help Jameis Winston
With still more than a month to go until the beginning of training camp, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers want to do anything they can to develop quarterback Jameis Winston for his rookie season. With that in mind, according to Fox Sports, the team plans to purchase a “virtual reality system” in order to help Winston prepare for life as an NFL starter.
The Dallas Cowboys were the first NFL team to install a virtual reality system. Stanford and Clemson have done it at the college level, too.
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Bucs offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, who called Winston “a film junkie,” said the technology could definitely be beneficial for the rookie.
The Cowboys have a system that allows quarterbacks to “virtually place themselves" into practice settings "and watch a 360-view of practice complete with sound via headset." The play can be rewound as many times as a quarterback or coach wants, allowing them to scrutinize every aspect of a particular snap.
Currently, Winston puts in extra work on the field with quarterbacks coach Mike Bajakian.
“I visualize the concept and go through reads with no one out there,” Winston told Fox Sports. “I haven’t done any virtual things.”
Koetter and the Bucs would like that to change soon, but they are looking for the right fit.
"What I tell vendors that come in to show us stuff is that we need it today," Koetter said. "Some people tell us, 'This will be ready in three months. I say, 'No, Jameis needs this tomorrow.'”
If the virtual reality system can help Winston with his adjustment from college to the pros while keeping the Bucs’ backups sharp, you could see other teams follow suit with the technology.
Cowboys backup Brandon Weeden told the team’s website last week that the technology is “invaluable.”
“You can rewind it as many times as you want and really get a grasp of fine tuning each play,” Weeden said. “Out there [on the field] it happens so fast, you’re kind of running plays and it’s rapid fire. In there it gives you the ability to rewind it, really understand it.
“They’re on to something. It’s a cool deal.”
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
