The Sports Xchange

TAMPA — They entered the NFL with expectations that come with being a Heisman Trophy quarterback and national champion. Both were the No. 1 overall picks and went to the worst team in football coming off a 2-14 record.

So if there is anyone who knows what it’s like to be Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarter Jameis Winston, it’s the Panthers’ Cam Newton.

The two will meet Sunday at 1 p.m. at Raymond James Stadium.

“For him, we had some of the same similarities of the whole process,” Newton said Wednesday. “The thing that myself and he had to learn is that it’s a long process. The thing he had and I also had was that determination of success and winning, but you’re coming into a league where you’re going to the worst team. So it’s a learning curve and a learning process, but he’ll be all right with his forte of him being him and the whole gambit of being a Heisman Trophy winner and the first overall pick. It’s something he’s learned to grasp and accept it with open arms.”

Newton was drafted first overall from Auburn in 2011, where he led the Tigers to a national title. He had his ups and downs as a rookie, without the benefit of an offseason since the players were embroiled in a lockout. The Panthers finished 6-10, but Newton was named the NFL’s Rookie of the Year. He became the first quarterback to pass for more than 4,000 yards as a rookie with 21 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.

Newton and Winston became friends while working with quarterback guru George Whitfield.

“I’ve talked to Cam numerous times,” Winston said. “He’s a great person for me to look up to and kind of modeled my style off what he’s been through. We’ve basically been through the same things, winning the Heisman and then going to the league. He’s definitely a great person to seek to find things I can do to better myself.”

What Winston has to do better is produce on the critical downs. The Bucs were 1-of-12 against the Texans on third down due to several drops and just poor throws.

Receiver Mike Evans looked rusty after missing much of the preseason and the first game with a hamstring strain. He was targeted 17 times and caught seven passes for 102 yards.

“Mike didn’t have his best day. He’d be the first to tell you that,” offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter said. “He missed a lot of time. That’s what happens when you’ve got a young guy, he’s still in his second year, he missed a lot of time and when he came back, you want to get him in there, he’s still one of our marquee players. They were challenging us to throw jump balls to him. Jameis threw a lot of really good balls, jump balls. I’m not telling you anything that Mike wouldn’t tell you. Mike is paid to make those catches.”

The Bucs lost both games to the Panthers last season with Derek Anderson at quarterback. Newton provides many more problems, especially his connection with tight end Greg Olsen.

“He does present quite a few challenges,” head coach Lovie Smith said. “He’s got excellent speed and great hands. He’s played in the league for quite some time. All those ins and outs of playing tight end, whether be in-line or in the backfield or split out wide, he’s got it down. He’s had good games against us in the past. Of course, I know him personally. They have some good weapons and he’s definitely one of the best weapons.”

Defensively, the Bucs have to find a way to shut down the running game after allowing 186 yards to the Texans last week.

SERIES HISTORY: 30th regular-season meeting. Panthers lead series, 18-11 and have won four in a row. Last season, the Bucs did not face Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, but lost to backup Derek Anderson twice. Panthers head coach Ron Rivera was a teammate of Bucs defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier with the Chicago Bears and worked under Bucs head coach Lovie Smith while defensive coordinator of the Bears.

GAME PLAN

–Last week, the Texans did everything to stop the run, committing an array of blitzes on first and second down. Head coach Lovie Smith wants to establish Doug Martin to keep the pressure off Winston. The Bucs offensive line did not allow a sack to the Texans or J.J. Watt last week. On Sunday they will have to contend with Jared Allen, who was just traded from the Bears.

Look for the Panthers to play a lot more Cover 2 than they saw with the Texans under Romeo Crennel. Winston also plans to distribute the football more evenly in the passing game. Defensively, the Bucs have to set the edge on the perimeter or Newton will run wild.