After that opening stretch of four games, the impact of the lessons became more apparent. In the last 12 games of the season, Winston threw just eight more interceptions -- and 16 touchdown passes. The team was in contention for a wild-card spot going into the final month of the season, until a knee injury to Vincent Jackson, among other things, slowed the team and succumbed them to a four-game losing streak.

"I see a guy that made really, really good progress last year," said one general manager whose team faced Winston last year. "You saw solid-to-significant progress. It looked like he grew up and matured as a person quicker than a lot of people thought he would. I think he'll continue to progress."

The first sign of more progress is plainly visible: Winston dropped nearly 20 pounds since last season, when he played with a noticeable belly and what, at times, looked like a plodding gait out of the pocket. Bajakian said Winston knew even before the 2015 season ended that he had to work on his fitness. They had spoken about the need to be durable, to be able to play at a high level consistently during a long season. Because Winston was so much more proficient in the mental parts of the game after a season in it, the Bucs wanted him to focus on the physical. The point was driven home, Winston said, when he joined the game's best players in Hawaii.

"When I went to the Pro Bowl and I saw Russell Wilson and Teddy Bridgewater and even Eli Manning, all those guys -- they were in good shape, they were fit, they didn't have much body fat," Winston said. "I took it upon myself to be more like them, to get better. I don't feel like I had any limitations -- I just feel like the more in shape you are, the better you play. Any way you can invest in yourself to make you play better is a good thing."

With the late-night eating banished by his trainer, who put Winston through two-a-day workouts, and the baby fat gone, so too are some of the reins on Winston. While the defensive-minded Smith might have preferred a more conservative style of offense, it is obvious that if the Bucs are to make progress in the NFC South, it will be with Winston as the centerpiece. Proven receiver depth behind Mike Evans and Jackson is a concern. But during joint practices this summer between the Bucs and Jaguars, Winston's former college teammate, Jags 2016 first-round pick Jalen Ramsey, said the quarterback was like an extra coach on the field because of how well he communicates with his players. The Bucs are looking to take advantage of that. Winston has increased responsibility for play calls this season. Also, Koetter wants to run more no-huddle -- that's what jump-started Winston's game Sunday, and it's another reason why Winston's fitness was so important.

Koetter wants a downfield attack, the better to take advantage of a weapon like Evans -- who, at 6-foot-5 and 231 pounds, presents a formidable deep target for Winston. Winston, Bajakian and Koetter all voice the party line -- that the first priority is to take care of the ball, to limit turnovers as Winston did in the second half of last season. But they are walking a razor's edge, trying to balance the fear of turnovers with the dynamic playmaking that Winston put on display in the Bucs' third preseason game, when he scrambled out of the pocket on third down to set up a 3-yard touchdown pass to RB Charles Sims in the first quarter, and then tossed a majestic 34-yard touchdown pass to Evans in the second quarter.