Mike Smith Salutes America
January 21st, 2016
Bullish on Jameis.
New Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith loves America.
To be more specific, Smith is big on America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston. Jameis was a big reason Smith came to Tampa Bay.
Yesterday, when Smith took the podium at One Buc Palace, he spoke to the local pen and mic club just after a two-hour staff meeting with his new Bucs defensive assistants.
Smith made no bones about it; had Dirk Koetter not been named head coach, not only would Smith not be in Tampa Bay, he wouldn’t be a defensive coordinator anywhere. After all, he had interviewed with the Giants to replace Tom Coughlin.
But when pressed, Smith did confess one big reason, after Koetter, that Smith came to the Bucs was a chance to be on the same team as Jameis.
“Well you’ve got a good quarterback,” Smith said. “In this league, it’s about quarterback play, there’s no doubt about it. Jameis had an outstanding rookie season. I think he’s going to be a great quarterback. When you have a quarterback, that makes your chances of being successful much more.”
Later, Smith defied anyone to name a division that is more stocked with top-shelf quarterbacks than the NFC South, which boasts Drew Brees, Matty Ice, Cam Newton and Jameis.
Smith has a point. But the AFC West has good quarterbacks (Derek Carr, Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers, Alex Smith) and the NFC North is pretty strong (Teddy Bridgewater, Jay Cutler, Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford).
But, yeah, it’s hard to match the four starters in the NFC South.
January 21st, 2016 at 9:09 am
I am anxious to see what kind of attraction this new coaching staff, along with the success of the Offense last year (Winston, Hamster, Evans), will have on FAs.
January 21st, 2016 at 9:41 am
What free agents are those? Year after year fans applaud the FA signings then complain when they don’t pan out. Only one I would agree with is Mario Williams to a reasonable deal. Not as the highest paid DE in the league.
January 21st, 2016 at 10:17 am
Someone on another thread was talking about drafting and FA’s and once again the Greg Hardy name came up. They allowed as how the Bucs looked past #3’s off field issues and so perhaps they would look past Hardy’s.
WOW…just WOW!!! As the Noles here will quickly testify I was one of the loudest about making sure we did the due diligence on #3 before taking him first. It wasn’t the main allegation…the he said she said it was simply the number of “messups”.
87 and other Noles here kept telling me it was all just youthful immaturity of a teenager..he was 19 when some of this stuff happened.
And so a year later what have we found out about JW and Greg Hardy?
That indeed JW’s problems were just immature actions, he’s turned 21 since then and he’s obviously made a committment to prove all his doubters wrong.
Great for #3 and obviously great for the Bucs.
And Greg Hardy…first of all what Hardy did was far far worse than anything JW was even accused of doing…but most of all the Cowboys gave him a second chance. Did he perform like #3 with class and dignity…nooooo he remained a total assswhole. Why would we want someone like that?
As for Mario Williams, he’s certainly worth a look and I’m sure Smith and Licht have already had that conversation.
January 21st, 2016 at 10:18 am
I get that RO….I am a believer in building through the draft, however, there are a few spots that I think need to be addressed through experience – and that is free agents. I’m not saying 4 to 5 guys as instant starters, but one or two and then adding depth.
January 21st, 2016 at 10:19 am
Unrestricted free agents we should strongly consider:
1. Muhammad Wilkerson, absolute stud of an interor lineman that can line up at any spot ( similar to Mike Bennett ) And is a run stuffer that can get after the QuarterBack. Biggest FA of the season if you ask me.
2. Alshon Jeffery, Imagine if Mike Evans could take the top off a defense… yeah Jeffery is that good… when healthy. While he is a bit slight of frame for his size, dude can flat out catch the ball, and is a tremendous route runner to boot. Get Jameis the weapons he deserves.
3. Bruc Irvin, plays the role of “Leo” linebacker for the Seagulls to great effect. Mostly used as a situational pass rusher, but has also shown good stuff in coverage. Would be a solid pick up.
4. Eric Weddle ( If we can get him 4 da low ) Three words baby, Veteran Secondary Help.
January 21st, 2016 at 10:24 am
AFC west has recognizable QBs but the big names were all just pretty good this year. Rivers is aging and was lacking weapons, but he was probably the best QB in the division. second best was alex smith with steady but not amazing play, 3rd place goes to derek carr and who looks like a potential stud but is still inconsistent. peyton manning was the 4th or 5th best QB in that division (osweiler), and not because the others were so amazing. i’d put the NFC south QBs above that group easily
January 21st, 2016 at 10:31 am
Mike Smith…..”America’s DC”
January 21st, 2016 at 10:40 am
@StPete
It was also reported that he was continually late to meetings, etc. in Dallas. This caused issues in the locker room because the other players noticed he wasn’t punished at all for perpetual tardiness. I’m not one to say that I only want Boy Scouts on the team, but, this guy seems like a ticking timebomb.
January 21st, 2016 at 10:50 am
Greg Hardy is just a cancer. His attitude off and on the field is enough to make you wonder, I’m not even touching what he did away from football. Do you really want that kind of person here, just because we’re desperate for a better pass rush? Bucs need people who are willing to work hard and make the fans proud to root for this franchise. We don’t need no friggen Greg Hardy, I’d prefer to have a sackless defense than someone like that sad excuse of a human being.
January 21st, 2016 at 11:09 am
All the QBs in the NFC South have at least played in conference championship games. I would even go as far as to say that the NFC South is the toughest division in all of football.
January 21st, 2016 at 11:45 am
“They allowed as how the Bucs looked past #3’s off field issues and so perhaps they would look past Hardy’s.”
The Bucs did not look past #3’s off field issues – they delved into them to ensure that they would not be a further problem and concluded they wouldn’t. That is not “looking past” anything.
January 21st, 2016 at 12:00 pm
Watched Mike smith’s press conference yesterday, and it had me all jacked up. Sounds like we have some competence in the building!!
January 21st, 2016 at 3:39 pm
When Mike Smith stated yesterday that putting players in positions where they can succeed what was coaching was all about, I jumped up and yelled “WHAT A FREAKING CONCEPT!”
Or maybe I’m wrong. Maybe taking players (square peg) and pounding them into your system (round hole) is the way to do it.
January 21st, 2016 at 9:41 pm
A nice presser mean Jack nothing! You wanna impress us ole heads who have been Buc fans before A lot of these young bandwagon fans were born? WIN. Win consistently. We are tired of the nice suits. press conferences, spinning and rhetoric. Wanna impress? Turn this thing around like you say you can. Or else..Koetter, Smith and the whole new shebang can join Schiano and Lovie fishin off of the St Pete Bridge. The Honeymoon is almost over Mr Koetter and Company. Less verbalization and more..implementation!