Lovie Hasn’t Evolved Old Tampa-2
October 21st, 2011
In an interesting story in the Chicago Tribune, Bears head coach Lovie Smith explains that he and defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli are stuck in in the 1990’s when it comes to the Bears defense.
They think the legendary Bucs defense of that era doesn’t need any tweaking, like Raheem Morris has done, with he and Ronde Barber nicknaming it the Tampa 2.1.
“It hasn’t evolved, to me,” said Smith, who joined Bucs in 1996. “We’re running the same (defense) here that we started with initially there. Other people’s version of it … it’s not ‘Tampa 2’ or anything, it’s something else.
“We were there on the ground floor. There were a couple of guys in the league when we started (who use it now). Rod (Marinelli) and I were the only ones, I think, who were there back then. So we’re running the same defense.”
Smith firmly believes in it, when executed properly. From 1997 to 1999, the Bucs ranked third or better in total defense thanks, in large part, to Dungy, defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, Smith and the Cover-2 scheme. Then Smith went to the Rams as defensive coordinator and immediately transformed the Rams into the NFL’s third-best defense using Cover-2 principles.
Joe suggests you click through and read the whole article.
Joe thinks the Bucs’ offensive line, clearly a top tier pass blocking unit in the NFL, will do an excellent job against the Bears’ rush, which is so critical to success in their defense. If Josh Freeman of last week — and last year — shows up, Joe’ quite confident the Bucs can pick apart the Bears all day Sunday.
Lord knows Greg Olson won’t pound Earnest Graham relentlessly on the ground.
October 21st, 2011 at 10:24 am
As with any cover-2 (even the Tampa 2 with the MLB dropping), the weakness is the seam when the QB has time. Lots of slants from Williams and Benn and seam routes from Winslow and Stocker. Stay away from deep sideline routes.
October 21st, 2011 at 10:32 am
”Top-tier pass blocking unit”?? The analysts at Football Focus would beg to differ:
”One of the problems the Buccaneers offense has had is keeping Freeman on his feet, as he has been under pressure on 33% of his drop backs. He has averaged 7.4 yards per attempt when he’s not pressured compared to just 4.9 when he is. Part of that falls on the offensive line, where Jeremy Trueblood (-14.5) has already allowed 26 combined pressures.”
Freeman has been sacked 9 times and hit 20, which is decent, but he avoids the rush well.And he has only attempted 14 passes of 20+ yards, and completed only 4 (with two drops).
The line did look better in pass-pro vs. New Orleans; max protection a lot of the time helped greatly.
October 21st, 2011 at 10:40 am
Lovey fancies the original Tampa 2, he says it is a lovely defensive scheme. To this Monte added “Brilliant”!
October 21st, 2011 at 10:42 am
Mike, the NFL has the oline ranked 7th.
October 21st, 2011 at 10:47 am
mike j, look at the d-lines they have played against, lions, niners, vikings, saints, even the falcons are getting sacks now.
we have had 9 sacks allowed all year. and none last week, yet we continue to put up legitimate rushing yards regardless of who is back passing.
October 21st, 2011 at 10:54 am
@mikeck, agreed, but wouldn’t you also add the rush right up the gut to that. The T2 D is based on getting to the QB and playing the run on the way there, I seem to remember getting gashed by big backs running straight up the middle which was vacated by the 3T on his way to the QB.
October 21st, 2011 at 10:56 am
sorry i meant 8 sacks.
October 21st, 2011 at 11:06 am
Like ALMOST any scheme, if you have the talent and execute, it will work.
As far as the game, the Bucs will win in the trenches on both sides.
Freeman will have all day and they know the Tampa 2 weaknesses and the Bears don’t have the secondary talent to make up for it.
Cutler will be running for his life. A 4 man pass rush and Foster can stop the run and the D-Line and the occasional blitz get the pressure.
PLUS, the Tampa DBs are going to get better and better the next few weeks as TJax gets more comfortable and Talib settles in with his buddy over top.
Bucs beat the bears down Sunday!!!!!!!
October 21st, 2011 at 11:41 am
Lovie has been to a super bowl and nfc championship game as a head coach with that D. Rah has never made the playoffs nor have a D that finished in the top half of the league. Ill take Lovie all day and twice on Sunday, plus he is understandable and makes sense.
October 21st, 2011 at 12:27 pm
Did anyone catch Dominik on the radio show .. A guy named Todd called in and gave him crap about some of his late round picks not panning out … IT WAS HIS BROTHER … that was so classic Mann .. I LOL on that one
October 21st, 2011 at 1:49 pm
@2.2 shut up man! All you do is bag on raheem and mccoy every comment its so annoying. How long has lovie been in the league? D coordinator? Headcoach? All I know is that raheem has been a head coach 3 years (Alot less then Lovie), and 2 1/2 years as D coordinator. And check the stats Suh isn’t doing anything this year, but is just getting hype because of his last year. Suh = 18 tackles 2 sacks 6 games. Mccoy= 11 tackles 1 sack 4 1/2 games. So Im not trying to here your b&*^*(g about Mccoy anymore because your boy suh hasn’t been doing much either. I usually read your comments and just disregard your statements, but you’ve been posting a little to much lately. Where were you after we beat down the saints?? o yea its fri Douch 2.2 has to chime in with his regular negativity bec he needed to take 4 days off because the bucs won last week.
October 21st, 2011 at 1:58 pm
Thomas 2.2, does that mean you are picking the Bears this week? I will tell you what, I would take Sean Payton ove Lovie evry day of the week and twice on Sunday…Guess what? That’s right, Morris won last week against SP. I am a huge fan of Lovie, he is one of our Dungy coaches, but you my friend are a jack ass. I have been waiting for you to put your usual crap out, I noticed you have removed the carreer record that Morris has established. How were the first few years for Lovie as a head coach?
How about this, if the Bears win I will stop writing to you, but since you rarely if ever respond to anyone, you simply go away if the Bucs win…or jjust agree to stop bashing our coach. Support your team jack ass! What fan comes on here and picks the Bears over the Bucs based on a SB won in the past? Billik won a SB too, should we run out and hire him?
October 21st, 2011 at 2:12 pm
Tommy’s just mad because Rah’s record in the last 22 games is 14-8, and the young bucs are only getting better. He hates Rah for no reason…and no matter how much success he has Tommy will continue to be angry because
A. It is musty in mommy’s basement.
B. He likely has no friends outside of the world of warcraft
C. Sex is a box he checks off when he is filling out his unemployment forms
….don’t worry Tommy some day you will have enough money to visit one of the fine establishments on Dale Mabry and pay for the attention of a woman…at least for 1 song…until then keep on truckin little buddy…keep on truckin
October 21st, 2011 at 2:13 pm
“Lovie has been to a super bowl and nfc championship game as a head coach with that D”
Wait, he went to a super bowl aaaaaand an nfc championship game? No fair
October 21st, 2011 at 2:41 pm
Ron Riveria was the Bears D-coordinator the first three years under Lovie. So Im not sure they were Tampa-2 then? Lovie fired him right after SuperBowl loss and really havent been the same defense since.
October 21st, 2011 at 2:47 pm
Good point OAR.
October 21st, 2011 at 2:47 pm
I expect this game to be somewhat like the colts game except with lower scores and no garcon, cutler should be on his back a lot and as usual forte will be their best chance offense, we should see a lot of tampa 2 to limit our big plays over the top we are 50/50 when it comes to a big day on the ground bears d respectable against the run but not ’06 vikings my prediction is we will be tied until free pulls it out at the end Tampa 17-10
October 21st, 2011 at 2:53 pm
To OAR
It was a Tampa 2 rivera is prob the most versatile defensive coach in the league but the used Lovie’s scheme wit rivera working with him and adding his different “spice” to it
October 21st, 2011 at 2:54 pm
OK Capt, I can live with that….buuuuut….I am going to go out on a limb here. The Bucs open a #10 can of whoop arse on the Bears. I am going to say 31 – 10. Freeman throws three, and we have one on the ground. An early field goal will be the first score for the Bucs.
October 21st, 2011 at 2:54 pm
Sorry, I meant Coach not Capt…
October 21st, 2011 at 3:00 pm
If it happens like that you won’t heard any complaints from me
October 21st, 2011 at 3:04 pm
You won’t hear any complaints from me if that happens
October 21st, 2011 at 3:09 pm
I don’t know about you coach, but I am having trouble typing today and I am not at happy hour!
October 21st, 2011 at 3:12 pm
Coach
I always wondered about it, but I still think its funny how Lovie was scared of Riveria moving up to his spot on the latter and got rid of him. Cause, that defense hasnt been the same since.
October 21st, 2011 at 3:12 pm
You are definitely not alone my man
October 21st, 2011 at 3:18 pm
Yes Ive heard that, but you know what I love Rah to death but if he brought in a coach like rivera in the same capacity it would take our defense to the top of the league
October 21st, 2011 at 4:09 pm
I agree!