Tight Rules, Monitoring On Lovie’s Watch
March 6th, 2014
Laid back Lovie Smith is very much on top of what’s happening in his locker room. Funny business is not permitted. No hazing. Lovie demands to know what’s being said.
Former Bears great Brian Urlacher reminisced with the Waddle and Silvy show on WMVP-AM in Chicago this week.
Urlacher painted a picture of New Schiano Order discipline but with players feeling a lot looser and having fun with each other with games like dodgeball, soccer and other silliness.
“Lovie didn’t allow hazing. Nothing,” Urlacher said. “You had to buy donuts whatever on Saturday, bring McDonald’s to a meeting sometimes; he didn’t allow hazing. So it was never an issue with the young guys fitting in with us. Most of our older guys kind of took them in right away. So there was no line between rookies and veterans, anything like that. You know, there was a little bit, because that’s the way it is. For the most part they always fit in and there was never any issues with that.”
Urlacher went on to say Lovie was “always” dialed into the pulse and details of his locker room. Among other methods, Lovie summoned Bears captains to his office and “wanted to know what guys were saying,” in the locker room, Urlacher said, and Lovie got the information straight.
None of this is a huge revelation, but it is interesting nonetheless.
Lovie’s methods and message will have to get through quickly. He’s got a lot of guys on his roster, like Da’Quan Bowers, Mike Williams, Mason Foster and others, who are on their third head coach and even more position coaches in just a handful of years.
March 6th, 2014 at 11:08 am
I wonder what Lovie thinks about the new uniforms, as the Bucs go from a retro coach hire to a futuristic uniform design.
March 6th, 2014 at 11:14 am
It remains to be seen how Lovie does on the field but we finally have an executive leading this team in the locker room.
March 6th, 2014 at 11:15 am
what a great coach
March 6th, 2014 at 11:20 am
Sounds a lot like the guy we just got rid of. Wonder how long before people come up with cute little nick names like “Little General” for him.
March 6th, 2014 at 11:40 am
@Joe
Per the Bostonglobe:
Bill Belichick should call up new Bucs GM Jason Licht — you know, the guy who worked in the Patriots’ scouting department and front office from 1999-2002 and again in 2008 — and give his buddy an offer for Revis he simply can’t refuse.
Offer Licht a second-round pick to take that big contract off his hands. If he must, throw in Logan Ryan, a promising young corner, to offset the loss; the Patriots always can draft another Logan Ryan in the third round this year. Heck, consider sending the Bucs your first-round pick (29th overall) if that’s what it will take.
+
With Denver releasing Champ, things could get interesting over the next 72hrs. Could be a nice bidding war. Your thoughts?
March 6th, 2014 at 11:48 am
Having a good pulse of the locker room is different than being a control freak. Any good coach should know the dynamic of the locker room. Lovie has been known to let the players be themselves as long as there’s no shenanigans. That’s probably why his players like him.
March 6th, 2014 at 11:49 am
Schiano is gone. College days are over.
Welcome to adulthood young men.
March 6th, 2014 at 11:53 am
Couch Fan
Don’t think they will.
March 6th, 2014 at 12:14 pm
“None of this is a huge revelation”
I beg to differ Joe. This is a huge revelation. After reading the comments on here the past two years, I was under the impression Greg Schiano was the only coach who wanted control of his team and locker room. Shocking to find out there’s another one.
March 6th, 2014 at 12:23 pm
@Lightningbuc
Can you imagine the uproar there will be if Lovie makes the big guys run a little to much? It’ll be schiano all over again.
March 6th, 2014 at 12:23 pm
Couch Fan….I was thinking the same thing while reading it. Schiano was blasted on these boards for having players come to his office and report to him about what’s being said in the locker.
Does anyone remember that?or Do fans just conveniently forget stuff like that? That’s okay I’ll be here to remind everyone.
BoJim….Lovie MUST be held accountable though if the team does not play well. Just as much as the last guy, if not MUCH more.
March 6th, 2014 at 12:26 pm
“Little Lovie”
You’re the one
You make football so much fun.
You have to earn a nickname in this league.
March 6th, 2014 at 12:28 pm
I can read the headlines now….”Tattletale Gate”
March 6th, 2014 at 12:29 pm
Couch,
I’m almost certain Lovie won’t make anyone run. Pretty sure that Schiano violated NFL Union rules by making players run when the temperature is above 50 degrees.
March 6th, 2014 at 12:31 pm
I feel bad for Lovie and I’ll feel extremely bad for any rookie QB we may draft. They are doomed here in this town if they dont win and look fantastic doing it.
March 6th, 2014 at 12:32 pm
lightningbuc….Schiano cut his fingernails like a college coach.
March 6th, 2014 at 12:35 pm
Well the major difference is lovie has coached in the NFL as head honcho and has been berry successful in the process. Same reason bellicheat and tomlin don’t get called for their antics. Success
March 6th, 2014 at 12:37 pm
@Buc1987
You’ve been here long enough to understand the attention span of a typical Bucs fan and how short their memories are.
That’s why so many of them are falling all over themselves waiting to grab which ever QB falls to us in a poor QB class, just like a few years ago.
Bucs fans do not learn lessons and they will turn on Lovie in a heartbeat.
Rookies aren’t allowed time to develop and coaches aren’t allowed time to aquire their players.
March 6th, 2014 at 12:41 pm
’87,
Remember when Schiano was upset his starting QB was missing team photos and meetings? I mean, that’s only something a college coach would worry about, right?
March 6th, 2014 at 12:42 pm
INDYbucsfan ….oh so that means he has leeway. What 4 or 5 year leeway?
Whatever. He better succeed and fast. Schiano had LESS than 2 years before billboards went up. I hope Lovie realizes this!
LESS than 2 YEARS!
I was told by the Tampa media and MANY fans that this team is built to win now. That’s why they brought in Revis and Goldson. They were just missing pieces and there was no excuse for losing.
So now what Lovie gets unlimited excuses?
March 6th, 2014 at 12:44 pm
Indybucsfan,
Hard to imagine the Bears firing such a “success”!
March 6th, 2014 at 12:46 pm
gotbbucs …your right. Especially the last part. Although us fans have clamored for a great QB for a long while.
lightningbuc…I remember everything that was said about him. I was a pretty big Schiano fan coming into the season, so I remember.
March 6th, 2014 at 12:52 pm
So I guess we will find out if the Joe’s and their favorite radio personalities will be as fair in their comments on Lovey and his coaching methods as they were on Schiano. Sorta reminds me of the way the comments were/are about Glennon and Freeman. Just one guy musing?
March 6th, 2014 at 1:06 pm
Couchfan,
Being 30 and spending the last 15 years in NJ, and playing my entire H.S. and College football career in the garden state, I happen to have a handful of friends that have had 1st hand experience with Shiano as thier coach at Rutgers.
I’ve asked them several times about Shiano, from what they told me he was a control freak (which we all know) but the most specific example they told me is that he even did locker inspections, in which he dictated where each piece of the players equipment had to placed along with the exact location.
For example the cleats had to be on the bottom right hand corner of the locker with the toes pointing out of the locker, laced tucked into the tops of the shoes.
I can only assume that he brought that same type of tyrant in the buccaneers locker room too.
I don’t know anyone that has played for Lovie but based on the statements that I’ve read through his former players, he doesnt seem to be like shiano at all.
A head coach needs to maintain order over his players, accountability and dicipline are virtues preached by every coach I’ve ever had, but from what I can gather Shiano took that to the extremist level
March 6th, 2014 at 1:21 pm
lighteningbuc,
Bucs fired dungy wouldn’t you call him a success? Lovie had 8 years in chicago just never got them a SB win, but he took them to the game.
March 6th, 2014 at 1:25 pm
Seriously? You guys seem to forget Schiano wasn’t just asking players what the other guys were saying— he had coaches, assistants, and other staff hanging around in the locker room during the time when players are typically allowed to speak to media and have some privacy from the staff. He had staff spying on what the players said, so all the players knew they had to keep their lips tight.
That is COMPLETELY different than having your captains tell you what is going on. I can’t even believe I have to explain that to you all. Are there really people here that wanted Schiano to stay? The guy may be have been decent at evaluating draft picks, but that’s about it. His schemes, coaching style, and record were absolute GARBAGE. I’m sorry but no matter how bad Rutgers was, turning it into a .500 team with no big conference or bowl wins is not some amazing achievement. Unbelievable.
March 6th, 2014 at 1:32 pm
I think some of you are totally off base on the comparison of Schiano and Smith. There won’t be any cute little nicknames for Lovie, except for stupid ppl.
Lovie is seeking input by calling Captains into his office and asking them what is the word in the locker room. Schiano did not want input; he did not ask what temperature you wanted the meeting rooms – he set the temp. Lovie may dictate a general order of things in the locker room, like no hazing, but that is what a leader does so order is in place and we don’t have the fiasco that is Miami. Its really pretty simple. Are we already over-critiquing our proven and successful NFL coach?
March 6th, 2014 at 1:37 pm
Lol funny how you are taking any of this as us wanting Schiano to stay. I personally didn’t want Schiano to stay because on Sundays he was horrible….
The hate is strong in you huh?
March 6th, 2014 at 1:40 pm
Its really pretty simple. Are we already over-critiquing our proven and successful NFL coach?
————————-
He hasen’t proven anything in Tampa yet. I’m sure a bad season will chance your opinion though.
March 6th, 2014 at 1:41 pm
change*
March 6th, 2014 at 1:48 pm
bucsfanNJ,
Yes, I’d call Dungy a success – in Indianapolis!
March 6th, 2014 at 2:08 pm
Oh I was fine with Schiano being fired. I’m just holding Lovie much more accountable for losses than the college coach.
I really don’t care what he did in Chicago. It’s a clean slate now. If he sucks it up here in his first season. He needs to hear about it, the same as Schiano did, and like I said maybe more so.
Get the billboards ready!
March 6th, 2014 at 2:10 pm
It think it’s “unbelievable” that people make up new screen names.
March 6th, 2014 at 2:17 pm
Bucfan77….yes yes it will be interesting to see how fast those radio guys turn on Lovie. How long before some Big Puppy says, send him back to Chicago?
unbelievable says :
“he had coaches, assistants, and other staff hanging around in the locker room during the time when players are typically allowed to speak to media and have some privacy from the staff. He had staff spying on what the players said, so all the players knew they had to keep their lips tight.”
Actually I don’t remember any of this made up crap. Is that what we are going to do now, make stuff up about Schiano to prove a point?
Oh wait there was plenty made up all season long about Schiano, so why would it stop now?
March 6th, 2014 at 3:00 pm
We basically have the reincarnation of Dungy. Which makes me a little nervous, and forces me to lean all my hope towards Tedford. We’ll need him to be the Gruden like spark, while Lovie works on his “foundation”
March 6th, 2014 at 3:09 pm
What does a good CEO do in any successful business–they keep tabs on the pulse of their employees. The Bucs are a big business, and I am glad we are not going to have a Miami fiasco here! Lovie is going to stay on top of things.
March 6th, 2014 at 4:23 pm
“Bill Parcells had his locker room wired and if he ever sensed something wrong, he would summon Harry Carson or George Martin to fix it. Or he would fix it himself.”
It’s their job, many workplaces have camera’s constantly surveilling what’s happening. These players aren’t an exception.
March 6th, 2014 at 4:28 pm
TBBF….where are you? We need you in here referencing your famous “Evil Schiano”.
March 6th, 2014 at 4:29 pm
@1987,
this the only name I have ever posted to this site on. Ever.
And yes, all that stuff was happening. it was reported on multiple times throughout the season how Schiano had staff spying on what was said during locker room interviews. You can find articles on jbf if you want to look.
I don’t care to take the time for that, but you are wrong about this.
March 6th, 2014 at 4:44 pm
TBBF is “unbelievable”?
March 6th, 2014 at 4:57 pm
Like I said before, this is the only name I have ever posted with. Ever.
I usually don’t feel the need to comment on here that often, typically by time I read an article comments have already been made that share my views (as well as many I disagree with). But in the last few days I’ve seen so much ridiculous nonsense, I’ve felt the need to comment and get some facts straight.
Maybe the trolls are just finally getting under my skin…
March 6th, 2014 at 6:04 pm
Lovie Smith is a bona fide NFL head coach, with credentials.
Schiano is a below average college coach from the big east.
Easy distinction.
March 6th, 2014 at 8:44 pm
Whateverrrr.
March 6th, 2014 at 9:23 pm
Thanks Couch and Lightning, I’m glad it’s not just me scratching my head at how if Schiano did something it was because he was a college coach but when Love does something similar it’s because he’s a quality NFL coach.
March 6th, 2014 at 10:39 pm
Mmm? Toes on the line too?