Is Lovie Smith Adjusting His Focus?
May 27th, 2014
The x-factor of the Bucs’ season is pretty clear for one Buccaneer.
Cornerback D.J. Moore has spent enough years around Lovie Smith in Chicago to know the key to the 2014 Tampa Bay season and beyond.
It’s a position Lovie that has given the head coach fits through his career: offensive coordinator.
Moore, speaking on Nashville sports radio 102.5 was confident in the defense but wondering whether Lovie has finally made the right choice on his coaching staff.
“Traditionally, Lovie has always had really good defenses. And traditionally, the offense has always been on the down side. So every year in Chicago, like, man, it may have been a new offensive coordinator every other year. So that’s going to be the story,” Moore said. “Is this the guy? Is this offensive coordinator the guy that, you know, helps him over the top?
“So hopefully the offense does well. You know you got big receivers. Even though we drafted some guys, we have some receivers here. We have some of the fastest receivers in the nation here. They could put a [4 x 100 relay team] together. But we got a lot of running backs. So it should be really good. I’m just looking forward to seeing how this offense is going to perform.”
Joe sure hopes Jeff Tedford is “the guy.” Joe also hopes Tedford was given a huge say in selecting his quarterbacks. Why hire a renowned quarterbacks guru and developer of quarterbacks and not let him pick his guys?
Lovie is known for being rather “hands off” with the offense. Just ask Bears great Matt Forte.
But Joe wonders whether Lovie has changed that approach after a year off to re-evaluate his work and plenty of film sessions in his Chicago basement. The draft and the choice of quarterbacks might lead one to believe Lovie is diving into the other side of the football.
May 27th, 2014 at 11:36 am
I think the year off was great for Lovie. The trend around the league has been uptempo offense and with the rules changes in the last few years, he would be a fool to not take advantage.
May 27th, 2014 at 11:39 am
I like that Moore speaks his mind but Moore needs to worry about his own job on defense and let the Coaches worry about the offense. Focus, focus, focus
May 27th, 2014 at 11:42 am
Lovie will probably let Tedford run the offense….I expect it will be somewhat complicated and Lovie’s love of defense will keep him busy….I’m sure Lovie had strong input as to the players (McCown) etc…but that will probabaly be as far as it goes.
May 27th, 2014 at 12:08 pm
We’ll know soon enough. Is Tedford the answer? Hopefully…does the fact that they were both unemployed last year and got to watch a lot of football together mean very much? We’ll know soon enough..We heard so many great stories about how our goofball OC last year (with a defense minded coach) would be great for us. THE PROBLEM IS WE STILL DON”T KNOW!!!. Why didn’t we go after Norv Turner..a lousy head coach but a recognized and respected OC…we did that with Frazier..again not a great head coach but a recognized and respected DE. As I have said many times..LOVE THE COACHING STAFF (moreso on the defense) but…time will tell
May 27th, 2014 at 12:23 pm
Ah, the “X-factor” Lovie’s offense!
Well, put it this way, when you are dead last, there is no where to go but up. Is it football season yet?!
May 27th, 2014 at 1:05 pm
I hope he learned and did in fact shift his focus, what a story out would be for lovie too get his first shot At line backer coach in Tampa only too leave but come back home as head coach and get his first championship….if it truly takes 3 years for to realize a player’s full potential, how long before we know what lovie Smith’s ceiling will be in Tampa?
May 27th, 2014 at 1:05 pm
Lovie most likely made a commitment to the Glazers about the offense and that’s why the draft went that way.
I’m sure he spoke with the Glazers while we were tanking last year and that’s why he went after Tedford.
May 27th, 2014 at 4:44 pm
Lovie’s spent the year looking for who he thought would be “that guy” to get him over the top on offense finally.
Personally I think we hit the jackpot especially because even if he succeeds he’s already stated he’s missed being an OC where he doesn’t have to focus on anything else like a HC does.
Plus you gotta believe there’s a a longterm commitment there, Lovie is no dunce.
May 27th, 2014 at 4:50 pm
Other than polishing the o-line I think we have the players to create headaches and chaos for opposing teams. I still think Lovie will support Tedford rather than handcuffing his hands like last year.
Height and Speed the formula which gives offensive coordinators nightmares. We have both. Is mind boggling to know the players we have and the possibilities if the offense and defense start to come together sooner than later. July 25 can’t get here any faster????
May 27th, 2014 at 4:59 pm
We could have a great offense.
For once.
But our O-line still scares me.
Go bucs!
May 27th, 2014 at 5:55 pm
Lovie: Head Coach. Tedford: Head Coach B.
I’d be OK with that.