Way Too Early To Talk Depth Chart
May 20th, 2014
Bucs coach Lovie Smith was a little excited today, more than his usual calm, stoic self, because his team, his Bucs, were on the field practicing.
Lovie, however, cautioned reporters not to draw too many conclusions from what they are seeing.
He offered that it is a long, long, long way from the regular season and that there is only so much the team can do practicing underwear football.
“Aw, it is not just coachtalk,” Lovie said. “It is competition at all the positions,” Lovie said when asked about Jamon Meredith practicing at right guard with the first team. “He is lining up with the ones right now. I tell the guys to be concerned if you are not getting reps. We haven’t done enough [to determine a depth chart]. You cannot get a true depth chart until you see someone, you see us go full-speed. I’m talking about in pads. So up until this point, the depth chart is based on what guys know as much as anything.”
Lovie is right. This is underwear football. You can’t tell how guys are going to block, run or pass block, when they are in shorts and just wearing practice jerseys.
There are no blitzes to pick up, no hitting of any sort. It is touch football. Seven-on-seven.
When the crash of the pads can be heard, that’s when people can start getting an idea of who can handle the task at hand, or who is destined for the bench, or who will be changing mailing addresses.
May 20th, 2014 at 2:05 pm
I will go play guard. I’m short and have the leverage, or more likely I will be like a stump for the defense to trip over.
May 20th, 2014 at 2:08 pm
Sounds like Lovie is clearing the way for MG8!!!!!
May 20th, 2014 at 2:20 pm
Lovie Smith sure sounds like he knows what he is talking about.
Since 2008, I’m totally not used to that.
May 20th, 2014 at 2:22 pm
Which players from the just completed mini camp did the Bucs keep, haven’t seen any list of them yet.
May 20th, 2014 at 2:23 pm
I was wondering the same Mr. T.
May 20th, 2014 at 2:35 pm
@MR.T – good point -we were supposed to hear yesterday….aside…I can see where Lovie is coming from with his comments..As BUC fans we are so anxious because of the hype,enthusiasm etc that has been built up after several horrific seasons that we want our team NOW! We must be patient and realize that September is still almost 4 months away. Even though I check in with JBF MANY times a day I still try and remind myself (and you) that we must let the process run it’s course
May 20th, 2014 at 2:46 pm
Figuring the depth chart now is just like all the mock drafts well in advance of the draft, that keep changing the closer you get to the draft, but you learn from them. I, personally, keep a depth chart in mind as I watch the Bucs all the way to the last cut and see how my projections square with who Lovie keeps. That makes it fun for me.
May 20th, 2014 at 2:49 pm
“Aw, it is not just coachtalk,” Lovie said. “It is competition at all the positions.”
Bullspit.
Not at Quarterback.
May 20th, 2014 at 2:50 pm
Yep. Lovie is just laying the foundation, so in August, when Glennon is named the starter, it’ll be a little softer blow to the Glennon haters. Some wont see it coming though, because they’ll busy up into the wee hours of the night knitting “I don’t see it” banners.
May 20th, 2014 at 2:52 pm
Sorry, Chef Paul, but in the previous article Glennon is quoted as saying McCown is the “main man.”
McCown will be starting the season.
May 20th, 2014 at 2:54 pm
Bonzai,
Per my previous comment, you must be knee deep in banners right about now.
May 20th, 2014 at 2:57 pm
The Saints, Bucs, Panthers all have pretty strong Dlines. Once pads are on, we will see where we need to upgrade the Oline. Probably best to be a little patient and see what we have to work with before slinging more cash around to FA’s. Though we will probably need to bring someone else in, we have a long time before the season to figure this all out. Overall, I’m excited about the future of these Bucs. Really hoping Nicks can get healthy for the season.
May 20th, 2014 at 3:05 pm
“It is competition at all the positions,”
But of course, you chose not to believe it.
Glennon is being a man. Instead of sulking like a little toddler that dropped his ice cream, he saying all the right things, and he knows that he can still win this thing. Lovie knows he can still win this thing. Tedford knows he can still win this thing. The “I don’t see it” banner knitting mob don’t know it though.
But Realist’s theory of having McCown take the O-line out for test drive first might happen too.
May 20th, 2014 at 3:16 pm
All these reporters are on crack saying JMac is impressive, in total control of the offense and is very accurate!! MG8 is more impressive, more in control of the offense and more accurate!! Let’s protest the gates at One Buc until MG8 is named the starter!!
May 20th, 2014 at 3:49 pm
Can time just move faster please? I want to see how it all pans out and I want to see us win some games finally. Im sick of being make fun of at school when I say im a bucs fan.
May 20th, 2014 at 4:00 pm
Are we going to turn every post into a MGM post? The Johnny football-mania was OK as it only lasted a couple of months, but man, why care on making useless noise on a position that has clearly been addressed with McCown brought in to start. Keep your energy for next year, we could always start talking about drafting Mariota (hopefuly trading up to do so).
May 20th, 2014 at 4:02 pm
GlenninGrad, after a while, that is actually easy to get used to. We all feed from the good memories.
May 20th, 2014 at 4:08 pm
Ernest T Bass, I only agree on the JMac name. That can actually stick! Though I recommend to use some sun protection if you are protesting, it could take a while.
May 20th, 2014 at 4:15 pm
Chef Paul, I think it would be a nice gesture from Lovie wasting his time thinking about surprising us with a move not expected from anyone but you and Becht. Where are you getting all this info? It’s amazing! Thanks for the heads up! You should really consider on the idea of ChefPaulBucsFan.com
May 20th, 2014 at 5:45 pm
It would be nice if many fans could temper expectations and predictions until we see some on field action, maybe preseason? But that’s also asking a bit too much, as we are “fans”… short for fanatics (see: Following every detailed report of the team’s OTA over 4 months before any meaningful game) as opposed to “casual observers” (see: Watches games on TV when they’re not blacked out, otherwise turns channel to Dancing with the Stars and reads about the result online later).
What some fans take from these reports is that every drop was a perfect pass by (insert QB name here) and the WR totally muffed it. We don’t actually know that, we didn’t see it. If I were reporting live from practice and saw a WR get turned around by a poor pass, but still get two hands on the ball, then juggle and drop it as they lose balance and fall due to being turned around… I’d still call it a drop.
Regardless, this is OTA time. None of these players are going to be perfect right now. This is playbook concept and implementation as well as fundamentals. Evaluation of fundamental skills to see which players best fit and which players should advance to training camp. Identify areas of work and “suggest” to players that advance to camp what to work on during the off-time between OTAs and then. Be that weight training, cardio, playbook, audibles, etc.
Thanks Joe, for all the information you give to us fanatics. It must be fun on your side of the computer seeing how misconstrued things you write become. Seriously, some still bring up “Brees-like” from practices a year ago.
May 20th, 2014 at 6:09 pm
Vico,
If you cant tell that my post was mostly tongue and cheek, then I got nothing for you.
BTW, in case you were wondering, I don’t really believe you guys are knitting things either.
May 20th, 2014 at 6:25 pm
Vico Said:
“Keep your energy for next year, we could always start talking about drafting Mariota (hopefuly trading up to do so).”
We haven’t played this year yet. Or have you given up already?
Mariota? Ain’t gonna happen.
But, even though I am a MGMer, McCown will start.
May 20th, 2014 at 7:10 pm
And next year when the Bucs pass on drafting a QB the stunned Mariota Mob will go from denial to rage knowing that Glennon really is the guy Lovie feels is his QB going forward
May 20th, 2014 at 10:35 pm
MGM!