Will Lovie Follow His Favorite Models?
May 8th, 2014
Shortly after Lovie Smith was hired, he delivered likely his most telling interview to date. Mike Florio, of Pro Football Talk Live, was peppering the Bucs’ head coach in January, and Lovie revealed the 2013 NFL teams that had his full attention and admiration.
Joe believes Lovie’s take provides a window into the Bucs’ pursuing Johnny Football and the rest of their 2014 draft philosophy.
Lovie said he liked the 2013 editions of Seattle, Carolina and San Francisco “and how they’re set up to win football games.”
So what does that mean? Mobile quarterback? Punishing running game? A nasty front-7 and pass rush? Likely, it’s all three of those things.
Joe considers that and understands how Lovie might attack the first draft of his new regime by landing a mobile quarterback, a mauling guard, and another talented pass rusher with his first three picks — wherever those picks end up.
Don’t think the Bucs will draft a pass rusher? Remember these facts from Lovie’s nine drafts in Chicago:
In 2012, the Bears’ first pick was a defensive end. In 2011, their second pick was a defensive tackle. In 2010, a DE was snagged in the second round. In 2009, two of Chicago’s first three picks were defensive linemen. In 2008, the Bears took a DT in the third round. The train was rolling in 2007, when a DE was taken at No. 62 overall. In 2006, Lovie was adding another D-lineman in the third round.
No, Lovie did not draft a D-lineman high in 2005, but that was after drafting defensive tackles Tommie Harris and Tank Johnson in the first- and second-rounds of 2004.
Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com reminded readers last night that Lovie wants to copy that Seahawks-49ers template, and Rosenthal suggests that’s the juice behind the Johnny Football-to-the-Bucs rumors.
4. Tampa Bay trades up for Johnny Manziel: Perhaps the Buccaneers could stay at No. 7 and still land Manziel, but moving up to No. 2 or No. 3 would ensure they get him. Lovie Smith would love to copy the Seahawks-49ers template of a dominant defense paired with a mobile quarterback that can make plays on his own. More importantly: Manziel to Tampa is a move that ownership could be pushing for.
The Glazer family can be more involved in the process than commonly believed, and the Buccaneers have a desperate need to sell tickets. This is an organization that has kept things close to the vest before this draft, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they have a big splash planned.
Joe doesn’t buy the Team Glazer theory Rosenthal floated. There is no “desperate need” to sell Bucs tickets. Last Joe checked the Bucs are a virtual ATM machine. It’s like that for every NFL owner. It’s not like Team Glazer bought the Bucs for a $1 billion last week. The franchise is worth about five times what they paid for it — in their 20th year of ownership.
(For those who want to watch that January interview of Lovie, it can be seen here.)
May 8th, 2014 at 8:19 am
I’m so excited, my balls hurt. Who ever they take, I’ll blindly be on board. Even if it means the dreaded trading of Glennon. Lets go us some championship material!!!
May 8th, 2014 at 8:22 am
If that happened and we didn’t get a WR somewhat early I’d be pretty disappointed…
1st Manziel/Carr
2nd Jordan Matthews/Robinson/Lee
3rd Yankey
4th Paul Richardson(I’m convinced we get this back or another 3rd)
5th Jeremy Gallon
6th Michael Schofield
7th Colt Lyerla
May 8th, 2014 at 8:40 am
Just under 12 hours from now and us JBF Bucs fans will either be free of this Johnny Mancrush love affair or be cursed with it for the next half decade or longer. 😉
May 8th, 2014 at 8:47 am
How about a Bucs first round poster prediction contest, Joes?
I’m going with trade back to Dallas with a McCown for Romo swap/ or a sign and trade, Manziel TB –> Dallas
May 8th, 2014 at 8:48 am
@Chef Paul, LMAO on the balls comment – I can relate and agree with all you say.
@Phillip; as you say, I believe we take a stud WR in the 2nd rd. Yankey would be a good choice in the 3rd, but I am thinking they may take a OT and play him at G the first year or so (if they can have one fall to them that can play G), bc OT is a little deeper in this draft
May 8th, 2014 at 8:57 am
Lyerla?!? Love got rid of the guy who had too much fun at his own home and you think he will select cokenose?
Pediction: Trade with Jags for a pick 7, the third rounder, and king of the serengetti, Mike Glennon to move to spot #3. Bucs will pick in this order of availability: Clowney, Manziel, Watkins, Mack.
Round 2 availability rank: Joel Bitonio, Marqise Lee (I think he is gonna fall hard), best DT available (Hageman, Sutton, maybe Nix?)
Mark it down suckas!
May 8th, 2014 at 9:03 am
Lots of Mocks have Johnny heading to Tampa.
I’m happy with that,
But I stand by my prediction I made in March
They draft Derrick Carr. They probably will trade back to do it.
If they trade back, and trade Glennon, we will have enough picks to get the players we need.
May 8th, 2014 at 9:03 am
I don’t think we go QB in the first round. Too many question marks on all of them. I’m not that thrilled about another VJAX (Evans) clone though. I’m starting to want them to take Maziel with their first pick. I’m reading Joe’s propaganda too much.
May 8th, 2014 at 9:09 am
Davie Jones Locker……………I like your scenario
May 8th, 2014 at 9:10 am
The draft day feeding frenzy rapidly approaches the 11th hour. Let the l&l show begin.
Where’s my Viagra and Rachel Watson.
May 8th, 2014 at 9:26 am
Still at this last minute holding out hope for Sammy @ 7…..slim hope…but hope nonetheless.
If not, I’d like to trade down. I am hoping we are patient and sit until 7. I think we need more picks, not less.
May 8th, 2014 at 9:31 am
Man, this draft day feels like the beginning of pre-season.
My heart is pumping PEWTER & RED!
What time is it????
This is going to be a weekend to remember. Go Lovie & Licht!!!
May 8th, 2014 at 9:32 am
It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if they take a QB at #7 but there is no way they are so desperate that they trade up. There are just too many other holes. This team has not one but two reliable, efficient QBs. Receiver is a much greater need and there are three very good ones that are top 10 worthy.
That being said … if Manziel drops to #7, he’s too good to pass up. I think they grab him.
May 8th, 2014 at 9:40 am
I agree with all the statements on here that say wait til 7, at least.
With Licht talking about value, I don’t see how trading up shows that premise.
May 8th, 2014 at 9:41 am
I like Bryant and Richardson in the late rounds
May 8th, 2014 at 9:47 am
Tonight will determine if Joe’s future articles will be dreams or screams depending on who the Bucs pick. If they don’t get Johnny, I can only guess what Joe will be typing.
May 8th, 2014 at 10:13 am
Mark: Either way, we win!
May 8th, 2014 at 10:23 am
Hope you’re right about Bucs making a splash this draft, but I really don’t want to see them trade up to get Manziel as they have too many other needs to give up the picks. However, it’s a crap shoot to stay at 7 if they really want him.
Many of us will be disappointed too, so Joe, what will you write if Johnny is available to the Bucs, regardless of where they pick, and they pass on him to get someone else (Watkins, Robinson, or even Carr)?
May 8th, 2014 at 10:33 am
Romo and the Cowboys first rounder to Houston for the #1 pick. Jerry will not be able to pass on the potential to increase their publicity to utterly absurd levels.
May 8th, 2014 at 10:35 am
Just read an article that said Seattle and the Niners had the least pass attempts in the league. They are happy to only throw it 20 times and run it down your throat the rest of the game. This is exactly who we need to be like. We will hit 1m views this week!!
May 8th, 2014 at 10:38 am
I don’t have a problem with drafting the likes of JF, however it would not be my choice. If you do draft him, proceed to find Luca Brasi (godfather enforcer) to protect him. Do not actually let him on the field, for when he gets mauled by the likes of K Mack, his advertising value becomes zero. Let him sell tickets, date the cheerleaders, emboss the cover of SI and GQ, but never, never let him on the field.
May 8th, 2014 at 10:44 am
Further on JF’s life span in the NFL, I refer you to Archie Moore’s comment prior to the fight with Sugar Ray.
Ray announced that he would run all over the ring \
Moore told the news, “he can run, but he cannot hide”
May 8th, 2014 at 10:54 am
Even after the euphoria fades and Johnny Football is on another teams roster just know Joe(s) that even though we will bust stones terribly we do appreciate the work you put into the site. Hooters chicks, blogging, and all things Bucs is entertaining even if the sorrow Joe endures from career backup to Bucs starting QB MG8 is leading the Bucs instead of JF2 causes his liver to do overtime duty cleaning out the alcohol. Thanks for the site and let’s go Bucs
May 8th, 2014 at 11:43 am
Unlike Joe I think the Glazers MIGHT play a role in moving up the draft to take Manziel. The tickets and jersey sales would go through the roof. I’ll tell you one thing. In 1987 when I moved to Fla and became a Buc fan, Vinny was the selling point for me. Bought the jersey and the tickets. The new jerseys suck and Manziel could get the ball rolling in sales. The team may be worth 5 times what they paid for it, but they are hardly making much money off of it from year to year as of right now. I don’t know though, they aren’t exactly Dan Snyder or Jerry Jones. It seems to me that they are pretty much a hands off type of ownership. My cousin played for the Bucs for 2 years. He he told me more than once in the past, that the Glazers are the best type of owners. They leave football to the people that know football. Ya never know though Rosenthal could be right about it. Since it’s my belief that Joe would know just a bit more about the Bucs than Rosenthal. I think I have to side with Joe on this one. That’s why I put MIGHT in caps.
I predict a longer wait tonight than waiting until 7. I think they trade down.
Evans@7 please.
May 8th, 2014 at 11:48 am
Toes, nice post and I agree!
May 8th, 2014 at 12:24 pm
I just wonder what will happen to our Joebucsfan site when Johnny F Football is taken by another team? Will it become joecowboysfan? Everyone I’ve heard this morning is saying Jerry Jones will probably find a way to draft him. If not Jerry then it will be another team besides Bucs. If Glazers wanted to sell tickets they would have gotten Tebow. Talk about ticket sales!
May 8th, 2014 at 12:37 pm
Now if their last name was Culverhouse I could see them meddling in the business and demand they find a way to draft Johnny.
May 8th, 2014 at 12:47 pm
lol @William. Too bad the Bucs don’t wear pewter anymore. They got those new monstrosities with all that BLACK in the FLA heat. Awesome.
May 8th, 2014 at 1:05 pm
SEVEN MORE LOOOOOOONG HOURS TO GO.
May 8th, 2014 at 2:05 pm
Buc1987 I am with you, literally struggling to make it through the work day.
May 8th, 2014 at 2:39 pm
HAHA, You suckers have to wait until 8:00. I only have to wait until 7:00. Hawaiian only has to wait until, what? Noonish? Lucky!!
May 8th, 2014 at 2:53 pm
Regardless of all the picks attributed to the Bucs, I would like to see them take Odell Beckham at #7, and, surprise, Tony Savage in the 2nd round.
Beckham is a speedster, able to get long, and he is a sight to see on kick-off returns. Savage had the bad luck/choice to not play for two years, but shook off his rust and continued to improve behind a poor OL.
Schiano (curse him) says his arm is the strongest of all the QB’s. Savage also can run, when it is necessary. He is 6’5″, and is capable of much more punishment than Manziel.
May 8th, 2014 at 2:54 pm
Tom Savage