Lovie At The Improv
October 31st, 2014
Bucs coach Lovie Smith is an even-keeled guy. Patient, you might say. He doesn’t get too worked up over much, unless you ask him about an unsourced report. That usually gets him ticked off.
Apparently, another thing that ticks off Lovie is when a former player mocks his defense. After showing to be a failure here, former Bucs first round draft pick Mark Barron told the throng of St. Louis media upon arrival in the Gateway City that Lovie’s defense wasn’t for him because it was too “passive.”
Lovie, in his daily press briefing today, decided to go all Rodney Dangerfield on Barron when discussing wide receiver Mike Evans’ nose for the ball on turnovers, notes the Woody Cummings The Tampa Tribune.
Bucs rookie WR Mike Evans has made no secret of his affinity for the physical aspect of the job. Smith said Evans has proved that on several occasions, including the last play of Sunday’s overtime loss to the Vikings.
Evans made a valiant effort to chase down Anthony Barr and prevent him from scoring the game-winning touchdown after the rookie linebacker recovered a fumble that he stripped from rookie TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins.
“We love what he’s been doing catching the football, of course, and the blocking part has been good, too,’’ Smith said of Evans. “But the effort he gave (after that fumble recovery), he looked like a safety on that play. One that wasn’t real passive, going down and trying to strip the ball.’’
Rim shot!
Look, whether Barron wasn’t coached up or whether the Bucs didn’t use a defense that best fit Barron’s skills, or simply if Barron can’t hack it as a safety in the NFL, we will know shortly.
If Barron can’t play for Lovie or Jeff Fisher, both defensive-minded guys who use different defenses, then we will know for sure he can’t play. It was just cool to Joe that Lovie showed he can break out the one-liners when he wants to.
October 31st, 2014 at 5:03 pm
Carerful Lovie…his teammates are alot closer to him than you….church going man …should know when to take the high road….word gets around the league by players taking to other players….Lovie is going to end up on the wet end of this pissing match….folks…th wheels are coming off the wagon
October 31st, 2014 at 5:05 pm
Agreed. That was such a stupid thing to say by Baron who has been playing in th shadow of a John Lynch.
Hate to repeat Mark Twain time n time again but it is so appropriate here.
“Better to keep quiet and let people think you are a fool than to say something and prove it.”
Baron has a whole bunch of athletic talent no doubt, but if you heard him talk on the big screen during last Sunday’s game, you had to figure the guy barely scored a 10 on the Wonderlich.
October 31st, 2014 at 5:08 pm
Oh snap!
October 31st, 2014 at 5:13 pm
Maybe if Lovie spent more time devising a decent game plan, rather than reading former player’s quotes, the Bucs might have a shot at actually winning another game.
October 31st, 2014 at 5:17 pm
Keep up the passive aggressive schtick Coach Smith. See how far it gets you in the press and in the locker room….. Smug S.O.B.
October 31st, 2014 at 5:23 pm
WINNER!!! Now that was awesome!
October 31st, 2014 at 5:23 pm
I don’t care if you like Lovie or not, that was a great comment. Perfect.
October 31st, 2014 at 5:31 pm
The only thing funny is that a 10 year veteran NFL head coach who is presently 1-7 and suffered several humiliating blowouts, one even at home, is spouting off about anything!
October 31st, 2014 at 5:53 pm
Yeah, There’s the Ol’ Coach talking up a play that cost us yet another game.
October 31st, 2014 at 6:05 pm
Everyone who Has watched the bucs play this year can see for themselves how soft “Lovie’s defense” is…… Defensive guru of a coach my foot…. 1-7 and the majority not even competitive…. Watching him destroy what legacy he once had is at the cost of taking the Bucs down with him! (Ugh!)
October 31st, 2014 at 6:12 pm
HAHA THAT WAS AWESOME. BARRON IS SOFT, HUGE MISS BY THE PREVIOUS REGIME.
October 31st, 2014 at 6:15 pm
I think Barron was trying to convey that he was a pass sieve. Just watch his coverage skills.
October 31st, 2014 at 6:18 pm
1-7 ?
So we lost that Cleveland game already?
Listen, Lovie might be a horrible coach like some believe….but he’s our coach and nobody can dis him but us!!!
October 31st, 2014 at 6:43 pm
Lovie does have to be careful the players are listening. Maybe Evans should play safety. Has to be better than awful major wright. I kid, but if you bought the major wright stuff then LOvie still owns your thoughts. Just like barron is a great fit, revis is good for the scheme, McCown is the starter, our offensive line will be fine without penn, Michael Johnson will provide the rush we need, etc. Etc. Etc
October 31st, 2014 at 6:51 pm
If rather hear Lovie explain his 1-6 record against a weak schedule. No laughing matter. Who cares whether you like Lovie or not? All I care about are w’s and l’s and improving.
October 31st, 2014 at 7:31 pm
This season is very important to the organization, media, fans, and city of Tampa Bay. Some of these players are learning that it takes more than talent to win and this lesson is as hard on them as it is to fans. The players were misjudged when Lovie got here I read that Lovie is old & outdated but I think that it is the players who are being exposed. You can tell who is good for instance, I thought Banks was horrible but he is actually looking better, Verner looked lost at the beginning but now looks to be worth the money. I thought David was a stud but he wasn’t playing like one for awhile but now he looks awesome. These players are being coached up but you are now finding out who wants to be and who can’t be, they’re being weeded out people.
October 31st, 2014 at 7:47 pm
Look at the O-line we thought EDS was a stud and he probably looked like one with A. Rodgers as his QB getting the ball out quick and scrambling before the rush got him. Now on his own w/ what the Bucs have behind center he is exposed. Same with the other O-Lineman, Logan Mankins is good he is just old and you can tell. Martin is healthy but is being exposed as an ok at best RB. If Glennon would have turned into a decent starter it would have made most fans happy but he is being exposed as a back-up QB and not a very good one at that. And if anyone sees him going to another team and becoming a pro bowler or even leading a team to the playoffs they are delusional. Johnson is a good DE but not for the money he is getting but you add to stud DE to this team and he becomes a GREAT rotational DE just not a starter.
October 31st, 2014 at 8:50 pm
The Twain quote was perfect…Lovie is using the play that lost the game as a chance to take a shot a former Buc player, who, BTW, is EXACTLY right, IMO, regarding passive D. He’s coming across as totally oblivious to what’s goin on around him…with his team. He’s been a failure in every conceivable way, so far….might want to take a look in the mirror before taking petty jabs at former player, who most people think is right about PASSIVE/SOFT defense.
October 31st, 2014 at 8:53 pm
Newbucsfan!!!Says Hit it right on the head! We’re all tired of losing year after year. But you have to give this new regime their time. When this team gets turned around, and it will get turned around please all you negative nannies come back on and apologize please!!!
October 31st, 2014 at 9:11 pm
Passive huh? Greg Schiano was an a-hole, Raheem was a buddy, and Lovie is passive.
Yep that about sums it up.
October 31st, 2014 at 9:26 pm
The fans are not amused Lovie. Just shut up and win instead. Try to focus on that instead of getting back at someone like an elementary kid. By the way, your defense is passive. The truth hurts sometimes.
October 31st, 2014 at 9:31 pm
why was Shiano a A hole? He was upront and honest with media and fans, definitely had passion, wanted to win badly. What made him an Ahole. . To me, he came across MUCH more sincerely than Lovie Smith. So far, I’ve seen absolutely nothing that gives me confidence Lovie Smith knows what he’s doing. Can anyone name anything that Smith has done that makes them think, we are on the right track?
October 31st, 2014 at 10:00 pm
So our savior who stands on the sidelines, with arms folded, exhibiting no pulse and witnessing the horror show we endure week after week, decides now to get all bad a$$ about a comment a player made that he ran out on a rail…?? Is this guy for real? Also, is it me or does Lovie sound just like Cleveland from Family Guy? Nooo…nooo…nooo
October 31st, 2014 at 10:02 pm
I’m as disgusted as anybody at this BS season. I hold Lovie accountable but I also call a spade a spade and Lovie delivered a beautiful spade. His quote is pure gold. +5
October 31st, 2014 at 10:39 pm
with the state of the return game it is a slap in the face to EP if he is not given a chance. His stats last year are better than anything they have produced this year.
November 1st, 2014 at 12:21 am
Barron is a bust enjoy that bama boy
November 1st, 2014 at 12:32 am
buccanAy…I’m saying that was the label he was given…
Damn some people take things so literal.
November 1st, 2014 at 3:14 am
What’s interesting is the slant Joe places on the credibility of Barron as a football player after the nearly irrelevant quote in this article.
November 1st, 2014 at 4:40 am
Ignoreland, yeah yeah yeah!
November 1st, 2014 at 7:09 am
All net! Baby! All net!!!
We play to win the GAME!!!
Either you are in or you are out.
I like Lovie’s attitude.
November 1st, 2014 at 7:54 am
Why didn’t you post the funniest comment he made yesterday? You know, the one where he says he has full confidence in Oniel Cousins at left tackle?
November 1st, 2014 at 9:00 am
agree with all of new buc fan exposure comments.I watched mark barron whiff on a tackle that turned out to be a long run. he looked like he was trying to tackle an invisible golf ball instead of the running back. I have seen both of our safeties out of position and trailing wide receivers.
November 1st, 2014 at 9:27 am
Barron will look better with the Rams because their d line is better and he won’t be exposed as often. Just like at Alabama.
November 1st, 2014 at 9:51 am
there is an old saying if it aint broke don’t fixit.well that is not the case with bucs.Lovie has been extremely slow to recognize and fix anything. ie.an offensive coordinator in way over his head. A slow starting offense that doesn’t score enough on its own to win.Too many of our scoring drives have been set up by our defense, short kicks, or the opposing defenses personal fouls.we have been exposed by allowing too much pressure on both QB’s.Some form of max protect should be implemented.ravens 4-3 used delayed blitzes to rush unabated to QB. A defensive minded coach such as lovie should have no problem recognizing and fixing this problem.
November 1st, 2014 at 10:10 am
I’ll give Lovie props for a witty dig, perhaps he should give comedy a try since the coaching thing doesn’t seem to be working for him, and his team is one of the biggest jokes in the NFL. Yup comedy is his thing!
November 1st, 2014 at 12:16 pm
The real reason Lovie is smiling in that picture is because one of the Glazer Boys was on the field and dropped a thousand dollar bill. No one saw it but Lovie and he is going to get it before anyone else. Stupid Glazers.
November 1st, 2014 at 12:20 pm
At Phillybuc – No, he looks more like an impotent Quagmire.
November 1st, 2014 at 1:40 pm
lovie , YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUETH! trueth say’s 1-6, trueth say’s worst defense in the league, trueth say’s worst offense in the league, trueth say’s FA’s are non productive, trueth say’s continues non sell outs at home games, trueth say’s no running game, trueth say’s no return game, trueth say’s no competent QB play, trueth say’s O line overwhelmed, trueth say’s D line under achieved, truth say’s lack of effort, trueth say’s way to many penaltys, trueth say’s choice of D.C. failed, trueth say’s inexperience at O.C., and trueth say’s barron is correct!! and finally TRUETH SAY’S YOU SUCK AND ARE A FAILURE AS HEAD HONCHO FOR THIS BALL CLUB. I hope you don’t have a nice day.
November 1st, 2014 at 5:05 pm
You a-holes get on my nerves. So Lovie is stoic and doesntshow emotion on sideline and yyou people say he sits sits there with a dumb look on his face. Now he responds to someone calling him and his system out and you’re telling him to take the high road. Dayum, bunch of effin men soundung like females on here. He’s damned either way. I don’t like the job he’s done. Think he needs some serious self evaluation, but don’t get it twisted not gonna cry and whine like some of you. That Mark Twain quote listed by ddneast, should serve some of u fans as well.