“I Was Surprised How Hard He Actually Plays”
November 22nd, 2014
A telling moment for Joe while hanging out at One Buc Palace this spring was a 1-on-1 chat with Lovie Smith’s son, Buccaneers safeties coach Mikal Smith.
Joe asked the younger Smith, who’s in his late 30s, whether he wants to be a head coach and follow in his dad’s footsteps.
Smith said he does want to be an NFL head coach and he expressed that he thinks all assistant coaches want to be head coach. That was an eye-opener because, of course, many assistants have no interest in being a head coach (other than dreaming of that paycheck).That told Joe that Mikal Smith is completely dialed in to all aspects of coaching, not just his position.
So it was noteworthy to Joe when Smith talked this week about his evaluation of safety Dashon “Hawk” Goldson. Smith underestimated him, so he told the Buccaneers Radio Network.
“Very intelligent player, plays extremely hard. That was one of the things that I didn’t know about him before coming. here,” Mikal Smith said of Goldson. “You hear about all the other stuff and I saw him play with the 49ers. But when I got here I was surprised how hard he actually plays. With him, he’s just like another coach in the room. You know, just with the guys out there they gravitate to him. He’s definitely a leader on the team.”
It’ll be interesting to see how “Hawk” performs through the Bucs’ final six games. He’s finally healthy, but he’ll have to look like an MVP candidate for the Bucs to pay him the roughly $8 million he’s due next season.
However, Joe wouldn’t be shocked if the Bucs looked to renegotiate Hawk’s contract if he comes on strong. Lovie — and son — have spoken so glowingly about Goldson being a brilliant football mind and a leader of men.
November 22nd, 2014 at 12:00 pm
Yep Joe your right. Goldson has a better chance of coming back then I think the fans believe. Every time they talk about goldson it’s good things. @Joe who do you think has a better chance at coming back next year goldson or Doug Martin?
Imo Goldson
November 22nd, 2014 at 12:17 pm
Go Raiders and Jags and Jets!!!!!
November 22nd, 2014 at 12:30 pm
The Hawk might as well be a coach and a player, he get’s paid like a long tenured one. I expected more big impact when he was brought in, but the rule changes reduced that impact.
November 22nd, 2014 at 12:45 pm
Goldson will have to take a significant haircut….like a two-year 10 mill contract….or he will be history!!!
I’m rooting fot the “Squawk” to do well….
November 22nd, 2014 at 1:30 pm
Joe did you know about this?
http://www.sportstalkflorida.com/bucs-michael-koenen-reveals-mystery-surrounding-punting-woes/
November 22nd, 2014 at 2:23 pm
Funny, could have fooled me… the guy was losing snaps just a couple of weeks ago.
These guys are so full of spit that they should run for office.
November 22nd, 2014 at 2:48 pm
Gee- now I think I have a better idea of what some of our problems are…let’s see according to Smith… an intelligent player…same guy that last year was still calling the wrong coverages aka the 49er’s calls….a hard player and a coach on the field…for what he’s making we should hear his name being called a heck of a lot more than we are. Without a MAJOR cut in salary next year get rid of him and I don’t even want to get started on some of the rest we should get rid of..start with our punter..how about D’Quan…Mason Foster (nice guy,good player, can’t play MLB in Lovie’s defense). That would be a start.
November 22nd, 2014 at 3:46 pm
I like Dashon, seems like a cool dude…
But, when is the last time he’s made a meaningful play for this team? He’s done nothing noticeable but get penalized since being a Buc.
He’s paid like an elite playmaker and he makes ZERO plays.
Until he shows otherwise, I will refer to him as “The Crawk”.
Go Sucs!
November 22nd, 2014 at 4:27 pm
Yea – I surely don’t get it with Goldson. He comes to us with pro-bowl credentials – we hear nothing but positive talk about him from the coaches – but his presence on the field this year (and a good bit of last year) has been practically invisible. Play makers make plays – and Goldson is not making enough – splash or otherwise. I like the dude and am glad to hear what a great “leader” he is – but a leader must also play well consistently or he is no leader at all. Goldson is payed like an elite safety – and yet the tape says we still need to upgrade his position. Somethings got to give there…..
November 22nd, 2014 at 5:26 pm
Tandy is a better playmaker than Golson and should be starting. Trade Golson to the 49ers for a pick.
November 22nd, 2014 at 9:21 pm
So many problems in this article it’s not even funny. I believe about 2% of what comes out of these coaches mouths
November 23rd, 2014 at 3:16 am
He wont come back unless he takes a paycut which any smart person would never take.
November 23rd, 2014 at 9:15 am
I think having smiths son as the coach is the real problem.
November 23rd, 2014 at 10:30 am
What are Lovie Dovie’s kid’s credentials? That’s what I’m more interested in hearing about. No way he has that job if he doesn’t share Lovie’s boring blood.