Lovie Changes Tune On Nose Guard
November 26th, 2014
Clinton McDonald
Joe was very confused yesterday when Lovie Smith talked about starting defensive tackle Clinton McDonald (four sacks).
What Lovie said contradicted previous takes on the 2014 free agent signee.
After practice Tuesday, Lovie raved about McDonald’s consistency and professional approach to the game. And Lovie said McDonald (four sacks) was a surprise because of how well he rushes the passer.
“You know, bringing Clinton [McDonald] in initially, you know, nose guard. You bring nose guards in you’re not expecting them to be great pass rushers, but he’s rushed the passer a lot better than I thought he would,” Lovie said. “That’s no knock on him or anything like that, just the position.”
But that’s where Joe was perplexed.
Lovie was clear this offseason that McDonald was signed largely because of how well he rushed the passer for the Super Bowl champion Seahawks. McDonald was a rotational guy in Seattle and mostly played on passing downs.
Joe asked Lovie in the spring about whether his nose tackle would be a run-stuffer kind of guy. Lovie was clear that McDonald was not only a good rusher but his nose guards were about pass rush.
“Booger McFarland and Warren Sapp were the inside tandem, both of those guys had 3-technique or under tackle type ability. When I say under tackle ability, I’m talking about guys that are athletic, that can rush the passer,” Lovie said. “A lot of times you think of just a nose guard position as more of a run-support-only position. And that’s not the case.
“We have two guys [McCoy and McDonald] that can really rush. Again, playing a limited amount of times he had 5 1/2 sacks last year on a good defense. And he can run, excellent speed, strong man. You get a chance to shake his hand you’ll see that he has a little bit, you know, to him. And he’s on a mission, too. We talk about Josh [McCown] coming back from adversity, you know, for [McDonald] to get cut and be in that position and then to come back motivated to do something special.”
Last week on SiriusXM Radio, Bears great Brian Urlacher was asked to talk about the learning curve of the Lovie Smith Tampa-2. Urlacher detailed how the change for defensive linemen was dramatic because they all had to be effective pass rushers — on every snap.
“In Lovie’s scheme it’s downhill. He wants those D-linemen up the field. He wanted them in the backfield making plays rushing the passer,” Urlacher said. “Because we want our D-linemen wreaking havoc in the backfield. Everything was a pass to them. [Lovie] told them, ‘No matter what the play it’s a pass.’ Treat it as a pass until you’re sure it’s a run.”
Again, Joe’s not sure why Lovie changed his tune a bit yesterday.
Is it that important? No.
But Joe thinks it’s important to recognize that the Bucs did, in fact, expect McDonald to get after quarterbacks, especially playing alongside Gerald McCoy. McDonald has been solid, and there’s a great shot he meets or exceeds the 5 1/2 sacks he had last season with the Seahawks.
November 26th, 2014 at 11:05 am
You can micro-analyze all this stuff to death.
Bottom line — the team stinks.
November 26th, 2014 at 11:15 am
Best FA pick up by far. “A real man” according to Lovie, personally I never see him quit on any plays. Wish I could say the same for everyone.
November 26th, 2014 at 11:35 am
Lovie’s “coach speak” is getting very hard for me to listen to. Lovie talks and talks, but nothing is really said. Joe must micro analyze to try and find something to write about.
November 26th, 2014 at 11:49 am
@SeanyMacinSC and others who are “tired of coach speak” – He is required to get up in front of the media and talk. The team is bad. He can’t dress the team down in front of the media if he wants to have their cooperation going forward. What exactly are you guys wanting to hear? I would imagine that if he could speak to the media less then he would. If you don’t like the coach speak then spot listening to any NFL coach that ever steps to a podium. Doesn’t make our coach bad that he uses it. Every NFL coach talks the same way after a win and the same way after a loss. Just get over it
November 26th, 2014 at 12:15 pm
Patrick in VA loves him some lovie..
November 26th, 2014 at 12:19 pm
It’s good to know that not even Lovie listens when Lovie speaks.
November 26th, 2014 at 12:31 pm
If you don’t start off lying, you don’t have to remember your lies….
November 26th, 2014 at 12:50 pm
Through all of the Buc’s horrible history, and I have been here for every second of it, I have never had less confidence in a coach. It makes me sick to my stomach to think that the Glazer Silver Spoons have given this mealy mouthed meat head guaranteed money. I just know we are stuck with him for at least 2 more miserable years. I pray I’m wrong, but my gut says, “No No No” (Thank you Amy Whitehouse for the quote)
For the first time in my life I am considering either adopting a 2nd team or just dropping the Bucs all together. I wasn’t happy when they hired him, but I figured I would let it play out.
I don’t think it really matters where we draft because I believe Lovie and his boy Chowda head will freak it up.
Dark days indeed to be a Buc fan. (again)
November 26th, 2014 at 1:03 pm
he better have a good nose guard, cus’ he’ll be kissing fan ass for the rest of the season.
November 26th, 2014 at 1:06 pm
It really is odd how often Lovie contradicts himself. Is he heavily medicated?
And speaking of Urlacher, just a reminder that Lovie w/o Urlacher in the lineup was a Perkinsesque 12-21.
November 26th, 2014 at 1:15 pm
More Lovie Ebs and Flows!!!
November 26th, 2014 at 2:18 pm
This guy is our best free agent addition… Especially considering his low cap number… At least we got one decent player… One out of six ain’t bad… Just joking, that sucks!!!
November 26th, 2014 at 2:55 pm
I seriously can’t stand to even listen to Lovie speak any more. I honestly feel like I get dumber with each passing second. (think Billy Madison)…. On the contrary, I pretty much listened to every minute of every single press conference that Gruden, Raheem, and Schiano held bcuz they were passionate and I never knew what little pearl of wisdom or motivational nugget I would pick up that I could somehow apply to my own life and have some kind of positive effect. #Lovieisaweaka$$coach
November 26th, 2014 at 3:18 pm
“It’s not about the future, it’s all about the future”.
November 26th, 2014 at 3:53 pm
Excellent observation Joe….maybe early signs of…..well, its hard to listen to him anymore, and take anything he says seriously. He rolls out this Texas drawl about “makon plays” and it’s just like “nails on a chalkboard”. I’m beginning to wonder how motivated, and more importantly, how competent he is to do this job to the level required. The added responsibility of “personell” is way over his head, IMO.
November 26th, 2014 at 4:49 pm
We appear to be doomed with this Coach and GM. I felt they should have drafted a QB last year, but they listened to McCown. Who advised them that Glennon had the potential to be our QB of the future. We have 2 backup QB’s and no OL. I Hope they get it right in the next draft. If we need to draft more OL, I hope the GM makes the right decision since he used to be an OL-men. Don’t listen to Lovie.
November 26th, 2014 at 6:44 pm
I wish all you arm chair know it alls would go find another team. Cause all you all do is whine and bitch like 3 year olds.
You all would bitch about something if they were 9-2.
Please can it you idiots
November 26th, 2014 at 6:46 pm
I wish one of you morons would please explain your vision of the team.
You all want everyone fired. Ok then what mr. Genuises.
Who you gonna hire since you all know everything?
You all just want to bitch no matter what they do.
November 27th, 2014 at 8:41 am
“TheKevin” Says:
November 26th, 2014 at 6:44 pm
I wish all you arm chair know it alls would go find another team. Cause all you all do is whine and bitch like 3 year olds.
You all would bitch about something if they were 9-2.
Please can it you idiots
“TheKevin” Says:
November 26th, 2014 at 6:46 pm
I wish one of you morons would please explain your vision of the team.
You all want everyone fired. Ok then what mr. Genuises.
Who you gonna hire since you all know everything?
You all just want to bitch no matter what they do.
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Gotta agree with the new guy.