Stamping Out A Simmering Fire?
November 11th, 2014
There was a reason Joe did not go to One Buc Palace yesterday to talk to players. Joe spoke to many after the loss to the Dixie Chicks Sunday, the Bucs’ eighth loss in nine games.
The players are talked out. Even Gerald McCoy, who loves to talk, was tapped out from the all the losing. What more is there to say?
Apparently, players are saying too much. That’s the sense Joe got from Lovie as he may be trying to quash a meltdown in his locker room.
Yes, GMC has stated too many of his teammates don’t grieve enough over a loss and aren’t properly sick and tired about losing. Other players have hinted the same and, of course, Joe thought it was more than interesting when Hawk Goldson took exception to GMC’s words on his radio show last week.
Joe sensed at the time a team cracking apart from all the losing and, just maybe, Joe wasn’t too far off. It sure seems Lovie senses the same given his words yesterday.
“Well first off, I think we have to be careful about how we say people feel,” Lovie said. “‘It doesn’t hurt enough.’ Now, I’ve been in all those locker rooms afterwards and our players – for people that don’t think we’re hurting [or] they’re hurting: they’re hurting. When you’re hurt, you’re trying to do something about it – that’s what I’ve seen. So I don’t think that’s the case at all. I think it really hurts really bad right now and I don’t think it needs to hurt anymore. But that naturally happens when you keep losing games. And eventually, if you keep pounding, there will eventually be a crack. So that’s where we stand.”
It’s not uncommon for a locker room to fracture when the losing upon losing upon losing mounts. Imagine the veteran Bucs who have seen just one winning since 2009.
It’s only natural for nerves to fray from losing — sometimes, seal-clubbing — each and every week. Joe just thinks Lovie is trying to throw water on the kindling before it grows into a bonfire.
November 11th, 2014 at 9:10 am
cry me a river for the boys making millions…who cares…own your pain and take the beating from the few media members that have the audacity to call you out
November 11th, 2014 at 9:19 am
Seems the players are unhappy but I sure do get the sense that LovieDovie doesn’t give a sht with lack of urgency and emotion in his demeanor. I know that people think this is a strength in tough times but he seems completely unaffected by it all.
November 11th, 2014 at 9:22 am
This team feels like it’s unraveling. We need to win this week to stop it.
November 11th, 2014 at 9:26 am
10 Sept after the Carolina game
Lovie is in WAY over his head….I listened to his press conference yesterday and was underwhemled by his monotoned empty words…then by chance I listened to a long interview with #55 on all sorts of subject…a stark contrast in leadership and answering questions. Lovie is an empty suit that has been swept to this point in life by his association with the greatness of others. I don’t mean to be harsh…but that is what I see……
November 11th, 2014 at 9:27 am
Lovie couldn’t motivate 53 illegal aliens over the border……..
November 11th, 2014 at 9:28 am
Why should they care? Their head coach wears flip flops to work. All’s good!
November 11th, 2014 at 9:31 am
How about the fans? We pay money to be the laughing stock of the NFL. Pay me a few millions a year to watch this nonsense and then I would be able to smile. I do not feel remotely sorry about these individuals or their feelings. Unlike fans, they are the ones who have the power to change this crap. Also, in looking ahead to the 2015 Draft, I do not see a ton of top tier talent. Is this going to be a weak class overall? That would be our luck.
November 11th, 2014 at 9:48 am
Idiots. Now it’s flip flops to work and the always popular “no Knute Rockne or Vince Lombardi,” type of motivation is why the Bucs keep losing.
I got news for you clowns who think Vince or Knute would be big winners in today’s league. They would get tuned out in about 30 minutes with today’s professionals so give it a rest.
The Bucs are losing because they have players who aren’t talented and who lack self discipline. Neither of which are Lovie’s fault. Why should you have to tell a player who has been in the league for two years and who has been playing football all his life to stop jumping offsides.
The FA’s he chose have been abject failures so far no doubt because of their pay, but they aren’t that much worse than the players they replaced, who, if you read the posts out here, have all of a sudden become All Pros.
Let me assure you they have not and they weren’t very good when they were here.
November 11th, 2014 at 10:01 am
Most of us strongly agree that this season is lost. The real question is where do the Bucs go from here? Do they try to determine if they have a “core” of players they can develop into NFL players? This is job one, in my opinion. Use this time to make accurate assessments of each position, player and coach and KNOW where you stand at the end of the year.
Then DO something about it with the draft, trades and free agency.
November 11th, 2014 at 10:06 am
I think more of our local reporters need to follow suit with you Joe and stop going to One Buc Place. I think our local beat writers do a great job but honestly, what more is there to ask about the season? What more is there to write? The fans know everything they need to know about this team and they’re not going to hear anything from Lovie or the players that is earth shattering.
To clarify, Joe will still be around, but there isn’t much to ask at this point until something changes on the field. The talking has to be done on the field and result in victory, otherwise it’s pretty an endless loop of chatter. –Joe
November 11th, 2014 at 10:07 am
GMC says people dont care. Lovie, says they do. Sorry, Lovie hasnt really earned my trust just yet. Never quite feel like the guy is being straight up with us.
November 11th, 2014 at 10:07 am
Joe,
Be the first to ask Lovie Smith real go dam questions.
1. Will you resign if you go 0-15 with “your QB.”
2. If you start off next season 0-5, will you resign?
3. With the second to last place defense in the league will you fire the DC, and start running the defense yourself like Raheem Morris?
4. Did you plan on firing the OC before the end of the year?
5. Would you accept another coach coming in to help you head coach?
6. How many losses this season is because of poor coaching?
These questions are almost silly. Worth asking him No. 3, if he’d consider taking over the defense himself.–Joe
November 11th, 2014 at 10:21 am
We know why you didn’t want to show your face in that locker room. Because Mankins would’ve bitch-slapped you for another stupid question….
November 11th, 2014 at 10:21 am
We know why you didn’t want to show your face in that locker room. Because Mankins would’ve bitch-slapped you for another stupid question….
November 11th, 2014 at 10:22 am
dd you contradicted yourself all over the place…it all boils down to resolve…this organization has none…just weak freaking sauce. but you go ahead and bag on fans that have been served hot garbage for over a decade its what apologists do for the man….
November 11th, 2014 at 10:24 am
If the Bucs would have won just 2 more games then they would be in second place today.
November 11th, 2014 at 10:29 am
Joe,
They were the same questions which were asked of Shaiano or something close to it.
They are all valid. We are on track for an 0-15 Season with “HIS QB”.
Lovie Smith’s decision to go to a career back up was all on him (Poor Decision).
Lovie Smith gutted our O-Line and got nothing back (Poor Decision)
Lovie Smith’s defense is in second to last place. Last season Minnesota had the worst defense in the NFL – they also brought in Freeman for 3 million. Lovie Smith brought in Leslie Frasier (POOR Decision)
I am still pissed off about the Mike William’s Trade.
We could have Kept Tim Wright if he went with Incognito (Poor Decision)
Compared to Jullian Edelman, Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson Incognito is a saint.
These are all valid questions, which the Fans have asked coaches in the past on Bucs total Access – but now that we don’t have direct access we can’t do your job for you.
I get that you make money off the Bucs and so do the Clowns at 620 so you have to ask soft ball questions until the ground swell of hatred becomes great enough that you feel its “OKAY” to ask the real questions.
November 11th, 2014 at 10:31 am
Fire Frazier now.
Lovie, take over defense.
Hire Rod after the season ends.
Draft or sign a defensive end opposite Johnson (who will not be cut) and a Safety to replace Baron. Cut Goldson, replace.
Keep Mankins, replace the rest of the offensive line.
Draft a first round QB or if a top veteran comes available, sign him.
Replace our punter.
Problems solved.
November 11th, 2014 at 10:31 am
Oh, and sign a real OC, because Tedford isn’t returning. Heck, even if he did, no one really knows if he would have been any good.
November 11th, 2014 at 10:34 am
So 9 players are needed to turn this thing around. 7+ picks in the draft and free agency. It’s realistic to do it.
BUT…the drafted guys will need time to grow. So next year would mostly be a wash anyway.
ALL of you thinking Lovie needs another year? Wrong. He needs two at least…though the right OC might start producing by the halfway point next year.
November 11th, 2014 at 10:44 am
Of course we’ll need a couple years to be good but we can expect to be significantly better next year. If you’re expecting playoffs after 1-15 then you’re out of your mind but I would expect to win these games that we’ve lost this year because we beat ourselves and I would expect to see a team that looks like they get it. We might need another offseason after next year to fill enough holes to contend but if we’re not competitive again next year then there are no excuses
November 11th, 2014 at 10:48 am
I’m really feeling the loss the the Bucs not getting Chip Kelly inked to the dotted line when they had him agreed in principle to a contract.
November 11th, 2014 at 10:51 am
Ironic that Lovie was so highly touted by the very same media that crucified Coach Toes On.
But the culture of losing at OBP rages on like a grease fire.
November 11th, 2014 at 11:15 am
biff barker Says:
November 11th, 2014 at 10:51 am
Ironic that Lovie was so highly touted by the very same media that crucified Coach Toes On.
But the culture of losing at OBP rages on like a grease fire.
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The one constant in all this is the Glazer Boys. Not Malcolm, but his boys, Moe, Larry & Curley. Get them outta there and have the team sold to someone that doesn’t look at the team as entertainment similar to a circus, and runs it like a professional team rather than Barnum & Bailey, and you’ll see a GIANT turnaround!
November 11th, 2014 at 11:21 am
“It’s only natural for nerves to fray from losing — sometimes, seal-clubbing — each and every week. Joe just thinks Lovie is trying to throw water on the kindling before it grows into a bonfire.” says Joe.
Unlike the media they celebrate the anger on fans to keep them coming to their “media”. lol
And they keep the fire going…
…maybe Lovie needs to manipulate his mules to spark their inner Horse. SMH
November 11th, 2014 at 12:35 pm
#APATHY
#LOST SEASON
They’ll go into this off season with more questions than last year. Wunderbar!
Go Sucs!!!
November 11th, 2014 at 1:10 pm
It is already a bonfire, what you are seeing is professionals who have reached their limits on those that are not performing to the best of their ability and collecting their paycheck every week.
If I was paying what most of these players and coaches make, I would have fired them already. You don’t pay a head coach three to five million dollars for ciaos, for do you pay players for missing blocks, tackles, catches, poor throws, bad punts, etc.
Until accountability comes this team will be a train wreck.
November 11th, 2014 at 2:28 pm
whats with the self entitlement going on here. if a fan and a major part of the fan base and media thinks lovie should retire or be fired and you think it will happen because you want it too…..half way through the season you want to fire the head coach as if that’s going to solve our issue
November 11th, 2014 at 2:51 pm
The only fire Lovie is putting out is the players fire to remain a Buccaneer. The real fun poll would be to find out if the players who were also here in 2013 had more confidence in Schiano as their HC than Lovie. I think if the answers were confidential the results would sadden the In Lovie We Trust crowd.
November 12th, 2014 at 1:41 am
bucs4lyfe Says:
November 11th, 2014 at 2:28 pm
whats with the self entitlement going on here. if a fan and a major part of the fan base and media thinks lovie should retire or be fired and you think it will happen because you want it too…..half way through the season you want to fire the head coach as if that’s going to solve our issue
______________________
I would fire my wife half way through my honeymoon if I saw her screwing the bar tender.
Sometimes getting out of wrong decision early is better than trying to let it work itself out.
In this analogy Lovie is My wife and the Bar Tender is the fans.
November 12th, 2014 at 5:35 am
We can all scream, holler, stomp our feet!! We can cry about firing everyone from Lovie to the Glazers.
It won’t change the only things that matter
It’s a shi*+y team, lacking talent and dedication.
Has been for 9 years.
Has about 6 NFL players in it.
None of that is Lovies fault. Gonna take him another year or two to finish rebuilding this pig.
Nothing else matters