Lovie Was At The National Championship Game
January 13th, 2015
Contrary to an NFL.com report, Joe has learned Lovie Smith was in attendance last night to watch Marcus Mariota and friends get thumped by Ohio State University.
Joe picked up this intelligence this afternoon.
Lovie attended the game with Bucs running backs coach Tim Spencer, who played for OSU and coached running backs there for 10 years.
Spencer’s son Evan was a senior wide receiver for the Buckeyes. He didn’t catch a pass last night.
Joe knows legions of Bucs fans are giddy now, thinking about how Lovie might have been wowed by Mariota. Joe wishes those folks well. Joe’s still high on the Bucs winning the Chase for Jameis via their critical loss to the Saints.
January 13th, 2015 at 4:01 pm
Winston may be more “NFL” ready now but the BUCS should be looking long-term. Barring injury, which QB will be best for the next 10 to 15 years?
January 13th, 2015 at 4:02 pm
Joe, I hope you are warming up to the MM idea. Besides, I simply can’t see the Glazers doing otherwise.
January 13th, 2015 at 4:03 pm
I’m perfectly fine with either one. Something tells me though that after pro day and the combine, that it will be Winston.
Let’s hope so Joe.
January 13th, 2015 at 4:06 pm
To : Joel and Bryan Glazer
The FSU-Buc fans are standing by. Do the right thing!
January 13th, 2015 at 4:07 pm
Was neutral before watching the game last night (really would have been fine with either), but after watching the game, I’d love to see Winston in Tampa. I’m glad I’m not the one that has to make the decision and take the heat (or glory) for it, but I’ll buy a jersey of whoever the brass decides to take. Hopefully they’ll lead us back to the promised land.
January 13th, 2015 at 4:07 pm
The thumping brought back some memories for lovie.
January 13th, 2015 at 4:14 pm
We all agree that we’d like to have a “franchise QB”. Just because we have the need doesn’t mean there is a solution in this year’s draft.
It shouldn’t be do something it should be about doing the right
thing.
Let’s hope Koetter, Lovie and Licht have a solution. One of the two Heismans COULD be the answer, historically they have not. I’m not suggesting that because 23 of 27 Heisman QB’s since 1950 have not worked out means that one of these two will not. I think that stat clearly does suggest however, with a large enough sample size to be significant, that can’t miss Heismans often do.
January 13th, 2015 at 4:14 pm
Just Say No to M&M…I dont care what a player does Mon-Sat.. As long as he’s ready for Sunday’s (or Mondays), occasional Thurs and sometimes a Sat
January 13th, 2015 at 4:16 pm
Umm.. Most picks don’t last more than 3 years. Most picks are busts.
January 13th, 2015 at 4:22 pm
If anyone wowed Lovie yesterday it was Cardale trucking DLineman and throwing darts with surprisingly strong accuracy.
January 13th, 2015 at 4:26 pm
@R.O.
“Most picks don’t last more than 3 years. Most picks are busts”
True dat! Which is why the legendary Bobby Beathard was a maverick and the king of the “trade down”. If most picks are busts then the more picks you have the better chance you have of lucking into the right one.
The best that can be said about the decisions in draft war rooms is they are making educated guesses.
Since Koetter/Licht/Lovie are more “educated” that we are in all things NFL
I’m happy to trust them more than the bloggers. Stipulating that their picks are still guesses, just more “educated” than ours.
January 13th, 2015 at 4:30 pm
Interesting that he was there, yet NFL.com had that report of only 7 teams being there? I guess that one slipped through them.
January 13th, 2015 at 4:31 pm
Winston is more ready to stand in the pocket and deliver throws,
News just in, we don’t have a pocket worth a look.
Mariota has the ability to elude the pass rush for the 2 or 3 years it will take him to adjust to a Pro style offense, and more to the point build a solid O Line for him.
Ive flipped, it’s Mariota Time!
January 13th, 2015 at 4:37 pm
It’s called the eye test people this is what you do when you sit home during the playoffs….. Watch potential college draft picks play. No news here because he’ll probably be doing this for the next 2-3 years during the NFL playoffs
January 13th, 2015 at 4:39 pm
Mariota is the correct choice he is our quarterback I called Jason lichts phone last night no joke I really did and left him a message from all buc fans to pick mariota and to do the right thing. I bet no one on here or the joes have done that.
January 13th, 2015 at 5:18 pm
BB Says:
January 13th, 2015 at 4:39 pm
Mariota is the correct choice he is our quarterback I called Jason lichts phone last night no joke I really did and left him a message from all buc fans to pick mariota and to do the right thing. I bet no one on here or the joes have done that.
———————————————————————————
Thanks for taking it on yourself to assume “all buc fans” are in agreement that Mariota is the “right thing” for this franchise. Guess what? Many disagree with you. Many like myself think Jameis Winston will be the better NFL QB.
And the reason “no one on here or the joes have done that” is because calling your favorite pro team’s GM and leaving messages about who you (in the name of all Bucs fans no less) think he should draft – is some pretty creepy and stalkerish type behavior.
January 13th, 2015 at 5:28 pm
Why is this news? Lol. I think it should only be news if he WASN’T there. Then I would call him a slacker!
January 13th, 2015 at 5:35 pm
Well looked up the number it is public called and left a polite message to pick mariota we need our voice heard simple as that. As for Winston he is likely to implode and anyone with any morals at all would not want to cheer for frankly a scumbag like him. I would rather lose without Winston than win with him. That being said the bucs can and will win with mariota. He doesn’t need to sit a year or two that is ridiculous should be ready by midseason at latest
January 13th, 2015 at 5:36 pm
@St.PeteBucsFan…I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. I know the Bucs need a QB….but it has to be the right one…and not necessarily in this years draft. I think most of us can agree that rebuilding this team is going to take some time, and we have multiple needs…not just at QB. Some believe we need an O-line even more desperately than a signal caller…and they may be right. So the question becomes, if some other team ( let’s say Philly just for arguments sake) wants to give us a handful of high picks, spread out over the next few years, to move up to #1 this year, it might be worth it. We could rebuild the O-line and add a pass rusher now, and wait for the right QB to come along. However if the Bucs believe that Mariota or Winston is the right call, I can certainly see the talent both these young QB’s bring to the table….I’m just very wary about all the baggage that comes with Jameis! Either way, it will be fun talking Draft in Tampa for the next 4 months!
January 13th, 2015 at 5:41 pm
@Jeaagan
Mel Kiper on today talking about Cardale Jones. Yeah Mel Kiper has about as much credibility as the rest of us but it is his job and he made some good points.
He feels if Jones comes out he’s already moved up to the top of the 2nd round and with a great combine and interviews could be the 3rd QB taken.
Somebody pointed out the Jones has some Jameis like baggage. If not…and you’re the Buckeye fan and so would know more than me on that…I like a shot at Cardale Jones later in the first,,,but absolutely in the 2nd as a better risk/reward investment.
Putting the off field stuff aside for a moment,,,neither Jameis nor Marcus have shown me any more than Jones over the past three games. All THREE of these guys will be projects.
BTW Jones and Urban in their press conference said Jones hasn’t yet decided whether to come out. But Jones in a modest moment allowed that he isn’t yet ready for the next level. Probably won’t come out.
January 13th, 2015 at 6:31 pm
We have to see who comes out for the draft before we can decide who we want, Winston may be the only one or both Mariota and Jones may also come out and them Koetter have to choose what is best for the Bucs. Whoever he picks, I will support.
January 13th, 2015 at 6:32 pm
Guy plays three games and now he’s a first or second round pick? Lots of guys can throw a deep pass. Ohio State runs basically the same offense as OSU I’m sure everyone here understands that right? If not look up some quotes from Urban how each team can call the other teams plays. Urban studies their offense and Chip Kelly on his year off. That game was won in the trenches without a doubt on both sides of the ball.
A team without many needs in the next few years could take the kid as a project but the Bucs in the 2nd round please. I was extremly impressed with the kid don’t gte me wrong; I thought they were done after the MSU game. Tebow threw a beautful deep pass and ran the ball well with a loaded team as well and the same coach.
January 13th, 2015 at 7:01 pm
Its so funny to see people, in one breath, post something like this, and then in another post state how Lovie should be fired.
If we do draft Mariota and we suck for the next 2 years cause he’s not ready, are you going to be running to fire Lovie or will you say, “its ok. Mariota wasn’t ready so we can just wait”.
[sarcasm]
StPete…didn’t you know…everyone that posts on these comments sections is a former GM for a multi-Superbowl winning team
[/sarcasm]
I’m not sure whether i should pitty you or feel embarrassed for you.
Which one of these relates to you, i have to know:
1) You think that Licht actually listened to your message
2) You think that Licht doesn’t have his assistant check the message to the phone number that is publicly available to the world
3) You think Licht is actually taking what you, personally, think will craft a winning football team
Wrong, anyone with morals would not continue to lambast him for something that he has been found NOT GUILTY of.
Ah, my favorite type of fan. So, answer me this. If we do draft Winston, will you stop being a fan? I hope the answer is yes. And if so, please don’t come back if we start winning.
And what makes you believe this to be fact?
Here’s a little piece of information that I’m sure you decided to overlook during last nights’ game (which i was sure to write down in my notepad and have specifics…albeit with my notepad at home right now):
All game (maybe excluding the 2nd half of the 4th qtr when they were forced to) Mariota only threw the ball further than 15yds down field 6 (SIX) times…and on 2 of those, I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt because it appeared the ball only went 12-13 yds, but i’ll let him slide on those.
Of those 6 times, 4 were in obvious passing downs.
Not ONCE did he have to fit the ball into tight windows.
That’s the guy that you believe will be ready by mid-season? please stop.
and THAT is where i stopped reading. because you are no longer dealing with reality; you’re now playing Madden. that trade scenario is less that unlikely to happen.
THIS.
We have the #1 pick. No one can take the guy we want. Whoever they decide to choose with this selection, I am behind 100%.
January 13th, 2015 at 7:32 pm
Winston is a bust!!
Trust Bo!
Bo knows!!
January 13th, 2015 at 7:42 pm
@StPete,
Jones doesn’t have Jameis like baggage, from what I’ve read he tweeted or instagramed or something like that a statement ( and this is not verbatim.)…
Why do I have to go to class? I came to Ohio State to play football. I didn’t come here to play school.
He got suspended a couple of games for that.
January 13th, 2015 at 7:51 pm
WINSTON!!!
January 13th, 2015 at 8:09 pm
Some quick thoughts on the 4 surviving QBs in this years playoffs and how you can compare to Marcus or Jameis.
Brady and Rodgers both have demon-quick releases and get the ball out of their hands so fast that they can always pick up 6-8 yard gains on first down throwing to slot receivers and tight ends. That puts offense in very unpredictable 2nd and 3rd downs.
Luck is a freak, great athlete, accurate gun of an arm. Stanford educated. The sky is the limit for him.
Wilson uses his elusiveness to scramble around and extend plays then finds receivers well downfield with his very strong deep ball. He’s a student of the game. A Joe Montana kind of winner.
Winston has talents more like Andrew Luck, except he isn’t Stanford educated and his decision making isn’t anything like any of these elite QBs mentioned.
Mariota does have that very fast release and gets the ball out of his hands just as fast as Brady or Rodgers. He can scramble just as well as Wilson.
I like Winston’s competitiveness over Mariota’s, he’s more of a battler. But I think Mariota’s skill set is unique, that quick release would work,well with a good slot receiver and that ability to extend plays with the scramble would work well for him to throw downfield to VJax and Evans.
My only doubt with Mariota is can he learn how to scramble to throw like Rodgers and Wilson do or is he going to run like Vick or RGIII and get killed. He needs to learn how to slide.
Winston throws a beautiful and accurate ball but he does take longer to get it out. That concerns me as good defensive backs can read his eyes. All those interceptions he threw prove that he’s tipping off where the ball is going.
January 13th, 2015 at 8:35 pm
Like Joey Galloway said if you’re looking for a nice guy to go out and have dinner with then MM is your guy but if you’re looking for a guy to win on Sunday’s then Winston is your guy.
January 13th, 2015 at 8:36 pm
Too bad that the best looking NFL QB prospect last night was Cardale Jones. He has size, a bazooka arm, he’s patient, mobile and powerful, and surprisingly nimble feet in the pocket. His biggest drawback, the NFL player he reminds me of most both physically and mentally is JaMarcus Russell. He’ll be under the spotlight next season because I’m sure I’m not the only one.
January 13th, 2015 at 9:19 pm
Winston melted down at the end of that Rose Bowl. No poise. And some of his bad games this year, it looked like he forgot how to throw a football.
I’ll be really curious to see how he does in the NFL. It could go either way.
January 13th, 2015 at 9:46 pm
I’ll take Marcus please. You only need to throw a deep ball if there’s no true separation. Look at Antonio Brown. Double move, boom he’s gone your talking 10 – 15 yds downfield. Ceiling wise, a bigger stronger faster Aaron Rodgers…yea I’m good. M.M. = 11-5
Go Bucs!!!
Yo Joe
January 13th, 2015 at 10:14 pm
Mariota is no Aaron Rodgers there’s no similarities what’s so ever other than they’re both nice guys. His game is more like RG3, Kaepernick and Alex Smith coming out of college.
January 13th, 2015 at 10:28 pm
If Lovie attended the game as stated his aura has diminished to yes boss I’ll feign interest in your chosen one. 75% present choice is Mariota.
January 13th, 2015 at 11:01 pm
BB = delusional + creepy + sad + self absorbed. Did you seriously leave a voicemail thinking it would be heard by the GM of an NFL team. All I can say is wow!