Lovie Smith Talks To Joe
February 18th, 2015
Tampa Bay head coach Lovie Smith was kind enough to give Joe a little time for a one-on-one interview this morning from the NFL Scouting Combine in frozen Indianapolis, just before he went on BSPN Radio and declared he would be comfortable having Jameis Winston lead his Bucs.
Lovie discussed how the Bucs plan to tackle free agency, how they evaluate the team from top to bottom after the season, edge rushers, and if free agent defensive end Adrian Clayborn’s days with the Bucs are over, and more.
JoeBucsFan: Understand you want to put last season in the past. It was a terrible season and you want to turn the page. But how excited are you to be the one who dictates this draft? The Bucs control whoever they think is the best player. Is this about as enviable position a coach and a team can have entering the draft?
Lovie Smith: It is. If there is some consolation from a year like that, we do get the picks. Going 2-14 says you need a lot of help in a lot of different areas. What you can do in the offseason is try to get your coaching staff the way you would like it to be going into next year, and we like what we have done. And of course, the draft. I mean, that is big. Of course, we are here right now [for the combine]. Free agency of course is coming up. There are a lot of ways we can improve our ballclub. The draft is a big part of that.
Joe: Free agency, maybe you won’t go after such big fish with big contracts, cutting big checks, but you will be active in free agency. How that shakes out, will that determine how you draft?
Lovie: I think you take every opportunity to improve your ballclub, period. Free agency is the first thing up, so you have to look at that. I wouldn’t say – you made a point about writing big checks – you want to be active ,and when I mean active you look at all available guys. See if they fit in to what you want to do and then you take the steps necessary, and that’s what we will do.
Joe: Now with fans, when you mention free agency, they think of big names which often mean big checks, but often there are a lot of players that may not break the bank but are solid players and could have an impact.
Lovie: Oh, very good players. I think when you look at free agency, most of the time, it is some of those bargains you get [that are important]. Guys, for whatever reason, just need a change in scenery. Maybe even just want a short-term place to go to show their worth and prove exactly who they are. So we will look at all of those types of options.
Joe: What do you like about this draft? Are there any areas or a group of players that impress you?
Lovie: You know, they give you a variety of different ways to go. There are a lot of good players – again, we are early in the process. I don’t know an awful lot but I know there are good rushers, a lot of good linemen. Each year, there are good positon players coming out at most positions. With us having the No. 1 pick, a lot of people will ask us about the quarterbacks. There are two quarterbacks who have played at a high level in college football. It will be a lot of fun to kind of watch them and evaluate them along with some other players.
Joe: At this point, do you let Jason [Licht] and the personnel department do most of the research [on the college prospects] and you are more worried about the guys currently on the 53-man roster? And focused on how you can improve the players that are currently on the team, and let the personnel department do its job while you weigh in later as the draft approaches?
Lovie: No, we are just concentrating on our players during the season. Once the season ends, you shift over to – there is constant evaluation going on of our systems, offense, defense, special teams. There is player evaluation, too. Our roster, free agency, draft, our coaching staff will be involved in all of that.
Joe: Adrian Clayborn. He is a free agent. Hurt most of last two years but does play a position where you have a need, at least for depth. Is there still a chance of him coming back?
Lovie: Everyone is on the table. Everyone. Looking forward to going through the process and seeing who we can put together for next year.
February 18th, 2015 at 3:05 pm
Oh brother.
February 18th, 2015 at 3:17 pm
Welcome to Tampa Leonard Williams!! 😀
February 18th, 2015 at 3:18 pm
I sure hope Collins isn’t “on the table”.
February 18th, 2015 at 3:20 pm
Did you really expect him to give it all away?
February 18th, 2015 at 3:21 pm
” I don’t know an awful lot but I know there are good rushers, a lot of good linemen.” Yes Lovie there are good rushers….. 😀
February 18th, 2015 at 3:23 pm
Lovie is all about D and pass rush, just read his history to know his future!
February 18th, 2015 at 3:31 pm
What if we could get Gregory And Dante Fowler Jr.?!?!?!?!?
February 18th, 2015 at 3:32 pm
Leonard Williams or Mariota! Pass on Shameis!
February 18th, 2015 at 3:33 pm
“It isn’t often that a NFL executive in personnel gushes over a player the way this long-time talent evaluator did when USC’s Leonard Williams’ name was mentioned.
Calling the Trojans’ defensive end “unblockable” was just the start of his praises for a player who will be the first non-quarterback taken in the draft and could be the No. 1 pick in the draft if Tampa Bay opts not to select a quarterback.
Williams headlines a talented, albeit not very deep, group of defensive linemen at the Combine this week preparing for the April draft.”
“He’s legit. He can play in any scheme. He can play inside or outside. He’s a great pass rusher. He’s athletic. He’s tough. He’s strong. He’s got great moves. I mean (in college) they couldn’t block him.”
February 18th, 2015 at 3:34 pm
UNBLOCKABLE!!!
“He’s legit. He can play in any scheme. He can play inside or outside. He’s a great pass rusher. He’s athletic. He’s tough. He’s strong. He’s got great moves. I mean (in college) they couldn’t block him.”
February 18th, 2015 at 3:34 pm
Would still blow chunks because — all together now — the Bucs would have no better than the fourth-best quarterback in the division.
February 18th, 2015 at 3:36 pm
OK. Last year, which happened in the past therefore it is history, Lovie drafted all offense.
February 18th, 2015 at 3:37 pm
The song “Happy” is playing all around me right now 😀
“Leonard Williams is just an elite athlete. I think you have to start there. I had the advantage of seeing him in person the week of the Super Bowl and getting to watch him train. He is amazing. It’s rare, and I’ve been doing this a long time. He doesn’t look like he weighs 300 pounds and he doesn’t move like most guys who are 300 pounds. His athleticism is top-tier.
“He has a couple of ways to get into the backfield. He is quick off the ball, but also has impressive agility. He uses his hands well and he’s very strong.
““The fact that he can play as a three-tech or five-tech where he played at USC is huge. He’s played left end, he’s played right end. In Tennessee and across the NFL, that versatility is so key because teams are moving guys around so much. Having a guy who can play inside or outside and still make an impact is super important.”
February 18th, 2015 at 3:38 pm
Dont kill my buzz Joe, Im “feeling it”….lol. But you are very right.
February 18th, 2015 at 3:48 pm
So now everyone has heard it. No matter what he says, Glennon, Winston or any player he talkes about they are all on the table. That means take anything he says with a grain of salt.
February 18th, 2015 at 3:51 pm
Even if we draft mariota or winston we will still have the fourth best QB in the division a rookie QB is excatly what that is.. brees ryan and newton have all tooken there teams to the playoffs and have all played in final rounds of the playoffs
February 18th, 2015 at 3:52 pm
As Ive said many times, Im good if we draft Winston. Like Lovie said, a lot of good linemen. But we just cant find Williams talent in the later rounds.
And while he went all offense last year, he couldve set himself up to go D with that one special pick. Then we can go all offense again as far as Im concerned.
February 18th, 2015 at 4:01 pm
Great interview a Joe, thanks for the post. Just wish you had asked Lovie the same question you asked Licht in regards to which one has the final say on a player if they disagree.
February 18th, 2015 at 4:03 pm
Lovie never fails to disappoint, even when he is being interviewed!
February 18th, 2015 at 4:30 pm
@ Joe
If Bucs draft Mariota or Winston, they will still have the 4th best QB in the division
February 18th, 2015 at 4:32 pm
@ MadMax
Leonard Williams is by far the best player and safest pick in this draft. Him next to GMC would just be dominating
February 18th, 2015 at 4:35 pm
Mr. Patrick
I don’t like what you are saying, but I know you are probably right
February 18th, 2015 at 4:36 pm
Agree Patrick, as much as I like Mariota he would still not be any better than Brees, Newton or Ryan. Same goes for Winston.
February 18th, 2015 at 4:37 pm
Yes Sir Patrick, key word, DOMINATING!
February 18th, 2015 at 4:39 pm
At this point im coming around to the idea of getting a veteran quarterback and keeping Glennon, trading our pick and loading up on defense and o-line. If they put all there eggs in Winstons basket, this team is in serious trouble, dude turns the ball over way to much.
February 18th, 2015 at 4:43 pm
Leonard Williams up to #1 now on Kiper’s draft board. He will be the consensus best player in the draft by draft day, no doubt about it. Once Lovie starts thinking a Williams/GMC combo, a QB will mean nothing to him.
February 18th, 2015 at 4:56 pm
@ Bucrightoff
Yep, Leonard Williams is #1 on every board I’ve looked at lately. With the #1 pick you take the #1 player. Football 101
February 18th, 2015 at 4:58 pm
I would take Leonard Williams over Winston any day.
February 18th, 2015 at 5:00 pm
Not sold on either QB, mainly Turd Winston. Bucs should trade first pick or draft Williams
February 18th, 2015 at 5:02 pm
@ SuperSam
Agreed 100%. I would also
February 18th, 2015 at 5:07 pm
If im Lovie and Licht and ive already ruled out Mariota/trading down, then the only pick that makes sense is Leonard Williams. Put him next to McCoy and it would also make Michael Johnson better to, having that kind of talent around him. Next picks should be O-Line,Safety and Linebacker, no particular order. Let Dirk Keotter work his magic with Glennon and lets win with defense.
February 18th, 2015 at 5:12 pm
@Mr. Patrick
So if the Colts were drafting number one overall and Jameis or Mariota(or any QB for that matter) was the number one player in cfb hands down they take them??
Ya that makes sense.
February 18th, 2015 at 5:19 pm
Leanard Williams some Olineman and safety, linebacker….good slot/return guy in FA, Glennon at QB. I can see playoffs with that right there!
February 18th, 2015 at 5:27 pm
OK JOE! and if they take shamies! then what first best QB in the division? really!
February 18th, 2015 at 5:34 pm
agree! L Williams get a QB next year if needed. give M.G. a chance and pick up matt moore.let them fight it out and see what happens.l
February 18th, 2015 at 5:42 pm
just can not see lovie taking a rookie QB he needs to win games to save his job. unless they force him to and give him more time. as far as I know lovie never started a rookie his hole career. don’t even know if he ever or Chicago picked a rookie in the draft when he was there?
February 18th, 2015 at 6:21 pm
Would our horrible luck with defensive ends FINALLY end if we select Williams? It has to! We’ve drafted so many busts in a row at the position.
February 18th, 2015 at 6:37 pm
Quote: I know there are good rushers, a lot of good linemen.
He may be able to solve a lot of problems in FA
February 18th, 2015 at 7:24 pm
Lovie said absolutely nothing.
Shocking!
It’s as simple as that.
February 18th, 2015 at 7:25 pm
Who had the number one pick last year? Oh that’s right the Texans! They had the best edge rusher in the game but no QB. Yeah let’s draft a DE, have a stout defense and go 3-13 with the worst offense and the 32nd best QB in the league .
February 18th, 2015 at 7:46 pm
Leonard Williams spent his freshmen year under Monte Kiffin at USC. Tampa 2, 4-3 experience Daytona Beach native makes him an attractive choice for the Bucs.
February 18th, 2015 at 9:40 pm
Please ,please enough with the Williams talk. It sounds good and makes sense in some cases. But its not going to happen. We will be in this position to draft a QB only once in 10 to 15 years, so dont blow it, draft the Qb and dont look back!!!!!!
February 18th, 2015 at 10:54 pm
We’ll know just a bit more about the draft after FA is done.
February 18th, 2015 at 11:26 pm
There is no way we are not drafting a QB. let it go Williams lovers. Of course it would be amazing to have a player like that on our D line. I wanted Donald last year if they weren’t sold on Evans.
A QB is the most important player on any football team – by far. And you can’t get good shots at legitimate potential franchise QBs unless you draft them high in the 1st round. There is a premium on top end QBs and QB prospects. They are rare – hard to find – and hard to acquire. When a 3rd round QB turns into Wilson or Brady or Montana about once every 10-15 years – it is a complete anomaly.
Aaron Donald was drafted outside the top 10 last year. Is Williams going to be THAT much better than Donald? I doubt it.
February 19th, 2015 at 1:33 am
“A QB is the most important player on any football team – by far. And you can’t get good shots at legitimate potential franchise QBs unless you draft them high in the 1st round.”
Are you REALLY still believing that? Montana, Steve Young, BRADY, Russel Wilson….Well, those QB’s prove your theory WRONG!!!!
February 19th, 2015 at 3:24 am
MadMax Says:
February 19th, 2015 at 1:33 am
“A QB is the most important player on any football team – by far. And you can’t get good shots at legitimate potential franchise QBs unless you draft them high in the 1st round.”
Are you REALLY still believing that? Montana, Steve Young, BRADY, Russel Wilson….Well, those QB’s prove your theory WRONG!!!!
———————————————————————————
You forgot Drew Brees as a FA in 2006. And Payton Manning as a FA in 2012. However – both those QBs were signed to Big $ contracts at very significant risk to the signing team because both were coming off major surgeries.
Steve Young doesn’t count because he won 3 of his first 19 starts in the NFL as a Buccaneer and looked lost doing it. So he certainly wasn’t considered a franchise QB at the point when SF traded a 2nd and 4th round pick for him – or the compensation requirement would have been much higher.
So Montana (round 3 ’79), Brady (round 6 2000), Brees (FA 2006), Manning (FA 2012) and R. Wilson (3rd round 2012) – I will even throw in Tony Romo (UDFA 2003) although I have never considered him an elite QB – but he’s had a few good years including last year so what the hell.
That’s 6 examples over a 36 year period. There’s 10+ teams desperately vying for a franchise QB every single year. So 6 times out of 360 – that desperate need was filled by a legit Elite QB not drafted with a 1st or occasionally a 2nd round pick. I believe that pretty well backs up my point doesn’t it? I did say a “good shot” – not “a lucky shot in the dark that works out”.
The odds of getting a franchise QB by any other means than drafting one high in the 1st round are very bad odds statistically.
February 19th, 2015 at 8:18 am
Leonard Williams number one over all,yea right. Puff puff pass that has to be some powerful sh**.