Top Buccaneers Mysteries Of 2014 — No. 24
February 7th, 2015
A Lovie Smith quote remains baffling five months later
In many ways, Tampa Bay’s 2014 season was more bizarre than the MRSA-infected, quarterback-gone-mental, Fire-Schiano-billboards campaign of 2013.
There were plenty of real Bucs mysteries last year, and Joe’s revisiting the most interesting of the bunch.
No. 24 — “I didn’t want to put more points on the board”
The Bucs were on their own 40 yard line with 11 seconds remaining in the first half of the Week 2 home matchup against the Rams. Despite a timeout in his pocket, his handpicked quarterback at the helm, a $10 million wide receiver, and a solid running game on that day, Lovie Smith took a knee and headed for the tunnel.
Here was Lovie’s explanation: “Right before the half, I didn’t want to put more points on the board. I didn’t feel like we could, only thing that could happen was something bad then.”
That quote still leaves Joe in disbelief.
For those keeping score, the Bucs lost by two points. With 20 seconds left, and the ball on the Bucs’ 39 yard line (sound familiar?), Josh McCown threw a 29-yard strike to Mike Evans to the Rams’ 32 yard line, but the game ended when Evans was knocked woozy, couldn’t get up, and the Bucs didn’t have a timeout to stop the clock for a game-winning field goal.
No. 25 — Glennon success without an offensive coordinator
No. 26 — Putrid punting
No. 27 — Defending three-step drops
No. 28 – Eight consecutive red zone runs versus Rams
No. 29 — Leaky Sean Glennon
No. 30 – Jorvorskie Lane
February 7th, 2015 at 12:35 pm
Thanks for helping us all relive our,pain out here Joe. No wonder there are so many Debbie Downers and anti Lovie jerks out here posting.
If memory serves me right, didn’t the Bucs have a FG goal and a punt blocked in this game which was the real reason they lost. This decision was way down on the list of why the Bucs lost that game.
Um, Joe didn’t write anywhere here that this decision cost the Bucs the game. As for Bucs fans being down, that tends to happen when your team wins 30 out of its last 100 games and owns the No. 1 overall pick. Can’t blame that on fans.–Joe
February 7th, 2015 at 12:42 pm
Only something bad could happen…..Playing not to lose…..no really good team plays like that…..
February 7th, 2015 at 12:59 pm
football does not start until november – Lovie Smith
February 7th, 2015 at 12:59 pm
Not a message board link sharing parade. Thank you. And Joe only shares stories he considers both credible and interesting.–Joe
February 7th, 2015 at 1:00 pm
Welcome to Lovieball. It will always be playing not to lose, it’s who he fundamentally is. Offense is pretty much meaningless to him, because he always believes the defense will come through. He hasn’t changed one bit from Chicago sadly.
Lovie is the most risk-averse coach in football. Which is why it seems unlikely he’ll attach himself to Winston even if he interviews right. Mariota is a good Christian boy who will be in bed by 10pm and at Sunday School every week. Lovie’s gonna have such a hard on for that.
February 7th, 2015 at 1:15 pm
Lovie is to NFL coaching
what
CD investing is to Wall Street
February 7th, 2015 at 1:23 pm
Thanks for responding Joe. What you say is true, but you are also stirring the pot.
How about your next segment be about 20 to 30 things that were positive about the Bucs. If you can’t think of them, I will.
February 7th, 2015 at 1:24 pm
That’s sad to hear Joe, you write a story about Keyshawn Johnson who’s a jackass who wants Winston (like you), but won’t write a story from a credible source who writes postive things about Mariota.
Bet if it was anything postive about Winston and negative about Mariota, you would be up for it.
Joe has written numerous things about Mariota, including Joe’s recent write-up of Pat Kirwan’s mock draft, as well as Joe’s personal chat with Tony Dungy last week (https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=130746), and Mark Dominik’s comments this week, and much more. Joe’s also shared negative takes on Winston this week from SI and PFT. But feel free to keep making stuff up–Joe
February 7th, 2015 at 1:36 pm
heres come the bold type….
February 7th, 2015 at 1:42 pm
I never thought a coach on any level would ever say something like this in my lifetime! This quote speaks volume…
February 7th, 2015 at 1:46 pm
LMFFAO ….good one Nails.
February 7th, 2015 at 2:19 pm
Fire Lovie Smith for not being on the verge of reality
February 7th, 2015 at 2:35 pm
The big problem here due to Marcus Arroyo was he was probably right.
February 7th, 2015 at 2:41 pm
Playing not to lose, just as BucRight said.
That same mentality already cost him the Chicago gig and once again he’s demonstrated inability to change.
The shame of it is the league is constantly evolving and were watching 1990’s era football. Time has past him by.
February 7th, 2015 at 2:45 pm
ddneast Says:
The big problem here due to Marcus Arroyo was he was probably right.
********
That’s a very tough sell. Lovieball has a 10 year track record of boring ball control football.
Arroyo hadn’t called plays for even 10 games.
Put the blame on the decision maker. It was all Lovie wanting to take a knee.
February 7th, 2015 at 2:46 pm
this was written after the home opener….
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……
February 7th, 2015 at 2:54 pm
Just as I thought. All are negative.
Frankly, I’m tired of being pulled down on my Bucs, so I’m done reading this series.
February 7th, 2015 at 2:56 pm
Just curious, Joe, why no high point series also. Surely there were plays or players that had positive results through the year as well.
February 7th, 2015 at 3:00 pm
Although you don’t realize it, you affirmed what I wrote. I doubt if Love trusted Arroyo calling the right plays in the final seconds of the half with the very little game experience he possessed.
February 7th, 2015 at 3:07 pm
BuccaneerBonzai Says:
Just as I thought. All are negative.
Frankly, I’m tired of being pulled down on my Bucs, so I’m done reading this series.
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Not to pile on Bonzai, but we went 2-14 with a HC that was a walking disaster in nearly every facet of the game.
Simple as that.
February 7th, 2015 at 3:11 pm
Everything is simple to a simple minded person.
February 7th, 2015 at 3:14 pm
You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.
Albert Einstein
February 7th, 2015 at 3:40 pm
When the high point of your year was losing a game (i.e. not losing the #1 pick), your year was exceptionally awful. As if being the crappiest team in the league is something to be proud of.
February 7th, 2015 at 3:42 pm
ddneast Says:
February 7th, 2015 at 3:00 pm
Although you don’t realize it, you affirmed what I wrote. I doubt if Love trusted Arroyo calling the right plays in the final seconds of the half with the very little game experience he possessed.
______________________________________________________________
Dude have you followed Lovie’s career even slightly? He’s afraid something bad can happen if he tries to hard to score. A turnover might happen…a blocked kick…something bad (nevermind what good can happen…)
That’s Lovie: Always concerned about what can be lost rather than what can be gained. He’s even more conservative than Dungy if it were possible. Ask Bears fans, they know best. Dude prefers to stay safe and let the defense win the game. Lovie always believes more in defense winning the game than the possibility of the offense losing it.
February 7th, 2015 at 3:48 pm
@ddneast, I would challenge you to find 30 positive things about the Bucs last season.
Hell, I would challenge you to even find 10!
Obviously Mike Evans was great, which your #1 pick should be! McDonald, Banks, and Jaques Smith all played well.
February 7th, 2015 at 3:54 pm
The 1976 team had a worse record……BUT they damn sure fought harder to win each Sunday than Lovies 2014 team ..full of high priced mercenaires
February 7th, 2015 at 4:11 pm
Just once….at least….I’d like to see a Buc offense pour it on when we have a lead…..it always seems like we try try to run the clock and it never works!!!
February 7th, 2015 at 4:19 pm
“Dude,” you mean like New England’s defense did in the SB and the Seahwaks D did all year.
“Dude” I know you have a hate of all things Lovie so like all irrational hates, nothing I can say or tell you would change your mind.
What I can tell you is that it makes all your posts very boring, dull and unoriginal rants.
“Dude,” what are you, 29 years old?
February 7th, 2015 at 4:20 pm
Mike Glennon’s play i
February 7th, 2015 at 4:23 pm
Against the Pittsburg Steelers would be another. Unfortunately his play regresses over the next four games but like the rest of the offense, I AT&Tribute that now more to Mark Arroy’s offensive play callingmore than anything else.
I will continue tomorrow if it is okay with Joe.
You really are a sad person.
February 7th, 2015 at 5:27 pm
Sounded to me like a HC who was covering for a bone head mistake by the OC to me.
February 7th, 2015 at 5:37 pm
@Unbelievable
Ten positive things about the Bucs last year.
ME13, Danny Lansanah, Marquis Smith, Bradley McDougald, Patrick Murray, VJ & ME13 1000 each, Glennon not injured (tradeable, tanked last game (#1 pick), Dotson LT (possible), Broke Steeler streak…65-0 when leading by 7 or more in 4th Qtr…..
So,,,,there are 10…..don’t ask for another one though!!!
February 7th, 2015 at 5:41 pm
I think Lovie at the time had so little faith in our ability to not turn the ball over that he didnt even try to get the points. Thats the only thing that makes any sense about that quote. I think he just didnt explain it very clearly and we were all stuck with it. But still, what a terrible thing for the coach to say about his team. This was about the time where I was starting to lose all optimism for the season.
February 7th, 2015 at 5:56 pm
I cringed when Lovie said that. I cant believe he said that crap. “I dont wanna put anymore points on the board” what a retard. Thats when i started questioning everything Lovie does.
February 7th, 2015 at 6:01 pm
Maybe he meant “In this particular situation I though
we had a better chance of a turnover or giving the ball back
than scoring.”
…which still sounds kind of funny.
#You play to win the game
February 7th, 2015 at 6:03 pm
ddneast Says:
February 7th, 2015 at 4:19 pm
“Dude,” you mean like New England’s defense did in the SB and the Seahwaks D did all year.
“Dude” I know you have a hate of all things Lovie so like all irrational hates, nothing I can say or tell you would change your mind.
What I can tell you is that it makes all your posts very boring, dull and unoriginal rants.
“Dude,” what are you, 29 years old?
_______________________
First of all, Seattle did something that is 100 times more aggressive than Lovie would ever do, throw a pass with 6 seconds left in a half with a huge risk of not scoring. Lovie kicks a FG with 15 seconds left if he gets the chance because “Oh no! Something might go wrong”….true, but that’s a loser attitude. Pete plays to win, so does Belichick. Remember 4th and 2 on his own 29? You think Lovie does that ever? Pffffffff
Second of all, my disdain for Lovie is highly rational and based on fact and logic, like…
Fact: He loses twice as often to teams .500 or better than he wins.
Fact: He’s had bottom third of the league offenses 10 of 11 years
Fact: He misses the playoffs more than twice as much as he makes them
Fact: He’s missed the playoffs 7 of his 8 seasons as a coach
This guy is mediocrity defined, and that’s at his absolute best. At worst, well, we saw last year.
And blaming Arroyo is getting old. Lovie will now be on OC #6 in 11 years. Sorry, but the pattern clearly suggests it’s on Lovie and no one else. And his longest tenured co-ordinator is the utterly terrible Ron Turner. Lovie’s role needs to be DC, it’s what he’s good at.
I’m glad fans like you are looking forward to a bunch of 6-10 and 10-6 seasons with an occasional playoff berth snuck in (when everything breaks right). Fans like me, meh, not interested. I wanna do better, you wanna do mediocre. That’s the difference, you have exceptionally low standards and I don’t.
February 7th, 2015 at 6:10 pm
Actually the fear of something bad happening when you are on your 40 with 11 seconds left means you don’t trust your defense…..that’s right….defense.
Worst that could happen is probably an interception in their territory…..about 5 seconds left….how are they going to score?
February 7th, 2015 at 6:15 pm
Hey, I can say one positive thing about Lovie…He is a better head coach than TheKevin is a humanitarian!!! Now all together say…..drum roll….go hang yourselves!!! LOL That guy is really disturbed!!!
February 7th, 2015 at 6:19 pm
Positive mystery? – how the hell did we have two 1,000 yard receivers. That my friends is a true mystery. Must have been those few games Glennon played.
February 7th, 2015 at 6:30 pm
WS99 Says:
Positive mystery? – how the hell did we have two 1,000 yard receivers. That my friends is a true mystery. Must have been those few games Glennon played.
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No running game, very little production from the TE and slot WR too.
Our game strategy was the chuck and duck.
February 7th, 2015 at 6:42 pm
@TBBF, not bad. I’ll give you about 6 out of those 10.
Sorry but a player (MG8) not getting injured can’t count. Especially in only 4 starts. That’s a reach.
Patrick Murray was average, nothing more.
Dotson didn’t look very good in his short time at LT. I hope we keep him at RT where he is a more natural fit, and draft or pick up a real franchise LT.
As for Vjax, I love the guy, but him getting over 1000 yards was more a fluke due to our complete lack of run game and also playing in garbage time. He had some super critical drops, although I’ll give him a pass somewhat since the dude played with a broken wrist.
February 7th, 2015 at 6:50 pm
“Joe’s also shared negative takes on Winston this week from SI and PFT. But feel free to keep making stuff up–Joe”
That’s all they do lately Joe…because they got nothing. I think panic is setting in early for some of these fans.
Just wait until 2 months from now. There going to need medical marijuana and a bottle of Jack to cope with the inevitable.
May I suggest Beam’s Devil’s Cut it goes down smooth and it’s 90 proof.
February 7th, 2015 at 10:57 pm
@ unbelievable
Wow….what a pessimist…..can’t even give creds to 2 1000 yd recievers…..think you need to find another team
February 8th, 2015 at 8:55 am
@Joe: What happened to the optimist? This article series has become the, don’t even get your hopes up for next year series in my mind. Can’t you just rent a billboard? On second thought, you don’t have to. I’m convinced. Lovie should have been fired.
This is soooo painful!
February 8th, 2015 at 12:17 pm
Yes Bucrightoff, we have all heard you state your stats over and over and over again ad nauseum. Hence the comment I made about you being unoriginal and boring.
You seem to be mired in the past by Chicago Bear history which leads me to suspect that you probably are a closet Bears fan. I mean really, why else would someone harbor such resentment towards a coach.
Yes, the ‘Hawks did. Gutsy thing going for a TD on 4th and 6, but I don’t see Rusell Wilson behind our center and an experienced OC in the coaching box. You never seem to take contributing factors like these into the equation.
Also, many people will tell you the hubris that caused Petey to go for a TD at the end of the first half is the same hubris that cost the ‘Hawks the game at the end of the game.
Go figure.
Whatever the case, I tend to treat each new season as just that, a new season.
People like you tend to blame and believe in stupid media concoctions like the “Doug Williams curse,” and stay mired in them.
I don’t ever look forward to a losing season since I have season tickets which is something I sincerely doubt you have.
But the real difference between you and I is you want to stay mired in the past and the negative of all things Lovie and I prefer to see some of the positive aspects of the team and realize they were hampered a great deal by an outmatched, inexperienced OC who probably shouldn’t have been hired as a QB coach by another OC who quit on the team.
Like I said, you really are a sad person.
February 8th, 2015 at 12:18 pm
[…] No. 24 — “I didn’t want to put more points on the board” No. 25 — Glennon success without an offensive coordinator No. 26 — Putrid punting No. 27 — Defending three-step drops No. 28 — Eight consecutive red zone runs versus Rams No. 29 — Leaky Sean Glennon No. 30 – Jorvorskie Lane […]
February 8th, 2015 at 12:22 pm
I need to find another team cuz I don’t agree with one of your points? Really dude?
Careful, you’re starting to sound like ddn and thekevin.
February 8th, 2015 at 9:33 pm
The Ram game was a good synopsis of the season: bad clock management, wasted timeouts, penalties, defense getting burned by a THIRD string qb, putrid special teams, McNown crapping the bed, etc; you name it and it happened in the Lamb game….. If they won that game perhaps the season could have gone in a different direction, maybe the Bucs would have just gone 3-13 but perhaps they could have won a few more of the close games….. Lovie’s conservatism was mind boggling, the only bad thing that could have happened with 11 seconds left is a pick 6, if was he so sure McNown would turn the ball over why didn’t he put Glennon in???? This game first raised all the red flags which we now currently about Lovie and began to have an inkling that Arroyo had no clue how to run the offense…. I guess the Tedford absence can explain away the offensive woes but not the lackluster special teams or how back up after backup qb simply schools the Bucs D; those are on Lovie….