Lovie Smith Is On The Clock
March 24th, 2015
For reasons Joe will never understand, load of Bucs fans worship Father Dungy more than the guy who won the lone Super Bowl in franchise history, Chucky.
Joe remembers these fans rejoiced in glee when the Bucs hired Father Dungy’s most famous disciple, Lovie Smith.
A year removed, well, be careful what you wish for, huh?
Typing for his own website, GarySheltonSports.com, veteran columnist Gary Shelton looks at how long it will take for the Bucs to turn around their fortunes. Shelton believes Lovie has a specific window to right the pirate ship.
Coach: A lot fewer people are excited about Lovie Smith in year two than they were in year one, aren’t they? But Smith still has a shot. He’s still a calming force, and this year, he has more offensive help on his staff. But how many of those close losses need to turn to victories before you can pronounce year two as a success?
Look, a lot of coaches fizzle in year one. Jimmy Johnson was 1-15. Chuck Noll was 1-13. Bill Walsh was 2-14. Tony Dungy, as you may remember, was 6-10. In his first year with Chicago, Smith was 5-11.
But Smith won 11 games his second year, and hewn to the Super Bowl in his third. With as many holes as this team has, that’s an ambitious leap. But 7-8 wins is reasonable this year, isn’t it?
Reasonable expectations: Two years.
Yes, that is reasonable and frankly, generous. As Joe has pointed out, history is not kind to coaches who lead their teams to the worst record in the NFL as Lovie did last year. Since 2003, only three coaches survived after such a season, Marty Schottenheimer, Steve Spagnuolo and Lovie. Of the three, thus far, only one lasted long enough to guide his team to the playoffs, and that was Schottenhemier.
Of course, Joe believes drafting Jameis Winston buys Lovie time; Marcus Mariota even more time.
March 24th, 2015 at 10:36 am
It’s 2015. Fans have the patience of a two year old.
Despite the brief honeymoon Lovie was on the clock as soon as he accepted the job.
John Fox is a good coach with a solid resume. Do we not suppose he’s on the clock in Chicago even though he was just hired.
March 24th, 2015 at 10:42 am
Lovie has only himself to blame, he’s the one that spouted the eight-win deal with the defense that was in place when he arrived.
Probably made the same promise to the ownership.
Lovie probably meant he could win eight games his first two seasons.
March 24th, 2015 at 10:45 am
I’m a Shelton fan and I never knew about that site. Thanks Joe for that.
March 24th, 2015 at 10:47 am
Nothing good can happen with Lovie making roster / personnel decisions.
March 24th, 2015 at 10:47 am
Mentioning Lovie with those other coaching legends is a bit much I believe.
March 24th, 2015 at 10:51 am
…chucky won with the “house that dungy built”….we all know that…chucky gave them a kick in the rear end and won….then, without rich mckay, dismantled it with free agents, trading picks and poor drafts….the disaster in player personnel since the super bowl win is staggering….
March 24th, 2015 at 10:57 am
Lovie & Licht positioned the Bucs as “win-now” and stated the Buc fans didn’t need to show patience…..Big mistake…they could have easily sold the fans on the lack of talent & depth and bought themselves a year….but they didn’t…..now fans have disappointing unmet expectations.
I am assuming that the “win-now” pitch was made to the Glazers first.
March 24th, 2015 at 10:58 am
Wait till Lovie has another top 5 draft pick for next year! Fans are going to lose their minds!
March 24th, 2015 at 10:58 am
bucco brice Says:
…chucky won with the “house that dungy built”….we all know that…chucky gave them a kick in the rear end and won….then, without rich mckay, dismantled it with free agents, trading picks and poor drafts….the disaster in player personnel since the super bowl win is staggering….
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It would be remiss to exclude Sam Wyche. He was instrumental in building Dungy’s roster.
March 24th, 2015 at 10:59 am
bucco brice
dungy was exactly what the bucs needed at the right time. I am a dungy fan but I am not a dungy delusionalist. Dungy is an average coach at best. some coaches are good at building teams and men and others excel at winning championships. Dungy cost the bucs at least 1 super bowl and the Colts at least one. It’s OK to live in the past but what did you do for me yesterday and that is 2-14 Lovie style which is far more telling it was the most embarrassing 2 losses than the franchise ever experienced. I am tired of the Lovie / Dungy good guy crap. I am glad they are good men. awesome… everyone should strive to be good but I want winners who have open minds and not stubborn dinosaur philosophies disguised as principles.. . Chucky won with his team not dungy’s team. again dungy was exactly what the bucs needed and all bucs fans should be in his debt but to blindly follow based on the good guy factor is asinine. it’s 2015 time to win not live in the past.
March 24th, 2015 at 11:00 am
@tampabaybucfan
But that was the reason they fired Coach Schiano, The roster had so much talent and the coach did not know what he was doing, or how to use the talent. Or so the Media reported and fan said over and over and over again!!!
March 24th, 2015 at 11:01 am
You nailed it there Joe..
“Marcus Mariota even more time”
And that is why Lovie will draft Mariota, he has more time to get the defense to top 10 and let Mariota learn while Glennon starts.
HEARD IT HERE 1ST!!!
#MariotaorBUST
March 24th, 2015 at 11:01 am
The coaching legends his ridiculously tries to compare Lovie to all had those horrible records in their first season as a NFL head coach. Lovie just did it in his 10th. Not even comparable and very, very insulting to even suggest it.
The media’s slobbering over Lovie despite his incredibly mediocre history is truly puzzling. You would think he just led them to the playoffs and not the worst season in 29 years.
March 24th, 2015 at 11:04 am
All I’m looking to Lovie for is defense this year. If the defense is bad then that’s when I’ll panic about him as our HC. I was kind of freaking out early in the year last year; but after seeing how well we performed statistically the last 10 weeks (essentially a top 10 D in points allowed) i felt calm.
March 24th, 2015 at 11:08 am
Lovie knows football backward forward and upside down. Perfect fit for a rebuild. I thought Dungy was aloof. How many people are pushed along by their associations in life, as someone continually suggests? I think we are all the results of our past experiences. I want to like and support Lovie, he does not allow much wiggle room.
March 24th, 2015 at 11:15 am
I appreciate Dungy for changing the culture, but he was canned because of Les Steckel, Mike Shula and Clyde Christensen. Amazing how he became an offensive guru when he inherited Tom Moore and Peyton Manning.
Tony Dungy would not have won Super Bowl 37 if he had stayed and coached the Bucs. A lot of revisionist history goes on here about his lack of hiring decent OC’s while in Tampa.
March 24th, 2015 at 11:22 am
@ Realist
Your favorite GM…..the “Pop Star” loaded the Bucs with so much talent the team couldn’t be coached…..
March 24th, 2015 at 11:23 am
That is bull crap and I’m so freaking sick of hearing it.
We won that Super Bowl because of guys like Roman Oben, Ken Dilger, Michael Pittman, Keenan McCardell and Joe Jurevicious. Would any of them had come to Tampa to be a part of the Father Dungy and Mike Shula show? The answer is obvious. Would we have won a Super Bowl without those guys? The answer is obvious. To say that was “Dungy’s team” or “Dungy’s players” is complete bull crap.
Chris Thomas used to call Tampa “Gooberville” and it was because of BS like this nonsense. People liked Dungy because they think he’s a “good guy.” Doesn’t matter that he couldn’t win when it counted here in Tampa. People want to put Tony Dungy in the Hall of Fame because he was a “good guy.” It’s sickening
Jon Gruden deserves to be in the Hall Of Fame before Tony Dungy.
March 24th, 2015 at 11:24 am
it’s really odd the things people say about lovie smith who by the way has a winning record and is mentioned on the same list as legendary coaches so get over it. his track record versus raheem morris or greg schiano? mark Dominick was not only bad at talent evaluation and free agency he was horrible at hiring coaches….no one talked about it but wont give the black guy a second season to fix things. as many blown leads as greg schiano has, has never beat a rookie quarterback in 2 seasons, leader of noflyzone that got exposed in the last moments of games his entire era. you all must be frequent winners of fantasy football
March 24th, 2015 at 11:26 am
If they draft a QB I think 6 wins will save Lovie. If they trade or do something stupid with the number one overall pick like draft a defensive lineman they better hope they have a winning season or Lovie should be gone like most of the remaining fan base will.
March 24th, 2015 at 12:00 pm
All the bucs home games look easy peasy. We got this.
March 24th, 2015 at 12:02 pm
bucs4lyfe Says:
March 24th, 2015 at 11:24 am
it’s really odd the things people say about lovie smith who by the way has a winning record and is mentioned on the same list as legendary coaches so get over it. his track record versus raheem morris or greg schiano?
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Broken record or what? Yeah, we know, Raheem, Schiano and Dominik were awful….and Lovie just put up a season twice as bad as any of them did. Keep slobbing Lovie’s knob, must taste good even if it’s really mediocre.
March 24th, 2015 at 12:03 pm
We do kinda have to give him a break for having no offensive coordinator. The defense steadily got better at least.
March 24th, 2015 at 12:10 pm
BrianDorry55
he does not get a free pass for the oc debacle. he caused it. not tedford getting sick but the aftermath was all lovie cluster f*** he had plenty of time to replace him. hell raheem replaced o and d coordinators and he is not the genius like some think love is. lovie had options. at the very minimum he should have hired a consultant to advice Arroyo. what he did to that young man is criminal.
March 24th, 2015 at 12:19 pm
Tampabaybucfan Says:
March 24th, 2015 at 10:57 am
“I am assuming that the “win-now” pitch was made to the Glazers first.”
I believe you and most have this backwards TBBF. I’m pretty sure this “win-now” mantra was the Glazers idea – trying to capitalize on the back to the future feel good vibes of the Lovie Honeymoon in order to sell as many season tickets last year as possible. L&L went along – but probably cringed while doing it knowing the roster was in terrible shape from all those years of Dom blowing draft picks. I could be wrong but I see the owners likely being behind the “fans shouldnt be patient, win-now” stuff being spouted last offseason.
March 24th, 2015 at 12:20 pm
Lovie is a dinosaur.
Has one playoff trip in his last seven years. That tells me he’s not a very good head coach these days. Oh, and he just went 2-14.
The man is stealing from the Glazers. Let’s talk about how crappy our owners are.
March 24th, 2015 at 12:54 pm
@bucrightoff
yep your right because it not like common sense and facts play well here. i’ll let you continue to speak out of hate because that’s what gets play on this site, your basically a hater and wanting the bucs to fail so they can fire the guy. once again your not speaking logic because your like a child throwing a temper tantrum because the franchise wont do what you want them to do even though they didn’t need your input or advice when they won the last superbowl. you cant take credit for the success we did have so stfu or jump of a bridge lol your so emotional girl
March 24th, 2015 at 1:00 pm
All I ever use are statistical facts on Lovie Smith. Like his 30% playoff make percentage, his under 33% winning percentage against .500 or better teams, his horrible player development track record, horrible QB/overall talent evaluation etc….
The fact you enjoy mediocrity, well, I can’t help you there. You’re basically the type who enjoys handjobs from crack addicted hookers without lube. Gets it done I guess, but not all that enjoyable.
March 24th, 2015 at 1:02 pm
I think there’s a big difference between wanting the team to fail and having an opinion that they will because of the coach. Let’s face it. Lovie didn’t install any hope last year. None. Unless you are one of those blind faith kind of people.
I hope Lovie wins us a super bowl, but i have no reason to believe, after last year that he will do much better than 2-14. Hope I’m wrong.
March 24th, 2015 at 1:13 pm
@bucrightoff
damn your really upset someone get his bib he’s drooling all over the place……dude do us a solid and jump off a bridge and get it over with already, it’s just football and if having lovie as a head coach bothers you that much you need a therapy girlfriend. great stats really great stats that was brilliant and it I enjoy how you pick and choose that’s to fit your anger and hate…..if those are lovie smith’s handpicked stats by you then imagine the stats of the guy he replaced
his horrible player development track record, horrible QB/overall talent evaluation etc but All I ever use are statistical facts on Lovie Smith. lol put the crack pipe down because you’ve been sitting at your computer too long. he’s had a few great players in his time in Chicago that I shouldn’t have to mention. if you last 9 seasons with any team your doing something right girlfriend. dude let marcus arroyo run his offense and you rail on him for that…..why is it no one ever talks about rex ryan’s offensive knowledge? but great stats though love the stats girl, you must have had them saved on a sticky note all this time
March 24th, 2015 at 1:20 pm
Bucs4lyfe is by far the easiest poster on any website I’ve ever visited to bait. I’m not even trying either. Make me at least try a little now.
March 24th, 2015 at 1:28 pm
bucrightoff lol too late to pretend you don’t sound like a bitter moron girl. lol your the one who wants the coach fired 30 days before the draft like a free agent. he’s here another year, if your here at the end of the season and we have another losing season I can easily admit im wrong but it will obviously be harder for you to admit your stupid if we have a winning season and it can go either way…..stay tuned we’ll meet up during the season im sure
March 24th, 2015 at 1:51 pm
Until your posts start containing something that resembles the English language, I’m just gonna continue to assume you’re functionally retarded. So interacting with the retarded, my good deed for the day.
March 24th, 2015 at 2:01 pm
retarded recognizes retarded I guess…..are you done yet hater? kill yourself and get it over with already theres enough angry people in the world, spare yourself the embarrassment of people knowing why your so upset
March 24th, 2015 at 2:38 pm
bucs4lyfe Says:
March 24th, 2015 at 2:01 pm
retarded recognizes retarded I guess…..are you done yet hater? kill yourself and get it over with already theres enough angry people in the world, spare yourself the embarrassment of people knowing why your so upset
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Mmmm, delicious irony. Thanks for giving me what I wanted. Too easy, easiest mark on this site or any site for that matter.
March 24th, 2015 at 3:13 pm
BuccoBrice,now hen you refer to the “house that Dungy built,” are you referring to the foundation of Brooks, Sapp and Lynch.
Because if you are, Sam Wyche was the man who pouted the concrete.
I don’t discredit Dungy for what he did, establishing firm composed leadership (sound familiar) but Gruden had to come in and totally revamp the offense to get this team a championship.
Also, Tmaxcon, TomEdrington, DallasBuc, Bucrightoff it is always the negative with you and the same rehash of anti Lovie jargon. It gets, old, boring and very unoriginal which is typical of dull minds.
Although Bucrightoff I do appreciated you at least basing your opinions on actual stats, your statement that Bucs4lyfe is the easiest person to bait of all the blogs you go to indicates that is the sole reason you exist is to antagonize people on blogs
That, sir, makes you a troll which I have long suspected of you. It is nice that you finally confessed and confirmed my beliefs to such behavior although I’m sure it was a mistake.
March 25th, 2015 at 9:55 am
Hard to take you seriously as a writer when you question why fans like Dungy better. Gruden won with Dungy’s team against his former team and squandered a top ten defense over the course of the next few years.