Smarter Than Last Year
March 17th, 2015
Andrew Astleford of Fox Sports Florida believes Bucs general manager Jason Licht grew smarter this offseason.
Good thing Joe runs his own business. Joe doesn’t have to walk into the boss’s office, hat in hand, begging for all to be forgiven when a blunder is made.
Joe couldn’t imagine telling an employer that some $29 million dollars Joe spent on three upgrades was money flushed down the toilet.
Lovie Smith was in that position with Team Glazer. Hopefully, Team Glazer has barred Lovie from ever returning to that damned basement in Lake Forest.
And while the Bucs have not (yet) jumped into the deep end of the pool this free agent season (remember, Greg Hardy is still swimming free), Andrew Astleford of Fox Sports Florida believes the Bucs have grown wise from their costly personnel errors.
Josh McCown? Anthony Collins? Michael Johnson?
Once, all three were the toast of One Buc Place when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers “won” free agency, which, as we learned, was worth as much as a Grapefruit League title. Now, all three are elsewhere after one year, each worthy of a warning label.
Look, life is about evolving from mistakes. Errors happen in all aspects of the human experience, but what comes next reveals the most about an individual or an organization. Adjustment reveals maturity. Staying stuck in a failed frame of mind suggests ignorance. Coach Lovie Smith and general manager Jason Licht did the right thing this week, after the Failed Three of the 2014 free-agent class burned both men.
Burned? More like roasted. Quick, think of another free agent haul (three players and damned near $30 million p!ssed away) that all three were released a year later? Joe can’t think of any off the top of his head.
Going for value, like the Bucs did last week and over the weekend, sure seems more prudent today.
March 17th, 2015 at 7:25 am
Blame that on lovie. Not licht. Lovie is making the calls on FAs. He is the john Gruden to Bruce Allen. Good coach. Terrible talent evaluator. The glazers are going to relive this nightmare/ground hogs day. I think licht only has some say in draft process. I mean think about it , you think licht wanted oniel cousins and the other Browns player (gilkey?)I can’t think of cause he was so bad. No it was a coach (warhop) getting in lovie s ear.
March 17th, 2015 at 7:46 am
So even though you have $30M to spend – the decision to NOT improve a 2-14 team in free agency is classified as “smarter”??
Okeedokey. If you say so…..
March 17th, 2015 at 7:52 am
The three aforementioned FA (MJohnson, JMcCown,ACollins) that were brought in last year were paid based on potential n not performance. They weren’t wonderful they were Wonder Boys AKA “One hit wonders”. Last year we had the opportunity to bring in Julius Peppers, Jared Allen, n Michael Bennet all who have consistently played at a high level each year contrary to the three aforementioned Amigos. Lovie is now shellshock…fumbled once n now he’s timid n afraid of what to do next. Let me help u out…get Hardy a player who has the stats n performed to prove he’s a difference playmaker. He’s a warrior who said his goal is to have 50 sacks in one season. He gives his all each game despite of injuries. So, For Lovie, Litch n the three Amigos last year… stupid is as stupid does.
March 17th, 2015 at 7:53 am
Mark Dominck signing Albert Haynesworth is still, by far, the worst move in franchise history.
March 17th, 2015 at 7:55 am
In my book “smarter” doesn’t mean avoiding all top-tier FAs….Smarter is making the right choice…..
March 17th, 2015 at 7:56 am
I seem to remember beating the quantity over quality drum all last off season. Fell on deaf ears.
March 17th, 2015 at 7:59 am
The decision NOT to over-pay for a bunch of B and C level free agents is classified as “smarter” yes.
The Bucs are showing restraint, going after the big names in free-agency hasn’t done much for us so why not try a different approach?
March 17th, 2015 at 8:01 am
Eric Wright and Carl Nicks?
March 17th, 2015 at 8:05 am
SteveK- didn’t Dominik sign Haynesworth to league minimum or something minimal for partial season after McCoy went on IR? Not exactly a high risk signing. I had no issue with it then or now. It’s not like he was re-signed to a high money deal. Sorry, Lovie Smith and lapdog are by far the biggest fools of free agency.
March 17th, 2015 at 8:08 am
You are so right TBBF. So many dumb fans seem worried about the Glazers bank accounts. The Bucs were the worst team in the league last year. That means two things:
1) You have a lack of talent and need to fill glaring holes at numerous positions
2) No quality free agent with options wants to play for a putrid team so you may have to over pay for a few.
Just because they made mistakes last year doesn’t mean they should sit on their wallets this year. My god we have let two DEs go and haven’t even tried to replace one of them. Everyone talked about the lack of a pass rush and horrible o-line play last year and so far in free agency they haven’t done a damn thing. There aren’t enough draft picks to fill all of the weak spots on this team.
March 17th, 2015 at 8:09 am
Peppers and Allen weren’t signed because of their age and the Bucs thought, mistakenly of course along with all the other experts, that Johnson had more upside because of his age.
Allen had a bad year too and was out several games because of illness.
March 17th, 2015 at 8:13 am
The restraint this year makes sense…why go crazy signing guys in FA when the Bucs preferred plan could very well be to address areas of need by trading down/aquiring several more draft picks in another 40 some days?
March 17th, 2015 at 8:14 am
Even more reason to building through the draft.
March 17th, 2015 at 8:19 am
Lovie is a joke made a 4 win team into a 2 win team. Then he has yet to improve the team in the off season. Bucs will be in rebuild mode for about 7 more years
March 17th, 2015 at 8:20 am
@DallasBuc
Dominick signed Haynsworth off of waviers when the Patriots let him go. he was due about 7-8 million so I think we took care off less than half of it. Patriots traded for Haynsworth from Washington who paid all of the Guaranteed Money in years prior.
Well at least they did sign a couple of people. could be worse. Licht could have changed philosophy and said they will now build thru the draft only, Then have a little success and finish 3rd in the division, then the year after Lovie would yell “we youngry ” at every interview!!!
March 17th, 2015 at 8:25 am
So, they should just pay a decent player whatever they want so we can say we filled a need?
There really wasn’t much out there @ DE, unless they were going to plug a 3-4 OLB in to the spot…even then, slim pickings. We never had Clayborn on the field anyway so no real loss there and Bowers is Bowers, Melton is a suitable replacement for him.
Carter to replace the still unsigned Mason Foster.
The big need I see is at either RT or LT, thankfully Dotson gives us some flexibility there. I’d like to see at least 1 decent lineman signed before the season starts and probably 2-3 of them taken in this year’s draft. Mostly, I want to see Edwards, Pamphile or both step up this year. Draft and develop. Stop with the over-priced band-aids.
March 17th, 2015 at 8:30 am
I tried to warn Bucs fans last season in other fora but they won’t listen. Lovie Smith is a good defensive coordinator but as a de facto head of an organisation/ primary decision maker he’s as clueless as they come.
Lovie is not the sharpest tool in the box. Just look at what he did at my Bears in almost a decade as the head coach. Look at his history with offensive coordinators and coaches. Look at his history in the draft. We got by all these years because of Brian, Briggs, Peanut that were all holdovers for Lovie.
This is a man indoctrinated in his archaic beliefs. Looking from the outside, you had the chance to bring in a Callahan or Sparano this off-season but I’m pretty sure Lovie pushed to retain his pal – the OL coach, who should’ve been handed his pink slip at the end of the season. He coached an average OL in Cleveland even with a HOF LT and an all pro C and it made for absurd reading that the OL guys didn’t know hoe to build chemistry or study film before Mankins arrived. What the hell was Lovie’s pal doing all along as the coach ?
I just hope for your sake that Lovie doesn’t ruin the organisation further into the ground with his piss poor personnel and staff decision making. I’d cut bait if I were the owner. Instead of bringing in retreads, grab a young, progressive and enthusiastic head coach like Matt Patricia. Let him and Licht build the roster for 4-5 years instead of going for quick fixes. That’s what great organisations do. Build through the draft for long term sustainability.
Look at the Steelers – how many head coaches have they employed in the SuperBowl era ? The answer is 3. Chuck Noll was 36 years old in his first HC job. Bill Cowher was 35 in his first HC job. Mike Tomlin was 35 in his first HC job.
Stop bringing in these inflexible, moronic head coaches who will not change their ideology not matter what happens. Even my Bears keep making the same mistakes and got a bozo in John Fox. Sigh..
March 17th, 2015 at 8:37 am
Funny to blame Lovie for the Bears’ problems when you were worse before he got there and you’ve been worse since he left.
March 17th, 2015 at 8:41 am
Are you retarded ?
Lovie’s appointment was part of a systemic problem with the McKaskey family and their low ambitions. Lovie was better than some of the other trash they’ve appointed. But trash nonetheless. Great achievement ? I don’t think so.
Also his tenure coincided with the prime of Urlacher, Briggs and Peanut. What did he do to replace them long term ? Lovie is a big part of why the defense feel apart once they started ageing, because he didn’t draft or develop suitable replacements.
March 17th, 2015 at 8:41 am
I don’t mind not having the big splash, but not signing ANY Oline players is freaking me out, especially considering Lovie’s history.
March 17th, 2015 at 8:50 am
@TBBF,
Right on once again. Sign the right ones. We were 2-14 for crying out loud, we need LOTS of help, how are we going to improve the Oline?
@Realist, @DallasBuc,
Dom also is said to have offered a contract to fat Albert, prior to him signing the deal with Washington for MORE money than what he got with Washington, but he turned it down (thank god) bc he wanted to play with a winner.
March 17th, 2015 at 9:11 am
JFat
It is right to blame Lovie for what is wrong with bucs and the Bears… It was Lovies BAD decisions that made both teams worse then when he arrived. A lot of the bad contracts are personnel moves lovie made in Chicago are now coming to the head. That is my biggest fear with Lovie he made this team worse last year and he is well on his way to making it worse this year already has made it worse. It takes years for a team to recover from a fool like Lovie.
Conte is not a good signing. it’s a waste of time. he wont make it out of training camp or will get burnt for being out of position until its obvious. Melton is a good depth potential but not an impact guy. Carter is a decent move but is he an upgrade maybe or maybe not. Also he has not played MLB in a couple of years which is the biggest position of need on LB corps considering he is the only one on the roster.
When a clueless dictator like King Lovie makes the decisions teams are punished forl those decision down the road 3 to 5 years.
Even given all the free agent and draft Mistakes Lovie made last year the Glazers made the biggest mistake of all by giving a coach with a proven history of HORRIBLE personnel movies full control… Everyone wants to live in the past with two average coaches Dungy and Lovie good guys but please do not confuse them with Lombardi or Belicheat. Dungy this Dungy that again great guy mediocre coach. Should have had at least one Superbowl with bucs and 1 more with Colts. Facts…. The next idiot that says Dungy wills sell Glazers on Mariota that is insane. He was FIRED because he could not figure offense out. Dungy never did figure it out. He went to Indy where Irsay made sure Dungy did not go near the offensive side of building.
So please answer me this one question. The biggest need on the team is offensive line I think we can all agree on that since Winston will be the pick. So now that is settled, what makes any one of you so sure after 10 years of not being able to field a decent o line that Lovie will magically eat a bowl of Lucky Charms and figure out in year 11… Please help me understand why so much confidence with statistics and history proves lovie is a horrible player evaluator and just an average coach. those are the facts
The more patient you people are with Lovie the more long term damage he will do. ask bear fans.
March 17th, 2015 at 9:40 am
@Urlacher–
I’ve been saying the same things about Lovie since the day the Bucs hired him…he’s gonna go down as one of the worst HCs in Bucs history, and with our history, that’s sayin’ something….
March 17th, 2015 at 9:50 am
I think they just tried to make drafting easier, by getting a DT,MLB, and Safety. As previous stated…all Lovie Guys. I think this year Licht has more say on the draft. This year is more like last year was supposed to be. Indeed they are learning. We will get help in the trenches with early and mid round picks.
March 17th, 2015 at 9:58 am
Yes Fimike, you have said it over and over and over and over and over and over again. Don’t you ever have anything new and original to offer. You are possibly one of the dullest trolls out here. At least the others , occasionally, come up with some new material.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
March 17th, 2015 at 10:05 am
@flmike
I can understand your frustrations man. I guess owners prefer scrubs like Lovie Smith because he’s a passive Landry impersonator and a ‘nice guy’. Unfortunately nice guys don’t always build Championship winning teams.
I cry for the days when my team had Dent and Ditka and Singletary, or you guys with Sapp and Lynch and Brooks – guys with more passion in their pinkie than Lovie in his entire body. Unfortunately, Lovie prefers ‘his guys’ – docile players who will do as he say rather than bringing in players that will challenge him mentally and spiritually, the guys who’re obsessed with winning and leading the organisation to playoffs.
March 17th, 2015 at 10:12 am
Tmaxcon, the Bears had a winning,season the year after Lovie left. If you want to give Tresterman credit for that, you have to give him the blame for last year, you can’t have it both ways, although in your mind I’m sure it makes since.
Also, using your “logic” he isn’t responsible for last seasons losing record because of all the poor drafts that preceded his arrival.
You yourself stated the Bucs hadn’t drafted well in the past 10 years.
Do you now deny what you stated.
Also, didn’t Lovie only have one losing season with the Bears, his first? Not being an all things Lovie hater, I confess I don’t know for sure.
I would like to address this further with you, but your whole diatribe is so full of contradictions and errors, I simply don’t have the time.
March 17th, 2015 at 10:25 am
@flmike
“I’ve been saying the same things about Lovie since the day the Bucs hired him…he’s gonna go down as one of the worst HCs in Bucs history,”
I have a serious question for you flmike. Are you trolling or are you just really that stupid??? For the love of all that is holy, I hope you are trolling…
March 17th, 2015 at 11:06 am
ddneast… You sure defend Lovie against all negative comments. Somewhere there is a diehard Lovie fan trying to get out, it’s showing. Meanwhile cherry picking which Bucs fan you can call stupid today.
March 17th, 2015 at 11:40 am
Sssshhhh! Logic and reason will get you nowhere on the internet, sir.
March 17th, 2015 at 11:54 am
@OneLove
I’ve had the displeasure of watching Lovie Smith in Chicago, I watched as he made one bad personnel decision after the other. Jerry Angelo built that Super Bowl team, but once Lovie was given control over the personnel (2007), you got the Cutler trade, Devin Hester as the #1 WR and of course the signing of Sam Hurd & the Gaines Adams trade plus numerous other bad moves and decisions to lengthy to document. He is what he is, a really good defensive co-ordinator, he’s been elevated to his highest level of incompetence and it shows in of his actions.
March 17th, 2015 at 12:17 pm
Remember guys…free agents have a choice on who they play for. Just because Lovie didnt make any big name signings doesnt mean they didnt try. If youre a free agent, that means that you are ready to cash in a big check and possibly choose to go to a SB contender. Why would you CHOOSE to come to the Bucs, when we obviously suck, and have no Oline or Dline to speak of. We have average corners and no MLB. Whats there to like about being a Buccaneer? Having a player-friendly coach will only take you but so far. THere is a chance that the Bucs couldnt convice free agents to come here. Why be a Buc when you can be a Patriot, or Dolphin, or Saint, or a Seahawk. We are a bottom-tier team at this point. We havent proven we can win anything yet. Once we start winning so games then good FA might want to be here. Until then, we’ll get the McCowns, Conte’s, and he Carters of the world.
March 17th, 2015 at 1:32 pm
IF the Bucs sign Hardy and pick Fameis will we still be having these discussions.
Carter is soooo much faster than Foster and far more athletic. One can only imagine GMC flanked by Hardy.
Jameis to VJAX/EVANS/ASJ/Sims
ALL that remains is the OL. We can easily trade right back into the first round with our high 2nd round (like a late 1st) and another pick or player and nab a truly good OL prospect.
Seems to me we’re down to Hardy. Sign him and this will be a successful off season and in our crapola division we’re immediately competitive.
Again I’m forecasting playoffs and one and done….then NEXT year we roll baby.
March 17th, 2015 at 5:35 pm
Bucsfan37′ at the moment, I am a Lovie defender, but there might come a day when ai change my mind.
I assure you it won’t be after one season where he had an OC flame out right at the beginning of the season and when he is saddled with a pack of underachieving players from previous regimes.
I saw a team trying hard last year all the way to the final game of the season, unlike the year before.
I also saw some positions improve and some players jettisoned that weren’t doing their jobs for one reason or another.
Unlike a huge number out here with short term memory problems, I remember our 2013 offensive line being just as bad, if not worse, than our 2014 edition.
Attempts were made to improve it but weren’t successful but the coach realized the unit needed a change.
Finally, Lovie and Licht whiffed on two FA’s but before the season everyone was lauding the Bucs for signing them.
I have said this time and time again and haven’t heard anyone argue my points and say I was wrong. No arguments whatsoever.
Until then, I will reserve my opinion until I see a m ore finished product.
March 17th, 2015 at 5:44 pm
Flmike, your close association with Chicago confirms to me what I have suspected all along, you are a troll and a fan of the Chicago Bears.
“I had the displeasure of watching Lovie Smith in Chicago.”
Really. Why would you watch Lovie Smith in Chicago if you weren’t a Bears fan.
Since he only left two years ago. I doubt seriously if your allegiances to the team has switched to the Bucs.
Thanks for outing yourself, Flmike.
March 18th, 2015 at 6:35 am
ddneast…
My beautiful wife of 31 years is a born and bred…Southsider, she’s been a Bear’s fan her whole life, I have no real need to explain myself to you, but, a happy wife makes for a happy life, we watch the Bucs and the Bears each Sunday….and have since 1994 when we first got Sunday Ticket while stationed in NM serving this great nation. In other words, F-Off. Been a Bus fan since before you were born. Might wanna go back a few years on these boards and see when I first started posting, I’ve only seen your name pop up in the last few months.