Alterraun Verner Says Lovie “Is Upping The Ante”
August 26th, 2015
There’s a new Lovie Smith patrolling the Bucs sidelines, says Alterraun Verner.
The Bucs cornerback jumped on SiriusXM NFL Radio this afternoon and said while he doesn’t know exactly how much more involved Lovie is with the defense this season, the head coach is getting more involved with everything.
“I think he took it more to heart than anybody else us being 2-14 last season. And I think he thinks that it was a direct reflection of him,” Verner said. “He doesn’t like that feeling. So I think he is, upping the ante, you know, making sure he puts his personal stamp on anything, that everybody’s on the same page and things like that.”
Joe believes it’s clear Lovie is coaching with more urgency. Joe can feel that in various directions. Verner even referenced Lovie impacting the offensive line. (More on that later).
Man, it’s almost hard to believe Lovie is the same guy who casually trotted out career loser Josh McCown, told everyone that real football starts in November, and appeared to intentionally win the Chase for Jameis in late December.
August 26th, 2015 at 2:18 pm
“Real football starts in November.” Ha ha. That’s classic.
August 26th, 2015 at 2:32 pm
I’ve seen the stress/worry on his face for weeks. The look you get when you are busting your butt to achieve a goal. Good for him! Keep it up Lovie!
August 26th, 2015 at 2:52 pm
I’m worried about Bucs Realist. There’s a post about Lovie that’s been up for 15 minutes and he’s yet to respond. I hope he’s okay, but I fear for the worst.
August 26th, 2015 at 3:02 pm
You can see the difference in training camp this year. This camp the players seem to have more purpose than last year, the practices have been more physical, the tone is far different than last year, in a very good way. I think the d-line will be much better this year because of the spirited battles against the o-line. Granted, they want to see how the two rookies play against McCoy and McDonald and the D ends. They are finding out they can hold their own, which has led to some frustration from our two D tackles, this is a very good thing. I don’t know how many wins they will have for sure, but I can tell you things are different this year. Go Bucs!
August 26th, 2015 at 3:12 pm
@Hawaiian Buc
I was just going to let the sheep graze and roam free on this one! But since you called my name ( its like saying beetlejuice 3 times ) I will be happy to put in my 2 cents!!!!
If this was all that was missing, then where was it last year??? How do we get “ante up lovie” to do it next year as well??? Can we make Lovie “up the ante” two fold and have a top 10 defense for 2016??? It sounds like someone was coasting at there job year 1 and then realized I better do better or I will get canned!!!!!
August 26th, 2015 at 3:14 pm
Some might say that bc of realist and others Lovie is finally getting himself together. Way to go Realist!!! Lmbo
August 26th, 2015 at 3:25 pm
there is no middle ground with some bucs fans. your a bad defense if your ranked 25th out of 32 teams but they HAVE to turn around and be a top 10 defense the next year? is that you wanting instant gratification because you cant take knowing that the team is getting better and growing. no one remembers how average seattle was before they drafted Russell Wilson. there is a middle ground you know.
August 26th, 2015 at 3:28 pm
bucs4lyfe…I remember how bad the Seahawks were before they got Wilson. The Bucs beat the hell out of them @ Tampa in 2010.
August 26th, 2015 at 3:35 pm
Am I the only one a bit underwhelmed by Verner’s play on Monday? Take away that tip drill from AJ Green that led to the pick6, Verner was beat on the play and could not match up against Green that whole first Quarter.
Can’t remember what he did against the Vikes?… but I hope he was just “working on something” Monday
August 26th, 2015 at 3:36 pm
I’d be willing to bet that Lovie simply trusted his people to get the job done last year. When you are building a team of leaders, you have to show them trust or they will not do their best for the team. They have to feel that their input is valued and their expertise is respected. Unfortunately, he let them own their work and they didn’t come through. This year he is pushing everyone now that he has a year of evidence that his experts need his help.
August 26th, 2015 at 4:15 pm
Yep coasted his way to a brand be bad a$$ trigger man.
August 26th, 2015 at 4:18 pm
That ball Verner picked last monday looked like it came off a volleyball setup by the Bengal intended receiver. The broadcast booth then talked about and showed clips of his other boneheaded plays.
August 26th, 2015 at 4:40 pm
Lovie knows that he has to show the Glazer something. We have the talent, now it’s a matter of coaching them up.
August 26th, 2015 at 4:41 pm
“Am I the only one a bit underwhelmed by Verner’s play on Monday? Take away that tip drill from AJ Green that led to the pick6, Verner was beat on the play and could not match up against Green that whole first Quarter.”
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Uh, you do realize AJ Green is a top 5 receiver in the game right? He had what, two catches for 20 yards on 4 targets? If you are expecting Verner (or anyone on our roster) to do better than that, you are going to be severely disappointed. He didn’t let Green get by him (and yes, Green had several vertical routes where Verner was in his pocket), so he gave up a couple short throws. He also tackled well also. If we get anywhere close to that kind of a season from Verner, we’ll be in really good shape defensively.
August 26th, 2015 at 5:03 pm
This year I’ll be judging Lovie against Todd Bowles, Tomsula in SF and Dan Quinn. If first year coaches win more than he does it shuts everyone up who says “it takes time”
August 26th, 2015 at 5:12 pm
Mike if you look at the two pass plays to Green they were comeback routes, Verner was in his hip pocket the whole time just couldn’t stop and come back fast enough.
August 26th, 2015 at 5:26 pm
But TampaTony IF Lovie does all that and then some will it shut down the bellowers of hate all that is Lovie Smith on this site or will you guys simply look for other things to harp on? It gets real frustrating to be up here talking good things about our team and ALL you guys do is bring negativity. Contrary to what the so called realist says we are all not sheep we are aware of the problems of the team but we have been given reason to be optimistic this season without going overboard with it. This is the year either you guys or we will say I TOLD YOU SO. Will you eat your crow humbly or simply disappear?
August 26th, 2015 at 5:29 pm
like Hawaiian said, aj green is a top 5 wr…verner did his job and he is a top run support corner…I think in his first year lovie just wanted to input his system and erase some of the bad habits that were taught or learned by the players(i.e. culture change)…now lovie has his players playing the way he wants them to and players are buying in..like buc87 mentioned..it took seattle 3 years before they became what they are now..once pete took over he got the players he wanted changed the culture and players started to buy in…the same will happen to the bucs…GO BUCS!!!
August 26th, 2015 at 5:35 pm
@davidbigbucsfan
I will not be leaving, Nor change my screen name like so many have already done repeadly. And for the record, I have always admitted my error if I was incorrect on a subject!!!!
August 26th, 2015 at 7:09 pm
@NashvilleBuc, I think you sir are on to something !! GO BUCS !!!!!!!
August 26th, 2015 at 7:13 pm
D@$! I love my head coach. And man he better start a guy that is becoming my favorite player on the defense. Bone crushin D.J Swearinger. We have an enforcer again. I love it. Leveled Giovanni Bernard. Text book tackle.
August 26th, 2015 at 7:24 pm
David-If Lovie turns it around I will stop throwing 2-14 in his face. I’d rather the Bucs win than be right. 3-4 wins though and I’ll be down on him even more
August 26th, 2015 at 7:29 pm
It’s whiplash for the Bucs. First we have Rah who absolutely let the players run roughshod over him, no discipline..he was just one of the guys and their age as well.
The team was out of control so the bring in freaking “control freak” to try and restore order. They got order restored but crushed the team’s spirt. No I do not believe Schiano had anything to do with JFro’s meltdown…that was all on JFro…but I do believe the team had totally tuned him out.
So then they bring in Mr. Credibility Lovie. Let’s return to the glory years and bring back part of that package. Not sure what Lovie’s strategy was last year or if he really had one. Seemed like he took a year to see just how badly the organization had fallen into disrepair.
And so he comes back and takes charge. Guys give it a rest. We are 0-0. We haven’t lost a game yet. We’ve clearly IMPROVED our talent level at QB the most important position and Alexander appears to be an upgrade over Mason Foster who played out of position at MLB, no coverage skills, and a major upgrade over solid steady unspectacular Barrett Ruud.
This team has EVERY FREAKING REASON to be excited. If you can’t get pumped I’m not about to challenge your fan credentials…Buc fans have been abused for so long. I’m not going to cheap shot you Debbie Downers and tell you to cheer for a different team.
I am telling you to jump into the water with us!!! The water’s fine! We finally have EXCITING talent at the most important position on the team, a clearly improving OL and a defense that is starting to look like the reason we brought Lovie here to begin with.
It’s all good guys. 10-6!!! Yeah baby!!!
August 26th, 2015 at 7:56 pm
Realist he tanked….despite lovies flaws he is a winning head coach. He knew last year would effect his overall career record as a coach…..but he wanted Jameis. Lovie is no belicheat or Mcarthy…but hea a solid coach. I would like him to stick around as long as its not at the expense of dirk koetter. He needs to stay here for the rest of his coaching career. But Lovie did not coach a 2 and 14 team last year…..he manufactured one intentionally. Id bet the farm this team will never look like it did last year again while he is in charge. The team needed the reset button hit and he hit it.
August 26th, 2015 at 7:59 pm
Those that ignore history (2-14) are destined to repeat it. Can’t ignore all the bad personnel decisions, bad game management and the bad defense this team played. Someone has got to break the losing way here, why not Lovie?
Glad we have a true OC now, I’m sick of the losing especially when u see first year coaches like OBrien and Zimmer out coach and get more wins than a seasoned HC like Lovie. 2015 is no excuses for Lovie his staff and the vets on this roster
August 26th, 2015 at 8:52 pm
Lovie is no belicheat
Really? Lovie had a much better record than Belicheat who was a freaking losing coach for five of his first six years and then voila…a blind squirrel finds an acorn every now and then and a sixth round draft pick shows up and SUDDENLY Belicheat is genius. Brady=Belicheat’s genius.
Lovie wins four of his first six years including a 13 victory season all without a franchise QB. Lovie has NEVER had a franchise QB. Let’s wait awhile to see if Fameis can make Lovie a “genius” just like Brady has done for Belicheat. When Brady hangs them up if Belicheat can still consistently win then he has my respect.
Meanwhile Don Shula blows Belicheat’s record away with a variety of QB’s including one(Marino) who WAS clearly a franchise QB.
Did you hear Chucky joking about getting fired from Tampa because he never found a franchise QB.
August 26th, 2015 at 9:45 pm
TampaTony, StPeteBucsfan just put what has been said before that Lovie had a winning record with 4 double digit winning seasons including a 13 one yet you harp on one 2-14 of course because it was with us. He has a proven track record and last year at least for me he allowed last year to unfold the way it did without fixing it during the season in order to get Jameis Winston. The fact he didn’t bother getting a replacement for Tedford last year AND how the defense played so much better when he called it Monday night tells me he wanted a franchise qb. There’s no way the Glazers weren’t on board with that plan because any coach who goes 2-14 should be fired. Look at the difference between his defensive play calling and Fraziers. It’s like black and white. Now he has a franchize qb and a true quality OC whom he will stay out of his way and he gets to concentrate on the defense. You can’t convince me this won’t be a much better season.
August 26th, 2015 at 10:23 pm
After Schiano was fired, I doubt any coach would’ve been hired and won 9+ games last year. This team was in shamble. Glennon was just okay. Our only receiver was an aging VJax, and maybe Tim Wright. Our top two running backs suffered major, season ending injuries. Other than Zuttah, we had no o line. Change was inevitable there. Other than Mccoy we had no d line. Spence was okay playing the 1 technique. LVD was our only good linebacker. Foster was decent in run support but he could not cover. Our only decent group was our secondary, and thats because of Revis. Banks was okay. Our third best corner was my boy Lenoard. Which is awful (sorry Len). Baron was over drafted and Goldson was over paid. Sure, we could do okay in that years draft, but no coach short of Bill Bellichick was going to have success with this team after one spring. Lovie probably underestimated the learning curve of his defense, but he stayed the course and here we are. We weathered that mess. Lovie’s first year in Tampa was far from perfect. We know that. He knows that. Im glad he’s being a little more hands on. If we come out ready to go like we did Monday, then its obviously a good thing.
And I seriously doubt Lovie just came here to “coast along”. He can see his team needs his attention in certain area’s. Othrrwise, Lovie shows the respect and trust a grown man and a professional deserves, which is why he has lasted so long in this league and is held in high regard. That’s also the reason I trust him to build this thing.
August 26th, 2015 at 11:24 pm
They know what last season was. They don’t like him so they harp on the reality of the record even when a number factors clearly indicate what in truth was really going on last season. Tank job homie. Job well done Lovie,now it’s go time. We’ll compare 2014 to 2015 at the completion of this season. Trust me 2015 will tell you everything you need to know about exactly what 2014 was all about… Getting his guy. Got’em,now we go get’em. RRrrr ruff ruff where my dawg at.
August 26th, 2015 at 11:56 pm
[Stick to one usenname Tampa Tony or all of your usernames will be banned. – Joe]
August 27th, 2015 at 6:57 am
Sorry Joe, one device was drained. @noleguy-nothing personal against Lovie I’m just sick of the losing.
August 27th, 2015 at 8:43 am
Tampa T the winning begins inn 2015… No doubt about it. Way too many bad a$$es on this roster for it not to.