Down Goes Frazier
August 21st, 2015
Bucs defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier was relieved of playcalling duties.
“When you look at those last 10 games of the season and you see that we finished in the top five in almost every category group, including points, that’s what gets you excited. There are some things we can build on. We are expecting the guys that are coming back to really improve.” — Leslie Frazier talking in May about the Bucs defense last year.
During his time with the Bears, Lovie Smith booted defensive coordinators Ron Rivera, Bob Babich and himself, giving way to Rod Marinelli in 2010.
In 2009, Lovie called the defensive plays as head coach. The Bears were the 17th-ranked defense and 20 teams allowed fewer points.
So historically speaking, it’s really no surprise that Lovie stripped Bucs defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier of his playcalling duties, per the Tampa Bay Times report. It’s sort of what Lovie does.
Frazier, however, came to Lovie with a much more impressive pedigree than what Rivera, Babich and Marinelli had when they were running Lovie’s defensive ship in Chicago.
Frazier was a two-time defensive coordinator, in Cincinnati and Minnesota, and a former NFL head coach, leading the Vikings to the playoffs in 2012.
Lovie handpicked Frazier last season for his Bucs staff, and Frazier raved in May about how the Bucs were a top-5 defense in so many ways in 2014.
Joe would say something doesn’t add up. But it does add up. Lovie is a guy who changes playcallers.
August 21st, 2015 at 11:44 am
Lovie is a guy who loves escape goats!!! It is hard to believe that Lovie will have 6-7 wins in 2 years and there will be his sheep calling for 1 more year!!!!
August 21st, 2015 at 11:49 am
I can’t see how this is going to make a bit of difference but carry on with the fantasy that Lovie Smith is competent at his job… whatever that entails!
August 21st, 2015 at 11:53 am
1/22/73 Kingston Jamaica….vs George Forman…….Howard Cosell made the memorable call, “Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!” Less than two minutes into the fight, Foreman stunned Frazier with series of punches and then sent him down to the canvas with a right uppercut.
August 21st, 2015 at 11:54 am
Oh and he’s not just gonna get 1 more year! He’s going to be the head coach for YEARS to come!!! So do yourself a favor and get on your knees and get used to Lovie’s WANG ALL IN YOUR FACE SLAPPING YOU SILLY!!
“It’s as simple as that” – Lovie Smith aka “I’m a head coach in the NFL and your just a b!tch posting in a forum” aka “are you really keeping it real? real??? cuz you sound like a delusional b!tch!”
August 21st, 2015 at 11:55 am
So he loves “escape” goats but is setting himself up to not have one? Great logic!
Would you be willing to lay down hard cash that the Bucs only win 5 games max and all the fans still want Lovie around? Should be easy $$ right?
August 21st, 2015 at 11:58 am
Lol I feel like Onelove is the universe reacting and trying to counter the negative Nancy trolls
August 21st, 2015 at 12:01 pm
Lovie should probably fire the guy that hired Frazier……
August 21st, 2015 at 12:01 pm
Lovie will probably just interject suggestions into Frazier’s defensive playcalling. Two heads are better than one.
August 21st, 2015 at 12:12 pm
I’d be willing to wager that the negative Nancy’s dire predictions for the 2015 season turn out to be pretty spot on when it’s all said and done.
The rah rah Go Buc fans are out there all excited. Just like they are every August. They attack the likes of Realist and few others just like they’ve done every August. The names have changed and the fans are different, but it’s the SOS that gets said. Next off season Realist will be getting attacked again. SOS different posters.
August 21st, 2015 at 12:20 pm
If this means Lovie will keep his boring, conservative a** out of the offense, then I’m all for it.
Suck for Leslie though, from HC to DC, to DC without any real role.
Go Sucs!
August 21st, 2015 at 12:23 pm
In 2009 when lovie called the defense urlacher was out for the season and they had hunter hillenmeyer playing mlb. The year after that they added Julius peppers. That being said looks like lovie likes to call the plays without and experienced mlb
August 21st, 2015 at 12:26 pm
^^^^^^^ !!!!!
August 21st, 2015 at 12:29 pm
@ 87
Where is your optimism?…..we got Jameis….you’ve been calling for him for 2 years…..one preseason game and you’re done.
And….if we can’t be optimists now…..it will likely bee too late later….this, lately has been the only time of year for optimism.
As far as the Realist bashing……he deserves it…..he is a one trick pony and always have been….first Dom….now Lovie…..always negative….glass half-empty guy….a real bummer to read. Even if there is some validity in what he says…it’s the way he says it that blows….
Reminds me of the fan I sat next to at the Saints game….all dressed up in Buc gear and rooting for our players to fail…..fumble….get hit and even get hurt……
Why wear the colors?
August 21st, 2015 at 12:31 pm
If lovie cant make this defense effective this year there is no reason to keep him around. Koetter should be promoted and we need to have beast corners playing man coverage. I will believe it when I see it. Tired of trying to be positive every offseason just to get shat on all over.
August 21st, 2015 at 12:34 pm
All I know is, after re-watching last week’s “game” multiple times, the spot between the LBs and the Safeties is devoid of defenders all the time. QBs since last year have feasted on this weak zone of the cover 2 and if I can see that I don’t know how Lovie could allow it to continue into this year. Frazier just can’t cut it bring in Herm Edwards and dump this clown.
August 21st, 2015 at 12:52 pm
@ ChanEpic
Yep…picked apart…..especially on 3rd & “whatever they need”……our run defense is pretty good….but it’s at the expense of our pass defense…..
Our coverage improves when they are in or near the red zone….but before that…it’s march down the field…no matter who the team or who the QB…..
August 21st, 2015 at 12:54 pm
This season is already eerily starting to feel like last season! If we go 2-14 again or even 4-12, how can you justify bringing the current coaching staff back for another season? At that point, we might as well fire Lovie and Licht, promote Koetter to HC and bring in a brand new staff. Or go crawling back to Gruden and ask him to come back. I do NOT have a good feeling about this season!
August 21st, 2015 at 12:56 pm
If we can’t play defense then why keep Lovie cause he sucks at offense.
I think to win with this offensive line were gonna need a top 10 defense,..
August 21st, 2015 at 1:02 pm
If we go 4-12 or 2-14 I’m all for firing Lovie. I like Light & Jon Robinson though. We likely end up with 6-7 starters from the last 2 drafts and that doesn’t count potential impacts of Simms / Klay / Herron / Pamphile. Dude destroys Dominic at drafting imo
August 21st, 2015 at 1:07 pm
“I’d be willing to wager that the negative Nancy’s dire predictions for the 2015 season turn out to be pretty spot on when it’s all said and done”
You do realize that their predictions are lower than what the odds makers are predicting right? They are being negative as sh1t. Oddsmakers = actual “realists” and they have us around 6 wins. “Realist” is predicting 4-5 wins.
Considering the fact that the vast majority of the general public / sports community is really down on the Bucs by most their predictions; they likely set the bar as low as they possibly could to get at least some action on the over. And even their lowest possible bar ended up at around 6 wins.
None of the “optimistics” have predicted anything insane. You all act like we are saying playoff run / super bowl and no one is saying that. We’re just tired of the constant repetitive negativity. A lot of you come off like you are not even excited for the season which is pretty depressing.
And common man you were a huge Winston fan! How can you be so high on him and think he can’t win 6+ games? Best QB since Luck according to many draft analysts and you don’t think he can win 7-9+ games? Have some faith amigo!
August 21st, 2015 at 1:16 pm
@tbbf and @chanepic,
If you guys remember, that’s pretty much how the D always was in our tampa-2 heydays. Bend but don’t break. We would always let teams move between the 20s, sometimes to the point it was maddening. But once inside the redzone we would stand up.
The problem is when you’re not forcing any turnovers, eventually a big play happens or they convert near the goal line.
August 21st, 2015 at 1:18 pm
Reposted from three days ago:
Three units played Saturday night. As pointed out by NYBucsfan, none of them played well.
Yes Jameis did OK against the “second string” but was 2 of 9 early in the game. Glennon also did well against the second stringers, with two drops on perfectly thrown balls in intermediate range. But the score was 23-3 late in the second quarter! Minnesota is likely improved, but they are not likely an elite team.
Our defense did win the turnover battle, but the Vikings’ first team offense seemed to pass at will. In fact, for the game, their three QB’s were a combined 27 of 33 for 293 yds and two TDs. Our first team defense did not impress me.
Our special teams play looked bad throughout the game as well. Returners were ineffective, and frankly not very smart, bringing one kickoff out from nine yards deep in the endzone, and failing to call for a fair catch on a punt return, and then getting drilled one second later. I know they want a chance to make a play, but those type of mental mistakes will kill you.
So, I may be negative, but if so, it is not because of JW3, who despite his claims to the contrary, was likely nervous and “amped up” for his first game. I am panicked that the team looks remarkably like last year’s squad in so many ways, and the first preseason game looks not so surprisingly like the reports of last years’ preseason.
tickrdr
August 21st, 2015 at 1:21 pm
Was just reading an article by a guy predicting 6 wins. He hates Winston and think he will be a failure and still predicted 6 wins. lol.
August 21st, 2015 at 1:30 pm
“Three units played Saturday night. As pointed out by NYBucsfan, none of them played well.”
Dude you realize the starting D played like 2 series and gave up a FG and a 3 – out. lol
Can’t we at least wait till we see 60 minutes of starters playing a meaningful game before we hit the panic switch?
The main thing I noticed was the O-line didn’t look nearly as terrible as they did in 2014. To me that was almost night and day when we had most the starters in.
August 21st, 2015 at 1:58 pm
4-6 wins tops.
August 21st, 2015 at 2:16 pm
Them Animosity Amigos fast aren’t they,Onelove keep givin’em the business. And we’ll see about that win total homie. It’s like Nostradomus has been reincarnated or some chit.
August 21st, 2015 at 2:23 pm
I hear you Lord C when it comes to 87,he makes me scratch my head a little these days. I kinda feel like duke just wants to be apart of the realist!!! Inn crowd,seems that way especially after Joe proclaimed realist!! one of his favorites.
August 21st, 2015 at 2:30 pm
@Nos-Bos
Nope. its just that “Real recognize Real”!!!! Its as simple as that!!!!
August 21st, 2015 at 2:32 pm
Halla!!!
August 21st, 2015 at 2:35 pm
I’m more than positive that ALL of us would much rather be praising our team. Some of us just base the praise on actual results than wishful thinking. But hey it’s a beautiful day in Tampa bay. It’s pay day. It’s Friday you ain’t got no job you ain’t got ish to do ….yada yada yada.
August 21st, 2015 at 2:35 pm
Aha ha ha ha…I am what I am.
Listen to the ESPN interview Joe just put up.
Hilarious stuff at the very end of it.
Meth bender…lol.
August 21st, 2015 at 2:35 pm
Lord corn
Don’t forget that the 1st team D gave up goalline TD too. Never understood why people get mad at fans that with all due respect tend to be right more often than not. Why not be mad at the actual results and those responsible for them?
I think too many people confuse Ron Riveras defense with Lovie smiths defense. After Rivera left Chicago Lovie didn’t accomplish much at all. 1 playoff appearance? And as a DC with the Rams he was bailed out by the greatest show on turf. Except in the Super Bowl where Lovies defense couldn’t stop a second yr qb from marching down the field for a game winning FG.
It’s a beautiful day! The only person that has something is mr smith and his merry pirates excluding LVD, Banks, Lansanna and McDonald of course.
August 21st, 2015 at 2:37 pm
*that has something to prove*
August 21st, 2015 at 2:37 pm
Lord Cornelius Says:
August 21st, 2015 at 1:30 pm
“Three units played Saturday night. As pointed out by NYBucsfan, none of them played well.”
Dude you realize the starting D played like 2 series and gave up a FG and a 3 – out. lol
———————————————————————————–
Only a minor point, but you conveniently left out the Vikings’ third possession.
Tackles were made by B. Carter, L. David, J. Banks, and L. English. But no one got credit on the last play of that drive in the first quarter, a Minnesota TD.
Vikes 9, Bucs 0 at that point. In fact, the highlight film shows some guy with #93 being driven into the endzone by #75 of the Vikings. Also, by that point in the game, Bridgewater already had completions of 18yds, 26yds, and 24 yds, and other shorter passes, on his way to 86 yds in less than 11 minutes of the first quarter…………… against the FIRST STRING defense.
tickrdr
August 21st, 2015 at 2:40 pm
DB55:
As usual, I’m too slow on the draw, and you beat me to it.
tickrdr
August 21st, 2015 at 2:40 pm
tickrdr Says:
“In fact, the highlight film shows some guy with #93 being driven into the endzone by #75 of the Vikings.”
Egad yikes….yes that REALLY did happen.
Money it’s got to be that red splotch on his head!
August 21st, 2015 at 2:43 pm
Tickrdr
film shows some guy with #93 being driven into the endzone by #75 of the Vikings.
**********
To be fair there were two other guys behind #75 pushing the pile. NOT!!! Ha
August 21st, 2015 at 2:51 pm
Realist!! I respect you,you don’t like my head coach for what ever and you’re entitled to that. You say passive D,well he’s taken control of the wheel so we’ll all get a up close and personal view of exactly how passive he is. As far last Saturday if in your opinion that wasn’t anything more than a group of guys deciding we are just getting out of here healthy then I respect your that sentiment as well. As for me that’s the way it appeared and my belief is there will be a level of urgency to put on a better show for the home crowd but that’s just my thinking.
August 21st, 2015 at 2:54 pm
But this is my challenge to all Nancy’s. Review our up coming schedule,show me six teams with a better roster than ours as it stands right now. I’ll be waiting.
August 21st, 2015 at 2:55 pm
There better be or there will be a mutiny.
August 21st, 2015 at 2:59 pm
I still say Lovie gets a 3rd season though..
August 21st, 2015 at 3:29 pm
@NOS-BOS:
Saints
Texans
Giants
Cowboys
Eagles
Colts
and probably the
Falcons
Rams
Bears
We’re probably close to
Panthers
Bears
and just might be better than
Jaguars
Titans.
But in our division????
Sean Payton > Ron Rivera > Lovie Smith ?> Atlanta’s rookie coach
tickrdr
August 21st, 2015 at 3:37 pm
“Never understood why people get mad at fans that with all due respect tend to be right more often than not.”
I’m not mad at anyone. I’m simply calling out the people trying to sell their pessimistic bullsh1t as if it is objective or being “real”
Fact is; when fans of the team are predicting WORSE records for the team than the actual objective paid-to-do-this-for-a-living odds makers; they aren’t keeping it “real”. Their comments are always over the top. Pretty easy to see they aren’t being objective and are simply pessimistic about their team.
No meaningful game has been played. There isn’t anything yet for 2015 to judge one way or another. If you want to really invest a lot of stock in preseason vanilla games good luck but preseason has proven time and time again to be incredibly misleading – both about individual players (i.e. Cam Newton sucking all of preseason as a rookie before throwing for 400 yards week 1) or teams (i.e. Lions going undefeated the year they didn’t win a single game).
August 21st, 2015 at 3:50 pm
You can’t be serious tickr with some of those teams you listed.
August 21st, 2015 at 3:58 pm
@NOS-BOS:
Those are all of the teams on our schedule.
We will see how many of them we beat this year.
@Lord Cornelius:
I’m just happy that the Bucs’ collective performance during last year’s preseason, was in no way indicative of their performance during the regular season. Who could possibly have predicted we would fare so poorly????
tickrdr
August 21st, 2015 at 4:04 pm
Tickr the saints will prove to be worthless without the services of Graham along with a defense that was suspect with Gallete last season. The Texans don’t have a QB,running back or starting X caliber wide receiver on they’re current roster and not mention my belief they’ll be missing one DJ Swearinger. The G men really guy,defense suck and O line problems just as bad as ours last season. Eagles kinda find it hard to believe a team filled with former Oregon ducks to be all that imposing. I’ll leave out Mr. Glass as your starting QB,sanchise and tebow backing him ain’t scarring no one bro. You don’t cut ties with all that talent before it eventually catches up with you. They won’t go 10 and 6 this season bet on it. And your Colts well we’ll see how those old guys hold up come December,lotta miles on a few guys they brought in bro. And Brady made that D look stupid.
August 21st, 2015 at 4:20 pm
Lord
I don’t put a lot of weight on the “experts” as many don’t know jack. How many experts said we’d win the division? Booger said Lovie would make schiano look stupid. Many said mclown was an upgrade to Glennon. Mclown isn’t even an upgrade to Johnny football.
Some people “paid” or not just don’t know what they’re talking about except for a few crazy, passionate fans on this here corner of the inter web.
August 21st, 2015 at 4:36 pm
This what I think,it’s gonna take one good open up on someone’s a$$ and everybody gonna come here saying”oh,I think we got something”. Until that happens people are gonna continue with this defeatist attitude towards this team. I’m no expert,but I can tell a bad a$$ when I see one. The Buccs are filled with them.
August 21st, 2015 at 4:45 pm
DB 55
I’m not talking about talking head tv “experts”. I’m talking about the collective gambling world and those whose jobs are tied to the lines that are set. The experts you’re thinking of are ppl who get paid for views and clicks.
I just find it absolutely pathetic to approach a season as a fan expecting such a horrible year and basically bashing the team non stop before a damn games been played. I get it because we’ve had a lot but even the worst NFL teams with bad coaches have pulled off some good seasons. You can’t just stare at a roster n HC and accurately predict the season because year to year we see everyone is wrong. Everyone in the NFL has talent and every week there are upsets. So why assume the worst? What are you all so scared of?
August 21st, 2015 at 5:08 pm
The Tampa 2 ALWAYS let offenses march down the field. But our old defense wouldnt allow tds. If we cant stop them from putting up 7 than its pointless to run it.
If Lovie does end up going next season which I am going to root for him for now…I would like to see our GM stay. I just cant kick how this season already has a negative feeling to it. Its like this organization is cursed? The only realistic way to expect fans to be positive after so many years of losing is to SHOW them wins. Period and the end…
August 21st, 2015 at 5:23 pm
LC
the collective gambling world – can’t argue with that Vegas is always right or it seems that way
I just find it absolutely pathetic to approach a season as a fan expecting such a horrible year – good point!
So why assume the worst? What are you all so scared of? – me personally, I’m afraid of another 56-0 blow out.
Right now we’re competing against the Titans and jags for worst team in the NFL and that just grinds my gears.
August 21st, 2015 at 5:51 pm
Con-ti- nuity!!
The Glazers have decided that continuity is the key to Teams becoming successful in the long run. No short hook this time.
Lovie will coach here a minimum of 5 years . Reguardless of record.
This will Give Jameis and all the other Rookies stability.
Count on it.
Why would realist and Dallas be here everyday, for a team they hate?
Its like they are just here to drive up comment numb e r s. . .
Realist and Dallas =
Bet yo smart guys can answer that by now
August 21st, 2015 at 6:30 pm
The Buc Realist
Lovie is a guy who loves escape goats!!!
Name one team with a losing record like that blaming everyone except the head coach? He took the hit for offense and defense like he was supposed to. There are offensive and defensive playcalling head coaches. It was a preseason game but it looked exactly like 2014 so who really cares how Leslie Frazier feels? He was the defensive coordinator last year and the defense was garbage under his watch so actually lovie jumped into the fire and it would b much easier to fire him if the defense fails
August 21st, 2015 at 8:12 pm
Yes Jameis did OK against the “second string” but was 2 of 9 early in the game
I concede that QB is the single most important position on the team. I also concede Joe’s point that you can’t really be competitive without a franchise QB.
But football is still a team sport!!! How much pressure was Fameis getting because of Gilkey and Smith’s first whiff on the OL. Were receivers standing wide open or did they run their routes properly?
I do not mind the “honesty” some people choose to employ on this blog. Sometimes though it gets a little hyperbolic
As for our three or four Lovie haters I got no problem with them criticizing or being upset at a 2-14 season. Lovie and plenty of other people from the top to the bottom sucked last year. If Lovie doesn’t win at least 8 this year with this talent and this crapola division…I’ll join their ranks.
But what irritates me…mildly..lol…is that some refuse to accept facts and scoreboard. If Lovie fails this year and gets fired it will mean he stuck around too long. He can no longer cut it. But he has FOUR freaking double win seasons…nine another time…he’s reached the Super Bowl but the nattering nabobs of negativity call Lovie’s success luck and his failures his responsibilities.
That’s simply UNFAIR. He freaking HAS scoreboard. Nobody posting on this blog including the Joes can match his record.
What will bother me next year is when Lovie…and HIS TEAM go 10-6 this year, is all the whining about how lucky he is..it was all Fameis..or Koetter or whatever…it’ll be pure luck on Lovies part if we win and ALL his fault if we lose.
That’s just patently unfair, especially in sports where we have a scoreboard.
Bill Belicheat’s record sucked until Brady showed up. He was a losing coach!!
That’s a statistical fact. But nobody here is posting how lucky Belicheat was to discover his SAVIOR in the sixth round. Can we just get some fairness here?
August 21st, 2015 at 8:39 pm
Say it loud and say it proud St. Pete. Some folks were just born the way they are… Decepticons.
August 21st, 2015 at 9:15 pm
Stpetebucsfan ….grrrr march on.
August 22nd, 2015 at 12:04 am
StPete my exact point all all along. Lovie has done too much in this league to be called incompetent. Stubborn yes. Conservative could be but not incompetent. The one poster who persists calling him that needs to look in the mirror because he doesn’t know the meanin of the word. Lovie has removed one more excuse so now he has no more well maybe special teams. He runs defense Koetter offense then it should be all good. If Bucs go AT LEAST 7-9 then I say Lovie earns a 3rd season.