“I Am Excited For It”
August 27th, 2015
Bucs DC Leslie Frazier discusses Lovie Smith’s defensive play-calling duties.
Rarely is a defensive coordinator who has been stripped of his main gameday duties in a good mood about such a move.
But that is the front Leslie Frazier had for Bucs fans today, when Frazier was asked about the recent revelation that Lovie Smith would assume play-callingf or the defense.
Frazier did his best to downplay it.
“There were times a year ago there was communication on the headsets and it won’t be any different this year,” Frazier said today. Lovie “is going to be heavily involved as he always has been in our defense. He’s going to do the majority of defensive play-calling. It really doesn’t change my role from a year ago; it really doesn’t.
“My role is to come in and help our defense and help them prepare for every ballgame and help our team to win. It really hasn’t changed anything that I have to get done.”
Frazier noted that if one traveled in the not-so-way-back-machine, the Bucs’ defense this year should look an awful lot like the Bears’ — when Lovie was running the show in the Second City.
“I am excited for it,” Frazier said, albeit with a long face. “I think with [Lovie’s] background this is the defense that we installed, the one that he ran in Chicago. So it should be good for our defense and good for our team.”
Though a brief sample size since the initial report came to light, the Bucs’ defense had a lot of good things to build on, Frazier said, cautioning that Monday night’s positive results came in a worthless preseason.
August 27th, 2015 at 2:19 pm
I’m excited for it, too. We have demonstrated the potential – will we live up to it consistently?
August 27th, 2015 at 2:19 pm
This was simply Lovie giving a guy a job who didn’t have one. Now Lovie is trying to save his job, the heck with Leslie.
If Lovie loses his job, then his kid won’t have a job.
Nice.
August 27th, 2015 at 2:33 pm
frazier is a laid back calm dude and the media makes a big deal about because they are like owwww got a story but this dude is saying your gonna pay me the same money to do less hell yea ill help game plan during the week and back you up on Sunday’s. Frazier is really a lovie smith clone as far as demeanor and I really don’t know if it’s a good thing that your two head defensive coaches are so freakin emotionless, ive never seem lovie or frazier look excited but he should go up in the booth to have more eyes on the opposing offense
August 27th, 2015 at 2:58 pm
Was gonna make a similar point bucs4lyfe about what’s to hate about same pay less responsibility from Frazier’s perspective? It’s not like Frazier did a great job as the Buc’s DC last season…certainly not good enough to have other teams knocking down his door to get his HC or DC services. The jury is still out (for me anyway) on whether Lovie is a good HC (I still don’t think so), but he was a pretty good DC with the Rams. Frazier can pick up some DC pointers and maybe up his game for his next coaching stop? No shame in that.
August 27th, 2015 at 4:06 pm
@bucs4lyfe
I really don’t know if it’s a good thing that your two head defensive coaches are so freakin emotionless
Boy I really get this thought. And even though I’m a big believer in classy players you gotta get mean when the ball is teed up. DB55 is as classy as they come but dude was plenty mean enough on the field. Still GMC and LVD…great as they are do not “look” as if they’re playing like badarses, they simply get the job done.
So agree buc4lyfe both Lovie and Frazier are mellow and the two top stars are also “nice guys”.
But don’t worry guys it’s a new day in Tampa Bay. Kwon Alexander says “he likes to feel people and have them feel him”. He’s not soft. Lansannah is tough, LVD is simply great. Now Hardy Nickerson is their coach. Hardy may be the original Buc badasss. He was borderline psycho on the field. Didn’t he spit on someone once? I don’t think I’d want to be in an LB room meeting with Hardy if I was playing soft or without emotion.
Marpet is quickly developing a rep as a mauler on offense. Some of the DL we brought in are also adding toughness. Lovie has called for increased physicality. Swearinger looks like he can bring it from the safety position and McDougald is all over the field.
It’s all good boys! 10-6!!! Yeah baby!
August 27th, 2015 at 4:52 pm
im sure joe will change his win total prediction about two games into the season because he flip flops so much
August 27th, 2015 at 6:12 pm
I said 9-7before the preseason started and I’m sticking with……..we probably be even better.
August 27th, 2015 at 7:04 pm
Preseason or not, it does look like a Lovie Smith D all of a sudden.