Practice What Lovie Preaches
August 25th, 2015
Alterraun Verner looks for a running lane after his pick of puking Andy Dalton. Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.
Yes, Joe is still tingly all over this morning after watching America’s Quarterback, Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston, prove to the whole country on national television in prime time why he was the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.
When the lights flip on, Jameis shines.
But let’s not forget the defense. Sacks, picks, housing … Joe had to rub his eyes wondering what team he was watching. As NFL Network analyst Willie McGinest said last night, that was a perfect Lovie Smith defensive game: turnovers, sacks and scoring.
You think Lovie is laid back? Talk to him some time about turnovers. Lovie actually becomes animated. Really. Lovie covets turnovers more than Joe covets the warm bosom of a Bucs cheerleader.
And last night he got them, including a pick-six by Alterraun Verner.
“I just made a great play on the ball,” Verner said. “We preach to always try to score and that what I did. My teammates made a couple great blocks and I was able to score.”
This, too, gets Lovie fired up. Ask Lovie privately what the most important thing a defense can do each play and Lovie will respond, “Score.” Verner did just that.
“The defense has been his whole scheme,” Verner said. “He wants to be involved as much as possible as a coach. It’s great to see an active guy like him.”
If that is what it takes for the Bucs to play solid defense, then Joe hopes Lovie never gives up defensive play-calling.
August 25th, 2015 at 11:34 am
Realist…you may as well retire.
August 25th, 2015 at 11:36 am
Winston’s best friends will be a strong defense and a productive running game. We got glimpses of both last night. And I thought the Doug Martin flashed a bit even in the first game.
But man, that O-Line looks bad.
August 25th, 2015 at 11:37 am
I haven’t seen it mentioned…but attendance was downright embarrassing last night. I’m part of the problem, but seeing half the stadium empty on National TV was humiliating.
I may have to start buying tickets again.
But I will NOT buy the new jerseys! lol.
August 25th, 2015 at 11:40 am
@buccaneerBonzai
I wrote this in the last article, but applies here!!!
I am surprised of what no one is talking about. Coach Gruden hinted at it several times last night. That the Bucs Sucker Punched the Bengals last night!!!!!!
They came into RJS playing vanilla and man on man on offense and defense. And the Bucs came with a full game plan on offense and defense. We saw just about every wrinkle that Lovie has on defense and The offense I saw crack back blocks guards and tackles pulling,and double teams.
Now having said all that. That is exactly what the Fans, Players and all of Tampa needed to see!! While it was a sucker punch, It was still a punch and something we did not see last year!!!! I have heard rumors that Lovie need to win, and win soon at home from larger powers!!!!
I just hope that the coaches learned something from last night. That when you catch a team off-guard they can be flustered until it is too late. I hope when the regular season comes around that we do not see the Lovie one-size fits all defense week in and week out! That if once in awhile that you can scheme to take advantage of team with something they were not expecting!!!!
Go Bucs! Enjoy the fact that they protected our beloved RJS! Enjoy that we heard the cannons and crowds chanting Defense, Defense, DEFENSE!!!!!
August 25th, 2015 at 11:43 am
@Realist — You must have missed Gruden specifically saying that Bengals did NOT play vanilla. He pointed out a “double-A-gap” blitz that represented some level of sophistication.
August 25th, 2015 at 11:43 am
I thought the Oline showed promise last night. They play very phisycal and it shows in the running game. Yeah there were some brake downs but I think they will improve every game. I’m not worried, Go Bucs!
August 25th, 2015 at 11:47 am
It’s preseason……..calm down
….but didn’t anyone take notice that once the bungled mixed up its blitz packages and that’s when Jameis started to get flustered????
His Byron Leftwich release didn’t help his play either
Now…..compare that to Glennon…..big difference
…..and I’m not talking from experience standpoint but more so from a mechanics standpoint
August 25th, 2015 at 11:48 am
@realist, even with how empty the stadium was, it felt real good to hear the crowd loudly on the tv broadcast.
I honestly can not remember the last time I could hear the Bucs crowd during a home game, seriously. I’ve lived on the west coast for a few years now, but even when I used to attend home games, I felt like I was one of the only fans screaming and making noise. It was embarrassing.
Good to see the crowd fired up, even if it was preseason. Maybe that mysterious, elusive, “home field advantage” will emerge for us this season. Go Bucs!
August 25th, 2015 at 11:48 am
Actually Lovie took the defense from Frazier this game you seen a Lovie run defense last year you seen a Frazier run defense. A head coach has to delegate but also know when to take over when the job is not being done.
August 25th, 2015 at 11:49 am
@newtampachris
No I did not miss that, That was after a couple of series and the Bengals realized that the Bucs were playing for REAL!! Close to the end of the first quarter that was pretty close to a regular season game!!! But it was to late. The Bengals O-line and QB were already rattled by then!!!!
If You listened to Gruden into the third quarter how the Bengals came in with a vanilla plan and then had to adjust because that was not the Bucs game plan!!!!
August 25th, 2015 at 11:54 am
Other than getting beat on the sack where Jameis hurt his ankle Ali and Donovan played monster games. They not only held their own but impressed me by man-handling Geno Atkins.
Jameis was straight ballin’
And the defense played very well too. Now can we do that in the regular season when it counts? Inquiring minds want to know.
August 25th, 2015 at 11:55 am
Vanilla or not…. It felt FUKN great to see my beloved YUCS beat their a$$ up and down the field. Especially on defense. Man that rush and intensity brought back memories. Wooooooooooooooooo! #RickFlairVoice
August 25th, 2015 at 11:59 am
I would LOVE to see us use the double A gap blitz scheme
August 25th, 2015 at 12:04 pm
Bonzai- Are we really caring about the attendance for a team that was 2-14, looked bad against a non playoff team and haven’t won shone game since 2013?
Bad form, let the loser radio hacks who don’t pay to get into games complain about the attendance. Enjoy the promising performance.
I’m a season ticket holder and left once Jameis did. I almost didn’t go as I hate paying full price for practice games
August 25th, 2015 at 12:24 pm
@ Bonzai
Go get a jersey!!! I thought the same way, but broke down and got an away Jameis jersey. I like it better than my older D. Martin away jersey. I havent been drinking. True story.
August 25th, 2015 at 1:21 pm
lmao realist still trying to put as much of a negative spin as he possibly can on this like I predicted before the game was even played. I said even if the Bucs look amazing he will have some negative sh1t to say basically.
I should have posted my prediction of his post because I was going to guess it’d revolve around preseason based arguments.
“it’s only preseason”
“vanilla game plans” – bengals weren’t even trying har har!
Then when we suck in preseason and I say it’s just preseason; I’m being an idiot I guess. Can’t win with these folks. We could win the Superbowl and he’d be criticizing play calling
August 25th, 2015 at 1:39 pm
Clearly, one team was prepared to play, the other was not. Lovie made it known to the players that it was important to get a home win. I’m glad and loved the intensity. Still, let’s not blow this out of proportion. Do you think that San Francisco would blow out Dallas in the regular season or that Tennessee would dominate St. Loui No way. Also, Tampa remembered that they had the game won against Bengals last year if not for the old 12 men on the field rule.
August 25th, 2015 at 2:09 pm
It was a great game. Good improvement from last week, and hope to see more improvement this Saturday. All in all we should be pretty happy with last nights game. Lets improve some more in Cleveland and go into the regular season on a high note and see what happens. Go Bucs!
August 25th, 2015 at 3:56 pm
Verner only got that pick because of how bad he was out of position in coverage.
August 25th, 2015 at 4:38 pm
Your an idiot DanR, he might not have been playing him tight but he was exactly where he was supposed to be.
As for you BucRealist if you call running basic but varied plays sucker punching a team, then I guess your right.
As for the vanilla defense they played, that is what they started with but when they found out they weren’t getting enough pressure on the QB, they started using more blitzes.
Glennon caught them in one when he sucker punched them with that tricky exotic fade pass in the endzone.
As for the offensive line, Doug Martin averaged 10 yards per carry behind it.
No disrespect to Winston, but if he would quit stumbling on his own feet he wouldn’t have gotten sacked on his last play.
August 25th, 2015 at 4:46 pm
Bucs looked strong last night and that was really exciting and refreshing to see. Fingers crossed it caries over to the regular season. It’s been a long time (if ever) that there has been a real buzz about the bucs going into the season, with real (yet tempered) hope. I guess when Gruden was hired was the last time there was a buzz.
Danr – Verner was out of position? He’s playing over the top as there was underneath coverage. He was right behind the receiver, so I don’t think he was out of position. A kick ass game and Verner scores a pick 6 – yet you’re complaining? Damn man – who pissed in your coffee?
August 25th, 2015 at 4:46 pm
I actually like Buc Realist. He may be trolling us but at least he tries to use some fact based opinion. Dallas Buc simply hates Lovie along with a few other posters.
But Realist you got it going on dude. Because when the Bucs go 10-6 you’ll simply be able to praise the effort and say you’re simply keeping it “real”.
Dallas Buc and the others will simply be enjoying a nice dinner of crow.
August 26th, 2015 at 9:32 am
the stadium wasn’t that empty…lots of fans(myself included) got in a little late due to problems with tickets…it was a great turn out for a preseason game..the only section that was empty were the club seats..the rest of the place was pretty well filled…GO BUCS!!!