2014 Free Agent Class = Disaster
September 29th, 2015
Man, oh man, oh man. In retrospect, could Lovie Smith have done a worse job in picking free agents than he did a year ago when he first came on board to guide the Bucs?
The recent benching of cornerback Alterraun Verner, for what Lovie said yesterday was poor performance, slams the door on what could be one of the worst group of free agents signed — and tens of millions of dollars of Team Glazer loot just flushed down the toilet — in NFL annals.
Please remember and never forget that house of mirrors known as Lovie’s suburban Chicago basement is where he spent his off year between Bears and Bucs gigs, hatching his plan to rebuild whatever team would sign him.
It was in that chamber that Lovie decided to hire Jeff Tedford as his offensive coordinator. It was in that same den that Lovie decided he could build a winner with a nucleus of players such as left tackle Anthony Collins, guard Oneil Cousins, defensive end Ghost Johnson, journeyman loser quarterback Josh McClown and now, you can add benched Verner to the list.
My God, what a haunted cellar that must be, where an otherwise intelligent, reasoned football lifer was convinced he could win with that outfit.
Lovie struck out so much on free agents from last year, that noted windmill Karlos Pena (Joe spells his name with a “K” for a reason) is embarrassed by the swings and misses.
Just think about that, barely a year later, that highly touted, celebrated class of free agents are nearly all either benched, jettisoned from the Bucs, or being paid (handsomely) to watch football from their recliners while shoveling Doritos in their grill.
And people wonder why Team Glazer may be gun shy to pull the trigger on any future high-priced free agents.
What a ghastly group.
September 29th, 2015 at 7:54 am
never again…THE DRAFT! and keep your own…”simple as that”…not giving up on Verner though, I think he’ll rebound…
September 29th, 2015 at 7:55 am
2014 Bucs Coaching hires = Greater disaster!!!!!
September 29th, 2015 at 7:55 am
Except JASON LICHT has said he was responsible for hte free agent picks. So instead of blaming Lovie, blame the real culprit. The man who blows free agency, makes bad trades and signs bad contracts. JASON LICHT.
Stop giving him a pass.
Lovie is picking in the draft. How is that going?
September 29th, 2015 at 7:56 am
I also think Verner will turn things around. Just like Joe said Banks was the odd man out a month ago, he’s wrong here too.
September 29th, 2015 at 7:56 am
Most everybody thought Verner was a steal……
Clinton McDonald is pretty good…..Brandon Myers is serviceable……
Now….Collins, Johnson & Cousins were disasters…..
September 29th, 2015 at 8:03 am
We should now hear from Mr know it all it all that it was not Lovie. Please welcome to the stage Buccaneer Bonzai.
September 29th, 2015 at 8:04 am
Guess I was to slow!
September 29th, 2015 at 8:08 am
And tell the whole world Revis doesn’t fit so no one will trade for him. Remember, that was part of the 2014 class was to cut Revis. The reason you have to spend in free agency is because you screw up in the draft. In the last 10 years who have we drafted that we wanted to resign??? Mccoy, david, and thats about it.
September 29th, 2015 at 8:08 am
Hey Joe: at least Pena smacked a few homers for the Rays and did contribute a little in between all those K’s and his Mendoza like batting average…. What has Lovie and his lapdog Licht done for Buc ball but turn it into one of the worst franchises in the league????? 3-15 says it all….. Its a very short list of coaches who have started their tenure with a club with a record that bad (apologies to the late John McKay)…..
September 29th, 2015 at 8:09 am
This is what happens when non football people hire coaches.
September 29th, 2015 at 8:13 am
All the Bears cast-offs are going to make a difference this year.
In Lovie we bust!
September 29th, 2015 at 8:13 am
Maybe Jack Del Rio would have been a better fit. Seems to get a lot out of way less talented players.
September 29th, 2015 at 8:14 am
Buccaneer Bozo is right, Its just amazing how many incompetent people surround Lovie and are making King Lovie look bad!!!!! If everyone had listen to Lovie there would be playoffs and superbowls!! and The Bucs would win every game 6-0 or 9-0, that right all field goals and the Bucs defense throwing shut-outs every game!!!
@Buccaneer Bozo, do you sit in the front row in this dream or do you have a Luxury Suite????
September 29th, 2015 at 8:15 am
There’s another ghost Johnson that we signed through free agency this year. Thankfully he didn’t cost as much as the first one.
September 29th, 2015 at 8:17 am
Wonder if that’s why they didn’t make too many waiver signings this year. I think he need to leave it up to Jason on bringing in players. Seems like he has done a pretty job in evaluating talent. I think when Lovie picks the player things don’t work out.
September 29th, 2015 at 8:19 am
Only in Joes mind was Banks ever considered the odd man out, BuccaneerBonzai. One of the reasons my trips here are becoming infrequent is because Joe blows up small things and makes them huge to increase the hits on his site.
September 29th, 2015 at 8:22 am
Lets not forget we got rid of Revis to sign all those great FA’s.
Lovie knows football.
September 29th, 2015 at 8:23 am
Realist made a post without using the words “sheep” or “ramifications”. I’m speechless. Okay not quite. I happen to agree with him that giving Lovie a pass is a fantasy. Lovie is the captain of this hapless, hopeless, bumbling, stumbling, sinking ship, and he deserves to go down with it instead of being given a lifeboat.
September 29th, 2015 at 8:26 am
Oh yeah, and he canned Penn, Zuttah and Larsen who are all playing well.
September 29th, 2015 at 8:30 am
@FlBoyInDallas
Here is the scary thing, If the Glazers don’t act and the fans stay passive. They will give Lovie next year with expectations. He will make some foolish trades in desperation ( like trading a kings ransom for some overhyped DE like Clowney)!!!!!
September 29th, 2015 at 8:30 am
This all falls on ownership. Lovie didn’t pick Tampa Bay. The Glazers do the hiring. Buc fans want Ruths Chris but the Glazers are in love with Ponderosa. Get used to claimoring for mediocrity Buc fans.
September 29th, 2015 at 8:30 am
I relocated to Virginia from Tampa a few years ago, and dont follow the Rays like I used to, but I laughed out loud at the “K”arlos Pena reference. Good stuff, Joe.
September 29th, 2015 at 8:31 am
Where are the Glazers? Do they work at One Buc Place everyday or someplace else? If Joe and we can point out so many obvious disasters can they? And BTW, does anyone understand why Big Dog so unapologetically supports Lovie and blames the players? He confuses me.
September 29th, 2015 at 8:41 am
Revis was let go because a shutdown CB is an unnecessary luxury in Lovie’s defense. After all, who needs a guy who can completely take an opposing WR out of the game? Bah, humbug, that’s crazy talk. No need for a player like that. Waste of money. Lovie can win with “his guys”.
Other witty and lovable Lovie-isms include:
-Real football doesn’t start until November
-We didn’t want to score any more points before half time
-We’ll fix that and move on (stock reply to any problem that manifests, but is never actually fixed)
-Our push in the middle will make our defensive ends better
-Johnthan Banks? I love me some Mike Jenkins
-It looked a lot worse than it was
-Do I like asking a question before answering a question? Yes, I do.
September 29th, 2015 at 8:53 am
Revis would still by far be our best player if he wasn’t cut. That Lovie couldn’t make that work is yet another damning indictment, particularly when the guys that took up the Revis money have been a waste.
September 29th, 2015 at 8:58 am
Wonder how other teams did on their Free Agents from the same year?
September 29th, 2015 at 9:19 am
So, are we considering EDS a successful free-agent out of the group????
September 29th, 2015 at 9:36 am
So glad we couldn’t afford or use the best corner in football to make way for McTrash, Collins, Johnson, Verner, EDS, Coudins, Omameh, etc.
Glazers need to start putting a plan together now to point this club in the right direction. The fans are desperate for something they can be proud of on the football field. Incompetent Lovie Smith is empirically worse than either of the rookie HC predecessors.
Glazers, fix this front porch flaming pile of sht.
September 29th, 2015 at 10:07 am
Karlos Pena or now we got Souza Jr.
I really don’t want to see us have another coaching staff in a year… but I’m running out of excuses to keep these guys on board
September 29th, 2015 at 10:10 am
If anyone is wrong it is you, Bonzai.
Joe wrote last year Banks was a darkhorse candidate for Pro Bowl he played so well. Joe has been nothing but positive about Banks.
September 29th, 2015 at 10:12 am
Well, he is still starting (for now).
September 29th, 2015 at 10:13 am
LOL!
September 29th, 2015 at 10:25 am
I dont think Verner is a bust. I originally thought he didn’t fit Tampa two and thats why lovie is going in another direction but hes actually more physical than typical corners we had. He has rubbed off on Banks in a positive way too as he has became more physical. He was benched to get Jennings on the field as a starter because Jennings still has a lot of open field speed but hes not a starting corner anymore. I think lovie is dead on but Jennings has to change position to free safety because Verner and banks are doing there job and the deep passes are on the safeties.Jennings would be perfect to start at free safety and they should try it against the Panthers with Philly Brown being a big play threat deep in zones.
I also feel that Mankins and Evan Smith should be gone from this team sooner rather than later. They are the holding the offensive line development up and I think Evan Smith would’ve been gone if not for injury to Dotson but they ought to consider trading Mankins before the deadline in order to move Marpet who as a rookie is the star of the line to left guard and put Donovan Smith at right guard where he seems to be better suited because hes not getting better at tackle and commits a bunch of holding penalties because he doesn’t have the speed to stop defensive ends but he does have the raw power to stop defensive tackles though and his blocking technique is perfect for that position.
Overall though the free agents signed last year were considerably worse than the ones this year because Lovie and Licht took over with no scouting team in place I mean the draft may have been worse with only three star quality players at positions that we are already loaded at and only one quality player at a position in which we needed a star at. What I will say is Lovie is finding good players on defense in free agency and has that side of the ball stackedwith depth thru free agency and the waiver wire spot they had for a while. Swearinger, Verner, Melton, Carter and Jennings and also the guys off the street like Lansannah, Mcdougald,and Jack Smith are solid as well but these guys are not brought in as long term stars like Mike Johnson was who along with Collins took the most money and are no longer with the team. Im hoping it doesn’t go the same way for Verner and Carter but its looks to be that way.
September 29th, 2015 at 10:49 am
Revis was let go because he could understand Lovie’s scheme where Revis plays zone coverage when he is able to play man all day long.
September 29th, 2015 at 10:56 am
Perhaps Lovie needs to build a cellar in his Florida home to correct what ails the Bucs.
September 29th, 2015 at 12:14 pm
amazing. all we had to do was decide that revis was good enough to start for a 4-12 team, and none of that happens. either it is the pinnacle of madness, or….maybe it’s the pinnacle of LoviePoker, with him being dead set on tanking 2014 the day he arrived? the fan in me is definitely rooting for “contrarian supergenius chessmaster”, but the realist is me can’t help but think “in over his head”
September 29th, 2015 at 12:44 pm
i’m not saying revis could be a star in the tampa 2, but he had a chance to be an asset in a transition year and then actually be traded for something of value around midseason or this past offseason when we’d proven we wouldn’t let him go for free. we have played alot more man and other looks than people realize. it’s hard to tell the difference between busted zone coverage and busted man coverage as a fan, but listening to the steve whites and derrick brooks of the world, the cover 2\tampa 2 thing is overblown a little and truly we are inconsistent at both
September 29th, 2015 at 2:53 pm
And in other news: Lovie Smith is still struggling to figure out why he can’t have a basement in his Tampa home but vowed to stay with it until he figures it out.
September 29th, 2015 at 5:02 pm
The most confusing part of the 2014 FA class is how each player performed in 2013. All of them had a very good year and almost all of them had a complete disintegration in 2014 while playing in Tampa.
2013
QB Josh McCown was ranked 9th overall by PFF with a 66.5% completion rate an a NFL QB rating of 109.
LT Anthony Collins was ranked 15th overall by PFF for LT and gave up 0 sacks, 0 QB hits and 12 QB hurries.
DE Ghost Johnson was ranked 4th overall by PFF, ahead of Michael Bennett and had 61 QB pressures, 53 tackles and 7 blocked passes.
Alterraun Verner was ranked 13th overall by PFF and had a 49.4 completion percentage when thrown at.
Evan Smith was ranked 7th overall by PFF and only giving up 5 sacks.
The question is not why Lovie Smith or Jason Licht made the decision to give FA contracts to these players, the question is why all of them had such a dramatic slip in performance in 2014? Maybe it was the other players they were surrounded by?
September 29th, 2015 at 5:52 pm
Lovie definitely was a part of the decision process on that fa class. I just want to know how he stays so calm on the sideline after going 3-16. Is he being iv sedated before the game? I’d like some too. It’s hard watching these games the last 5 years. Where are those glazers. They should be heard as to what their expectations are for this season. You can’t keep just feeding us sh:t and stay silent. All I’m asking for this year is 6 wins and a professional looking team.
September 29th, 2015 at 6:11 pm
PFF is a troll site now so don’t use it ever for anything. Apparently Aaron Rodgers was only the 18th best QB in the league this week. Yeah, 350yds, 5TDs, 0Ints against an elite pass rush….18th best. It’s not a real source, pure troll and that’s it.
September 29th, 2015 at 7:08 pm
That’s a perfect picture Joe for the article!
September 29th, 2015 at 9:37 pm
@ Bucrightoff Says – In Internet slang, a troll (/ˈtroʊl/, /ˈtrɒl/) is a person who sows discord on the Internet by starting arguments or upsetting people, by posting inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community (such as a newsgroup, forum, chat room, or blog) with the deliberate intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.
I do not see using Pro Football Focus as a reference as being inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic. Since you referred to PFF as a “troll site.” PFF is one of several sites used for statistical analyst. Do you even understand how PFF grades and why Aaron Rodgers was rated only the 18th best? My point with my post about the 2014 FA group was that every player looked like a very good player to sign on paper and for all of the anti-Lovie, anti-Licht people to see that it was not an “incompetent” move, as most would refer to on this site. I will continue to use PFF as a reference because there is no better way to show people how liittle they actually know about a subject.