“It’s Not About Talent”
September 22nd, 2015
Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Listening to Lovie Smith last night on the Buccaneers Radio Network, Joe sensed Lovie was especially happy that his defense finally displayed the identity he craves for it.
Bucs and Bears fans know Lovie yearns for takeaways and preaches them like Jimmy Swaggart selling scripture on a Sunday morning. But Lovie wasn’t just talking takeaways last night, despite the Bucs having three in New Orleans.
Lovie was all pumped up about the hustle his defense showed on every play, what he expects will be their signature.
“When you’re making corrections, you’re correcting techniques and how you, you know, you execute plays, but the defensive part of that on what the execution part is, just running to the ball. Simple as that. It’s not about talent when you just hustle and go full speed to the whistle blows,” Lovie said.
“Normally if you just have that mindset, good things happen. You look up and the ball is there, and since you ran to the ball you get an opportunity to recover a fumble. But that’s the first step. We talk about what we want to be known for; it’s how hard we play, just being relentless to the football every down.”
Remember, Alterraun Verner explained weeks ago that Lovie’s message this offseason was not just hustle but about being super physical. Something went terribly wrong in that department against Tennessee, but Joe is inclined to believe that was more the exception than the norm, following the defense roughing up the Saints on the road.
Per Lovie, the hustle he’s talking about was exemplified best by Henry Melton sprinting about 15 yards, including a hurdle, for a key fourth-quarter fumble recovery an inch from the sideline. Lovie also had plenty of love for Johnthan Banks snuffing out a two point conversion attempt with a great tackle following total pursuit to the ball.
September 22nd, 2015 at 11:14 am
Lovie’s right and those two plays were critical on Sunday. Even though that game should not have even been that close if not for a couple of drops or bad passes. We had a chance to put that team away early. Gotta do that. I’ll take the wins, just a little less nail biting would be nice along the way. Then again don’t MOST Buc games go down to the wire when we win anyways? No matter what year or who the coach is we Buc fans always have to bite our nails to the very end. I’m kinda used to it by now. Pats fans rarely have to bite their nails though. When is Brady retiring?
September 22nd, 2015 at 11:25 am
I wish we could learn to hit like the N.O. DB’s blast of Murphy. No head shot, just a giant hit to the sternum knocking the win out of Murphy. No brain damage for the rest of his life, but a truly painful if temporary reaction that also gets respect from receivers going over the middle.
Stop trying to knock guys out and go for knocking the wind out of them. Get just as much respect and NO yellow hankies! It’s the way the game used to be played until somebody decided it was cool to see another player carted off the field concussed.
September 22nd, 2015 at 11:25 am
Brady will retire when Bellichick retires
September 22nd, 2015 at 11:27 am
My favorite play of the game was Chris Conte causing a fumble because it’s that kind of hustle the Bucs need in order to be competitive. Last year a guy like Mark Barron would have given up and expected someone else to make the play.
September 22nd, 2015 at 11:35 am
100% effort means you are earning your PAYCHECK! = Integrity
Players effort is not up to the coaches. Welcome to adulthood players.
Now continue owning your paychecks Buccaneers! Win or lose give it 100% effort. As Simple As That!
September 22nd, 2015 at 11:55 am
I wanna say it again he’s in his infancy stage right now. They won’t be nail biters here shortly I assure you. Just wait on it.
September 22nd, 2015 at 11:57 am
There is doubt in my mind that if the bucs would have made that exact hit that murphy recieved, we would have been flagged for it. If you look closely the saints defender did make helmet to helmet contact with Murphy. And besides that qouldnt that hit fall under the defenseless receiver rule? As much as i am against those overall rules , as to the way they are being applied, the league needs to call it the same for every team. It used to be any hit on a defensless reciever. Which is what the bucs continually get flagged for. It isnt even the helmet to helmet hits. If they are going to call flags on the bucs for defenseless recievers, then why didnt murphy’s hit get flagged? He was still mid air when he got hit, with no chance to protect himself, and he was hit in the helmet with another helmet (glancing blow, but enough to whip murphy’s head side to side). The inconsistancy of the flags is what upsets me.
September 22nd, 2015 at 11:58 am
Jamie said “all I wanna do is be a game manager right now”. Emphasis was clearly on the “right now”part. Duke already knows he will eventually be hell on this league. I’ll patiently wait on it.
September 22nd, 2015 at 12:01 pm
If this defense is turning the corner we really should hold the Texans to 14 points or less. Not much talent on that roster outside of WR Hopkins. On the flip side I’m not sure to expect much more out of our offense which I why I think this is a close fg type of game.
September 22nd, 2015 at 12:12 pm
Patrick, I think this game is the measuring stick of whether or not the team is making a move to 7-9 or just that a 2-14 team and the defense is supposedly what will be carrying the team. The Titans game defensively was terrible….you got quinn up in the ATL turning it around immediately so lovie needs urgency or there is gonna be a vacancy in TPA
September 22nd, 2015 at 12:28 pm
Only two games played
…….this is pointless
September 22nd, 2015 at 12:32 pm
Okay off topic : How many of you HATE Drew Brees?
I for one can’t effin stand him. That’s why I think I feel so much better than last week. I know the Saints were wounded and it’s only 1 game. I’m not only grateful for the win. They hurt Drew Brees. I really don’t like Brees at ALL. One of my most hated QB’s in the league is Drew Brees, not at the top, but he’s on the list. Yeah so I’m twisted and demented for enjoying seeing a player get hurt. I don’t care anymore. They hurt Drew Brees. He might be out for a few weeks, I don’t know, but GOOD!
How many of you hate Drew Brees?
September 22nd, 2015 at 12:32 pm
D-Rome that was Moore not Conte
September 22nd, 2015 at 12:44 pm
Don’t hate drew brees, cant stand cam and the panthers though but my #1 is Tom Brady…he is a flat out cheater and a liar….the deflate thing is whatever everyone does it but the fact that he flat out lied and that organization is successful but cheatahs that eat chowdah
September 22nd, 2015 at 12:44 pm
@ Buc1987
HATE. …….is a very strong word to use
You should never wish injury upon another player / person
September 22nd, 2015 at 12:44 pm
Of course Lovie was happy, He shut down the offense so “his” defense could win the game!!!! The question is, Is he protecting the rookie?? Or is this the Lovie that came from Chicago and will never change!!!
A Chicago fan once told me that watching a lovie win, Is like watching 2 middle weight no-name boxers go into the final round so it can go to the judges!!!
September 22nd, 2015 at 12:56 pm
I don’t “hate” any football player. But I do HATE Josh Freeman, but that is because he is a liar, and never apologized to his fans, or the people that covered up for him for so many years!!!
September 22nd, 2015 at 1:08 pm
I can’t stand Cam,and some of you almost had not being able to stand Lucky over the off season with all the “Jamies is no Andrew Luck”stuff. Well if your analysis is based off what he looked like last night then thank God. I’ll reserve my right to wait on it.
September 22nd, 2015 at 1:14 pm
I don’t know what chicago folks you talk to but the ones I know even some sports writers know that those Lovie years were some of the best and would take those over what they have now. realists?
September 22nd, 2015 at 1:19 pm
You Tampa folks would love it if you knew your team only needed 14 or 17 points and the game was over. Once the Bucs offense hit 17-0 before half you could go out and enjoy the rest of your sunday with the family at the park.
realist doesn’t like Lovie ball but if he held the falcons to just 3 points before the half you’d be ecstatic. Just cool it dude
September 22nd, 2015 at 1:20 pm
I don’t hate any player because I don’t know them….but I really don’t like Cam Newton….or Tony Romo for that matter.
& 87….you are right, no matter who the coach or what year….it always seems to come down to the final play or two when we win and sometimes when we lose.
September 22nd, 2015 at 1:28 pm
Newbucfan I believe realist!!! is truly a Buccs fan. He just hates Lovie Smith,why? Well that’s his personal problem. Him coming around in regards to Lovie well,let’s just say I ain’t waitin on it.
September 22nd, 2015 at 1:30 pm
TBF how often have we been prolific at the QB position? Bro just wait on it.
September 22nd, 2015 at 1:34 pm
I believe Lovie shut it down to prevent offensive line penalties from backing us up, how many positive gains did we have to be wiped out by holding, tripping, illegal formation.
September 22nd, 2015 at 1:44 pm
Realist doesnt like lovie the same reason I think he should be gone unless the bucs make the playoffs, he has absolutely ZERO clue on personnel, as has been shown his abysmal record of players with the bucs….then to lay that egg against the Titans after having the entire Summer to get ready for a rookie and then let him set a record against you is embarrasing, Lovie’s record in tampa is 3-15, THREE AND FIFTEEN, so lets see if he can actually string 2 in a row and this week will be a better judge if the defense has improved and is not the one that played against tennessee, hope he has them playing at the high level again
September 22nd, 2015 at 1:49 pm
Some fans are looking for Madden games instead of NFL games. I like the “hustle” that Lovie preaches. Games can turn on hustle plays rather than just physical dominance. I respect a coach more who can get the best out of rookies and 2nd tier players who couldn’t start anywhere else in the NFL.
That, my fellow fans, is coaching talent on display.
Our players have been getting rested by our quality depth (what? no praise for L&L???) at the skill positions and it is showing up on the field and stat column. What about our new kicker AND punter? Still no praise for L&L?
Step by Step the pieces are coming together.
Injuries happen more often when players are exhausted.
I’ll be the first to admit that I was depressed by the Titans game and said so. The negative themes (Bear Players, Defense-Only, Lovie-2) running through most Bucs threads, even after a beat-down of the Saints, only underscores the lack of NFL knowledge by some fans.
Football ain’t all 50yd bombs and TFL’s. Good coaching is about getting the best out of the players you have to work with. For some fans it seems to be about “HOW” you want to be entertained rather than W/L’s.
Sucks for YOU..!!
A note about the Refs: Big plays happen “BECAUSE” of the penalty more often than not. Holding to save Jameis from IR is OK with me and clearly OK with Lovie. Be prepared to see a lot of holding against JJ Watt.
Go Bucs..!!
Just Win, Baby..!!
September 22nd, 2015 at 1:54 pm
How about Cherilus? He looks quicker and smarter than DOT..And I think
Dots a great guy by the way
September 22nd, 2015 at 2:13 pm
Mo Downs nice rebuttal to all none since that former wrestler just spewed. To him I say just wait on it☺ and God bless buddie.
September 22nd, 2015 at 2:43 pm
I don’t hate any player, but dislike in this order, Brady, Newton, Romo, Brees, Brady again, because they are successful. I do hate all of the teams they play for, Patriots and Cowboys just die mf’ers.
September 22nd, 2015 at 2:58 pm
@Buccfan37
We have exactly the same list! Like you though I dislike them.
Brees lost me when he whined about our “dirty hits” the year after his team was busted for bountygate.
September 22nd, 2015 at 3:15 pm
Brees is just as much of a whiny bitch on the field as Tom Brady. I hear he donates a lot to charity and all that. Then again lots of NFL players do that.
Hate list :
Yes Brady is number one on my list.
Then there goes Superman BS Cam Newton.
Then of course Josh Freeman and everyone knows why by now.
@TheBucsAnthem….you should tell me how to live my life or how I should think. You can think how ever you want to think. I’m GLAD Drew Brees is injured.
September 22nd, 2015 at 3:17 pm
Oh yah I forgot to mention that I hate Drew Brees in that list and once again, I’m glad that he’s hurt.
Next up is Cam. Kwon knock him in the chops for us and take the flag. Make him see stars!
September 22nd, 2015 at 3:25 pm
NOSBS
What has Lovie done in his time here to warrant anything? He has made some of the worst personnel decsions ever….we need a starting LT to protect Jameis…he let Donald Penn out the door, we need a guard or a center he let that one go to Bmore…..now in a make or break year for the Lovie regime and a whole off season to prepare for a game and get the “Lovie 2” down he fires his DC and then comes out and craps the bed…Lovie is a terrible HC in Tampa…and the sooner he is out the better the bucs will be…I am pumped they won sunday..,.but lets see if its an aberration or something of a new start only time will tell, and if you look through my posts you will see i called this bucs win in NO last week….jameis will improve but he is a rookie…..lovie is not a rookie HC so there is no excuse
September 22nd, 2015 at 3:56 pm
Those 2 plays mentioned at the end really stick out to me. Melton’s recovery was a thing of beauty. There was a very small window of opportunity for Melton to recover that football inbounds and he came through in a big way. That was heart and hustle. Same goes for the Johnthan Banks play. That was a clutch play and gritty tackle to make the Aints need a TD.
September 22nd, 2015 at 7:12 pm
This post is ridiculous..All I read is how much people hate Brees, Cam, Brady, Romo, the Falcons, the Saints, the Panthers and now ASJ because he is soft, Jameis because we should have drafted Marcus, the entire coaching staff and most of all lucifer himself Lovie. What has Lovie done in his time here to warrant anything? Are you serious? Because of his relationships with Chris Conte, Henry Melton, Tim Jennings, back-up linebacker Greene, none would probably be here. The hiring of Dirk Koetter, his ties with the Cowboys coaching staff which brought in Moore and Carter. The Tampa2 defense. I am sure he has had influence on every player drafted in the past two years as well. If this team wins or fails it is completely on Lovie and Licht. They go hand and hand. If the Buccaneers are your team, you should back up your head coach. Sure fans can be critical at times, but this hatred towards him on this site makes me question how you can be a true fan and hate the man, who’s this teams success is riding on?