Lovie’s Defense Not Better (So Far)
September 14th, 2015
Ugly defensive numbers for Lovie’s Bucs.
OK, last year we heard time and again from One Buc Palace that the big reason the Bucs’ defense was lit up by the likes of Shaun Hill (!) and Derek Anderson (twice!!!) was because Bucs defenders were still learning Lovie’s defense.
Joe is starting to be of the mind it is Lovie who should be learning his players instead.
Here it is a year later, and what excuse will Lovie use now? Can’t hang Leslie Frazier out to dry any longer. He’s already been defanged.
Are Lovie’s players still learning his defense? If it takes over a year to learn a defense, there’s a disconnect.
Joe always looked at coaches as teachers. If we are to believe the players still don’t know Lovie’s defense, it’s either the Bucs selected players with learning disabilities, or the teacher(s) need to change their approach (drastically).
Lovie was hired, in part, to help the Bucs defense. Instead, it has taken a nosedive.
In Raheem Morris’ three years with the Bucs, his defenses got torched more than once. Yet through three seasons, Morris’ defense allowed 1,212 points through 48 games (three seasons). That’s an average of 25 points a game.
Former Bucs commander Greg Schiano was hired to replace Morris and his background was defense. Through two seasons, Schiano’s defense allowed 783 points, an average of 24 points a game.
How about Lovie? Well, Through 17 games, Lovie’s defense is getting throttled, with arguably two of the best defenders in the NFL on his roster. Lovie’s defenses have been gutted for a whopping 30 points a game.
That’s a full touchdown per game more than Schiano’s defense.
Want to know what the problem with the Bucs is? Re-read the two previous paragraphs.
Lovie doesn’t like change. But in the next month or so, Lovie better change something or someone with his defense. Either that, or someone wearing a suit for a living might be making a change for him.
September 14th, 2015 at 4:07 pm
Bringing Lovie back after a 2-14 season was obviously moronic. Everyone tried to con themselves into thinking Lovie was tanking last year and it was all part of some plan to net a QB and then just turn it on into greatness. But the truth is what we saw last year and last night is who Lovie Smith is as a coach. But he does deserve props for his turnover skills, he turned over the whole roster and made it worse than when Schiano was here.
September 14th, 2015 at 4:10 pm
So what exactly did they work in training camp?
September 14th, 2015 at 4:15 pm
Well these are Lovies players. He re signed David. Drafted Kwon. Traded for George. I mean, this is your team Lovie. Why are your players always out of place. They obviously feel they can play sloppy, half ass football with no repercusion. Gerald and Lavonte need to get in someones face. Lovie needs to raise his voice a little. Hold these men accountable! Its like Raheem never left!
September 14th, 2015 at 4:16 pm
Another J Says:
September 14th, 2015 at 4:10 pm
So what exactly did they work in training camp?
***********
Their tans!!!
September 14th, 2015 at 4:18 pm
Just absolutely baffling man.
After the bye week last year the most points the team gave up on any one game was 34 to the Lions and 27 to the Falcons. In the other 8 of those 10 games they held the opposing team to 23 or less points.
How the f*ck do you finish the year like that and then give up the same amount of points to the Titans that we gave up in the Packers & Saints games combined? What happened?! They have the same defensive players basically and more depth now. Kwon was supposed to be an upgrade. Same with George Johnson.
Were we really just that ill-prepared for the read-option? I am just so lost…
There is no logic that can reconcile all of this for me
September 14th, 2015 at 4:22 pm
I hear that Lovie had them practicing helping players up and they can perform a pretty mean Kumbaye complete with solo’s…. Oh and they can run after the ice cream truck with passion…
September 14th, 2015 at 4:23 pm
Another J Says:
September 14th, 2015 at 4:10 pm
So what exactly did they work in training camp?
********************************************************
They worked on their acting skills. They learned how to impersonate an NFL team, and they learned how to look confused when the other team is whooping your A$$!
September 14th, 2015 at 4:24 pm
Once again. Has Lovie and Licht made any really good decisions.
* Bad FA signings both off-seasons. They landed a couple of okay players Verner, McDonald, but given the number of signings a blind squirrel will find a nut
* Tearing apart the OL when they came here. This is the decision that has run a mediocre team under Schiano into the worst team in the league under Lovie and Licht. 17 games later we are still trying to patchwork a line together.
* Not addressing need in the offseason. Our 2 biggest needs were DE & OL. We did draft 2 OL, but we needed more quality help and talent. Our biggest move was trading for a back up DE from the Lions.
* Bad coaching – can anyone say this is a well coached team.
* Time to let go Lovie and Licht.
September 14th, 2015 at 4:26 pm
Lovie had them practicing picking players up after they score… In addition they worked on a killer version of Kumbaye complete with A cappella solos and drum circles
September 14th, 2015 at 4:27 pm
There’s nothing wrong with the defense, the problem is the players in the defense. Who in their right mind would have Chris Conte, Major Wright, Tim Jennings in their defensive secondary? We had 3 DEs active for the game, and 6 linebackers active. And why do we have 5 safeties on the roster? The scheme that the Titans prepared for Mariota is the exact same scheme that I have been calling for the Bucs to use. But our OC is a vertical pass happy playcaller, you should nickel and dime defenses. When I seen that Mike James were on the inactive list, and we had 4 WR active for the game. I knew then that they had no idea of what they was doing. Why did we waive Khaseem Greene( our best run stuffing LB) ? Why did we waive Lawrence Sidbury ( our best edge rusher in the preseason) ? But we keep another DE who has done nothing during preseason, then we pickup another one off waivers.
September 14th, 2015 at 4:27 pm
Who used lavonte David better, Greg schiano or Lovie Smith. Seriously playing cover 2 all the time is not effective in today’s NFL.
September 14th, 2015 at 4:27 pm
Ken Whisenhut didn’t do anything magical. He simply took advantage of gaping holes in the way Lovie is employing the Tampa-2. Folks can say it was the read-option, but it’s nothing our defense hasn’t seen before.
Lovie simply refused to adjust his defense to what the Titans’ offense was doing. I kept seeing the same plays show up over and over and over again, and our D kept responding in the same way, with the same bad results. That’s close to the definition of insanity.
September 14th, 2015 at 4:35 pm
Makes you ask yourself what was the defensive game plan going into the first game. Common sense for me would be to crowd the line and force Mariota to go over top. Not his strength nor does he have the WR’s to hit the deep ball all game. Read option doesn’t work well either when you run blitz consistently. Titans flooded the line all game and it disrupted the run as well as put pressure on Winston.
September 14th, 2015 at 4:37 pm
It’s time for someone to light a fire under Lovie, if that’s even possible. I’m starting to wonder if he even has a pulse. Someone needs to tell him to change something or we are going to change the coach. Fire someone. Publicly berate someone. I don’t care if it’s the water boy. Criticize the refs. Cut a player. Curse out the media. Punch someone in the face. Go get a DUI. Just do anything to let me know you care and you are trying to improve. What he has been doing clearly isn’t working, and does anyone in the world truly believe that it will? So why keep doing the same thing over and over, when it has been nothing short of horrid?
September 14th, 2015 at 4:49 pm
Read option is easy. It’s brutal. Just make the qb run every time Take away everything. He will gain 7 or more yards every time but treat him like a running back. Might not happen in game 1. But there is a reason that nfl running backs typically don’t see second contracts any longer.
September 14th, 2015 at 4:52 pm
You can fool all of the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time and for lovie, that’s enough for a 5 year 20 million guarantee.
September 14th, 2015 at 4:56 pm
Hawaiian Buc, Lovie does a lot already, he’s constantly backstabbing his players. Getting rid of his best players, while keeping his favorite trash. He has lied to Mike Glennon so much, it ain’t even funny no more. The bottom line is, the Bucs will never win with Lovie and his ways. Greg Schiano treated players like they were his step-children, and Lovie smiles in their face while kniving them in the back. We need a Head Coach who is professional, on who will field the most qualified players. One who has no favorites, one who believes in what is best for the franchise. And not what is best for his ego, the Glazers worst mistake was firing Jon Gruden. We haven’t had a decent HC since.
September 14th, 2015 at 5:02 pm
Exactly why it pissed me off so much when Lovie said “just one game” This is a pattern, not an exception. One game my arse!!
September 14th, 2015 at 5:09 pm
People thought sabby was bad well, get a load of Chris conte.
September 14th, 2015 at 5:12 pm
Yesterday was more than one game. It was important. The fans were into it. It was the #1 pick against the #2. It was against a bad football team in our building, where we haven’t won in over a year. It was a new beginning. Instead of us losing competitively, we got shellacked. We got pulverized. We got embarrassed. But the worst thing of all is, it didn’t seem like we cared. No passion, no emotion, nothing. So don’t try to tell me it’s just one game, because everyone knows it wasn’t just one game. We may be a lot of things, but we aren’t stupid. Perhaps Lovie is.
September 14th, 2015 at 5:20 pm
As I said before i’m french, I have obvioulsy less football culture than you, some of your terms are confusing for me and still I’m a Bucs fan!
Yesterday I follow the game: TD for the Titans, ok no big issue, kind of trick play but ok.
Enter Jameis magic Winston, first throw interception ! Ok bad but can happen, rookie, stress, mistake, and then before I really understand what was happening it’s 21 to nil ! In Less than 15 minutes ! My wife came, asked what is the score, I said to her 21 – 0 and she said “oh so the game is almost finished” !
Ok shitty start but hey still 3 quarters to play and look BAM one TD for the Bucs, now we’re talking come one let’s go and kick their ass ! and bam bam two more TD for the Titans !
Half time 35-7 ! I think in USA you would say that I have some anger issue, but frankly, as the coach of this team, at this precise half time, people in the stands would have ear me shout, chair, table, I would have throw away everything in the room, the players would have gone back in the pitch with more fear from than from the opponents on the pitch!
It isn’t always the solution but come on ! How can you let a team walk on you like that, at home ?
SHOW A BIT OF RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE STAND!
I don’t care if the issue(s) is/are in offense, defense, special team or else SHOW SOME RESPECT to you, to your teamates, to the fans.
What is the point to go and visit kids in hospital if you are playing like that on the pitch?
The staff surely has to do better but the players they have to do better and they don’t need the coach to do that they can do it by themselves, they have to take their own destiny in their hands!
All videos that you can find with a resume from yesterday, EVERYBODY IS LAUGHING AT YOU !
September 14th, 2015 at 5:26 pm
I love how TJ Reeves can dance around with Lovie Smith and talk about everything except Lovie Sucking A$$ as a head coach.
Buc total access = total BS no more phone calls only texts or tweets. Our society has now crumbled.
September 14th, 2015 at 5:34 pm
Chris Conte was tied for most tackles, 5 …. That was actually better than most, because he only had about half of the snaps than most. SMH when Chris Conte does better than other DB’s.
September 14th, 2015 at 5:38 pm
Chris Conte actually was tied for the most tackles of the game with…5… with also only playing about half the defensive snaps.. Let that marinate in your brains for a while. SMH when Conte was your best DB.
September 14th, 2015 at 5:46 pm
Asking Lovie to change his defensive philosophy is like asking Donald Trump to donate his fortune to charity.
September 14th, 2015 at 5:50 pm
Hawaiian Buc,
Lovie should have been fired when he decleared his staring QB 6 monhs before the season last year.
He sucks as a head coach.
September 14th, 2015 at 5:52 pm
every decision that this club has made is wrong picking Winston was wrong now its too late bucs are in for it for 5 years folks and the fans were apart of it wanting Winston and the glazers listen to fans have fun and enjoy
September 14th, 2015 at 6:06 pm
Schedule only gets harder until Jax. Buckle up! I think David and McCoy disappearing has something to do with the loud mouth acting like its his team!
September 14th, 2015 at 6:08 pm
Verner aka cinnamon toast crunch is a joke.
September 14th, 2015 at 6:12 pm
I had a real bad feeling when they went “dumpster-diving” after the league mandated final cutdown. 5 pickups? Doesnt say too much for what you have on your roster.
September 14th, 2015 at 6:12 pm
LVD and GMC disappearing has to do with Loudmouth acting like its his team already!
September 14th, 2015 at 6:13 pm
If Love Can’t do any better than this, we are up for the @1 pick again next year. I say give Schiano 2 new fishing buddies.They can all sit on TB bridge and talk about..coudda, woulda, and Shoudda!!
September 14th, 2015 at 6:15 pm
Lovie on WDAE, said ‘unlike yesterday, we’ll have a clue as to what New Orleans is going to do’.
The guy just admitted he was CLUELESS against the Titans!!!!!! LOVIE YOU FCKIN JOKE!!!
September 14th, 2015 at 6:18 pm
Was there any worse decision than the one to buy a season ticket?
September 14th, 2015 at 6:18 pm
@ctord, funny thing is, Conte was tied for “most” tackles while playing only half the snaps. When Conte was our best DB be afraid.
September 14th, 2015 at 6:19 pm
At the end of the first half fans booed the Bucs loudly as they left the field. Even that did not motivate them to give more effort. This team had all of training camp and pre season to get ready for one game and they failed miserably. Booooooooooooooooo
September 14th, 2015 at 6:24 pm
At the end of the first half, as the Bucs headed off field, the fans booed long and loud. Even that did not motivate them to give more effort in the second half. What a pathetic joke.
September 14th, 2015 at 6:29 pm
Lovie lost that locker room.. Hell, he never had em to begin with!
September 14th, 2015 at 6:41 pm
It’s only loss 1, they still have time to right the ship.
September 14th, 2015 at 6:41 pm
This team is soft like cream puffs.
September 14th, 2015 at 6:47 pm
Hawaiian Buc…and to a sold out crowd for the home opener. The crowd was filled with Buc fans for once. Then they go out and show us that display. I left before halftime.
September 14th, 2015 at 6:53 pm
Lovie better donate his salary to the Victims of the tragedy at Ray Jay!
September 14th, 2015 at 6:54 pm
We will rebound folks, le’s be patience and don’t panic. We will the NFC South this season, victory will be our salvation.
September 14th, 2015 at 6:54 pm
Jo-mama,
Greg Schiano took phone calls on Total Access
Greg Schiano never got his Rutgers azz handed to him the way Lovie has either.
Lovie also jerked Glennon around.
Lovie seems incompetent. Too bad there isn’t a little blue pill that helps with coaching.
September 14th, 2015 at 6:57 pm
McCown over Glennon is a fire able offense.
September 14th, 2015 at 7:00 pm
Thought Id be less upset today… Sobered up, thinking rational… Then I listen to Lovie speak on WDAE.
He both put me to sleep & got me raging at the same time!!! THIS FCKIN GUY!
Koetter for HC! RIGHT FCKIN NOW GLAZERS!!!!!!
September 14th, 2015 at 7:00 pm
Lovie said that a teams biggest improvement is from week 1 to 2…. My god he bought himself another week lol…schiano deserved another year…its karma kicking in lol
September 14th, 2015 at 7:48 pm
@Joehelldeloxy
French? Just descent or do you actually live in France. Don’t know how you stumbled onto the Bucs but we welcome you and warn you. If you want to be a Bucs fan you need lots of patience and unfounded optimism. Otherwise it just sucks.
And your observations are pretty much spot on. Watching Mariota complete a 52 yard TD bomb to Kendall Wright shocked us. Then when #3 throws an incredibly brain dead pick six..we’re down 14-0 and any Bucs fan with experience thought here we go again. When MM marched them back for the next TD 21-0 EVERYBODY knew the game was over and so did our defense. They quit like a bunch of sissies.
The Bucs need a heart check. This team has been gutless..folding like tents in a hurricane time and time again. It’s time for a sack check for Tampa Bay and this has been going on for a long long time…about ten years now.
September 14th, 2015 at 8:28 pm
@ Hawaiian Buc:
You nailed it.
September 14th, 2015 at 8:46 pm
Interesting comparison. Gators head coach publicly, and near violently rips his RB for making a small throat slash gesture after a score. Then hammers him and the rest of the team for selfish penalties in post game pressers, saying “we are not going to play like that anymore.” Lovie showed ASJ nothing but love today in his press conference. Not sure it means anything…
September 14th, 2015 at 9:42 pm
Not better so far is an understatement, Joe. After all that happened last year, this kind of blowout was the LAST thing I was expecting to see in our opener against the Titans. As I said many times already here, that game has been a hope killer. It destroyed all the hope and goodwill I had for the season. I can’t understand HOW Lovie Smith can be so calm and announce that they’ll just take this punch in the face, move on and get better. I mean, sure, I realize that’s what you have to say in such a situation, but really, I think Lovie is disconnected from the reality surrounding him. Most fans are fed up with this team and hearing that “things will get better” ain’t gonna cut it anymore.
September 14th, 2015 at 9:55 pm
Let me ask you, what NFL team can the Buccaneers beat? I’ve looked at all of the teams and I can’t see one. Oakland? Maybe? Good Luck coach, you are going to need it. This defense is putrid.
September 14th, 2015 at 10:15 pm
Give Frazier his play calling duties back asap. Movie is a tool
September 14th, 2015 at 10:16 pm
Give Frazier his play calling duties back asap. Lovie is a tool