Lovie’s Double-Talk
September 12th, 2015
Stats show Lovie’s flippant public attitude over CB Johnthan Banks is terribly unwarranted.
It just drives Joe nuts how, for whatever reason publicly, Lovie Smith seems to have it in for cornerback Johnthan Banks, the third-year man out of Mississippi State.
Whenever Lovie is asked about Banks, it is seems like it offends him and he immediately invokes Mike Jenkins’ name.
Give Joe a friggin’ break!
Out of the other corner of his mouth, Lovie waxes poetically about turnovers. Joe really believes Lovie covets this stat more than points or even wins. Lovie even has former Bucs greats carrying his water for Jenkins.
Well, Joe thumbed through Bucs stats provided by the good folks in the media relations office and one stat jumped out so much it almost slapped away Joe’s beer.
Of all cornerbacks entering their third season this year in the NFL, no one has more picks than Banks. In fact, Banks, who Joe thought was a darkhorse for eating pineapple last year, is tied for most picks of players entering their third season with seven (four last year). Eric Reid of the Niners and Logan Ryan of the Pats also have seven.
So Lovie, who worships at the altar of takeaways, is going to bench one of the best young corners in the game at picking off passes for Cinnamon Toast Crunch Jenkins?
Right!
Maybe Lovie doesn’t like Banks because he never drafted him?
Damn that former Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik!
Mind you, Banks very well could totally blow up this year. This is the first season since Banks was in high school that he has played under the same defensive coordinator in back-to-back seasons. Each of the past six years, Banks has played for a new coordinator.
“Sky is the limit,” Banks told Joe recently. “Just go out there and compete and execute, and get better and better at things. Just ball out and have fun. Just go out there and compete every play.”
September 12th, 2015 at 7:18 pm
Funny on WDAE Baron was labeled a Schiano pick by the Joes, cus he’s a bust. But cus the Joes like Dom Banks is a Dom pick? Sorry but that makes no sense
September 12th, 2015 at 7:32 pm
Lovie’s love of Jenkins over Banks should be the numero uno reason for everyone to question Lovie’s abilities. THIS this right here is enough to make you scratch your head.
September 12th, 2015 at 7:36 pm
@Joe
If there really is something behind Lovie’s “attitude” towards Banks, then by all means please ask him what he thinks about Banks being at the top of the 3rd year cornerback back pick list and see what happens….Simple as that.
September 12th, 2015 at 8:01 pm
He would twist it into a conversation about Jenkins. Done that more than once.
September 12th, 2015 at 8:03 pm
I don’t think Lovie really hates his starting CB. He probably just wishes Banks were faster/ quicker. He would be a legit superstar if he had a little giddy up.
September 12th, 2015 at 8:06 pm
Joe, its because Lovie is a F’N idiot. Banks is a legit DB and Jenks has never done anything but get hurt. Just goes to show Lovie’s true nature.
September 12th, 2015 at 8:21 pm
If Lovie really didn’t like Banks, Jenkins would be starting. Last I looked, Banks is listed as the starting corner, not Jenkins.
The safeties are a whole different issue to me. Don’t know for the life of me why Wright is listed as a starting safety instead of Swearinger.
September 12th, 2015 at 9:29 pm
Tough love from the coaches favorite. The kid keeps producing with a chip on his shoulder and that is a good thing. Seems like everyone that Lovie gushes over is soft anyway. I look forward to a pick 6 from Banks tomorrow. Go Bucs!
September 12th, 2015 at 9:55 pm
Just wish Lovie would just coach and let somebody else speak to the press. Seems like a good man but can’t stand to hear him talk about the team.
September 12th, 2015 at 11:50 pm
Jenkins actually is a pretty good cover 2 corner when healthy, something he hasn’t been in a while – amazing how people never seem to remember. He’s a USF kid and had a heck of career there. He’s a corner on the cheap because of the injuries, but he can still be productive… IF healthy.
With that said I think Banks can be a quality starter as well – in fact I think he mostly has been. He wasn’t really drafted to be a cover 2 corner however and perhaps he’s just not picking up the system all that quickly. I’m hoping in year 2 of the cover 2 he makes that jump that all the Bucs greats say happen in year 2.
September 13th, 2015 at 12:11 am
Joe, u r the only person that covers the Bucs who repeats this nonsence on a steady basis.
Like the Mankins barbeque harping, u need to pit this to bed and leave it alone.
You are beginning to sound like BucRealist harping on the same thing over and kver and over and over again.
It’s getting boring, tiring and unoriginal.
September 13th, 2015 at 12:19 am
If nothing else it is pushing banks to get better. Competition is a great thing. And clearly banks is starting, so I’m not sure what the fuss is about. Coach speak means nothing.
September 13th, 2015 at 1:12 am
I’m sorry, but I don’t believe Lovie likes Jenkins over Banks.
I’ve been saying all along how good Banks is. He’s already well ahead of where barber was going into his third year. WAY ahead.
Banks will start, unless there is some sort of injury we don’t know about.
I’m not one bit worried. And I don’t buy the assumptions about Lovie and Jenkins. Just because he compliments a player, that doesn’t mean he likes him more than another. Maybe is is just trying to be encouraging.
We Christians do tend to do that. Encourage.
September 13th, 2015 at 1:15 am
By the way…look at the team depth chart for this week.
Banks is starting.
http://www.buccaneers.com/team-and-stats/depth-chart.html
September 13th, 2015 at 1:17 am
Lovie wants a quality slot center CB. I suspect that will end up being Jennings over Jenkins.
September 13th, 2015 at 8:14 am
Much ado about nothing….
September 13th, 2015 at 9:19 am
Jenkins has always had the ability but since he’s been in the league he has either been injured or underperformed. Multiple times this preseason I’ve seen him get burned. Jenkins is Garbage. Jennings is ok in my book but Banks is literally our best corner at this point. I, like Joe have no idea why loving has a man crush on Jenkins!