“It Is In Lovie Smith’s Hands”
October 9th, 2015
Can Lovie turn things around?
In a sad way, the main topic of Bucs fans is not the solid playing offensive line or the burgeoning play of rookie middle linebacker Kwon Alexander, or a rebirth of running back Doug Martin.
No, the main subject of talk among Bucs fans is the job security of 3-17 (0-10 at home) coach Lovie Smith.
And so it was a main thrust of discussion on a TBO.com Bucs podcast with Olivia Stacey and the “Custodian of Canton,” eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune.
Stacey referenced vitriol spewed from Bucs fans on social media during recent losses, and Kaufman began to talk Lovie’s future with the franchise.
“What can a coach with a 1-3 record say? Kaufman said. “We heard it all through the 2-14 season. What else can Lovie Smith say but ‘We are disappointed, this doesn’t define us?’ We have heard all of the stock phrases by now, Olivia. And I’ve got to tell you, the people on social media, if they aren’t blasting Jameis Winston, are killing Lovie Smith and saying, ‘Let’s get rid of this guy.’
“I don’t see any way – I don’t see any way — Lovie Smith doesn’t keep his job through the 2015 season. I would be shocked. The Glazers have never fired a coach mid-year. I don’t think they will start now. I think he gets more leeway than a Greg Schiano. Having said that, another 2-14, 3-13, all bets are off. It is in Lovie Smith’s hands to turn this thing about. This is his defense. These are his players, for the most part. … He has pushed Leslie Frazier aside a little bit.”
This is what so many folks overlook about the dreadful tenure of Lovie Smith. He is also the overlord of football operations. Lovie sat in his suburban Chicago basement for a year hatching a scheme to build a winner with the likes of Josh McClown, Ghost Johnson, Anthony Collins, Oniel Cousins and currently benched Alterraun Verner. Joe hasn’t added up yet how many tens of millions of Team Glazer loot Lovie burned through in just one season.
Then you factor in the loss after loss after loss after loss with seemingly no end in sight. Joe guesses right now it is difficult for a member of Team Glazer to choke down the cognac.
October 9th, 2015 at 2:05 pm
A humiliating loss Sunday should mean the end for Lovie. He just isn’t that good a coach, we’re not waiting for him to turn us into a contender, his peak as a coach is occasional playoff appearances. I would hope most fans want more than that right?
October 9th, 2015 at 2:15 pm
The calm approach isn’t getting the job done coach. Even a lousy team can win a home game every now and then. This Sunday is now.
October 9th, 2015 at 2:20 pm
i want him fired now
October 9th, 2015 at 2:22 pm
Lovie bashing right now is misplaced as I’ve been saying all along but most fans are simple minded people who just think HC + W/L record = only thing you can wrap your mind around.
If the defense was getting shredded each week and poor game decisions were the reason we lost it’d make sense; but that isn’t the case.
Lovie didn’t fumble twice in his own territory against the Saints in the 4th.
Lovie didn’t drop 8 passes against Houston and miss 10 points in kicks.
Lovie didn’t throw 4 interceptions and fumble the ball against Carolina.
People want to point fingers but don’t care to think much about where they are pointing them.
Tennessee is on Lovie. Brindza is on Lovie. But how does anyone predict a mental collapse by a kicker? It’s not like Lovie was Brindza’s psychotherapist.
I’m just scared we are going to hit the reset button before we ever gave this thing an honest chance I guess. That’s really my fear. Subtraction by subtraction lol
October 9th, 2015 at 2:29 pm
I wonder how many wins Lovie has to get to keep his job? I’ve said 6 all along. Is Kauffman saying 4 is ok? I mean where is the improvement since schiano got canned? My hair cutter can get 3-17. This is a parity league with a hard salary cap. I agree firing mid season is pointless but what does he have to do this year to keep his job?
October 9th, 2015 at 2:31 pm
In my opinion he should immediately be stripped of being “overlord of personnel decisions” and defensive play calling duties if they get pasted by the Jaguars this Sunday. At that point it should be obvious to all that the guy has too much on his plate and needs to focus on just coaching to save his job and the season because he’s probably going to feel his seat get red hot if the Bucs lose to yet another bad team (at home no less). That said I have to believe they beat the Jags…the line in the sand has to be drawn at some point!
October 9th, 2015 at 2:36 pm
The Joes pounded on McClown for having a career losing record. Loser Lovie will fit perfectly after this season concludes and his career record will be a losing one
October 9th, 2015 at 2:37 pm
Bucs are undefeated in the red jerseys and 0-3 in white jerseys. If they come out in red I’ll be excited… JW has vision problems and sees red better.
October 9th, 2015 at 2:40 pm
If he can’t get them to pull one out against Jacksonville, it’s gonna get real ugly. I don’t think they’ll fire him mid-season either, but he has a golden opportunity to beat an inferior team at home. If it doesn’t happen now, then when? Enough excuses, just get a damn win at home already.
October 9th, 2015 at 2:42 pm
If we can blown out every game for the rest of the season and he loses the players then he’s gone. Otherwise, as long as we continue to improve, his job is safe. The players are still playing hard for him and I’m sure the Glazers knew that it would take more than 2 years to rebuild this POS roster.
YOU may not have the patience, but I guarantee you they do. Your opinions don’t mean sh!t to them. Go ahead and hold up your stupid signs during the game! They’ll be in the luxury suite laughing at your sorry asses!! I’ll be where I normally am at RJS laughing at you too….
“It’s as simple as that” – Lovie Smith aka “Let’s keep those INT’s at a minimum Jameis! You’re making me look bad!!”
October 9th, 2015 at 2:48 pm
Unfortunately Joe’s. .as we all know it’s not about individual stats
Its….w and l….
October 9th, 2015 at 3:00 pm
If Jameis had been even an average QB in our losses to Houston and Carolina, those would’ve been wins, the Bucs would be 3-1 and everyone bitching would be happy as little pigs at the trough. Including the Joe’s. The rest of the team did in fact play good enough to win in those 2 games.
But everyone, including Lovie, knew that Jameis would struggle periodically. Well, everyone but the Joe’s that is.
Personnel-wise, Lovie & Licht let go of several players they shouldn’t have, and brought in several that didn’t pan out. But … We’re reaching a point I think where the pieces are starting to fall into place.
October 9th, 2015 at 3:20 pm
Onelove- How in the world can you guarantee how the Glazers think? Thanks for the laughs.
I’m still hoping Lovie shows improvement as I hate wasting my money, but it’s not looking good for Loser Lovie
October 9th, 2015 at 3:30 pm
One love,
You mention that, “if we (Bucs) continue to improve”. I stopped reading your comment at that point because WE HAVE NOT IMPROVED A LICK SINCE SCHIANO WAS OUSTED. In fact, Lovie has us in reverse, and we suck.
October 9th, 2015 at 3:38 pm
@Bucrightoff, I agree 100%. IF Lovie could just field a competitive team, show some heart, some fight, play with some passion. I just see the same old crap each and every Sunday, lackluster effort, stupid penalties, dumb mistakes, rinse and repeat week in and week out. Fans have had enough. I dont care about playoffs at this point, I would just like to go to RJS and see a victory. We are going on what a year and a half since that has happened?
October 9th, 2015 at 3:39 pm
Anyone know when exactly was our last home game victory??? Schiano era?
October 9th, 2015 at 3:46 pm
Bucs beat the Bills in 2013 at home of Schiano’s second year
October 9th, 2015 at 3:47 pm
I had to look it up. December 8th 2013 we defeated the Buffalo Bills. In looking at that season we lost four games by three points or less. Schiano should have never been fired, he was on the right track. At any rate this Sunday will mark 676 days since our last home victory. Lovie = Loser
October 9th, 2015 at 4:10 pm
Stevek Says:
October 9th, 2015 at 3:30 pm
“One love,
You mention that, “if we (Bucs) continue to improve”. I stopped reading your comment at that point because WE HAVE NOT IMPROVED A LICK SINCE SCHIANO WAS OUSTED. In fact, Lovie has us in reverse, and we suck.”
Amen brother. That’s exactly what I’m thinking. We’ve gone backwards in all three phases. A win Sunday against another sorry assed team means absolutely nothing…. Fire Lovie!
October 9th, 2015 at 4:22 pm
Even if this incompetent boob wins a couple games by accident he still is not the guy who will bring consistent winning football to Tampa, much less the Lombardi.
Glazers, cut bait…make it stop.
October 9th, 2015 at 4:35 pm
Fired Gruden, Fired Rayheem, Fired Schianno. Now we have to fire Lovie. Who’s next? When does it all stop? Respectability shouldn’t be that hard to achieve. The years are passing by.
October 9th, 2015 at 4:57 pm
Marvelous Mayhem Says:
October 9th, 2015 at 4:35 pm
Fired Gruden, Fired Rayheem, Fired Schianno. Now we have to fire Lovie. Who’s next? When does it all stop? Respectability shouldn’t be that hard to achieve. The years are passing by.
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The one constant in all of these? The Glazers. Until they go or give up trying to run the team and just sit back and collect the money, this team is probably going nowhere
October 9th, 2015 at 5:04 pm
Jenkins and Jennings…Lovie’s studs!
October 9th, 2015 at 5:20 pm
We need to win Sunday, or this season is pretty much over in terms of playing meaningful football in November on. Unfortunately, if the Jaguars hand us our ass this Sunday at home, then there better be changes.
October 9th, 2015 at 8:09 pm
No improvement? We have drafted one defensive player since Lovie got here.
What is the defense ranked?
Uninformed whining is the worst kind of stupidity.
Do any of you really believe the Glazers are gonna repeat the same disaterous pattern with Winston, that they did with Freeman? New Offensive coordinator every year? New coach every two years?
Exactly the best receipe to ruin a franchise QB. Again
Rookie QBs make mistakes. Lots of them. They lose games. Lots of them
Manning, Luck, all of ’em.
This Team frustrates all of us. Me too. But They are gonna provide Winston with stability.
New Coaches bring new Coordinators- unless you have a top ranked unit.
If you promote our O.C. To head coach- then hes gonna hire a new O.C.
They wont do that to Jameis
Cry all you want. Lovie will be here next year
October 9th, 2015 at 10:01 pm
Capt Tim
I completely agree. You cant fire Lovie, no matter how bad i wish they could, we are just going to have to wait out his contract and hope it doesnt get picked up again. The most important thing right now is focusing on Winstons development because he, not Lovie, is the future of this franchise.
October 10th, 2015 at 8:16 am
2 or 3 wins and you guys still think he comes back?
October 10th, 2015 at 8:19 am
Lovie can’t win in this game, if he loses he is trash, if he wins, the Bucs beat a trash team
October 10th, 2015 at 8:40 am
Sadly i speak of next year’s draft for Lovie…OL n DE, safety, corner, slot WR (SPEED)
YO JOE!
GO BUCS!!!
October 10th, 2015 at 9:29 am
Capt Tim, you can’t tell me if Lovie accumulates 4-5 wins in TWO years he deserves to come back. If so that’s madness
October 10th, 2015 at 12:04 pm
Lovie Smith’s contract contains the clause that gives him final say over all personnel matters on the Buccaneers’ final 53-man roster. Coaches generally don’t make good GMs. Pete Carroll, Bill Belichick, and Lovie Smith are the only three coaches with that kind of power. Bucs signed Smith to a four-year deal with a fifth-year option at the team’s control. Smith makes over $5 million per year, a five-year, $25 million deal in total. With this much control and this much money on the line Lovie Smith will not be terminated until after his third year is complete. Regardless of his teams record. Not with a rookie QB who was the number one pick. To much at stake for the Glazers.
October 10th, 2015 at 12:17 pm
Another final thought on Lovie Smith and why he will be given another year as coach regardless of his current win/loss record. Did you notice most of the players Lovie signed in FA have one year contracts? Those who do not perform will be released at the end of this season. Throw in Logan Mankins contract @ 8.25M, Alterraun Verner 6.25M, Brandon Myers 3.25M, Luke Stocker 4.75M, George Johnson 2M, Bruce Carter 3M etc. it adds up to approx 42M. Add in the 47M per over the cap in 2016 and the Bucs have over 89M next year in FA. Next the 2016 NFL draft and Lovie can have an influx of 7 to 9 quality players into this team.
October 10th, 2015 at 12:54 pm
Tampa Tony
The Lovie has been here for two drafts. Both of them we spent getting help for Jameis. It takes QBs a year or two to develop.
The drafts look good. First time in 10 years.
Lovie has build the defense out of cheap FAs, with only one draft pick.
He will get a chance to draft a defense, and to develop Jameis.
And he should
October 10th, 2015 at 12:58 pm
@ bucsbedabest
Damn if that is the case that Lovie is contractually protected from being stripped of his personal autonomy then this team is truly screwed! As a long time fan of this team I honestly can’t remember free agent signings that have been this bad on such a large scale. The part that really hurts is that the guys Lovie is bringing in are generally playing worse than the guys they were brought in to replace (as evidenced by the number of FA’s that were either cut or are now backups). With that kind of track record I’m not sure how anyone can feel comfortable with the thought of Lovie Smith evaluating talent for the Bucs next year or even longer.