Local Columnists Hammer Lovie
October 5th, 2015
Joe knows one human who reads a printed newspaper regularly. That’s about it.
But Joe’s heard that these newspaper sports columnists wield influence over the elite class.
The two big guns in town, Joe bashing Tom Jones of the Tampa Bay Times and Martin Fennelly of The Tampa Tribune, whipped out their swords last night and sliced Lovie Smith. They didn’t cut off his head, but they came close.
Jones is troubled by how Lovie regularly claims the Bucs are improving but it’s invisible to the naked eye.
Then the next week comes and the Bucs get their teeth kicked in again, just like Sunday’s 37-23 loss to the Panthers.
Enough already. Enough with the excuses and enough of the hollow promises. How about some coaching?
Just spitballin’ here, but instead of talking about how your team is getting better, how about actually getting better?
But it isn’t getting better. It never gets any better. And it’s obvious as to why: coaching.
The Bucs might not have a ton of talent, but want to know why they are so lousy? Because the guy in charge is doing a lousy job. And if things don’t start getting better real soon, he should do his Bucs analysis as a broadcaster instead of a coach.
“All losses are disappointing,” Smtih said, “but we shouldn’t be getting beat that way.”
Yeah, you shouldn’t. So, Lovie, what makes you think this mess is getting any better?
Fennelly ventured down a similar path with his skewering of the head coach.
How many times in this 10-game streak, or the 3-17 one, has Smith not had his team ready to play? The Panthers jumped the Bucs. I don’t even think Carolina is that good, even at 4-0, but the Bucs were no match for them, even with the Panthers missing linebacker Luke Kuechly.
Even when they had a chance, the Bucs didn’t have a chance.
Lovie’s Bears teams used to feast on the other team being sloppy.
Now the Bucs are the ones who are the mess. Mistakes everywhere.
Well-coached teams just don’t give games away.
All I know is that on the day the Bucs honored Mike Alstott, the A-Train, they took another trip on the L train, straight through the tunnel of Lovie.
How many times can we listen to Lovie say his team shouldn’t be beaten that way? Or that the week of practice, the preparation, said they would play better than they did? Or that the results don’t show it, but they’re better than that loss? Or that these are correctable things, fixable things? Or that eventually things will come together?
Feel free to click on the links to the full columns above, or just buy a newspaper. They could use your spare change as they try to survive.
As for Lovie’s survival, well, he just needs to win — immediately.
October 5th, 2015 at 8:34 am
FIRE THIS CLUELESS CAPTAIN NEXT MONDAY…this tenure has to end…”simple as that”…anything is better than his garbage…
October 5th, 2015 at 8:38 am
If we lose to the Jags, then we have with out a doubt regressed. Even if the coach tells us differently 🙁
October 5th, 2015 at 8:41 am
who is to blame? #3 with his 5 turnovers, or Smith for drafting him?
October 5th, 2015 at 8:43 am
He will keep saying that until they do get better,which is ?
October 5th, 2015 at 8:43 am
Lose to the jags and fire Lovie. That simple. For the sake of “continuity”‘ elevate Leslie to interim head coach and dirk to interim assistant head coach. Then, win or polish resumes.
October 5th, 2015 at 8:43 am
Here’s hoping at least one if not many in the local media grow a pair and actually ask Lovie at today’s press conference, to reconcile 3-17 with what Dan Quinn is doing in Atlanta 4-0 with a team that had an abysmal defense last year.
October 5th, 2015 at 8:44 am
I’ve said it before, this team looks like a team that isn’t buying in. The defense does not have faith or trust in what Lovie is selling. When you do not see positive results you lose faith. No faith and trust = no wins. Simple as that!
October 5th, 2015 at 8:49 am
Why not attack the worthless all pro’s on this team. Why not attack the owners and the reason, why salary cap money is just sitting there.
October 5th, 2015 at 8:53 am
That’s easy. They have Pro Bowl quarterback and arguably the best WR in football along with a decent offensive line that allows guys like Devona Freeman to rush for 3 TDs. We don’t have any of that. Their defense is arguably just as abysmal as last year giving up an average of 390 total yards a game.
October 5th, 2015 at 8:56 am
While I am not trilled with the results I am tired of the coach is always at fault crap. During this game alone we had a fumbled snap, 3 horrible throws by the QB, 3 missed kicks, 3 great blitz calls were we had defenders one on one with Cam and missed the tackle and a dropped pick at the one yard line. All of those things cost us this games and the only one you could put on the coach would be the missed kicks because he didnt cut him last week. Other than that the players need to be held accountable and get their crap together. Make the plays that are there to be made. We should’ve had 3 more sacks and an interception. And all this is not even mentioning the unlucky bounce they got for the TD.
October 5th, 2015 at 8:58 am
D-Rome….ATL has the same QB, WR and good running backs the last 2 years and they sucked.
October 5th, 2015 at 9:00 am
L&L have created a situation which needs to be corrected asap. Bad coaching + terrible personnel+ player apathy= this current and continuing mess. They can spin it anyway they want, all the fans know it’s gone from bad to hopeless and the Glazers don’t care. No hope until team is sold!
October 5th, 2015 at 9:08 am
What a freaking train wreck this team has become. To quote the late and great John McKay “reporter asks what about your teams execution? and McKay quips I’m all for it” Well count me in. This coaching staff is a joke, worst ever. Did not even have the sense to hire an experienced quarterback coach for their prized rookie.
October 5th, 2015 at 9:11 am
Playoffs?? Playoffs?? Come on now! I have been saying for the past 20 months that Lovie could not coach his way out of a wet paper bag…but I have been listening to the blah, blah, blah of the Big Poodle that Lovie is a fantastic NFL Coach…always blaming someone else. Last year it was the OC…last year it was not having a legit QB1….which I feel we had a more legit QB1 with MG8 then we do with JW1-3! Come on now!!! All kidding aside, would it not be prudent to have JW learn behind MG8 for at least half of the year? I believe the Bucs win yesterday with MG8 in the game.
Lovie states we are only 3 games out of first place….only 3 games out of playoff contention!! It is great everyone is finally waking up to the fact that Lovie is not a legit HC in the NFL or the Bears would not have let him go after a 10 win season! Unlike the rest of you, I have been stating the obvious…that Lovie cannot evaluate talent, he has NO game plan each week, he fails to make half time changes, he has no game clock management, and more importantly, he cannot coach football.
Regardless of whether you love JW or you think Lovie picked the wrong guy.. he is going to be injured and his confidence shaken like with RGIII if he is not coached correctly and allowed to grow in this position. JW is our QB1 and will be for a long time if he is not coached correctly. Just 1 man’s opinion, but he should be the QB1 for the next 10-15 years if brought along correctly!
October 5th, 2015 at 9:16 am
Also worth noting for Atlanta, their offense appears better than ever without Dirk Koetter. Kyle Shannahan should be a major consideration for next Bucs coach after Lovie gets fired.
October 5th, 2015 at 9:17 am
I still spend lot more time reading articles by REAL writers than I do blogs by unknown people that still live at home with Mom . . . .
And yes, that includes many time actually HOLDING the paper in my hands.
Is Lovie the problem? Partly – – but you can NOT fire him now.
October 5th, 2015 at 9:25 am
Even though stuck in the 60’s, at least the fishwraps don’t have all these annoying pop ups.
October 5th, 2015 at 9:30 am
Joe Dunn Says:
October 5th, 2015 at 9:17 am
I still spend lot more time reading articles by REAL writers than I do blogs by unknown people that still live at home with Mom . . . .
And yes, that includes many time actually HOLDING the paper in my hands.
Is Lovie the problem? Partly – – but you can NOT fire him now.
________________________________________________________________
I’ve posted this several times, but Lovie’s first 20 games (3-17) are worse than Lane Kiffin (5-15), but Lane had JaMarcus and his owner worse than ours. That Lovie can somehow be totally safe to some is why we suck so much as a franchise. His job should be on the line this week period, a bad loss and that should be that.
October 5th, 2015 at 9:31 am
Unfortunately, there are too many problems to fix with this team. Coaches cant coach, game plan, or make in game adjustments. Players cant execute when needed. So far, much of our offenses points have come in garbage time after the game is out of hand and unreachable.
Somebody has to step up. Period!!!
Its not gonna be Lovie, hes over his head. The players need to win in spite of Lovie.
October 5th, 2015 at 9:35 am
I am not a fan of continually pressing the reset button on this franchise. Lovie and Koetter have had enough success elsewhere that I’m certain that they are legitimate NFL coaches. I cannot understand, though, why they are SO FAR from being competitive. These weekly a$$-kickings, or losses to obviously crappy teams like Houston, are awful. The RedZone channel lets me watch other games and a see a level of competitiveness in other teams — even the Browns — that I don’t see here. I mean, we’re not even close to being decent. Gruden’s end-of-season collapse, Raheem, Schiano, now 3-17 — where does this end?
October 5th, 2015 at 9:36 am
What would Lovie say to please the press & fans other than what he is saying.
I promise a win next week or I’ll resign without pay.
We are not getting better because I am a terrible coach and we have miserable talent.
I’m just here for the paycheck & the beach…..
My mission is to get the highest draft pick possible.
What do you want me to do…..bench Winston & play Glennon?
How can I coach without a current “Lovie Confidence Poll” from JBF?
October 5th, 2015 at 9:41 am
@Joe Dunn
So we fans should just take it in the butt with no back talk?
October 5th, 2015 at 9:52 am
Tampabaybucfan- those are all terrific suggestions!
October 5th, 2015 at 9:52 am
If the Glazers are really serious about having a winning franchise, then I’d say fire Lovie, and Licht and try to get Mike Smith (former Atlanta Falcons Head Coach) over here.
October 5th, 2015 at 10:14 am
If the Bucs lose to Jacksonville: just fire Lovie! And right now I can not think of any reason that gives me any hope that the Bucs will actually win next week. This team is bad, maybe they can beat the Fins about now but I really do not see anyone else in the NFL playing as bad as tampa or miami.
October 5th, 2015 at 10:24 am
First of all Lovie was a fool not to have his punter, who is also a place kicker too, show what he could do place kicking 35 yards and in. If he is accurate on those kicks let him make those kicks with MG8 holding and let our long distance place kicker do kickoffs and the 58 to 65 yard place kicks. Then fire WarFLOP immediately for not developing an OL that can pass block consistently. Give that job to Koetter too. He can do it. Move Cherilus to LT until Dotson comes back. He has played LT in the NFL for years. Admitt that Smith is a better Guard than LT, which I warned everyone from the start. Let Smith compete with our backup Tackle for RT for now and eventually move him to LG to spell our starter there some to prolong his career. Keep our Center who is great at pull blocking and Make EDS the backup Center Guard when he comes back. We have to get better OL play to keep Winston from getting harassed. Then sit our slumping first pick WR from last year until he gets well. The problems are correctable but it takes smart coaching which we do not have so far.
October 5th, 2015 at 10:30 am
I’m just glad I was able to shockingly sell me season tickets at full price for the Jags game. Which probably means we will win the game.
October 5th, 2015 at 10:31 am
ndog…the reason why we are bad is because nobody is held accountable for their sh8tty play. I don’t care if it is Lovante Davis, Mike Evans or whoever. Bryzda should have been canned last week and the other players stars or not should sit at the start to send a f*cking message that this will not be tolerated.
October 5th, 2015 at 11:05 am
We have reached a strange point in the season. Everybody is calling for Lovie’s scalp. I get the reaction. But think of all the ramifications.
Lovie’s career is going down the crapper for sure because he is committed to playing #3 and #3 is clearly not ready to play. He simply is not seeing the field.
Receivers running open and no attempt…forcing out passes late against top NFL DB’s…his learning curve has not been steep but rather slow and plodding..
Does that mean #3 is a bust. OF COURSE NOT! But it does mean he’s not yet an NFL quality QB…he needs time. Guess who is going to pay for that time. Lovie.
We can debate Lovie’s ineptitude and the reasons he needs to be fired but if it comes down to simple W and L’s Lovie is hosed. There are QB’s who can carry an inferior team…that’s not yet Fameis…QB’s who can manage a decent game and with a solid defense give their team a chance to win…that’s not Fameis..and there are QB’s who for a lack of talent or a simple lack of experience as in playing just two years of college and four NFL games doom their teams to L’s. Alas yesterday’s game was lost in the 1st Q…AGAIN.
No he’s not a bust…but he’s not an NFL QB yet! There were multiple errors…the same errors repeating themselves..the learning curve looks long and gradual.
October 5th, 2015 at 11:14 am
Hiring Lovie is like a bad nightmare. He is as clueless as he looks on the sideline, not head coach material. Old, irrelevant and dumbstruck.
October 5th, 2015 at 12:17 pm
Ticket sales will make the Glazer’s decision for this coaching staff
October 5th, 2015 at 12:34 pm
I was just looking at Lovie’s 2nd year with the Bears in 2005. They started 1-3. They ended up 11-5. That was with Kyle Orton as their QB.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:30 pm
Regarding Atlanta, it’s their offense that has come to life and won games for them, with mostly the same players that Dirk Koetter had the past two disappointing seasons. Should we be surprised that Koetter can’t do much with the Bucs offense when he couldn’t do much with Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, and Devonta Freeman? Perhaps Bucs fans were sold another bill of goods in Koetter as OC. He’s certainly looking like a mistake at this point in the season.
October 5th, 2015 at 3:10 pm
ndog well said. I would say this loss is one the coaches but damm Lovie do you have any passion for the game left? I did see alot of positives but hard to feel good with 3x negatives.
Ps – Marpet is an absolute beast
October 5th, 2015 at 6:40 pm
I don’t get it. One of the columnist admit we have talent issues. Yet, we expect to win every game. And some how Lovie is suppose to turn some guys that wouldn’t make other team into All Pro. smh. Coaches can only do so much for the players. It’s up to the players to make the plays and use the right techniques. Coaching change so soon is only going to continue this cycle of losing.
Look at the Steelers. They have the least coaching change. They play the 3-4 defense for years. They have an identity because they committed to their coaches and system for years. With time they gotten more talented players that fit their identity. Winning takes don’t take a lot of time, but long term success take time and consistency.
About Jameis, I’m not mad at all. Even Peyton Manning struggle his first year. Not saying he’s going to be Peyton. But, the potential, knowledge, leadership, and drive make him likely to become a good player. He is a rookie after all. Not saying he don’t deserve blame, but I’m being realistic about him.
October 5th, 2015 at 9:26 pm
Philbin is gone from the ‘Pins. Lovie should be next. This sorry excuse for a coach needs to back into his basement. McCoy and David are the two most over-rated players in the NFL right now. They have been practically invisible. The worst thing about this team is the players are just happy to be in the NFL. This team had better start being sore losers. They need to hate losing more than they love just being in the NFL. If not, then this off-season there should be a wholesale turnover of this roster.
I can also blame Jameis. His mechanics are bad. He is constantly throwing off balance and off his back foot. He says he will work harder. He should also try working smarter. Hard work + smart work = improvement. Hard work alone = Pavlov’s Dog.
October 6th, 2015 at 6:05 pm
I see Dovie standing on the sidelines with a blank look on his face while visions of dollar signs dance in his head.