Lovie Played To His Weakness
October 25th, 2015
Lovie Smith asked the Buccaneers’ struggling and sour pass defense to win the game today, instead of letting the high-priced, high-octane Bucs offense win it when he had the perfect chance.
Simple as that, Lovie. You played to your weakness.
Lovie didn’t catch the MRSA from Greg Schiano, but he sure caught the former Bucs commander’s obsession with banking on what isn’t working.
Did Lovie not realize that he had no answer for mighty Kirk Cousins all day?
With the Bucs on a 4th-and-goal from the Redkins’ 3 yard line with 2:24 to play and Tampa Bay leading 27-24, Lovie kicked a field goal.
It was a by-the-book call, but that’s only the play if your defense is halfway decent. The Bucs’ defense is bad, and everybody could see it.
The defense was imploding. The Skins had scored on their previous three drives!
It’s downright maddening, especially when you invest all that money — and two years of draft picks — into the offense. If you won’t let Jameis and Mike Evans try to win you a game (or score at the end of a half), then what’s the point of it all?
October 25th, 2015 at 4:50 pm
Fire that fool
October 25th, 2015 at 4:53 pm
6 points in 2nd half is not on defense. Skins had starters out
October 25th, 2015 at 4:53 pm
We’re banged up
October 25th, 2015 at 4:54 pm
Lovie is an awful game day coach. He sticks with the same plan regardless of how the game is unfolding. Did he not see how the D was awful the entire 2nd half? Does he not see how they are even worse when the game is on the line every game? He refuses to adjust. Another game where the loss is just inexcusable.
October 25th, 2015 at 4:54 pm
@J – 31 points in just over a half is on the defense.
October 25th, 2015 at 4:54 pm
Not that it matters, but that was a BS PI call on Evans in the endzone. Should have been a TD.
October 25th, 2015 at 4:55 pm
Secondary garbage. Did you see that Barron, Revis and “the Hawk” all played great. No way a Schiano team has a guy lateral at the end of the game. Clock and kick it.
October 25th, 2015 at 4:56 pm
Lovie’s strengths include soft defenses and horrible clock management, which have consistently on display. Good luck finding 2 more wins this year looking at the schedule and that defense.
October 25th, 2015 at 4:56 pm
How much longer will the Glazers allow this dumpster fire to burn out of control. My god this was sickening
October 25th, 2015 at 4:56 pm
Get out the flaming torches and pitchforks. It’s time to run this fool out of town. Give the job to Koetter.
October 25th, 2015 at 4:57 pm
Sims had no choice but to lateral, no way they would have lined up in 5 seconds.
October 25th, 2015 at 4:57 pm
J. I was at the game today. The defense was horrid stoping the pass. Winston was schooling. Penalties killed drives for the offense. But 4th and 3 to win the game. Let the kid who has been playing his butt off make a play to win the game
October 25th, 2015 at 4:57 pm
I dont understand why lovie trusts his defense more then our offense. This defense has NEVER proved to be trustworthy. Losing all but 1 game in which it needed to get 1 stop. Its sad that we can’t be a dominant offense because lovie keeps restricting them. Time to take the leash off the offense and put on muzzle on this defense. It has lost more games than this offense ever will.
October 25th, 2015 at 4:57 pm
I knew that was gonna happen when that call was made. It seems Lovie doesn’t know how to play with a lead. I am beside myself with all the ways they found to lose this game. I don’t understand why he doesn’t adjust during the game and take chances when there warranted.
October 25th, 2015 at 4:57 pm
I think one of the telling signs of a coach is how they play after a bi-week – a butt load of penalties and 24 point blown is on the coach. We really should think about Giving Koater a shot at HC after the season.
October 25th, 2015 at 4:58 pm
Officially on the “Fire Lovie Bandwagon.” Team isn’t good enough to go turtle mode when up by 24! 1:30 left in the half and all three timeouts… but that wasn’t the first time they gave up at the end of the second quarter. And this Mike Jenkins nonsense needs to stop. Just an unbelievable choke job today and it’s all on Lovie!
October 25th, 2015 at 4:58 pm
Dude they didn’t have enough time to clock n kick. The throw should not have been made over the middle. That’s not on Sims
October 25th, 2015 at 4:58 pm
Lovie is simply over his head and in complete denial of how bad his defense and scheme fit in today’s NFL. His philosophies simply do not work. they never have. Lovie’s tenure as bucs coach can only be summed up as a failure. first he said fans should not be patient then he crapped himself to a 2-14 record then started crying about patience now which is is it fool, fans need to be patient or not be patient. He has signed failure after failure in free agency and other roster decisions have been equally as poor. He has created more dead salary cap money than Raheem’s entire payroll allowance. He obviously is tying Koetter’s hands offensively. Glazers could careless about the bucs and the product on the field that is painfully obvious. enough is enough, run this fool out of town tomorrow morning.
October 25th, 2015 at 5:00 pm
J no. The Redskins literally had 3 guys on each sideline and was giving us the middle of the field. Sims was the only one open. Winston made the right decision
October 25th, 2015 at 5:00 pm
I was never oa fan of Greg, but atleast he was aggressive. We had an inkling of defensive Identity. I have lost all faith in Tampa 2. Hastn worked in a very long time. On a side note, Im not sure if its just me but the comment box seems to be lagging.
Joe, might wana upgrade the site servers!!!!
October 25th, 2015 at 5:00 pm
Stop making excuse. Injuries is not the problem ! The coach is! And horrible defense with lack of discipline. Him and Leslie Frazier need to be gone by Monday period! I would rather Dirk Koetter finish out season.
October 25th, 2015 at 5:00 pm
Well joe guess that 2nd half chokers doesn’t apply to games with the bucs. All you guys who like our defense here is more evidence to the contrary, 30+ game and late game choke. Slow learners take note..
October 25th, 2015 at 5:00 pm
Does anyone realistically see us winning any of our next 6 games? 2-10 before playing the saints on 12/13. Maybe win a game or two against the rams/bears/saints, but what its the point then if we are just playing for draft position. 4-12 is looking like our record. At best.
October 25th, 2015 at 5:03 pm
Fire that moth**r f*cker,right now.dont let him come back to Tampa. Tell him to go suck in his basement.
October 25th, 2015 at 5:04 pm
I said the same thing, he played to lose.
I’m done with him. Look at what a culture change has done for Miami, who beat a HOU team that beat us.
This is the type of loss that leads to a coach losing his job.
The team made over 150 yds in penalties, and the defense cannot stop a lowly team like the Redskins.
Lovie needs to go. Our defense is very bad. We need a culture change.
If this was NY or Dal, he would have been gone after the TN game.
October 25th, 2015 at 5:05 pm
Well said, Joe.
October 25th, 2015 at 5:05 pm
Awful game called by lovie . Sorry I’m in the fire him bandwagon now.
October 25th, 2015 at 5:05 pm
Fire his a** NOW.
October 25th, 2015 at 5:05 pm
J what are u talking about, of course it’s on Sims. We had a shot at winning the game if he didn’t attempt a STUPID lateral.
But then again, bad teams always find ways to lose.
October 25th, 2015 at 5:05 pm
If you defend this Coach you are either his family or blind.
This is one of the worse teams in the league and they are hurt playing a lot of second stringers and we let them beat us with a 24 point lead.
Redskins have never come back from 24 down.
McCoy did not have his name called once…Paycheck collector..
Lovie Paycheck collector…
Glazers need to Fire Him Now ..Walk in that Locker Room and tell them to play or they can ride the bus ..
This is BS to put this team on the field and expect Fans to pay for it..
But Coach Excuse will say..We came out fast played well first half…Blaas Blaaa …
October 25th, 2015 at 5:06 pm
Gus The point is I don’t think there was time to line up n spike. The team was really far back n 5 sex didn’t seem like time enough
October 25th, 2015 at 5:06 pm
1st and goal and you take the ball out of the hands of your first overall pick?…. That is a joke! 3rd and goal and you try a pitch? No qb sneak and have lane help push Winston in. My god, they let tom “my balls are deflated” Brady do qb sneaks all the time! Dude had one for a td today (I think). It’s just a joke. Typical lovie and his soft team.
October 25th, 2015 at 5:06 pm
Lateral was the last chance
October 25th, 2015 at 5:07 pm
They had 2 weeks to get this team ready and blew it.
October 25th, 2015 at 5:07 pm
This current team has the look and feel of losers at this point. It’s almost not even worth trying to dissect the game…the Bucs simply fail at every detail and cannot close the show. I guess I could start with the penalities but I’m not sure this team knows how to win a game. It’s as simple as that!
October 25th, 2015 at 5:08 pm
#FireLovieNow
That Clown has got to go!!! An HC that has a reputation as a defensieve (not a misspelling) guy blowing a 24 point lead when the offense had zero turnovers is unacceptable. Not to mention the penalties, which when it occurs week after week, MUST be places at the HC’s feet.
Bucs fans should not have to be “patient” while this goes on. Look at teams like the Falcons who have a coach come in be successful right away, or the Dolphins, who fire their HC, and then the team goes on to score 82 points in two games following.
Lovie has to go. What he’s putting on the field is an embarrassment. I’ve been hashtagging #Firelovienow since the week 1 debacle, and every week since, and while I was hoping he’d prove me wrong, he’s done almost nothing but prove me right.
#GoBucs
October 25th, 2015 at 5:09 pm
There wasn’t time to stop clock n kick
October 25th, 2015 at 5:09 pm
Lovie, stop saying you want to make the opposing offense one dementional and force them to throw the ball. Your defense stink and I think offenses really want to throw the football agagainst your garbage secondary.
October 25th, 2015 at 5:09 pm
J there was 11 sec. Yes there was.
October 25th, 2015 at 5:10 pm
I saw the writing on the wall when Lovie decided to sit on an opportunity to stick the dagger in the Redskins minutes before half time when we were on a roll. Lovie needs to go ASAP. He does not know how to use Winston’s skill sets. We continue to have bonehead penalties during critical times from the same players (Evans n Gholston) that are becoming ridiculous. Despite of Evans catches, he tends to bobble many passes thrown his way, n Jackson’s history is he struggles with securing the ball to the point of us having to second guess whether he caught the ball. This game was lost because Lovie was outcoached and he’s always content with his famous “Conservative Tampa 2 Lose Offense/Defense”. We got caught with the onside kick because the coaches n players were over excited about the lead, n contrary to the Bucs objective, the Redskins played aggressively to WIN the game. Stop the excuses with the Bucs lost their starters, the Redskins lost starters also, not to mention their All Pro receiver DeSean Jackson was out but nevertheless, his backups did what most backups n practice squad players have done to the Bucs over the past season n a half. Our defense was clueless, heck Baylor or TCU would put up big numbers on our defense. If Sean Payton, Dan Quinn, Riverboat Ron, or even if we had the Gators headcoach, we not only would have won, but would have with an abundance of points on the board. Mike Jenkins shouldn’t be on the team at all. He was beat, schooled, embarrassed, n just a disgrace since joining the Bucs.
October 25th, 2015 at 5:11 pm
foolish use of timeouts disrupted flow of game. why did lovie call timeout on defense? it looked liked we had the play figured out. wNo mention of a twelth man on field. then on offense waterboys running out on field with play about to start.
October 25th, 2015 at 5:12 pm
THIS WAS A GAME AGAINST THE REDSKINS!
IF YOU CANT WIN WITH A 24 POINT LEAD YOU SUCK.
NOT A COACH MAKE ALL THE EXCUSES..
MIAMI DIDNT PUT UP WITH THE EXCUSES AND LOOK AT THEIR LAST TWO GAMES
October 25th, 2015 at 5:13 pm
Time for Smith to step down Defense is no where to be found in the second half. And Yet LV trusted them once again. This lost, I blame it on LV and Personal foul.
October 25th, 2015 at 5:14 pm
Good teams find a way to win! Bad teams find ways to lose! The Bucs are a very, very bad Defensive team. Shockingly the offense actually is looking more and more comfortable! I suppose we’ll be picking the first and the best Defensive player on the board in next years draft?
October 25th, 2015 at 5:15 pm
Bob in Valrico,
The water boys looked more prepared than the actual players!
October 25th, 2015 at 5:16 pm
Lol so laughable lol. You idiots that support this trash should be ashamed of yourselves. Letting this get you all mad. HELLO THIS IS THE BUCS ALWAYS HAVE BEEN. LOL IDOTS.
October 25th, 2015 at 5:19 pm
joe must have meant coaching.I think that is lovies weakness.No clue what to with a timeout all season long
October 25th, 2015 at 5:21 pm
I agree about going for it if only because for once Lovie would have showed some balls and it would have inspire the team even if it failed. Instead he said “It’s ok guys, a 1 point loss was better than I was expecting at the start of the game”.
October 25th, 2015 at 5:21 pm
Should have gone for the touchdown at the end. Regardless, of making it or not, they still have to stop a touchdown drive. At the very least they kick a field goal, and overtime occurs. They would have had to start from their 3 if touchdown does not occur.
October 25th, 2015 at 5:24 pm
Open Letter to the Glazers:
I’m a lifelong Bucs fan, and will always be. I will continue to root for this team, no matter how bleak things may seem.
However, I will no longer purchase a single piece of Bucs apparel, nor attend a Bucs game, as long as Lovie Smith is the Head Coach. I do not understand how this level of play is accepted in week in and week out by the ownership.
While you are content with the product on the field, based on your lack of action, I am not, and I will no longer be supporting this team with my hard earned dollars, while your apathy on the matter remains.
I will always hope for this team to win, and will watch as long as I don’t have to pay for it, but beyond that, you’ll be getting no further financial backing from me.
While there still may be some willing to pay for the mess that is presented to us, that number will be dwindling with every loss, and not all will come back.
T in Orlando
#FireLovieNow
#GoBucs
October 25th, 2015 at 5:27 pm
The most discouraging loss is a big lead that is squandered. The successive penalties were a freight train of bewilderment. Just an embarrassing debacle.
October 25th, 2015 at 5:29 pm
Joe,
The problem on that drive was the call on 3rd down.
We were 6 inches, SIX INCHES from the end zone. Our QB is big, u let him sneak right in. Worst case scenario you have a 4th down at the same spot and can try again to muscle it in.
That was the worst play call of the game, and after seeing that happen, I knew immediately we would kick a fG and end up losing the game by 1 point. Simple as that.
October 25th, 2015 at 5:30 pm
Lovie must have his eye on someone in the draft. Hmmm, how many games must I lose to get Hargreaves? At least 10 maybe 12. After that, only 10 more top 10 picks and we’ll be ready to compete. Please fire Lovie today. Make Dirk interim coach. Let anyone coach the defense. Just fire Lovie. Oh, and sell the team to someone who loves the game, not kickball.
October 25th, 2015 at 5:30 pm
Lovie should lose his job… I was his biggest supporter, loved the hire @ the time. He’s soft, conservative to a fault, and his defense plays that way! There is no “dog” in them. If Lovie is going to be the calm guy on the sideline, then get amend who cusses like a sailor to motivate your men. Dungy had Herm Edwards when he was here. Lovie has Hardy, so turn him loose! Leslie is also a calm figure. Way too many “good cops” on this team!
October 25th, 2015 at 5:31 pm
at least 7 seconds left. five seconds on the clock was AFTER the lateral and scrambling for the ball.
coulda clocked it.
October 25th, 2015 at 5:32 pm
They played the first quarter to win the game. The next three quarters they played not to loose. News flash coaches…you need to play to win ALL THE TIME!
October 25th, 2015 at 5:33 pm
Just how dumb are you all? Just from the comments, pretty damned stupid. I am not a Lovie fan. I am NOT a Winston fan. But, the Bucs did not lose this game. It was stolen from them. Look at one simple stat: penalties. Look at WHEN the Triplett bunch started calling them, and what kind they were. Use your brain. I have been a die-hard Bucs fan for 36 years. The team has to outplay the refs and the other team. That’s how we won the SB.
October 25th, 2015 at 5:34 pm
What’s better is the people whining about the bucs wanting to play an extra home game somewhere else. I say who cares? Who wants to go pay to watch that crap product.
Play all the games away for all I care.
October 25th, 2015 at 5:36 pm
They show no confidence in their first overall pick. Winston made HUGE throws all day! And on third downs! With a minute and a half and 3 time outs in the first half they played conservative. And then didn’t go for the throat on that forth down red zone attempt.
October 25th, 2015 at 5:37 pm
Lovie turns what was actually a pretty decent defense under schiano into a complete mess that leads to a 2-14 year. He gets rid of the best corner in the league that cost us a 1st round pick 1 year earlier AND replaces him with high priced fa busts. His defenses blow 24 point leads and make kirt cousins and mariota look better than Rodgers or Brady. He needs to go tomorrow, if he doesnt, the glazers are completely incompetent. Even if he miraculously makes his outdated sceme a little more effective, he has beyond any reasonable doubt prooved he can never run a top defense in the modern nfl. Not to mention his horrendous lack of adjustments, playcalling, etc etc
October 25th, 2015 at 5:38 pm
All the Bucs need to do is overhaul the back end and the middle of the defense. That right Davis may be a tough tackler but he cannot play in the scheme of the defense. His skill set is a liability.
October 25th, 2015 at 5:38 pm
When you put the penalties into perspective, it is really crazy to think about. We had 160 yards in penalties. Our offense typically puts up aprox 300 hard fought yards per game, and we give away 1/3 to 1/2 every game. insane. This is coaching 101.
Jamis play has been a bright spot.
October 25th, 2015 at 5:42 pm
another week of waiting for it
October 25th, 2015 at 5:42 pm
Anyone who thinks we could have gotten down the field in 5-8 seconds and spiked the ball to stop the clock is delusional…..
Sims knew we were out of time…..the evidence was that there were very few Bucs anywhere near him….much less setting up for a FG…
October 25th, 2015 at 5:43 pm
These player have lost respect for their coach. Coach Smith, is out of date with today’s football players and need to step down or go in the front office. Make Dirk the interim head coach and go after Payton after the season ends.
October 25th, 2015 at 5:43 pm
Clock/no clock doesn’t matter. Not on simms That is a called play from the sideline, love how some are trying to pin this on Winston for throwing the ball.. The stupid question is why not a fade to Evans to the 35????????? Then try to kick the ball. If the fade doesn’t work come back to the hook and lateral with 3 seconds on the clock. Stupid play call from everyone’s sacred cow Koetter. Why was Simms the guy on 3rd? The only play NOT to call on 3rd was the toss sweep. If that was Lovie, calling that he should be fired but Koetter can’t provide that as an option.
October 25th, 2015 at 5:43 pm
The tampa 2 is a good d just not Lovie’s version
October 25th, 2015 at 5:43 pm
What likely lost the game for us was squandering our time outs…..you simply can’t do that in a close game…..
October 25th, 2015 at 5:44 pm
And all of the people hating on Winston, he made several clutch throws on the last drive.
October 25th, 2015 at 5:46 pm
Bowles and Quinn have as many or more wins than Lovie halfway through the season than this clown has in his whole tenure as HC , fire this clown
October 25th, 2015 at 6:12 pm
I said to my girlfriend towards the end of the first half that Louvie, being up 24-7, just took his foot off the gas pedal. She said you guys are fine, you will win lol. I said nope, they just gave the Skins a window to win this and sure enough , Louvie isn’t a good enough coach to coach his team up and get them playing at a higher level during a game. Louvie Smith cannot coach a upper echelon team, much like Dungy. They have one formula and can’t adjust at all if that formula doesn’t work. Bucs/Bears fans, name me one game when a Louvie led team won and you said: damn! Louvie coached his way to that win! Hasn’t happened!! I can think of 3 games when Chucky, with a hell of a lot less talent, coached his way to those games. I like Louvie as a person but he’s just not a playoff coach. Fire him now and see what Dirk can do. No one can argue that the Vucs will be worse with Dirk instead of Louvie- going to get my next beer- out! Go Bucs!!
October 25th, 2015 at 6:16 pm
The called okay over the middle was a mistake
October 25th, 2015 at 6:18 pm
I agree with thisc100 percent. Lovie needs to show more aggression with the offensr as Winston is now beginning to mature and find him self out there. We ate in perfect position to go playaction or run on offense. The personnel needs to start coming together in the secondary though.
October 25th, 2015 at 6:19 pm
good news whether people like it or not is that Winston is going to be a top tier QB…offense has weapons including an ever improving OL…..god help us on defense though….unless drastic changes are made fairly soon what does it all matter…….need young and innovative coaches on D to be a complete and competitive team…..must learn to FINISH and these penalties( 16 for 140)!!!!
October 25th, 2015 at 6:23 pm
Lovie is simply a lousy coach who hasn’t adapted to today’s game. As a Bears fan he always sucked at clock management and always wet the bed in the 4th quarter. For some reason Lovie loves to play prevent D. It happened many times with the Bears. They’re up and then the team drives down the field and scores and Bears lose. People wondered how they could fire a 10-6 coach, games like this are why. On top of this Lovie is overrated as a defensive coach. Ron Rivera was the architect of those great bear Defenses. Lovie just hired his buddies
October 25th, 2015 at 8:29 pm
I’m simply done. Watching this mess over and over is just down right depressing. I see quality improvement in the offense and our rookie QB, and Doug Martin is playing fabulous. The coach cannot figure out by now this is his teams strength is amazing! Our defense is not just bad, but horrible. This guy needs to be fired immediately and replaced with a progressive football mind that will actually coach. Team Glazer, you need to pull the trigger on this head coach now.
October 25th, 2015 at 9:56 pm
This dude has got to go!!!!! Bear fans laugh at us for hiring Lovie….and they’re right….EASE OUR PAIN!!!