Lovie’s “Done”
October 26th, 2015
A local columnist believes Lovie Smith’s fate was sealed yesterday.
Bucs fans were aghast watching the debacle of Kirk Freaking Cousins shredding the Bucs’ defense as if it were a Pasco County private school playing in a summer seven-on-seven league.
There aren’t enough adjectives to describe how pathetic that was by Lovie Smith’s defense.
Lovie, who seized full control of the defense this summer, watched it set a new low when Kirk Freaking Cousins set a Redskins franchise record for biggest comeback. The Redskins were founded in 1932.
For Tampa Tribune columnist Martin Fennelly, yesterday’s bed-shatting sealed Lovie’s fate as Bucs coach. It is now just a matter of when Lovie will coach his final game as the Bucs’ head honcho.
And so begins Lovie’s long farewell. This team, now 2-4, won’t ever get back to .500, at least under Lovie.
They’re done. He’s done. The only variable is time.
This was worse than the beatings by Atlanta and Baltimore last season, or this year’s opener against Tennessee, at least in the sense that it further underlined coaching shortcomings. This was a game-changer, a fate-sealer.
Joe disagrees and thinks there is a prayer Lovie can turn things around. But time is growing painfully short. He better start winning. Soon! More like next week, actually.
No, Joe isn’t ready to chisel Lovie’s tombstone. But what, after 22 games, has Lovie done to inspire any hope or faith that he can turn things around?
October 26th, 2015 at 5:11 am
And they will change everything and the stupid fans will scream yayyyyy. And then the next coach will preach patience and we will get the same results and then the fans will scream fire him he sucks and the cycle continues over and over and over again lol
October 26th, 2015 at 5:11 am
While I enjoyed the Jax win it simply prolonged the inevitable. Incompetent Lovie Smith did much to shorten that timeframe up with his coaching heroics in the final 35 minutes of that debacle in DC.
October 26th, 2015 at 5:20 am
Look this is different. This team is not disciplined. This team lets up when it should stay on the gas and not give anyone s chance to come back. Every team the BUCS face adjust at halftime and get back in the game fast, Lovie makes ZERO adjustments. He is done. Whoever the next coach is well does it even matter? Same crap different toilet.
October 26th, 2015 at 5:23 am
I do not know Joe; I think blowing a 24-0 lead is just as bad as what Lovie allowed the Titans to do in week 1. remember that the Bucs had a bye week; one extra week to prepare for the Skins and yet he could not get his defense to rise for the occasion. Yeah the onside kick hurt and the D was gassed after that but when you have a large 10 point lead over a bad team you have to expect trickery from them just like Sam Wyche from the ’93 bucs was coaching the Skins….
Did anyone notice that Dashon Goldson led both teams in total number of tackles; funny how he could never have a day like that as a buc; yet another player looks great in another uniform but simply is putrid when he suits up as a Buc. LHTG Joe: Lovie Has To Go! The ineptitude is staggering; this guy can lose any possible game and in reality was just one play away from losing in New Orleans and probably would have lost to the Jags if they managed to get an onside kick to bounce their way. The Glazers need to act; this looked as if Lovie still thought he needed to lose in order to land winston ala the saints finale last year….
Joe; do you think anyone is going to want to buy season tickets next year if Lovie is still coach???? I doubt there will be no more walk up sales for the remaining home games unless you get opposing fans to come to RJS to watch THEIR team beat Lovie, the Glazers have to know that and should acknowledge their mistake in trusting this baffoon. Miami canned their bad coach during their bye and look at the results; opening up a 40 point lead on a bad Hosuton team that Lovie lost to by 10 points in part to his bad personnel decision concerning kicker…. I’d like to see Koetter get a mid season audition as interim head coach, but that makes too much sense. Unfortunately the Glazers will probably allow L&L to finish the season so its very likely the bucs will be racing with the Titans again for the #1 overall; that home game vs the Bears might be another REPUS Bowl where the loser gets to pick in the top 2. Besides the Bears game do you realistically see Lovie winning another game with that putrid defense? Heck, if I was a bears fan I would circle the buc game as a W for the Bears…. the guy is 4-18 as the Bucs head coach! Hey Glazers: Fire this moron yesterday!!!!! Beating the Jags may have been one of the worst things to happen to Tampa; a loss like this Deadskin debacle before the bye could have forced the Glazer lads to cut Lovie loose! Joe its ****ing tough being a Bucs fan this morning…. I sincerely hope Mr Fennelly is right though i uderstand your desire to have the Bucs win; I want that too Joe but in reality is this team going 5-11 enopugh to justify keeping lovie? what is the mark he has to reach now that he has lost 2 very winnable games in Houston and Washington????
October 26th, 2015 at 5:33 am
Playing with defensive retreads on the back end. Only drafted 1 defensive player in 2 years. I bet they thought they can build a defense off crap free agents. Worst thing they can do is fire him. We cannot change the offense every year. LS is not going anywhere. Quit being lil’ babies.
October 26th, 2015 at 5:36 am
Another in game crap coaching job….dancing poodle sims at the goal Line? What about a Martin leap over the pile. Stupid stupid loss. FIRE LOVIE….”simple as that”….
October 26th, 2015 at 5:41 am
I’ve been in Lovie’s corner from the beginning, and felt all along that it’d take time to turn this Bucs ship around … too many holes to plug. Plus I despise the coaching carousel that we’ve endured every 2 years since Jon Gruden was fired. That’s simply no way to build a successful team. Also believe that coaches should only be fired in the middle of a season IF they’ve lost the players’ support, which clearly isn’t the case with Lovie and the Bucs.
But I also believe that a team (and coach) has to show some overall ‘progress’ during the course of a season. Ups and downs don’t bother me, but the overall growth trend has to be positive or we’re just wasting time.
We’ve now had 20 games under Lovie. The offense has shown some positive growth this year, as has special teams in my opinion. But the Bucs defense … Lovie’s strength … is going backwards. Same problems game after game. We haven’t drafted defense in Lovie’s 2 years here, but we’ve certainly bought a ton of free agents to help plug the holes, most with ‘experience’ operating in Lovie’s defense. I know growth takes time and that fans need to be patient, but this has gotten ridiculous.
October 26th, 2015 at 5:42 am
You know its coaching when you cannot put 2 winning games back to back. Out coached, schemed and unable to make proper adjustments down the stretch to win/seal a victory.
October 26th, 2015 at 6:06 am
I know if it wasn’t for Winston’s improvement every week, I would be done. He was was so much fun to watch yesterday. Truly amazing. Incredible throws! I was so frustrated watching us go into turtle made when we got the big lead.
But watching Lovies D gag a 24 point lead left me needing to vomit. How disgusting! Those people that make excuses for Lovie not having enough talent on D, how do you excuse all of his bone headed personnel decisions? All the FAs he signed, the debacle of the entire Oline last year, Jenkins and Jennings over over Lovies FA signing of Verner, etc?! Lovie needs to go, but I want to keep Mr Koetter
October 26th, 2015 at 6:15 am
Not quite sure why the hate for Jason Licht is. He has had two pretty decent drafts. I say fire Lovie and let Licht hire his own guy (with Glazers approval) and see what happens.
Remember Lovie is calling all the shots, not Licht.
October 26th, 2015 at 6:20 am
Is it me or did you see the guys on defense go ” oh hell, here we go again”. That show no heart on the players AND it’s head coach. If the get smoked by ATL, DAL, IND, or PHL, lovie needs to go. Pull a Miami and let Koetter take over. Koetter has made strides with a rookie QB, and an O line with injuries and question marks. Lovie once again took 3 to’s to the tunnel at the half. lovie once again played not to lose and lost. Licht keeps finding gems and good draft picks, and Lovie can not do anything on the D side of the ball. our captains on the D side should be ashamed of that bad performance. Toast Jenkins, Lovie’s mancrush needs to go. lovie can not evaluate talent, and please, no more ex bears. Conte is the exception. Lovie is in over his head, he can not manage the game to save his life. Team Glazier needs Licht to hire the next coach, you know, like all the other teams. They tried to relive the past with lovie, and it is not, and will not work. Simple as that
October 26th, 2015 at 6:26 am
As disgusted as all buccaneer fans were, and as painful it was to watch this game, you must realize the Glazers were watching as well. The difference is that they have hundreds of millions of dollars riding on the outcome. I’ve seen enough of Lovie’s “expertise” as a defensive coach to understand that Lovie needs to find a new line of work. His resume as a Bucs coach is nothing short of PUTRID. Can the Glazers not feel the same? It’s well past time for Lovie to retire. Simple as that.
October 26th, 2015 at 6:34 am
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. I’m glad I decided to listen to this debacle on the radio instead of going to the Ale House and wasting my money buying cheap beer watching this garbage.
October 26th, 2015 at 6:37 am
Save your money Bucs fans because at the end of the day the only thing the Glazers understand is their wallet.
October 26th, 2015 at 6:41 am
What do Marcus Mariota, Blake Bortles and Kirk Cousins have in common?
They are all mediocre QBs with career days in 3 of the 5 games we have played.
At the very least Lovie should be removed from running the defense.
On the bright side, the offence has been impressive, and finally seems to have an identity. So Koetter is exeding expectations at this point.
October 26th, 2015 at 6:47 am
What scheme is good when your players like McCoy do nothing? How good would Parcells have been if Lawrence Taylor vanished in games? Exactly he didn’t but McCoy always disappears hence our defense sucks.
October 26th, 2015 at 6:50 am
DefenseRules I’ll ask you since you are a sincere Buc fan who likes Lovie: I have to admit I have not been in his corner for awhile though I have been a fan since inception 1976.
So as firing Lovie is unlikely until the season is over and the Bucs could finish 2-14 or 3-13 and everybody realizes that its his D that is the major culprit I suggest that something like this could happen: “Lovie is told to quit calling plays on D or be fired immediately per the Glazers and he is forced to let Leslie Frazier assume operations and as a first order of business release one Mike Jenkins, a former pet project of Lovie…”: Or is that too much to ask???? Look the D is what is holding this team back and that is on Lovie. Should not the Glazers clip his wings if they do not fire him in midseason???? Two 31 point games vs bad offenses tells me that Leslie Frazier could not do any worse! If the Glazers want to keep Lovie why not covertly tell him to quit ****ing with the D, it has gotten worse since he touched it!
October 26th, 2015 at 7:05 am
I believe that Martin voiced what so many, besides Joe(s) are thinking today.
Look at the next 10 games and find the wins……
Who is responsible?
Lovie only has to look in the mirror.
Lovie Smith = Dead Man Walking
October 26th, 2015 at 7:05 am
Lovie isn’t going anywhere this was just a simple loss from the Bucs typical Bucs but damn jaboo is getting better and better just watch out when he turns that corner !! Wins will come from Jameis. It’s. Quarterback drive. Lead and ours is still cooking.
October 26th, 2015 at 7:08 am
What a shet show. This offense is not to blame. The defensive scheme is not working, and coaching not to lose never works.
Sadly, I think nothing will be done unless they lose out.
October 26th, 2015 at 7:17 am
My name says it all. We’re a 50% or less Drew Brees away from being in pole position again for the #1 pick. Separate Jameis Winston from Lovie Smith because Jameis doesn’t need Lovie, Lovie needs Jameis. Jameis will be fine with or without Lovie Smith, so please don’t think firing Lovie means we’re dooming Jameis. If anything keeping Lovie is dooming Jameis, he’ll always be held back by a soft, play not to lose coach. We need someone from the Arians tree, they all have that swagger, play to win mentality we desperately need.
October 26th, 2015 at 7:17 am
Tom Edrington: what would have Tom McEwan said of yesterday? I think “Dead man Walking” might have only glossed the lexicon of McEwan when he described how putrid Lovie let the pirate Ship become if he actually witnessed what he probably thought would be impossible; someone playing as bad as the Culverhouse Bucs with a full budget to spend unlike under Hugh the screw!
October 26th, 2015 at 7:20 am
Sunday’s game just confirmed once again that they ate a poorly coached team. The play calling after the 24-0 lead was typical”let’s sit on the ball and try not to loose this thing”. If you watched the Bucs the last 5 yrs you could see this coming a mile away.
How many times do Bucs fans have to watch this type of game and then hear some historical stat that the opposing team just made. This team has no killer instinct.
October 26th, 2015 at 7:22 am
Ok so for everyone who says we can’t fire a coach midseason lets look at the team that did. The Miami Dolphins look like a completely different team since axing Philbin. They haven’t changed scheme or players but the level of play is night and day. If we send Lovie back to the basement, I would promote Frazier to interim Head Coach simply because he has done it before and I want Koetter focused on developing Winston. Then I promote Nickerson to DC, he might be able to inspire a little fight from these players.
October 26th, 2015 at 7:24 am
I do not always agree with joe but lovies got to go you could see this coming . I will not defend him anymore what bothers me the most was the timeouts
October 26th, 2015 at 7:42 am
destro44: the Bucs had their chance to can him at the bye week ala philbin but Lovie actually got a W against the Jags (barely with lovie’s hand picked D making Bortles looking like Aikman on a Super Bowl run) so the SOB bought himself the season which he promptly rewarded us fans by laying an egg after a BYE week! A BYE week fans; Lovie allowed this to happen after a week of rest; iexcusable: fire him now!
October 26th, 2015 at 7:46 am
Hey Joe, how about a poll; who do Buc fans want to replace Lovie midseason: 1)Koetter, 2)Frazier or option 3) name your wildcard, or 4)keep Lovie and take the #1 overall again at 2-14 with a new GM and coach calling the shots????
October 26th, 2015 at 7:48 am
Dumpster fire. Fire sale. The ship is sinking. The fan crew are threatening mutiny and bailing out. 87? Really? You think you got being a Bucs fan figured out. Hey, we all got on this roller coaster ride with a few climbs, but mostly plunging screamer straight down plummets into WTF! This team has a history of snatching your sanity aside to a stark raving mode of uncomfortably numb. Then the rage ends and next week is another chance, a Bucs fans reality.
October 26th, 2015 at 7:51 am
I agree with Harry on everything. From Winston to Lovie to Koetter.
I’m done with Lovie. He can go today for all I care. With one exception. If it means cleaning house and firing Koetter too, I’d rather put up with this sh!t show for another year, only for the betterment of Jameis’ development. I can sacrifice one more year if it means making Jameis better for a decade or more. When the time comes, the Glazers need to fire Lovie but keep Koetter.
October 26th, 2015 at 8:04 am
How bout that 5th ranked defense.
Fire Lovie now!
October 26th, 2015 at 8:14 am
If we want to follow the Dolphins model then we’d fire Lovie and promote Hardy Nickerson to HC. Frazier runs the D and Koetter stays focused on the offense. It is time for Lovie to go. The Glazers must accept the fact that they are clueless. Hire an executive search firm that will find the right person to serve as president. Please.
October 26th, 2015 at 8:36 am
All of Lovie’s weaknesses became evident in this game. He cannot be an NFL head coach. Summary:
(1) Burned all three second half timeouts (we are used to wasting timeouts but good teams rarely burn them).
(2) 16 penalties (maybe more — I lost count) including many PFs and other defensive penalties that sustained drives for Washington.
(3) Content to turtle at the end of the first half (when we actually had timeouts, ironically) when the offense was clicking and we could have added points.
(4) Absolutely horrendous, overly conservative play calling from first and goal at the 5, up by 3. Experienced Buc sufferers had the whole thing mapped out in our heads: three runs, FG, leave enough time to lose. ANYTHING would have been better than a toss sweep with Sims. QB sneak (why don’t we just IMITATE WHAT THE GOOD TEAMS DO? Brady is the master QB sneaker. It works! Use it!!), play action pass, bootleg run-pass option, designed QB draw or run, spread formation draw to Martin, lob to Evans — ANYTHING would have been better than Sims on a toss sweep! AHHHHHH!!!!
(5) Not just a super soft Tampa 2 collapse but one where we didn’t even force throws to the middle of the field. Daryl Johnston was like “How can you allow easy ten yard gains to the sideline that stop the clock?” The irony of the prevent is that it sets up a worst case scenario: they slowly score, leaving us no time to retake the lead. Again, ANYTHING would be better than watching 11 short passes (or whatever) that mop up the entire clock. All real fans know we are vulnerable to slants and once again, we lost on a simple slant. The Patriots INTERCEPTED A SLANT to win the SB. Talib pick-sixed Mariota on the same slant he tortured us with. Why is it that only the Bucs can’t see a slant coming and stop it? No one can make a play because they are taught to play off and rally to the ball. It doesn’t work! Especially now, when every hard hit draws a flag.
Please, Joe. Admit it. This guy does not have the brain power to run an NFL team. The game passed him by, and he does not impart basic discipline. His team is a sloppy hot mess that constantly gets flagged and can’t stop third tier offenses. He must be terminated. We cannot do worse. We need a coach who understands that one score leads are worthless, that you must keep scoring, and that playing a soft zone in the 2015 NFL is a recipe for slow death.
October 26th, 2015 at 8:37 am
Hehe, I won’t even bother ragging on Lovie it’s too easy.
October 26th, 2015 at 8:39 am
Time to see if the Urban Legend would like an NFL gig.
October 26th, 2015 at 8:42 am
Lovie must go but at the end of the season. How successful would Koetter be as an interim head coach with Lovie’s hand picked staff of friends and family. Think about it, every single coach on this team was hand picked by Lovie and either has a long history with him or is family. I want lovie gone this minute but Frazier should be the interim guy. Let Koetter focus on offense and Jameis and let frazier coach out the season. I am all for letting Koetter have a shot at the job but the Glazer boys need to finally admit they need a real football guy running the show and not some has been ex coach or player from the past. Living in the past put them in this mess. I do believe Lovie has to be fired today but will not be. Glazers simply do not care enough about the city, the team or the the product on the field. Proof is the way they have ran this team since daddy got ill. They simply can not pick coaches nor run the day to day aspect of the football operations. Lovie has to go that defense has no heart and it’s clear the players have no respect for his system and philosophy.
October 26th, 2015 at 8:44 am
They always talk about film study this and film study that. My question is what film are they watching because it is not helping in regards to the defense.
October 26th, 2015 at 8:44 am
As a Diehard bucs fan, I’m going to start cheering for the bucs to LOSE until they get rid of lovie. The more they lose, maybe our incompetent ownership will finally get the hint and make koetter interim hc
October 26th, 2015 at 8:47 am
As much as I want to blame Lovie, I think his defensive Coaches bear a lot of responsibility too.
October 26th, 2015 at 8:50 am
The posters who say Lovis is safe no matter what have got to be related to that loser. Only justification of defending this moron
October 26th, 2015 at 8:53 am
This is a post that I posted late last night early morning on JBF. I’ll leave it in here in case anyone missed it due to the late hour that I posted it.
Joe I’m NOT watching this team the rest of the season. I actually shut the game off when the Skins were on the 30 yard line during their final drive because I KNEW they were going to blow the game. I can’t simple convey how I’m feeling right now to you or anyone, but I’ll try. This team will NOT win another game this season as long as Lovie trots out this defense week in and week out. The season for me anyways ENDED yesterday. I can’t watch it anymore. I love Jameis of course and would like to watch him progress this season, but I can’t do it. That’s how much I want Lovie Smith fired first thing Monday morning. Tell you all what if they fire Love this Monday, then I’ll go back to watching the rest of the season. With THAT being said your site just lost a big Bucs fan that contributes what I think is a lot to your comments section. I have no interest in watching the team, so naturally I have no interest in talking about them on yours or any other site on the net for the rest of the season.
People on here might think I’m not serious because I’m always on here. I’m as serious as cancer right now. NO I’m not venting, this is my JBF swan song. I can’t do this anymore. There’s simply no point in arguing with morons on here that think Lovie is going to pull this team together at some point when he can’t even pull his head out of his ass. Am I mad? I’m more pissed off then any of you put together, that includes both of you Joes as well. The Glazers did the right thing and got us our future franchise QB. Now it’s time for them to do the right thing by the fans and fire this IDIOT midseason. Enough is enough. How much more evidence needs to be presented? So yes this is my swan song. I will miss many of you on here and the site as well. This team, is just not worthy of a fan such as me anymore. Do I mean the team in itself? No I mean the Lovie Smith coached team. Get rid of him and I’ll be back. I’ve already started to dismantle my Buc Cave in my house. All the Bucs stuff is going into storage for the time being as I don’t even want to look at it anymore.
I ask ONE thing of you Joes. You can do this ONE thing for me. I mean hell you don’t owe us readers and commentators all that much. You do enough for us, but I believe I helped your site immensely pre-draft with the Winston debates. SO I ask just one favor. Just ONE that’s all I’m asking for. Here it is and it’s easy to do too. On the JBF Hour this week can you ask your friend why Lovie’s team is so undisciplined when it comes to penalties and their play? The reason for my request is simple. If his answer is. “We’ll that’s not Lovie, that’s the players.” Please DO remind him that he’s being a hypocrite, because he blamed Schiano for all the stupid penalties and missed assignments. Call him out just ONCE!
I miss this site and many of the posters on it, but my health is too important to me and LOVIE is not doing it any good as long as he remains the coach of this team.
P.S. If you like forward this post to One Buc Place. I’m sure they would enjoy it.
October 26th, 2015 at 9:00 am
1987
Hang in there man. we feel your pain. for selfish reasons I hope you don’t disappear I enjoy your posts…
Loive simply has to go.
October 26th, 2015 at 9:01 am
What do Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Bakker and Lovie Smith have in common? They are all frauds hiding behind religion. Lovie is a liar and a thief. If you don’t think he’s a thief then your a fool.
October 26th, 2015 at 9:02 am
SPRAY SOMEMORE BUG KILLER ON THE BANDWAGON, THE ROACHES ARE RUNNING, AND LOVIE IS IN FRONT, OUT RUNNING THEM ALL.( WAIT !!) HE’S HEADED TO THE BASEMENT……….LOL
October 26th, 2015 at 9:02 am
@87
I knew it as well and stopped around the time you did. Honestly, maybe it better they crash and burn quickly. It may be the only way to get the Glaziers to take action.
My biggest fear is mediocrity that allows the current regime to fester. 6-10’s, 7-9’s, 8-8’s on occasion.
I would keep Licht, I would keep Koetter.
Whatever scheme that Lovie is rolling out is simply not good enough. The penalties were back breakers too.
The offense is an actual bright spot. Other wise, I have lost any faith I had.
October 26th, 2015 at 9:07 am
Man, it’s been some time since I got the ol’ comment is awaiting moderation. I wonder what word triggered it?
October 26th, 2015 at 9:14 am
FortMyersDave … I’ve just never been in favor of firing a coach in mid-season unless his team has quit on him. At that point you have no choice but to replace him. I think that’s what prompted the Dolphins change personally.
I’ve also never been in favor of a HC being dual-hatted as the OC or DC (like Lovie is). For $5 mil a year I expect a HC to be a HC. Also expect him to develop a winning team. Most working people in this country never make that kind of money in a lifetime, much less in 1 year.
He should never have taken over as DC earlier this season. But since he did, he’s now the one who’s name is on the line for our D’s crappy performance. I really wanted to see him succeed, but it’s now become obvious to me that his coaching philosophies will never get us back to being a successful NFL franchise.
October 26th, 2015 at 9:15 am
@FortMyersDave:
I remember like it was yesterday that at one point in the LONG Bucs losing streak, he coined the term:
“Yucks”
October 26th, 2015 at 9:27 am
I am all in favor of letting Lovie and staff go, but at the end of the season. I am not an advocate of mid-season head coaching changes. I am not sure if we have anyone on staff worthy and inspiring enough to take over. That being said, I am impressed with the offensive progress, and I have been a Winston doubter from the start. None the less, he is slowly growing on me… I think Winston’s progress is the only string keeping Lovie tied to the Bucs. Winston is Lovie’s saving grace for now. in regards to defense, I am not sure if it is Lovie’s defensive scheme, or simply that we are severely lacking talent on that side of the ball. It could be both. Either way, I think the Glazers fool all of us and give him another year. We have had enough turnover in staff, and we drafted offense, which is progressing. Lovie gets one more draft, and drafts defensively, and we start to get better, and he is our coach for the foreseeable future. Just food for thought. However, personally, I am for Lovie moving on.
October 26th, 2015 at 9:34 am
Team Glazer: By far the worst ownership group in the NFL.
Too bad we can’t record some racist pillow talk and have the league
seize the franchise (ala Donald Sterling).
Worse than Dan Snyder.
Worse than old Al Davis.
Worse than Shad Khan.
About equal to the Culverhouse group.
Seriously: How do they make this many mistakes?
AND they skimp on the team. AND they try to spin it like they don’t.
The lack of media demands for accountability speaks volumes
about their relationship with the media.
Bad people. Bad human beings.
I wouldn’t put anything past them.
October 26th, 2015 at 9:37 am
I hope Lovie is sitting in his dumb office with his dumb head thinking dumb thoughts, watching the phone as it keeps ringing to fire him.
October 26th, 2015 at 9:37 am
Does anyone realize that the fans in Washington wanted Colt McCoy to start at QB yesterday? Cousins was seen as a trainwreck by the fans there. Lovie’s Defense made him look like a HOFer. This has got to end. I love this team, but we need a new defense scheme and a coach who understands how to motivate and discipline players for actions. You cannot live with the penalties and the mediocre play. The demeanor of the team is Lovie’s. There is no fire. Just like what I see from Lovie. Someone show me a time where he showed any emotion or fire. He needs to go……NOW.
October 26th, 2015 at 9:38 am
@87
I did not watch or listen to the full game. I already knew what was going to happen. I was working on one of my rentals and while at the store I heard on the radio it was 24 to 10 and they just recovered the on sides kick. I looked at my wife and said ” Here they go again. They are going to give it away.”. Later of course I found out they did. No. It just never changes. This team has just about always been a heart breaker. And I go back to 1976. But if you think it is affecting your health don’t let them.
October 26th, 2015 at 9:48 am
Well, here it goes….
The Bucs have spent the past two draft classes building up the offense and now we have what I believe will eventually become a franchise QB. We are seeing the result on the field. I think it’s evident the Buccaneers long term plan is to build through the draft. Sure, they have signed a few veterans here and there but they haven’t had an opportunity to build the defense through the draft. A few of the players who are on this team that have been killing us (i.e. Lovie’s guys) are not here on long term deals. I know it’s early but is there anyone that Jason Licht has really missed on in the draft? I really believe this regime will improve the team via the draft. What the Bucs need right now is to develop long term consistency and you can’t do that if you keep firing coaches. I really believe if we maintain consistency the defensive side of the ball will be built up. It takes time. If you fans and the media don’t allow for that then they’ll fire Lovie and it’s back to the beginning again. It’s foolish to think this team needs a different voice. It’s not going to help matters.
Sorry, it’s a harsh truth but something most of you need to accept. Every coach that has come in since Gruden was fired has made a ton of changes to the roster. If Lovie Smith is fired that is going to mean more personnel changes and more roster upheaval. Remember, if the Bucs went 4-12 last year we would have missed on both Winston and Mariota and Mike Glennon would be our starting QB. If Greg Schiano wasn’t fired Mike Glennon would be our starting QB. He’s a nice player but we know he’ll never be a franchise QB. With Winston we may actually have a franchise QB but we’d never be there if we don’t go 2-14 last year. Most of you don’t like Lovie but it’s far more important to develop and maintain consistency than to fire a head coach. Developing consistency will yield long term success.
October 26th, 2015 at 9:52 am
Tampa hasn’t had a winning coach since Gruden.
Lovie is currently at 0.222% (4 / 18) the worst winning % since interim coach Richard Williamson in 91 which isn’t really a fair comparison. Really, you need to go back to Leeman Bennett (0.125) in 86 for a worse coach.
not over .500 This season?
Lovie will never be a .500 coach for the Bucs.
When, not if, he’s fired, he’ll be the worst Bucs coach in the modern era.
Lovie needs to get to 6 and 10 this season before they fire him to get to 0.333 winning percent. Still behind Greg Schiano (.354) and Raheem Morris (.344), but closer to acceptable record.
Whomever bought the Fire Schiano billboards, should put up a John Gruden “Miss me yet?” billboard.
October 26th, 2015 at 9:54 am
87,
hang in there man hope to see you back on later today.
October 26th, 2015 at 9:55 am
Can we PLEASE hire a decent new head coach if we fire Lovie Smith? I’m not talking an up and comer, I mean a proven NFL champion and winner like Bill Cowher. No more Raheem Morris or Greg Schiano type head coaches. A proven NFL (not college football) Offensive or Defensive Coordinator would be good too, but he’s gotta have a positive and winning resume.
October 26th, 2015 at 9:58 am
I agree with the comments about consistency.
That’s why I hold the slimy owners responsible,
not the current head coach.
Face it: The Bucs have a patchwork defense mostly made up
of has beens and future UPS drivers. About half our starters
wouldn’t be starting an any other team. They’d be back ups.
Why are we in this situation? Ask yourself “what has been the
only constant on the Bucs since 2007?” Therein lies your answer.
October 26th, 2015 at 9:59 am
D-Rome Says:
October 26th, 2015 at 9:48 am
Well, here it goes….
The Bucs have spent the past two draft classes building up the offense and now we have what I believe will eventually become a franchise QB. We are seeing the result on the field. I think it’s evident the Buccaneers long term plan is to build through the draft. Sure, they have signed a few veterans here and there but they haven’t had an opportunity to build the defense through the draft. A few of the players who are on this team that have been killing us (i.e. Lovie’s guys) are not here on long term deals. I know it’s early but is there anyone that Jason Licht has really missed on in the draft? I really believe this regime will improve the team via the draft. What the Bucs need right now is to develop long term consistency and you can’t do that if you keep firing coaches. I really believe if we maintain consistency the defensive side of the ball will be built up. It takes time. If you fans and the media don’t allow for that then they’ll fire Lovie and it’s back to the beginning again. It’s foolish to think this team needs a different voice. It’s not going to help matters.
Sorry, it’s a harsh truth but something most of you need to accept. Every coach that has come in since Gruden was fired has made a ton of changes to the roster. If Lovie Smith is fired that is going to mean more personnel changes and more roster upheaval. Remember, if the Bucs went 4-12 last year we would have missed on both Winston and Mariota and Mike Glennon would be our starting QB. If Greg Schiano wasn’t fired Mike Glennon would be our starting QB. He’s a nice player but we know he’ll never be a franchise QB. With Winston we may actually have a franchise QB but we’d never be there if we don’t go 2-14 last year. Most of you don’t like Lovie but it’s far more important to develop and maintain consistency than to fire a head coach. Developing consistency will yield long term success.
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How’s that roster upheaval working for the Jets and Falcons? Jets may have lost yesterday, but their loss to New England was SIGNIFICANTLY better than any performance we’ve seen from this Lovie regime in 22 games. They looked threatening to an elite team. We’ve looked like roadkill to below average teams. This defense is getting worse with Lovie’s hand picked roster. You surely see that right?
Here’s the major problem with your approach: What if we start 1-3 or worse next year? Then Lovie is definitely getting fired and we’ve blown another year, and stagnated Jameis development by giving him a lame duck coach. Unless right here, right now, you seriously believe Lovie Smith is the man to turn this team into a consistent winner for the next 5-10 years, you have to fire him. Based on the evidence, and that includes his 9 years in Chicago where he missed the playoffs twice as much as he made it, do you seriously believe it? Like bet the house on it believe it? Because timidly, hopefully believing it is how we end up blowing Jameis completely.
October 26th, 2015 at 10:03 am
Lovie has to go, if only because it’s likely that the entire coaching staff would be replaced with him, and you want to get someone in there that is hopefully much better and can provide stability for the young players on the roster, especially Winston.
Barring some kind of miracle turnaround, the Glazers have to be exploring coaching options right now. I don’t blame them for bringing Lovie in at all; he was a former Bucs guy who had success at the head coaching position and the prior two hires were inexperienced on an NFL level, so the Glazers went with who they thought was the best fit (and remember, Chip Kelly turned the job down at the last minute).
I will say this; I had an uneasy feeling the second the Bucs website published that ludicrous short novel length article about Lovie right before the regular season. I don’t know why, but it just seemed to be way too much way too soon.
The offense is developing but watching Cousins dink and dunk all day was disgusting. The penalties are also a disgrace. 4-18 is what it is and it’s terrible.
October 26th, 2015 at 10:53 am
D-Rome said; “I know it’s early but is there anyone that Jason Licht has really missed on in the draft?”
Right now I would have to say ASJ is a bust. the guy has either been injured or non existent and as a high 2nd round pick that equates to bust….. the only thing of note he did was insure a buc loss at home to the ATL with that moronic Capt. Morgan pose….. That pick probably could have helped shored up one of the many weaknesses in the Pirate Ship right now. ASJ has been a non factor…. And yeah if the Bucs did not tank they would have went 4-12 and MG would be our qb so sometimes losing is productive; some thought a loss to the Jags would be productive as it might have got lovie fired in the bye week but now its likely we are stuck with him all ****ing season….. And right now it seems like 4-12 might be the best we can expect as a result of Lovie missing the mark on so many defensive signings; we can not overlook that! Sop to sum it up; how can the Glazers retain a coach that is 6-26 or worse for 2 seasons; the simple answer is that they can not; lets jump the gun and give Koetter or Frazier a 10 game interview…..
October 26th, 2015 at 11:19 am
I think Lovie survives this season and the results of the 2016 season will determine his fate for 2017 because they invested that #1 overall pick in a rookie QB. Changing head coaches – and possibly offensive systems – after one season would definitely put the rookie QB in a bad position.
The exception would be if the Bucs promoted Koetter to head coach or if they lured Jimbo Fisher away from Florida State to reunite with Winston.
Lovie’s defense won’t work unless and until the players buy into the system and stay within their roles. Everyone, including GMC and LVD, is trying to do too much, which only makes the problems with this defense bigger.
I think Kwon Alexander’s lack of range is the root cause of the failures. He can’t get deep into coverage over the middle fast enough, and QB’s are floating balls right over his head into the wide open space between the safeties all day long. Lovie needs to either replace Alexander at mike or stop calling the 2 deep zone plays.
October 26th, 2015 at 11:24 am
and…wait for it…”Football starts in November”-Lovie Smith…how many more excuses and lies and promises can this organization listen to?…enough is enough, can this HAS BEEN, NOW!!!!!!!
October 26th, 2015 at 11:29 am
Mike Smith took over the Falcons in 2008 and Rex Ryan took over the Jets in 2009. Since 2008 the Buccaneers have had four head coaches (Gruden, Morris, Schiano, Smith). The situations are not comparable at all. The Jets and Falcons have not had the kind of coaching and personnel turnover that the Bucs have had over the past six years. These things matter over the long term.
Firing Lovie Smith does nothing to improve the team. You guys want Leslie Frazier to be head coach? Are you kidding me? What has he done in his coaching career to make you believe he’d be better than Lovie Smith. He was with the Vikings in one capacity or another for six years. How many Super Bowl’s has Frazier been a part of as a coach? Some of you guys were pining for Marty Schottenheimer a week ago. Really???
Look, this whole thing is bad and the head coach is partly to blame but with THIS franchise (we’re talking about the Bucs) there needs to be consistency. The good teams in the NFL have it and the bad teams don’t.
October 26th, 2015 at 11:41 am
If the redskinds did that to us, just imagine what Atlanta is going to do.
October 26th, 2015 at 11:45 am
D-Rome Says:
October 26th, 2015 at 11:29 am
How’s that roster upheaval working for the Jets and Falcons?
Mike Smith took over the Falcons in 2008 and Rex Ryan took over the Jets in 2009. Since 2008 the Buccaneers have had four head coaches (Gruden, Morris, Schiano, Smith). The situations are not comparable at all. The Jets and Falcons have not had the kind of coaching and personnel turnover that the Bucs have had over the past six years. These things matter over the long term.
Firing Lovie Smith does nothing to improve the team. You guys want Leslie Frazier to be head coach? Are you kidding me? What has he done in his coaching career to make you believe he’d be better than Lovie Smith. He was with the Vikings in one capacity or another for six years. How many Super Bowl’s has Frazier been a part of as a coach? Some of you guys were pining for Marty Schottenheimer a week ago. Really???
Look, this whole thing is bad and the head coach is partly to blame but with THIS franchise (we’re talking about the Bucs) there needs to be consistency. The good teams in the NFL have it and the bad teams don’t.
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No offense, but you sound very desperate to reach for any excuse to hang on to Lovie Smith. Clearly you believe very highly in Lovie and think he’s going to lead us to greatness. So please, if you wouldn’t mind, lay out your vision for where you think Lovie is taking us long term, in 5 to 10 years. And try and avoid using Jameis since Lovie needs him desperately, not the other way around.
October 26th, 2015 at 12:27 pm
You people arguing for Frazier to become hc must be stupid or have really bad memories. I would have fired Frazier a year ago. The defense is better with Lovie and that’s not saying much. Recent article on this site said Lovie is here til end of year and glazers aren’t going to fire him. Your not going to improve by promoting Frazier or koetter. Might as well just wait til end of year and let koetter work with jw. If the glazers make a change I want a consulting firm made up of experts. This is getting ridiculous 3 coaches in 6 years. The organization is starting to resemble a circus under glazer boyz.
October 26th, 2015 at 1:26 pm
He’s officially out of excuses. With the running game working effectively and Jameis having by far his best game of the season Lovie still found a way to lose. His defense is shockingly ineffective and his loyalty to subpar players is baffling. As Joe pointed out in another article Jenkins got beaten up on that last series, but that shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. Then you have the time out situation and his constant refusal to go for points at the end of half. It’s pretty obvious basic game management is something that eludes him.
October 26th, 2015 at 3:06 pm
bucrightoff,
No offense taken. I know I must sound like some super Lovie Smith apologist. My opinion on Lovie’s status as coach has far less to do with my desire he retain a job and more about my desire to see consistency with the team. Look at the Bengals today. Marvin Lewis has been there for a very long time. There were seasons where they went 4-12 and they didn’t fire him especially when fans were calling for his ouster.
To answer your questions specifically I really believe the Bucs have done a good job building up the offensive side of the ball over the past two years. I’m hoping ASJ isn’t a bust. I don’t think he is but we’ll see. Jameis, Sims, Marpet, Smith, Evans, ASJ (when healthy)…these guys are producing with less than two full years. I think that’s really good! So, let’s say this 2016 draft they focus on the defensive side of the ball. Well, they have Kwon Alexander who will be good eventually. They need to hit on most of their picks. You already have Lavonte and GMC. You have Clinton MacDonald, you have Jonathan Banks. They need to hit on at least one DE, another CB, and a Safety at minimum next year. So far it looks like Licht and Lovie are good in the draft.
Again, it’s about consistency to me. Changing coaches will do absolutely nothing to produce a consistent winner 2-3 years down the road and yes, that’s how far away we are. This team isn’t talented enough in certain positions.
October 26th, 2015 at 3:19 pm
Been around for all 40 years. This has been pretty much the normal since 76. Sad to say but something needs to change in the fundamental thinking of this team and ownership.
I had hopes Lovie would work out, sad to say I’m running out of patience. I saw very good things on offense yesterday, and even the defense was playing well until we got the big lead and started coasting. I could see it happening, I have seen it happen before. I have no way to explain it other than we cannot stand success.
Not sure we could even hire a winning coach with the culture we have allowed to grow around this team. Very frustrated. Okay let’s give Lovie just a little more rope and see if he can make a swing out of it and turn things around or make a noose and walk the plank.
October 26th, 2015 at 7:08 pm
For all of the fans that say keep Smith because there’s no consistency. Well I’ve got news for you Smith is not suddenly going to become a better at game preparation, game management in game adjustments or clock management. It’s been the same stupid coaching mistakes that have cost the Bucs numerous wins. How can players follow a coach who for all intensive perposes looks lost during in game situations.