Same Mystery, Different Year
October 5th, 2015
“Right before the half, I didn’t want to put more points on the board. I didn’t feel like we could. Only thing that could happen was something bad then.” — Lovie Smith, following the second home game of the 2014 season.
That’s right. Last year’s words foretelling yesterday’s disbelief.
Joe’s already written plenty about the Bucs going into turtle offense mode late in the first half yesterday, but the giant thorn in Joe’s rectum is Lovie Smith’s decision with six seconds left in the half. On first down at the Carolina 11 yard line, trailing by seven points, Lovie didn’t take a shot in the end zone before attempting a field goal.
Six seconds! That’s just plain wrong. A shot in the end zone from would take four or five seconds maximum. Maximum!
What kind of identity is being established when you play like scaredy cats at home? Why invest gargantuan cash on big receivers, the Dunkaneers?
Just mind numbing stuff.
As for last year’s quote referenced above, against St. Louis, the Bucs were on their own 40 yard line with 11 seconds remaining in the first half, at home in Week 2. Despite a timeout in his picket, his handpicked quarterback at the helm, and those same big receivers, Lovie took a knee and headed for the tunnel.
The Bucs lost by two points.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:21 pm
Playing not to lose will get you beat most every time…..
October 5th, 2015 at 1:24 pm
Lovie is not fired yet. That the glazers fault.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:27 pm
That quote is unreal…. SMDH…
October 5th, 2015 at 1:29 pm
It’s time…
Time to jettison the “anchor” that is holding this team from stepping out of the kiddie pool.
The Fish just did it, and they don’t have a single coash on their staff with HC experience…
We, however, have Leslie Frazer and a very competent OC that could both co-coach this team through a long, yet 6 or 8 win season.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:29 pm
Love needs to go, like right now. Let Koetter run offense and Frazier run defense. My neighbor just ordered a 6 foot “Fire Lovie” banner for the Jags game.
3-17 through 20 games is a god damn disgrace.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:32 pm
Lovie’s afraid to win.. He coaches scared… Glazers better get their heads out their asses and make some changes..
Save the Season! Fire Lovie Now!
October 5th, 2015 at 1:32 pm
When Lovie sent now fired kicker for the ill-fated FG attempt, no one in the world thought the kick would be good. As I screamed at the television, “there is 6 seconds left! take a shot at a touchdown” If we accidently ran out of time, I would rather go down being aggressive and showing your young qb and the rest of the team and your fan base you were trying to win a flipping game. Where’s Gruden when you needed him lol?
October 5th, 2015 at 1:34 pm
It was actually the play before.
Ball is on the 19 yard line, Lovie calls TO with 11 seconds left.
He should have come out the TO with a fade route to ME13 or the same play to vjax that he scored on last week.
Instead Lovie decided to throw a 5y out to Brate to get the ball closer for a missed FG.
Lovie said in yesterday’s PC that he expected to go in at the half only down by 4. In other words he never intended to take a shot at the EZ.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:34 pm
this is very painful to endure……I don’t care how many X coaches the GBoyz have to pay…..Lovie while a fine man and knowledgeable NFL coach….is in WAY over his head as HC…he was lucky in Chicago with the talent ALREADY on the team….the talent that lost stream and Likeable Lovie never kept up….Lovie is NOT a leader !
October 5th, 2015 at 1:36 pm
Nothing has changed from last year. We are looking at a 2 win season. But every week we will here Lovie say we are getting better. I would love to hear him say with some feakin passion that we were terrible yesterday. And this can’t happen again or heads will roll. But he won’t. He will spew the same tired answers like a rag doll with a pull cord.(Big Dog)
Fire Lovie after next weeks loss.
Go Bucs!
October 5th, 2015 at 1:38 pm
DB55 really hit it. It wasn’t not going for it with 6 seconds left, it was playing for field position on the 19 yard line with 11 seconds left. You only have 2 plays left no matter what. You take a shot and kick the FG, or that’s what any coach with a set of balls would do. But scared coward Lovie wasn’t risking losing the FG, so pick up some yards so it’s a gimme chip shot. The football Gods showed what they though of that chicken isht approach.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:40 pm
Part of me wishes the Glazier’s would tuck tail and move across the pond…the entire State of Florida sucks at football.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:41 pm
I learned how to manage the game better than Lovie in Madden 98′. I’m absolutely serious- there have been a litany of small clock management mishaps under Lovie that any seasoned Madden player will tell you qualifies you as a NOOB.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:41 pm
Lovie would rather win like a coward, than lose like a man!
Yet he still loses, coaching like a coward…
October 5th, 2015 at 1:41 pm
I read where “Bills coach Rex Ryan scoffed at the notion that the 17 penalties committed by his team during the game constituted a lack of discipline.” At least we’re not alone…
October 5th, 2015 at 1:44 pm
I will tell you what is wrong. The It factor. This team does not have IT! Watch other teams play and the fire they play with. Where is IT. NOT here.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:46 pm
At 12 years old in Madden- 6 seconds first down no timeouts on the 11. Can’t take a sack- I’d call a heavy formation with only 2 players (Vjax and MWilliams) running routes. One or two backs blocking and a TE or 2 in. A hard slant on one side and a fade on other. Either a TD or incompletion after I rip it in there and then kick on 2nd down. I yelled at the TV louder than I ever have as a Buc fan yesterday because honestly- 25,000 online Madden players all do exactly as I would have. 1950 Field goal and ball control Lovie. He was lucky early in his career to be around HOF’ers hat made him look good. Clearly a position coach at best.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:48 pm
Actually….I don’t disagree with the call with 6 seconds…..he gave Brindza a second chance for a reason and he failed…..we would have crawled back to down only 4 points.
What I do disagree with is the dink & dunk eating up clock before that….we should have been much more agressive to try to get 7.
Admit it….if Lovie went for it with 6 seconds and we had a sack or pick….the fans would have blamed him and thought he was an idiot for not preserving what should have been a sure 3 points……admit it!!!
October 5th, 2015 at 1:52 pm
Lovie Smith will be given the remainder of the year to help improve our draft status… He is clearly not an NFL calibur head coach and at this point I am doubtful he would make a decent defensive coordinator even at the college level…
The man I want hired is Matt Patricia… Current defensive coordinator at New England… Look at his resume… Much more impressive then Lovie Smith’s… And he has learned from one of the best…
October 5th, 2015 at 1:54 pm
At least the Dolphins have some balls! Any coach on any level ever say that and GonE! Obsurd comment with a loser mentality
October 5th, 2015 at 1:54 pm
With 11 seconds left, and the penalty advantage that WRs have over DBs nowadays?? And with 2 Yetis @ WR in VJ & ME13???
There was zero reason NOT to try and TIE it at the half with a shot to the back of the end zone!
Lovie as a HC, focuses on everything that can go wrong, instead of expecting his players, relying on his coaching, to make things go right!
October 5th, 2015 at 1:55 pm
I’m all for keeping Lovie for now. I have 0 interest in firing him, getting a capable guy who wins us 3-4 games and messes up what looks like now a certain top 5 pick. Ronnie Stanley, Jaelen Ramsey..why mess that up now?
Lovie is toast, just like his god-son Mike Jenkins. The Lovie era is coming to a close, take heart Bucs fans. The offseason will again go through Tampa.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:59 pm
“What I do disagree with is the dink & dunk eating up clock before that….we should have been much more aggressive to try to get 7.”
TBBF…bingo!
October 5th, 2015 at 2:01 pm
At least Miami had the guts t
o fire theirs today
October 5th, 2015 at 2:01 pm
My coach wish list for next year:
1- Sean Payton (will probably be gone from NO after this year)
2- Nick Saban — he’s been dropping hints that he wants another shot at the NFL
3- Kevin Sumlin
October 5th, 2015 at 2:03 pm
We keep Lovie, and we’re on pace for a 4-12 season…
We fire Lovie now??? Light a FIRE up under this team? (cause Lovie sure as sht cant Light up Anything!!)
Then our new coach either continues where Lovie left off, or we actually light a fire under this teams ass and finish Strong!
I’ll take my chances with a Coaching change! Cause we already know how this season will end if Lovie stays as HC/DC/Head of Personnel!!
October 5th, 2015 at 2:03 pm
maybe Lovie should quit and save everyone the torture…admit how horrible he is…”simple as that”
October 5th, 2015 at 2:08 pm
“maybe Lovie should quit and save everyone the torture…admit how horrible he is…”simple as that”
Lovie Never takes full blame… Just wait for his presser… He’ll point out all the mistakes, will say they have to execute, will say they’ll get better…
But Lovie NEVER sucks it up, and says “Its on Me”! He’s stubborn, He’s soft, He’s Lovie Smith!
October 5th, 2015 at 2:10 pm
Trade Lovie to Miami for their 1st round pick… Do the best we can with an interm HC and take a high 1st round pick..
Build the team..
Look to a New England for a OC or DC they are learning from one of the best.
October 5th, 2015 at 2:16 pm
Matt Patricia resume.
– currently defensive coordinator for New England (since 2012)
– has called defensive plays since 2009
– linebackers coach New England 2006-2012
– assistant offensive line coach New England 2005
– assistant offensive coach NewnEngland 2004
– assistant offensive coach Syracuse 2000-2003
Keep Koetter and offensive staff… Fire Lovie and this horrible defensive staff…
October 5th, 2015 at 2:23 pm
87,was that you who wanted to kick my ass in the smoking area on level 1 yesterday for simply saying Winston wasn’t playing well? Response was “I don’t want to hear about Mariota” “He sucks too” Me, “Dude you need to chill, I didn’t even mention Mariota” I only ask because I’ve seen a picture of you on here and he looked similar…
October 5th, 2015 at 2:24 pm
LOL nope I gave my tickets to my mom for yesterday’s game. Funny story though.
October 5th, 2015 at 2:26 pm
lol,
87s mom trying to start fights with Winston haters… awesome.
October 5th, 2015 at 2:26 pm
If Incompetent Lovie Smith wanted to do the right thing for the fans and this organization he would resign immediately, forfeiting the balance of the 5 years salary remaining on his contract. It would be a stand up thing to do.
October 5th, 2015 at 2:27 pm
Keep Lovie around till the end of the year to secure a higher draft pick. LOL
Go Bucs!
October 5th, 2015 at 2:31 pm
CC- that’s thinking ahead!!!
October 5th, 2015 at 2:32 pm
I’m all for getting rid him now. But what “message” does that send to future potential HC candidates? That they have 1 season and 4 games or they’re fired. Not too many quality coaches will be begging to move Tampa with that track record.
October 5th, 2015 at 2:33 pm
“Right before the half, I didn’t want to put more points on the board. I didn’t feel like we could. Only thing that could happen was something bad then.” — Read this quote, then close your eyes and imagine “Cleveland” from the Family Guy show saying it and then think about Lovie’s voice. They sound exactly the same.
October 5th, 2015 at 2:36 pm
I’m not a Winston hater. It is a funny story looking back at it now. I don’t care who you are, what school you played for, or what position you play. If you play like Crap I’ll say it and if you play well I’ll say it.
October 5th, 2015 at 2:37 pm
Is there anyway we can get Gruden from ESPN?
October 5th, 2015 at 2:39 pm
“I’m all for getting rid him now. But what “message” does that send to future potential HC candidates? That they have 1 season and 4 games or they’re fired. Not too many quality coaches will be begging to move Tampa with that track record.”
Well we keep Licht, and maybe he can sway someone from NE or Arizona.. Nobody around the league with any common sense will blame the Glazers if they fire Lovie now.
October 5th, 2015 at 2:42 pm
How about Gruden as the Head coach and also bring Bret Farve in as the QB Coach!
October 5th, 2015 at 2:44 pm
@ this guy
The message will be the same as it is for ALL NFL head coaches…
Win or your fired!!!
3-17with five blow out losses is not acceptable!!!
October 5th, 2015 at 2:47 pm
Why is the GM getting a pass? He is as bad as Lovie for picking up so much garbage.
October 5th, 2015 at 2:59 pm
I’ve solved the mystery. Ownership sucks!!
October 5th, 2015 at 3:00 pm
Lovie believes defensive takeaways win games. He tries to avoid them of offense and pushes for them on defense leading to “communication breakdowns” as his guys leave their gaps to be heroes.
Who knew Lovie was going to take us back to McKay’s expansion team.
October 5th, 2015 at 4:02 pm
Is Lovie still the coach? I thought they fired him after last season’s 2-14 dumpster fire. Somebody made a really bad decision there.
October 5th, 2015 at 4:05 pm
maybe lovie was scared of a sack strip fumble returned for a td or an int returned for a td..i was just as scared every time Winston dropped back it would be an int vs. the kicker missing a field goal or extra point…in my herm Edwards voice..”you play to win the game”…but lovie has to take a shot and try to give this team some sort of confidence and reason to play the game…GO BUCS!!!
October 5th, 2015 at 7:09 pm
Dear Joe,
I was as mystified as you as to why they didn’t try a jump ball with their vaunted “dunkaneers.” I kept thinking maybe it was a ploy to draw an off-sides, but a) it wasn’t and b) Lovie isn’t that smart.
FYI, when the FG missed, badly, there was still :02 on the clock.
October 5th, 2015 at 8:41 pm
“Thorn in my rectum”… lol don’t mind if I keep that 1liner in my pocket for this sunday do u Joe?