Avoiding The Collapse Of 2012
November 25th, 2015
Doug Martin speaks
Man those were happy times in 2012 with the Bucs soaring with a 6-4 record, a high-flying offense and a rookie head coach making plenty of enemies with his late-game antics.
A late-November showdown in Tampa with division-leading Atlanta was next on the schedule that year, and the Bucs blew a fourth-quarter lead and lost by one point.
They never recovered.
Doug Martin was a rookie Pro Bowler on that Greg Schiano team that finished 7-9, and Joe asked Martin today about what lesson he learned that could help the Bucs avoid a repeat performance this season.
“Don’t get complacent. Don’t let outside noise brush the chip off your shoulder,” Martin said. “You just got to keep practicing hard. We got to forget about last game.”
Perhaps the biggest factor in the Bucs maintaining their run of good football is the presence of Lovie Smith, Dirk Koetter and Leslie Frazier. These guys have experience winning in the NFL. Schiano had none.
November 25th, 2015 at 1:58 pm
I think this team, despite the record last year, has bought into Lovie Smith more than they did with Schiano, as a whole. I would guess there were a handful of guys who were never ‘schiano men’ (many were gotten rid of) and never bought in at all.
Then we started rolling with the fearsome foursome in the secondary, and the season was toast. Oh and on top of that, Freeman’s mental meltdown started somewhere in there as well.
November 25th, 2015 at 2:48 pm
Credit needs to go to George Warhop and the O-line, especially Logan Mankins mentoring, and Winston being an inspirational leader. I am seeing the chemistry and camaraderie that is lacking on other teams. The bucs have it and it shows.
November 25th, 2015 at 3:01 pm
The collapse of 2012 was all Josh Freeman. He imploded and took the team with him. Just like he did to start the 2013 season. Lovie still needs to win 4 more games to match the record that got Schiano fired. If he does people will rave at what a great job he has done. Amazing what a good QB can do for your coaching reputation.
November 25th, 2015 at 3:08 pm
The Little General lost the locker room and destroyed the physical condition of a good team on the first day of camp. From there it a steady circling down the drain as those professional athletes realized that that freaking moron had absolutely no concept of running a successful football team was about.
He couldn’t run a Cub Scout troop.
You can tell he was way over his head by the line of teams waiting to hire him once he became available.
November 25th, 2015 at 4:39 pm
Unbelievable
Exactly. All the Lovie Smith haters do not want to hear about it but players like and respect Lovie Smith. He has a proven track record and other than a couple of times, his teams are always relevant. So yes, they bought into the system
November 25th, 2015 at 6:39 pm
I too see the camaraderie in this team. All of the bitter taste from last year along with the slow start this year has made this team grow. You can see it in the faces of players celebrating after each score last week. You watch other teams who are struggling without a QB and it makes one realize just how a short time ago it was our team. There is something special going on here in Tampa.
November 26th, 2015 at 11:42 am
Miguel Grande said it best. I will add Lovie went to the Super Bowl with Rex Grossman, one conference championship, 3 division titles. Schiano did not have the pedigree or temperament of Love Smith.
The team can only focus one game at a time, going forward 11-5 very doable.
Siege The Day: Go Bucs.