Bucs Are On Track At The Half
November 9th, 2015
Joe endorses Lovie Smith’s first-half results
Halfway through the 2015 season, the Buccaneers have developed a talented 21-year-old quarterback, possess the NFL’s deepest offensive line, and have four starting rookies that, as a class, are shocking the NFL with their greatness.
Joe can be a cranky, bitter and cynical fan, but reality must reign.
On pace at 3-5 to triple their win total from a season ago, Tampa Bay’s train has moved significantly in the right direction.
Now if you are a Lovie Smith hater who believes he’s a sad-ass coach incapable of winning a Super Bowl in Tampa, then Joe gets your simmering outrage. But those peddling in the present simply can’t go there.
Today, the Bucs are an improving football team with real hope for the future. That could change in a handful of weeks, if Lovie allows his team to regress and play beneath its capability, as it’s done far too often.
But right now, Monday, November 9, the Bucs are in a pretty good place.
Ditch your baggage from last year for a minute. These Bucs hold promise. But it’s up to Lovie to steady his defense and get his team to win, at least at the pace they’ve set through eight games.
Coaches love to talk about how teams need to “learn how to win.” Well, Lovie describes his coaching staff as “stern teachers.” Coaches, too need to learn how to win.
If the Bucs can’t duplicate their current record in the second half of the season, then Joe will entertain thoughts of coaching changes. But if Lovie can keep the ship moving as it’s been, and eliminate uncompetitive football, then Joe happily will embrace Lovieball in 2016.
November 9th, 2015 at 11:11 am
A very fair and balanced post Joe!
Alas it’s sure to bring out the haters. I do not hate Lovie but I’m still sticking to my preseason thought. This team has enough talent to win 8 games. They absolutely should win at least six. Six game saves Lovie’s job.
Since we already have three…frustrating when we could easily have five…but still as Joe points out…very respectable for a team coming off two wins..a rookie QB…and more than 1/4 of the players playing in their FIRST SEASON!!! Not just draft choices but others who have not played in the NFL that we’ve picked up.
I think the “learning to win” “removing the loser mentality” whatever you wish to call is not just on the players. It’s the ENTIRE organization. It’s a struggle for everyone from players and coaches to owners and fans. We’d all love to learn how to win!!!
November 9th, 2015 at 11:11 am
@joe
Why are you giving them credit for the draft???? They drafted #1 overall. They were in front of 31 other teams!!!! They had the pick of the litter!!!!! If they had done any less they should be fired just for that!!!!!
credit them if they ever find a couple of players when they are in the 20’s!!!!!
Raise the bar a little around here!!!!!
November 9th, 2015 at 11:20 am
The past 2 games I’ve seen Lovie going for it on 4th downs where I would have never thought he would before. It’s reassuring to know that he is not only willing to trust his offense but also not a slave to conventional thinking that I once thought he was. Now if we can just get him coached up on the proper use of time outs in a game….
November 9th, 2015 at 11:20 am
Man I was happy Lovie finally showed some emotion and intensity when he scolded Spence. I was shocked. Finally! All that’s left to do is rip the “C” patch off of Aunt Geraldines’ and Lavonte’s chest.
November 9th, 2015 at 11:24 am
Realist
It kinda goes beyond the first pick. Drafting Smith, moving up to get Marpet and then there is Alexander. Did you forget all the pressure that was out there about steering clear of Jameis. Are you kidding me dude? This draft and last years were both hige wins.
November 9th, 2015 at 11:26 am
@Joes … “But it’s up to Lovie to steady his defense and get his team to win.
Hallelujah! The offense continues to gel nicely (and will improve even more this year I’m confident), but the defense is stuck in Neutral. Make that Reverse.
Same thing every game … decent at stopping the run. Poor at pressuring the QB. Poor pass defense, especially short and mid-range passes. Poor tackling. Too many penalties. Can’t get off the field and get stops in 3rd down situations. Allowing too many points against them. Blah, blah, blah. It’s become a broken record.
Lovie put himself in the cross-hairs when he took over as defacto DC. Yet there’s been no improvement. Bucs need to go heavy defense in this next draft, but that still won’t solve the problem for at least a couple of years. The scheme and personnel talents just don’t seem to align.
November 9th, 2015 at 11:27 am
Ok. The D looked a littl better and Lovie looked competent. Hes off my shti list. Mike Evans how ever…..
November 9th, 2015 at 11:33 am
Yes, it’s always easy to criticize – and I do my fair share of it. But it is so pleasant to actually be competitive in games. And to see some light at the end of the tunnel, at least on offense. With the exception of TE, I think every position on offense is in pretty good shape. With the penalties and the putrid defense, 3-5 is about right for this team and certainly better than 2-14 from last year.
November 9th, 2015 at 11:45 am
The Bucs will continue to muddle along despite some bright flashes every now and then. There is growing parity around the league, the Bucs still occupy the lower level of that parity. 6 wins look probable or problematic depending on your eyeglass tint.
November 9th, 2015 at 11:46 am
Thing is Joe, we’re going up against the worst schedule in recent history. We got the AFC South and NFC East out of conference, which will likely produce 1 winning team and 6 teams of 10 losses or more. We’re on track to go 2-6 against those 8 teams. Even the Atlanta win lost a lot of lustre yesterday when Blaine Gabbert and Jim Tomsula beat the Falcons. That’s not looking like such a big win just one week later.
This week should be the ultimate test. How anyone can want to bring him back if they lose yet another backup QB is beyond me. We are now in a very difficult division and not the cakewalk it appeared this time last year. Top coaching will make the difference in many years. Lovie is a below average coach. The longer we keep him, the more he’ll hold us back.
The schedule argument is silly, and especially silly before the season ends. You easily could argue the NFC South is the best division in the NFL. Regardless, the record is what it is. –Joe
November 9th, 2015 at 11:56 am
The jury is still out in Mr. Smith. He needs to figure out how to win, fast. And also, he needs to be more decisive. He’ll go for it on 4th down but he’ll burn a timeout before the play. Make a decision and stick with it! He’s starting to coach less scared but he still needs to be more aggressive.
November 9th, 2015 at 12:05 pm
NewTampaChris
And to see some light at the end of the tunnel, at least on offense. With the exception of TE, I think every position on offense is in pretty good shape.
Yes! And we’ve discovered the QB we have NEVER had.
This now frees us to spend all of our draft energy on the defense next year.
We should have some decent selection spots as well. We have MG8 to increase our number of draft picks. Depending on the deal I’m now ready to consider moving GMC as well. Not because I’ve joined the GMC haters but sometimes a change of team helps both the player and the team. If we could get a first rounder for him he’s gone.
Some decent DE’s out there…everybody talks Bosa..and I’d love to have him…but Joe pointed out the beast at Penn State and I’m sure there are some other great defensive players out there. Load up as many picks as we can acquire and go hard after DE’s and DB’s.
November 9th, 2015 at 12:06 pm
Well, I’ll give Licht credit for a good draft but I’m not going to cut lovie slack like Joe is. Triple our win total is still crap. The only difference is the crap has now turned white and stopped stinking but it’s still crap. I’m still firmly entrenched on the Fire Lovie bandwagon. I’m sick of his antiquated defensive scheme and mentality. Anybody with half a brain could tell that all those red zone trips with just fgs to show for it was going to be the death of us. When we are at the 3 and decide to kick a 21 yd fg, it just makes my stomach turn. If our defense was the defense of the late 90’s then I would be on board but our defense cannot be trusted. Case in point was the Giants able to run out the clock with over 5 minutes to go. The fact that we wasted 2 timeouts for no reason is another slap in the face from Lovie. Good or bad, the ultimate responsibility of a team’s success or failure falls on the head coach. We just finished the first half of our schedule and the first half is far easier than the 2nd half. We have been poisoned into thinking 5 or 6 wins is a great improvement. It still means we will be far from reaching the playoffs and it means very little to me. The only solace I can take is watching Jameis continue to look the part of our franchise Qb but that is hardly a reason to buy Lovie another year. We blow a 24 point lead and a 17 point lead in back to back weeks because we played it conservative with the lead. The same crap Lovie has done time and time again and time and time again we have lost those games. I’m ready for an innovative defensive mind preferably a young coach to inject some enthusiasm into this team.
November 9th, 2015 at 12:08 pm
A well coached team would of won the game yesterday. We didnt lose because of lack of talent. Amazing how content some of you are with mediocrity. But hey let’s waste another few years for the sake of “stability”.
November 9th, 2015 at 12:10 pm
We’re on the verge, of what idk but we’re on it nevertheless. I loved how Lovie seemed to blame the offense for the loss. We have to score TDs instead of FGs he said. This coming from the same guy who doesnt want to score before the half.
I’ll give him credit for (kinda) stopping ODB. But 24 first downs and 11(?) qrts without forcing a punt is crey crey.
OBTW, the NEW coach for Tenn won his first game. Must be a trend or something.
I’d interview Winston Moss for HC. Currently Asst HC for Green Bay. Former Buc LB drafted out of The U.
November 9th, 2015 at 12:13 pm
Honestly this team is going to to be so fun to watch in the next 5 years just be ready
November 9th, 2015 at 12:18 pm
Lovie must go at all cost. We should not have to endure another season of Lovie.
November 9th, 2015 at 12:22 pm
and to be honest everyone needs to chill on lovie yea he’s been bad but so has literally everyone else what happens when we get a new coach and the defense still sucks then everyone’s gunna want a new coach again it’s just worth is we need to draft defense next year pick up a big free agent d end or corner and this defense will much improved guranteed
November 9th, 2015 at 12:24 pm
Buc realist – this is what is real.
And smith and Marpet and Alexander.
They weren’t drafted first.
This team is definitely heading in the right direction.
November 9th, 2015 at 12:27 pm
Yeah I still don’t feel like I’m wrong about Lovie not being the right guy for the job (like I’ve recently conceded on being wrong on Winston). His clock management is bad, his defense is mediocre at best, and his team is undisciplined (see penalties). And to the poster who said the past two drafts have been huge wins…not so fast. Evans has potential, but he’s channeling his Michael Clayton hands too; ASJ is in the tub more than on the field; Sims has shown flashes, but a 3rd round quality RB…eh, not really; the milk carton twins on OL; and a WR who is no longer on the team from last year’s class. This year has shown more promise, but as we know it takes a few years to give a fair assessment on a draft. There are some signs of better days ahead, but it’s mainly on the side of the field Lovie isn’t as involved with (thank you Dirk K)
November 9th, 2015 at 12:29 pm
The Buc Realist Says:
November 9th, 2015 at 11:11 am
@joe
Why are you giving them credit for the draft???? They drafted #1 overall. They were in front of 31 other teams!!!! They had the pick of the litter!!!!! If they had done any less they should be fired just for that!!!!!
If you would look at the Detroit Lions past drafting you’d appreciate what the Bucs have!
November 9th, 2015 at 12:34 pm
@Larry
and what happened to the Head coaches and GM’s of the Detroit Lions!!!!
November 9th, 2015 at 12:34 pm
Right now it is fair to say the team has improved significantly from last year. We have a franchise QB and what appears to be a deep and talented OL. Our OC is a huge upgrade. We have a stable of good RB’s too. Our WR corps will need an upgrade in the offseason but as NE has proven, a great QB makes WR’s look better.
The D has regressed and that is frustrating, although yesterday they played hard, but that arguably was a reflection of the rookies and backups. Something is bothering LVD and McCoy and it is hampering the overall play of the D. Gotta figure that out if we are going to finish strong.
November 9th, 2015 at 12:38 pm
Our offense is in great shape! But with the exception of the Patriots, every 8-0 or 7-1 team has a stellar defense. That’s what it takes to be great in the NFL (or Tom Brady). I know that Licht will be able to piece together a unit like this in the next two drafts. We are in a position to become a dynasty now that we have a franchise QB and an offense. I’m just not sure Lovie can coach a dynasty. I’m not a firm believer in sticking with head coaches who put out bad products on the field. Bring back Gruden!
November 9th, 2015 at 12:51 pm
@The Buc Realist
!!!!!!!!
November 9th, 2015 at 1:08 pm
Better than last year:
QB
Oline
MLB
Offensive Coordinator
Worse than last year:
WR’s
Outside LB
CB’s
Still sucking from last year:
D Line
Safety’s
TE’s
Head Coach
This football team still sucks. No more damn excuses.
November 9th, 2015 at 1:12 pm
I’m not happy or content with a 3-5 record when we should be 5-3 at the worst. Leading the league in bone head penalties, especially the ridiculous pre snap and unsportsmanlike penalties we get every game, is coaching folks. Stop being satisfied with mediocrity, or better yet, below 500 ball. This is not acceptable people. Try selling this crap about we are where we should be and everything is going according to plan to you poor season ticket holders. I was offered a free ticket to the Bucs/Cowboys game and as much of a fan as I am, in fact I have been a die hard fan since 1980, I am so pissed at letting win after win get away that I would rather take my kids to Disney and read about the loss later. Don’t tolerate this bush league inconsistency and record setting penalties people. Buc fans deserve much much better than this crap. Go Bucs!
November 9th, 2015 at 1:12 pm
We didnt lose because of lack of talent.
We all want to believe that but is is true. Either our “talent” is having a really horrid season or we don’t really have great talent.
Think about this season. Who are we talking about. ROOKIES!!! and second year players like Mike Evans.
When we talk about GMC or LVD it’s to ponder why they’ve disappeared. Please do not give me coaching or scheme with LVD…I’ve lost count of how many tackles he’s totally whiffed even though the “scheme” or his “talent” had him in perfect position to make the play. Are all of LVD’s missed available tackles Lovie’s fault?
And we all agree Doug Martin is considered one of our talents…is it Lovies fault that he drops a critical pass or makes a critical fumble.
How about Evans? Are all those drops on Lovie? Sims fumble. Take all of that crap away and we could have very well won that game. Which of those mistakes are Lovie’s fault?
I’m neither a Lovie hater nor a Lovie defender. But we need to make sure all this Lovie hate doesn’t distract us from holding players accountable.
GMC..LVD…ASJ and too many DB’s for me to mention are supposed to be our “talent”. Are we really convinced this team…especially on defense is as talented as we believe.
IMHO…we absolutely keep Koetter and Bajakian at all costs!!! Those two have done a great job with the Franchise player the most important position. We need their talent and continuity. Lovie…meh..if he goes or stays.
But on D…it’s time to blow up the entire stinking mess. It seems to me that Kwon is the only untouchable on that side of the ball. LVD is having a bad year…his first…he’s a good guy so I’d hate to see him go. GMC…very good, not great player who along with the Bucs would probably benefit with a change of scenery.
And so a genuine question for all. Regardless of whether you think GMC should stay or go I’m curious as to the blog’s opinion on his trade value..specifically draft picks. What do you all think we could get for him. A first rounder? Some other package. Other teams are going to look at his injuries…as well as his frequent disappearances. When he’s great he could be a game changer…but he’s not nearly as great as the salary he’s being paid.
November 9th, 2015 at 1:18 pm
The only 3 winnable games left are all at home. I don’t see us winning more than 1 more the rest of the way. I don’t know how anyone could endorse Lovie. We might have a good run defense, but the pass defense is still horrific. Yes the offense has improved, but what about the penalties? This team is on a historic pace for penalties.
November 9th, 2015 at 1:30 pm
After reading all of the praises for a wonderful 3-5 first half, then the Bucs should extend Lovie’s contract today!!
Right on schedule for 6-10, then 7-9 next year, then 8-8 in 2017……what more can we ask for?
Lovie’s the man!
November 9th, 2015 at 1:44 pm
I never heard the status on Marpet’s injury or anything about it. I must of missed it.
November 9th, 2015 at 1:46 pm
The schedule argument is silly, and especially silly before the season ends. You easily could argue the NFC South is the best division in the NFL. Regardless, the record is what it is. –Joe
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I’m sorry but the schedule argument is very valid. Even before the season the NFC East and AFC South looked like weak divisions. That they’re even weaker than thought makes the fact the Bucs likely won’t win more than 2 out of 8 very damaging. And that includes 3 backups and a rookie.
The point is this is the easiest slate of games you could expect from non-division games. And we’re on pace to go 2-6. Next year we get Seattle, Arizona, St. Louis, Denver, KC, Oakland. They are all much better than the Bucs right now. It’s hard to expect them to win many of those games.
November 9th, 2015 at 1:47 pm
LVD and GMC are good players. We’ve seen them play at a high level before Lovie got here. Once he shows up, they can’t play anymore? LoL. C’mon. Besides that, its not just those 2 players. The WHOLE Entire defense is bad. And they constantly make dumb mistakes and penalties all the time. When you look at it as a whole, who’s fault is it that they arent playing well? That would be Lovie. The players are clearly being held accountable. The one not being held accountable is Imcompetent Lovie who you are trying to tell me has little talent to work with, which is ridiculous. Hold him accountable. He’s doing as poor of a job coaching as the players are playing.
November 9th, 2015 at 1:59 pm
Good post Joe. Thought the pass D was improved personally and just didn’t execute our red zone offense effectively.
It’s a young team that has failed in one aspect or another in our losses but has beaten some teams we were heavily favored to lose against.
Winston is special. Excited to see how the 2nd half goes but we have a QB finally. I hope Lovie can keep me bought in. He’s stepped out of his box a bit lately and seems to show a willingness to adjust finally thank god. I even saw some WRs hit at the line for once. There is hope
November 9th, 2015 at 2:31 pm
Joe is right for once, Lol. This team is improving right in front of our eyes. Everyone needs to enjoy this because it doesn’t come around very often. The last time we saw this type of improvement was around 1997.
November 9th, 2015 at 2:42 pm
Agree totally with article. 2016 the defense better be at least decent.
November 9th, 2015 at 3:00 pm
sumo Says:
November 9th, 2015 at 2:31 pm
Joe is right for once, Lol. This team is improving right in front of our eyes. Everyone needs to enjoy this because it doesn’t come around very often. The last time we saw this type of improvement was around 1997.
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For real? I mean we didn’t go from 3-13 to 10-6 like in…I don’t know….2010? Lol, I mean I get people are kinda desperate to make it seem like this is Dungy pt 2, but let’s keep in within the context of reality shall we?
November 9th, 2015 at 3:09 pm
@Bucs Fan Since ’76, I agree that something is bothering McCoy and LVD. David said that he and McCoy are doing what their told to do and are playing hard. This answer was in refrence to a question asked about the defense. I do not think he and McCoy among others are not buying into this defensive scheme, that is how I’m taking that answer from David to that reporters question.
November 9th, 2015 at 3:16 pm
How do you blame the head coach for dropped passes and fumbles? The only thing I could pin on Lovie is his clock management on the Giants last drive but even then our ends were losing the battle for the c and d gaps all day that isnt coaching its our defensive ends getting muscled by the other teams tackles. This team dosent have the talent to compete just yet, but there has been improvement thanks to personel moves by the gm and coach. This team is more talented than last year and drafting Jameis takes advsntage of that. Plus we are also way better coached than we were in 2013 under Schiano with Revis. So I gotta say, this team now looks better than it has the padt two years. And props to the hc and gm for directing that. Lets see how the last eight games go.
November 9th, 2015 at 3:18 pm
After reading all of the praises for a wonderful 3-5 first half, then the Bucs should extend Lovie’s contract today!!
Right on schedule for 6-10, then 7-9 next year, then 8-8 in 2017……what more can we ask for?
Lovie’s the man!
Thanks Tom I needed the laugh…
November 9th, 2015 at 3:18 pm
Forgive him rightoff, he just dosent count that due to their weak schedule in 2010.
November 9th, 2015 at 3:23 pm
Joe, great post. It’s refreshing. However, it says nothing to the in-game coaching. Lovie is a very poor in-game coach and his baby, the defense, the most veteran group of the 3 phases, regresses each week. And the defensive ineptitude is defined as much by the FA moves he has made as those he hasn’t.
I don’t want another coaching change. I really don’t!
But it’s more irresponsible to continue moving in the wrong direction with one leader, than it is to “impulsively” make a change for another.
We’re not moving in the right direction Joe, and everyone knows it.
November 9th, 2015 at 3:26 pm
Not sure if 6 wins saves his job, 7 does for sure. This is a team on the rise.
November 9th, 2015 at 3:32 pm
What should Lovie have done different yesterday? What in game coaching changes should be made?
November 9th, 2015 at 4:15 pm
Lovie, by his standards yesterday, wasn’t too bad in game yesterday. He still ultimately cost us any chance of a comeback by bungling his timeouts like he almost always does, but overall he wasn’t too terrible.
Thing is, him bungling to clock/challenges/timeouts is almost guaranteed to cost us 2-4 games a season. It did pretty much every year in Chicago, go ask Bears fans. And no, they aren’t a bad source to ask, they have 9 years of the Lovie Smith experience, who better to ask?
November 9th, 2015 at 5:21 pm
That is true. Clock management hurt an already tired run defense.
November 9th, 2015 at 5:41 pm
Correction Joe. The OFFENSE has promise. Show me where on that “defense” you see promise. Lovie has to go. Immediately following the last game.
November 9th, 2015 at 6:51 pm
The Buc RacistSays
“Why are you giving them credit for the draft???? They drafted #1 overall.”
Because there is more than one round in the draft, stupid.
November 9th, 2015 at 6:52 pm
Kalind Says
“Show me where on that “defense” you see promise.”
RUN DEFENSE.
November 9th, 2015 at 9:46 pm
Clock management, going back to his conservative nature and not going for a 4th down (FGs weren’t going to hold up, u knew it I knew it), pulling Martin, Randle coming free from the back field for their first TD, continuing to not play Verner… Just off the top
November 9th, 2015 at 9:51 pm
Ither than Kwon, not one member pf that defense should feel safe this spring. I do think Lovie and Licht can improve the unit with some drafting, like they did the offense. T
November 10th, 2015 at 3:31 am
Joe, Lovie’s squad is still too undisciplined and have not shown much improvement in the penalty count; way too many at the wrong time. Special teams have been a head scratcher too; who signed off on Brindza over Barth anyhow: O’Dea and Lovie???? That has to be a strike against both for the sheer ineptitude on that call. Lovie’s D calling is way below average as well, we really do not have to rehash details about the loss in DC, the near losses in the ATL and Jags, etc. to establish that point. have the Bucs improved? Yes but that tripling their win total is a deception Joe when you consider that lovie intentionally lost the Saint game and probably the Bungle game as well to insure getting the #1 overall so the Bucs really will only show improvement if they get to 5 or 6 wins and that is not a given yet; 3-13 is still possible and much more likely than the Bucs not losing in the double digits (7-9 or better). This dallas game coming up will be telling; can they win? I hope so but this sets up as another one of those games where we’ll see the same BS that we seen in Washington, Houston and last Sunday vs the Giants: mistakes inept coaching decisions, penalties, etc. etc…. But yeah they are improving; 3-5 is better than 1-7 at midpoint though a lot of people feel this team should be at least 5-3 with better coaching; especially on the defense and special teams…. Get to 6-10 and Joe will likely be correct in that Lovie will get a 3rd year but 5-11 or 4-12 should get him canned as that will illustrate that the team is not improving as the season moves along. No matter what happens, Lovie needs to step aside as DC and fire his special teams coach.
November 10th, 2015 at 9:41 pm
If it was me I get the best man coverage safeties and corners available all in the draft and in FA combined and go after the best secondary coach available & a better defensive coordinator too run it Tampa two is gone oh yeah and promote Dirk too HC and can Lovie and hire a new OC. Josh McDaniels comes too mind. Let’s Start this dynasty off in the right direction . Good QB and good OC good kicker what’s next?