Derrick Brooks: Switch To Lovie Calling Defense Was Significant Transition
December 17th, 2015
What’s better than listening to Hall of Famer and Tampa Bay icon Derrick Brooks share his savvy Bucs insight?
Outside of watching a game and pleasures of the flesh, Joe can’t think of anything.
Brooks took to the WDAE-AM 620 airwaves yesterday for his Wednesday sit down with Steve Duemig.
Joe was intrigued by Brooks talking about Tampa Bay dealing with change and transformation all season, from personnel combinations to coaching shifts. Among various challenges he highlighted was Lovie Smith taking over playcalling duties from Leslie Frazier after preseason games began.
Tonight will be a great test, Brooks explained:
“Now they’re testing their depth, with injuries. The depth and the resolve of this football team gets tested. The consistency, I hate to say, of roller coaster lineups. …
“Again, they had to switch in terms of the defensive leadership. You know, Coach decided to take over the defensive calling. I know it’s not talked about a lot today, but that was, you know, transition they had to do on the run and adjust to it. So they learned a lot about themselves in this roller coaster ride that I believe is going to make them better.
“And here’s another opportunity for them to respond in a teachable moment: Short week on the road after a disappointing loss. December — find the energy to respond when for all intents and purposes, say you’re out of the playoffs. How you continue to fight. Where’s the motor? Star players hurt. Who can step up? Who has to step up on a short week, national TV? So these are learnable moments that this team gets to find out about themselves every single day.”
Very interesting to hear Brooks reference the change from Frazier to Lovie like he did. When it happened, Lovie told media multiple times that it would be a seamless move and no big deal whatsoever.
To hear all of No. 55, listen to the WDAE-AM 620 audio player below.
December 17th, 2015 at 1:14 pm
Just another excuse for Lovie!!! But for 2 years now this is what we have heard from this show. I like Mr. Derrick Brooks, but when it come to lovie, its Mr Derrick Excuse!!!!
December 17th, 2015 at 1:51 pm
It’s been excuses since the 2002 season.
December 17th, 2015 at 3:02 pm
Lovie is the master of excuses. They have kept him in the NFL for way longer than it should have, as a head coach at least. I would have no problem with him at defensive coordinator.
December 17th, 2015 at 3:02 pm
Neither Lovie nor Leslie have talked any about WHY the move was made. What transpired that all of a sudden triggered this urgent need for Lovie to start calling defensive plays? Obviously what they did last year didn’t work (unless you call a 2-14 record a success). And apparently what they were doing in this year’s preseason didn’t work either. Bucs defensive stats have improved in many areas I’d say, but the key stat … points allowed … shows the Bucs tied with Philly for the 2nd most allowed in the NFC this year (the Suh-less Lions win the prize).
Don’t see why anyone would call this an ‘excuse’ though. By taking over the defensive play-calling duties, Lovie put himself squarely in the crosshairs. No allowing the media to use Leslie Frasier as a scapegoat if things head south (which they have on a number of occasions). Can only speculate as to the WHY, but my guess would be that (1) Lovie felt comfortable focusing on the defense once Dirk Koetter came aboard; and (2) he realized that the Bucs defense had numerous weaknesses and that by he and Leslie working together, they might be able to compensate for some of those (eyes upstairs/eyes downstairs?).
December 17th, 2015 at 3:14 pm
You know Schlomiemyhomie? Realist when it comes to you BucSquealist it’s not excuses. The one fact you either don’t remember or push to the side so you can continuously cry about lovie is that Lovie came into a terrible situation after 4 years of ineptitude in coaching AND drafting behind Raheem Dominik &Schiano. I mean not many players from either regime are still here. So he did 2 drafts mostly offense and had two of our better drafts. So next two will be mostly defense. It takes 2 more years from last year to build us into a contender. We have stability and star power and the makings if a very good O line. You don’t want to hear it like yiu could build a better Bucs team faster. This ain’t fantasy football son. I know you’re clueless and will always be clueless because goats tend to be but in 2 more years when Lovie has turned this team into winners you’ll still find something to whine about. I’ll be there to serve you some crackers and cheese
December 17th, 2015 at 3:19 pm
The defense is the reason I vote ” no confidence ” in the Lovie poll. He’s had 2 years to fix the problems at DE and DB and there has been minimal improvement. Players he picked in free agency. The reason for improvement has been the several steps forward on the offensive side of the ball. I have minimal confidence that Lovie can fix the defense enough for the Bucs to be upper echelon in the NFC.
December 17th, 2015 at 3:55 pm
You people stuck on everything negative can point all you want at Lovie, but considering the talent he has on D, he’s doing wonders.
The 2002 team had at the most important positions:
UT Sapp-we have McCoy
RDE Rice- we have Howard Jones
WLB Brooks-we have David
MLB Quarles-we had Alexander and now maybe Lemon
CB Kelly and Barber-we have Moore and a few more lemons
SS Lynch-and we have McDougald
McCoy and David are good, but against the pass, they aren’t Sapp or Brooks, not even close…other than that, the other guys aren’t even close to being as good…and yet the D has been decent, way better than their talent and draft positions would suggest.
December 17th, 2015 at 4:35 pm
You know what else was interesting about yesterday’s show. Derrick Brooks said that the Bucs aren’t playing Tampa 2. So all you people who bash the Tampa 2 can shove it.
December 17th, 2015 at 4:38 pm
For Lovie Haters:
What were your expectations for his effect on the defense given the talent he had when he arrived and the resources we have spent?
We were a bottom 3-5 defense and had been for years. What did you think was a realistic improvement to expect when only adding personnel to that group through Free Agency and 1 draft pick in 2 years? A top 10 defense? If so I’d like to see where that has ever been done before in the league because every great D I can think of was built with key draft picks. Seriously it’s kind of rediculous to think u can field an elite D through FA signings alone. It’s never been done.
Lovie took a bottom of the league defense and made it into a mediocre defense. Fact. Statistically that’s what we are. Mediocre isn’t good but it’s a lot better than what we’ve been. 14th in ppg given up when adjusting for league average of points the offense gives up off turnovers. 11th in yardage.
Also – we should all eat some crow on the rebuilt o line. ALL of you haters made it look like he didn’t know wtf he was doing and now our line is in better shape than ever.
Realist predicted 4 wins tops and a bottom NFL defense. Facts.
I predicted 9-7 and a top 16ish type defense. Facts.
Part of me just thinks a lot of u don’t watch other teams. In case u didn’t notice it’s a passing league and a lot of teams have bad days at the office defending it with shootouts and big score games occurring on a weekly basis.
December 17th, 2015 at 4:40 pm
Spot on, Brandon. This team on defense is not talented enough. For those of you who think it is you need to remember that the Bucs just signed Daquan Bowers.
Let that sink in….
If we’re digging deep to sign the likes of Daquan Bowers and Orie Lemon the Buccaneers are simply not talented enough. Brandon is absolutely correct, given the talent currently on this team, especially on the line (outside of McCoy) this team is performing as well as expected.
Again, the Bucs resigned Daquan Bowers…
December 17th, 2015 at 4:58 pm
Brandon put it in perspective. We need a solid defense oriented draft. Wow.
December 17th, 2015 at 5:08 pm
RayRay don’t you know free agency is not the cure all for a team??? You have to draft well and he has so far. The agents he brought in were the best he could get at the time. The better players wanted a chance to get a ring. I mean we had more money but Greg Hardy went to Dallas instead. You people always nitpick to show why he’s not a good coach but there are a lot more points to show he has improved this team this year. I tell you going back and forth with you people up here about this is like arguing with a woman……….you never will win.
December 17th, 2015 at 5:20 pm
I’ve said this before… We just had 2 offensive drafts. Give Lovie and Licht 2 defensive drafts and see what they can do.
December 17th, 2015 at 5:20 pm
I love the fans that compare this year to the dumpster fire that Lovie caused last year and then say look at the improvement!!! You guys always get a chuckle out of me!!!!
December 17th, 2015 at 6:00 pm
Last season Lovie tanked for Jameis, I won’t be convinced otherwise, and I’m so thankful for that.
December 17th, 2015 at 6:55 pm
Realist where the f*ck is anyone doing that?
You either read at a 1st grade level or are purposefully delusional.
I’m looking at his body of work compared to like the last 5+ years of where this team has been …
December 17th, 2015 at 7:12 pm
Looking historically; this defense is the best we’ve had since 2010 when we won 10 games. Here’s how we ranked in yards given up per game and points since then:
2011- 30th, 32nd
2012- 29th, 23rd
2013- 17th, 21st
2014- 25th, 25th
2015- 11th, 21st
In 2013 (Schianos last year) we were at the league average for points given up off offensive turnovers while we are bottom 5 this year. Adjusting for the average we would rank 14th in ppg given up this year.
So yeah hes done much better than his predecessors. That’s after letting Revis go and only spending 1 draft pick on that side of the ball.
Im just some dumb sheep though sorry guys
December 17th, 2015 at 7:16 pm
Too bad they don’t give out the Lombardy Trophy for “yards given up” or Lovie will be on his way, and I would have to agree with that it is getting better.
But the truth is a better run game ( kills the clock and limits # of opponents positions) and the historical weak schedule of tomato cans!!!!!
December 17th, 2015 at 7:35 pm
Realist, 2014 was going to be dumpster fire no matter who we hired. If you dont realize that, then I feel sorry for you.
December 17th, 2015 at 8:04 pm
Realist just makes people uncomfortable because he’s speaking hard truths. He’s not going to delude himself into believe something his eyes don’t see, he’s not gonna accept moral victories (which are reserved for losers), he isn’t going to ignore context. He gives his brutally honest opinion, like it or not. And more often than not, he’s right.
Preach on good sir!
December 17th, 2015 at 8:10 pm
It became a dumpster fire when you let go of 4 out of 5 starting linemen, 3 starting Defensive starters, then bring in garbage for OL starters, a garbage QB to be our starter( who isn’t as good as our backup), bring in crap players who were supposed to know his defense…. So I could keep going, but yeah we all know it was going to be garbage