“Very Flat” Again Says Lavonte David
December 18th, 2015
Bucs fans deserve a football team that plays hard consistently.
The Bucs are a joke in that department. They really are.
Raise your hand if you think the Bucs were the most physical team on the football field last night, or against the Saints? They weren’t. And that’s disgusting.
Joe’s got a damned good memory. Do you remember what Alterraun Verner said was Lovie Smith’s focus this season when the team arrived back in April? It was about being physical.
Bad football players can play hard and lose. That’s one thing, but the Bucs are lacking in effort. Derrick Brooks himself acknowledged collective effort after Sunday’s Saints game, during his appearance with Steve Duemig on WDAE-AM 620.
Joe’s getting tired of it. It’s not all the Bucs, but too many of them are not playing like the “angry workers” Raheem Morris used to say he craved.
Lavonte David really made Joe extra ill after the game last night. David hopped on the Buccaneers Radio Network and lamented how the Bucs came out “very flat” in St. Louis. David and many other Bucs used the same “F” word after Sunday’s Saints loss.
“Starting out the game very flat defensively. Uch, just playing bad football,” David said. “You know, it’s very disappointing because I know it’s not the way we play football. And that’s just one thing about it; it’s two weeks in a row.”
How does a Bucs team at 6-6, a team with a real shot at the playoffs, line up against two bad football teams and get bullied and look unready for prime time?
You can hear all of David via the 620wdae.com audio player below.
December 18th, 2015 at 9:56 am
Maybe they need to stop saying that they came out flat!!! We should start sayinig that they came out “Lovie”!!!
December 18th, 2015 at 9:58 am
Martin was playing hard out of the gate. He looked like he understood the team still had a shot at the wild card, but unfortunately most of his team mates looked like they wanted to get a head start on the off season.
December 18th, 2015 at 10:01 am
Lovie is coming back next year whether I like it or not. I get that. But these performances the last two weeks and the potential to go from 6-6 and in the playoff hunt to 6-10, all he’s doing is putting more heat on himself going forward. They looked barely ready for preseason football the last two weeks against two teams who had 9 wins combined. It’s on the coach to have players ready to play and properly motivated.
Instead outside of Jameis, most of them seem focused on their offseason vacation plans. It’s just extremely disappointing to know if we had a better coach we would be going to the playoffs this year. We whiffed on not getting Mike Zimmer or Bill O’Brian, who’ve accomplished more with essentially the same or less that Lovie has.
December 18th, 2015 at 10:05 am
Looks like the Glazers need another sit down ( talkin too) with Lovie again!!!!
December 18th, 2015 at 10:07 am
Joe, time for a new Lovie Smiff confidence poll.
December 18th, 2015 at 10:10 am
I thought millionaire players didn’t need motivation and would always play non flat?
December 18th, 2015 at 10:13 am
This team feels like it is 3-4 weedheads away from being the Rah era all over again!!!!
December 18th, 2015 at 10:13 am
I absolutely hate the Tampa 2! Even I know the holes are behind the LBs and the outside deep 3rd behind the corners. All I want for Christmas is a different defense, 1 pass rushing specialist and 2 Corners that can win one on ones. Is that too much to ask?
December 18th, 2015 at 10:15 am
I think LVD and GMC are excellent players. They are not leaders. It’s as simple as that. This is not to disparage their talents, I love having both of these guys on our team, they earn their money, they are high character guys, but they are not inspirational leaders, nor are they winners by themselves. They themselves need leadership.
#3 has the offense…and hopefully Kwon can get the defense rolling. I’d love to draft a fiery DB and a great DE…we really miss Clinton McDonald’s leadership from the DL. When he gets back, hopefully Gholston continues to improve, GMC gets his health back…maybe Jack Smith can play a season and maybe we hit the jackpot with a DE selection in the draft.
December 18th, 2015 at 10:16 am
Is it me or does it appear we are always out-coached in the first half of nearly every game? The only game we looked like we were ready to play in the first half this year was against the Redskins and we all know how that turned out.
December 18th, 2015 at 10:16 am
bucrightoff Says:
December 18th, 2015 at 10:01 am
Lovie is coming back next year whether I like it or not.
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EXACTLY!
December 18th, 2015 at 10:16 am
Vaaary, vaaaaary disappointing
December 18th, 2015 at 10:32 am
So 2 games without Kwon, 2 flat starts, I wonder who drives this defense? Also, if the defense continues to come out flat maybe we should stop deferring at the coin toss and let Jameis and Martin try ang bring some energy to this team to start a game instead of letting the defense put us into a hole 3 minutes into every game.
December 18th, 2015 at 10:40 am
I think this team has plenty of talent. I really do. They have the talent, but the talent just does too many stupid things. smh
December 18th, 2015 at 10:57 am
Team is full of p*ssies and people just going through the motions for a paycheck. Hopefully, more players who actually care about winning, like Winston, can be added this offseason. DRAFT PREREQUISITE QUESTION: HOW IMPORTANT IS FOOTBALL TO YOU AND WINNING?…
December 18th, 2015 at 11:28 am
StPeteBucsFan Says:
December 18th, 2015 at 10:15 am
I think LVD and GMC are excellent players.
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I’m sorry but last night was the clearest it’s ever been that GMC is a good player and nothing more. Aaron Donald is an excellent player, possibly even better than excellent. Even if his stats don’t show it, he totally dominated the game last night in a way we’ve NEVER seen from GMC in 6 years.
December 18th, 2015 at 11:44 am
It doesn’t take any talent to play hard. – Derek Jeter
December 18th, 2015 at 11:45 am
These players are career losers. Is it a coincidence that the defense has played terrible the past 2 weeks? What’s the difference? McCoy is in and Alexander is out. I understand that GMC is hurt. Now that the playoffs are out of the queston, I feel that the team should sit him for the rest of the season.
December 18th, 2015 at 12:17 pm
This team has little talent on D. You want to see effort, watch them bustin gthrough the Oline and having their way with rookie phenom, Gurley. Too bad they can’t do that against the pass, because that takes talent, not just effort. Most footabll coaches agree, stopping the run is about effort and toughness. This team tries, they jut don’t have talent. How many #1 picks are playing for the Buc D? How many high-priced free agents? They are a bunch of cast-offs and undrafted free agents. They do their best but it isn’t always good enough.
December 18th, 2015 at 12:34 pm
But Brandon man, you’re basically saying we can’t judge Lovie until he has a loaded roster of talent….but what coach isn’t going to look better with a loaded roster? Mike Pettine is probably a great coach if you give him the 85 Bears or 2002 Bucs talent….so what? Lovie is just never going to give us an advantage in coaching, and is actually a hinderance as a coach. And in a league where everything is very close, not having a coaching edge is the difference between being the Rams and the Cardinals. Lovie is a below average coach, I hope people now realize that.
December 18th, 2015 at 1:00 pm
The Bucs show little cohesiveness. Scatterbrained seems to be the order of their play. I never really thought the Bucs would win that game.
December 18th, 2015 at 1:18 pm
Lavonte David is a joke and is beginning to be part of the problem.
There I said it.
Just another career loser with a bunch of tackles and a huge bank account.
What a waste.
December 18th, 2015 at 1:38 pm
look I played hs and college football…as a player, if there was something to play for which there always is, you should never come out flat…especially with your playoff hopes on the line…everyone should’ve been playing like their hair was on fire…at this point how do you not blame the players for their performance…its one thing to point to coach if players were saying, ” we didn’t practice this or we never seen that in the film room but its the complete opposite…coaches are preparing them properly but the players aren’t giving maximum effort and passion and aren’t executing…I cant believe kwon a rookie, can come into onebuc place, and is already be a vocal, emotional and play by example leader on this defense that has players that have been selected to all pro and the pro bowl…I just cant believe how soft gmc and lvd are…not physically but mentally…jameis doug and kwon are the only mentally strong players we have on this team and that’s sad…GO BUCS!!!
December 18th, 2015 at 1:46 pm
@bucrightoff…completely wrong…”And in a league where everything is very close, not having a coaching edge is the difference between being the Rams and the Cardinals.”….the answer would be TALENT….the cardinal are more talented than the rams at every position from top to bottom…better players, better offense better defense…coaching is very important but if my guy is better than your guy and wins his one on one match up every time, theres nothing you can do about it except hope to find another match up…GO BUCS!!!
December 18th, 2015 at 1:57 pm
What “F” is Lovie looking at in this picture? Hello Lovie, the fields down here. God ain’t gonna help you man!
December 18th, 2015 at 2:01 pm
813bucboi Says:
December 18th, 2015 at 1:46 pm
@bucrightoff…completely wrong…”And in a league where everything is very close, not having a coaching edge is the difference between being the Rams and the Cardinals.”….the answer would be TALENT….the cardinal are more talented than the rams at every position from top to bottom…better players
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Simply not true. At all. The Rams have more talent on defense than the Cardinals, less on offense. Cardinals are simply better coached, period. Get the eff off of Lovie’s nuts, you’re acting like he unquestionably one of the 5 best coaches in the league, he just needs more talent. At his peak he’s as good as Jeff Fisher (look at the total accomplishments, it’s true), and Fisher has 4 non-winning seasons in a row. I’m sure to you that’s great. To fans who don’t wanna be losers? Pft…..
December 18th, 2015 at 2:04 pm
Three weeks ago I was saying how hard doug martin has been running….that continued last night. Very impressed with his running. But one thing that looked different about dougie last night , he looked PISSED AND FED UP. He was the single hardest working player on the team. And if I were him….unless this team starts getting better and putting forth more effort as a whole, I would punch my time card and go play for a real team next year. It makes me sick to watch it. How can a team that plays so hard some weeks just look so lifeless. Something is still no right and it seems like nobody knows what it is. Well I know, its a conservative passive head coach
December 18th, 2015 at 2:35 pm
Youre wrong bucrightoff and Brandon and 813 are right. You can’t put guys out there on an NFL field that should be driving UPS trucks for a living. The NFL is filled with the best athletes in the world. If you send out guys that should be practice fodder to defend real NFL calibur starters all the coaching in the world aint going to save them. They were getting toasted even when they got called for holding the receiver. In the NBA there is a saying that you cant teach height. You also cant teach speed and sheer physical talent in the NFL.
December 18th, 2015 at 2:44 pm
Tell that to the Pats who routinely take our cast offs and have them performing at a respectable level. I’m guessing that has nothing to do with coaching right? LoL
December 18th, 2015 at 2:56 pm
We need the Lovie defenders to have like a special star next to their names when they post so we know it’s written by someone who doesn’t really know much about football. Apparently the only way to win in this league is to accumulate tons of talent and hope your coach doesn’t get in the way. I mean what can you say to such stupidity? It’s basically to them Lovie is a figurehead who doesn’t actually have to coach, he just needs to do pressers and look like a clueless dolt on the sidelines.
December 18th, 2015 at 3:04 pm
@touchdowntampabay…thank you…no one is on lovie’s nuts I just know football…imo cardinal have the better defense…they have better dbs better lbs and a more consistent dline…aaron is the only exception…hand down they the better offense…you cant ever compare lovie and jeff…lol…jeff has been a hc in the nfl for over 20 years and only has 6 winning seasons….lovie has been a hc half as long (11) and has 5 winning seasons…I don’t even know how jeff still has a job….stop blaming lovie and actually watch the game…GO BUCS!!!
December 18th, 2015 at 3:09 pm
So much for the slot corner being a separate position. Our CBs have rotated so much through all the positions, it’s making me dizzy. And now it seems we’re back to rotating safeties in the game.
December 18th, 2015 at 3:15 pm
bucrightoff…if talent wasn’t important then there would be no need for a draft…there wouldn’t be college players ranked rounds 1-7….if talent wasn’t important teams would just trade all there draft picks for FA’s…but talent is how you win….in no way shape or form have I ever said lovie was the best coach and he’s perfect…I wanted him out after last year and I was I season ticket holder… heck after the first game vs the titans I wanted him out but I had to sit back and realize that it was the 1st game of the year…after last year all I wanted to see was progress and not 3-13…I want single digit loses…this team has improved…im I satisfied with this year…NO…do I think lovie could have done a better job in certain areas..YES…I just realize that you cant put all the blame on 1 man in a team sport…everyone has to be accountable…GO BUCS!!!
December 18th, 2015 at 3:21 pm
But you arent holding Lovie accountable. You keep saying its a talent issue when that clearly is just part of the reason. I havent heard you say one time this coach isnt coaching well or even imply it.
When everyone was healthy they still looked as inept as last nights debacle. Such as the Titans game. I would respect Lovie a lot more if just once he’d put the blame on himself. Tell us he’s not doing a good enough job. Something. But all he does is blame everything on everyone else.
December 18th, 2015 at 3:26 pm
You’re just being a homer though 813bucboi. And like most homers, you’re saying incredibly poorly thought out, or straight up disingenuous stuff to try and make things seem much better than they are. That’s why me and Realist and Couch take the most crap from homers around here, because we can actually objectively analyze the Bucs without going homer.
Like for instance, the prevailing thought amongst homers/Lovie defenders is that when he gets a full draft of defense, everything is getting better. Thing is, Lovie has shown he cannot coach any one up beyond their base talent level. He hasn’t made a single player better than before he got here. Why is next year going to be different? The only things that have improve relate to offense, where Lovie has no input at all. That can’t be a coincidence can it?
December 18th, 2015 at 3:38 pm
Flat – Terrible
December 18th, 2015 at 3:51 pm
Jesus, if I am saying we have no talent on defense how is that being a lovie homer? Lovie has not done a good job and if the Glazers decided to make a change after the season I would be ok with it. My only point is that we have a horribly low level of talent on defense outside of 3 players. Coaching can only do so much to compensate for the UPS drivers we have running around out there. It goes both ways! Barry Switzer took over an extremely talented Cowboys team and won his first year there primarily due to talent. Bill Belichick couldn’t hold down a job until he had Tom Brady as his QB. I think a talented team can cover up coaching deficiencies sometimes. However, it is nearly impossible for a coach to overcome an extreme lack of talent in player personnel.
December 18th, 2015 at 4:03 pm
But TDTB, 80% of this defense is made up of guys who were not here when Lovie got hired. Whatever excuses people want to use on that, he has chosen his own players. It’s not like he came in mid-season and had to work with what was there. He chose to go with these guys. It’s not Schiano’s team anymore, or anything close. It’s Lovie’s team, Lovie’s guys, Lovie’s schemes.
I guess the best I can rationalize it is that Lovie was so arrogant in his belief he could coach up any scrubs and produce a top 10 defense, that he figured he could cut one of the best corners ever and just be ok, Using the all offense draft excuse is very weak, unless Jason Licht was standing over Lovie with a sawed-off pointed at his head, he’s a free human being. He could have drafted defense more if he wanted to. But he foolishly believed his poor scheme could work with anyone. Now he needs two more years because of his own arrogance.
December 18th, 2015 at 4:39 pm
bucrightoff…you and your friend realist and couch just have it out for lovie just call it like it is….I do hold lovie accountable..i just said I think he could have done better in some areas in his coaching…what more do you want me to say…fire lovie…but at the same time I hold the players accountable as well…as a coach once told me and my team mates…”I cant play the game for you”…lovie cant coach and play the game…for the three of you to sit here daily and put 100% of the blame on lovie and not blame the players that are actually playing the game is just down right wrong and sad on so many levels…in case you didn’t know, there’s more than one reason lovie cut ties with revis barron and golston…yeah some of it had to due with scheme but it also had to do with $$$$….all the players were being paid way too much and not producing…they didn’t produce under schiano either… we were 4-12 with the no fly zone..lol….cutting those players are one reason why we have 50million to spend in FA….talent and coaching work hand in hand…schiano had a little bit of talent and could do nothing with it but regress…lovie has no talent a still some how progressed this season…GO BUCS!!!
December 18th, 2015 at 4:47 pm
Couch fan hit it on the head….our players go to other teams and play theyree asses off. That means one thing and that is the coaches are not getting through to these guys. The effort is not there for a reason and its painfully obvious. It sucks becasue we have a good fan base and good players. We do need some better talent yes….but that was just poor effort all the way around and there is no way in hell it players that dont want to play. It is trickling down from somewhere. Ive been saying for ever the glaziers should show up to the games once in a while and show the players they actually care about the team. Its the whole organization. They dknt make in game adjustments until half time, they are flat to say it nice
December 18th, 2015 at 4:54 pm
Couch fan hit it on the head….our players go to other teams and play theyree asses off. That means one thing and that is the coaches are not getting through to these guys. The effort is not there for a reason and its painfully obvious. It sucks becasue we have a good fan base and good players. We do need some better talent yes….but that was just poor effort all the way around and there is no way in hell it players that dont want to play. It is trickling down from somewhere. Ive been saying for ever the glaziers should show up to the games once in a while and show the players they actually care about the team. Its the whole organization. They dknt make in game adjustments until half time, they are flat to say it nice………
December 18th, 2015 at 4:58 pm
Why when the other team is on defense most ALL passes are contested by the d-backs, but when we’re on defense we give them a 10 yard cushion to catch the ball and then we tackle them. I just don’t get it. This drives me up the wall!
December 19th, 2015 at 2:16 am
@bucrightoff
That’s why me and Realist and Couch take the most crap from homers around here, because we can actually objectively analyze the Bucs without going homer.
Are you saying analyze game play? What? What are your credentials? Fantasy football? Madden NFL? Major college playing experience? Coaching?
I find that like most people on this site, you are very negative, and never come up with any solutions except fire coach Smith.
Who do you plan on replacing him with? Do you want to go through another rebuilding process? Maybe you should cheer for the Panthers?
Are you always so critical about everything?
Merry Xmas and Happy New Year.
December 19th, 2015 at 8:35 am
Who do you plan on replacing him with? Do you want to go through another rebuilding process? Maybe you should cheer for the Panthers?
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Why do people ask such silly questions? Its not our job to come up with solutions. Besides even if we did, you would come up with something silly to tell us how wrong we are and that Lovie is better and just needs more time.
You act like people dont have a right to complain about their team constantly stinking it up. Ridiculous. When it is all said and done Lovie is the guy who controls this team. He is responsible for everything and so far him and his team have done a p!ss poor job and if you have 2 healthy eyes you should be able to see that. Defend him all you want but you cant dispute that through 30 games now, Lovie has done worse than anyone since Gruden.
December 19th, 2015 at 1:06 pm
I think everyone expected the Bucs defense to suddenly morph into the Bears defense that Lovie had. The difference is the type of players that were on that Bears defense. They rarely came out flat because of their metal make up. They didn’t need to be pushed to produce on the field. The Bucs defensive roster is completely devoid of these types of players. Lovie needs an infusion of new players with the same fire that all good players have. The Bucs defense plays with zero sense of urgency. It’s not all on Lovie and I’m no Lovie apologist.
December 19th, 2015 at 2:35 pm
@1987 – “I think this team has plenty of talent”.
Really?
OFFENSE – Jameis Winston, Doug Martin, Charles Sims, Vincent Jackson, Mike Evans, Logan Mankins and Ali Marpet.
DEFENSE – GMC, Kwon Alexander and LVD.
10 starters out of 22 does not constitute “plenty of talent”? When over half of your starters don’t have talent and your back-ups do not have any talent you have no depth. What I am saying is we only have 10 talented players out of 53.
December 20th, 2015 at 9:37 am
Sorry, David. It IS the way you play football.
Problem is the Bucs have to play lights-out, mistake free football to beat even average teams.
There is much work to be done.