Charlie Weis Talks Mike Smith
January 22nd, 2016
Former NFL OC Charlie Weis discusses Bucs DC Mike Smith.
When former Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis dialed up plays for Tom Brady and Bill Belicheat in 2003, he once faced a first-time defensive coordinator in Jacksonville named Mike Smith.
Fast-forward nearly 13 years, and that same defensive coordinator is now running the Bucs’ defense. Weis remembered that matchup with Smith well, a 27-13 Patriots win.
Joe got a chance to talk to Weis this week at the East-West Shrine Game practices in St. Petersburg. While Weis wouldn’t go into detail about the game, Weis did sound off on Smith, who he greatly respects as a defensive mind.
“[Smith] has been one of the best defensive coaches in the NFL for quite some time,” Weis said of the former Dixie Chicks head coach and Crows linebacker coach. “This is nothing new. As a matter of fact, I think that Tampa is almost fortunate to get a guy like that because he is not only a talented coach but a good man on top of that. I think he will fit in well with that staff.
“When you are an offensive-background head coach, the biggest hire besides your strength coach, the biggest hire you have is your defensive coordinator. Let’s face it: Even if you are the head coach, you find yourself leaning over to the offensive side of the ball. So, it is critical you can find a guy who you can count on — basically he is running half of the team. That is really what he is doing it is a critical hire and I think [Dirk Koetter] hit a good one there.”
Weis went on to say how important Smith’s solid experience leading the Dixie Chicks will be to Koetter.
There will be times, Weis said, that Koetter, despite his experience as a college head coach, will need help. What better person, Weis suggested, to tap into help than a guy like Smith, who not only had success as an NFL head coach but is so familiar with the NFC South?
Weis thought that the Bucs and Koetter knocked it out of the park by grabbing Smith.
January 22nd, 2016 at 1:07 pm
Please change that picture.
Him wearing the Orange and Blue makes my heart hurt.
January 22nd, 2016 at 1:08 pm
I’m liking the Mike Smith hire more every day. I wasn’t on board at first, but he’s changing my mind. I hope this works.
January 22nd, 2016 at 1:14 pm
I’m hoping this all comes together. I believe it will. But I honestly do not know who well out D talent is…I can see a corps of young talent.
And so our major challenge is that we are in a division with the best team in football right now and an improving Atlanta team. As long as Brees remains in NO they will not be easy either.
That’s fine by me. Again to go all Ric Flair…to be the best you gotta beat the best.
I’m having visions of a decade of really cool showdowns between #3 and Cam.
It should be exciting!!!!
January 22nd, 2016 at 1:22 pm
Whew! At first glance I thought maybe Weiss was added to the coaching staff…
January 22nd, 2016 at 1:32 pm
Has another coach ever said anything negative when talking about the skills/accomplishments of one of his peers?
January 22nd, 2016 at 1:35 pm
Charlie Weis has a sweet “dickie-do”…his belly sticks out further than his dickie-do.
January 22nd, 2016 at 1:43 pm
I’m feeling the Bucs nailed the selection process big time on the package deal of Koetter-Smith. Smiles all around, except most of the national media who enjoy the Bucs suck.
January 22nd, 2016 at 1:44 pm
Good observation Tony.
I’ve got family in Atlanta, who basically hate everything not Giants blue, that never had an unkind word for Mike Smith.
Credible guy with better credentials.
January 22nd, 2016 at 2:00 pm
coaches’ opinions of other coaches always tends to resemble a circle jerk
January 22nd, 2016 at 3:13 pm
Its nice that our offensive minded hc as rapport with the dc. Its a good start.
I hope the players pick up Smiths concepts on defense quick. Schematicaly I dont think his defense will be drastically different. Im curious to see how many players on defense we retain. That could say alot.
January 22nd, 2016 at 3:23 pm
Joe’s sleeping. So let me be the first poster to congratulate John Lynch for his Ring of Honor.
Love this guy like a brother.
January 22nd, 2016 at 3:24 pm
Thought just occurred to me. Mike Smith’s goofy demeanor kind of reminds me a little of Monte.
January 22nd, 2016 at 3:28 pm
Why does everything have to remind or be the second coming of the old bucs from the 90’s???
How about Coach Mike Smith reminds me of Coach M Smith!!! The guy who lead a dominate defense in Jax, then became the greatest head coach the Falcons ever had!!!
January 22nd, 2016 at 3:42 pm
Has another coach ever said anything negative when talking about the skills/accomplishments of one of his peers?
Obviously very infrequently. But as my mother told me, if you can’t say something good about somebody then say nothing at all.
We have to trust Joe to interpret some of these remarks. If a coach says little or simply says…yeah he’s a good guy…not much of an endorsement.
But if a coach goes out of his way and illustrates his thoughts with personal memories of competing against or working with a coach I think the comments are significant.
“[Smith] has been one of the best defensive coaches in the NFL for quite some time,”
Then Weis backs it up with examples..he had no need to do that.
January 22nd, 2016 at 3:50 pm
Ease up off of Jose’…..we have reason to rejoice as Mike Smith is a massive improvement over the Big Poodles buddy Lovie!!!
The Bucs got 20% better just with having Lovie out of the building…if Smith is half as tough as the gushing is..then he will be a major upgrade!
If not….fire him! This is the NFL baby…just win!
Greg Schiano
January 22nd, 2016 at 4:06 pm
I don’t get it. We now have coaches that are our division rivals rejects. Maybe revenge will be a great motivator.
January 22nd, 2016 at 4:20 pm
Lightning
Maybe it’s because people believe the Falcons scapegoated them when it was really the GM who traded away all those draft choices for Julio Jones and never stocked the defensive side of the cupboard with talent.
You are what your record says you are eh.
Mike Smith was 66-46 with the Falcons a .589 winning %
Tony Dungy was 54-42 with the Bucs a .563
Chucky was 57-55 with the Bucs a .509…if you omit Chucky’s first year he was 45-51 for a .468 losing record.
In short…if you guys wish to keep on criticizing Smith remember you are criticizing a coach with a better winning % than Dungy or Gruden!!!!
January 22nd, 2016 at 5:57 pm
From TheOnion:
Romeo Crennel To Charlie Weis: ‘I Need You To Come Over Right Now And Stop Me From Eating These Five Chocolate Wedding Cakes’
January 22nd, 2016 at 6:04 pm
TheOnion:
http://www.theonion.com/graphic/fired-charlie-weis-cleans-out-his-desk-10230
January 22nd, 2016 at 7:20 pm
Privately, you bet.