Custodian Sounds Alarm Bells
January 3rd, 2016
We all know the lone logical reason to have Lovie Smith return for the 2016 season is his handling of America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, and his brilliant transition to the NFL.
Those who scoff, well, they have zero clue of the power structure at One Buc Palace. Lovie doesn’t hire people for his coaching staff he doesn’t want.
Lovie’s fingerprints are all over Jameis, from the very moment Lovie signed off on drafted the stud rookie to the present day.
One element of Lovie’s handling of Jameis is hiring Dirk Koetter to run the offense and mold Jameis, and it has worked out perfectly. However, success brings attention and with Black Monday hours away, when many an NFL coach will be booted from his team office, rumors are percolating that Koetter may be a head coaching candidate.
In the eyes of the Custodian of Canton, eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune, Koetter leaving Jameis and the Bucs would be a calamity.
If Dirk Koetter leaves for a HC job, it would be a crippling blow to Tampa Bay’s offseason plans. His rapport with Winston has been critical
— Ira Kaufman (@IKaufmanTBO) January 3, 2016
Koetter bolting would be horrible news. The bond between Jameis and Koetter is strong and they are both great for each other. It would certainly be a step back for the franchise (both the player and the team).
Joe hopes not only does Koetter get zero serious inquiries from other teams, but he is at peace working for the Bucs and with Jameis.
January 3rd, 2016 at 12:45 pm
Sorry Joe, but we DO NOT all agree the handling of Winston is the lone reason to bring Lovie back. Fire Lovie, and lock Koetter up by making him the HC before he’s gone. If not, the offense will deteriorate, Winston will more than likely have sophomore jinx learning from a new OC, and Lovie will only be fired next year anyway. Stop the foolishness now!
January 3rd, 2016 at 12:56 pm
Promote Dirk. Fire Lovie. Hire a DC. Keep offensive continuity, while getting rid of defenses mindset/scheme.
January 3rd, 2016 at 1:03 pm
Get Sean Payton. Be bold like Malcolm was. And then who cares about Koetter when we have a better offensive coach?
January 3rd, 2016 at 1:03 pm
If Koetter really wants to be a HC….there isn’t much we can do to stop him.
I don’t think the Glazers would fire Lovie to keep him…..there could certainly be an argument to doing that…..he would have to have a serious offer on the table first.
January 3rd, 2016 at 1:11 pm
Should’ve fired Lovie after 2-14, he will keep this franchise down for years
January 3rd, 2016 at 1:11 pm
@tbbf,
Actually there is. You promote him to an assistant head coach / offensive coordinator, and then pay him more money.
We did the same thing with monte kiffin, which worked great until he decided to go coach with his lame son.
Glazers, do something that your father would have done! Make him proud for a change.
January 3rd, 2016 at 1:15 pm
If Lovie is so great for Jameis then the departure of Koetter will have little effect. Joe’s admiration for Lovie as a coach makes me sick
January 3rd, 2016 at 1:19 pm
Live didn’t mold anything. All koetter, Lovie might be the most boring coach in the NFL, his style of play, his personality, guy is as vanilla as it gets only reason he was any good in Chicago was because he had hall of famers on his defense.
January 3rd, 2016 at 1:25 pm
@911,
Ok I don’t normally do this but I will defend Joe on your point. He he doesn’t have admiration for Lovie, nor thinks he has done a good job with the team overall.
If you actually read what he writes, he says Lovie is safe for another year because of JW. It is long documented that the Gkazers have wanted a true franchise quarterback. That’s why we fired Gruden and took Freeman as high as we did. Lovie got the Glazers their quarterback, therefore they will give him another year. Whether you credit him at all for the development of JW doesn’t matter to them. (I’m not giving Lovie and excuses, just pointing out the reality of the situation).
January 3rd, 2016 at 1:31 pm
Somehow I don’t see the other teams beating down the door to get Koetter. I think he is back with the Bucs is a given.
January 3rd, 2016 at 1:31 pm
If the glaziers dont march over to koetter as soon as todays game is over as say “listen….we want you to work with jameis throughout his career. If you fet an offer for HC we want a chance to match that offer.” We want to give Lovie enough time to get things together as he has been planning we cannot afford to let you and Winston seperate. We will match any teams offer we want you to stay!”
If Koetter goes I am done. I will read the scores in the papers and start spending my Sunday afternoons doing something worth 3 hrs of my time and following team moves everyday through the week. We as fans care more about this team than the owners. Thats how it seems. If koetter is allowed to walk than that will probably be it for this Bucs fan.
January 3rd, 2016 at 1:32 pm
If Koeter leaves, We will see just how much “lovies finger prints are all over Jameis” LMAO
January 3rd, 2016 at 1:37 pm
JBF, you forgot that the luck of hiring Koetter was due to Lovie hiring that prior OC Tedford who never coached a game. I think you’re giving Lovie too much credit for developing Winston. The only way to make up for Koetter leaving is firing Lovie and hiring Sean Peyton. He hasn’t done too bad with Brees.
January 3rd, 2016 at 1:39 pm
@ unbelievable
That would help, but wouldn’t keep him from being a HC…..if Koetter is seriously being considered….he wouldn’t accept the promotion.
I would think the “Fire Lovie” crowd would be aching for Koetter to leave….it would likely hasten Lovie’s exit….because he would struggle to win next year.
The “Fire Lovie” crowd has to have Buc losses in order for their wish to come true.
January 3rd, 2016 at 2:04 pm
Unbelievable:
Thank you.
To others who say Lovie had nothing to do with Jameis (which is insane on so many levels,) imagine if Lovie hired any number of slugs like Brian Schottenheimer? Or worse, caved to public pressure to draft Mariota.
Quit fooling yourselves.
January 3rd, 2016 at 2:14 pm
I read the other day that he’s the highest paid offensive coordinator In the game. He’s not going anywhere, I haven’t heard his name mentioned with any of the top canidates.
January 3rd, 2016 at 2:24 pm
Lovie who? Tell me again which offensive position he coaches. And tell me again what plays he has called that have been so Winston friendly. Hmm? Lovie gets credit for hireing Koetter and for having such a piss poor team we lucked up and got the #1 overall pick. Silliness… Again!
January 3rd, 2016 at 2:28 pm
Maybe behind the scenes Lovie and Koetter are equals.
I suspect that Lovie has very little input into offensive personal
and zero input to offensive game planning.
January 3rd, 2016 at 2:34 pm
If the Glazers are thinking along this asinine idea that they should keep Lovie because he sucked himself right into the #1 overall pick despite his team and certainly his side of the ball looking like a high school team, then they should be fired right along with Lovie.
Hope thats not the case because if it is then we are in for a lot more losing years. Hard to be a Bucs fan.
January 3rd, 2016 at 2:35 pm
“We all know the lone logical reason to have Lovie Smith return for the 2016 season is his handling of America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, and his brilliant transition to the NFL.”
Who’s this we? Some of us don’t fall for that spin Joe. Even YOU yourself wasn’t sure if the Glazers were going to tie Lovie’s hands to Jameis on draft day.
The whole ridiculous notion is hogwash anyways.
January 3rd, 2016 at 2:38 pm
I’m not even going to debate this subject with anyone. Why? Because the other side has nonsense to back it up. Shear nonsense. Fooling ourselves? I think it’s the other way around.
January 3rd, 2016 at 2:40 pm
Fire Lovie, Promote Koetter and let him pick his OC and O Staff! Let Licht have full power over personnel and keep Frasier in as the DC.
Those small changes allows this team to continue to build continuity while also making a needed change. Lovie contribution to this team has failed nearly at every turn
January 3rd, 2016 at 2:46 pm
I don’t really agree with the Lovie molding concept.
What I can credit him for is:
Getting Dirk Koetter (best OC any of our recent coaches have obtained)
Signing off on all offensive drafts for 2 years
For a defensive coach with his history he did a few things he never did with the Bears in getting a franchise QB and building a younger promising offensive line
I know we all love Koetter but he wouldn’t have ever been here without Lovie. I think that’s a pretty fair take
January 3rd, 2016 at 2:48 pm
@ 911
Joe is just fishing and pandering on this one. Gotta stay on Lovie’s and Bucs good side so he doesn’t lose his One Buc and locker room access
January 3rd, 2016 at 2:52 pm
@ Howard Cosell
You nailed it.
I bet that Lovie listens to Koetter more than Koetter listens to Lovie. After all, we all know what an offensive genius and handler of QB’s that Lovie has always been
January 3rd, 2016 at 3:10 pm
Joe cracks me up, he makes it sound like Jameis would have been a third rounder and in jail if not for lovie!!!!!!!!
January 3rd, 2016 at 3:15 pm
JHC, some of you guys need to improve your language and reading skills. Here is what Jie said:
“We all know the lone logical reason to have Lovie Smith return for the 2016 season is his handling of America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, and his brilliant transition to the NFL.”
There is nothing in that statement anyone can remotely construe as Joe supporting Lovie’s return as head coach. On the contrary, it seems to me Joe is saying Lovie has stunk up the joint and does not deserve another chance, but if
one wanted to argue for his return in 2016, the only logical argument one could make would be his handling of the Jameis situation.
There are plenty of illogical reasons to argue for Lovie’s return but that is the only logical one for sure.
January 3rd, 2016 at 3:15 pm
Joe not Jie.
January 3rd, 2016 at 3:23 pm
Lovie’s involvement with Jameis ended right after he named him starter. Period.
January 3rd, 2016 at 3:25 pm
You’re welcome Joe!
January 3rd, 2016 at 3:36 pm
If Dirk does leave I have a feeling he will be exposed very quickly I don’t get the sudden crowing of dirk after the one season and somehow the train wreck in atlanta doesn’t exist any more, leslie frazier is still living in a witness program at one bucs palace after his stint with the vikings. Those vikings and their horns could be deadly if inserted in the wrong place. I think dirk is been giving too much credit for JW’s talent. This type of crowning I can understand how it can rile some minority coaches.
January 3rd, 2016 at 3:43 pm
Thanks 76!
January 3rd, 2016 at 3:45 pm
So if Lovie gets fired tomorrow, do we pretend us clueless, unanointed fans didn’t see it coming. Do we pretend the informed, anointed Joes never assured us he wouldn’t be fired. Or do we just ignore the mentioning of it like all the non-stop Johnny football hype. No, l don’t think Lovie will be fired tomorrow, but it has nothing to do with Jameis. It has to do with trust fund babies trying to save face and not look like idiots. This team is undisciplined, uninspired and the defense sucks. All on Lovie and his personnel decisions. Jameis is the bright spot in spite of Lovie, not because of him.
January 3rd, 2016 at 3:50 pm
Team Glazer has done stranger things (firing Chucky so late). Everything they have said publicly, every thing Joe is hearing, at this point, Lovie returns.
Joe really doesn’t think fans understand just how important Lovie’s handling of Jameis was (to the people who cut the checks at One Buc Palace). It really cannot be overstated.
Jameis saved Lovie’s job.
January 3rd, 2016 at 3:59 pm
Incompetent Lovie Smith handling Winston masterfully = getting the eff out of the way and letting the competent professionals do their jobs on offense. Just think of the success this team might have if incompetent Lovie Smith got all the way out of the way, as in back to the basement!!
January 3rd, 2016 at 4:07 pm
I don’t expect a thank you from Joe….but I will say this.
Lovie had/has all the power given to him by the Glazers….
He could have drafted either QB but chose Jameis.
He hired Koetter & approved Bajakian
He approved 13/14 Offensive Draft picks
Remember when Koetter was asked if Dotson would start (think it was Dotson, may have been EDS….but Koetter said that would be “Coaches decision”
Lovie Smith cannot be assigned all the blame for all the mistakes….and not be given credit for any successes….and Jameis is his success…..period.
January 3rd, 2016 at 4:10 pm
Lovie’s handling of Jameis – What a frikin’ joke
It’s like everybody complimenting you on how clean your car is after you’ve paid somebody else to wash it
January 3rd, 2016 at 4:13 pm
Tampabucfan that’s what our fans have done.
I think they literally think his only job is calling the defense which is insanely stupid.
These same fans also dont think there is any difference in being a coordinator vs head coach; or the fact that many great OCs who had top 5 offenses went on to be failures as a head coach
January 3rd, 2016 at 4:17 pm
I’m going to put a summary together of how the team has performed in all categories under Lovie vs Schiano and Morris soon after this last game. I’m going to also take into account how offseasons were spent each year in terms of notable signings and draft picks. Kind of like a huge perspective analysis.
I personally feel better about the direction of this team now than at any point in the last 5 years. Most of that is due to Winston / Jason Light & Job Robinson right now though
January 3rd, 2016 at 4:19 pm
Also where is that one jack4ss that called our GM a lapdog GM all the time? That was only after his first year. Fans make themselves look so stupid on here all day
January 3rd, 2016 at 4:25 pm
Joe (Steve and Lee),
You are giving way too much credit for Lovie “handling” Jameis.
If Dirk leaves, do you really trust Lovie to make another great OC hire?
In Lovie’s brilliant career, he has made one decent OC hire… Dirk… who came b/c we had the first pick and he wanted to work with Jameis. If Dirk leaves, why do you want Lovie to oversee Jameis development?
They’ve invested nothing in the defense, and the defense quits once things go bad. They do that even with things going well on offense.
I know turnover is hard, but do you really want Lovie (minus Dirk) drafting undersized Tampa Two defensive players?
January 3rd, 2016 at 4:42 pm
Dirk coming here because of Winston is insanely speculative and not rooted in any facts. 1/3 our fan base at least at the time campaigned for a trade back and we had no idea which QB we were leaning
January 3rd, 2016 at 6:08 pm
Well here is the thing. When Lovie was first hired, he philosophy for offense was run the ball and run often, then go deep on the pass. It’s not Lovie’s or anyone fault that Tedford got sick. Now that Koetter here, the offensive philosophy is pretty much the same.
If you want to blame Lovie for the bad players coming here, then give him credit for the right acquisitions to fix the team. The effect of actually improving the o line after decades of bad block and wasted of time. Doug Martin went from rookie standout to being a bust to be a contender for the rushing title. That’s a big turn around. We went from Josh Freeman and Mike Glennon not having enough time to pass the ball to Jameis having enough time to make the right decision.
We now have a high fly offense. Evan is a back to back 1,000 yards production despite is dreaded drop and whining to the ref. Jackson had one last year while being half way to a repeat two wide outs with a 1,000. Plus, Martin and Sims breakout year. It’s been some time since our Offense have been this good and exciting.
Our two problem areas are Defense and finding the right special team return man/ men.
The Bucs defense since Raheem to now had the players that’s neither have the talent and/or intelligence as a unit to play either man to man, blitzing man or zone, or zone coverage majority of the time. Each coverage and playing style requires certain players for each scheme.
We don’t have the talent to play man to man majority of the time with our corners and safeties. Plus the d line doesn’t get pressure on the qb, which mean a wr will get open. It’s not a matter of if but when. So, if we blitz (man or zone), then we will have even less people to cover. That’s a bright idea except our corners are bad and the blitz does get blocked. When it get blocked, it’s a big play wanting to happen. It’s not a good idea to use it majority of the time. The only logical scheme to be somewhat competitive with these questionable corners/ safeties and d linemen and not give up too much big plays is a coverage scheme.
With a weak line and secondary, they put all the coaches between a rock and a hard place when it comes to the scheme. Lovie needs more time to get the right guys on this team to turn it around. I believe this off-season is going to be dedicated to the defense.