Conspiring With The Enemy?
February 26th, 2016
Still tight with a division GM?
Joe is almost completely warmed over by the hiring of defensive coordinator Mike Smith.
Joe has yet to hear from any NFL type that this was in any way a questionable move by Dirk Koetter.
In fact, Joe had heard from a high profile NFL source that Smith and his staff have attacked their new gigs and turned into football vampires: entering the defensive meeting room bunker at dawn and first coming up for air at dusk.
Yesterday, Joe asked Dixie Chicks general manager Thomas Dimitroff, the GM over Smith when he was head coach of the Dixie Chicks, whether Smith on the Bucs was good news for him because he knows Smith so well, or if Smith with Tampa Bay was bad news because Dimitroff knows Smith so well. D
Dimitroff’s answer gave Joe a moment of pause.
“No, Mike is a helluva football coach,” Dimitroff said. “You never want to face coaches with the ability like Mike has. We actually talked the other day.
“We have a good relationship. With a guy like that in the league, it’s important that he’s coaching again. I’m really happy for him.”
What were these two talking about?
The NFL, particularly the coaching profession, is all about relationships, but Joe thinks it’s a wee bit odd that a defensive coordinator is still chatting with a general manager of a division rival, seemingly so freely.
Joe doesn’t expect Smith to totally cut off his old comrades in Atlanta. That would be a childish, petulant move. Joe gets that. Still, something struck Joe as odd about what Dimitroff offered.
February 26th, 2016 at 10:20 am
While I’m excited for the new multiple looks on defense I’m a little worried about the players catching on and having to learn multiple schemes. I’m confident we have the right coaching staff to do it but we seen how this defense turned out trying to learn lovies basic TAMPA 2. After two season there was no improvement and it was historically embarrassing at times. Let’s hope we get better results this time around.
February 26th, 2016 at 10:26 am
Look at how many years that Dimitroff has had to put together a complete roster. Still has holes everywhere, and little depth.
I am more and more convinced the problem in Atlanta is the GM, not the coaching.
Let’s just hope he trades away more picks to move up for another skill position again this year.
February 26th, 2016 at 10:35 am
Boy joe you are reaching today lol.
February 26th, 2016 at 10:35 am
Funny, Wade Phillips can get results in months. Hope Mike Smith spoke with him last week too.
February 26th, 2016 at 10:40 am
“Coach maintains good relationship with former employer”
Yeah someone alert the press please.
February 26th, 2016 at 11:02 am
It’s the combine so everyone who knows one another in league circles is talking with one another, Joe.
February 26th, 2016 at 11:17 am
JMZ
(Like TMZ but J for Joe….just kidding around Joe)
February 26th, 2016 at 11:24 am
ALL of Mike Smith’s future success in the league is dependant on how well, how much, and how fast he can have success turning around the Bucs D…Seeing as how Dimitroff has no bearing what so ever on this, I doubt very highly there’s “conspriering” going on. A friendly chain yanking for some perspective and additional opinions, info, etc, Whats so hard to believe about that?
February 26th, 2016 at 11:29 am
You guys are missing the point!!! Read between the lines!! Its about a veiled shot at Lovie, who has burned all bridges and is giving the silent treatment to the last 2 places he worked!!!
February 26th, 2016 at 11:29 am
Tampa Hybrid on deck now. Really looking forward to seeing it. Go get Buckner and stop with this Noah Spence nonesince. Ihave a name for you Randy Gregory.
February 26th, 2016 at 11:43 am
🙂
No need to apologize. Joe considers any comparison to TMZ a badge of honor. TMZ has been one of the great success stories of the 21st century.
February 26th, 2016 at 11:47 am
Aaaaannnnn with the stretch at first base!!!
February 26th, 2016 at 11:54 am
bucs4Life86…..the bucs will have a base defense and I am assuming a 4-3 and then they will have packages based off of that every blitz and every coverage will always be the same it will just be the different packages and they all have code names like if they have 4-2-5 personnel they may name it “joebucs” this is done at every level from high school to college and smith is a friggin defensive guru look at ravens and jags…..first time i am excited since gruden days to know the competetnt ppl running the team
February 26th, 2016 at 12:16 pm
The Buc Realist Says:
You guys are missing the point!!! Read between the lines!! Its about a veiled shot at Lovie, who has burned all bridges and is giving the silent treatment to the last 2 places he worked!!!
———————————–
The human debris in Lovie’s wake known as coordinators should tell you that. RE: Tedford. Maybe he couldn’t find one in the NFL ranks.
February 26th, 2016 at 12:27 pm
This tory is a total reach. These guys are human. They establish relationships on the job and they stay in touch. Big deal.
February 26th, 2016 at 1:09 pm
Isn’t it ironic that you hear MULTIPLE current and relevant coaches talk about Koetter and Smith along with the current staff.
I think the greatest compliment comes from your peers. I seldom heard praise for Lovie and his scheme/staff.
Ironic????
February 26th, 2016 at 1:48 pm
Here in the ATL they are questioning Arthur Blank and WHY is Dimitroff still the GM of the Falcons, I say good for us
February 26th, 2016 at 1:48 pm
Realist and Biff,
I agree completely. Lovie was not HC material, and his Bears team was carried by Ron Rivera at DC, a HOF LB in Urlacher, and the best return man to ever walk the face of the earth in Devin Hester. Lance Briggs and Peanut Tillman were great players in their own right.
Lovie refused to adjust, or bring in another OC after Tedford had to setp down. What that tells me is that Lovie is so set in his way, that in his mind it is okay for the team/fans to suffer because it must be his way.
Bye Lovie, enjoy your 10 million dollar parachute and your basement!
The Tampa Two Mafia lays in wait, and hopeful that the Bucs fail as to make their misguided points. Much like the Freemanites, the Tampa Two Mafia is a segment of partial fans, unable to view reality.
February 26th, 2016 at 1:48 pm
Realist and Biff,
I agree completely. Lovie was not HC material, and his Bears team was carried by Ron Rivera at DC, a HOF LB in Urlacher, and the best return man to ever walk the face of the earth in Devin Hester. Lance Briggs and Peanut Tillman were great players in their own right.
Lovie refused to adjust, or bring in another OC after Tedford had to step down. What that tells me is that Lovie is so set in his way, that in his mind it is okay for the team/fans to suffer because it must be his way. 🙂
Bye Lovie, enjoy your 10 million dollar parachute and your basement!
The Tampa Two Mafia lays in wait, and hopeful that the Bucs fail as to make their misguided points. Much like the Freemanites, the Tampa Two Mafia is a segment of partial fans, unable to view reality.
February 26th, 2016 at 2:36 pm
Joe, Joe, Joe….. Have you ever gone to work for a competitor and your old Boss plays nice with you? The whole time you are thinking how much you want to put him out of business, I think that is what Mike Smith is thinking. Mike Smith wants to make Atlanta sorry for firing him. Mike Smith wants every other team that passed him over to regret it. I believe Mike Smith will be coaching this year with a big chip on his shoulder and I am fine with that. It will contrast nicely with last years non-emotional Lovie.
February 26th, 2016 at 4:12 pm
Some HC’s and Dc’s run their course and other opposing coaches catch on to their schemes. Smith got it done for a few yrs in ATL and then started slipping.I’m not saying his best coaching is behind him, but there were far better DC’s for Koetter to choose from. Hoping Smith does well. But my question for you, Lets hire the ole ATL coaching staff (which we did) is..If Smith could not get it done in Atlanta, what the heck makes you think he will get it done in Tampa? Just sayin….
February 27th, 2016 at 10:22 am
Why are we still talking about lovie?
February 27th, 2016 at 12:19 pm
Seems like you be the one talking about Lovie. WE..are talking about Our Bucs turning into..The Atlanta falcon Bucs!
February 28th, 2016 at 10:07 am
Arghhhh thats freaking face i wanna punch it!