Inaction Indicts Lovie Smith
March 11th, 2016
The Bucs have done nothing to bolster their horrid third-down defense of 2015.
All they’ve done is change defensive coaches.
That’s pretty damn telling for a team sitting on north of $40 million in cap room for the 2016 season.
On paper, it seems the Bucs are content with cornerbacks Johnthan Banks and Alterraun Verner, the former was mysteriously benched by Lovie Smith, and the latter was forced to change positions after serving time on the scout team last year.
Lovie’s safeties? The Bucs gave a welcome-back tender to starter Bradley McDougald, and word on the street says they want Chris Conte to return. Head coach Dirk Koetter even named Conte at the NFL Scouting Combine as a valuable performer.
The Bucs have shown no apparent interest in bagging a premier defensive back in free agency. What does that say about Lovie, the ousted defensive coordinator/guru/head coach?
Jot thinks that’s one ugly indictment of Lovie’s inability to get the most out of players, you know, like “the intelligent coaches can do.”
Yes, Joe realizes the Bucs are primed to draft a defensive end and a cornerback, but this week’s inaction is telling.
March 11th, 2016 at 9:08 am
Maybe on the DB’s, but I disagree about the DE
They tried with Charles Johnson and then brought in Ayers.
Doesn’t appear they had a shot at Mario, JPP, or the young guy out Miami
March 11th, 2016 at 9:11 am
It takes two to tango. I wonder how many players the Bucs approached who turned them down up front.
Lovie Smith was extremely popular out there and since his firing the Bucs front office has been trashed for firing him, especially within the black communities. It continues even today.
I wonder how much Lovie’s firing has affected free agency, how many turned the team down *because* of the supposedly “unfair” manner that Lovie was let go, you know, a protest of sorts.
March 11th, 2016 at 9:14 am
No one cares about black community we all American you fool screw lovie he was an idiot !!!!
March 11th, 2016 at 9:18 am
Strider, it doesn’t matter what *we* think. It matters what players & player agents think…
It’s clear, based on the hundreds of negative comments, some quite emotional, that a huge % of the NFL community thinks Lovie got a really bad deal, that he was shafted. This is true even with some former Bucs players.
March 11th, 2016 at 9:18 am
i never thought of that cobraboy, i hope that a protest is not the reason players are staying away.
March 11th, 2016 at 9:19 am
It’s pretty much impossible to believe that the players who A either couldn’t cover or B couldn’t rush the passer are all of sudden going to flourish because it’s a new system. Extremely disappointed in Licht right now. Doesn’t even appear that we’ve tried to get any better or utilize free agency this year. If this draft doesn’t give us at least 3-4 defensive starters he might be back in Lovie’s basement
March 11th, 2016 at 9:19 am
Yeah are we really talking about the black community. The black community wants money most of all. If ayers got offered fair compensation then perhaps he signs with us. Told you all a long time ago banks verner (sterling Moore never should’ve been cut which means they’re drafting heavy) gholston and Jaq in belicheck’s system are stars. Flat out. Linebackers are set. No team has 3 star linebackers besides Carolina and not for long. Our scheme had no pass rush from anyone but four and used man cover corners in zone. Like joe said (and it took 3 days to figure it out)—we HAVE talent. Lovie COULDNT FIND WAYS TO USE IT) mike smith will. If you think Mike smiths Gnna take this job and told he’s getting no additional players in free agency-im sure it speaks to the fact his old team got shut down twice by this group of players in a terrible scheme. COACHING COACHING COACHING
March 11th, 2016 at 9:20 am
Yeah cause after all the Bucs fired a black man. But, wait, they’ve hired three black head coaches, how many teams have hired even one? The guy was horrendous. That train wreck of a 2/14 season should have warrented being fired after one year.
March 11th, 2016 at 9:20 am
Just had this conversation on Bookface, if the alleged “A” graded FA class of 2014 which consisted of: T Anthony Collins, G Oniel Cousins, LB Dane Fletcher, CB Mike Jenkins, DE Michael Johnson, QB Josh McCown, DT Clinton McDonald, WR Louis Murphy, TE Brandon Myers, C Evan Dietrich-Smith, and CB Alterraun Verner and now only really has Verner, EDS, Murphy, McDonald (who is solid) remaining. If this teams does little more in GA this year and uses those players mentioned and turns out a playoff team, then the 2014 FA class will look like a true “A” and it would be a shut door case on the firing of one Lovie Smith and what JOE said, “That’s pretty damn telling for a team sitting on north of $40 million in cap room for the 2016 season.”
March 11th, 2016 at 9:25 am
Not that it should matter but I am African American and I don’t believe its a thing against firing a black coach. I absolutely loved the hiring of Lovie Smith and I was one that read these boards everyday while most of you were bashing him. I don’t comment often on here but to myself I defended lovie for a long time. But I was not disappointed when they fired him, the bottom line is that it truly was time for change.
We couldn’t let our past history of letting coaches go early blind us in making this decision. Just as Licht has done with players, he had to cut his losses with his coach.
I am just as pissed as anyone that we can’t sign free agents right now. We have really good pieces in place, a blind man can see that our fortunes will turn soon here. But one thing I have learn during this free agent period through these first few days is that with the exception of Vernon and Malik Jackson these players give an edge to winning over the dollar. They are not starving for money, they are getting paid regardless.
March 11th, 2016 at 9:27 am
Still need some defensive players signed unless we are planning on starting drafted and undrafted rookies, we have like 2 safeties and 3 corners signed worth mentioning….
March 11th, 2016 at 9:30 am
And why exactly are we still talking about this guy??? 😏Puzzled face.
March 11th, 2016 at 9:30 am
Time will definitely tell we’ll see in Nov/Dec whether that was the right approach or not.
March 11th, 2016 at 9:32 am
The inactivity in Fa is an indictment on both Smiths crap coaching and the Glazers being cheap. They have spent just enough money now to hit the cap floor. They do not have to spend another dime to meet the requirements. And oh by the way Joel G. Hows that indoor practice facility coming that you promised last year?
March 11th, 2016 at 9:32 am
I think we have tried to find a DE….and I don’t think we have lost or will lose anyone because of Lovie Smith. Players are going for the big contracts and we simply didn’t outbid the other teams.
Johnson was a different story…..we offered him more money and so would others….he wanted to stay in Carolina.
I am puzzled why we haven’t gone after a CB or S (that we know of)…..but it is still early yet…….why pay huge $$$ for a CB if we are drafting one?
I suspect we will go after a pretty good LB or resign Carter for a lower price. And even if we need a S…..Conte provides good depth.
So…..we draft a DE & CB….perhaps a S
March 11th, 2016 at 9:34 am
People crying about lovie be fired need to look at the results not his skin color… It’s a results driven league. He failed in every aspect of his job with the exception of drafting jameis. Lovie is by far the worst head coach in bucs history. Before anyone brings up schiano or williams or ray perkens NONE of them had 9 years previous nfl head coaching experience so you are not comparing apples to apples.
That friends and family coaching staff alone was justifications for his firing not to mention his deer in the headlights approach to game day management. Throw in the embarrassing blow outs and blown leads anyone that says lovie was treated unfairly is more concerned about their BS agenda than facts…
The defense was improved dramatically the moment Lovie and his clown pposse cleaned out their offices.
March 11th, 2016 at 9:37 am
Here comes the stupidity “Glazers being cheap” crap again.
March 11th, 2016 at 9:40 am
BucFan20
Hows that indoor practice facility coming along?
March 11th, 2016 at 9:41 am
MarineBucsFan, I agree. But much of the NFL and NFL chattering heads are on record for trashing the Bucs for the “unfair” firing of Lovie. WE know how bad he was…and deserved to be fired. But others don’t know what we know.
March 11th, 2016 at 9:42 am
Lovie got rid of revis, foster, baron and goldson as well….now i am guessing that the NEW COACH SMITH adjusts his defense according to his players…i am also guessing new DC smith would never get lit up by a rookie QB in game 1 and site in that BS Tampa 2 the whole game……so maybe the bucs have players that just were not used correctly by horrible lovie
players are not coming to tampa because of the national media’s ignorant portrayal of the bucs firing lovie, Florida is economically one of the nest places to play the bucs are just not wasting money like the past 2 years with lovies terrible talent evaulations
March 11th, 2016 at 9:44 am
This seems to be playing out like it did with Raheem hiring. He w was handcuffed in Fa as it seems to be with Koetter.
March 11th, 2016 at 9:44 am
An indoor practice facility that UF just put up in 6 months the glazers havent even broken ground on….if you want to be the BEST or with the elite then you need to start acting like it and then the wins will come
March 11th, 2016 at 9:47 am
Free Agency 101
First a player has to have interest in coming to Tampa!!
There are 31 other teams competing for the same pool of players. That’s about a 3% chance at each player. Then after a player shows interest, the Bucs have to outbid who ever else is interested.
I don’t get all the talk about the Bucs being too cheap or that they don’t care about free agency. I believe Jason Light is doing everything he can to attract the best players…….it’s a very competitive business and it takes 2 to make a deal.
Throwing HUGH money at a DE that someone else doesn’t want…..I’m ok letting the Cowbows, Redskins, etc do that.
March 11th, 2016 at 9:47 am
CC.
I am not in the position to find out. Why don’t contact OBP and find out?
March 11th, 2016 at 9:48 am
https://www.joebucsfan.com/2015/08/glazer-indoor-facility-is-coming/
Waiting.
March 11th, 2016 at 9:53 am
Cleary our best players have come through the draft, so i believe they will continue to this. The Bucs have wasted too much money on flop players. Plus coach Smith is evaluating his current players on defense. Plus this years draft is deep on talent on defense.
March 11th, 2016 at 9:54 am
yeah Cobra and Dusty I hear you,
The media has spoken and gave us a bad rap. I guess the good thing that comes from any signing now is that player will have truly chosen the Bucs and want to play here.
Most of us Bucs fans say it was bad coaching, from the look of things mainly rookies will be added to Lovie’s roster. So time will tell.
March 11th, 2016 at 9:55 am
BucFan20
Just got off the phone with OBP. Still nothing has happened still in planning phase.
Theres you answer.
March 11th, 2016 at 9:55 am
No. Not copy and paste. Call.
March 11th, 2016 at 9:58 am
Then they are working on it? True to his word! NOT CHEAP!
March 11th, 2016 at 10:01 am
Anyone could see with there own eyes that Banks & Verner had talent….they showed it on the field……they were absolutely poorly coached & perhaps lost motivation because of it. There is nothing more damaging than players who lack motivation…..it’s up to coaches to make the difference.
Sure, players make money to play well…but they are human….they respond differently to varying styles.
We will see those two perform next year.
March 11th, 2016 at 10:01 am
I don’t get the obsession some have with indoor practice facility. Yes it would be nice but most of games are not played in A/C… 02 team played just fine without one. Team needs talent more than a comfortable practice environment.
March 11th, 2016 at 10:01 am
I did call. You can as well. Ask for Chris. Thats who I spoke to. 813-870-2700
March 11th, 2016 at 10:06 am
I warned everyone this would be similiar to the off season after 10-6
6-10 here we come
March 11th, 2016 at 10:07 am
I don’t need to. I am not the one who was calling Mr. Glazer out. You got your answer. Now how simple was that?
March 11th, 2016 at 10:10 am
@tmaxcon
Guess they just want the players in comfort. Does not matter to me.
March 11th, 2016 at 10:11 am
How many practices were lost last year due to Lighning?
March 11th, 2016 at 10:12 am
Ah yes…the people that never post come out in full force when it’s time to dump on the black community. No one…certainly not me…wants free stuff. The fact is, a large percentage of NFL players are black and thought Lovie was wronged. I wanted him gone too but, don’t dismiss how the players feel.
March 11th, 2016 at 10:15 am
Can someone please explain to me why the Bucs are apparently not interested in re-signing Sterling Moore?
Joe – can you shed any light on this. Did he have attitude/behavior problems or something here last year?
Moore was visibly the best CB on the field when he got playing time last year – and could almost certainly be signed for $2M or less per year. What gives?
March 11th, 2016 at 10:27 am
@MarineBucsfan
Agree totally with your post. I felt exactly as you. I fought with realist and dallas and others defending Lovie for as long as possible.
Eventually though it became clear, either the game has passed him by or he simply can’t get past managing family and friends.
Lovie is such a quiet a decent human being it’s hard to get down on him. But professionally he was just in over his head IMHO.
March 11th, 2016 at 10:31 am
Tony…. thanks for the Newsflash. Didn’t know we were 10-6 last year.
March 11th, 2016 at 10:43 am
Still a lot of secondary help out there. On Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3. Not much movement on that front. Here’s a list:
Cornerbacks:
Prince Akumara
Casey Hayward
Leon hall
Patrick Robinson
Nolan Carroll
Jerraud Powers
Brent Grimes
Deshaun Shead
Morris Claiborne
Senquez Golson
Safeties:
Eric Weddle
Reggie nelson
Walter Thurmond
Rashad Johnson
David Bruton
Robert Blanton
Charles Godfrey
Rahim Moore
Louis Delmas
Dashon Goldson
Still a very good possibility we make a move. Probably on a 2nd Tier guy. I’d keep an eye on Rashad johnson being that he came from the same place as our GM and would be cheaper than some of the top guys.Plus he balls. I doubt we do much at cornerback, I always thought Lovie wasn’t utilizing them right.
March 11th, 2016 at 10:45 am
LOL Joe, you really do know how to spin things. This is stupid talk. If Mike Smith is able to get the most out of his players unlike Lovie then why did the Bucs let go of Henry Melton, Bruce Carter, Danny Lansanah, and Tony McDaniel? According to you, there was so much room for them to improve as players! They just needed the right coach to get it out of them. That kind of thinking fairy tale stuff. It’s time for you to remove the picture of Lovie Smith on your punching bag and replace it with one of the Glazers.
I’ve said all along this team was not talented enough on defense. The Buccaneers releasing these players demonstrate that. Simple as that.
March 11th, 2016 at 10:45 am
Luther, looking objectively at the bucs and lovie, lovie sucked as a HC, and if intelligent agents and players who want to get paid let that get in their way of coming here then the bucs do not need them, who is the QB of the bucs for the next hopefully 15 years? He is also the face of the franchise, so I really think the race issues are blown out of proportion by the Stephen A Smiths of the world who is a blowhard idiot
March 11th, 2016 at 10:56 am
I do think itis interesting that the Bucs have been able to attract highly regarded coaches. The players will come in time.
March 11th, 2016 at 10:56 am
I’m glad someone read my post yesterday.
Stanglassman Says:
March 10th, 2016 at 9:16 pm
Maybe Mike Smith and the new Buc defensive coaches think that the talent level on that side of the ball wasn’t indicative of way they performed. I see the same people on here who blamed the defensive performance, or lack there of, on the scheme now believing it was purely talent level.
Personally, I think the Defense is better talent wise than they performed last season. The few games last year the coaches were creative rushing on Def they got to the Qb and the secondary performed much better as a result. I’m not saying they shouldn’t get some help in Fa but the current coaches and GM not panicking maybe a positive sign. That being said I’m disappointed in missing out on OLB Whitehead, S Gipson and DE Johnson.
March 11th, 2016 at 11:04 am
Famouskoetter-our defense actually ran alot of man coverage. However, we sort of infamously struggled against slant routes. Thats because to stop a slant, the corner needs to line up jammed and inside and Lovie almost always had our corners off and outside. So your right to blame Lovie. But we ran probably 40 man 60 zone. And really, our defense wasnt the only one to use that type of defense.
So hopefully, Mike Smith can call plays that help our defense.
March 11th, 2016 at 11:09 am
So who are the Bus interested in FA?
Any scheduled visits to OBP?
March 11th, 2016 at 11:15 am
I wish someone can tell me how we are a better team or even the same team as last year? Right now as we sit we are worse than last year and facing a far more difficult schedule. Right now the score is 1 player added 11 players not re-signed/released/retired. Last I heard we only have seven draft picks. The leaves us with a minimum negative 4 which need to be added through either FA or UDFA. The last thing we need is more UDFA on this team.
PLAYERS ADDED –
G JR Sweezy
PLAYERS NO LONGER WITH TEAM OR NOT SIGNED/RETIRED –
G Logan Mankins
FS Chris Conte
CB Sterling Moore
RB/KR Bobby Rainey
LB Danny Lansanah
FB Jorvorskie Lane
DT Henry Melton
DE Larry English
DT Tony McDaniel
LB Bruce Carter
CB Mike Jenkins
March 11th, 2016 at 11:22 am
In terms of DBs I think they may only add 1-2. Banks and Verner both have looked like great starters before Lovie.
The team knows the d-line needs help. No matter the scheme our 4 man rush sucked. They’ve been trying at least
I expect a lot of interesting small signings which is where light has done the best so far along with picking up dudes off practice squads. We will have a lot if people potentially up for contracts next year and I think they would rather spend money retaining their own guys that show they are worthy to these new coaches than spend money on guys from outside the organization
March 11th, 2016 at 11:34 am
Really? Then why let go of Henry Melton, Bruce Carter, Danny Lansanah, and Tony McDaniel?
The Buccaneers had an average defense until Kwon Alexander was suspended. Bruce Carter was his backup. In those last four games the Bucs gave up 7 more ppg than the first 12 games. That’s not an issue of coaching the player up. It’s an issue of talent. He wasn’t good enough. According to Joe and some of you Lovie failed to coach up his players. I guess Mike Smith can’t coach those guys up either hence their release.
March 11th, 2016 at 11:56 am
Zilla
My feelings exactly.
March 11th, 2016 at 12:38 pm
for those of you who thought the lovie firing was a good thing think again…the firing showed players and fans this gm and organization doesn’t know what they are doing…players don’t want to come to a place where the hc was fired after improvement…with all the cash we have im surprised no one wanted to come here and its not like licht isn’t trying, I just think players don’t trust him…neither do I but I don’t have a choice…no de on our roster is better than any FA de or currently de looking for a job…the only thing I can think of is we are building thru the draft which means another 6-10 maybe 7-9 season…if we end the year at 6-10 or 7-9 you have to ask yourself was firing lovie worth it and does licht know what he’s doing…..GO BUCS!!!!
March 11th, 2016 at 12:52 pm
813bucboi, Lovie was lucky to go 6-10. It was Koetter’s offense—that Lovie pretty much didn’t lay a hand on beyond “conservative” orders—that made the difference.
Lovie was in charge of the defense along with his spawn & cronies. And it was the defense that was so bad the best Buc O in history couldn’t overcome.
I wouldn’t be surprised if it comes out one day that the Glazers asked Lovie to gut the horrible coaches on the D staff (his spawn & good personal friend among them) and change the D or else…and he refused. He got “or else.”
Lovie may be a stellar citizen, but he was also one stubborn human, refusing to change his “system” that was consistently schooled by mediocre QB’s.
Last season was seriously frustrating: an outstanding offense with one of the worst defenses I can remember…
March 11th, 2016 at 12:59 pm
813bucboi.. improvement was shown? From what? Lovie’s OWN 2-14 season? Stop it. What improvement? The slant passes?
The majority of Bucs fans wanted him gone and for good reason. They’ve all stated their reasons on these boards and others. Some of have justifiably stated numerous reasons and have made VERY good points. You did not.
I only have about 9 reasons why Lovie needed to go. 2 of them are seared into my brain for the rest of my life and they hurt. (Yes I’m a pretty big fan) 1. In game decision making. 2. Watching those damn slant passes get completed over and over again, even by scrubs. It hurt to think about it and it hurt to type it.
#3. Is his lack of passion on and off the field. A player repeatedly efs up and he just stares out into space as if it’s not happening.
Lovie’s gone and I WON’T miss him even IF Koetter sucks it up.
March 11th, 2016 at 1:03 pm
How can I ever erase those slants out of my mind? How can any of us? Grrrr.
March 11th, 2016 at 1:07 pm
godzilla13
PLAYERS NO LONGER WITH TEAM OR NOT SIGNED/RETIRED –
G Logan Mankins — Old would have been a gamble going forward
FS Chris Conte — played well at times but was burnt often… horrible injury history
CB Sterling Moore — this one i’ll give you. he is not great but worth a look.
RB/KR Bobby Rainey — fumbles, dropped punts a
LB Danny Lansanah — no loss, over 30 not very productive
FB Jorvorskie Lane — full backs are irrelevant in today’s league… stocker does fine as lead blocker.
DT Henry Melton — no production – injury history
DE Larry English — no production
DT Tony McDaniel — no productions
LB Bruce Carter — injury history no production
CB Mike Jenkins — complete and total bum….
you are making it sound like we lost good players. Sterling Moore is the only player that might be worth keeping but lets not confuse him with the future or a pro bowler…
March 11th, 2016 at 1:13 pm
The fans have nothing to do with Lovie’s exiting. He could not inspire the team or the fans. The fans have their opinions, Lovie has read them so he is embarrassed, no conspiracy existed to dump him. The team was floundering, Lovie was the face of the ineptness so good luck in the future somewhere else.
March 11th, 2016 at 1:30 pm
This is a very sad team. Very very sad indeed. Koetter and Smith actually think they already have the core for a good Defense. They are wrong. This Defense needs major revamping. You got about 3 good defensive started. That’s it. The rest are backups at best. Just remember when the losing starts….I told you so.
March 11th, 2016 at 3:56 pm
@cobraboy…you cant blame everything on the defense…dirks offense disappeared right along with the defense the last month and a half of the season…the offense played just as bad as the defense….after the last flacons game we couldn’t score over 20points in a game….
@1987…what defense would you play if you had no de’s and no cb’s…we press or play man and get beat because we have no pressure on the qb and its impossible to cover a wr for 30 damn sec…we play off because all of our cb’s except for the one we just released cant stick with wr’s…that’s why we play off…so you mean to tell me 2-14 to 6-10 isn’t an improvement…we had 2 rookie olinemen, rookie qb undrafted rookies at wr, with 7 undrafted players playing on the defense…to get to 6-10 was a miracle with that cast…on one hand people say we don’t have the talent on defense to compete and then on the other hand people say lovie couldn’t get enough out of his players and insist that team is talented enough to win and compete now….which one is it?…if you say coaching which it looks like licht may agree with you, then there’s no need to be active in FA which he clearly hasn’t been but anybody that watched the bucs knows that’s not true….GO BUCS!!!