“Embracing The Empowerment”
April 24th, 2016
Enhanced command
Joe often referred to Lovie Smith as “Bucs overlord of football operations.” That was simply because Lovie was in many regards.
But that’s changed.
Now Jason Licht happily has seized overlord status. Spin it however you wish, Licht was hired by Lovie and served him, a stubborn head coach in various respects.
Does anyone with a sane mind really think Licht, with his impressive pedigree, walked into Tampa and demanded to cut Darrelle Revis and insisted career loser Josh McCown be named starting quarterback and team leader?
Sure, Licht had broad influence, and he was tasked with fixing the Bucs’ troubled offensive line, which he did. But Lovie was the power broker.
In a must-read piece on TBO.com, the Custodian of Canton, eye-RAH! Kaufman of The Tampa Tribune, dives into Licht ruling the roost now at One Buc Palace and related elements, including leaguewide perspective on who Licht is.
“I’m making the picks, but I don’t shut people out of the room and say go home,” Licht said. “We’ve got to all feel good about it and I need their input. But I’m embracing this opportunity. I’m embracing the empowerment.”
There’s an interesting nugget in the piece about Licht enjoying working with football people who don’t take themselves too seriously.
From Joe’s seat, Lovie was one of those guys, clinging to a failed approach, stuck on ineffective players, getting worked up over foul language, and engaging in assorted media gamesmanship.
April 24th, 2016 at 10:29 am
We will see now what he can do when the wheel isn’t being grabbed by the guy in the passenger seat.
April 24th, 2016 at 10:52 am
Wait, so did Lovie make last seasons pick and hit the “grand slam”?
April 24th, 2016 at 11:08 am
Lovie acted as if nobody could exceed his football prowess, the soft contemplative flop. All hail Lovie.
April 24th, 2016 at 11:15 am
Please don’t get me started!
April 24th, 2016 at 11:31 am
A man how bout y’all chill before BigHog go in man☺.
April 24th, 2016 at 11:31 am
Lovie’s an idiot!
April 24th, 2016 at 11:56 am
Yet another Lovie Dubbie setup article. Ok, alibi firers..Knock’em down! Bashers..Unite!
April 24th, 2016 at 12:00 pm
Lovie sucked simple as that.
April 24th, 2016 at 12:17 pm
It is really quite simple. There are those that believe their way is the ONLY way. And there are others that are able to adjust, to work with differing talents and bring out the best in all of them.
Let’s face it. Lovie is the poster child for one way and one way only. Bill Bellicheat is the poster child for #2.
Which would you rather have?
And while we’re at it. The owners made a mistake choosing Lovie, but made an even bigger success by getting rid of him, when his true colors showed as a loser.
April 24th, 2016 at 12:53 pm
I will never forget incompetent Lovie Smith during his first offseason in 2014 reminding every reporter with a recording device that “we’re a 4-12 football team” with that smug air about him. Then he turns around and barely wins 2 football games.
April 24th, 2016 at 1:12 pm
Lovie’s an idiot.
April 24th, 2016 at 1:23 pm
I am so glad Tampa cleaned house, and showed Lovie the door. I literally hit the roof in joy, when he was finally let go. IMHO, he rode the coattails of Dungy here in Tampa, and of Ron Rivera up in Chicago.
I hated to see Jon Robinson leave Tampa, but Licht replaced him with another quality guy.
April 24th, 2016 at 1:31 pm
I was watching NFL Net last night for a bit. They were replaying the NFL Draft of 2010. I really liked how a couple of the analysts were talking about how McCoy was going to bring our defense back to the way it used to be. That the rest of the defense will gravitate towards McCoy and he’ll make the defense better with his mere presence alone. They acted as if he HAD that type of leadership personality.
They also said he was a nice guy too, but we all know that by now.
Draft get here soon.
April 24th, 2016 at 1:33 pm
Draft me someone MEAN Jason.
April 24th, 2016 at 2:56 pm
A good buddy of mine with Excellent football knowledge claims that Andrew Billings will be the best DT drafted in recent years. I did some reading on the kid and watched some tape. Pretty darn impressive. He is slotted to go to the Skins at 21 in some mocks. I know the argument of DE but I maintain that it doesn’t matter if the pressure comes from the interior or the end, as long as it gets there.
April 24th, 2016 at 3:40 pm
Find a way to trade down, make a deal with Glennon and late or even future picks if necessary and get Eli Apple, Josh Doctson, Noah Spence and Karl Joseph. Throw in the FSU kicker and you have 5 starters and the potential for best Bucaneer draft ever. Be a legend Licht. Lets win now!
April 24th, 2016 at 6:46 pm
What James said, the grand slam was hit by who? Fact, Lovie fought for Winston more than anyone in that building. Wait Lovie did all the wrong stuff, which has been a ton since 2014. The only thing I think Lovie did right was cut/trade away good players to go 2-14 and get a QB. Not hard to find good players when its your third year in a row picking in the top 10.
April 24th, 2016 at 7:45 pm
Like most here I suspect, on both sides of the issue, I’m tiring of the Lovie discussions.
If somebody could provide info on exactly who made what decisions….I’m under the impression that Lovie did FA’s and Licht the draft but I don’t honestly know who did what. Seems no reporter has broken through that part of the secrecy at OBP. I’d be more interested in this story.
It does bring up a debate as to the ideal balance of power between GM and HC.
I like a powerful GM. Football coaches are notoriously conservative and inflexible. There are exceptions of course like Pete Carroll but most coaches are like Lovie.
April 25th, 2016 at 8:05 am
@St pete Buc
believe this is the closest imfo you will get with interview with Jason Licht.
Fab 1 the 2014 free agency debacle (my words)
Fab 2 the drafting Winston
http://www.pewterreport.com/articles/srs-fab-5-lichts-bold-plan-to-draft-winston-winston-compares-to-nfl-greats/
April 25th, 2016 at 10:08 am
“From Joe’s seat, Lovie was one of those guys, clinging to a failed approach, stuck on ineffective players, getting worked up over foul language, and engaging in assorted media gamesmanship.”
well stated, joe. i strongly agree
April 25th, 2016 at 12:37 pm
This was a nice..Lovie bashing thread!
Get it all out of your systems Buc fans. You’ve been bashing ole Lovie for 5 months now. You got about 4 more months of Bashing left. Then, it will be time to buy..new rope!