“A Lot Of Guys That Have Played A Lot Of Football”
May 17th, 2016
New Bucs defensive backs coach Brett Maxie, who played in 153 NFL games.
New Bucs defensive backs coach Brett Maxie is a straight-shooter who played in 153 NFL games from 1985 to 1997.
The guy has seen it all, and is a true football lifer.
Maxie met with local media last week and talked about how he quickly sought to figure out “the pulse” of his new players and the leadership types within the group.
Of course, Joe asked Maxie for specifics, and Maxie explained the Bucs’ bunch is rare.
“I think they spread it around,” said of the leaders in the secondary. “Like I said, this group is kind of unique. It’s like that pure, pure accountability.
“Everyone is looking to challenge the next person. I think that’s what makes this group so unique, because there is a lot of veteran leadership in that secondary. You talk about Chris Conte, Alterraun Verner, now Brent Grimes, Major Wright. I mean there is a lot of guys that have played a lot of football, and there are no egos. And the best teams, you know, win when everybody is on the same page, and I get that feeling. Even if I’m the second guy, the second guy on the depth chart wants the first guy to do well, and the first guy wants the guy behind him to do well. And that’s how they challenge each other.”
Yes, the Bucs have a ton of experience in their secondary, and it’s a strong group of citizens. Plus, it’s great to hear it’s a no-ego crew. Conte might have the biggest leadership personality in the group.
Maxie, who primarily will work with safeties, didn’t mention returning safety starter Bradley McDougald, but even he has three years experience and is now on his fifth defensive coordinator (one with the Chiefs).
Can Maxie make chicken salad? He doesn’t have a ton of talent to mold, but certainly enough to improve on what the Bucs produced last year.
May 17th, 2016 at 10:02 am
I think with the additions the Bucs made during the offseason to the secondary, it is now one of the strengths of the team. I don’t believe it was as bad as it seemed last year – I attribute that more to bad, inflexible coaching than to talent. Verner and Banks will have good years in 2016 mark my words!
May 17th, 2016 at 10:11 am
I am on board with you Harry. Lovie’s scheme stunk way more than his personnel. I think Banks will rebound in a big way and we will have Banks and VH3 as a Solid combo for years to come.
May 17th, 2016 at 10:12 am
I disagree about the talent. I think the Bucs have plenty. That horrendous scheme they had to run the last couple of years allowed for virtually none to be seen.
I’m sorry, but Banks and Verner didn’t become “chickenspit” overnight. It was the coaching that was “chicken”…
It must be like getting released from Death Row from a false conviction to be a Buccaneer D player today…
May 17th, 2016 at 10:21 am
I like the Maxie moxie.
May 17th, 2016 at 11:02 am
I guess I’m kind of in the minority here. Good football players make plays in ANY scheme. I don’t think that these guys struggles are solely related to scheme. No coach is going to tell a player to NOT make a play. I hope I’m wrong. One thing is for sure: We’ll find out soon.
May 17th, 2016 at 12:10 pm
Bucsfanman Says:
If that were true, you’d not see coached fired.
I disagree. Scheme/coaching is equally important as talent. That’s why some coaches consistently produce winning teams and others are failures…
I was happy when the Bucs hired Lovie Smith, not as happy when Smith hired some questionable D coaches and quickly fell out of love when that D not only couldn’t stop anyone, but the players weren’t playing with any kind of belief.
The best improvement on the D is not necessarily new players, but an entire new staff with a record of success.
Bet on the jockey, not the horse…
May 17th, 2016 at 12:25 pm
@Cobraboy- I don’t totally discount the scheme because, lets face it, it was bad. Scheme is part of it, but so is talent. I just have a hard time believing that a DB can see a route run again and again and not make a play on it. I cannot even fathom a player like Revis, lets say, game after game play after play not jumping that route. I just can’t! I guess what I’m trying to say is that maybe we’ve over-valued these DBs based on the poor scheme. I really do hope that I am wrong. I’d rather win football games than tell somebody “I told you so”.
I love your analogy though.
May 17th, 2016 at 12:28 pm
He played in 153 NFL GAMES, so what, where did he last coach Joe?
May 17th, 2016 at 12:31 pm
I think CB is locked and loaded but Safety is a bit of a question mark. Conte had a history of injuries and inconsistency with the Bears and McDougald is still a work in progress.
May 17th, 2016 at 1:03 pm
Bucsfanman Says:
Oh, I agree: it’s hard to believe, no doubt.
I read somewhere that the DB’s were pretty much told to give up the quick slant and concentrate on the tackle. That’s coaching and scheme.
And how often did you see even the lowest 2nd-tier QB constantly hiy the deep out, behind the CB and in front of the S? Coaching.
And I ask you how did an All-Pro like Verner, a rising star like Banks get benched in favor of a loser like Jenkins and some unkmnown others?
And why have both Verner and Banks expressed great happiness their old coaches were given the apple & roadmap. Frankly, I’m surprised they’ve been as gracious in their comments, but you can just hear the seething resentment between the lines.
Sorry, I’m just never going to buy the “talent” argument when my eyes tell me something completely different.
I hope to never see uncontested slants and deep outs ever again…
May 17th, 2016 at 1:12 pm
I was totally confused by the benchings too. A coach not wanting to have players make plays, that’s hard to believe. Like I said though, I hope I’m wrong and that we have a good cadre of DBs.
I look forward to seeing what this D will look like.
May 17th, 2016 at 2:58 pm
@cobra….verner was never an all pro….pro bowler yeah….it had a lot to do with the talent and iq level…why else would licht draft a cb and sign 2 more vets with banks verner and jude…not for depth….yeah lovie scheme sucked but so did our cbs….it was a combination of both…GO BUCS!!!
May 17th, 2016 at 3:23 pm
Maxie has some talent to work with.
Ryan Smith could quickly develop into exactly what you want in a safety. Fast, athletic, good coverage/ball skills, sure tackler.
Conte is no all pro – but he’s smart, has a nose for the ball and is fairly solid when healthy.
McDougald has not shown me much yet other than a few flashes – but I’ve been hearing for 2 years now how much potential the (old) coaches thought he had – so maybe this is his year to put it all together and show that he actually does deserve a starting job.
Tandy is a pretty darn solid back-up IMO and he’s good at special teams so will definitely be around to compete and see if he can take that next step.
Major Wright – um – well – he’s got experience….
OK – I did say SOME talent to work with. I’m guessing we’ll be looking to draft a safety in the 2nd or 3rd round next year unless 2 or 3 of these guys can play really well this year and curtail what still looks like a need for talent upgrade.
I like our CB group now that we brought in Grimes and drafted Hargreaves. Really hoping that both Banks and Verner can have good years and complete our stable of 4 quality CBs.
The coaching upgrades for both Safetys and CBs as well as a “more aggressive approach” scheme wise and hopefully a better pass rush is going to make a big difference for our defensive backfield this year compared to last. It better. Last year was hard to watch in that respect.
May 17th, 2016 at 3:24 pm
if you imply that every player is a leader of sorts, i worry that there means there isn’t a real leader back there. depth at CB is way improved from a year ago, but i just don’t see a captain-of-the-secondary type of safety and i certainly don’t see a shutdown corner for 2016.
May 17th, 2016 at 4:17 pm
Time will tell if Verner and Banks are the great players you readers think they are. I..think not!!
May 17th, 2016 at 4:47 pm
Mea Culpa.
Not All Pro, but Pro Bowl. Both are high standards.
I never said there is not a need for more depth or even upgrades. I do believe the DB—and D in general—is not nearly as talentless as some believe, I also believe we witnessed one of the worst coaching jobs in Buc history on the D side of the ball under Smith.
May 17th, 2016 at 4:54 pm
While our scheme was wacked last year let’s not scapegoat it. Yes, it was bad but players have to hold accountability as well. Ours DBs let numerous INTs drop to the turf…..change of scheme won’t fix that. They missed tackles….that has nothing to do with scheme. Lining up in he wrong spot…….scheme won’t is my that. These guys are pros and hold responsibility for their shortcomings.
I’m not taking any accountability away from poor coaching because it was poor. But a system change is not a magic potion. Fundamentals come first in any scheme. That’s the first and foremost area to fix.
May 17th, 2016 at 5:05 pm
I can’t wait to see our secondary this year. They have invested a ton into fixing our pass coverage this offseason. When the Preseason games start I will be mainly focused on our secondary. The competition’s in training camp should be fierce there. I expect that area to produce good playmakers. I think there’s a real chance one of our corners moves to free safety to get on the field and help.
May 17th, 2016 at 7:31 pm
Buccaneers Says:
Anyone who has played the game will tell you that poor coaching is at the very center of all your complaints no matter the scheme.
May 17th, 2016 at 7:50 pm
hard to blame our corners for doing exactly what they were coached to do,let the short passes go inside and give WR,s plenty of room.
no sense arguing with a coach or manager that is determined to do things his way.Do exactly what they say and prove they are wrong.Watched revis let go receivers he could easily cover.he tried to tell Schiano and he wouldn,t listen
so he let them go when they left his zone.
May 17th, 2016 at 8:19 pm
Cobra that’s bull man……While it’s debatable what’s at the core of my complaints there is only one response that any player would say………..”That’s on me”
Drop an INT….that’s on me. Miss a tackle…..that’s on me. Brain fart on the field….that’s on me. Not defending the coach or the scheme. Just noting that there is more to point a finger at then just one guy.
May 18th, 2016 at 5:03 am
Joe I got 2 nuggets for you what kind sauce you want with them. I could of sworn Big Banks had a exceptional game against Megatron but now all of a sudden you real BUC fan forgot. He was press man on him most of the game after Revis went down. He Had his best season when other QBs was throwing at him in fear of what a Revis would do at 85%. Give him a chance to play his style of defense in his contract year Damm. I hope he go when a SB with the Patriots for sleeping on him.
Second verse: Get Conte out of here period. Ain’t this the same guy that Fred Jackson from the Bills (who played for the Eagles last year) do him like AP did Eric( who we never should of got in FA because he got done like that) Wright when he play for the Browns. You should never get treated like that by somebody carrying the ball. Go find the footage smart guys. He only here because lovie brought him in with that ” he will put his face in there”. Yeah Fred put his face in there alright.