Will Koetter Match Lovie’s Rookie Attitude?
May 6th, 2016
Will one of Lovie’s best qualities carry over to Dirk Koetter?
Say what you want about Coach My Scheme, aka Lovie Smith, the guy absolutely was unafraid to start rookies.
Not every NFL head coach is wired that way.
The Buccaneers benefited from Lovie’s rookie-friendly stance.
- Lovie quickly quashed any notion Mike Glennon would compete with America’s Quarterback, in training camp.
- After a handful of practices, Lovie turned over the starting middle linebacker job to a 21-year-old, fourth-round pick, Kwon Alexander. He even had Alexander making the defensive calls.
- After making Donovan Smith and Ali Marpet take second-team reps in training camp, Lovie implanted them as starters.
- Donteea Dye and Adam Humphries? Heck, who needs veteran free agents when those undrafted rookies were available.
- Lovie even rotated in undrafted cornerback Jude Adjei-Barimah for seven starts last year. Seven!
- Defensive end Howard Jones got his first NFL action with Tampa Bay and racked up five sacks in limited duty.
So as rookie minicamp begins today, Joe is wondering is Dirk Koetter has the same kind of wiring. Joe suspects not.
It’s just rare. Last year on the Buccaneers Radio Network, general manager Jason Licht made a point to glow about Lovie’s willingness to play rookies.
May 6th, 2016 at 12:06 pm
Considering that Lovie’s defense was basically the same one from the Genesis version of Madden 1993, it’s really no shock to me that a rookie could handle calling the signals. Have a feeling Mike Smith’s defense is going to be a little more complex.
May 6th, 2016 at 12:11 pm
Probably not but our rooks will see significant playing time.
May 6th, 2016 at 12:15 pm
Lovie wasn’t afraid of cutting the best player on our team and getting nothing for him so why would he afraid to start a rookie.
May 6th, 2016 at 12:21 pm
Lovie started rookies becasue he knew he was a lousy coach and it would give him a good excuse for losing. Koetter will start rookies becasue he knows how to coach.
Simpe as that.
May 6th, 2016 at 12:23 pm
Did he have a choice?
May 6th, 2016 at 12:27 pm
DB55 Says:
May 6th, 2016 at 12:23 pm
Did he have a choice?
—————————-
No he did not have a choice he blew up the roster without having a plan or replacements… especially the oline.
May 6th, 2016 at 12:27 pm
Koetter, I expect, will get a lot of use out of Vitale. On defense, none of those drafted players needs to start right away. Lovie’s choice to play rookies, to a large extent, had to do with need… except for Kwon, who was just a better player than Carter.
May 6th, 2016 at 12:38 pm
Hey….Wow Joe,…you just found something we can thank Lovie for……he gave all of these Bucs (still on roster)……much needed experience that may help us this year.
There I go again….always looking for a silver lining.
May 6th, 2016 at 12:41 pm
At one time I trusted Lovie cause he was labeled a defensive guru and a good head coach. Like when he cut Donald Penn and Zuttah, it was questionable but I trusted his football evaluations. Turns out he has no evaluation skills and we litterly signed a sarcastic amount of his former bears. And Vitale will be interesting hope he pans out, traditional fullbacks don’t offer much value in today’s NFL, this guy can do it all FB, TE, H back.
May 6th, 2016 at 12:45 pm
I guess they should be 14-2 this season, with these three Super Heroes (Savior’s) as the HC and DC and Buddy GM.
May 6th, 2016 at 12:57 pm
Tmax
Exactly.
May 6th, 2016 at 1:15 pm
Troll!
May 6th, 2016 at 1:21 pm
@ Exbucfan
Go F… off somewhere with that attitude. We don’t need to read that sh.t here.
May 6th, 2016 at 1:35 pm
Troll.
May 6th, 2016 at 1:43 pm
get em boys!
May 6th, 2016 at 1:53 pm
Ex bucfan
you are lost sir…. but i am a hell of a guy and will help you out….
http://www.fightingillini.com
May 6th, 2016 at 1:56 pm
“Lovie quickly quashed any notion Mike Glennon would compete with America’s Quarterback, in training camp.”
————————————————————————————–
I find delicious irony in that fact above:
tickrdr Says:
July 18th, 2015 at 1:24 pm
In my opinion, the coals under Lovie’s seat get lit the moment he starts Jameis Winston. Then he likely has two full years to show that Winston and the rest of the team are greatly improved. But it could be less than that under the following scenarios:
ONLY FOUR WINS OR LESS:
Granted Lovie will be playing a rookie QB, but one who he felt was good enough to be picked #1 overall. Even Schiano got 4 wins in his second year playing a rookie QB ( a lowly 3rd round pick no less), and his defense played better than Lovie’s overall; against the toughest schedule in the league in 2013.
FIVE OR SIX WINS:
Probably on the bubble, depending on how well coached the team looks. If numerous undisciplined penalties, and other stupid mistakes with 12 men on the field, poor clock management, etc. ……….. who knows?
WINSTON STRUGGLES AND BUCS ARE LOSING:
Something like 10 TDs and 18 INTs or worse, and the Bucs start off 1-5 or 2-6.
Especially if they lose to Mariota and Tennessee at the home opener.
tickrdr
5/6/16
As I’ve posted previously, all Lovie had to do was start Glennon the first five games last season, and he would have kept his job, since:
1) If Glennon did well and the team won, Lovie looks like a genius.
2) If Glennon sucked and the team lost, Lovie brings in the “Messiah” after the bye and Lovie keeps his job, regardless of his record; at least for another year.
But……………………, Lovie lit the fire, and lost his job.
tickrdr
May 6th, 2016 at 1:56 pm
😄That’s what I’m talkin bout. Don’t hesitate to check they @$$.
May 6th, 2016 at 2:02 pm
tickrdr
you seriously do not believe that Glennon would have saved Lovie’s job. You are the ultimate fan boy. I thought Hawaiian was bad with his over the top defense of GMC but man dude you have it bad for Glennon.
Please explain why all the QB needy teams decided to roll with everyone but Glennon. I guess the gm’s and coaches of those teams did not consult you first or just maybe they watched glennon’s tape and came to the conclusion he is nothing more than a mediocre backup with a low ceiling.
Broncos wanted to roll with Sanchez over glennon that’s all that needs to be said.
May 6th, 2016 at 2:09 pm
@ Exbucfan
(From the Fighting Illini webpage)
Illinois took a major step in elevating Fighting Illini football in the national landscape with the hiring of longtime NFL coach Lovie Smith as head football coach in 2016.
Smith returns to college football for the first time since 1996 after spending 19 years in the NFL, including 11 years as a head coach. He led the Chicago Bears for nine seasons from 2004-12 and amassed a record of 81-63 (.563 win pct.), including three division titles, two NFC Championship Game appearances (2006 and 2010) and a berth in Super Bowl XLI. The AP Coach of the Year in 2005, Smith’s 81 wins with Chicago are the third-most in Bears history. He spent the past two years as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where the Bucs improved from two victories in 2014 to six wins in 2015.
Damn, Lovie sounds impressive.
May 6th, 2016 at 2:13 pm
tickrdr
to be very clear…. Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Emmett Smith could not have overcame that pathetic Defense that Lovie fielded and called week in and week out. Yet you think a pathetic 5-13 backup who runs out of bounds before the first down marker like a coward would have saved his job… wow…. just wow!!! I hope your wife is not too jealous of your man-crush on glennon.
May 6th, 2016 at 2:22 pm
@tmaxcon:
Don’t worry, you haven’t lost your title as the biggest hater of MG8 on Joebucsfan! Despite the level of competition, and all of the wannabe’s, you are in the Hater Hall of Fame.
But you have to at least read what I wrote before responding. The bottom part.
I did not say that Glennon would save Lovie’s job. But if he had started Glennon for the first five games, and then bring in JW3, then he could legitimately plead that he needed time to develop his new toyboy; i.e. he could say he needed another year to produce a winning product, and maybe keep his job for this year.
In response to your questions re: MG8’s value to other teams, I have no earthly idea, but I suspect you too have only your opinion, and no solid facts about any discussions/deals/comments with other teams.
I have posted before that Glennon’s true value won’t be known till he hits free agency, and I have to admit that it may be quite low. But I also know that any team trading for him now, would only get his services for ONE year, since next year he will be an unrestricted free agent. Maybe the Bucs were asking too high a price, or maybe there was no interest at all. Unless you are in the inner circle at OBP…………… who knows. Only the Bucs were stupid enough to trade a 1st round pick for one year of a player’s services. (Rehab year for Revis)
tickrdr
May 6th, 2016 at 2:22 pm
At least all these young players got a good bit of experience going 8-24 the last 2 years.
Any rookie that shows themselves to be as good or better than whichever veteran they are competing against should start. (Jameis, Kwon, Marpet and Donovan Smith were all good examples last year)
May 6th, 2016 at 2:31 pm
tickdr
i don’t hate glennon he’s irrelevant to the bucs future though. Just because someone does not think a player is as great as you does not make one a hater. Winston / Griffin is the future…
May 6th, 2016 at 2:42 pm
First of all, this could be one of the dumber statements posted here:
“Lovie started rookies becasue he knew he was a lousy coach and it would give him a good excuse for losing. Koetter will start rookies becasue he knows how to coach.
Simpe as that.”
Really Kevin?!
It’s kind of funny to me that the people complaining about some of the roster moves were the ones loudest about moving them!
@Pickgrin- Way to stay “glass half full” my friend! There’s a silver lining to everything.
May 6th, 2016 at 3:07 pm
Good to see the tckr(dr) still is working.
Welcome back.
May 6th, 2016 at 3:25 pm
Lovie was willing to play rookies because he believed (and rightly so) that last year was a rebuilding year. It seems the people who didn’t realize that were most JoeBucsFan readers.
May 6th, 2016 at 4:50 pm
Exbucfan????? So you couldnt hang with the rest? Get the hell out of dodge or better yet keep trolling here now when we finally are going to see the best football since the Gruden era. When did you become Ex exbucfan????? If you could stomach Raheem certainly the last few years were a piece of cake. Exbucfan??? I love it cant wait for you to keep slamming us now that we have a qb thats worth a damn and a defensive scheme that might be fit for the NFL. LOL omg Exbucfan. True Bucfans are lifers bud you were never a true buc fan.
May 6th, 2016 at 5:19 pm
tmaxcon Says
“No he did not have a choice he blew up the roster without having a plan or replacements… especially the oline.”
I call bullspit on that.
Look, Lovie had NOTHING to do with blowing up the offensive line and cutting Revis. JASON LICHT is the GM!!!!!!
How do you think we got some much cap money? That’s Jason’s job, not the head coaches job!!! Are you really going to tell me Lovie would not want revis playing on his team if they could afford it?
May 6th, 2016 at 5:27 pm
“BuccaneerBonzai Says:
May 6th, 2016 at 5:19 pm
Look, Lovie had NOTHING to do with blowing up the offensive line and cutting Revis. JASON LICHT is the GM!!!!!!”
Did or did not Lovie interview Licht?
How many jobs are you aware of where that the guy who interviews you, you will be working over?
May 6th, 2016 at 5:38 pm
Alls I can say is..The Savior (Koetter) had better win. No excuses. If he doesn’t? I have a nail and a cross for him too!!
May 6th, 2016 at 5:46 pm
@Love and Warrick Dunn
How do we know he interviewed him? The Glazers hired the GM. Sure, I’ll buy that they wanted Lovies opinion as the whether they were compatible, but that doesn’t mean Lovie made the final decision.
The truth is, we don’t KNOW. We only know the normal way of doing things. Anyone making assumptions otherwise is stating opinion or claiming “inside” sources…which could just as well mean “fake” sources.
May 6th, 2016 at 6:04 pm
Lou. Says:
May 6th, 2016 at 3:07 pm
Good to see the tckr(dr) still is working.
Welcome back.
———————————————————–
Thank you and a tip of the hat to you, sir! Since my opinions are so unpopular here, I am surprised anyone noticed. I still read most of the posts here, at least the ones which I can decipher, but I rarely comment on the draft or draft choices, since I don’t watch any college football, and know even less about the college prospects than I do about the pro game and players.
tickrdr
May 6th, 2016 at 6:07 pm
@ Bonzai
Good point. I don’t see Licht the alpha dog answering to anyone but the Glazers (who I’m sure had a lot to do with his epic hire).
May 6th, 2016 at 6:15 pm
GM is the money manager, cape space bean counter, LOVIE will never get any credit for anything BUCS, this new group of “teaching coaches” will get the job done! I hope so, this will be a new system or scheme or what ever you call it! It had better work! Go Bucs!!
May 6th, 2016 at 6:40 pm
tickrdr…but we DO miss you.
May 6th, 2016 at 6:41 pm
Bonza…..Revis was ALL Lovie. Period.
May 7th, 2016 at 7:24 am
@Bonzai
“@JasonLaCanfora
Arizona exec Jason Licht had a very impressive interview with Bucs HC Lovie Smith for their GM opening I’m told. Very much in that mix
10:33 PM – 14 Jan 2014”
May 7th, 2016 at 8:15 am
As bad as Lovie did in certain aspects of his job, I must add fir the sake of objectivity that yeah, Lovie “handpicked” his defenders…well no spit, what else was he going to do when they only draft one defensive player in two drafts?! And yeah they were former Bears, what coach wouldn’t bring in players that already had rapport with? Any coach would in that scenario. As endlessly maddening as it was watching Lovie try to coach every Sunday, this is one area that Lovie get’s blamed for that is shows a lack of context on these boards.
And tickdr, glad to see you’re back! You and Hawaiian always got something good to post!
May 7th, 2016 at 8:41 am
There was a 30 degree temperature drop last night I wonder if Love was here would he have been blamed for that? The man got a raw deal and most of you know it.We stink and we will continue to if we don’t start to develop continuity around here I love my team even though we have been terrible since basically 2008 Stop the coaching changes Mr.Glazer
May 7th, 2016 at 12:32 pm
@tickrdr
I noticed also, but when a recent poster said some ridiculous stuff about MG8,
I wondered where in the world is the Tickrdr. He would usually come MG8’s defense with sackful of stats. It may not show up in the stats but the Bucs do like Mike’s intelligence.work ethic, and willingness to be a good team mate.
Come back more often.
May 7th, 2016 at 12:56 pm
@bonsai have to disagree on this one.
When glazers didn’t agree with Rich Mackay choice of Marvin Lewis as choice
for head coach they started their own search.
Lovie interviewed and hired Licht ,possibly with glazers approval. They have proven they will start their own search if necessary.
No need to deny it is one of the best things Lovie did for the team.
May 7th, 2016 at 2:00 pm
@LargoBuc and Bob in Valrico:
Once again, thank you and a gracious hat tip to both of you. Hope you guys are enjoying the great weather here in Florida this weekend. I just got whomped by my son playing ping-pong on the lanai. Family fun is the best, and I hope that all of JoeBucFan land, has a great Mother’s Day weekend, honoring the best ladies in our lives.
tickrdr