Challenge Each Other
July 25th, 2016
Input is good.
Until the Bucs kickoff training camp at One Buc Palace Thursday, Joe will try to get in the mind of defensive coordinator Mike Smith.
Joe will regularly deliver excerpts and/or highlights from Smith’s book, “You Win in the Locker Room,” available on Google Play and iTunes.
Unlike a certain coach who will go nameless in this post, Mike Smith is not a guy to force feed a defense on his players.
Not only will he try to mold a defense around the talent he has, he wants input from both his assistants and the players. Hell, Smith is even open-minded to outside sources offering advice.
In short, Smith is not so arrogant to believe he has the answers to everything. He understands that the more feedback he can get from trusted sources, the better it is for his team, as he detailed in his book.
The best teams, coaching staffs and leadership groups that I have been associated with are the ones that were willing to challenge one another in meetings, game-planning sessions and practice. Everyone understood the challenge and that every action we took was predicated on making the team better. This means at times we would argue and fight in coaching meetings and game-planning sessions. One person would feel strongly about what would work, while another might disagree and have other suggestions. We understood that you couldn’t take anything personally in these meetings. We had to be willing to disagree in order to consider all possible plans and come up with the best one. It was uncomfortable at times because in our quest to get better there were always different views and strong opinions. These discussions, while difficult, were very healthy and ensured that we were utilizing the full talents and knowledge of our staff.
Folks, this is coaching. Trying to shoehorn players into your scheme and not being flexible isn’t just arrogant, it’s lazy coaching, and Joe will add it’s irresponsible coaching because you are not trying to get the most out of your players’ talents; you are not trying to utilize them to be the best they can be.
Joe had a hunch Smith was not like you-know-who when John Lynch told Joe that Smith asked Lynch to sit in a defensive meeting so the new Bucs defensive staff could pick his brain while studying tape of Bucs defenders. That was the day Lynch was brought to One Buc Palace in January to announce he would be inducted into the Buccaneers’ Ring of Honor.
Lynch happily obliged and seemed honored. Joe has a hunch the way Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks and Ronde Barber bounce around One Buc Palace, Lynch wasn’t the only ex-Bucs defender Smith has consulted.
Lynch being asked to sit in on a defensive meeting told Joe the new Bucs’ defensive coordinator will leave no stone unturned in an effort to better his players and, more importantly, win some freaking games.
July 25th, 2016 at 5:25 am
I’m as excited as anyone to have Mike Smith running the defensive show for the Bucs, but … I hope media and fans aren’t setting expectations so high that we’re expecting a return to 2002 results immediately right out of the gate.
Of the first 5 teams we play, 2 of them (Panthers & Cards) ranked #1 and #2 offensively last year (and we play both of them away). And all 5 of those teams ranked in the top half defensively last year (so our offense has its work cut out for them also). I personally expect that we can win anyplace from 2-3 of those games, but that each of those wins will be a real dogfight and that how fast our defense gels will be the key to victory.
July 25th, 2016 at 6:27 am
@defense rules
It is even worse than that! They think that the return to 2002 was “Prevented” when coach my scheme was Fired!!!!
@Joe
Lazy coaching for Sure!!! it took months if not years to see 1 adjustment!!!! coach my scheme would tell us after each game that they would get penalties fixed, only to hear players afterward say that nothing changed!!!!!! The roster order never changed thru training camp and preseason, but when the season started the incompetent one would play secondary roulette during games!!!!!!! what did he watch all offseason!!!!! And the true from of coaching laziness, all the video’s of coach my scheme asleep at the combine!!!!!!
July 25th, 2016 at 9:00 am
Unfortunately, we had a ring-side seat to this type of coaching. For the life of me, I will never understand why a coach will not listen to what a player is telling him regarding the play on the field. There are nuances that are not detectable from the booth nor easily rectified through “disciplined play” in a particular scheme. Sometimes you have to throw the game-plan out the window! (hello slants!!!)
I’m glad that Smith is willing to listen and adjust accordingly. I hope that it translates into wins.
July 25th, 2016 at 9:11 am
Not only would the unnamed disease not listen to others including players. players would endbup in the dog house for seeking clarification or questioning why things were not working. That is not coaching
July 25th, 2016 at 9:59 am
If this was coach my scheme’s book, it would have read ” blame the staff and players!!!”
July 25th, 2016 at 10:09 am
The Bucs and their fans motto this season “win some freaking games”.
July 25th, 2016 at 12:16 pm
@realist…get it all out….once aug 11 rolls around, no more coach my scheme excuses or comments….it will be all on dirk and mike’s shoulders….its dirks team from here on out so he is responsible for the product on the field….lets see what dirk and mike can cook up….GO BUCS!!!!
July 25th, 2016 at 12:23 pm
@813bucboi
And no one will be more excited for Aug 11 than me!!!!! but until then, its like removing incompetent poison out!!!! Know that we wasted 2 years with lovie buffoonery!!! It will be so welcome to start fresh!!! To start to see what we really have for talent on this team!!!! To start to see coaching finally!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!