Lovie The QB Guru?
January 18th, 2017
“I know quarterbacks… except for that guy I cut in Chicago.”
No, former Bucs head coach Lovie Smith did not do a good job when he guided Tampa Bay. In fact, he did a horrible job.
Lovie always was a defensive guy. The joke about Lovie, which he doesn’t exactly deny and sort of takes a wry sense of credit for, is that when it comes to offense, he is bored out of his skull and tends to nod off.
But recent history suggests Lovie has a gift of developing quarterbacks. Yes, really.
When Lovie was in Chicago, bratty Jay Cutler enjoyed some of his best seasons and reached the NFC Championship game. Of course, Lovie somehow got to a Super Bowl with Rex Grossman in Chicago, as well. And in Tampa, it was Lovie who gave the green light to drafting America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, who should have been the Rookie of the Year last season.
Lovie’s magic touch with quarterbacks may just continue. Among the NFL prospects practicing this week in St. Petersburg for Saturday’s East-West Shrine game is Wes Lunt of Illinois.
Yes, an Illinois quarterback. What in the name of Tony Eason is going on here?
Joe had a chance to chat with Lunt after practice at St. Petersburg High School yesterday, and the fact he was invited to participate in the East-West Shrine Game is on account of Lovie, who took over the football program at the University of Illinois.
“He helped us a lot,” Lunt said. “I think for me, defensively, he brought an NFL scheme to Illinois that we practiced against every day. We kind of learned about being a pro as they were coaching us players like NFL players.”
Lunt said he could tell he was ahead of the curve in East-West Shrine Game practices as a result.
This year, for the first time, NFL assistants were chosen to coach the teams. Lunt is used to facing an NFL defense in practice, but he noticed not all of his quarterback teammates are adapting as quickly in scrimmages.
“[Lovie] ran a lot schemes [on defense in practice] that we are seeing out here,” Lunt said. “Like coverages, Tampa-2 and cover-3. It was an NFL mentality that I got a taste of last year. Our practice schedule, our walk-throughs, our meetings, it was different [than under Tim Beckman]. I think this will benefit me more going forward.”
The way the Bucs defense played under Lovie, and the way the Illini defense has crashed and burned under Lovie, perhaps Lovie is much more of a quarterback savant than any of us may have realized.
Stewart McClown, notwithstanding.
January 18th, 2017 at 10:16 am
Off topic, but can anyone tell me why with all of this ludicrous draft chatter going on and RB being such a big need. Why the H is no one talking about a versatile RB/ATH like Christian McCaffrey to the Bucs. Koetter would make this guy work. He will be only a 21 year old rookie who appears healthy and isn’t a small guy either. Has an amazing skillset to be a 1000 rushing/1000 receiving yard threat.
January 18th, 2017 at 10:36 am
now now Joe……..stop bagging on Coach Lovie Dovie
January 18th, 2017 at 10:46 am
Well, to be a defensive specialist, you gotta know about the offenses you’ll be going up against and vice versa.
January 18th, 2017 at 10:57 am
At #19 no to McCaffery. PBA or trade down or out of round 1 and maybe move back in later if a player falls. No impact players outside the top 10. No to John Ross at 19 as well. If Bubba Baker is there and he grades out as a top 20 pick I’m fine with that. Not excited for this draft at all. It would be nice to move down.
January 18th, 2017 at 11:25 am
Congrats to Lovie and the Illini on their 3-9 record last year! He obviously helped Lunt a lot!
January 18th, 2017 at 11:39 am
Remember it was Lovie banging the table for Jameis the most.
Dirk was the last one to be sold.
Thank Lovie for Jameis.
January 18th, 2017 at 11:40 am
Joe moonlighting as a comedian now. Funny stuff bro. Keep up the good work.
January 18th, 2017 at 11:57 am
Dang Joe you place the ball pretty low. I’ve never heard of this Lunt kid but I hope he aspires to be more than Rex Grossman, Jay Cutler or Josh McCown.
Although I must confess Lovie did wonders for McCown’s career. Somehow he managed to extend a worthless journeyman’s career and McCown is millions of dollar richer because of it. Good on McCown…hated him under our center…but have a lot of respect for him as a human being. I’m fine with him in Cleveland.
After that brutal beatdown he got every week in 14 dude deserves whatever he can get. I do not recall a QB getting just BLASTED so frequently week in and week out. Dude has ‘nads the size of bowling balls. The other teams slapped him around like a 4 year old at WalMart.
January 18th, 2017 at 12:39 pm
Well he did lead a team to the Super Bowl with Rex Grossman.
January 18th, 2017 at 12:43 pm
Yes he did NJ….as did Brian Gillick with Trent freaking Dilfer…and let’s be honest…I love Brad Johnson and always felt he was underrated…but he was no Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady.
January 18th, 2017 at 2:19 pm
Thank licht for jameis. Jameis was coming regardless if lovie wanted him. There are many reports that states/stated that licht was in charge if the draft. Not sure why the readers on this site is slow to understand this. Lovie had final say on the 53.
January 18th, 2017 at 5:07 pm
NFL offenses would disagree with Lunt’s classification of Lovie’s defense as “an NFL scheme”. It’s factually correct in that he ran in the NFL, but wrong in that it implies the defense was of an NFL caliber.
Illinois deserves what it gets. I guess they weren’t paying attention when Lovie was handing out first downs like candy as TB coach, or when his vastly superior mentor Monte Kiffin couldn’t reconcile his NFL defensive philosophies with NCAA offensive philosophies
January 19th, 2017 at 6:39 am
oh please you lovie hating suckers act like lovie took over powerhouses in Tampa and illinois. i saw wes lunt when they came to seattle to play the huskies two yrs ago and knew he would get a shot.
January 19th, 2017 at 6:41 am
oh please you lovie hating jokers act like lovie took over powerhouses full of talent in Tampa and illinois. i saw wes lunt when they came to seattle to play the huskies two yrs ago and knew he would get a shot.