Conte Gets A “Bad Rap”
March 12th, 2017
Unfair target.
Despite some stellar signings this weekend by Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager, Jason Licht sent many Stick Carriers reaching for a bottle of Clorox because for the third time in his tenure as general manager he signed fan favorite Chris Conte.
Joe cannot tell you how many Twitters he gets from daily from fans thinking the Bucs should draft a safety in the early rounds. This is largely fueled by Conte-hate.
Licht hears the wailing from the anti-Conte crowd and believes the haters are unfair, to be polite, so he told Roy Cummings of Florida Football Insider.
“Things are really starting to gel for him in this scheme now and he was really coming along until that (chest) injury hit last year. That was really unfortunate for him,” Licht said.
Licht later said Conte was getting a “bad rap.”
Joe tends to lean to Licht’s line of thinking. Most fans hate Conte because of the way the defense got torched, guided by lazy Lovie Smith. Thus, Conte was branded as a stiff.
Conte did play well in the latter part of the season and the Bucs might not beat the Chiefs without Conte’s pick in the end zone to seal the upset win.
March 12th, 2017 at 3:08 am
Him and Tandy made more impact plays than some other heralded players their whole tenure here last season
March 12th, 2017 at 3:32 am
Well said GETACLUE..
Our Safeties won us games..and Conte had huge games for us at Chiefs and Bears..
How easy they want to forget because Chris Conte is one hot mutha fooker..if my husband knew who I think of most of the time..the other times it’s Sterling Moore..
March 12th, 2017 at 3:46 am
Would have liked to keep McDougal also but I guess it is a business. Shep leaving hurts but nice pickup with Robinson. We have to keep these core guys around to gel and excel in the system. Plus the draft is setting up nicely for us right now.
Option 1 (trade down)
2nd Obi SS or Baker SS
2nd Foreman RB
March 12th, 2017 at 3:52 am
Conte made plenty of plays – mainly bad ones. The guy stinks and single handily lost the Denver game by giving up big plays then getting multiple PI’s and personal fouls. The guy got burned over and over and over and over again – he stinks. If the Bucs go into the season counting on him, they’re in a lot of trouble. Sure, some say he played better later in the season, I’d say the S spot was much much better when he was out of the line-up and Tandy was starting.
March 12th, 2017 at 3:53 am
“Safety” is the name for a reason. He has likely been the victim of poor supporting cast
March 12th, 2017 at 3:08 am
DallasBuc – No, he’s just not very good. He’s not fast, he’s not a good tackler, he doesn’t take good angles. He will make big plays from time to time, that’s because he takes chances – however it’s also why he’ll make 5 bad plays for every good one. Seriously go watch that Denver game, Conte single handedly lost that game. If I recall right all of his PI’s and PF’s were all on 3rd and long (although that is by memory, could have it wrong). I get that there’s not a lot of players at the position, a lot of teams need safety help and there’s a shortage of guys and you need guys that know your system since safety isn’t a plug and play position – but man, if the Bucs are starting Conte again, that’s a really bad sign. If I got the numbers right Conte got less money than the special teams ace Josh Robinson got more when he resigned than what Conte got – that tells you a lot.
March 12th, 2017 at 3:16 am
Obi Melifonwu in the first round or Budda Baker in the second would solve this problem in a hurry.
March 12th, 2017 at 3:50 am
First, only SOME fans “hate Conte.” The REAL FANS…those who actually throw down mula to go to games, are by and large, perfectly supportive. Yes, as he was a major part of the defense during the rough patches with Lovie (and moreso, with Lovie’s inexperienced kid coaching DBs), he got deserved heat. But he never gets booed, and I’ve sat in the stands and heard a lot of negative to Conte, just frustration at times to the Bucs play writ large. Let’s give the guy a chance coming of out camp. He ended last year on a good note, is that much farther away from 2015’s debacle, and it’s a new season.
March 12th, 2017 at 3:57 am
Kinda reaching Joe with your assumption that Bucs fans desire for a safety position upgrade is “largely fueled by Conte-hate”. Virtually ALL of our safeties last year were average at best, nothing more, nothing less. None are particularly fast; none are particularly great tacklers. They’re average, and the position (dual) needs upgrading to be a truly effective ‘last line of defense’.
I’m hopeful that our newest FA, JJ Wilcox, will fix part of that. Sounds like he fared ‘average’ in Dallas, but he’s got an interesting background (WR, slotback & safety). Decent size for a safety (6′ 212 lbs) although not particularly fast (about same as Conte it sounds like), but his reputation as a hard hitter impresses me. Only time will tell though how well he fits in Mike Smith’s defensive scheme. Would still like to see Bucs draft a safety this year, but probably not until the 3rd or 4th rnd at the earliest (too many other higher needs in the draft like RB, WR, & DT/DE).
March 12th, 2017 at 4:44 am
Trivia: Chris Conte is the grandson of famous actor Richard Conte.
March 12th, 2017 at 6:11 am
Hello my Buc family. While safety is the last line of the defense, our coaching staff understands the personnel on the field. So lets hope that more talent is added and that the schemes are made for the players on the roster. It’s understood that coaches and executive staff don’t play on the field during games, however, they do create the schemes. Conte has to hold his own when the the whistle blows, but at the same time, he has to follow commands. We’ll get to see if he does his homework and has the skills to fit the scheme real soon.
March 12th, 2017 at 6:49 am
KingBuc17 Says
“Would have liked to keep McDougal also but I guess it is a business. “Success
Bradley McDougald has not signed elsewhere, so don’t give up just yet.
March 12th, 2017 at 7:01 am
His “bad rep” is because he can’t cover anyone. Especially the deep ball. He is always in the bottom of the ranking for coverage ability by safeties
March 12th, 2017 at 7:15 am
I think he has only played one 16 game season and he is going into his 7th season!!! And he does have a good game, but then he will have 2 or 3 bad games!!!
I have no problem with him on this team as a backup!!!!
March 12th, 2017 at 7:16 am
Strong Safety hasn’t always been a strength on successful Bucs defenses. Conte is good enough so long as the Free Safety spot is strong. That’s why resigning Bradley McDougald is so important.
Bradley McDougald was the most important resign Licht had coming into the off season. He has to get it done. News on him is nowhere. I even tried tweeting him. Got nothing back, which is unusual.
March 12th, 2017 at 7:27 am
While Im ok with resigning him, I still want to upgrade in the draft, preferably Obi. But that will cost a high pick. Right now its looking like we’re setting up to go RB, DE, or O line with our 1st and 2nd….WR still in play too. (want Zay Jones with our 2nd pick).
I dont know….hard to figure out what to hit hardest with the first 3 picks of draft. Have to see whose there I guess.
March 12th, 2017 at 7:41 am
i think part of the reson is his familiarity with the defense, remember last year it took our safeties half the season to understand smiths concepts. hes here to back up tandy so at least he can step in right away if tandy gets hurt and we wont have to dumb it down and play vanilla d….good depth signing.
March 12th, 2017 at 7:47 am
All we need is a running back we need the game changer Cook, Cook, he will make the safeties follow him and leave the WR one on one. I vote Cook.
March 12th, 2017 at 7:50 am
We always want the one that we don’t sign
March 12th, 2017 at 7:54 am
Again just for some perspective. I’ve seen two different charts now for how much each position averages in the NFL.
Wouldn’t the $$$ be a fairly strong indicator or where NFL brains believe which positions are most important for success. Yeah every starter contributes but wouldn’t the dollars average out, with specific exceptions, to go to the player who contributes the most.
IE Quarterbacks make far more on average than any other position because duh…QB’s touch the ball every offensive play and are critical to any team’s success.
If you go to the opposite end of the spectrum…which positions get paid the least…safeties are right there at the bottom. In one chart they were the bottom in another I saw they were near the bottom…TE’s averaged the least.
Better to be a DE or LT if you wanna cash in bigtime.
Conte missed some plays…EVERY Buc including LVD and Kwon missed some tackles and took poor angles…Conte also made some big plays. I suspect he’s somewhere in the middle of the pack for safeties which again are regarded among the least important positions on a team by the $$$. Show me the money!
March 12th, 2017 at 8:16 am
Lord Jaboo help me for they know not what they speak. Conte should be burned at the stake just to delouse the team from his putrid stench, softness and loser tendencies.
If GMC is ice cream then Conte is wet cotton candy and the “Real Fans” lol some of them just need prayer.
March 12th, 2017 at 8:18 am
Absolute garbage.. Even he knew it, as shown by his temper tantrum after getting pulled for the umpteenth time. Joe as a talent evaluator you are sorely lacking . Licht must have convinced you Contes great afrer pounding numerous Licht ales together. Can’t wait until Conte costs us yet another game.
March 12th, 2017 at 8:22 am
@Stpetebucsfan
Another test is ask everyone what is the players strongest attribute for being on the team… I bet you will here ” He is familiar with the system” majority of the time……That’s not good enough anymore!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!
March 12th, 2017 at 8:37 am
I hear you Realist. We are starting to lose good players because as you say…”not good enough anymore”. As we get better and better players like Shep will continue to leave not because they are no good…but because they are “not good enough anymore”. The better the “not good enough anymore” player who leave us are…the more we can realize that we are becoming “good enough” at last.
How many positions do we have that couldn’t be upgraded….QB…WR…RG…?
How many are really solid not in need of an upgrade…a couple DL and LB’s…CB
How many could we upgrade pretty easily…all the rest!!!
There is not enough $$$ or FA’s or draft picks to upgrade all of the positions that could be upgraded. I think this is true for every team…even the Pats.
And so clearly Licht/Koetter have made a decision that while safety could be upgraded there are more pressing needs…like upgrading at RB…at Center…and upgrade helll just finding a starting RT…who is that guy right now?
March 12th, 2017 at 8:39 am
Joe, fact is most Bucs fans don’t really understand the game of football as a TEAM sport.
I’m totally OK with Conte. The entire D stunk it up the first half of last season, not just Conte.
March 12th, 2017 at 9:28 am
Conte’s coach the majority of his career? Lovie Smith. Give Mike Smith another year to coach the “lovie” out of him and he will only get better.
March 12th, 2017 at 9:42 am
#1 I told you all Aquarius’s careless about what people think about our mindsets trust me when I tell you that. #2 I can’t understand how losing shep hurts when Robinson and Smith were excellent along with Anger on ST’s last season. I expect similar results next season. #3 Bonzai I feel it was clear that Gholston not McDoug was his biggest must re-sign of the off season.
March 12th, 2017 at 10:56 am
Nole, I don’t think Gholston was huge at all. I think drafting a DE would have been the smarter move. Maybe they still will. But I feel Gholston has under produced.
March 12th, 2017 at 10:57 am
Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad he’s back. If we’d signed a great DE there or draft one, Gholston would make top-notch depth.
March 12th, 2017 at 11:16 am
Conte was on fire, Prior to getting hurt last year.
And in the team runs- Conteis always in top Five.
Kid has speed. And he is a good safety.
The way he has taken to Mike Smiths Defense, he may be a great Safety.
It wouldnt surprise me a bit, if we dont add any more upgrades at Safety.
And about the haters, this team has always had people who hate its best players
Remember, we have idiots(probably same idiots) who hate Gerald McCoy.
Who is the Best DT in league, and the best DT this team has ever had.
Probably blame these guys for their own failed lives. Sad and Pathetic
March 12th, 2017 at 11:30 am
Who hate Gerald McCoy who is the Best DT in league, and the best DT this team has ever had.
————
Your enthusiasm got the best of you Tim cuz that by far the dumbest statement ever written.
March 12th, 2017 at 12:09 pm
Glad Chris back, he was very solid last year until he got hurt. Serviceable Safety and contributes on ST too
March 12th, 2017 at 12:10 pm
Conte gets a Bad Rap cus he sucks. Wow he had two good games (one being against one of the worst teams in the league) and a couple good plays last year. Don’t try to say he’s coming into his own and don’t try to blame it on Lovie. And I don’t know if it affects the team too much but the guy is a super huuge a-hole also.
March 12th, 2017 at 1:35 pm
Dude won us two games last year. At the very least, he deserves a shot at being a backup for this team. The amount of unjustified hate is incredible.
March 12th, 2017 at 3:14 pm
John Lynch wasn’t fast,but he knew where to be. I don’t like the re-sign.
March 12th, 2017 at 3:41 pm
The problem is that Conte has so much bad film that doesn’t just go away
March 12th, 2017 at 4:54 pm
I was apart of the Anti-Conte mob at first. But after his stellar performances against the Chiefs and the Bears, he really grew on me. Buuuut then he got hurt. Like the signing though
March 12th, 2017 at 8:40 pm
He deserves a bad rap, stupid signing.
March 12th, 2017 at 10:16 pm
Agree with GETACLUE and he’ll finally have continuity going into the next year I’m excited about that for everyone returning this year
March 13th, 2017 at 1:19 am
“Remember, We have idiots . . . Who hate Gerald McCoy
Db55
Sorry buddy, buuuuttt,
“The idiot line is forming right over, behind Db55! Just get in a single file line!!!
Just follow him to The Skyway jumper platform !!
Every player and coach that has EVER been interviewed- Including OUR coach, all say that that have to plan their Offenses on containing McCoy.
Every player says hes the best. Our New DT said playing next to an Elite DT like McCoy is a big reason he wanted to come here
Warren Sapp said McCoy is a better player than he was
Yet a few of you zombies here think you are smarter.ypu think you know more about football.
Lmfao
I bet dollars to donuts, that none of you ever played college football.
I doubt you played High school football
Your football knowledge comes from “Madden”, a video game.
I can tell this, because when you watch a game- its apparent that you have no idea what you are looking at. None
Otherwise- you’d see McCoy the same way all the football knowledgeable people see him
By the way- dont you ever wonder, why if every pro coach and Player are in awe of McCoy- that you, a nobody- can be right?
Especially when you are in a group of “guys” like Tmaxipad?
Thought you were a little more football educated than that