Mike Smith Wants Bucs To “Finish Practices”
August 1st, 2018
For fun — and a bit of research — Joe is currently watching the 2014 Falcons episodes of Hard Knocks on HBO.
Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith, of course, was the Atlanta head coach, and Dirk Koetter was the offensive coordinator.
A big theme of the opening episode was toughness, mainly because the buzz around Atlanta at the time was that the Falcons went soft in 2013, just a season removed from the NFC Championship game.
Smith is seen giving a speech about the meaning of toughness, and how it’s only about physicality on every snap — in practice and in games.
Today, Joe asked Smith about that and if he’s getting the desired toughness from his defense through six days of Bucs camp. Not completely, Smith replied.
“For the most part, these guys, they’ve done a good job, I think what we have to do is be a little bit more resilient and be able to, you know, finish practices, finish games, and I think that’s one of the things that I believe that our guys understand. That’s going to be important because more games in this league come down to one score than people realize.”
There’s that one-score game thing again. The Bucs were 3-7 in one-score games last year, a fact Dirk Koetter has shared many times.
Joe has often thrown cold water on that. Hey, the Bears were 2-6 in one-score games, too, and they finished 5-11 with the NFL’s 10th-ranked defense. Does that mean the Bears are on the cusp of something special?
Still, Smith is correct and focused, and the Bucs defense has started better in camp practices than they’ve finished.
Hopefully, this season Smith can produce a group of finishers. If Tyrod Taylor rallies his team late on the Bucs again, this time in Tampa with the Browns in Week 7, Joe might actually take a week off.
August 1st, 2018 at 3:23 pm
Don’t finish in practice, won’t finish in games…
August 1st, 2018 at 3:28 pm
As a Buc fan, It was good to see the Falcons fail that year, after they were getting consistently good results!!!! But it was a shame that Coach Mike Smith had that medical issue that was a huge cause of that year of responsibility being thrown on then Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan!!!!!
But glad to see the way it worked out!!!!! As now the Bucs have 2 very good coaches!!!!!! Just like the “real” fans know!!! Now it is time to keep fixing the “real” problem!!!!!!!! The Roster!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!
August 1st, 2018 at 3:43 pm
Joe,
Do you kinda feel like you’re a creepy boyfriend going through your new girlfriend’s old social media posts?
Ya know, just to see who she was dating back then😜
August 1st, 2018 at 3:48 pm
“For the most part, these guys, they’ve done a good job, I think what we have to do is be a little bit more resilient and be able to, you know, finish practices, finish games, and I think that’s one of the things that I believe that our guys understand”
That;s the same thing as last year…… Smitty is a FAILED Head Coach for a reason.
August 1st, 2018 at 3:49 pm
Speaking of being creepy… Dooshlarue, everyone!
I did not know Mike Smith was incapacitated to the point of needing to rely upon Mike Nolan as much as Realist says, but I can’t agree more – the roster, specifically D line is what was holding back this unit, not unqualified coaching. If we stop the run and can actually breathe on the QB once in a while letting the LBs fly around we may make a lot of unexpected noise this year. Secondary still scares me, need to see one of the rooks step up.
August 1st, 2018 at 4:02 pm
Very reasonable point about the Bears, Joe.
Some people look at the one-score game stat and jump to this ridiculous notion the Bucs are going 11-5 or better.
August 1st, 2018 at 4:37 pm
2-6 in one score games with a sh!t offense, yeah.
August 1st, 2018 at 4:57 pm
Mike Smith….”The Smirk “…..is going to finally have the talent to unleash HELL ! on the opponents….
August 1st, 2018 at 5:02 pm
d-rome
I agree…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!
August 1st, 2018 at 5:08 pm
Mike Smith just admitted what is apparent to many fans: this is just another soft camp from Coach “Soft Camp” Koetter. All one has to do is look at what’s going on during practice. From yukking it up with past Bucs players to allowing injured players in floppy hats and “scooters” on the sidelines to tolerating players taking “mental reps”, these coaches don’t want to push the team. All of the Godfather antics and curt remarks to journalists are meant to give Coach Koetter a tough guy image, but it is clear that he doesn’t want to push the players to focus on practice. The Stick Carriers have aided and abetted this for too long.
August 1st, 2018 at 5:27 pm
You peoples hi-jacked Smith’s comment about one score games to fit your own narrative. He did not say because they have been in one score games that they are on their way to stardom. He said, many games in the NFL come down to one score wins in the end. It’s a true statement.
August 1st, 2018 at 5:35 pm
I think Smith needs to be on the sidelines so he can get a feel for what is going on. A supervisor can learn a lot just by being among his subordinates. Years ago, when I was a supervisor for an ambulance company, I always knew what was going on long before other supervisors did because, unlike them, I was frequently with my subordinates. They didn’t have to tell me things, I could often sense it. Like when a crew wasn’t getting along. Or if someone was pissed or upset about something.
It’s the same with football. You can’t get a feel for what is going on with your defense if you’re in a booth 50 yards away.
August 1st, 2018 at 6:05 pm
Licht will get to stay around long enough to hire a new staff….
August 1st, 2018 at 6:56 pm
Yeah Mike And We..want you to bring your A.. out of the pressbox this season and do some coaching on the sidelines!!!
August 1st, 2018 at 7:06 pm
Lol! Sweezy re-signed with the Seahawks. Fleeced Tampa for Millions and went back home.
It’s a Bucs life.
August 1st, 2018 at 7:10 pm
OK…I will try again. Sweezy re-signed with the Seahawks.
Fleeced Tampa for Multi millions and went back home.
Typical. It’s a Buc Life.
August 1st, 2018 at 7:11 pm
Man Joe! Do you not want us talking about Sweezy?
August 1st, 2018 at 7:12 pm
I have tried to post twice about him signing with Seattle again the comparisons to Ghost Johnson with nothing offensive in the posts. Smh
August 1st, 2018 at 7:25 pm
Soft coach soft team
Buckner won’t let the d line be soft
August 1st, 2018 at 7:27 pm
Since you haven’t answered me Johnny, our bet is still on despite the JW3 suspension. I didn’t plan for it but phuck it! Bet On!
August 1st, 2018 at 7:33 pm
I don’t care about the 1 score games. We all know the defense choked those games away.
I wish someone asked them during all this 1 score BS – “Well what about the 4 games in which we lost by multiple scores and weren’t even competitive? That’s 25% of our season that fans were sick to their stomach for most of the 60 minutes they engaged this team.”
That is the sh1t I do not want to see ONCE this year. In a sport where a typical point spread is 3-7 points; it’s pathetic to get blown out in 25% of your games.
I believe in this staff and the team… but the one score verbage is the last thing I care to hear about.
August 1st, 2018 at 7:40 pm
LOLOL…………I just got this from a NFCW site I frequent. Macabee is a twitter star 2500 miles away
Macabee
@macabee1143
JR Sweezy signed with the Seattle SeaHawks for a case of Halibut steaks and a dozen Dungeness crabs. Said he had already been paid by the Tampa Bay Buccanneers. lol.
2:49 PM – Aug 1, 2018
August 1st, 2018 at 8:02 pm
You know how many good teams let off the gas only to let us score 10 points in the final four minutes and make it interesting. IT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR!!!!!
Don’t feed me this close game crap. THIS GUY IS SOFT!!! HE CANT COACH DEFENSE AND ITS GOING TO BE PROVEN AFTER THIS LOADED ROSTER FAILS AGAIN THIS YEAR!!!
Oh wait, that is until Mike Smith fan club starts pointing out how all of the new pieces haven’t had time to gel and that he still needs another year right?
This guy is Dirk Koetters biggest mistake hiring and will probably end up being his last mistake by keeping. Called it the day he was hired. Guy sucks. Nice guy but he is soft like toilet paper. Soft like wet tissue. Soft like a sad weak rotten little twig.
Promote Buckner before the season is lost will be my only request once he craps the bed with this roster full of talent.
August 1st, 2018 at 8:17 pm
Nice rant bro.
August 1st, 2018 at 8:29 pm
6-10
No playoffs. Last place again
Absolutely guaranteed
August 1st, 2018 at 9:17 pm
Practice notes! Practice notes! Feeeeed me
August 1st, 2018 at 9:26 pm
@WillieG … “I think Smith needs to be on the sidelines so he can get a feel for what is going on.” Have seen lots of others say that Willie, but it’s all really a matter of preference. Excellent article titled “Are NFL play callers better in the booth or on the sideline? That depends.” (https://www.sbnation.com/2016/11/23/13730592/2016-nfl-season-falcons-chargers-eagles-coaches-kyle-shanahan ). Mostly talking about OCs as opposed to DCs, but other things I’ve read seem to indicate the same logic works for both.
August 1st, 2018 at 9:27 pm
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
August 1st, 2018 at 9:31 pm
@BucEmUp … “Don’t feed me this close game crap. THIS GUY IS SOFT!!! HE CANT COACH DEFENSE AND ITS GOING TO BE PROVEN AFTER THIS LOADED ROSTER FAILS AGAIN THIS YEAR!!! Oh wait, that is until Mike Smith fan club starts pointing out how all of the new pieces haven’t had time to gel and that he still needs another year right?”
We’ll see at the end of the year. No sense bothering until then; your mind is closed. Enjoy the season, although if Smitty & the Bucs’ defense do well, you’ll undoubtedly find something else to bitch about.
August 1st, 2018 at 9:54 pm
Sb u might as well buy that jersey for me Now
August 1st, 2018 at 10:25 pm
We shall see about that Sir! 🙁
August 1st, 2018 at 10:26 pm
I initially tried to back out with you when I found out about JW’s grounding.
But, Hey what is a one game difference?
August 1st, 2018 at 10:28 pm
I wish I were in Destin right now fishing for some Snook!
Coming down that way next Spring. Gonna hit Destin, Ft.Walt. and PCB. Hope to hit one in that stretch!
August 1st, 2018 at 10:33 pm
Will re type once again.
Wish I was in Destin right now fishing for S n o o k.
Gonna do the Destin,Ft. Walt, PCB loop this next spring. Try to catch a slot.
August 1st, 2018 at 11:27 pm
Win more than you lose.
August 1st, 2018 at 11:31 pm
Did anyone see that Sweezy resigned with Seattle?
🙂
August 1st, 2018 at 11:43 pm
If I was with Mike Smith or with Jason Licht I’d wanna inform him about the recent news with the Raiders: Rumors are flying around the NFL that the Raiders are trying to trade Kahlil Mack since he’s been holding out of Training Camp. He’d be expensive to get, but I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of Jason Licht trying to get into the sweepstakes for Mack. After all, Licht gave up some Draft Capital for JPP.
August 2nd, 2018 at 6:55 am
Defense rules, I’ve been beating the same drum since he was hired. SAME drum beat for lovie….why? Because they both ran the worst defensive units in the league.
If I were just looking gr8 something to bitch about I would be on a different topic every rant. Unless the Dbs play tighter coverage it’s going to be the same results
August 2nd, 2018 at 9:09 am
buc em
I agree…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!
August 2nd, 2018 at 9:36 am
Yeah its really gonna tick me off if Sweezy has an All Pro type of year.
And there is A LOT of chatter about the Bears being UNSTOPPABLE this year.
We keep talking about going 1-2 or even 2-1, but the Bears will be no joke.
This schedule just keeps going. So glad the bye week is early and we actually have one this year.
August 2nd, 2018 at 2:35 pm
Say, why don’t we wait til next Thursday and see how we play against Miami with Tannehill back at QB. That should tell us how effective our remade DL can play this year. Having Jameis running the second string should look better than we usually do in Preseason. I think our scrimmaging in pads and use of our new playing field (instead of rained out practices) should give us a boost too!