Chris Simms Trashes Mike Smith
October 3rd, 2018
Blasts Bucs DC.
Chris Simms, one of only six quarterbacks in Bucs history to lead the team to a postseason appearance, did not hold back.
In his Bleacher Report podcast he co-hosts with somebody called Adam Lefkoe, the subject of Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith came up. Simms, appalled after watching his old team get destroyed in the Windy City Wipeout, all but said he cannot believe Smith is collecting a check from the Bucs.
Simms went into great X’s and O’s detail as to why — in his eyes — Smith is in over his head as an NFL defensive coordinator in 2018. But in simple terms, Simms said Smith is doing the same thing he did in his last stint as a defensive coordinator, and NFL offensive coordinators and opposing head coaches know it.
“They are all going to be in trouble soon,” Simms said of the Bucs’ coaching staff. “I know Mike Smith is going to be. It is mind-blowing, the Bucs defense.
“When I played against him when he was the d-coordinator of the Jacksonville Jaguars, he’s doing the same thing now as he was doing then. … First of all, Chicago came out with a cool little gameplan.”
Simms, after giving Bears coach Matt Nagy props for using quarterback Mitch Trubisky as a runner, broke down how the Bears were running simple concepts that every team uses yet Simms said for reasons unknown, Smith was apparently so shocked he didn’t know how to respond.
“You have no answers for it?” Simms shrieked. “That is totally mind-blowing to me. I mean mind-blowing. It was like watching seven-on-seven but it was actually worse than seven-on-seven. They actually cover people in seven-on-seven.”
Simms mentioned a Bucs safety — he didn’t mention the name — was literally lost on the field not knowing who to cover or what to do and Simms claimed this happened all game long.
Joe knows there may be truth to what Simms is saying about Smith having a book out on him. After the Windy City Wipeout, Nagy admitted he knew what Smith was going to do.
Of course, Lefkoe and Simms both admitted there may not be a better guy working in the NFL than Smith. But this issue is not about wanting Smith for a neighbor or having a few beers with him. It’s about his defense.
This is bad folks. And next up is a road trip to Atlanta to play in a dome against a wounded animal, the Dixie Chicks with their owner already spouting off publicly. And we all know how well Smith’s defenses play in domes.
Joe feels like drinking already.
To hear Simms and Lefkoe talk about the Bucs, the chatter begins at the 26:30-mark.
October 3rd, 2018 at 10:11 am
How hard is it to regularly put your press man corners in press man and blitz? Appears very as it applies to Smitty.
October 3rd, 2018 at 10:14 am
Mike Smith can’t defend the nfl or college playbook. The game is passing these good men by. It’s like walking around with a flip phone bc ‘I don’t need all those apps’. Lol, wake up or walk out.
For goodness sakes he doesn’t even jam receivers off the line.
Can I just say that VV is ridiculously strong but also pretty slow. Not sure he can make it to the QBs in 3 seconds make time him 3 minutes. Kidding just kidding but he’s slow. But man I saw he throw a guard to the ground from he knees. Ridiculous!!!
October 3rd, 2018 at 10:16 am
This is consistently a great Podcast… They aren’t Ira Kaufman good but good.
October 3rd, 2018 at 10:18 am
The rookies were confused as to coverage responsibilities- is this on coaches? on player preparation? Probably a little of both, but I would put more of it on player responsibility- with 3 rookies in secondary- Chicago ran routes that confused Bucs.
It is easy to trash Mike Smith, and he must take blame, but it’s difficult when you don’t have and haven’t had experienced talent on back end.
October 3rd, 2018 at 10:25 am
Alan
Most of the plays they scored on was cover 3 def. if you can’t or don’t know cover 3 then there’s huge issues.
I seen at least 2 plays where there was an empty backfield and Kwon was reading run. When he did drop back he only moves about 5 yards.
The play Koetter mention where we had 4 guys covering 2 WR and they still scored, that was Kwon, Evans and Davis coving 1 WR while Stewart got burnt on a corner route for a TD. I think Davis was supposed to play deep third to help Stewart but wtfdik.
October 3rd, 2018 at 10:29 am
You know…I wonder if Buccaneers fans go to division rival websites and troll like they do here?
Maybe we should start a troll war. Traffic would skyrocket!
October 3rd, 2018 at 10:30 am
Why is the media not asking the tough questions to the coaches? When is time to ask the tough questions? Complaining to the fans accomplishes nothing. What is the goal at Joesbucsfan if you aren’t going to go after the coaches in the press conferences? All this talk and nothing gets fixed.
October 3rd, 2018 at 10:31 am
I predict a win against Atlanta.
The Buccaneers will come out of the bye week with a new fire that will carry them to the playoffs. Watch and see!
October 3rd, 2018 at 10:32 am
Season Is Over, it’s not like anything Joe or other media asks would change anything anyways. All that would accomplish is alienating the coaches. Ask the Tampa Tribune how that went.
October 3rd, 2018 at 10:37 am
IF ONLY WE COULD STOP THE WHEEL ROUTES!!!!!!!!!!
If only there was a way!!!!!!!
October 3rd, 2018 at 10:37 am
I know its Smith’s defense & he is definitely the blame for how horrible they are but I also think a part of the blame is on the db coach, & yes I know most of the db’s are rookies except for Grimes who is terrible. What were the Bucs thinking signing him. I guess he wasthe best db they had which is sad. I would cut ties with him & go with the rooks. Just my opinion for what its worth.
October 3rd, 2018 at 10:39 am
Look Guys, its time to let it all go. Smith is with us until yrs end as is Koetter. Sure, The Bucs Defense will flash and show potential in future games. But haven’t they always when the chips were down? It still won’t be good enough..not under this regime. So you can forget about Playoffs. DO NOT EVEN..get your hopes up.
Once Again, Our..lower expectations are met. We will probably beat Atlanta followed by 2 losses then another win.. with the rinse cycle on repeat. SOS every year. Hopefully, The Glazers will..see the light after this season. Thats the best us fans can hope for. My wife and I though have a contingency plan for games. If we are getting blown out by the half? We are..Off to the Movies! If we are lucky I do have us winning 5 to 7 games. Rightfully taking our unremovable spot of..Cellerdwellers. Buc Life Baby!!
October 3rd, 2018 at 10:43 am
It’s a joke.
How many years do we have to continue to field bottom 3 defenses?
It’s his THIRD YEAR HERE.
He’s been able to give input on the draft/FA for years; to get what he needs to put anything that isn’t a pile of horse sh1t out on the field; and we still are watching a big pile of horse crap on the field.
October 3rd, 2018 at 10:46 am
Seriously telling stuff, I have been hearing from Simms and other former NFL players breaking down Smiths defense and how there has been almost zero in game adjustments besides blitzing, and how he has no answer.
You can be a fan and still be realistic, Smith will ruin this Team or be it’s savior not Jamies. Like many Joe’s think, if we had a middle of the pack defense no telling how far we could go.
October 3rd, 2018 at 10:48 am
It appears you aren’t paying attention. Go watch the past couple of Dirk Koetter’s press conferences.
October 3rd, 2018 at 10:56 am
It’s not just the D, the Panthers 58 has been calling our offensive plays for the last 2 seasons. The game evolves unfortunately our team has not.
October 3rd, 2018 at 11:00 am
Media’s asking the tough questions. Everyday. The problem is..The Glazers ears are closed.
October 3rd, 2018 at 11:17 am
LC
I agree…..some folks act as if this is smittys first year and we should cut him some slack…..this is year 3 and we’re still having communication issues, little pass rush and not playing physical….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!
October 3rd, 2018 at 11:28 am
This is boiling down to the Glazers holding the staff accountable and Jason Licht as a leader of operations. I know it’s taboo to try to tell coaches how to coach but the results be self scouting should’ve been caught this.
I SWEAR ONLY IN TAMPA, CLEVELAND (before this year), and use to be Cincinatti does this kind of ineptitude breed a losing culture.
This is gonna be one of the most tragic endings to Bucs fans hopes to have a contending team. People come here just to collect checks and I’m sick of this foolishness. It’s a waste of time and money supporting this crap!
October 3rd, 2018 at 11:34 am
“Defensive Coordinator”? Where is the coordination?
October 3rd, 2018 at 11:59 am
Couldn’t defened a slant pass
Couldn’t defend a wheel route
Couldn’t defend a deep pass
Supposed stud veterans like LVD and Grimes looked completely lost and out of position.
Rookies looked completely lost and out of position.
This starts at the top. Mike Smith is the problem. Every single team in the league knows how to destroy his joke of a scheme.
October 3rd, 2018 at 12:03 pm
the need more time to gel once they bench grimes, and more time on the bench to breath.
oiffense, do yo thang.
and if monken aint callin plays they should fire koetter and smith, but smith is obvious.
October 3rd, 2018 at 12:11 pm
Oh he was absolutely talking about Isaiah Johnson that guy gets lost in space so easily. I’ve heard enough to know Mike Smith and dirk are dinosaurs and ont change a thing so I’ll count on the glazers to do the right thing.
October 3rd, 2018 at 12:15 pm
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are working out former first round pick QB Paxton Lynch today.
yeah baby
October 3rd, 2018 at 12:21 pm
Next coach is gonna have a lot of talent to use properly
Fingers crossed Harbaugh gets sick of losing at Michigan and comes here
October 3rd, 2018 at 12:21 pm
Literally EVERY single article on here about Mike Smith is prequalified with: “he’s a good guy.” IDGAF. Your statement is inaccurate. That’s not in every article at all. –Joe You like him too, I get it, whatever. No need to indirectly apologize for the scathing article and facts that he SUCKS.
October 3rd, 2018 at 12:39 pm
Falcons may hang 60 on us
October 3rd, 2018 at 12:43 pm
and what do we do while having one of the worst D’s in NFL history? We bring in a 4th string QB for a workout
October 3rd, 2018 at 12:59 pm
Thanks Joe, really good podcast. Very interesting to hear Sims comments on the game. At 2-2 I don’t think the Atlanta game is a ‘must win’ for the Bucs, but I do think it is definitely a ‘must not be curb stomped’ game for Smith and the D! I see this game coming down to turnovers. Bucs will need multiple takeaways to win this one.
October 3rd, 2018 at 1:31 pm
The Falcons could probably start Arthur Blank as QB and torch us for 45 points. Ryan may put up his usual 50 plus against us at home.
October 3rd, 2018 at 1:48 pm
What happened to calculus?? I’ll drop some calculators off to OBP if that’s the problem…
October 3rd, 2018 at 2:06 pm
Here is the real question: Who do you get rid of first, M Smith or Robert?
October 3rd, 2018 at 3:51 pm
The safety he’s talking about is Isaiah Johnson. Third string new guy was running around in circles like a three year old girl till he fell down. Believe it’s known as the “no where” game and that’s where he was.
October 3rd, 2018 at 4:32 pm
Chris contend heal fast we NEED you!!!…
October 3rd, 2018 at 5:28 pm
Joe please keep the pressure on koetter(by asking questions about this) to fire or at least replace Mike Smith–over the top incompetence
October 3rd, 2018 at 5:56 pm
Simms mentioned a Bucs safety — he didn’t mention the name — was literally lost on the field not knowing who to cover or what to do and Simms claimed this happened all game long.
———————————-
Simms was pointing out Isaiah Johnson who I saw as a liability out there watching the game myself. Smith should have removed Johnson from the game and made the proper adjustments going more man to man and less single high.
October 3rd, 2018 at 8:01 pm
Mike Johnson thinking we will beat ATL and then get another win in the next four games is crazy talk. They can’t pass protect anymore, can’t run the ball, and sure as hell can’t defend. Dude they will be lucky to get two more wins this season.
October 3rd, 2018 at 8:15 pm
What I don’t understand is why is he all the way up in the box? Why isn’t he down on the field like a real coach… and coach up players? Baffling.
October 3rd, 2018 at 8:19 pm
I think he could still get fired if they get smoked by Atlanta.
October 3rd, 2018 at 11:10 pm
1943 When Patton defeated Rommel he looked out over the carnage and said “I read your book”
October 3rd, 2018 at 11:11 pm
The Glazers.
We would like to implement a change but we are too busy counting money.