Lovie Says He’s Watching Johnny Football
March 26th, 2014
The Bucs’ head coach talked about Blake Bortles, too.
Joe just finished breakfast with Lovie Smith at the NFL Owners Meetings in Orlando. (Poor Lovie, he was talking so much that he didn’t touch his Danish and fresh fruit.)
Lovie said he was heading directly from Orlando to watch Johnny Football’s Pro Day in Texas. Joe asked Lovie about what he takes away from watching a Pro Day, any Pro Day, and Lovie had plenty to say about Johnny specifically.
“I had a chance to watch [Johnny Football] a lot [during my time off last year,] Lovie said. “So you add all that up, to be able to talk to people that you trust that know each player. You use every tool that you can to make an evaluation. Just not that player, all players. What do I want to see? I want to see how he handles a different environment. He’s played in front of big crowds. He hasn’t had to perform on one day like this. This is a big day for him coming up, one of many.”
Lovie went on to day he was very impressed with University of Central Florida quarterback Blake Bortles, whose Pro Day he witnessed last week.
“A guy with a lot of potential, poise, young also, who has a bright future ahead of him. I haven’t seen anything that makes you say, “No,” or something you really don’t like about him,” Lovie said of Bortles.
Regarding what he expects from Johnny Football in the NFL, Lovie wasn’t afraid to call it as he sees it.
“Most outstanding players in college, a lot of them, end up being very good football players in the NFL. Football really is football. Some of the things he’s done, I know he’s not your typical prototype quarterback, drop back into the pocket, but there are a lot of quarterbacks doing very well in the league that aren’t your prototypical quarterback.”
Sometimes you get a vibe from a sit-down with a head coach, and Joe really felt Lovie was genuinely eager to add a quality quarterback in the draft, if the opportunity arises.
March 26th, 2014 at 8:44 am
“Lovie was genuinely eager to add a quality quarterback”
key word…”Quality”
March 26th, 2014 at 8:44 am
Bortles is the best QB in the draft we would be really lucky if he fell to us but that’s probably not going to happen.
March 26th, 2014 at 8:46 am
Joe would probably go watch too, but that’s inside the restraining order limit.
March 26th, 2014 at 8:51 am
Exactly Lovie!
Unfortunately after this kid performs tomorrow going to be harder to get him.
Johnny football thrives on pressure. I’m predicting the ball won’t hit the ground.
Super job Joe!
March 26th, 2014 at 8:53 am
Anyone else notice the chick on the far right with a six pack? Watch out Johnny!
March 26th, 2014 at 8:54 am
“…What do I want to see? I want to see how he handles a different environment. He’s played in front of big crowds. He hasn’t had to perform on one day like this…”
Hmmmm, I guess that would eliminate Bridgewater. LOL
March 26th, 2014 at 8:54 am
Value is the code word for S & L. They know they must be on the edge of the playoffs within 2 years. Picking a QB that may sit for 1-2 years has no value in achieving their goals. They’ll pound defense and find pieces that fit for the offense. Just like Lovie did in Chicago.
March 26th, 2014 at 8:57 am
I only watched one game of Bortles – I was not that impressed. But one game means nothing, I know. I would be so excited if L&L thought one of these guys was worthy of our 1st rd pick and took him. It would be the dawning of a new era for Bucs fans!
March 26th, 2014 at 8:58 am
Johnny sure wants to let it be known that he likes girls….maybe hiding some latent stuff?…..just wondering!!!
March 26th, 2014 at 9:00 am
Some athletes end up on the Wheaties box. I think JF more likely headed for the Lucky Charms cover.
March 26th, 2014 at 9:00 am
Can’t understand how anyone can hate on this kid.
He’s a superstar in waiting…
March 26th, 2014 at 9:02 am
@StAugBuc….LMAO!!!
March 26th, 2014 at 9:08 am
With our mystery up tempo offense, I am warming up to the idea of drafting JF. Not sure the new O suits Glennons style and McCown is maybe good for a year or two. JF Still seems like a gamble, his game might not translate, he could end up hanging at the crib with Mike Williams, but he might bring a fresh competitive edge we have been missing at QB for a very long time.
March 26th, 2014 at 9:10 am
When is the first glimpse of the offense? When are the first OTAs? Anyone?
March 26th, 2014 at 9:12 am
“Football really is football”
-Lovie Smith
Haha jk. I love me some Lovie!
March 26th, 2014 at 9:12 am
Hearing Lovie gush over any QB not named Glennon must have puffed up your pastry Joe. LOL
March 26th, 2014 at 9:15 am
Based on the type of offense we will be running I bet Johnny Football will be high on our draft board. How you grade players is based on your schemes. If we are running a “Chip Kelly” offense then he would be the perfect fit.
March 26th, 2014 at 9:17 am
Do the math!
There are 6 teams picking before the Bucs, but only 4 can/will pick a QB. If each of them pick a QB, then 2 of Clowney, Robinson, Watkins or Mack will be there at #7.
If 3 of them pick a QB, then 1 of the non-QB group will be there.
If 2 of them pick a QB, then 2 of the top QBs will be there….and so on.
Under any scenario above, If the Bucs choose to trade down, they will have willing trade partners for the available player/s at #7.
Get the picture. Bucs win, no matter what!
March 26th, 2014 at 9:19 am
Dreambig,
Connect the dots. The Bucs core belief is that defense wins championships. QB pressure is the key to all great defenses.
A mobile QB to evade the rush, going up tempo, using a moving pocket and speed in space are all effective countermeasures to the pass rush.
Add the Glazers desire for a high powered offense and to sell seats too. The JFootball experiment may very well be a possibility.
March 26th, 2014 at 9:34 am
For all the talk about an uptempo offense did anyone hear Lovie this am at the owners meeting. “We plan on being a running football team first that will also throw the ball.” Doesn’t sound too up tempo to me. Better find a couple of starting guards. HOPING Nicks comes back as his former self still may be a dream. The top six six picking above us will make it a very interesting pick for us!
March 26th, 2014 at 9:46 am
That’s the Dungyesque impose your will BS. The Offense got Dungy fired here. The Offense got Lovie fired there.
You take what teams give you. Nothing more, nothing less.
BTW, outdide of Nicks, we aren’t exactly set up to maul.
March 26th, 2014 at 9:48 am
In Lovie I Trust – not wanna be GMs.
March 26th, 2014 at 10:00 am
“Sometimes you get a vibe from a sit-down with a head coach, and Joe really felt Lovie was genuinely eager to add a quality quarterback in the draft, if the opportunity arises.”
______________
Sometimes a journalist gets so enamored with a certain person, that they actually hear things that aren’t really there, in the hopes the fantasized about person winds up in the journalist’s midst.
March 26th, 2014 at 10:06 am
I’m a MG8 mark. Having said that, JM would sell out RJS and Bucs would be talk of the town nationally.
March 26th, 2014 at 10:32 am
Im curious if both of the “Joes” are hoping Bucs take Johnny?
The guy is a great football player and I would be excited if the Bucs drafted him. Anyone who hates on him is either jealous of his wealth or that he pulls like Broadway Joe (young namath, not creepy drunk namath).
March 26th, 2014 at 10:59 am
@Erick
The reality of his “Wealth” is a myth, his Great Aunt and Uncle control the family money, his father is a GM of a car dealership (not their’s he’s an employee). His Grandfather Bobby Joe, has been indicted numerous times for fraud and other nefarious deeds and has also been connected to the Dixie Mafia. It’s a great story which I’m sure will be made into a made for TV movie by the NFL Network the day he’s drafted.
March 26th, 2014 at 11:33 am
This team had the balls to draft Freeman, so they should definitely have the balls to take a chance on Manziel!
March 26th, 2014 at 1:05 pm
Pride comes before a fall. Johnny pot is not going to be a buccaneer.
March 26th, 2014 at 3:07 pm
Don’t most teams want a QB a lot taller than the 10th grade girls he takes pics with?
March 26th, 2014 at 4:35 pm
I agree with Eric and Snook, Manziel thrives under pressure, the guy is a winner. He won’t be just a star, I think he has the potential to be a superstar. The Glazers will be selling tickets, the fan interest will be off the charts and Johnny Football won’t disappoint.
March 26th, 2014 at 6:22 pm
Doing due diligence…and maybe a nice “smoke screen”..time will tell.
March 26th, 2014 at 6:23 pm
His height…so what is wrong with another Doug Flutie?
March 26th, 2014 at 6:53 pm
I’m a fan of Joe and usually agree with him with the exception of these QB’s. I don’t doubt Johnny ‘s talent. I just don’t think they will be able to get him to slide and the way he runs around he’ll be out of the league in three years. He doesn’t have Vick’s speed to just run away from guys. He’ll get blown up by NFL players.
March 26th, 2014 at 7:25 pm
If no Clowney or Watkins is sure as Hell better be Johnny Manziel
Former MGM member out….
March 26th, 2014 at 11:45 pm
Glennon is a leader of men! He dominated a brutal ACC schedule with mediocre surrounding talent. Put Johnny on glennon’s nc st squad and we would have never heard of Johnny football! Glennon turned down sec offers because of his superior intelligence and talent!!
March 27th, 2014 at 1:17 am
That’s some beautiful trolling.
March 27th, 2014 at 10:00 am
[…] So dazzling or discouraging, sizzling or sorry, precise or painful, Joe will put no stock in Johnny Football’s Pro Day today, even if Lovie Smith says it’s important, as he told Joe yesterday. […]