Toes Not Always On The Line
April 25th, 2014
Joe wonders what has happened to Greg Schiano’s bullhorn?
Joe had been looking for a stark contrast, something obvious, that he could write about showing the difference between the New Schiano Order and the calm demeanor of new Bucs coach Lovie Smith.
Schiano will forever be famous in Bucs lore for the first time his Bucs-led team took a practice field. The stretching that always precedes practices had just begun when Schiano’s booming voice could be heard bouncing off the south exterior walls of One Buc Palace, “Toes on the line!”
It was as if the NFL met “Full Metal Jacket” and Kellen Winslow was “Private Pyle.”
Yes, players’ attitudes under Lovie have changed drastically. It’s as if they are collectively inhaling a breath of fresh air. Lovie had to actually dial down their heart rates this week because they were so excited to get on the practice fields.
Yesterday may have provided the best example for Joe to describe the difference between Schiano and Lovie. During water breaks with Schiano, the team would all but sprint to the water. Schiano demanded just about everything be done at double-time.
Not so with Lovie. When the Bucs broke for a water break yesterday, Lovie could be heard (one of the few times he could be heard) saying in so many words, “Relax, take your time.”
It sort of reminded Joe what former famous Joe commenter “Thomas 2.2” once said about Schiano’s “Toes on the line” order. Thomas was an avowed Raheem Morris hater. Thomas believed Raheem did more to destroy the sanctity and winning traditions of the Bucs more than any single man.
Said Thomas about Schiano’s military ways with the Bucs, “He has to work the Rah out of them.”
That’s what went through Joe’s mind when he heard Lovie telling his players not to rush through a water break. He has to work Schiano out of them.
April 25th, 2014 at 8:33 am
Nice article Joe. What happened to the mini-camp notes yesterday?
April 25th, 2014 at 8:44 am
another difference is that Lovie did not want to lose with the “Rockstar’s” roster. He shipped as much as he could so far and is not close to being done. At this point I think it impossible for anyone to image that any coach could have made the playoff’s with a dominick team.
April 25th, 2014 at 8:50 am
One Buc website tweeted “Yet to hear Lovie even raise his voice in the last two days. Hardly even know he is there for the most part. Players with a ton of respect”.
This was an observation of Lovie Smith’s quiet diplomacy – a welcome change from last year. But players shouldn’t take Lovie’s demeanor for granted. Lovie and Licht will cut you in a New York minute as witnessed by the purgings during free agency.
Myron Lewis wouldn’t have lasted nearly that long with these guys. My advice to Luke Stocker is stay out of the tub (noticed he was hurt again on Wednesday). It may be a quieter, calmer environment, but it could be quietly more dangerous if players are not performing!
April 25th, 2014 at 8:51 am
Take your time, have some water.
BTW we traded you today……
April 25th, 2014 at 8:56 am
Luke Stocker has taken over the Memorial Karl “The Truth” Williams title from Myron Lewis.
April 25th, 2014 at 9:01 am
I like where he said “you got to show me you can play now, I’m too old to remember tape”
April 25th, 2014 at 9:15 am
Get over it joe. Schiano is no longer here. You’re beating a dead horse.
April 25th, 2014 at 9:32 am
Does every single article have to have some idiot telling Joe what to write on his free website. Schiano was the previous coach. Comparing him to the new coach is not at all “beating a dead horse”. Pretty sure talking about Bucs history is forever a valid topic.
April 25th, 2014 at 9:37 am
Great article!
April 25th, 2014 at 9:52 am
Reality:
Joe expects it (sigh). As you hint, Greg Schiano (and moreso Rip Van Freeman) is exactly why Lovie Smith is here.
Thanks to most of you for the kind words. Joe appreciates it.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:04 am
I don’t know what happened to the bullhorn but here’s what our old coach has been doing recently.
“the Ohio State staff welcomed former Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano to practice. And while Ash wasn’t quick to give up a lot of what Schiano taught the staff during his time in Columbus, Ash did say the staff found his input useful.”
“Coach Schiano has been a very successful coach in a lot of different stops,” Ash said. “He’s a great defensive mind, very smart, very intelligent. He got a chance to come out and evaluate our practices. He’s watched some film with us, got to pick his brain on some things whether it be scheme things or fundamental things, just different philosophies on defense. So, it’s been great to have him around for a couple days.”
April 25th, 2014 at 10:05 am
I hated Schiano and all the drama last year. Thank GOD thats over. One thing about Rah Rah Morris is at least he had a winning season with the Bucs. This new Bucs thing is something we can be proud of. Draft in two weeks. L&L show us what you got.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:17 am
I liked hearing some writers felt the offense was ahead of the d. Lovie agreed with press that few balls hit the grass. Coaches and players worked hard for a strong camp.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:19 am
Lovie could be heard (one of the few times he could be heard) saying in so many words, “Relax, take your time.”
_________
Relax, take your time – and, oh, by the way, please don’t cuss.
Treating men like men!
April 25th, 2014 at 10:23 am
@Danati74, exactly! L&L will hopefully get an O lineman or WR if the right ones fall to us. Or trade back and draft our version of Vince Wilfork, DT Louis Nix.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:42 am
The (not so) subtle Schiano bashing pieces don’t change my mind that Schiano accomplished more good than bad with the Bucs. Get rid of the loafers and house party vibe of Rah…check, actually show Dom how to successfully draft NFL caliber players who don’t get cut or traded for a late round draft pick two years later…check, breathe hope into the fanbase (yes the opening day win against the Panthers that ended the 2011 meltdown under Rah made every fan happy) and even a 7-9 first season left most of us with hope for the future. Of course the following year was a train wreck, but as much as GS deserved heat for game management and inflexibility it was the media looking to make a sh!tstorm out of every situation that I think hurt the team more. I think Lovie will do well in a couple years, but all this Lovie is so much better talk will end as soon as losses start piling up.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:46 am
I didn’t hate Schiano. I think that he just had a style of coaching that didn’t fit as well as he thought it would. We’ve all worked for people that we didn’t like. Had he won some games, we’d be trumpeting his discipline.
I like Lovie’s style. Just keep in mind though, it’s about winning. It’s all fine and good now but if he doesn’t win games, it’ll be the same people turning on him too. You know who I’m talking to!
April 25th, 2014 at 10:49 am
I find it odd in Tampa that the starting QB can have a solid rookie year and fans want him gone despite professional analysts usually agreeing the kid has a lot of potential. Same with Schiano where fans hated him and said he was a horrible coach yet other coaches (college and NFL) value his football advice? I would wager if Schiano wanted a coordinator spot in the NFL he would get one, but why rush back with a kid in school and $3M a year of the Glazier’s money?
April 25th, 2014 at 10:54 am
Chris Says
“Get over it joe. Schiano is no longer here. You’re beating a dead horse.”
Quit being an @$$.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:55 am
With the team half gone, this “work the Schiano out of them” only applies to half the team. What exactly does Lovie have to “work the (?) out of them” with the new half?
April 25th, 2014 at 10:56 am
Better than beating that Johhny ‘dead horse’ Manziel.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:59 am
Schiano was necessary. It was a country club here when Raheem was running things. No accountability and lazy, lazy attitudes. Say what you will about Schiano but at the very least we didn’t have to witness the team completely quit on its season like it did the last Raheem year. Schiano wasn’t a good coach but at least he got the lazy and entitled players out of this team. You’ll notice most of the players cut so far by Lovie started in the Raheem era.
April 25th, 2014 at 11:01 am
@Toes-It is perplexing, isn’t it?! It’s like as soon as we get another coach or player or GM the previous one’s were “the worst ever”. Suddenly there’s hatred toward these guys. I don’t understand it.
April 25th, 2014 at 11:18 am
bucrightoff, you nailed it.
Schiano was sort of the Sam Wyche role. He brought in some disapline and drafted some key players. Lovie is in the role of Dungy now as a result.
And his coaching style is very similar.
April 25th, 2014 at 11:38 am
@Oar…good point.
April 25th, 2014 at 11:59 am
@MadMax, for sure OL isn’t a fan favorite pick, but the Carl Nicks situation scares me. Sucks cuz he is a beast. Also hoping L&L pick up some extra picks.
April 25th, 2014 at 1:18 pm
Oar said: “Better than beating that Johhny ‘dead horse’ Manziel.”
YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN!
April 25th, 2014 at 6:10 pm
Schiano…..took the Rah out of the Buccs by removing Freeman…but Freeman haters will tell you its all his fault, he’s the worst qb ever, had two coaches fired…yada yada yada.
Like Steve said on the joebucsfan hour, were in the position of needing a qb because of Schiano wanting Freeman out the door. Look, I’m not saying Freeman is the second coming of Joe Montana; hardly, but we never gave him a shot with the right tools. We threw the season down the drains benching Freeman, during a three game stretch in which we had a chance to be 2-1, against quality teams. We all knew it was going to be a tough start, and Schiano decides to not give Freeman any reps in preseason. Is it any wonder Freeman showed up late to practice, and missed meetings, and was late…..the atmosphere. Not many wanted to play for Schiano, and that’s after Freeman was shown the door.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:32 pm
feelthepewterpower,
You make a good point. If Josh Freeman were in this draft, he might be on the radar of the Bucs.
He has the features they want on the surface.
But that boat has sailed. Had the Glazers hired a real coach after firing Gruden, we may not even be mentioning Freeman.
Though, if you think about it, Tampa is where QBs go to die the last two decades or so. Dilfer is the only one that had any level of success after leaving during that time. Unless you count Vinny, but he really didn’t do much either.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:45 pm
“Look, I’m not saying Freeman is the second coming of Joe Montana; hardly, but we never gave him a shot with the right tools.”
Please do explain further what you meant by “we never gave him the right tools”. The mofo was given plenty of weapons. Signing VJAX to 55555555 or whatever because it was “all about number five”. What was that crap all about. No they got him tools.
April 26th, 2014 at 12:09 pm
Eric Said:
“Take your time, have some water.
BTW we traded you today……”
lol
Buc1987 Said:
“just different philosophies on defense. So, it’s been great to have him around for a couple days.”
Like stunts? 😉