Still A Chance For Steven Means
May 22nd, 2014
Bucs coach Lovie Smith loves DE Steven Means’ speed off the edge.
Last year, the Bucs had hopes they found pass rush gems late in the draft with rookie defensive ends Steven Means and Will Gholston.
Means didn’t light the world on fire, but he didn’t really stink, either. But as the season wore on, it was Gholston who took the proverbial bull by the horns and rallied from a bubble player mired on the inactive list to a starter who actually could breathe on opposing quarterbacks sometimes.
While Gholston rose in prominence, Means became an inactive afterthought. When the Bucs signed defensive end Michael Johnson as a free agent acquisition, it didn’t look good for Means.
Not so fast, said Bucs coach Lovie Smith.
“If you just look at size, speed, long arms, you notice [Means] on the hoof a little bit,” Lovie said. “He’s that prototype guy that we’re playing with, with that speed. He’s not the biggest guy around. We don’t care about really, so much size, but want to have a lot of fast guys that can come off the edge and rush the passer.
“He’s been here working extremely hard, but again like I said, we were talking early about some of offensive lineman; we’re just getting the guys all in position right now. We have excellent defensive line coaches in Joe Cullen and Mike Phair working with the guys, but I can’t wait, of course, to see those guys go against them. Our one-on-one battles, offensive versus defensive lines, should be something to see.”
Lovie is fond of speed. He always talks about getting athletes and using speed. Joe is confident that is why Lovie has verbally waved off Jeff Demps’ buttery fingers. A coach can teach a guy to hold onto the ball better. You cannot teach speed. Either you have it or you don’t.
Same with Means. Lovie wants speed off the edges. Means has that. Now it’s time to coach the guy up to shed blocks.
May 22nd, 2014 at 8:56 am
Damn that Schiano guy for helping draft some fine young starting and depth talent! Damn him I say…worst hire in the history of sports find on the Bucs a future franchise QB in rnd3…horrible!
May 22nd, 2014 at 8:58 am
Means and Bowers are playing for the same roster spot.
May 22nd, 2014 at 9:04 am
Means might not be a starter on DE, but will probably be a nice 3rd and long rotational guy
May 22nd, 2014 at 9:14 am
I build Houses. I trust Lovie to build our Team
May 22nd, 2014 at 9:21 am
The one on one drills will look incredible for the defense considering that we have no one for them to go against.
May 22nd, 2014 at 9:36 am
@toesontheline I don’t think anyone really thought Schiano was bad at evaluating talent (except letting Bennett walking away) he was a good teacher he just could not put a good game plan together game day. I think he did good getting them into shape but his play calling was horendous I’m not sold yet on Glennon but I also think some of his problems last year was bad offensive play calling. We blaze down the field with a hurry up offense and it’s working then Schiano puts a stop to it because “They didn’t practice it”?? Come on thats bad game day coaching guy needed to go he would be better suited as a trainer not a head coach or even a DC
May 22nd, 2014 at 9:43 am
Steven Means won’t make the team here is a list of guys who have a better shot
-Micheal Sam
-Adrian Clay
-Da quan Bowers
May 22nd, 2014 at 9:46 am
Schiano can find talent but boy he sucks at coaching. He went to sleep in the second half running only what was coached during the week. It was not about winning but being consistent for Schiano. In another words I Control The Team. That is why he would sleep well at night. In reality it was all about him…Not winning, not the team, not the player in front of him!
Thank you Glazers! In Lovie & Licht I trust.
I’m looking forward to seeing “Schiano’s pick” develop as young men and great players under the new coaching staff.
Players will get to play and the wins will come. Go Bucs!!!
May 22nd, 2014 at 10:29 am
@Toesontheline The gripes against Schiano was definitely not his eye for talent. The drafts got considerably better and there was clear development among many players. HOWEVER, when it came to game planning, fitting a scheme to players talents, in-game management, etc, he was clearly out of his league. Love should be singing the praises for a team with talent Schiano helped build, but its the players who are now singing the praises to have a coach who can get the most out of them.
May 22nd, 2014 at 10:39 am
Oh man, I can see it… The Bucs win the Super Bowl and people will say that Lovie won it with Schianos team!!! No I don’t actually think they are a Super Bowl team yet but I’m a Bucs loyalist and that is the dream!!
May 22nd, 2014 at 11:02 am
Winner!
May 22nd, 2014 at 11:07 am
Nah Schiano was more Sam Wyche having the smarts to bring in Brooks and Sapp but watching Dungy step into a situation make it kick into gear. We may see (future coach) winning with Lovie’s team if things don’t pan out, but so far Lovie has made what look like a lot of really good moves to make the Bucs competitive in a year or two.
May 22nd, 2014 at 12:07 pm
That Schiano sure did draft well, Dominik did nothing. Schiano got us m smith! Goode! Dunsmore! Wait did Schiano sign Eric wright too? Or doesn’t that count
May 22nd, 2014 at 12:47 pm
@pablo… please leave.
May 22nd, 2014 at 1:32 pm
Jon – Goode was a good player and has done really well for the Eagles. He was just buried on the depth chart.
May 22nd, 2014 at 1:55 pm
I come to this site to read the articles and the comments and I tell you what, I am never disappointed except for when the articles are slow to come in (come on guys keep them going every 20 minutes). Sometimes I laugh all day, I didn’t even know this site existed until lovie smith became coach of your team.
To everyone (commenters and writers alike), you are awesome and you do it without being rude. must be the water there or something, lol
May 22nd, 2014 at 2:03 pm
This shouldn’t be a suprise. The Tampa-2 defense has always been about speed and rallying to the ball. Thats why most all positions are undersized because the defense is based off of speed. No suprise here.
May 23rd, 2014 at 3:05 pm
Unless your Seattle and your Defense is fast and oversized! Hmmm…