Less “Strict” Lovie Delivers Powerful Motivation
June 9th, 2014
Greg Schiano didn’t have the motivational prowess of Lovie Smith.
That was the message from Gerald McCoy last week.
The Bucs’ manbeast, Pro Bowl defensive tackle took to the national TBD In The AM airwaves on CBS Sports Radio and shared his perception of the major difference between the two head coaches.
“They have two different coaching styles,” McCoy said. “Lovie’s more of a quiet, low-tone type of coach. And Schiano was more of a loud, boisterous type of coach. And that’s really the biggest difference. Schiano, he was more strict than Lovie is, but Lovie, when he talks to you, you still hear everything he has to say. He makes you want to do everything he’s saying to you. That’s really the biggest difference.”
In many ways, McCoy struck at what represents the greatest hope for the Bucs’ 2014 season: improved coaching.
Just how much better is this staff versus the old regime? Nobody would be shocked if, with only three new defensive starters, Lovie rolls out a top-5 defense this season. The defensive coaching upgrade could be that good.
On offense and special teams, well, those are big mysteries. The Bucs were pretty solid on special teams last season, and Joe doesn’t see how Tampa Bay got better in that area this offseason after losing key contributors like Brian Leonard, Erik Lorig, Dekoda Watson, Adam Hayward, Tom Crabtree and others. Wide receiver Russell Shepard was a big special teams guy last season and he might not even make the roster.
Regardless, if players are going to dial into Lovie with all of their souls, like they didn’t do for Schiano, the Bucs should be in good shape in Year 1 of the regime.
June 9th, 2014 at 9:20 am
Sooooo looking forward to this coming season. No matter what, its going to be vastly better than what we’ve seen the past 4 years. I am dying to see some football, and ppl wonder why we watch preseason games! lol
June 9th, 2014 at 9:22 am
If I were a player I would take Lovie’s calm but serious demeanor over Schiano’s strict treat them like their high schoolers approach also.
June 9th, 2014 at 9:46 am
Greg Schiano may not have had the motivational prowess of Lovie Smith, but he had a way of getting his point across. I’d be lying if I said Schiano was my favorite Bucs coach, but the guy had some memorable moments. Like the game against the Giants in 2012. I knew then that this was a different sort of fellow. I can see Tom Coughlin, a curmudgeon in his own right, storming across the field after the famous victory charge yelling “what’s up with the kamikaze move dude”? I laugh about it now, but for me that set the tone for the Schiano era! Lol.
June 9th, 2014 at 9:47 am
The best coaches, like the best bosses, make you want to do your best out of fear of disappointing them.
June 9th, 2014 at 10:00 am
Did we hear just about the same thing from McCoy after the Rah/Dom regime.
June 9th, 2014 at 10:12 am
@ The_Buc_Realist – I don’t recall McCoy doing that…. Find the quote and share it with us….
June 9th, 2014 at 10:20 am
Lovie will get the most out of this current squad versus Schiano and his coaching style. But its not all coaching. It takes players who have the inner drive and absolutely hate to lose. Brooks, Sapp, Lynch, Rice and Hardy etc… refused to be losers. I’m not sure the current roster has enough of these type of players.
June 9th, 2014 at 11:53 am
Anybody who wants to see why Schiano will never be a leader of men, other than perhaps post pubescent college kids just out of high school, should read a great book I’ve just finished.
Phil Jackson’s book is called 11 Rings for the obvious reason. This is a man who was able to harness incredible egos like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaq, Dennis Rodman and on and on. He did not accomplish his incredible run of championships with even a hint of “toes on the line”.
He believed in empowering his players and trying to get them to become one unit and believe in each other. Great read btw for almost any of life’s pursuits. I’ve benefitted from Jackson’s advice at work. If you manage people this is a great read. Sorry to bring the NBA to an NFL blog but my point is about coaches not a specific sport.
June 9th, 2014 at 12:47 pm
Schiano will learn how to adjust his coaching approach after a few years of being a successful NFL D coordinator on some team (cough…Patriots).
June 9th, 2014 at 1:01 pm
Toes
Since I bear no ill will towards Schiano I hope you’re correct. Schiano’s behavior in the LeGrand tragedy proves that he is a class act who at least is consistent and practices what he preaches.
Perhaps he will learn in time that grown professional millionaires are not motivated by college rah rah or discipline. Again since he is a class act I hope you’re right and he succeeds somewhere.
Personally though I hope he lands a great college gig. I think he’d be far more successful there.
June 9th, 2014 at 1:11 pm
Toes
Schiano sucks and his d sucked. He couldn’t even manage to win the big least conference in college. So how is he going tobe a good head coach. I’m sure Chandler Jones Is looking forward to schiano becoming his d coordinator like u say. He can get his coverage skills up like clayborn did.
June 9th, 2014 at 1:34 pm
Those key contributors you mentioned are gone for a reason Joe , none of those guys are that irreplaceable unless you are someone that has no coaching ability like say Greg Schiano. It’s not that hard to be better at anY phase of the game when replacing a below average coach with better than average talent on defense, blocked punts Schiano has that on lock but gholdston is a big dude
June 9th, 2014 at 1:50 pm
I still think Shianos a damn good coach, it’s just his no nonsense treat you like a man style was too rough for the premadonnas of the NFL. Defense means nothing in this league anymore… Lovie will need a top 5 offense to win more than 8 games.
June 9th, 2014 at 2:17 pm
LMAO “defense means nothing in this league anymore”
That’s the smartest thing I have ever read. Just ask Seattle.
June 9th, 2014 at 6:56 pm
I thought saying and thinking the class act Schiano is a dam good coach and blaming it on NFL players was almost as ridiculous a statement. If you think he is so good why not give the guy some respect and learn to spell his name correctly.