“There Is A Bigger Picture”
August 21st, 2014
Bucs coach Lovie Smith wants to beat the Bills Saturday, but it is not his priority.
Joe delivered the ugly words yesterday about how the Bucs are on the verge of repeating a franchise watermark set by the notorious sourpuss Ray Perkins, one of three Bucs coaches who personified losing and helped lead the Bucs into a 13-year period of frustration, desperation and despair.
That would be losing the first three preseason games of a year. That feat was made in 1988, when Perkins (mis)guided the Bucs and the team finished 5-11.
Today, Bucs coach Lovie Smith was asked about how important winning Saturday’s game at Buffalo is to the team.
“Any time you keep score, you want to win,” Lovie said. “If we are playing a pickup basketball game, you want to win.”
Yet Lovie knows the preseason is all about preparing for the regular season. Sure, a win is nice in the preseason, but it’s not the main objective.
“There is a bigger picture, too,” Lovie said. “We would like to win, but we want to see certain guys [play]. If we were just interested in winning, we would play our best players every down. We are not doing that. We have other things we need to do.”
Lovie wants to win Saturday. He wants to win even more when the Stinking Panthers come to town. If the Bucs are not prepared for that game, which is why they play preseason games, then Lovie is not doing his job.
Ray Perkins be damned.
August 21st, 2014 at 3:34 pm
Growing up in Dallas, I can’t tell you how many times I saw Landry’s teams lose every preseason game, then go out and kick ass in the regular season. We’re talking about practice.
August 21st, 2014 at 3:43 pm
Nobody cares about winning and losing in preseason, it’s how you win and lose. So far gmc is the only guy out there that looks the part.
August 21st, 2014 at 3:55 pm
Losing in the preseason isn’t a big deal unless it affects the players mentality.
The coaching staff needs to communicate that the evaluation process takes precedent over winning.
August 21st, 2014 at 3:57 pm
You know what keeps me up at night worrying about this particular Bucs team?
Nothing.
August 21st, 2014 at 4:02 pm
The only reason to “worry” about the Bucs is if your paycheck depends on the team winning. I don’t believe anyone in this comment section falls into that category.
August 21st, 2014 at 4:05 pm
^But many of the drama queens here act like they do!
August 21st, 2014 at 4:14 pm
We will hear this again, It will be during the year. There is a bigger picture than this year. Lovie is just going to see who can play in the NFL this year.
August 21st, 2014 at 4:24 pm
I’ve been all in as a Bucs fan since 1982. I’d like to see them win everything – but I’m so sick of losing when it matters that I don’t care if they get blown out of the water Saturday – if it means making progress in the regular season. We’ve been deceived by good preseason performances in past years. Let’s just wait and see what this mediocre business ends up meaning for the regular season.
The rest of you drama queens be damned, none of you know any more than I do about how this is going to play out.
August 21st, 2014 at 4:27 pm
Cause there hasn’t been Superbowl teams that have lost all their preseason games 😉
August 21st, 2014 at 4:36 pm
Yup. I agree with everyone else.
Preseason is about individuals. I dont care if their future truck drivers beat our future truck drivers. Look at the Giants win a couple weeks ago. Down by, what 21? Then the backups come in and come back for the win. Aint no way Giants fans feel good about that win.
August 21st, 2014 at 4:41 pm
Dumbest stat ever Joe. Comparing past regimes with records in preseason games with the current team is about the biggest stretch I’ve ever seen. There is nothing at all to estapulate from this at all. Too many examples of every situation possible when comparing how a team does in preseason to the regular season that it is plain foolish to write about. No wonder Lovie always looks at you like you have 3 heads whenever you ask questions during press conferences . Come on.. I thought we were done with silly articles since training camp started and you went there with 2 articles on this stat.
August 21st, 2014 at 5:55 pm
5-11 would be an improvement over last season though
August 21st, 2014 at 7:23 pm
All I know is the Lions went 4-0 in preseason and then proceeded to lose 16 straight in regular season. I think I’d rather have the W’s in the regular season when it counts.
August 21st, 2014 at 8:00 pm
Winning ranks about 5th on the list of priorities in preseason games. I don’t care if they go 0-4.
August 21st, 2014 at 9:42 pm
The Lions went 4-0 in the preseason the year they went winless. Bucs just need to get the best Oline and Dlineman ready for the regular season. No more injuries and we’ll be fine.
August 21st, 2014 at 10:25 pm
The_Buc_Realist Says:
August 21st, 2014 at 4:14 pm
“We will hear this again, It will be during the year. There is a bigger picture than this year. Lovie is just going to see who can play in the NFL this year.”
So true. Let’s be happy we have a real coach and staff and give them time to structure this thing.
August 21st, 2014 at 10:58 pm
@unislookgoodunislookugly
Here’s a thought then, don’t read it!
August 22nd, 2014 at 6:19 am
Detroit Lions recently went 4-0 in the preseason. I bet their fans were pretty happy, until they lost all 16 regular season games.