Lovie Got More Heavy-Handed
November 21st, 2014
(Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Any changes happening inside the bowels of One Buc Palace?
Yes. Lovie Smith felt the need to take defensive matters into his own hands recently.
Gerald McCoy explained during his Total Access show on the Buccaneers Radio Network. He explained that the emphasis on takeaways was ramped up last week when Lovie turned hands-on teacher.
“Coach Smith does an awesome job of letting his coaches coach. Last week, he came in, I think he went into every meeting,” McCoy said. “When the defense got together, he actually ran the film. And he showed us, ‘Listen, there’s ways to take the ball away. And one thing we are not doing is going after the ball enough.’
“And it was an emphasis: ‘From now on, this is how we’re going to play.'”
The message got through, and the Bucs forced three takeaways against Washington.
Lovie has said a couple of times this week that last week was the best week of practice for his team. That’s especially interesting given this revelation from McCoy.
Perhaps a missing component from the defense has been Lovie himself.
November 21st, 2014 at 11:59 am
Glad for the improvement. We’ll just start there lol
November 21st, 2014 at 12:01 pm
And then when we get beat by the Bears, it’s back to the Buccaneers being an embarrassment.
November 21st, 2014 at 12:01 pm
One could read between the lines and take that as Frazier shouldn’t be making any large real estate purchases in Tampa
November 21st, 2014 at 12:02 pm
Perhaps next year Lovie should start coaching Week 1.
November 21st, 2014 at 12:03 pm
We need to see more than one good week before we start giving Lovie any praises. We’re still only 2-8!
November 21st, 2014 at 12:03 pm
Joe, I thought you said turnovers were like happy accidents or something… You stating that Lovie came in and emphasized it and then it happens suggests you believe that there is a definitive cause-effect relationship going on there. Say it isn’t so!
Joe didn’t say they were “happy accidents.” Joe has emphasized the chance component of them.–Joe
November 21st, 2014 at 12:06 pm
The D did play far more inspired football. Truth. But takeaway’s may be a bit overstated.
A couple looked like they were early Christmas presents from RG3.
November 21st, 2014 at 12:09 pm
It’s a start. I’m not one of those fans who want Lovie fired after one season, because I think that is just ridiculous, but between a nice win against Washington and the gradual improvement on defense, I’m gaining back some of the confidence that was lost in between the two ugly blowout losses and QB shuffling.
November 21st, 2014 at 12:10 pm
That’s just a sign to me that Leslie is gone unless he ramps it up in this last month of football.
November 21st, 2014 at 12:25 pm
Leslie is hot garbage lovely must have woken up!
I watched the Washington game again last night. Best play marker: 1st qrt 3:45. Wash is on offense and Morris runs over gmc. Lol, couldn’t resist. Get your cold hard ice cream here, ice cream you scream we all scream for gmc.
So wash hasn’t had a 100yards rusher in 16 games. Morris had 87 yards before being pulled in the 4th w 5 mins left. He finished w 20 carries for 96 yards. The back up gashed us too. We gave up 155 yards on the ground. We ran for 48 yards.
We have a lot of work to do. Next year should be a better year., pray to the football gods and don’t forget to sacrifice a virgin (watch out Brandon).
I still think it’s outrageous that we are 2-8. Schiano could have gone 2-8. That is all! Raiders won!!! Go raiders we need you to win 2 more PLEASE!!
November 21st, 2014 at 12:41 pm
I don’t see how Frazier makes it to next year. Maybe if Lovie can’t get another quality coach to come on board but if there’s anyone else that he can get to come in then Frazier probably won’t be around. He hasn’t really done anything to keep his job.
November 21st, 2014 at 12:44 pm
Frazier should be one of the first casualties from this season……I’d like to see Lovie more in control of the defense and a strong OC brought in.
November 21st, 2014 at 1:05 pm
Father Dungy ALWAYS preached that an opportunistic defense predicated on “PURSUIT OF THE FOOTBALL!!!!” That premise must be emphasized for this defense to mature and develop into what we all know it will be!!!!! GO BUCS!!!!!
November 21st, 2014 at 1:14 pm
So in week 10 turnovers are brought up in film study. How about in preseason. Glad for the win last week but the timing sounds more like players are feeling the heat. Down goes Frazier!
November 21st, 2014 at 1:50 pm
Maybe Coach is just wanting to beat Chicago?
November 21st, 2014 at 3:16 pm
Schiano would probably be like 6-4 or 7-3 right now. That is all. #weakcoachingstaff
November 21st, 2014 at 3:29 pm
Lovie should have called his own number for defensive coordinator and let Licht do his thing. Too busy playing GM, instead of letting the real talent evaluators do their work, and bringing in a lame DC when he was the better option.
November 21st, 2014 at 3:38 pm
I know better than to get excited over one win. I saw Brian Baldinger break down some of the Bucs better plays and the reason they were made is because RGIII is atrocious. There were STILL wide open receivers running all over the place because safeties aren’t filling in for blitzing linebackers.
If 35+ years of Buc-Ball taught me one thing, it’s that “one win does not a turnaround make.”
November 21st, 2014 at 5:54 pm
Was never impressed with frasier. I still and always will feel like any ELITE qb will pick apart our zone coverage. I am seeing our first two picks being pass rushers and the team going after a fast experienced reciever in fa. If Mccown plays good down the stretch its easy to imagine them rolling with him another. Time shall tell
November 21st, 2014 at 6:00 pm
If mccown finishes the season I’ll be shocked. Refs need to do a better job of calling PF. Our QBs get hit late, out of bounds and in the head but we never get a PF call. It’s a bucs life baby!!!!
November 22nd, 2014 at 1:27 am
DB55 said: “If mccown finishes the season I’ll be shocked. Refs need to do a better job of calling PF. Our QBs get hit late, out of bounds and in the head but we never get a PF call. It’s a bucs life baby!!!!”
Man you know they call PFs, they just happen to call them against the Bucs and not the opponents…. Bucs seem to draw the “borderline” yellow more than any team in the NFL with the exception of the Raiders who got all the “winless for Winston” crowd excited for the Bucs to finish 2-14 as they managed to upset KC…. Still don’t understand cheering for a loss but whatever floats your boat…. But on McNown; yeah it will be amazing if we do not see MG in action again due to a McNown ding but right now he seems to be better suited to play behind a bad Buc OL than Napolean Dynamite….
November 22nd, 2014 at 7:16 am
Lovie is a proven winning coach in the NFL. His work record reveals that he really knows how to coach up a team, but does so slowly. Now if only he and Licht would swallow their pride and hunt down a draft “guru” of sorts to help pick those up and coming recruits……Why not Lovie/Licht? If it helps put wins on the board both of you will reap the rewards!
November 22nd, 2014 at 8:30 am
DB55
“Our QBs get hit late, out of bounds and in the head…”
Ever since Lavonte got that late hit on Geno in week 1 last year, I have noticed at least a dozen times our QB got hit like that or even later and not 1 flag.
I bitch and my eyes turn red like Teen Wolf every single time!!!
November 22nd, 2014 at 3:14 pm
You really are an ass for making that your first comment Bucs Fan Says. So typical oh what many so called Fans in their monikers say. Do all of us real fans a favor and move back up to whatever failing northern city you ran away from or were chased out of.