Lovie Entering Dangerous Territory
December 8th, 2014
Few coaches survive leading their teams to the first pick in the draft.
Joe has always believed if you are not going to win, then lose badly. Real bad. Bad as in the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.
Joe is well-aware this goes against every fiber of DNA within players and coaches coach. Understandable. However, every NFL executive alive, if pulled aside and asked, all things being equal, would you rather have the No. 1 pick or the No. 5 pick, he (she?) will answer No. 1 (so long as their job was secure).
With the Bucs now holding the No. 1 overall pick with three weeks to go, the Bucs are in a very, very, very advantageous position. They could (finally) draft the quarterback of their dreams, or, trade the pick away and stock up on players. Of course, a trade would still leave the Bucs with the likes of Josh McCown and Mike Glennon at quarterback(s). Problem not solved.
As for Lovie, well, Joe was doing a bit of research on Pro-Football-Reference.com last night and it seems since 2003, only two coaches who led their teams to the No. 1 overall pick survived to coach said pick the very next season. That would be Marty Chokenheimer with San Diego in 2003 and Steve Spagnuolo with St. Louis in 2010. Both teams used their top picks on quarterbacks; San Diego took Eli Manning (who was traded to New York for the pick that was used on Philip Rivers) and Sam Bradford landed with the Rams.
Does Joe think Lovie returns next year? Yeah. As Joe has written countless times, Joe is convinced Lovie gets a mulligan for the Jeff Tedford Act of God. But let’s not be naive, either. Chucky, the lone coach to win a Super Bowl for this franchise, was launched after consecutive 9-7 seasons, partially because he refused Team Glazer’s orders (allegedly) to draft and develop a franchise quarterback.
Sadly, after Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota (if they come out), there’s a big time drop off in quarterback prospects.
December 8th, 2014 at 6:43 am
THE WATCH CONTINUES!
December 8th, 2014 at 7:15 am
Hey bucs just show some pride and decency and lose the rest
Of you’re games, I’m sick and tired of this crap! Here’s to the
#1 pick!
December 8th, 2014 at 7:21 am
It really amazes me that the OL coach is taking no heat for the crap that he puts on the field. BTW Zutta, Penn, and the rest of the past O line are starting for their new teams and doing well.
December 8th, 2014 at 7:23 am
In Lovie we bust.
December 8th, 2014 at 7:29 am
Donald Penn has one more TD this year than Charles Sims and half as many as ASJ. If Lovie goes 2-14 and the Glazers want a QB, and they want a QB with the best chance to succeed, firing Lovie is the best thing to do. A franchise QB’s chances of success under Lovie would be nowhere near as good as they would be under an offensive coach.
December 8th, 2014 at 7:38 am
Mariota please.
December 8th, 2014 at 7:39 am
It would be great to see the Bucs get Marriota and scary if Arroyo is still the offensive coordinator. The Bucs should already have a new offensive coordinator in place at this time but everybody knows they don’t. Dysfunction at the highest level!
December 8th, 2014 at 7:40 am
The very first sentence is indicative of a loser. No two ways about it.
December 8th, 2014 at 7:47 am
Oregon vs. FSU, everyone here will be able to watch both QBs up close….
Mariota: Better speed and agility, stronger arm, more accurate, better decision maker, faster, and a man of good character.
Winston: Has great talent around him that bails him out (thanks Nick O’Leary), will throw into triple coverage, makes questionable decisions (Jimbo Fisher hollering ‘let me call the plays’), registers incredibly high on the thug-o-meter, could become a walking lawsuit once he’s out on his own.
December 8th, 2014 at 7:54 am
@TE, I think your spot on
December 8th, 2014 at 8:01 am
I just find it hard to understand how does a 11yr pro HC take charge of a bad football team and literally make it worse! Yes, it’s as simple as that!
December 8th, 2014 at 8:11 am
Maybe some eyes will open up when they look out into the stadium and nothing but GREEN & YELLOW!
December 8th, 2014 at 8:24 am
Love is not the right HC for this team!
December 8th, 2014 at 8:26 am
keep watching….obviously some of you are on the side of people that have never had money before, your crazy if you think the glazer boys are going to keep firing coaches and paying them to sit at home, if a veteran coach couldn’t do anything with this team then maybe it’s the team as much as it is coaching. end of the season and your still coaching false starts? fire the head coach and pay him another 3 years to sit at home, that’s the brilliant plan of broke ass people
December 8th, 2014 at 8:29 am
Tom that’s one ignorabt post – thug???
Sure would help if you had more substance behind your claim!
December 8th, 2014 at 8:55 am
Buc-P’s 82: yeah the OL coach should catch hell for his squad’s total lack of readiness, penalties, ineptitude, etc. But he was not the one who cut loose Penn, Larsen, Joseph, and Zuttah along with mistakenly thinking Carl nicks would be back. That lands on &L and the Glazers need to keep that in mind when the L’s start using the coaching staff under them as shields when it comes to the inevitable meeting after the Bucs lose to New Orleans to finish off the season….. The OL coach had absolutely no talent to work with; kind of like asking a chef to make something out of rotting garbage….
December 8th, 2014 at 8:56 am
One more win he’s safe for another season, lose out and he should be fired..especially if Green Bay not only beats the Bucs but embarrasses them while they’re at it…
December 8th, 2014 at 8:58 am
@bucs4lyfe
I have, and the advice I’ve always been given is, recognize your mistakes and cut your losses before they turn into bigger losses…never let your ego get in the way of your brain.
December 8th, 2014 at 9:05 am
Hey Architek
Thug Etymology: from Hindi and Urdu thag, literally “thief,” derived from Sanskrit sthagati ..
Stolen crab leg ring a bell ; )
December 8th, 2014 at 9:14 am
and yes the season is a loss but this isn’t greg schiano or raheem morris you know nothing about…the one thing we know about lovie is he makes dumb decisions and has outstanding defenses…I don’t give a damn about the going to the superbowl with rex grossman excuse, our defense has improved despite the lack of star power and unknown talent, the same culprits from last year are noshows once again. everyone who raved about logan mankins toughness and veteran presence have nothing to say because even he cant shine on an oline that’s this bad which yes is lovie’s fault
look at it this way with the moves lovie has made on the offensive side of the ball and the big miss on d end, I think what im looking forward to is the smile on licht’s face that says yea you had your shot to bring in talent lovie and im not letting you get me fired so do the best you can with the players I give you and im sure the glazers will agree that lovie is a coach not a talent evaluator and if we take that off his plate and let him focus on what he does best…well not this year but next year we should be good
December 8th, 2014 at 9:14 am
I Mariota is going to be ranked so high bucs will have no option to choose anyone over him. I am pretty certain we grab our Duck. I just hope we have a solid draft we have a few picks this year.
December 8th, 2014 at 9:29 am
I say, if something happens and we drop in the draft and lose Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota, we should trade the first rounder for a later first and 2nd. Offensive linemen are usually found in round two or later (good ones; with few exceptions). I think there may have been a couple in the last 10 years, but not many, taken in round one.
On the other hand, barring another team trading up (likely), there is a good chance Jameis and Mariota could fall to us a few spots.
The titans have Zach Mettenberger, and they seem pleased with him.
The Raiders have Carr.
Jets have Geno Smith and Michael Vick.
Jags have Jake Bortles.
None of them really need a QB, unless the Jets decide they’re done with Smith…which I doubt.
HOWEVER…The Redskins ARE pretty done with RGIII. I could see them trading up to get the guy they want. But I think they would want Jameis Winston.
The teams with 4 wins are the Giants and Panthers, who both have their QBs.
So really, even if we slide, we still have a good chance of getting one of the top two guys.
Personally, I wouldn’t mind drafting Marcus Mariota AND signing a better verteran. Maybe trade Glennon for a 7th rounder.
2015 QB Free Agents are going to be Jimmy Clausen, Jason Campbell, Brian Hoyer, Dan Orlovsky, Matt Flynn, Ryan Mallett, Mark Sanchez, Jake Locker, etc. Out of them and others, we should be able to find a good backup or mentor.
December 8th, 2014 at 9:30 am
The defense allowed 400 yards, 50% third down conversion and Stafford to complete 76% of his passes. People saying the defense is improving need to keep it in context, better than earlier in the year sure, but still one of the worst defenses in the league. First top 15 QB we’ve played in a while and he picked us apart. Back 7 is still pretty weak.
December 8th, 2014 at 9:31 am
If we take Marcus and Jameis Winston happens to fall to round 3, I would take him too. Won’t happen, but, you know.
December 8th, 2014 at 9:31 am
With the #1 Pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers select….Bo Jackson….Running Back…University of Auburn.
December 8th, 2014 at 9:37 am
Ok if the back 7 is weak, defensive end is weak, and all we have is gmc, and linebackers and a no name d end in smith ballin out for us then why are you complaining? last time I checked saying someone is better than earlier in the year is saying they are getting better and it also doesn’t help when your defense is on the field more than your offense week in week out, they already played a full season with three games to go the offense is so bad. I unfortunately remember the offseason when joebucs and other sites talked about how the offense picked apart our defense on certain practice days….how’s that for reality
December 8th, 2014 at 10:01 am
@Bonzai
Rex Ryan will not be the coach there next year and Geno was already benched for Vick this season… He is not their answer and they already know this. The Jets are firmly in the hunt for a QB. Vick is also close to his mid 30’s and can’t stay healthy I don’t know why you think they would be a good reason to pass on a QB..
The Titans are also firmly in the hunt for a QB… If you think Whisenhunt would pass on Mariota or Winston because he has a 6th round QB who has had a few good games then you are smoking something potent.
The Redskins are also either going to fire Gruden (yes after one season, as Synder wants RGIII to be the QB he traded all those picks for and plenty of rumors floating around about it ) or draft a QB… I doubt they trade up for another QB after the way RGIII has been handled.
Remember the Lions drafted Drew Stanton in the 2nd round, the following year they drafted Stafford.. The Panthers also drafted Jimmy Clausen in the second round and guess what they did the following year?? Drafted Cam Newton.
NO NFL coach with a brain will pass on what they believe is a sure fire QB if he sitting there with their pick…
December 8th, 2014 at 10:02 am
Obviously unless they have a Franchise QB already.
December 8th, 2014 at 10:08 am
@ bucs4lyfe
You have a point, but the Glazers seem to look at money from a larger scale. Example I am convinced Schiano was let go in large part due to a fear of losing ticket sales as well as not being able to sell merchandise (very coincidental that the nostalgic ‘feel good’ hiring of Lovie coincided with the release of new uniforms and plenty of new merchandise?). I know I am in the minority with this thinking, but I could definitely see the Glazer’s firing Lovie IF they felt they could teel in a bigger fish at HC. One that would re-engage the fanbase (and help offset the millions on Lovie’s contract with ticket sales and merchandise sales).
December 8th, 2014 at 10:49 am
If we take a QB then we still are going to be a one dimensional team. Trade down or take OL so that we can actually have a running game!
December 8th, 2014 at 10:53 am
So I guess the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th rounds don’t exist anymore for quality linemen?
Smh at all the people still living in the 70’s version of the NFL
December 8th, 2014 at 10:57 am
Surprised if Lovie goes. He had a good reputation coming in and lost oc. That said his fa choices on offense bombed and the defense came out of gate slow. My best case scenario we get mariotta, find good oc, draft a couple good o-line guys in draft, find a way to add a couple good cheap players on d. But I’d still say we’re a losing team again next year ugh. Wish gruden never left despite his flaws!!
December 8th, 2014 at 11:04 am
Phillip – you “might” be able to find one then but you have a better shot at getting a franchise LT at the top of the first round. All these draft prospects are simply that, “prospects.” As a life long Buc fan, this franchise has totally over looked having a top notch OL unit.
December 8th, 2014 at 11:16 am
Phillip – also, under your method there are no such players like, Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, etc. that are widely publicized later round picks. How many franchise LT get drafted in the late rounds? Not too many that I know of.
December 8th, 2014 at 11:52 am
Lmao seriously?
Jason Peters instantly springs to mind as an UNDRAFTED player
Marshall Newhouse – 5th
Donald Penn – Undrafted (remember that guy?)
Nate Potter – 7th
J’Marcus Webb – 7th
Donald Stephenson – 3rd
Jermon Bushrod – 4th
King Dunlap – 7th
Cordy Glenn – 2nd
Rodger Saffold – 2nd
Will Beatty – 2nd
Jared Veldheer – 3rd
Michael Roos – 2nd
Andrew Whitworth – 2nd (The GOOD Cincy LT)
December 8th, 2014 at 12:12 pm
When the brothers have been as silent as they are change has been afoot. Lovie may survive but the latitude they gave him in choosing players and coaches has not improved the 4-12 team he was given. I doubt he’s as comfortable as many think. Why else would you put GMC back in the game with a taped-up dislocated kneecap?
December 8th, 2014 at 12:51 pm
Tank it for Tampa!!!!!!
December 8th, 2014 at 12:58 pm
What if……… Winston has the game of his life against Oregon and Mariotta gets pounded by Florida States defense??? I say Mariotta being a lock for the number one pick greatly hinges on his performance coming up against Florida State in the Rose Bowl!!! Winston could still be our guy, he played pretty good against Georgia Tech. Plus I seem to remember Lovie making a comment on Winston seeming to say he off the field stuff didn’t concern him as much as some.
December 8th, 2014 at 2:18 pm
Yeah, lets draft a moronic immature idiot and give him $25 million dollars…yeah, that’ll make him grow up….