“… Developing Him For The Guys Who Have Our Jobs Next.”
April 6th, 2015
Time is ticking on the Lovie Smith regime. That’s just NFL reality.
Year 2 for a head coach is always a crossroads in the growingly impatient league. Don’t think the NFL is impatient? Then perhaps you should read Buccaneers owner Joel Glazer’s chat with Joe about the subject.
ESPN.com has a new feature (behind a fancy paywall) that dives into Tampa Bay’s looming decision: Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota.
Various heavyweights weigh in, but Joe was dialed in to the telling words of Lovie’s friend Herm Edwards, the former Bucs secondary coach and Chiefs and Jets head man. For Edwards, picking Winston is about job security.
Herm Edwards (head coach): When you draft a quarterback No. 1 overall, you know he’s going to be the face of the franchise. That puts a burden on a lot of people, including the player, and this organization has gotten it wrong before with a quarterback who didn’t do what he needed to do off the field. Of these two guys, Mariota is the much more proven product off the field.
But as the head coach, you have to be able to say, “Trust me, I can handle him on and off the field.” In the end this league is about winning, and Winston is more NFL-ready. He has run a pro-style offense. He’s a better fit. Mariota is a good athlete with great intangibles, and he should be able to improve. I have no issues there. But we’ve got to win. If we’re developing our No. 1 overall pick, then we’re developing him for the guys who have our jobs next.
Edwards did a great job delivering this dose of reality. Tampa Bay coaching careers are at stake. Winston won’t have the learning curve of Mariota. and both are super talented. So with ownership all-in, then you pick the guy who’s ready to succeeded significantly faster.
April 6th, 2015 at 1:35 pm
But Joe, what if the titans exchange picks with the chargers and we could trade down with Oakland and still pick up Jameis. Do you see this being to much of a risk?
April 6th, 2015 at 1:37 pm
Wheres The Draft Jameis Party? I Need something to do april 30th
April 6th, 2015 at 1:39 pm
Agree totally with this post with one proviso. IF the Glazers and L&L have had discussions in private where some concern was expressed about Fameis “character issues” and the Glazers acknowledged that drafting MM would mean L&L are sacrificing job security, but the Glazers assured Lovie they were in it for the longer run then there is still the outside chance we see MM.
But to be honest the entire Bucs leadership group would have to be spinning so much, blowing so much smoke about Fameis and how they’re on board and not deterred by his off field issues, it’s gone beyond just smoke or spinning and to downright lying to the fan base who are now whipped up to a frenzy to select Fameis. I think the cow has left the barn! The Glazers and L&L have crossed the Rubicon. If they do not draft Fameis at this point the blowback will be considerable.
April 6th, 2015 at 1:39 pm
Dear God why on earth would you want to screw up the works like this? You have the best QB in the draft at your doorstep. Nothing else matters.
April 6th, 2015 at 1:41 pm
NewBucs
This wouldn’t happen unless the Bucs take Fameis and then trade him for the subsequent picks you mention. They’re not simply going to trade pics and trust the other teams. The Bucs have to pick Fameis first if they really want him, short of some pre draft trade contingent on specific picks.
April 6th, 2015 at 1:44 pm
Can’t take a chance newbucsfan. we get too cute and S.D. takes Winston or Jax trades bortles for draft picks AND gets Winston.
April 6th, 2015 at 1:46 pm
Disagree with Herm here. I think if Lovie went into next year with Glennon at the helm, and switched later in the year to Mariota that would actually buy him more time.
Think about it. Glennon starts 10 games next year, we lose 8 of them, Mariota comes in for the last 6 and wins 2. Lovie would essentially say we doubled our win total. Now, with another high draft pick, we go into 2016 with Mariota. Say he wins 6-8 games (not unrealistic to think). Lovie could say we’re getting better. That progression is there. 2017 would be a make or break year for Lovie with Mariota. If he didn’t make the playoffs after 4 years of high draft picks, then he’s probably being fired.
With Winston, he’s putting more pressure on himself immediately if his sales pitch is a more NFL ready QB. A losing season next year might not get him fired, but no playoffs in 2016 is sure to do it. Especially if Winston gets in ANY trouble in the process.
April 6th, 2015 at 1:49 pm
Lovie should have been fired as soon as he secured the 1st overall draft pick……that is as far as he can go….the guy,bless his heart ,he is a fine human…..Lovie is so far ingrained in the NFL past he really has not figured out his lifetime of NFL philosophy is in the rear view mirror…
April 6th, 2015 at 1:55 pm
Yeah I agree don’t get cute in the draft. That’s exactly how Dominick ended up with Barron instead of Claibourn out of LSU. In looking back it really didn’t matter because they both look like busts but point is Dominick missed his guy.
April 6th, 2015 at 1:59 pm
Winston won’t fall out of the top 2 picks so stop with this crazy trade down and get him concept. The Raiders aren’t going to move up to #1 to draft a non QB.
April 6th, 2015 at 2:04 pm
If not for the off field issues, it wouldn’t even be a discussion.
If the Bucs are okay with the off field issues, then what’s the problem?
It’s not a question of talent.
April 6th, 2015 at 2:06 pm
Who predicts bucs using all the time in the draft when clock starts? If they do, I know I will be impatient and thinking they are listening to trade offers, well oh well, can’t for that day!
April 6th, 2015 at 2:07 pm
Waterboy – the Bucs had no intention of drafting Morris Claiborne. He was deemed “not smart enough” and his score of “4” on the Wonderlic test proved that.
Trying to pick up extra draft picks and still get Winston would be the ultimate in bad judgement. 1st team that had a chance at Winston would take him without hesitation IMO. Titans would take Winston in a heartbeat I believe – and if he was somehow still on the board by the 3rd pick – more than 1 team would be vying to move up and get him.
Draft Winston #1 and enjoy the ride. Simple as that…..
April 6th, 2015 at 2:15 pm
Pickgrin Says: Draft Winston #1 and enjoy the ride. Simple as that…..
Yup.
Either he continues and excels at the NFL level as many of us expect, wish and hope. Or he goes down in flames. Either way it will be one heck of a ride.
April 6th, 2015 at 2:16 pm
With the exception of Tom Brady, most franchise-caliber QBs will go through a few head coaches in their career anyway.
Lovie’s coaching decisions in 2014 were abhorrent. The only way to explain his boneheaded decisions is if the entire season was an intentional tank job (which is a very real possibility).
The best move L&L made was hiring Dirk Koetter. At least now, whichever QB we draft will have a legit chance to succeed right away.
April 6th, 2015 at 2:18 pm
@newbucsfan
Re: trading down and still getting Winston.
Way, way too risky. I believe Licht tried his best to get Carr last year in the draft and was unsuccessful in trading up to do so. Just take the man (Winston) #1 overall and start building an online.
April 6th, 2015 at 2:39 pm
Whoa if that’s the case then Glazers should definitely make the pick and not trust Lovie and Licht. If the Glazers allow the Winston pick than as ownership they deserve all the bad press that comes there way if Winston can’t get his act together off the field. I think as far as Bucs go maybe that has been the issue “win now”, they have been trying to win now for several years. I think this cycle will continue until the ownership puts an emphasis and plan on building a good team. I say the ownership because all incoming coaches always seem desperate and perhaps don’t make the best picks. For example Glazers hired coaches did they realize the team basically had to jettison most of it’s players due to scheme? If so why would they allow L&L to say to the public we are winning this season, how is that possible if when everything in flux. Building mistrust is just weird. Just strange the ownership doesn’t seem to have a sound plan, not successful for a reason.
April 6th, 2015 at 2:51 pm
Ehh a few other things matter joe, like offensive line, MLB, DE, and now safety.. But I agree w the point that you can’t pass up on the best QB being on your doorstep
April 6th, 2015 at 3:00 pm
The Titans would only trade up for Winston. Theres no way you trade down thinking your still going to get him. But Titans have so many holes I just dont see them giving away picks to move up 1 spot.
April 6th, 2015 at 3:37 pm
This is year 7 of the rebuilding project since Gruden was fired!!! Stop peddling this crap that fans are impatient. 2009-2014 only one winning record and no playoffs!!!
The glazers rebuilding plan sucks!!!!!
It’s time to give us paying fans some hope. I’m sick of the losing and bad decisions.
April 6th, 2015 at 3:40 pm
@Dan,
The problem is that what if Mariota isn’t ready half-way through the season? Then they’re either throwing him out there early, which either ruins him or makes them look like they couldn’t get him ready; or they sit him all year and possibly get fired without ever putting him on the field. If Winston looks even remotely like the right pick while starting all season, then there’s no doubt L&L would be given their third season.
April 6th, 2015 at 3:57 pm
Why take the risk of someone leaping in front of you to take the guy you want?
If you have the #1 pick, just take the guy you want and move on. Avoid the uneccesary risk all together.
well, besides the fact that “a few” usually implies at least 3…
Eli Manning, Joe Flacco and Aaron Rodgers would all disagree.
Matt Ryan, Matthew Stafford and Ben Rothlisberger might have something to say as well, as they’re only on their second head coach since being drafted…
And that is off the top of my head as i’m assuming your speaking of QBs tha tare going to be playing in 2015.
April 6th, 2015 at 5:52 pm
Herm’s logic doesn’t make sense with all the holes on this team. Draft Mariota and develop him and start building the team for long term success. Didn’t Herm pick the Bucs to go to the playoffs?
April 6th, 2015 at 9:45 pm
That only applies to Greg schiano nobody type coaches. The reality is lovie does just enough to keep from getting fired