Defensive Lovie Still Offensive
May 1st, 2015
“Sorry, Lovie. No defense for you. Again.”
When Team Glazer hired Lovie Smith to right the ship of the Bucs, just about anyone with a pulse thought Tampa Bay would return to its roots as a manhandling defensive unit.
Through five days of drafts under the guidance of general manager Jason Licht and Lovie, the Bucs have made nine consecutive offensive picks. As the third day of the 2015 draft is but hours away, the Bucs have never drafted a defensive player with Lovie as head coach.
That is stunning.
One reason this year was the absolute dire need to upgrade one of the most putrid offenses in the NFL. Quarterback was a hole the size of the Grand Canyon. The offensive line was a pure sieve.
So thus far in 2015, the Bucs drafted a quarterback and two offensive linemen.
Studious types saw the handwriting on the wall. The Bucs did sign a handful of defensive players in free agency. The Bucs never attempted to sign any offensive player at key positions.
“Sometimes, you are better off relying on the draft as opposed to free agents,” Licht said.
May 1st, 2015 at 10:20 pm
Joe this has got be killing Lovie…
May 1st, 2015 at 10:28 pm
@1987
Lovie will get his new toys next year in the draft, after the offense proves that it has been solidified.
Next year we go after a beastly pass rusher to complete the defense.
May 1st, 2015 at 10:29 pm
Like I said D ranked 25. They now drafted what 4 O-lineman in the last 8 or 9 picks and lovie stinks at drafting linemen. We have zero pass rush and no real mike backer
May 1st, 2015 at 10:33 pm
@nybucsfan
The defense was really starting to play better the 2nd half of last season, that 25th ranking was inflated due to the adjustment to Lovie’s system. The defense will be solid at worst this season.
May 1st, 2015 at 10:39 pm
NYBUCSFAN.
we had bottom 5 time of possession, and bottom 3 yards per play.
when the oppenent averages 2-3 more possesions against us than average they will get more yards.
once we field a team that knows how to get a first down, and eat clock, our defense will improve. ALOT
May 1st, 2015 at 10:41 pm
this is job security for lovie, tbh.
” i havent been able to build the team I am skilled at building yet”
next year is defense watch.
May 1st, 2015 at 10:41 pm
Love took over a team that had no QB, with not many draft choices, and a weak free agency market for QB’s.
None of that was his doing.
Got the great wide out last year, great QB this year, and rebuilding the oline.
Good job Mr. Smith.
May 1st, 2015 at 10:42 pm
D ranked top 10 in league in points allowed per game for last 10 weeks of the season. Early blowouts especially to the Falcons and Ravens are why their rank on the year is so bad.
May 1st, 2015 at 10:45 pm
Carter is our mike linebacker and we’ll find out whether he has what it takes this year. If we’re lucky he’ll be like Shelton Quarles, a very pleasant surprise who was cut by the Dolphins and played two seasons in Canada before the Bucs discovered him. Maybe Carter and the Bucs were made for each other. By all accounts his particular skill set, the ability to cover the middle, will make him successful in Lovie’s defense.
Hey imagine if Tight Ends stopped having career games everytime they face the Bucs.
May 1st, 2015 at 10:48 pm
Don’t argue with NYbucsfan. He’s a loser who is butthurt bc he didn’t want winston and now he’s trying to complain about everything we do. Plus he’s a douchebag New Yorker. What do you expect? When someone is actually complaining that we took 2 O lineman in the first 3 rounds, you know he’s an idiot.
May 1st, 2015 at 10:56 pm
Lovie seems determined to field a capable offense – not having one killed his championship chances in Chicago, and he was around when it killed Dungy’s championship chances in Tampa.
He may be stubborn and old-school in a lot of ways, but I like that he’s on board with investing heavily in offense until it frickin’ works.
May 1st, 2015 at 11:48 pm
So are they labeling La’el Collins undraftable? He’s not listed as a suspect. Heck I’d take him in the 6th or 7th. I’d take him and the risk of never playing a game over the 2 lineman we got last year.
May 2nd, 2015 at 12:02 am
To think if collins is the father and possibly had nothing to do with this, to punish he and the child (bless its heart) even more would be so tragic. That being said its hard to commit to someone you dont know, with 100% certainty, didnt have anything to do with this. Its just like jameis but do they have the time to vet the situation?
May 2nd, 2015 at 12:15 am
@tval Child died today per PFT
May 2nd, 2015 at 12:15 am
Collins said he wont play this year if not drafted in first or second night