Lovie’s Team
September 8th, 2015
Lovie states he is still searching for his kind of players at some positions.
Let be there no mistake. Lovie Smith has planted his flag in front of One Buc Palace. Depending on how the season goes, that may not have been a wise move.
Yesterday, Lovie declared the 2015 version of the Bucs “ours.”
“It had been a long time since I’d come into a new situation,” Lovie said. “I can’t remember exactly – I think if you look at most teams when there is a change, there’s change everywhere. I didn’t know the numbers but this does seem and feel more like our football team. Not that those teams didn’t.
“Whoever has the Tampa Bay Buccaneer uniform on is ours, but we are getting closer to having guys at every position that we wanted as much as anything. We feel good about where we are right now. [I’m] anxious to see how it’s all going to come together ths second year.”
Closer? You mean Lovie is still going to peddle nonsense about Mike Jenkins being better than Johnthan Banks, who led the team in picks last year, a stat [takeaways] Lovie seems to worship more than wins?
Remember folks: Lovie needs 11 wins to match the win total of Raheem Morris’ first two seasons, and nine wins to match Greg Schiano’s two-year tenure.
Joe also doesn’t recall Raheem boasting that his roster in his second year was getting closer to having the players he wanted at each position, but Raheem found ways to win that year, and was robbed of a playoff berth (phantom offensive pass interference call on Kellen Winslow, nullifying a game-winning touchdown).
September 8th, 2015 at 5:49 am
It sucks to say but I’d be thrilled if Lovie could reach either of those coaches 2 year win totals. Just shows how far this franchise has fallen.
September 8th, 2015 at 5:53 am
I rember that call well, at home against Lions I think. Cost us a playoff spot that went to GB who won it all. Our last decent season
September 8th, 2015 at 5:59 am
Bang the drums….the doldrums. I just cant get excited right now, not our year yet…..we’ll see.
September 8th, 2015 at 6:03 am
Just thinking…..maybe he’ll throw the season again and land a top pick DE… or two.
September 8th, 2015 at 6:18 am
Optimist says glass half full. Pessimist says glass half empty. Engineer says glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
I’m thinking you’re making twice as much out of this as it needs to be Joe. Comparing Lovie to Raheem … really?
September 8th, 2015 at 6:37 am
@defense rules – that is Joe’s job to antigonise us so he gets more hits while enterntaining us. I’m with you though. he is comparing apples to oranges. Learning the Tampa 2 and not having an o-line nor a OC spells 2-14.
It’s a new year with plenty of vets with T2 experience. I think we are about to see a much better defense. I really think it depends on how quickly Winston/Koetter relationship grows for us to get the wins.
Is it Sunday yet?
Go Bucs!!!
September 8th, 2015 at 6:43 am
Folks we are officially a 0-0 team!
McCown, Arroyo, Collins and Johnson are gone.
Winston & Koetter will bring more than 2 wins…
September 8th, 2015 at 6:49 am
Overall I blame the frnchise more than lovie. Lovie had a winning record in chicago and does need more time to finish what he started. That is as long as jenkins is on the bench and we are not running it right up the middle 1st and 2nd down and throwing it on third every single possesion.
September 8th, 2015 at 6:52 am
Totally agree. Don’t understand the waiver picks but hopefully I am wrong. Worried about this team winning enough games to call it our team
September 8th, 2015 at 6:54 am
If another bad year by Lovie, and the Bucs have a top 3 pick…… Is it safe to say that there might be a change? Especially if the defense seems to be the problem. Maybe , Koetter was promised a chance at a HC’ing job behind the scenes if things don’t go right this year. He was coveted this year and might not derail Jameis’ learning curve by not having to learn a new offensive system. Let’s face it, Lovie is our defensive coordinator this season. Frazier has been fazed out and will not have a job next year since his contract was for two years. Just trying to read between the tea leaves. I believe Koetter will be a wanted man for a head job if he shows success in Jameis’ first year. I would hate to see that personally, Maybe I’m totally wrong…
September 8th, 2015 at 7:11 am
SMH- I’ll say this loud and proud:
1. Lovie will transform the Tampa 2 into the Lovie 2 where LVD and KA will assist the pass rush in an innovate way in 2015.
2.Lovie will bring us a Super Bowl win in less than 4 years!
We are about to start a new era which teams will be trying to emulate our team.
In Lovie and Licht I TRUST!!!
p.s. Is it Sunday yet?!?!?!?
September 8th, 2015 at 7:17 am
I don’t get the people who seem to hope for failure to get another coaching change. Do you not understand how the NFL works? Do you not understand that every great QB has the same thing in common?
STABILITY
Love got here last year and they have been remaking the staff and roster since. Year 2 is just starting. The normal thing used to be a 4 year rebuilding process.
September 8th, 2015 at 7:27 am
The question or commit given to Lovie to get this response was that there are only 15 players on this team today that were on the team when he took over.
I agree with all the commits that this is nothing but a troll article to provide cover for the negative Lovie bashers. Give the guy a chance to get his system and players in place. This is the time to get behind the team and show them some support.
September 8th, 2015 at 7:32 am
wow… Talking about blinders on! SMH
September 8th, 2015 at 7:33 am
TDTB2015 is absolutely, totally delusional!
September 8th, 2015 at 7:39 am
@Bird
What don’t you understand about the waiver pick ups?
They retained a 2 WR,TE, LB from the bottom of the roster picked up a couple of CBs, 2 Tackles and a DE that they liked that are a bit raw but have a lot of upside.
WR Rannell Hall, TE Cameron Brate, WR Kaelin Clay, WR Donteea Dye, CB Imoan Claiborne, CB Jude Adjei-Barimah, LB Josh Keyes, T Terren Jones, T Edawn Coughman and DE Howard Jones.
September 8th, 2015 at 7:48 am
Teams don’t keep coaches just for “stability” . They keep coaches because they have the right “COACH”!!!!!!!!
September 8th, 2015 at 7:55 am
Uh…I think you’re talking about the PRACTICE SQUAD there Stan. The players claimed from the waiver wire HAVE to go on the active roster and stay there for three weeks!
September 8th, 2015 at 7:58 am
Man I already was depressed about Lovie but he needs 11 wins to total Raheem? He is already making excuses just incase we suck again I see.
September 8th, 2015 at 8:04 am
Raheem did more with less, then any other Buc’s coach in memory.
September 8th, 2015 at 8:05 am
Attaboy Joe! Keep up the heat! I’m sick of Lovie’s excuses too.
September 8th, 2015 at 8:43 am
The only thing in common Rah and Lovie have is that Rah got his 10 wins against the softest schedule in the league. Lovie has the softest schedule this year which is why I believe we can squeeze ten wins out of 8-8 talent.
Someone mentioned Chip Kelly and his immediate success. He took over a team that had a bad YEAR..4 wins…but they were coming off 11-10 and 8 wins. The franchise was not in shambles. The Bucs were coming off two unqualified coaches, MRSA, and ownership that spent five years hoarding money for a foreign investment. In short Lovie arrived to a team in shambles, not a team with just one bad year in the past four!!!
Bill Belicheat’s record was far worse than Lovies if you take the part up until Brady showed up. After Brady Belicheat suddenly became a genius.
If JW is the real deal Lovie’s going to look really smart. If JW is a bust, Lovie’s career is over. Regardless of anything you can say about him Lovie at least has gone for it…he hasn’t played it safe. Yeah JW might buy him ONE more year based on the fact that he’s a rookie. But JW better pan out or it’s over for Lovie.
Barring catostrophic injuries and MRSA…Lovie needs to win at least 6 with this 8-8 talent against this soft schedule or I join the Realist!
I’m the optimist and believe we are DUE for some freaking LUCK…we win ten…Lovie gets mentioned for coach of the year…and we take up a collection here at JBF to buy Realist, Tmax and Dallas a case of Pepto Bismol.
September 8th, 2015 at 9:09 am
McalpineMike- Correct thanks.
The waiver wire and PQ, I think as all bottom of the roster moves.
I’m guessing Bird didn’t understand why Koetter liked & picked up that QB. I think it was the only way to get them all on the team. Brate or Hall should clear waivers where the QB wouldn’t. The QB gives them intel on the saints and frees them up to make a move with a Glennon trade now or in the future they like his upside and salary. Other than the QB they picked up they got some strong special teams LBs, a talented DE who fits their mold in K. Brown, and a versatile C who can play L or R guard in Kush. What’s not to like?
September 8th, 2015 at 9:41 am
Chris – Raheem Morris was absolutely savaged by Buc fans and yet, we still are looking for his superior. Morris was treated terribly by this organization and fan base. IMHO.
September 8th, 2015 at 10:15 am
I agree Chanepic.
Raheem would have been fine if he hired Herm Edwards disciplinarian type to offset his laid back style. Not to mention a little spending on the team. The owners gave that guy nothing to work with. A think the Glaziers would have opened their wallet after they finished paying off Gruden’s contract. The problem was he lost the team/lockerom and that and his laid back style (like Pete Carol) played into some of our fan bases stereotype.
September 8th, 2015 at 10:24 am
I tell ya, this Bucs team don’t get no respect. Look up disrespect in the dictionary, there’s the Bucs logo.
September 8th, 2015 at 3:05 pm
Stop insulting Raheem, Lovie has twice the budget! Can waste money and hire all his relatives!