“Quicker Than I Expected”
October 20th, 2015
If Lovie Smith is king of anything, he’s king of optimistic head coaches. Lovie’s proud to tell you his glass is always half full — or more.
So it’s very interesting when Lovie and the Bucs have their expectations exceeded.
Bucs general manager Jason Licht made that clear to a national audience on SiriusXM NFL Radio last week. That new beloved and rebuilt Bucs offensive line was not an anyone’s radar, even the Buccaneers’.
“This offensive line is exceeding expectations. They’re gelling. They’re coming together quicker than I expected, than any of us really expected, especially with two rookies up there,” Licht said. “Both are playing really well, especially Ali Marpet.”
For those into getting scared around Halloweeen, imagine if the Bucs offensive line was performing in a way that fans — and Bucs management — thought they would. Heck, this team might be winless! Man, that gives Joe the shivers.
The success of the O-line sort of is the alternate universe to what’s been happening on the Bucs defense, which was expected to be a stout veteran unit in its second year in Lovie’s system.
As for the rest of the praise thrown around by Licht, a big chunk of it went to Doug Martin, Charles Sims, Jameis Winston, Bobby Rainey, as well as another round of chatter about Marpet and Donovan Smith.
October 20th, 2015 at 12:00 pm
i think how well the o line has played is the surprise of the season. Their worst game, they were average. The unit is playing way beyond what i thought we had.
October 20th, 2015 at 12:02 pm
Lovie’s and sheep bar is set so low that they “exceed expectations” when they just show up on the field on Sundays!!!! Lovie can win 4 games this year and will be back next year because that will be considered “growth”!!! SMDH!!!!
Maybe the sheep should get lovie and the roster of players participation awards!!!
October 20th, 2015 at 12:19 pm
There’s the Realist we all know….
Where are these sheep you keep talking about…….Is it being a sheep to see, or hope for improvement with the Oline? Or is it simply fans grasping at any improvement from a 2-14 team?
Would the Realist prefer we not show improvement?
For me….so far, so good, with the Oline….and it looks like we also have a bit of depth.
October 20th, 2015 at 12:25 pm
Realist” Baaaaad!
October 20th, 2015 at 12:31 pm
The only definition of “Improvement” that I want to see is no more Blow Out Losses.
Close/Competitive Losses are acceptable.
But those embarrassing Blow outs must stop to be considered as a hopeful competitor every Sunday and count as an Improved Team.
October 20th, 2015 at 12:33 pm
TBBF…my definition of be Lovie sheep would be like this. A fan that never says a bad word about Lovie or thinks he never makes mistakes.
That what I think Realist is talking about. Those fans. We do have some on here, but some of them will vanish. They might pop back up though if they go on a winning streak. If they go on a losing streak those fans will go into hiding including the ones that are actually still on these boards.
October 20th, 2015 at 12:34 pm
i like the way the o-line has been playing of late the one concern i have is they seem to play a bit better without evan smith and i would like to see how the oline plays without logan for a bit
October 20th, 2015 at 12:38 pm
@87
What would you call the fans that blame Lovie for fumbles, interceptions, missed tackles etc……and those who never have anything but negative comments?
There are certainly many of them.
I am on record calling for Lovie to be fired if he lost to Jacksonville……..other than that, I really don’t join the chorus either way…..it frankly bores me a bit.
October 20th, 2015 at 12:41 pm
What I want to see is nothing but wins against bad teams……a win against at least one good team……and being competitive in every game.
October 20th, 2015 at 12:49 pm
TBBF…negative, glass half-empty personalities.
October 20th, 2015 at 12:56 pm
TBBF…but when someone can lay out valid example after example of why Lovie is incompetent with this thing and that thing, they have their point too. If they are valid points then even the positive person on the planet needs to take what they are saying into consideration. That doesn’t mean the positive fan can’t root against what that person is saying and hope that they are wrong. A sheep is someone that virtually overlooks what that negative poster is saying, because he’s always being negative and they really like Lovie Smith.
October 20th, 2015 at 12:59 pm
@buc1987 and TBBF
Is my glass half-empty, or is it half way closer to my next glass???
and Buc1987 asked if I will complain about the next coach. Well, I ask you, does Pinocchio have wooden balls????
October 20th, 2015 at 1:07 pm
I call them out when they’re wrong, so I should give my praise when they do it right.
They got this offensive line moving in the right direction. Coming in, I thought have an unexperienced, unproven line in front of your developing franchise, rookie QB was irresponsible. I think they’ve found a bit of blind luck in Cherilus and the center. I won’t call Mr. Hobart luck bc they liked him, and went and got him, and now it’s worked. But this O line is improving week to week in both the running and passing game.
If it’s blind luck, who cares – other teams get it – I’ll take it. But credit the scouting staff, you got this one right.
October 20th, 2015 at 1:23 pm
LOL Realist…I wasn’t specifically talking about you, but since we are on the subject and TBBF mentioned you to set the subject off. I think that you are a very impatient person. Not an impatient person, there is a difference. If Lovie or the Bucs possible new coach does not start off 4-0 then you are ready to pounce. If they start off 0-4 you want them fired right then and there. You want instant results from that coach from day 1. That’s just my observation anyways. Also if there is any improvement in the team you will be quick to mention why it’s not an improvement, which is a half empty outlook.
As far as the other “realists” on this site. They see other coaches in their first year take off to 5-0 starts and wonder why Lovie can’t do the same. Never thinking that, that coach might finish the season 5-11 or maybe 7-9. They just see how new the guy is to being a HC and shake their head at Lovie. Those people, they can’t be helped. It’s like talking sh!t all week long before the game is even played on Sunday or the season not even being at the 1/2 way point. To those people the glass is always empty.
Where’s my show Oprah? I’m better than Dr. Phil!
October 20th, 2015 at 1:30 pm
Damn it I always forget something….
Also if the team has been losing year in and year out no matter who the coach is, it’s going to make some fans become more and more negative over time. That just the way it is no matter who the coach is.
The next coach that comes in should Lovie be fired. We will have fans that are optimistic about the new coach and the possibility of finally having a good team. Then we will have the pessimistic ones that will look at the guy and say to themselves, “let’s see what this loser is going to do for our team”.
Realist you’re in the latter group of people. Waiting to pounce on the new coach from day one.
October 20th, 2015 at 1:45 pm
Realist…you’re still literally one of my favorite posters on this site. Because sometimes, some fans need to be brought back down to earth and you’re a pro at that. It’s a nasty job, but someone’s gotta do it.
October 20th, 2015 at 3:18 pm
I don’t think Realist realizes that his negative pessimistic outlook is not unique to most the commenters here.. Not really enlightening or unique in any way; just generic worst-case-scenario type outlook stuff.
Agree with 87 comments on his expectations. His expectations are insanely unrealistic. Anyone with that kind of short term instant-result expecting attitude and no long term vision would run any sports franchise into the ground.
Imagine the rash decisions a Realist-run regime would make – and how many coaches / players would be cut that were eventual SB winners. I’m sure Eli Manning’s career would have been ruined; along with Tom Coughlin. Mike Tomlin probably fired and Steelers would probably have been rebuilding for awhile and in really bad shape. He’d be benching Russel Wilson right now and trying to trade Jimmy Graham already. Hell Pete Carrol may not have survived the 7-9 season if not for playoffs. Maybe he cuts Flacco before Flacco wins the SB. Andy Dalton sure as hell would have been cut after last years playoff loss along with Marvin Lewis. Would be an interesting alternate universe.
October 20th, 2015 at 3:19 pm
I will say Realist has a somewhat comedic approach to his negative diatribes that makes enduring them not quite as painful as the other posters who just express suicidal type fandom thoughts
October 20th, 2015 at 3:27 pm
The o-line is playing better than that sorry group of overpaid underachievers that Lovie ran out of town.
October 20th, 2015 at 8:30 pm
Dr. Phil gives me the creeps.
October 20th, 2015 at 11:00 pm
When the Bucs loose, I want to fire everyone including the owners, but you have to admit that the Bucs are better than they have been in years. No coach, I do not care who he/she maybe, will take this team to a divisional title. Get Real!