BSPN Projects Doom For Mike Smith
September 4th, 2018
“Hello, Staples? Are my resumes ready for pick-up?”
If what the four-letter predicts comes true, Joe thinks it is safe to also predict that Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith will not return for the 2019 season.
And maybe the entire coaching staff will join him.
In a detailed season preview of Tampa Bay, among the many things BSPN predicts is the Bucs defense will be No. 31 in the league. And a team that has that rotten of a defense struggles to win games.
If that comes true, it is curtains for Smith, who guided his defense to No. 32 in the NFL last year — dead last including in several key categories.
After all the upgrades to the defense in personnel this offseason, after all the draft picks, after all the Team Glazer loot spent, if the defense can only raise its game a hair from No. 32 to No. 31, Joe doesn’t care what that coordinator’s name is or his history, he’s likely toast.
September 4th, 2018 at 8:39 am
You mean you should only use Prevent Defense when you actually wanna prevent them from scoring.
What a novel idea.
If Smitty can’t figure this out, I’ll pack his bags for him.
Off coverage is simply a stat filler for the opposing QB and WR fantasy teams.
September 4th, 2018 at 8:48 am
I like this team, I like the coaching staff, but if we finish in the bottom ten in D then Smitty SHOULD be fired. Even if the offense explodes and we go 8-8.
We simply can’t be finishing in the bottom of the league again!
I remain optimistic and think we’ll do well but there is not doubt about what is at stake…lots of jobs.
I will say this…if the team fails at the levels of last year it’s not just the coaches who need to be fired…it’s time to blow up the entire team…top to bottom.
I still think that’s a big IF.
September 4th, 2018 at 8:49 am
Gawd….can’t wait for “real stuff” to talk about….
September 4th, 2018 at 8:52 am
Its a no brainer predicting failure for a defensive coach with soft coaching killing gmc on roster. Gmc is undefeated when it comes to running coaches off and winless on the field. But that’s low standard bucfans guy….. no coach can survive gmc just like no coordinator offensive or defensive survived bad character lovie Smith
September 4th, 2018 at 8:53 am
We will be better than predicted but still possibly not good enough…..
I do agree that if the Offense rolls and we are close in games and have a better record than last year…..it is possible that Smith is canned and Koetter survives.
I think Licht survives in most any scenario. (Not saying he should, just saying he will)
September 4th, 2018 at 8:58 am
Licht has done a good job drafting players and he and Mike Greenberg have managed the cap very well. As for Mr. Smith, they need to be 20th or better for this team to have a shot at .500 or better. The O looked damn good this pre-season no matter who was at QB. Unless Vea and these damn injuries keep the D from being middle of the road, Smith better get the ball rolling early in New Orleans.
September 4th, 2018 at 9:01 am
Man, look at our D line from last year. None of those guys even made a roster from last year.Need Vea to get healthy fast and Spence to do something. D backfield is pretty weak.
September 4th, 2018 at 9:02 am
“…and I just don’t know if there is strong enough leadership on that team.” _ BINGO! Give the man a cigar. The single most glaring deficiency of the Koetter era, NO LEADERSHIP. That said, JPP could be that guy.
September 4th, 2018 at 9:02 am
Don’t trust Mike Smith one bit, that would be an ugly poll Joe and you would see we all agree his defensive mentally is suspect
September 4th, 2018 at 9:03 am
No idiot at BSPN is going to dampen my spirit and high expectations. Joe calls then BSPN for a reason, and frankly, we should all know better than to expect anything better from the national media.
They are the antithesis of band wagoners.
11-5.
September 4th, 2018 at 9:03 am
can em and promote buckner, i would do this no later than the 3rd game if this defense looks like a hot steaming pile of dog dung, he has had his chance, is that not why he got canned in atlanta because his defensive philosophy stunk to high heaven?
September 4th, 2018 at 9:04 am
I should say..11-5 if we win at least one of the first three games.
September 4th, 2018 at 9:05 am
JPP, McCoy, Allen, Curry, Gholston, Spence- if Bucs can’t stop the run and put pressure on Brees with that lineup… SMH
September 4th, 2018 at 9:05 am
Why wait?
September 4th, 2018 at 9:08 am
Doom and gloom… expectation bar is so low u could walk over it. There’s no way they’ll be that bad. ESPN has the worst football coverage too. Terrible.
September 4th, 2018 at 9:08 am
stpetebucsfan Says
I will say this…if the team fails at the levels of last year it’s not just the coaches who need to be fired…it’s time to blow up the entire team…top to bottom.
That would be absolutely insane and would put us back into the dark ages. It would also guarantee the next staff would fail.
September 4th, 2018 at 9:09 am
LEADERSHIP. That said, JPP could be that guy.
Would that be the same jpp who just a short time ago blew his hand up being a dumbass…. yeah that’s a real leader….
No roster with gmc will ever play with passion or toughness nor will they ever be able to finish opponents off with his mentally weak approach coupled with his inability to play a complete 4 qtrs do to poor conditioning and work ethic.
September 4th, 2018 at 9:12 am
Buckner is not DC material.
I get it. He’s a fresh face and has a cool attitude…but if the defense ends up sucking, it means he didn’t do his job good enough, because it all starts up front.
September 4th, 2018 at 9:13 am
He is the singular reason after all of the “upgrades” on that side of the football that I have no faith in a turnaround.
He should have been gone after last season.
Pistol
September 4th, 2018 at 9:16 am
Bonzi
Are you forgetting 11 wins usually takes bucs 4 seasons to achieve. You really are cluless and in denial how pathetic this roster is top to bottom. 4-12 talent at best with zero leadership and zero desire from ownership to field a competitive product. This franchise will never sniff playoff game under glazers.
September 4th, 2018 at 9:16 am
Good players make their coaches look good. After this season, Smith will get a head coaching gig with another team…and Buckner will not be his replacement.
September 4th, 2018 at 9:29 am
He shoulda already been fired and replaced with Vic Fangio during the offseason…
September 4th, 2018 at 9:29 am
Bonzai just as good players make coaches look good, bad coaches can make players look bad.
September 4th, 2018 at 9:30 am
Reality-is-a-bitch: Yes JPP did something stupid but more importantly CAME BACK PLAYED GREAT (with said self imposed handicap)AND MADE NO EXCUSES. THAT, my friend, is the very definition of leadership, because it is BY EXAMPLE. So, yeah I stand by that statement fully.
September 4th, 2018 at 9:33 am
@Joe … “If that comes true, it is curtains for Smith, who guided his defense to No. 32 in the NFL last year.” How sad it is when folks buy into the ‘bad’ but can’t see the ‘good’. Patriots had the #29 defense in the league last year … IF you buy into Joe’s and others’ methods of ranking defenses by YARDS ALLOWED. They ranked even worse than that (#30) in terms of PASSING YARDS ALLOWED (Pats allowed OVER 4,000 passing yards just like the Bucs did). Wow, the Pats must’ve really sucked last year.
Oh wait, they finished 13-3 and went to the Super Bowl. There’s obviously something VERY wrong here. Maybe (just perhaps) it’s that YARDS ALLOWED doesn’t mean diddly when it comes to winning & losing. POINTS ALLOWED means everything … and using THAT criteria the Patriots ranked #5 in the NFL last year, giving up only 296 pts on the season. Man, what a concept … keep your opponents from scoring and you win more games. Don’t tell Joe though; he really enjoys beating that YARDS ALLOWED drum. And on the opposite side of that drum is another he enjoys playing: it’s called the ‘Jameis throws for a lot of PASSING YARDAGE so that makes him America’s QB’ drum.
Smitty’s defense in 2016 came in #15 using the POINTS ALLOWED criteria, but fell to #22 last year. THAT sucks IMO, especially since we couldn’t stop the run (normally the Bucs’ bread & butter) and oh ya, our DLine couldn’t even sniff the passer. Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that Licht, Koetter & Smitty all figured out what the problem was, since the Bucs made such dramatic moves to shore up their DLine this off-season. I fully expect that this year’s defense will rank in the Top-15 using the POINTS ALLOWED criteria. If they don’t, more coaches than Smitty need to be fired. But before we all go hog-wild behind BSPN, why don’t we see what we’ve REALLY got first and stop beating the drums of negativity.
September 4th, 2018 at 9:40 am
Lol Defense, one problem with your argument there. The Patriots defense got roasted in the Superbowl by Nick Foles and they lost.
September 4th, 2018 at 9:43 am
I for one am tired of the disrespect the Bucs are getting in the media. The latest AP poll had us at 30 and Bleacher report has us at 31. If the team isn’t totally pissed off and motivated by this, then they just need to find a new line of work. This team shoukd be the one wearing the underdog masks…
September 4th, 2018 at 9:43 am
Bonzai
Take it easy on thre pipe this morning
Did you just say mike smith will get head coaching gig?
September 4th, 2018 at 9:47 am
He’s going to work for Vince McMahon?
September 4th, 2018 at 9:48 am
i watched jpp roam the sidelines last game…his body language and facial expressions make him the leader of the defense imho…mccoy was a smiley face bundle of giggles and joy…these men are built with different demeanors…i hope jpp takes the bull by the horns here in tampa…he will be the leader of this leaderless defense, either by default or because he grabs the role by the keesters and doesn’t look back
#InJppWeMustTrust
#WeHaveGivenAllTheseOtherGuysAyeChanceToLeadAndTheyDont
September 4th, 2018 at 9:49 am
joe take note mengus ^^^^^^^^
September 4th, 2018 at 9:53 am
I think Mike Smith is a better head coach than a Defensive Coordinator. With this said, I do not feel he will be a head coach next year unless the Bucs Defense finish in the top 10.
September 4th, 2018 at 9:55 am
Good thing we gave him that huge contract to reduce the temptation he had to accept one of the multitude of head coaching offers.
September 4th, 2018 at 10:00 am
Said it the day this guy was hired he would be just as bad if not worse than Lovie. This is not.rocket science people
September 4th, 2018 at 10:11 am
smith is a dude hanging in an air conditioned room with great seats to the game and waiter service
September 4th, 2018 at 10:12 am
@SwiftyBuc … “Lol Defense, one problem with your argument there. The Patriots defense got roasted in the Superbowl by Nick Foles and they lost.” Brilliant observation … no wonder you call yourself ‘Swifty’. Minor detail: Patriots actually went 13-3, won their division, beat a couple of other division winners on their way to being the 2nd best team in the NFL last year. Obviously they sucked … by your standards that is, Swifty (?).
September 4th, 2018 at 10:18 am
At this time, I don’t care what Smith is doing next year
This coming Sunday?
That’s a different story
September 4th, 2018 at 10:25 am
These people predicting the Bucs to finish as one of the worst teams is off base. Remember these people said the giants were gonna be amazing last year. Gonna enjoy all the backtracking when we take the south!
September 4th, 2018 at 10:32 am
defense
when you have the GOAT AT HC and QB anything is possible….even a SB appearance with a lousy defense…..
we don’t have that luxury……compare apples to apples…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
September 4th, 2018 at 10:32 am
Defense Rules- The numbers say they were #22 in points against but the eyes say this defense was flat out AWFUL. 3rd and long shouldn’t be an automatic 1st down for the opposition. We practically invented a new offensive philosophy for other teams. Forget about moving the chains!
We have no choice but to have faith that DC Smith, who captained the worst defense, will have a better year. In theory, it will be hard to top that steaming pile of dung we called a defense last year.
September 4th, 2018 at 10:36 am
Smith is really lucky to still have a job. I just cringe watchting Hargreaves or Ryan Smith back pedaling into that “off coverage.” It’s an automatic 8 yard completion every time. So hoping Grimes and the new rookies can play slightly below average together, instead of worst.
September 4th, 2018 at 10:49 am
I love when joe stats facts like, “his defense to No. 32 in the NFL last year — dead last including in several key categories.”…..but then you have these so called”real fans” that say the defense wasn’t that bad….lol….numbers don’t lie!!!!!!
being ranked #32 out of 32teams is bad no matter how you slice it…..lol….folks need to get real…..smittys and his defense suck…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
September 4th, 2018 at 10:54 am
Defense, first off, I don’t call myself Swifty. As my name is clearly SchwiftyBuc. Glad we got that out of the way.
Second, obviously the Patriots as a whole didn’t suck, nor could they with the best QB ever to play in the Superbowl era, as well as quite possibly the best Head coach in NFL history.
But their defense absolutely sucked. They got tore up regularly, and if they didn’t have such brilliant HC and QB combo, they’d have gone no where fast, and that defense giving up all those easy yards lost them the Superbowl.
Clear enough for you?
September 4th, 2018 at 11:12 am
I love it when you guys disagree with me. I get to bookmark it and use it later 😛
This time, I’ll even get to make Joe eat crow 😉
September 4th, 2018 at 11:15 am
813bucboi Says
“I love when joe stats facts like, “his defense to No. 32 in the NFL last year — dead last including in several key categories.”…..but then you have these so called”real fans” that say the defense wasn’t that bad….lol….numbers don’t lie!!!!!!”
I agree that numbers do not lie.
Like how Jameis led the Bucs from behind 4 times only to have the defense blow the game.
Or like how our first kicker last year cost us 2 games.
Or how 4+2+5 wins equals 11-5.
That is how close we came to being good last year.
September 4th, 2018 at 12:21 pm
Wow. Bonzai, who is wrong about so many things, including recently calling me a troll from divisional team even though I’ve posted on this site since the Josh Freeman days and likely longer than he has is trying to parse ‘woulda coulda shoulda’ things into a great record.
A fact is, the Bucs were 5-11 last year. A fact is Jameis Winston is suspended for the first three games and the Bucs are facing the toughest 3 game start in start in the Super Bowl era where Ryan Fitzpatrick will hand off the ball to Peyton Barber and God-knows-who will be protecting Fitz’ blindside in New Orleans.
The beauty of being an idiot, Bonzai, is when you’re too stupid to realize it. It’s like the person who is so demented that they don’t even know they have a bad memory. But by all means post your amazingly optimistic record again throughout the season.
I’ll post mine: 6-10 (and I can see it being worse more than I see it being better, but I’ll stick with Vegas).
September 4th, 2018 at 12:33 pm
Defense Rules
C’mon admit it…you’re really Brian Billick 😉
September 4th, 2018 at 12:34 pm
bonzai
you can name all the woulda coulda shoulda’s you want but the facts are in the numbers….#32ranked defense…..5-11record…..
you are what your record says you are…..not what you coulda shoulda woulda been…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
September 4th, 2018 at 12:44 pm
jmark
lol….
DR = Brian Billick
bonzai = Julie Smith
rhealist = Logan Smith
rhealist loves defending her poppa….regardless of stats…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
September 4th, 2018 at 12:48 pm
We’ve been really bad for so long that predicting us to finish last is only normal. The Bucs defense is still bad until they prove otherwise.
September 4th, 2018 at 1:05 pm
Mike Smith could have 11 Pro Bowlers and his s heme would still lose games. Dude is awful and I doubt would get another after he is fired here
September 4th, 2018 at 1:09 pm
We don’t call it “BSPN” for no reason, Joe. National media except for a very minor amount knows what’s going on with the Bucs and have’nt watched two seconds of film.
If we do come up last in the league, RONDE FOR DC 2019!!!
September 4th, 2018 at 1:20 pm
I have seen a lot of Ronde for DC, lately. Has he expressed some interest?
Loved Ronde the Player, not sure he’s the DC candidate though…
September 4th, 2018 at 1:49 pm
Our D will surprise many but it does not help that 6 of our games are against Brees, Ryan, Big Ben, Foles. Hell I forgot about two more with Cam. I had to stop typing and go flip over to the Bucs Schedule. Our “starting QB (JW) only outranks Chicago’s Tribisky when you look at all 16 dames. Tyrod Taylor is a toss up. OMG we are in trouble.
September 4th, 2018 at 2:04 pm
It’s not the players. It is the system it continued to rear its ugly head in preseason just watch the end of the third preseason game!
September 4th, 2018 at 2:20 pm
@813bucboi … “we don’t have that luxury……compare apples to apples.” So comparing what you’ve labeled the #32 defense (Bucs) to the #29 defense (Pats) isn’t comparing apples-to-apples bucboi? It amazes me how so many JBFers are really just pretend-fans in the final analysis. You’re so primed to cut down other people (and I’m thinking of Mike Smith in this case … I could care less what you have to say about me) … that you don’t look for the positives. What a bitchin’ way to go through life. But hey, if it works for you, press on.
September 4th, 2018 at 2:27 pm
@jmarkbuc … “C’mon admit it…you’re really Brian Billick .” You mean the very same Brian Billick who coached his Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl victory in 2000 with Trent Dilfer behind center? That Brian Billick? The one who spent 6 yrs as the Vikings OC then 9 yrs as the Ravens HC? That Brian Billick? My gut feel is that Brian Billick probably has a better football resume than you do. But hey, I might be wrong. Surest way for me to find out if that’s the case is to just ask you .
September 4th, 2018 at 2:40 pm
@Bucsfanman … “the numbers say they were #22 in points against but the eyes say this defense was flat out AWFUL.” I’ve said many times that the 2017 defense stunk it up, and was a LOT worse than the 2016 defense IMO. BOTH of those defenses however were bereft of sufficient REAL talent to truly be competitive in the NFC South especially (we lacked starting talent in several key positions AND we lacked depth). And in the final analysis, the NFC South is who we’ve got to beat to get out of the cellar.
Licht finally saw the light this year & brought in some beef for the DLine in FA, then drafted some guys with great potential to hopefully improve our Secondary. The big question mark in my mind right now is the DLine. IF it can pressure opposing QBs AND stop the run, then our young Secondary will have a chance. If our DLine performs like last year, then we’re dead in the water. Injuries already to Vea, Unrein & Beckwith won’t help one bit, but I think we now have reasonably good depth AND starting talent to hold our own in the NFC South. Looked to me like our 1st teamers did fairly well in preseason against opposing 1st teamers. Still, only time will tell.
September 4th, 2018 at 2:40 pm
Defense Rules- For what it’s worth, I understand your point. I don’t necessarily agree but it’s just opinion anyway.
If Smitty DC’d the Steelers defense to the bottom of the league, do you think he’d have a job? Good teams usually don’t tolerate failure. His defense got worse year to year.
I really hope he turns it around. I mean, we don’t have a choice anyway. Might as well root for the guy!
Go Bucs!
September 4th, 2018 at 3:02 pm
DR(or shall I say Julie)
no that’s not apples to apples because the pats have the GOAT at HC and QB…..
try a team that doesn’t have brady and bill and had a horrible defense….did they make it to the playoffs or SB?…..a team like DET or INDY…..horrible defense….horrible run game…..
GO AHEAD I’LL WAIT……
it amazes me how folks see positives in a #32 ranked defense or the man who coordinated it when the facts are we were dead last in several categories and finished at 5-11……lol….
keep being positive Julie…I guess it makes you sleep better with hubby at night….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
September 4th, 2018 at 3:04 pm
Swiftybuc,
Two things to consider.
1. After week 5 the Pats d allowed an avg 14pts/game which was #1 in the league.
2. Unbelievable that you not mentioned that the Pats #1 corner was benched the entire game. .This fact has been repeatedly said by pats players to have been a big factor in how they performed.
September 4th, 2018 at 3:14 pm
DR
your not comparing apples to apple because the pats have the GOAT at HC & QB….something you clearly glossed over in my previous post…..
try comparing DET and INDY to the BUCS….2 teams that had horrible defenses and horrible run games without the GOAT at HC & QB…..
did they make the playoffs?…..
it amazes me how folks pretend to be fans of the bucs but root for coaches that help guide us to a 5-11record with a #32ranked defense….
sounds like your a fan of dirk and smitty and not the bucs…..
but hey, be “Positive Pat”….lol…..you’ll eat crow soon enough….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
September 4th, 2018 at 3:19 pm
@813bucboi … “you’ll eat crow soon enough.” Glad you’ve got that to look forward to bucboi, although I’m convinced you’ll be disappointed. Must be wonderful being you.
September 4th, 2018 at 3:37 pm
Glad you’ve got that to look forward to
EXACTLY…..looking forward to a competent coaching staff taking over while you continue to look forward to excuses!!!!!!!!!!
im convinced the HC search will start earlier than expected…..
must suck being you……lol….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
September 4th, 2018 at 4:13 pm
I’m wondering if we can get Our DC Smitty to make a cameo appearance on the sidelines this year? His sittin in the booth theory for a better view is a croc of manure. Nobody thinks it adds up to much. But when you are not on the field holding your troops accountable, it says a lot about you.
September 4th, 2018 at 4:49 pm
The team is still starting Chris Conte and expecting Ryan Smith to be on the field. The only hope for the defense is that the rookies can replace those two guys, that alone would make them much better. However the Bucs also play in the NFC South, which means they’re facing extremely good offenses – they don’t get the 2000 Ravens cupcake schedule of playing an expansion team and teams that run the ball first and as such put up bad offensive numbers.
In any case if the Bucs defense, after all the changes, isn’t a lot better than Mike Smith should be fired well before the end of the season. OR, better, as I’ve said for nearly 2 years at this point, make Mike Smith the head coach, let him do what he has a record of doing extremely well (and that is coaching a team) and then hire a real DC who isn’t having his corners setting 15 yards off the line of scrimmage on 3rd and 5. Then move Dirk back to OC where he was really good – or if that hurts his pride too much then fire him and make Monkin the OC and let him run Dirk’s playbook. This literally provides the team with a massive upgrade across the board and can be done without going through yet another rebuild.
I hope Dirk proves me wrong and has the team prepared, learns how clock management works, remembers what a play action pass is before week 13, realizes running up the middle on every first down isn’t the key too success, but I’m taking a wait and see approach. The worst thing that could happen to this team and fanbase is to go through yet another rebuild. Winston is a franchise QB, the team still has all-pro’s at WR, LB and DT, they have enough talent to win, even in the NFC South, but running down the clock on players like David and McCoy, ugh, it’s just a waste.
September 4th, 2018 at 6:55 pm
Geez!
It sounds like some of y’all are hoping we lose just so you can say you know more than someone else
I appreciate the give and take, all the differing opinions
But… How many of you are really rooting for the Buc’s -vs- the ability to say “I told you so”
This is supposed to be a fan site and y’all have turned it into a pissing contest!
September 4th, 2018 at 7:44 pm
#GP
THANKS!!!
“This is supposed to be a fan site and y’all have turned it into a pissing contest!”
I’ve been making this observation for a long time now. But your writing is better than mine and you were able to condense it into a single sentence.
Well done sir!
September 4th, 2018 at 10:38 pm
So DR
You ARE Brian Billick?
It’s OK if you are, I certainly am not. Just figured your love for Smitty has to be a Family thing
No need to get your knickers in a twist.
September 5th, 2018 at 7:46 am
Not sure that this 32nd ranked defense can stay that low. Too many question marks to make any firm predictions:
Do the new DB’s play and upgrade secondary from horrible to average?
Do Beau Allen, Vinny Curry and JPP upgrade defensive line from horrible to average.
Does coaching staff figure out how to use a couple of fast-undersized linebackers to get more involved in pass rushing? Average to good?
All we are saying is average for Bucs defense is a giant step forward.
Exceptations have to be a middle-of-the-road defense and a top 10 offense for this to be a decent team to watch. Anything worse will be curtains for management and coaching.