Lovie Says He’s Watching Johnny Football

March 26th, 2014
johnny football 0314

The Bucs’ head coach talked about Blake Bortles, too.

Joe just finished breakfast with Lovie Smith at the NFL Owners Meetings in Orlando. (Poor Lovie, he was talking so much that he didn’t touch his Danish and fresh fruit.)

Lovie said he was heading directly from Orlando to watch Johnny Football’s Pro Day in Texas. Joe asked Lovie about what he takes away from watching a Pro Day, any Pro Day, and Lovie had plenty to say about Johnny specifically.

“I had a chance to watch [Johnny Football] a lot [during my time off last year,] Lovie said. “So you add all that up, to be able to talk to people that you trust that know each player. You use every tool that you can to make an evaluation. Just not that player, all players. What do I want to see? I want to see how he handles a different environment. He’s played in front of big crowds. He hasn’t had to perform on one day like this. This is a big day for him coming up, one of many.”

Lovie went on to day he was very impressed with University of Central Florida quarterback Blake Bortles, whose Pro Day he witnessed last week.

“A guy with a lot of potential, poise, young also, who has a bright future ahead of him. I haven’t seen anything that makes you say, “No,” or something you really don’t like about him,” Lovie said of Bortles.

Regarding what he expects from Johnny Football in the NFL, Lovie wasn’t afraid to call it as he sees it.

“Most outstanding players in college, a lot of them, end up being very good football players in the NFL. Football really is football. Some of the things he’s done, I know he’s not your typical prototype quarterback, drop back into the pocket, but there are a lot of quarterbacks doing very well in the league that aren’t your prototypical quarterback.”

Sometimes you get a vibe from a sit-down with a head coach, and Joe really felt Lovie was genuinely eager to add a quality quarterback in the draft, if the opportunity arises.

37 Responses to “Lovie Says He’s Watching Johnny Football”

  1. flmike Says:

    “Lovie was genuinely eager to add a quality quarterback”
    key word…”Quality”

  2. RCH Says:

    Bortles is the best QB in the draft we would be really lucky if he fell to us but that’s probably not going to happen.

  3. bucrightoff Says:

    Joe would probably go watch too, but that’s inside the restraining order limit.

  4. Eric Says:

    Exactly Lovie!

    Unfortunately after this kid performs tomorrow going to be harder to get him.

    Johnny football thrives on pressure. I’m predicting the ball won’t hit the ground.

    Super job Joe!

  5. WalkdaPlank Says:

    Anyone else notice the chick on the far right with a six pack? Watch out Johnny!

  6. Harry Says:

    “…What do I want to see? I want to see how he handles a different environment. He’s played in front of big crowds. He hasn’t had to perform on one day like this…”

    Hmmmm, I guess that would eliminate Bridgewater. LOL

  7. rayray1 Says:

    Value is the code word for S & L. They know they must be on the edge of the playoffs within 2 years. Picking a QB that may sit for 1-2 years has no value in achieving their goals. They’ll pound defense and find pieces that fit for the offense. Just like Lovie did in Chicago.

  8. Harry Says:

    I only watched one game of Bortles – I was not that impressed. But one game means nothing, I know. I would be so excited if L&L thought one of these guys was worthy of our 1st rd pick and took him. It would be the dawning of a new era for Bucs fans!

  9. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Johnny sure wants to let it be known that he likes girls….maybe hiding some latent stuff?…..just wondering!!!

  10. StAugBuc Says:

    Some athletes end up on the Wheaties box. I think JF more likely headed for the Lucky Charms cover.

  11. Snook Says:

    Can’t understand how anyone can hate on this kid.

    He’s a superstar in waiting…

  12. WalkdaPlank Says:

    @StAugBuc….LMAO!!!

  13. Dreambig Says:

    With our mystery up tempo offense, I am warming up to the idea of drafting JF. Not sure the new O suits Glennons style and McCown is maybe good for a year or two. JF Still seems like a gamble, his game might not translate, he could end up hanging at the crib with Mike Williams, but he might bring a fresh competitive edge we have been missing at QB for a very long time.

  14. Oil Derrick Brooks Says:

    When is the first glimpse of the offense? When are the first OTAs? Anyone?

  15. Lev Says:

    “Football really is football”
    -Lovie Smith

    Haha jk. I love me some Lovie!

  16. biff barker Says:

    Hearing Lovie gush over any QB not named Glennon must have puffed up your pastry Joe. LOL

  17. Lev Says:

    Based on the type of offense we will be running I bet Johnny Football will be high on our draft board. How you grade players is based on your schemes. If we are running a “Chip Kelly” offense then he would be the perfect fit.

  18. Macabee Says:

    Do the math!

    There are 6 teams picking before the Bucs, but only 4 can/will pick a QB. If each of them pick a QB, then 2 of Clowney, Robinson, Watkins or Mack will be there at #7.

    If 3 of them pick a QB, then 1 of the non-QB group will be there.

    If 2 of them pick a QB, then 2 of the top QBs will be there….and so on.

    Under any scenario above, If the Bucs choose to trade down, they will have willing trade partners for the available player/s at #7.

    Get the picture. Bucs win, no matter what!

  19. biff barker Says:

    Dreambig,
    Connect the dots. The Bucs core belief is that defense wins championships. QB pressure is the key to all great defenses.

    A mobile QB to evade the rush, going up tempo, using a moving pocket and speed in space are all effective countermeasures to the pass rush.

    Add the Glazers desire for a high powered offense and to sell seats too. The JFootball experiment may very well be a possibility.

  20. brandonbucfan Says:

    For all the talk about an uptempo offense did anyone hear Lovie this am at the owners meeting. “We plan on being a running football team first that will also throw the ball.” Doesn’t sound too up tempo to me. Better find a couple of starting guards. HOPING Nicks comes back as his former self still may be a dream. The top six six picking above us will make it a very interesting pick for us!

  21. biff barker Says:

    That’s the Dungyesque impose your will BS. The Offense got Dungy fired here. The Offense got Lovie fired there.
    You take what teams give you. Nothing more, nothing less.
    BTW, outdide of Nicks, we aren’t exactly set up to maul.

  22. Architek Says:

    In Lovie I Trust – not wanna be GMs.

  23. lightningbuc Says:

    “Sometimes you get a vibe from a sit-down with a head coach, and Joe really felt Lovie was genuinely eager to add a quality quarterback in the draft, if the opportunity arises.”

    ______________

    Sometimes a journalist gets so enamored with a certain person, that they actually hear things that aren’t really there, in the hopes the fantasized about person winds up in the journalist’s midst.

  24. Barry Says:

    I’m a MG8 mark. Having said that, JM would sell out RJS and Bucs would be talk of the town nationally.

  25. Erick Says:

    Im curious if both of the “Joes” are hoping Bucs take Johnny?

    The guy is a great football player and I would be excited if the Bucs drafted him. Anyone who hates on him is either jealous of his wealth or that he pulls like Broadway Joe (young namath, not creepy drunk namath).

  26. flmike Says:

    @Erick
    The reality of his “Wealth” is a myth, his Great Aunt and Uncle control the family money, his father is a GM of a car dealership (not their’s he’s an employee). His Grandfather Bobby Joe, has been indicted numerous times for fraud and other nefarious deeds and has also been connected to the Dixie Mafia. It’s a great story which I’m sure will be made into a made for TV movie by the NFL Network the day he’s drafted.

  27. Patrick Says:

    This team had the balls to draft Freeman, so they should definitely have the balls to take a chance on Manziel!

  28. Bucfan77. Says:

    Pride comes before a fall. Johnny pot is not going to be a buccaneer.

  29. Please Says:

    Don’t most teams want a QB a lot taller than the 10th grade girls he takes pics with?

  30. skipper Says:

    I agree with Eric and Snook, Manziel thrives under pressure, the guy is a winner. He won’t be just a star, I think he has the potential to be a superstar. The Glazers will be selling tickets, the fan interest will be off the charts and Johnny Football won’t disappoint.

  31. mark2001 Says:

    Doing due diligence…and maybe a nice “smoke screen”..time will tell.

  32. mark2001 Says:

    His height…so what is wrong with another Doug Flutie?

  33. JWBucs Says:

    I’m a fan of Joe and usually agree with him with the exception of these QB’s. I don’t doubt Johnny ‘s talent. I just don’t think they will be able to get him to slide and the way he runs around he’ll be out of the league in three years. He doesn’t have Vick’s speed to just run away from guys. He’ll get blown up by NFL players.

  34. Maze Says:

    If no Clowney or Watkins is sure as Hell better be Johnny Manziel

    Former MGM member out….

  35. Mike glennon mob boss Says:

    Glennon is a leader of men! He dominated a brutal ACC schedule with mediocre surrounding talent. Put Johnny on glennon’s nc st squad and we would have never heard of Johnny football! Glennon turned down sec offers because of his superior intelligence and talent!!

  36. Joe Says:

    Glennon is a leader of men! He dominated a brutal ACC schedule with mediocre surrounding talent. Put Johnny on glennon’s nc st squad and we would have never heard of Johnny football! Glennon turned down sec offers because of his superior intelligence and talent!!

    That’s some beautiful trolling.

  37. JoeBucsFan.com » Blog Archive » No Stock Placed In Johnny’s Pro Day - Tampa Bay Bucs Blog Says:

    […] So dazzling or discouraging, sizzling or sorry, precise or painful, Joe will put no stock in Johnny Football’s Pro Day today, even if Lovie Smith says it’s important, as he told Joe yesterday. […]