The Mike Smith Knocks Keep Coming
January 18th, 2017
Yes, the Falcons canned Dirk Koetter and Mike Smith two years ago and will return to the NFC Championship game on Sunday.
That’s got to be a bit of an ego stomp on the new Bucs leaders.
A further groin slap came yesterday when the subject of Smith’s too-soft Falcons arose again.
Atlanta general manager Thomas Dimitroff explained to TheMMQB.com (via ProFootballTalk.com) that the purging of “soft souls” from the Smith regime helped transform the team back to being a winner.
“We all can be swayed, and that has happened to us,” Dimitroff said. “Basically, we’re trying to limit the soft souls on our football team. We figured this was a way to do that. You can have players that come in that are really good, but if they don’t possess competitiveness and toughness, then we’re not playing the urgent type of football that we need to be playing. That’s where we were.”
There was more to the story, but this is nothing new. Smith’s team (and Koetter’s) was criticized for going “soft” after it reached the NFC title game during the 2012 season.
It’s interesting that, in 2014, Smith hired former Bucs and Schiano-man defensive line coach Bryan Cox, known for his in-your-face style. Cox was one of the few coaches retained by new Falcons head coach Dan Quinn, who also hired Raheem Morris to be his right-hand man.
But it’s also worth noting that these new Falcons tolerated one of the great loaf sequences of all-time from one of their new, tough-guy players, former Bucs DE Adrian Clayborn. It was loaf city by Clayborn and other Falcons last year on the famous 3rd-and-19 conversion by America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston.
How does a team claiming it’s tough sanction that kind of softness?
Regardless, Joe believes the Bucs are on the right track when it comes to player attitude, and they should need just one more offseason to rid themselves of the guys who were the targets of Robert Ayers’ bullying in November.
January 18th, 2017 at 9:00 am
The demise of the Falcons was the drafting of Julio Jones. Long term a great investment…short term a disaster after giving up FIVE draft picks including TWO NUMBER ONES!
Dimitroff is the reason the Falcons went into the tank yet I doubt he’ll look in the freaking mirror.
Is having the best WR in football really worth two first rounders and a five picks overall? Even now that’s JJ has proven his greatness I still have many doubts.
It certainly stripped the Falcons for a few years. I do not ever want the Bucs to tank 2 or three years for a single player…even QB…much less WR.
January 18th, 2017 at 9:07 am
I don’t recall Smith or Koetter making a single tackle that year. Place the blame where it should be.
January 18th, 2017 at 9:08 am
Speaking of useless soft souls Licht has his work cut out for him getting rid of 93… Bucs will never win a big game or contend consistently until Soft Serv is gone… Mentally weak and soft players with nice smiles are the worst type of locker room cancers.
January 18th, 2017 at 9:09 am
Queue the annoying and unintelligent GMC haters
January 18th, 2017 at 9:13 am
Teams do look soft, when they lose their run game, and their best pass-rusher falls off/ retires!!!!!!!!! Too many coaches get blamed for a roster that has not been stacked by the gm/ player evaluation dept!!!!! That is why its hard too tell how good/bad rah and Coach Schiano were because the popstar was the gm and no one can win under those conditions!!!!!!!
Go America!!!!!!!!!
Go Joebucsfan!!!!!
And GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 18th, 2017 at 9:17 am
Weak Tea from Dimitroff to deflect the horrible drafts they saddled Smith with his last few years! Go Packers!
January 18th, 2017 at 9:19 am
Ayeee, completely unrelated to the topic, but shout out to NosBos and all you other Fsu homers who want Dalvin Cook or bust.
I really hope you listened to the commish this morning.
If you didnt, I just wanted you to know that the player you guys are pining for, is a 5’11 210 pound back with MULTIPLE shoulder surgeries..
3 years of extremely high usage in college were not kind to your boys body. And the NFL beating that RB’s endure is even more harsh.
Hard pass my g. Idc if every other player I want is gone by 19 and Dalvin is still there.
I’d use our 1st rounder on Mixon before i’d take Cook.
January 18th, 2017 at 9:21 am
Always convenient to shift the blame to departed players and coaches.
January 18th, 2017 at 9:23 am
Jolly Bucs
Please explain to me the games gmc has taken over or made an impact play when it matters I’ll give the play when She grabbed little Matty Ryan’s ankle like a chiluhala in heat.
Your soft fragile former face of the franchise has made about 5 big plays in 7 years.
Bucs need tough football players not soft serv salesman… The only thing that will make last season “Special” is if it is soft serv’s
last as a buc. The losing culture will not change until the leading loser is gone.
January 18th, 2017 at 9:25 am
Come on, people. Every one of us called them soft back then…because they WERE soft. Let’s not rewrite history. Tampa fans were one of the most verbally abusive of them.
But this is not Mike Smith’s team. It is Dirk Koetter’s team. This team is not soft. If anything, it is getting tougher and tougher. It isn’t at the top yet, but it is getting there.
January 18th, 2017 at 9:31 am
Blake – no need to take Mixon in the first, no one is taking him in the 1st
January 18th, 2017 at 9:34 am
All I know is the Falcons better finish. Shanahan is as good as gone and they will get blasted if they fail again just like the Panthers did last year.
I totally expect them to regress next season without their OC who was the biggest reason for their success. Not to mention we will be improved, saints still have Drew, and the panthers….well nevermind, I hope/think they’ll suck again.
January 18th, 2017 at 9:45 am
Atl hasn’t changed that much since Smith was fired. Plus their D is still ranked in the bottom of the league. They only won 11 games. ($hit we won 9 and we stink) Their O is carrying them. Come SB time is when Offensive teams are usually dominated by better D’s. Happens eveytime….
January 18th, 2017 at 10:02 am
@ R.O.
We don’t stink bro. You know for the last decade I would have agreed with you. Basically since 2003 with the exception of a couple of decent season sprinkled in but for the first time in a long time I can confidently say we do not stink anymore.
You sound like Kobe man. Step it up.
January 18th, 2017 at 10:13 am
The GMC haters have become so boring. They are so desperate to have others see things their way. It’s really pretty funny.
January 18th, 2017 at 10:36 am
Hey Blake there was another RB that came out of college with shoulders concerns. What was his name again, oh that’s right Adrian Peterson! Give it up man, your wrong deal with it!
January 18th, 2017 at 10:49 am
It’s kind of funny Dimitroff catches no heat when their biggest issues were deteriorating talent. Even funnier he is saying this sh1t now like he was some kind of master mind lol…
I hope they lose to GB now. F*ck the falcons
January 18th, 2017 at 10:53 am
Hmmm so you’re telling me, that 210 pound Dalvin, is in the same category as a proven freak of nature, who came back stronger than ever after destroying both his Acl and mcl, who also happens to be taller and weighs more.
Not to mention that Ap’s running still is much more physical than Cooks.
Dalvim doesnt truck anybody, and still needed multiple surgeries.
Solid argument bro…
Im callimg it now. Dalvin Cook will be known as an injury prone player in 3 years or less. #nextDarrenMcfadden
January 18th, 2017 at 10:55 am
Ndog let’s not compare anyone to Peterson. No crediblity with that one. AP could have been a paraplegic for 7 years of high school and he still somehow would have found a way to rush for 2k
January 18th, 2017 at 11:18 am
Why would any success driven person feel an ego stomp because Atlanta is going to the title game? koetter is on the rise so why in earth is he focused on the team that fired him two years ago if in actually he probably thanks them because it led to him becoming an NFL head coach. No wonder koetter keeps talking shots at you guys sometimes logic doesn’t play a part in the article, reporting news you guys are the best but when you start giving opinions like this you go off the deep end. The same has been said about our team, Smith and koetter didn’t make them tough, they were simply coached up. If you get to this level as a player and are considered soft that doesn’t change according to who’s coaching
The logic of an insecure male
January 18th, 2017 at 11:19 am
Every single NFL talking head, player and coach
Bucs fans
Hmm, I wonder who I will listen to first…
January 18th, 2017 at 11:23 am
So the smith falcons made the conference championship. And this dan Quinn falcons is in the conference championship. So why are they ripping smiths team for doing exactly the same thing that this team has accomplished?
January 18th, 2017 at 11:42 am
I can think of a soft soul on our defense who needs to be purged. Initials are GMC! Before anyone responds to me negatively it was spoken by a winning GM mouth not mine!
January 18th, 2017 at 11:47 am
Hey Blake would you take a back that get you 1500+ all purpose yards and 13 TDs a year?
January 18th, 2017 at 11:51 am
So let me get this straight tmax….. Because GMC is on the roster, we won’t win? I’ve never seen a team totally fold because of 1 player. But then again, this comes from the keyboard warrior that said after Martin hurt his hammy, wouldn’t play a meaningful snap the rest of the season, to then say Martin ruined the season for the team because of his problems. Oh let’s not forget my favorite. Glennon would be out of the league in 2yrs. Well there’s still 19 months left on that one.
January 18th, 2017 at 12:03 pm
You can have players that come in that are really good, but if they don’t possess competitiveness and toughness, then we’re not playing the urgent type of football that we need to be playing.
———————-
Hmmm interesting!!!! Does that mean making plays on 3rd and 4 rather than jumping offsides? Does that mean making a play on the goalline rather than getting driven back into the end zone? Does that mean making more than just one play in the 1st half? Does that mean showing up on the stat sheet during your biggest game of the year? Nah, probably not. Am I right?
I know what it DOES NOT mean, it doesn’t mean popping your shoulder back into place WHILE on the field AND continuing to play and pressure qbs and tackle runners. This behavior can not be encouraged, it’s just way too savage.
January 18th, 2017 at 12:08 pm
Softie McSoftie says pay me my 13mil while I sit and watch from the trainers table no wait better yet I’ll watch from the field.
#WatchFromTheField
January 18th, 2017 at 12:09 pm
@BucBeliever
Before anyone responds to me negatively it was spoken by a winning GM mouth not mine!
I realize as a former journalist I can be picky. But attribution is your friend. I read stuff with the proverbial, unnamed sources, and I just glaze over.
And so IMHO your post would be more effective if you named the “supposed winning NFL GM who called GMC soft”.
Just sayin’.
January 18th, 2017 at 12:14 pm
@ Buc Believer – please cite the quote of a GM saying GMC is soft and needs to be released. I am very curious!
January 18th, 2017 at 12:16 pm
Dimitroff did the drafting,
I live in ATL, during the offseason this community wanted him on the first train smoking out of here, I think a lot of his drafting this year was because of how the Bucs beat their arse last year, he saw Kwon and wet out and got Deion Jones
January 18th, 2017 at 12:17 pm
If you are tying in the Falcons GM quote and attributing it to GMC that would be some dumba$$ poster saying he is soft. You sir are not a GM!
January 18th, 2017 at 12:20 pm
@ndog
Cant tell if you’re talking about Cook or Mccafery.
And i’ve let been known multiple times now dude.
College stats aint worth Jack Dookey when it comes to predicting Nfl success. And they don’t sway me one bit.
January 18th, 2017 at 12:24 pm
@bonzai…your right…they were soft….GO BUCS!!!!!
January 18th, 2017 at 12:27 pm
Here you go TDTB and Mr. Pete
I think we’re making too many excuses,” McCoy said.
You know it’s bad when he himself calls himself soft!!! Lmao
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/11750569/tampa-bay-buccaneers-dt-gerald-mccoy-says-team-defense-soft
January 18th, 2017 at 12:28 pm
Um – didn’t the Falcon’s GM draft those “soft souls”???? LOL
SPBFs post up top is exactly what went wrong with the Falcons and was the prime reason the team was not very good for 3 years and why Smith lost his job.
January 18th, 2017 at 12:30 pm
More? Ok here you go….
https://www.joebucsfan.com/2015/11/i-am-not-a-huge-fan-of-gerald-mccoy/
January 18th, 2017 at 12:33 pm
EVERYBODY in the NFL has respect for GMC. Idk what they hater are talking about. Show me one person that’s ever said anything beg, EVER!?!?!?!?!
https://www.google.com/amp/www.bucsnation.com/platform/amp/2014/10/15/6985585/warren-sapp-says-he-almost-threw-up-at-gerald-mccoy-helping-up-a?client=safari
January 18th, 2017 at 12:36 pm
St Pete Buc fan… if you read my post carefully you will see I did not say he mentioned anyone by name. I simply stated he called some players and coaches soft souls his words not mine. There is no way that anyone can deny McCoy is not a soft soul. He is a good person I will give you that. He is a gentle person a good Christian man and a wonderful family man as well. He lacks the killer instinct the nastiness and attitude and the kick them in the nuts and spit in their face as you step on them attitude that this defense needs. We need him to be more like Sapp not Billy Grahm.
January 18th, 2017 at 12:41 pm
Are you not entertained? Is this not why you are here?
Here’s a two fer one for ya…
https://www.joebucsfan.com/2015/10/derrick-brooks-says-gerald-mccoy-is-not-playing-well-right-now/
January 18th, 2017 at 12:46 pm
Another thread hijacked by the same idiots with the same idiotic theories, smh.
January 18th, 2017 at 12:48 pm
BucBeliever
But that’s exactly what I was talking about….if you’re going to state an NFL GM called GMC soft..you should put that name to it.
I fear you may have used Dimitroffs words…which are not directed at all towards GMC but rather the old Falcons teams coached by Smith.
I’m with Celly on this one. Can any of the GMC haters back it up with any professional opinions? Bottom line is exactly what Celly said…
Do we believe the vast majority of NFL GM’s/Coaches/players…or do we believe a small but I concede significant minority of Bucs fans?
Now if anybody can find an NFL exec bad mouth GMC please share it.
January 18th, 2017 at 1:01 pm
DB55
Props for at least bringing some more opinion to that GMC debate.
Derrick Brooks Says Gerald McCoy “Is Not Playing Well Right Now”
I don’t think I’ve read anybody here who is putting up GMC for HOF.
And certainly he’s had good times and bad. Can you say LVD…are we going to chuck him. #3 has had a couple of slumps.
Bottom line…show me the money and stats.
The league simply is no longer getting the sacks from the DT position. Last year marked the sea change that has taken place. Linebackers occupied six of the top ten sack leaders with DE’s in the other four.
The first DT on the board is Geno Atkins at 20th!!! He had 9 sacks. The next two DT’s Aaron Donald and Calais Campbell each had 8 and GMC had 7.
Are we really going to split hairs over one sack. Who is on the DL with Donald or Campbell.
NO DT got double digits…the league is evolving and at least last year the pressure seemed to come off the edge with LB’s and DE’s.
GMC is a very good DT…not great. We can use all the very good players we can get because no team is loaded with great players. E.G. Aaron Rodgers is GREAT.
Jordy Nelson is only very good.
January 18th, 2017 at 1:02 pm
I forget that we’re living in the non-factual era where even if you provide PROOF in the man’s own words it’s still not good enough, believable or the truth.
#ILoveWhenYouLieToMe
January 18th, 2017 at 1:09 pm
St Pete
Just providing proof not opinion how if he’s soft. He called the def soft, king called him soft, Sapp “almost threw up” bc of how daft he is and even Brooks who don’t bad mouth anyone said he’s not playing well i.e. Cuz he’s soft but Brooks too professional to use that word.
Simeon Rice said he’s not competitive and only makes play when it doesn’t really count. Which sounds eerily similar to what the “haters” say. Read the posted articles.
#NotMyWords
January 18th, 2017 at 1:26 pm
The day the Bucs get rid of McCoy, the hole in the heart of the Bucs Defence is gonna be Huuuuggggeee!
January 18th, 2017 at 1:34 pm
St Pete Bucs fan: I only bash McCoy because of McCoy himself. His contract is 98 million dollars. Think about that 98 million! Now before you or anyone else think it is because of the money he makes it is not. It is because in the 7 years as a pro he has an average of 1.5 tackles per game and also .40 sacks per game. Those are hard facts to face! If you don’t believe me check the stats yourself. And then the icing on the cake is his negative attitude last year when Jamis came on bored and this year his celebration over a 9-7 year. I don’t want to be down on any Buc! I live and breath the Bucs! If he steps up and performs and stops being a whiner he will be out of a lot of Buc fans dog house. And PLEASE stop with the nonsense that coaches and players like him. I’m not interested in a popularity contest I want results.
January 18th, 2017 at 1:53 pm
Lol, I love poking holes in the fanboys arguements. It’s fun!!! Talking to you Hawaii. Lmao.
January 18th, 2017 at 4:52 pm
Tmax is obsessed with McCoy, so much so that its sad. Pitiful that you can’t read any article whatsoever without throwing salt at our god-fearing, non-hating, money-making, respect-showing, Pro Bowl earning defensive team captain. Pitiful.
January 18th, 2017 at 5:04 pm
It sounds like he is criticizing the players more than the coaches. Coaching has little to do with the passion and fire that player has. Sure some coaches can get more out of their players, but I don’t think that is what he is referring to. I think he is talking about the dudes that only show up for a pay check. Not taking shots at former coaches. Jmo
January 18th, 2017 at 5:27 pm
True Buc fan you got my point exactly.
January 18th, 2017 at 5:30 pm
I’m pretty sure Koetter wasn’t fired.. They hadn’t hired Quin yet and Koetter wasn’t waiting around to find out if he was getting fired or not. Minor tidbit
January 19th, 2017 at 8:40 am
I just had to throw in how hilarious it was that this guy said averaging .4 sacks a game for a DT is not a good thing lol.
I get the McCoy hate. His personality is more in-tune with golf. I mean even Michael Phelps, a swimmer has more passion/aggression it seems.
The fact remains there are not many DTs in the league that are better than McCoy. That’s the truth. His production has looked underwhelming for the simple fact that he’s had Adrian Clayborn, George Johnson, Michael Johnson, etc for most of his career at DE which isn’t the greatest supporting cast.
I fully anticipate adding more pieces on the line and for McCoy to have one of his best season this year.
January 19th, 2017 at 9:46 am
Eric read the post and look at the stats… I said .40 sacks per game… that is POINT ZERO FOUR!!!!! If he had four sacks a game on average there would be NO COMPLAINTS! Sheesh you read about as well as McCoy gets to the quarterback.