Gerald McCoy Heartily Endorses Mike Smith
February 6th, 2018
Gerald McCoy hears the Smith bashers
It’s been a rough couple of years for Mike Smith. His 2016 Bucs defense allowed the 17th-most points in the NFL. Not shabby at all. But last year things crashed.
Tampa Bay allowed the 11th-most points in the league.
That’s moving in the wrong direction, and it was complemented by the Bucs giving up the most yards in the NFL … and having the fewest sacks .. and allowing opposing QBs to complete 67.6 percent of their passes … among other troubles.
But it’s status woe quo for last season’s Tampa Bay defensive coaching staff, which is fully intact.
Former Pro Bowl linebacker Bart Scott played under Smith in Baltimore and is a big fan. On WFAN-AM in New York last week, he talked to Gerald McCoy about Smith.
Scott wanted to know what McCoy thinks of him and why he wasn’t pursued as a head coach candidate this year.
“I love Smitty, man,” McCoy said. “The thing about Smitty is he’s straight-forward. He’s going to keep it real with you and he just wants to win. Smitty is a mad scientist, you know, always have great ideas. I look forward to playing for him, continuing to play for him. …
“Our defense wasn’t as good this past year so it’s like [people are saying], ‘Oh, well, maybe he can’t get a group of men to come together.’ No. Listen, the thing about us this year is we just didn’t execute. The players, us as a whole, did not execute well enough, man. Smitty always puts great game plans together. You know how Smitty is (laughs), he’s straight-forward. All he wants to do is win. You tell jokes; you joke with Smitty, and he’ll laugh for half a second and it’s back to business.”
Powerful endorsement there of Smith, who is a good man with a bad defense.
It’s just so hard to comprehend how a team with exceptional linebackers was anemic on the blitz and not very good against the run last year, and Lavonte David only managed one pass breakup all season.
February 6th, 2018 at 1:24 pm
Of course one loser endorses another loser what else can you expect?
February 6th, 2018 at 1:31 pm
So McCoy admits he was sandbagging and playing like stir-fried dog turds.
February 6th, 2018 at 1:38 pm
This “endorsement” took a while.
February 6th, 2018 at 1:42 pm
Here’s a “joke for Smitty” and GMC:
YOUR DEFENSE…….
February 6th, 2018 at 1:55 pm
Mike Smith was awarded NFL coach of the year 3 times in the last 10 years. Anyone who thinks that a bad 2017 season = Smith forgot how to coach or be successful in the NFL is probably being just a tad reactionary.
February 6th, 2018 at 1:56 pm
Of course he does he told “smitty” he aint moving to DE in the 3-4 and smitty amd koetter agreed, thus keeping the bucs in LOOOOOOSERVILLE
February 6th, 2018 at 2:02 pm
Soft Ice Cream …for a soft defense
February 6th, 2018 at 2:17 pm
So basically your saying you all sucked for no good reason last year
I’ve actually just learned this off-season that it’s best to time to gmc out and take nothing he says seriously. So we’re the reports of him complaint about his role and how he was being used a lie? Stupid dude and he just needs to retire and go into show business already. Here’s a walking contradiction
February 6th, 2018 at 2:22 pm
Ohhh Boy-yee!! You know, I’ve defended GMC for quite some time. But its time for him to shut…His Piehole and concentrate on the upcoming season. Enough is enough GMC. If you are not careful..You are gonna be shipped out of town along with Koetter and Smitty after next season.
February 6th, 2018 at 2:22 pm
Of course McCoy likes a coach that lets him dance around like a clown on the field and pretend he’s a comic book character instead of actually getting things done on the field. Players love lack of accountability, especially on a team with a losing culture like the Bucs.
February 6th, 2018 at 2:22 pm
GMC was supposed to change his leadership per himself and criticism from pro bowl player. Complacency. Of course he wants Smitty back. No accountability.
February 6th, 2018 at 2:25 pm
GMC is elite.
He is also poised and knows how to make those around him look good in an interview. Hard to read too munch into that.
GO BUCS…
February 6th, 2018 at 2:29 pm
Have to agree with Mike Johnson on this. He needs to shut up. In fact, everybody needs to shut up. I think we’ve all heard enough lip service! This is football, it’s not rocket science. Just play!
February 6th, 2018 at 2:34 pm
Pickgrin
How dare you bring up FACTS on an opinion blog. LOL
February 6th, 2018 at 2:38 pm
Playing your corners 15 yards off the line of scrimmage on 3rd and 4… I’m not sure I get how that’s good play calling when again and again teams would just throw a 5 yard out and pick up the easy first down. Also playing your corner 15 yards off the line of scrimmage and then showing you’re brining a blitz – that just allows the QB to know his read before the snap and again just toss it to the guy who is wide open since the corners are playing way off the ball. I thought the defensive play calling for the most part was horrific. The Bucs defense gave up the most points per opponent drive – meaning when teams got the ball against the defense they scored, but the Bucs offense actually kept that scoring down by having a good amount of ball control.
February 6th, 2018 at 2:43 pm
“Smitty always puts great game plans together.”….So not matching up Julio Jones with Brent Grimes, was a good decision?
February 6th, 2018 at 2:57 pm
When asked about the execution of his team, John McKay replied “I am all for it”
“Just didn’t execute” NS Sherlock.
February 6th, 2018 at 3:30 pm
im keeping track of all the excuses or “reasons” why we finished 5-11
Hard Knocks
Irma
No Bye Week
SOS
Injuries
Lack of talent
Dirks 2nd year
Lack of Pass Rush
Lack of Run Game
Winston is still young
Lovie
Dom
and now its ” Lack of execution”…….keep em coming…..maybe one day we’ll hold people accountable…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!…..GO BUCS!!!!!
February 6th, 2018 at 3:35 pm
813bucboi – You should keep a list of all the times you say something boring, then after reading the list and realizing you’re a dullard you should do the honorable thing.
God bless.
February 6th, 2018 at 3:35 pm
You’re going to run out of room 813. They’re not done yet. It was probably an El Nino year!
February 6th, 2018 at 3:51 pm
Somebody here said it beautifully. Thanks Lamarcus. NO ACCOUNTABILITY. Why wouldn’t you luv Mike Smith huh? He sets way up on his perch in the pressbox. You don’t have to face him on the field with your No Defense playing. So, you just say to yourself, Its OK. Smitty ain’t here. I’ll see him in team meeting come Monday. Everybody loves Mike Smith. Players and opposition.
February 6th, 2018 at 4:01 pm
ROD
you’ve made up 1/4 of the list!!!!!…..truth hurts huh…..keep em coming!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!…..GO BUCS!!!!!
February 6th, 2018 at 4:04 pm
Mike Johnson Says:
February 6th, 2018 at 3:51 pm
Somebody here said it beautifully. Thanks Lamarcus. NO ACCOUNTABILITY.
^^BINGO^^
maybe folks like rod can try defining accountability because they sure as hell don’t know what it is…..never seen, heard or smelled accountability…..SMDH….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!…..GO BUCS!!!!
February 6th, 2018 at 4:18 pm
813bucboi – Aren’t you the dope that was saying you are what your record says you are and then I pointed out the Bucs went 9-7 last season and yet they weren’t 9-7 this season, didn’t you then you drop that boring tagline? You’re a bore – a dullard, the type of person that reads a bumper sticker and repeats it to others like it was your own original thought. That’s you. LOL!
February 6th, 2018 at 4:21 pm
The Bucs defense was doomed before the season started. When Jason Licht refused to address the needs on the Defensive Front and the Secondary.
February 6th, 2018 at 4:35 pm
Pickgrin
If he so good why did he get fired? Why did the owner say he def was soft? Why come the next 2 yrs after his departure the ATL def looked far from soft even with Adrian Clayborn as the starting DE? Why come ATL been to Super Bowl and P.O. since Mike Smith “coach of the year” left ATL?
Why come huh huh, Inquirying minds want to know?
And I agree with the rest of the comments: Birds of a feather flock together. McIceCream ran of Schiano with the same gumption except he was saying (crying crying) we already knows he cries a lot ” this guy is a meanie and he yells at us I want him fired”.
February 6th, 2018 at 4:39 pm
Maybe that’s the problem. We have a player friendly coach (Raheem Morris) and what we need is a Bill Cowher – Bill Parcells type. The one where when the player messes up on the field as they come off the field they stare at the ground afraid to look in the direction of the coach, and they know that the coach is burning holes right through them. Haven’t seen that style of coaching in years, that is more than accountability, it is expectations. The coach establishes his expectations and then enforces them in practice, so the player adheres to them during the game. Koetter and Smitty are clueless.
February 6th, 2018 at 4:41 pm
LakeLand Says:
February 6th, 2018 at 4:21 pm
The Bucs defense was doomed before the season started. When Jason Licht refused to address the needs on the Defensive Front and the Secondary.
Oh yes he did…..he brought in that superstar Baker….LOL!
February 6th, 2018 at 5:04 pm
Chris Baker is a 3-4 DE. He made a lot of plays for Washington at that position. But he’s not a 4-3 NT, the Bucs would have been better, if they had re-signed Akeem Spence.
February 6th, 2018 at 5:08 pm
Yup…and I heartily endorse testicular piercings!
February 6th, 2018 at 5:10 pm
Pickgrin
Really? Are you talking about Sporting News head coach of the year? A magazine gave smitty it every other year for a bit, good for him. The thing is he is not a head coach now. Id feel much better if smith was the hc and dirk was o coordinator. Smith isnt a terrible game and clock manager. He has not been a good d coordinator here tho. So youre saying he didnt forget how to be a head coach? Not sure why that matters here in tampa.
February 6th, 2018 at 5:16 pm
Im sorry not dealing with Chris Baker from day one is too much for me to over come and say Mike Smith did a good job last year. It was clear the players either don’t respect him, listen to him, trust him, or want to play for him. There is no way a team that respects their leader or wants that leader to succeed allows a pier to do the things that both Baker and Ward did this year. Everyone knows I am a Winston guy but we did not have players acting on offense the way the did on defense. I believe that is mainly they believe in their leader being Jameis so much so they are willing to get suspended to defend him even when he was in the wrong (which I don’t think we was BTW). But Baker/Ward said and did whatever they wanted to all year long which lead a very undisciplined defense both in execution and effort. The problem I have with Mike Smith and his staff is that he knew he did not have any players stepping up and holding their peers accountable and he still did nothing to stop it. That is a clear sign of poor coaching and cannot be overlooked.
February 6th, 2018 at 5:20 pm
rod
what the hell are you talking about?…..no make no sense…lol….
boy, you can really tell who the excuse makers are!!!!!….glad their showing their ugly heads(rod munch)….lol….
you are what your record says you are…..your the dumbass that kept saying the bucs were 9-7 last year…..ok that’s all fine and dandy…but what about this season(2017)….that’s when you spewed out every excuses under the sun…..
this staff has underachieved point blank period……luckily 2018 will be the last year they underachieve…..
your the dumb ass who keeps talking about 2016….which has proven to be a fluke season…..
but I guess im the only one that uses the phrase” you are what your record says you are”…..ok…right….
I got my pen and paper for the next excuse you make……keep em coming….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
February 6th, 2018 at 5:25 pm
AND THE WINNER IS:…..NDOG!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NDOG SAYS: The problem I have with Mike Smith and his staff is that he knew he did not have any players stepping up and holding their peers accountable and he still did nothing to stop it. That is a clear sign of poor coaching and cannot be overlooked.
^^^^^^BINGO^^^^^^
@rod
you see that comment right there…..ACCOUNTABILITY…..research it….learn it….practice it……it could help you once you become a man……
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!!…..GO BUCS!!!!!!
February 6th, 2018 at 5:27 pm
The question is, has Licht heard all of the McCoy bashers? I’m real about GMC and see him for what he is: not a HOFer but a very good DT who will get you 8 sacks a year and plenty of tackles for loss. He’s not the firey leader and he talks about himself way too much, but he’s a top 5-10 DT in terms of play. I don’t expect him to be Sapp, that’s like the Jameis bashers expecting perfection every play. What I will say is that maybe Licht should explore trading GMC while he’s got something left in the tank. Belichick does this all of the time and it usually works out. I’d like McCoy to stay, but we might still be able to get a high pick ( and don’t put words in my mouth. I mean a late first to Rd 3, not a high first rounder) and start rebuilding the D line for the future. If we could get a second round pick for him, I’d jump on that.
February 6th, 2018 at 5:43 pm
@Joe … “Powerful endorsement there of Smith, who is a good man with a bad defense.” You’ve got me skittish now Joe, I’m not sure how to take that given your past criticisms of Smitty. ‘Good man with a bad defense?” Is that anything like ‘Smitty is a decent DC who the Bucs’ GM gave close to zero support to’? I could buy that. This defense isn’t even remotely close; needs a major rework. Compare any of the top-performing 2017 defenses with our Bucs’ defense, position group by position group, and our defense is underwhelming (being kind there).
And BTW, that includes our LB corps. Yes it is our best position group, but it’s not nearly as good as you tout it to be. Beckwith’s a rookie, and he played like a rookie (ups and downs), plus he’s playing out of position (he’s a MLB, not an outside LB). Kwon isn’t the super-charged leader that you continually make him out to be … too many ‘mistakes’ (not getting off blocks, biting on misdirections too easily, etc) plus he’s also playing out of position (he’s not as good as a MLB as you make him out to be Joe, but he would probably be awesome on the outside). Lavonte is a beast … great instincts, but my gut tells me he’s being used to cover up for other players’ weaknesses, instead of being allowed to ‘roam free’. This Bucs’ defense has a LONG way to go to get back to the glory days.
February 6th, 2018 at 5:58 pm
Not hard to imagine at all, Joe. When you have almost nothing everywhere else, the linebackers can’t get to the QB.
Not only were the DEs horrible at getting sacks, but they were horrible at blocking for the blitzers.
Simple as that.
February 6th, 2018 at 6:36 pm
McCoy is a company guy…..he’s smart and wants to cash premium checks. The dude never is negative about anyone….not Raheem….not Schiano….not Lovie….not Smitty. That’s not his style and to be frank, most players aren’t going to bad mouth coaches because those coaches could make or break you landing on another roster. The guys that hang around the league for extended careers understand the professionalism that comes with being a player.
Now….with that being said…..does McCoy chirp “off the record” to particular media outlets. Possibly…and that’s probably why nobody criticizes him. He’s a pro’s pro at all aspects of pro football.
February 6th, 2018 at 6:57 pm
@Rod. It seemed Smitty, a man that has never coached a good defense, always had his corners 15 yards off of receivers. The few times Smitty brought the corners up and pressed, amazingly they blanketed the receivers. The problem is he typically only did that when he blitzed and the opposing RB or TE were wide open as the blitz got nowhere near the QB. Insanity is doing the same thing and continuing to fail. All I have heard about is how complicated Smitty’s defense is but all I see is a predictable defense that other QB’s also find predictable. I know Smitty’s a good dude and I have absolutely nothing against the guy away from the field, but I think he stinks like my Great Danes turd piles at coaching a defense.
February 6th, 2018 at 7:23 pm
813bucboi – I think you’re confused about things, I don’t actually play nor coach the team, thus it’s impossible for me to hold the players and coaches “accountable”. Glad I could clear that up, maybe now that you better understand the situation you’ll say less boring things.
We’re all praying for you.
God bless.
February 6th, 2018 at 7:31 pm
cmurda – Agreed, the guy seems to just not be able to figure it on defense. He was a good head coach and it’s disappointing they don’t promote him so he can directly help Dirk run the team and then hire a real DC.
February 6th, 2018 at 7:54 pm
Seems I am one of the few Bucs fans who thinks there’s a more than reasonable chance that the efforts of GM Licht and Coach Mike Smith could result in a greatly improved Buccaneers Defense in 2018.
We shall see won’t we…
February 6th, 2018 at 8:08 pm
Sign Malcom Butler!!!!…. Houston and DeAndre Hopkins are already recruiting him!!!!…
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!…..GO BUCS!!!!!
February 6th, 2018 at 9:02 pm
Indy needs a coach, maybe they’ll come calling for Smith.
February 6th, 2018 at 9:20 pm
DB55
Dimitroff and the Falcons traded away FIVE draft picks to get Julio Jones.
Obviously now that they’re through the suffering that caused they’re more than happy with JJ.
But it gutted their draft for a couple of years and it really damaged them creating an obvious lack of talent on the defensive side of the ball. Basically the JJ draft swap cost Smitty his job.
February 6th, 2018 at 9:29 pm
Fair! But it’s an excuse nevertheless.
February 6th, 2018 at 9:39 pm
Call for Smitty…. They already have a lousy defense….. Their trying to get better….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
February 6th, 2018 at 9:40 pm
The Falcons defensive problems started when John Abraham left.
February 6th, 2018 at 9:45 pm
I have never seen a good defense that didn’t have a pass rush. You can have good Linebackers, good secondary players. But they are nothing without that pass rush. The Falcons should have had someone in position to replace John Abraham. Smart teams keep good pass rushers.
February 6th, 2018 at 10:08 pm
It’s gonna be alright. Sure this year sucked. Let us see how 2018 season plays out. I’m talking me (old fart) and the old lady season ticket holders for 7 years and have been vested since Vinny Interceptaverde was drafted at the old sombrero. Come on boys….let’s stick with the game plan. We were really close on most games. For once let’s see some sunshine thrown towards the Joes……………….
February 6th, 2018 at 10:08 pm
Just once……..
February 6th, 2018 at 10:11 pm
Lakeland you are true to that point…………we desperately need EDGE
February 6th, 2018 at 10:11 pm
Same Coach Same GM Same qb same record 5-11
February 6th, 2018 at 10:13 pm
Enough said Mr. Bobby. Nough said…
February 6th, 2018 at 10:46 pm
So “we” fans want the coaches to go because they can not make adjustments during the game, yet nearly every defensive player says the same things, it was not the coaching it was “us” players who did not execute the plays called. So who is to say that the coaches didn’t make in game adjustments and the players just did not execute them? This is sounding like a broken record. When do we hold the players accountable? Are they not the ones on the field hearing the plays called and th n executing these called plays? But our coach.. Our GM…. Our owners… When do we ever get to the players?
Go Bucs!
February 6th, 2018 at 11:29 pm
GM SOE:
Draft Vea and pay a big money DE that dline just went worst to first.
Noah?/Gholston+ Vea/McDonald +GMC + $$DE/Ayers?/Clarke
CB Mike Hughes in the second.
I JUST FIXED THE DLINE AND ADDED A DOMINATE NCAA CB AND RETURN MAN USING ONLY ONE BIG MONEY PLAYER WITH OUR DE AND WE GOT THE DOUGH TO GET ONE.
February 7th, 2018 at 12:22 am
Forgive my previous rant, I know Players do get held accountable every seasons end and Coaches and GMs all face the ax. Due to poor performance in their field. I just finished hauling a Fifthwheel from Macon Ga, to Charleston, SC. And me nerves were are Still a bit