Derrick Brooks Challenges Bucs
October 30th, 2014
Bucs icon Derrick Brooks knows his beloved Bucs are at a critical point in their season.
Things could go in either direction.
The legendary Hall of Famer sat down yesterday with the dean of Tampa Bay sports radio, Steve Duemig of WDAE-AM 620, and dove into all kinds of Bucs analysis.
Brooks acknowledged that losing can wear on attitudes if not managed properly and players’ are not true team-first guys.
“Now it’s up to Coach Smith to guide, and to a certain extent control that atmosphere in terms of what that attitude is going be,” Brooks said. “A quote that Rich Bisaccia gave me years ago and I use this often. He says, ‘Attitudes are contagious. Is yours worth catching?'”
“That’s why I challenge this football team to that one quote. Is your attitude worth catching, and are you going to be part of the solution and not be one to cite the problems?”
Joe senses tension in the Bucs locker room, but it’s hard to say whether it’s healthy or unhealthy. Heck, a team should be tense at 1-6.
Brooks said he wants to see guys focused no matter what they, individually, are producing.
“Don’t get satisfied with the status quo, especially when you’re losing,” he said.
Brooks recalled Dungy drilling into him and Warren Sapp to view their stat line as meaningless if the Bucs didn’t win the game.
Just like it was a test of will and leadership for Greg Schiano to lead the Bucs to a 4-4 record in the second half of last season following an 0-8 start, Lovie Smith has a huge task on his hands to keep the team focused to a man.
October 30th, 2014 at 9:17 am
2-6……is it possible…..yes….that is the only thing that matters.
We as fans can focus on draft picks and look with misey toward the past but players have to look at the next game.
October 30th, 2014 at 9:22 am
Joe
He is an all pro and almost all of them are not. Coaching, game planning, systems, and fits are not at the level he had when he played. With the foundation of GMC and LVD, we should have a great defense, but we don’t. With the line we have and the play calling, who know what kind of offense we have.
It seems like the Dunkineer is the QB, not the receivers.
I would give the entire operation to Mr Brooks and turn him loose with the power to do anything except move the team.
October 30th, 2014 at 9:24 am
“Attitudes are contagious….” unforntunately the team has caught Lovie’s “attitude”
October 30th, 2014 at 9:27 am
Oh so it was just attitude and focus. I see.
October 30th, 2014 at 9:28 am
Lovie has a much tougher second half schedule than Schiano did for sure. If they don’t win a game or two the next month 1-15 is very likely with a closing slate of Detroit, Cincinnati, Green Bay, New Orleans and Carolina.
October 30th, 2014 at 9:31 am
Winning is a habit, unfortunately so is losing.” – Lombardi
We’re back at it again today fellas. We should all have our head examined.
October 30th, 2014 at 9:34 am
Brooks is a “company man” he will never say a bad word about lovie smith.
He kisses butt too much thinking it will get him a job with the bucs.
October 30th, 2014 at 9:39 am
Where is the local media on this….they should be chewing Lovies ass !….last year a rookie QB playing behind a dysfunction offensive line was mercilessly chewed…..now we have a very expirienced HC….and crickets….OH..thats right they want in the facility and all the perks …..their loyalty should the the truth and the fans….shamefull
October 30th, 2014 at 9:46 am
@jo-mama I agree but I bet he thinks the same thing we do. lovie dovie s..ks!
October 30th, 2014 at 9:47 am
Here’s some thoughts on building a winning program. You have to hit on your first three draft picks. The remainder provides backups and depth. When was the last time the bucs saw any 4-7 pick, or UFA contribute? You have to hit on 2-3 free agents each year to UPGRADE what you already have.
After accomplishing the above, it all comes down to coaching and scheme. The players must fit the scheme, or like Belicheck, you ADAPT your scheme to the personnel you have. These two important items are the reason we can’t get it together. Don’t tell me that 12-15 FA’s are all totally untalented or less talented than 4- 7 round draft picks. They just haven’t been utilized to their strengths and are asked to do things they really can’t do.
October 30th, 2014 at 9:48 am
I can’t figure you out JOE. Do you want the team to tank it, or do you want them to try to win? You’re giving mixed signals.
Joe will cut you off there. There are no mixed signals. Joe always wants the Bucs to win, especially Super Bowls. –Joe
October 30th, 2014 at 9:49 am
morning DB55 AND RASTMON WHAT UP! YA WE PROBABLY DO NEED OUR HEAD EXAMINED! BUT IT SHOWS WE CARE ! SOMEWHAT! LOL
October 30th, 2014 at 9:50 am
SORRY MEANT RASTAMON
October 30th, 2014 at 9:54 am
Wow, now the forum is turning on Derrick Brooks … What has this come to? Barron did not fit the system, simple as that. Oh, system does not work? See examples in Carolina, Arizona, Baltimore … Takes time and the right players and that is the truth, Joe, help me here, please explain this again?
October 30th, 2014 at 9:56 am
Lovie sucks as a coach and a leader. In over his head and just God awful at keeping up with the times, talent evaluation, and press conferences.
October 30th, 2014 at 10:00 am
Brook’s pep rallies are’nt working. He needs a louder bullhorn.
October 30th, 2014 at 10:08 am
the biggest problem with the bucs is 1 they hired smith 2 they gave him full control and 3 a guaranteed 5 year contract! they will never learn ! they should have givin him a lets see how it goes after a year or so we will sit down and see where were at. no they they took the great dungy word. and I believe they asked dungy back first. the way they go through coaches. they should not guarantee more than a year or two. one year is not long really. but this is the NFL not for long write!
October 30th, 2014 at 10:23 am
“Things could go in either direction.”
By my reasoning, it’s hard to look anywhere but up when your are in the cellar.
And this franchise is in the cellar.
October 30th, 2014 at 10:28 am
A locker room full of players that know many of them are going to be gone next year regardless of how they play. Coaches ask the fans for patience yet these players know there is no patience from the coaches even though they are implementing a new system to many of them that “takes time” being taught by ??? coaches.
Yet right now everybody “give it your all”
and they wonder why there is an “attitude” problem.
October 30th, 2014 at 10:32 am
All this wondering and trying to figure out what’s going wrong this season.
It’s so much easier to stop all the wondering and just come over to my side and say they are tanking the season. Even if it’s untrue, my side is still easier as the losses pile up.
October 30th, 2014 at 10:38 am
87
#truestory
October 30th, 2014 at 10:41 am
The players are not tanking the season….they don’t have to. All the have to do is play as they are “coached”. And Yes !….if Lovie is not fired and will be running the show…..the LUCKY ones will be those that get out
October 30th, 2014 at 11:04 am
If they are tanking 87, it’s for Mariota. Gotta ride the fire Lovie train if you want your boy.
October 30th, 2014 at 11:20 am
I’m far from being a Lovie supporter/apologist, but I can’t really agree with those saying his on over his head. Arroyo, he is in over his head…maybe treading water at best…barely. Lovie has been a somewhat successful NFL HC years ago, but I will say he appears to have learned absolutely nothing from his firing and year off. All the knocks Bears fans had against him are readily apparent in his first year as HC here. I’m sad to say I think he’s another Mike Shannahan or Norv Turner. Guys who had some success as HC but are better suited at being excellent coordinators than head coaches.
October 30th, 2014 at 11:21 am
Damn it “he’s in over his head”^^^
October 30th, 2014 at 11:24 am
Lovie Smith is a complete and utter moron – this much has already been proven and can’t really be denied. Either we suffer a few more years under his… whatever the antonym of “leadership” is… or we simply try again. All I know is, our next coach needs a different, very performance-based contract! Two years guaranteed maybe.
October 30th, 2014 at 11:26 am
http://www.fireLovieSmith.com
October 30th, 2014 at 1:36 pm
Brooks Sapp and Lynch should walk into the locker room and start pimp slapping people.
October 30th, 2014 at 2:11 pm
zzzzz….the politician speaks….