It’s All About Attitude, Not ‘Tude
February 13th, 2013
Joe always gets a chuckle how some fans want players with “swagger” or a “‘tude,” which are code words for being a punk or a jerk.
Players can holler and scream all they want. The NFL is not the WWE. It’s not about posers, but about players, execution, fundamentals, discipline, X’s and O’s.
But there is something that is valuable called “attitude,” a word Vinny Iyer brought up often in his chat with Joe. The NFL editor for The Sporting News told Joe during Media Day of Super Bowl week that an attitude Greg Schiano brought to the Bucs is one reason why the team is changing its fortunes.
JoeBucsFan: Your overall review of Greg Schiano’s first year with the Bucs?
Vinnie Iyer: He has been very disciplined in his approach and that is what they needed. That is usually what happens when you have a guy like Raheem Morris who was a player’s coach and kind of lost the discipline, especially at the end of the [2011] season. [Schiano] has brought that [discipline] along with a toughness and an attitude. He also brought in some of those types of players like Carl Nicks and Vincent Jackson, veterans who work hard and are not only an example, but very talented.
Joe: Well, talk about that. How key was that? You had all these young guys who had a coach who, in some cases, would go out for beers with players and all of a sudden you drop in some players who not only are workaholics, they are some of the best at their craft.
Iyer: That is key. You lead by example. You have a guy like Jackson, when you are that talented, that big and that explosive but you are also a guy who works the hardest, it trickles down to everybody else.
Joe: That is interesting because Mike Williams raves about Jackson and all but points to Jackson as being his big brother, how he helped Williams learn to take proper notes in position meetings and many other little things.
Iyer: Well, not just that but Jackson helps Williams on the field as well. You have a guy like Jackson who draws double coverage on one side of the field and it allows Williams single coverage and that is why you saw so many big plays from him. But what helped the Bucs is the attitude [Dominik and Schiano] brought it. You bring in Mark Barron, Doug Martin, guys that are just tough, won’t go down. It doesn’t matter what the size is of their opponents, they go after it.
Joe: You are looking at one of the few — maybe only — writers who has been pimping Bryan Cox as a hidden treasure. He coaches the front seven and that front seven went from the worst in the NFL in rush defense to the best, and really only added one player, Lavonte David. It seems Cox had a major hand in transforming that front seven. They went from atrocious against the run – and that word doesn’t really describe how bad they were – to lockdown. It was stunning.
Iyer: Well, you have to have an enforcer. And if you are going to have an enforcer on your staff whether that is a defensive coordinator or someone on your staff, to get that message through, someone working directly with the players who can get that message through, not too many people better to get that message through than Bryan Cox, and that has to be an overlying theme.
February 13th, 2013 at 7:36 pm
Call it what you will, that’s not what what would I define as “swagger” but hey,
to each his own.
The Bucs D of old was full of swagger and I loved it lol
February 13th, 2013 at 7:45 pm
@ Joe, you should add a feature to the website, thumbs up, ala PFT!
February 13th, 2013 at 8:15 pm
I was originally “happy” about Jackson’s signing last offseason, but what a steal. He and LaVonte in one offseason is awesome. Those are two “swag” playas, Joe.
“Hollywood” called me today and he said SIGN BRETT FAVRE!
February 13th, 2013 at 8:20 pm
speaking of features to the website. what ever happened to the pessimist???
February 13th, 2013 at 8:53 pm
I could be over exaggerating a bit but VJax could very well be the best offseason free agent signing in franchise history. You simply cannot discredit the way he helps this team outside his production on the field. Any military member regardless of branch or rank will agree with me on what im about to say. If u dont have well respected knowledgable leaders (VJax) that are not selfish, that share the knowledge among their troops
February 13th, 2013 at 9:08 pm
Cont….and lead by example. It does not matter what the commander s (schiano) intent is u just need leaders in the fight on the battlefield with u to help u understand the big picture. Why am i running this decoy route. How does me running this route hard knowing im not getting the ball gonna help my team. Why is it important to know the enemies strengths n weaknesses. Todays generation asks to many damn “why” questions, we did it because thats wat we were told to do. Im sorry im getting off topic. My point is we have strong leaders now that schiano can lean on to lay the foundation of doing everything the schiano way. Which proves important to build a winning team for many years to come.
February 13th, 2013 at 10:40 pm
V J has to be “the real buccaneer man” with genuine swag.
February 13th, 2013 at 11:31 pm
fyi – Gil Brandt says Freeman’s low completion percentage has to due with deep passes/offensive system…but must improve regardless (guys with highest % throw a lot of screens)
February 13th, 2013 at 11:35 pm
@MarineBucsFan,
It’s only been one season, but hopefully V-Jax’s signing will rank up there with the Nickerson signing in ’93 as the greatest FA pickup in franchise history. Nickerson really set the tone on how to be a pro when Sapp, Lynch, Brooks, etc. arrived and all those guys attest to that when asked.
February 13th, 2013 at 11:41 pm
@JPDRC,
Agree that the bombs can definitely affect comp %, but it wasn’t just the long-ball Freeman had trouble with. Definitely still has trouble with the short touch throws as well, as he put more than a few in the dirt and almost in the stands (slight exaggeration there, but you get the point).
February 14th, 2013 at 12:05 am
realist:
“THE PESSIMIST” has been on too many meds of late to pen a decent column.
February 14th, 2013 at 12:39 am
It’s really an exciting time to be a Buc Fan. Cleaned out the ” Poser” scumbags this team had accumulated, and now bringing in great leaders/ players to re-establish this team as a force in the NFC South!
Vincent Jackson has become my favorite Buc Player. Just pure Class on and off the Field! Shiano made the huge leap from small college- looks like he is gonna survive and thrive in the big leagues!
Optimism is the word!
February 14th, 2013 at 1:41 am
I think this new CBA is going to create even more parity in the league. It will now get harder to make it to the post season for all teams. More teams will finish around an 8 – 8 season record. The teams who make it to post season will have to be the ones who have accumulated the best players and depth for the same amount of money spent by 31 other teams. Championships, will now, more than ever, be decided by the draft. Where quantity may be more important than individual quality. From here on out, every single team has to spend close to the same amount of money. Thus, making it more difficult for teams to build yesterdays dynasties. I bet there will be different teams in the Super Bowl from here on out. I think the fans win, especially the teams who have been notoriously cheap. This new CBA makes this a thing of the past and it will also change certain teams chances from hogging the Lombardi Trophy.
Do you think I’m wrong?
February 14th, 2013 at 2:15 am
@4everBucsFan….the last 3 SuperBowl Champs have had 9-7 and 10-6 records……so nothing will change.
February 14th, 2013 at 6:35 am
^^^^^ thanks JP for pointing that out.
What I meant to say there was we will begin to see a rise in more teams making the playoffs with 8 – 8 regular season records.
It will become rare to see teams 13-3 and better. See in the past, you could almost always count on certain teams to finish near last every year because their owners wouldn’t spend the same money to challenge the teams who were always up around the cap. But now, it is going to change because every team is required to spend close to the same amount every year. That means that monetarily speaking no-one has the advantage. It all will come down to who has the best QB and has the deepest depth of talent for the buck! Oh and the best motivating coaches.
February 14th, 2013 at 6:44 am
If freeman just get his sh*t together we will be a playoff team. Brees n Manning made it look so easy throwing the ball to VJax in that pro bowl game.
February 14th, 2013 at 7:46 pm
I don’t know about ”swagger” but I have thunk a time or two that the Bucs could use a bit more edginess, esp. on defense.
February 16th, 2013 at 1:49 am
Only nerds complain about not having swagger. There is a thin line between cocky and confidence.
Character players are more like robots.. I cant wait to see Steve Smith punking our db’s joe.
You dont have the right to change ANYBODY PERSONALITY there would be no individuality!
If you spent enough time on yourself you wouldnt have time to worry about anybody else. Get off my NutSac!