Tough Talk In Cornerbacks Room
June 21st, 2014
Excuses and explanations don’t fly
Lovie Smith takes pride in saying his coaches are elite teachers before anything else. Screamers, disciplinarians and intimidators don’t impress the head coach.
But that’s not to say there isn’t an old school, whip-cracking mindset around One Buc Palace.
It’s easily found in the Bucs secondary. Cornerbacks coach Gil Byrd, the former Chargers Pro Bowl corner, is constantly riding his players to excellence. He gets in faces, and he’s the loudest coach on the practice field, along with defensive line coach Joe Cullen.
Second-year CB Rashaan Melvin told Joe that Byrd represents a radical change from last season’s position coach and one of Byrd’s strict laws must be adhered to.
“Coach Byrd is a lot more energetic. Obviously, he knows great play in the NFL, and wants that from us every time we step on the practice field. We have this rule, ‘No excuses. No explanations.'” Melvin said.
Joe loves the various ways Byrd expresses his intensity when a takeaway opportunity is missed. A scream at a player of “not volleyball” or “Catch that thing. Not good enough!” are a couple of favorites.
In less than five short weeks, Byrd will be one of the highlights for fans heading out to watch training camp.
June 21st, 2014 at 8:07 am
You can scream all you want at the secondary…..
Now about that pass rush…..
June 21st, 2014 at 8:14 am
A little screaming is a good thing.
June 21st, 2014 at 8:21 am
Great hire
June 21st, 2014 at 8:35 am
I’m excited to see even a pre-season game. Can’t wait to see these guys in action under a real HC and a creative OC
June 21st, 2014 at 8:40 am
I am excited to see the new roster, I will be even more excited to see next years roster turnover, once the weaknesses are identified after this year. Dominick’s finger prints are getting erased from the bucs!
June 21st, 2014 at 9:11 am
There’s screaming and there’s screaming. When the screaming is to denigrate the player or humiliate him that sucks. I’m not down with grabbing face masks and screaming and sending spittle into their face.
Sounds like Byrd still respects his players and is just “modulating” his voice to indicate the urgency for intensity.
June 21st, 2014 at 9:15 am
I am excited to see the new roster, I will be even more excited to see next years roster turnover, once the weaknesses are identified after this year. Dominick’s finger prints are getting erased from the bucs! Well said .and not to mention the leftover cap space from this year plus Carl nicks and D gohlston could be cut to give us plenty of cash . Then we will have to see how much the salary cap increases . This year will be good but next year and beyond will be great
June 21st, 2014 at 10:00 am
Professional players should never be yelled at. If you have to continually yell at a pro to do there job, then he’s not a professional.
June 21st, 2014 at 10:36 am
@ Harry, The_Buc_Realist, Dougy balls – I’m right with you…
@ StPeteBucsFan – The flavor of delivery is the key:
Inferiority complex or Empowerment
Byrd – takes their players were he has been.
He is another great coach in our coaching staff.
June 21st, 2014 at 10:56 am
Byrd was a terrific player and it’s great that he’s here – but why on earth did he have to have an All Pro son playing for our rivals, lol?
June 21st, 2014 at 1:07 pm
I here you Louis… Our Division has some great defenses. I’m hoping ours will top the division this year or next.
June 21st, 2014 at 1:09 pm
No excuses no explanations….a Mike Tomlin mantra! that’s not dungy coaching this time but I’m expecting the same kind of turnaround like the one that led us to a superbowl
June 21st, 2014 at 3:09 pm
“Sorry coach… but, have you ever tried pass coverage against Drew Brees, Matt Ryan and Cam Newton? Tom Brady or Peyton Manning? Players need solid defensive schemes to stop those guys. Its the play calling coach.”
June 21st, 2014 at 6:28 pm
Got to admit I like the Joe Cullen hire. He must be the right guy now to coach the DL. Rod was stuck in Dallas and he’s the next best thing. We have been let down for years thinking the DL was going to gel. Now I think were headed in the right direction. We can only wait and see thou.
June 22nd, 2014 at 3:39 am
I really believe Byrd and Cullen are great Coaches and we are lucky Lovie got them for us.
June 22nd, 2014 at 5:13 pm
Joe Cullen was a good hire but I’m really not happy about losing Bryan Cox to the Falcons. Cox was a good coach and could have been great under Lovies with a lot less 3rd down stunts!