Bucs Are What Lovie Said They Were

September 15th, 2014

lovie 0613b

When Lovie Smith was hired, during the first couple of months when asked his Buccaneers roster, he often would add the qualifier, “But we are a 4-12 team,” as if to say the roster needs a serious upgrade.

The Bucs had a massive purge of players, namely on offense; they drafted nothing but offense. Bucs fans, thinking Lovie possessed a magic wand and that he drafted just offensive players, thought a turnaround and a new day of offensive football at the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway was here.

Hold up! Ornery Alan Dell of the Bradenton Herald suggests Bucs fans should have just heeded Lovie’s words when he was first hired.

Remember how during spring and summer workouts new Bucs head coach Lovie Smith kept saying we are a 4-12 team?

Well, the Bucs were — and are — a 4-12 team.

Sure, the Bucs have only played two games and Joe has said publicly that it really isn’t fair to judge a team until after the third game at the earliest.

However, when a team is beaten by a journeyman like Derek Anderson, when a team is sliced apart by a never-been third string quarterback, when a team had four of its starting front seven on the sidelines injured, when a coach slams the brakes on an offense in the red zone because he is scared to score a touchdown, allowing three timeouts to rot away like an old gallon milk in the fridge, we may have seen enough of the Bucs.

After but two games, it appears Lovie knew his team better than anyone assumed. A 4-12 record right now doesn’t seem far-fetched.

61 Responses to “Bucs Are What Lovie Said They Were”

  1. RastaMon Says:

    Lovie is in WAY over his head….I listened to his press conference yesterday and was underwhemled by his monotoned empty words…then by chance I listened to a long interview with #55 on all sorts of subject…a stark contrast in leadership and answering questions. Lovie is an empty suit that has been swept to this point in life by his association with the greatness of others. I don’t mean to be harsh…but that is what I see……

  2. BuccaneerBonzai Says:

    No worries.

  3. ToesOnTheLine Says:

    He also said he wasn’t afraid to spend the Glazer’s money right up to the cap to get the very best players possible. How is letting Revis walk to free up cash working out so far? Had the Bucs held on to Zuttah instead of trading him away for very little the OG situation would have looked far better. I realize it’s easy to be a Monday morning QB with the benefit of hindsight, but a lot of us were complaining about those moves at the time. Lovie and Licht took some unnecessary risks and so far it has backfired

  4. RastaMon Says:

    The life & fate of Bucdom..
    http://www.mythweb.com/encyc/entries/sisyphus.html

  5. Spirit of '76 Says:

    Wrong tense. Lovie stated that the reason for purging the roster this spring was THAT team was a 4 & 12 team, referring to the 2013 team.

    He told us a good defense can win you 8 games. He and the GM drafted all the offense and pulled in all of these new players to make us relevant. I think after seeing what we have now assembled, I think you are correct in proper tense with “we ARE a 4 & 12 team.

  6. bucsfan4lyf Says:

    #OWEN16

  7. flmike Says:

    @RastaMon
    I said that in another post, his only success has come when others were in charge…

  8. ctord Says:

    Lovie is correct. the bucs were so depleted of true talent and depth that it is going to take some time. I am looking more toward the end of the season to see signs of improvement. the bucs lack talent. look at are starting 22 and tell me how many could start for contending teams. Maybe five. The bucs have not drafted well and this is the cause of a shotty roster. the only thing I wish was that he held on to zuhtah but maybe he didn’t fit into the scheme. But on the other side of that, Collins looks like the real deal. Let Lovie build. It has been two games.

  9. The_Buc_Realist Says:

    some of us saw right threw the smoke, I guess some around here believe anything they hear. I said that if I was licht that I would trade any player for anything not named McCoy and David! This roster was garbage the Coach Schiano had to work with and other Organizations should take note and start interviewing the man!

  10. Architek Says:

    4-12 seems to be a reach now – with all the injuries!!!

  11. Jim Says:

    Yesterday’s fiasco was on the COACHING STAFF! Why not let the QB call the plays? He can not do any worse and perhaps he could call a play that he feels comfortable with. Can not believe they did not throw a few in the end zone that the tall receivers could go up and get.

    Also not impressed with Frazier’s defense calls.

    With the purge of the roster, are the Bucs going to give the season ticker holders a discount on prices?

  12. Architek Says:

    Realist –
    I wouldn’t go that far, Schiano in-game adjustments left a lot to be desired and he wasn’t very productive either in that scheme defensively.

    Bucs gave up a lot of Big plays from busted assignments

  13. warrenfb12 Says:

    Its your second to last paragraph that is the most important here.

    0-2 is one thing. Getting eaten up by two back up QBs in ugly ugly fashion, while already bailing on your hand picked 35 year old retread which you went to bat for all off-season is quite another. This guy is so clearly not an NFL level starting QB…its just ugly. This isn’t what any of us wanted. I for sure didn’t want Lovie and his archaic ways coaching this team.

  14. Gus Says:

    Those games won’t matter if the team starts winning now. Does it suck to lose to two backup qbs. Yes. It also sucks to lose 5 starters on defense.

  15. Broy3434 Says:

    Rastamon- how in holy hell can you say a man who lost a Super Bowl and NFC championship in the Chicago market where he won steadily for 8 seasons be over his head IN TAMPA. did u really just say that. Having control of the 53 man doesn’t make him over his head. The team has talent undoubtedly. I’m fine with what he assembled. I ain’t fine with his conservative attitude but saying a head coach in Tampa coming from Chicago is in over his head is utter foolishness

  16. JT Says:

    Many fans, myself included, had our expectations way too high. Last year our team was a mess. we had no organization, no identity and no clue.
    Greg Schiano coached away more games in two years than Jon Gruden did in seven. So Schiano is fired and Lovie is brought in. Lovie is conservative on both sides of the ball and runs a tampa 2. The fact that he has been there done that before makes him a major upgrade over Schiano.
    This defense isn’t going to be dominant over night. Yesterday for instance we got more pressure than I thought we would with three starters out on the d-line. After two games I’m not ready to call Michael Johnson a bust. Let’s hope he can get things going on the edge with McCoy drawing double teams on the interior. Our defense is far from a finished product after two games and we will most likely get blown out of Atlanta on Thursday. After all this is only Lovies third game and Ryan and Smith have been working on this for years.
    As for the offense we are not as bad as many think. We have a young nucleous of playmakers and once we get a qb our offense should be pretty good. I just hope we get our qb sooner rather than later. I don’t know why Lovie is playing with McCown hopefully he has some sort of plan. That plan is obviously not Glennon otherwise he would be starting. Refering to him as our qb of the future s a vague statement.
    All in all be patient fans. If you don’t care to watch through the growing pains then so be it. Building a contender is a process. Give Lovie and Licht a few drafts. The other teams in our division have a plan and have been working on it for a while now. Give the new regime a chance before you “fire” him.

  17. Patrick in VA Says:

    Maybe we’re a team that plays up or down to our opposition. Maybe we need an actual starting QB to come in here and we’ll get it together.

    Probably not the case but it’ll be interesting to read about whether that was the case on Friday morning.

  18. RastaMon Says:

    Status quo…don’t threaten your paycheck…surround youself with all high comfort level non threatening coaching drones…….
    or
    orignal natural visonary leadership

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4_47O2Pfy8

  19. nate Says:

    Everyone forget about lovie.. its done with this team sux… were the new jaguars of last year… we suck… were in rebuild mode.. all in all this is a great year to suck…mariota and winston are available if we land one of them will be fine for years to come…..itstimeto trade away our older players.. goldson, jackson, mccoy…. there good players but we need youth time to develop them..by then brees retires.. cam hopefully gets injured more… and matt ryan will have no 1 to throw to…we have to be in rebuild mode and hope for the best….this season is over and probably next season… the sooner you will realize this the better your stress relief becomes….

  20. DB55 Says:

    Ctord correct me if I’m wrong but all of the guys we let go are starting for other teams except 1 Tim wright. . All the oline are starters and Joseph looked strong against McCoy n McDonald. Mike Williams started last week. Revis starter. Penn, Zuttah looked beastly the other night.

    The only people that look like hot garbage’ are McCown, Lovies offensive line (although I’m not sure if they improved or Rainey just ran were they weren’t at) Lovies OC n most importantly that garbage ass coach (i use that term loosely) leslie Frazier. After some research you’ll find that the only top ten D leslie ever had was with the Williams brothers at tackle. Other than that 1 yr he’s never place that high in term of total defense. More so, he avg about 25 points per game in years past. Absolute garbage.

  21. Gt40bear Says:

    That is pure covering of buttocks! The media as a group (some individual exceptions) fed the fan base a line that this team had the talent and coaching to make the playoffs or at least challenge. Unfortunately most fell for it. I have always held the position that until they show otherwise, they are what their record says they are. Now I must admit I was a bit too optimistic! they will be lucky to win two games.

  22. Buc_The_World Says:

    It’s the Connor Barth Curse!! We were 4-12 without him last year, and this year headed in the same direction. Lovie needs to get on the phone and ask him to come back!!!….lol

  23. RastaMon Says:

    Has the other L…..said a word in the past two weaks……

  24. jh Says:

    We have a completely new coaching staff, new offensive scheme, new defensive scheme, and a group of players, who for the most part have never worked together. Why is it so surprising we’re off to a slow start? What surprises me is the fact that most fans expected a Super Bowl contender after one offseason.

  25. Greg Says:

    If this is the case then why did we trade draft picks for a guard that will give us at best 2 to 3 years when we could have drafted a 1st or second round lineman in next years draft that would give us much more in the long run.
    All I kept hearing was we where built to win now.
    Talk out of both sides of there mouth.
    I’m fed up with this crap and I’m not taking it anymore.

  26. buc4lyfe Says:

    Bullspit lol there’s another excuse for why we suck, it’s really sad…. We WERE a 4-12 team and like you said “The Bucs had a massive purge of players” this team like quite different from last year. What you have is high prices free agents and high prices draft picks not showing up in games. Learning the Tampa two is one thing but that had nothing to do with David and corners always being late to the play and getting carved up two weeks in a row yet to have a staying quarterback. That loss was on lovie and so far I’m not impressed with his boring coaching style, can they manage to stay awake in the meeting room with him?

  27. Tackleblockwin Says:

    Why is it that after a 4-12 season everyone thinks the Bucs are suddenly going to fix a million problems in one offseason with a new coaching staff, QB, etc? Can it happen?…yes…but rarely does it occur. And for all of you thinking QB in first rd…don’t get your hopes to high. My guess is we draft DE or CB.

  28. robert9 Says:

    my 5 year old loves the dolphins, at least now i have a legit reason to jump ship.

    L&L suck donky balls.

  29. Jeagan1999 Says:

    There is plenty of blame to go around for the….less than stellar….football we have been forced to suffer through the last two weeks. Like a coach who seems to have so little confidence in his offense that he’d rather run the ball every time they get inside the red zone, despite fact that he has 2 of the biggest WR’s in the game! Maybe that’s because we also have a 35 year old career journeyman QB who still throws stupid pics, misses wide open receivers and holds onto the ball way too damn long! How about our lack of a pass rush that has thus far this season made Derek Anderson and Austin Davis look more like vintage Dan Marino and John Elway! And finally, let’s not forget our special teams which cost us 6 points yesterday ( a blocked FG which cost us 3 pts, and a blocked punt which the Rams turned into 3 points on their own FG ). Despite the massive roster turn over, let’s face it, the Bucs just still are not that good! Why did our GM tell us all that this wasn’t a rebuilding year and that the Bucs were poised to win now? Why did the Bucs management try to get our hopes up…only to send them crashing back to earth after only 2 games? Did they lie to us, or are they so naive to think that simply purging the roster would suddenly make us a good team? At the end of the day, we have LOTS of problems to address and more questions than answers! It’s gonna be a LONG season!

  30. Nose Tackle Says:

    At least we will have another top draft pick….It is what it is and they is still my team. Regardless of how embarrassingly painful game days are. Go Bucs…..ouch !

  31. Wilder 32 Says:

    Four wins? How in the world is this team gonna win 4 games? At this point I’m thinking 2 wins will be a stretch.

  32. BucinNC Says:

    at least last year we had chances to win those games early in the year. JFREE at least would try and push the ball down field.

  33. BucBob1 Says:

    Did I see progress from last week? Yes, but not much. I saw the offensive line play improved. That will be a huge factor in McCown’s progress. If he can develop a rhythm behind an improved offensive line, will be the difference maker moving forward. Putting points on the board, will be necessary with our defence decimated with injury.
    “It’s funny how the backup quarterback always becomes the most popular guy on the team, when there are problems”

  34. Abuc40 Says:

    In the end “You play to win the game”. Nothing in the NFL is guaranteed. Any one can beat anyone on Sunday but with that being said these are winnable games. They must win these games. Our defense is depleted and Drew Brees Matt Ryan Big Ben, Joe Flacco, Cam Newton and every Practice squad quarterback is licking their chops right now. Hard to swallow but i don’t see winning any division games and we have 5 more left. That is 7 losses right there. Someone on here said 3 and 13 but i think they said they gave the bucs a game. Looks like 2 and 14!

  35. t-dub Says:

    the saints are 0-2 also,

    just saying.

    Carolina 2-0
    dixie chicks 1-1
    bucs 0-2
    saints 0-2.

    relax.

  36. RastaMon Says:

    Abuc40…which two…please

  37. lightningbuc Says:

    new orleans has drew brees

    new orleans hasn’t lost to a 3rd string QB and a backup

    just saying

  38. RealityCheck Says:

    @t-dubs…the Saints have a top 5 QB, whatever point you’re trying to make is irrelevant. I would relax if I was the Saints. In fact, every team you listed has more talent and more hope for turning it around than the Bucs do.

    I’m so tired of these retarded comparisons as if somehow another team being 0-2 is relevant to the Bucs being 0-2.

  39. bob in valrico Says:

    rasti links are too funny! when a coach takes the ball out quarterbacks hands
    in redzone and becomes ultra conservative. he will be a 4 and 12 coach
    just like schiano, snatching defeat from jaws of victory.He should apologize
    to his players and fans.He let them down! You play to win the game.

  40. billy buckaroo Says:

    The fans were ready for WINS because of stuff Licht implied. Licht’s time frame and reality aren’t the same. This team was hardly ready for WINS when the season began.
    Wins would have been a gift for no more ready than they were.

    They are getting the team put together and also having to overcome some pretty nasty obstacles along the way.

    This looked like week 2 of the preseason more than game 2 of the regular season because the coaches and GM messed up the team”clock”

  41. ander Says:

    the positive thing i can take for this game is that the bucs look much better offensively and defense they will be probably solid all year, i know everybody thinks the bucs are going to lose to the falcons but let me tell you if you watch the bengals against the falcons, the falcons oline is horrible if the bucs can find someway to pressure matt ryan we definetly have a chance. and theyre defense is really suspect so lets try to be positive cause we all know how hard it is to be a bucs fan at times.

  42. Broy3434 Says:

    Also so everybody knows tedford wasn’t calling plays again. Expect a shitload of a difference. His head was in his hands because his replacement had HIS head in his ass

  43. RealityCheck Says:

    @ander – Did you watch the Rams game?

  44. Kingpin1 Says:

    Now we are an 0-2 team. You are what your record says you are. MCCown has a losing record thru out his career so do we really expect him to win games???? Glennon should start and if he doesn’t improve and win us games then draft a franchise QB next year. This team is a joke right now and I’m sick of it.

  45. jb Says:

    @ RealityCheck…….I don’t think he watched it!

    Much better offensively? And the defense solid all year?

    WTF Ander?

  46. bucrightoff Says:

    New Orleans lost two games at the gun, on the road. The Bucs were badly outplayed by Carolina (score is highly misleading), and the Rams 3rd string QB basically had his way with the defense. These situations are not comparable even before you remember New Orleans has Drew Brees. People are going to hurt themselve reaching too much to make the Bucs seem less crappy than they are.

  47. ctord Says:

    DB55. I was talking about the starting 22 the bucs had on the field yesterday. But let’s look at what you said. Would you rather have Penn or Collins. Penn starts by default in Oakland. Buc fans could not wait to get rid of him. Woods and Watkins start over Williams in buffalo. I said zuhtah was a mistake and Joseph was coming off major knee issues. Revis did not want to stay in Tampa. He was asked to take a pay cut and he refused. The bucs are better off long term without Revis

  48. Spirit of '76 Says:

    Our conference is very strong and the coaches and players in those systems have had years to practice and know their systems. When you stop thinking and start reacting, that is when the game slows down and you get better. We are no where near these teams in continuity, talent, coaching and especially confidence. It is going to be a long year.

    Will it get better? I guess the answer is – eventually. So the question is how long will it take to sort this mess out, my personal opinion is not this year and maybe not next year either. It will take several GOOD drafts and some more wheeling and dealing. But this is not for the faint of heart.

    I know we all thought we would have a better team this year. The Bucs stated we would. And it may be true. But as one who has followed this team since ’76, I need to be shown this on the field. To date it’s been a hot mess.

  49. Buc'n Enough Says:

    Do not blame Lovie for the current condition of the Buc’s, that falls squarely on the the Glazers….

    3 years of RAH
    2 years of Shiano
    5 years of busted drafts and poor FA decisions by the Rock Head

    It is going to take time to dig out of this mess…there is no magic potion.
    The Glazers changed the uni’s to the current clown outfits to try to generate some revenue knowing that the team is going to suck for a while …so, some of you fell for the marketing campaign of new uni’s and all the hype.

    Three years and we will see what happens then…but until then “stay thirsty my friends”…you are going to need a lot of beer to get by the next two seasons.

  50. Jeagan1999 Says:

    @Buc’n Enough….nearly half the 53 man roster are new this year…over 20 new players drafted or brought in via free agency by Lovie/Licht….including several high dollar, top tier free agents ( Collins, Johnson, EDS, Mankins, Meyers, McDonald, Verner, Etc…) when do they (and the new coaching staff)start bearing some of the responsibility for the last 2 weeks?

  51. Love and Warrick Dunn Says:

    I said I would be jumping for joy at 8-8. I never believed the coach speak about competing. Let’s be real.

    The roster blew. There’s no Coach/GM combo that would just turn them around in one off season.

    That doesn’t mean I like everything, or have concerns, but, I never expected great things early on. From the beginning, I was more excited about Licht than Lovie, and still feel the same way.

    Hopefully, things will level out by midseason. Sorry, I never once expected playoffs this year.

  52. WhatTheBuc? Says:

    I believe the biggest mistake the L&L regime (aka the LOL regime) made was setting the tone that this was NOT a rebuilding year. That set expectations too high. Think about it for a second…If LOL came out and said “this franchise has lost it’s way for over a decade, sub par coaching questionable draft pics, it’s going to take a while.” we wouldn’t be as outraged. BTW where has Litch gone? You couldn’t get rid of the guy before we started loosing, always popping up on TV and interviews. Reminds me of the disappearing act Dominck did after the 10 win season collapse. Anyways, remember Father Dungy’s first season wasn’t the best. The best thing LOL and can do now it start the ” We are rebuilding” chant

  53. Stevie Blart Says:

    HAHAHAHA Making excuses already!!! This is a joke article.

  54. JBuc Says:

    Wow, there are a lot of dopes on this page Joe. Inability to stick with a plan in the face of adversity is why most people fail. I would imagine this applies to most of the idiots on this page. I am seeing progress and potential in this team. They just played two very stout defenses. Turns out reports of Carolina’s demise were a little premature as they handled Detroit with no problems.

    I like the Bucs Thursday night. If it happens, watch how fast the band wagon fills back up.

  55. Boomer33 Says:

    Robert9 says his 5 year old is a Dolphins fan and that might be enough for him to jump ship. That’s too funny. Your 5 year old can’t possibly remember when the Dolphins were relevant, and I doubt if you are old enough to remember their last championship season. Go for it. Maybe you will change their luck.

  56. richardtyson Says:

    Good article Joe. I remember him saying that and I also remember L&L saying that the Bucs are not in a rebuilding mode… But seriously, you cant expect any coach to come in here with the current roster we have and make something happen. Everyone saying it’s ALL Lovie’s fault should step back a second and take a look at the roster. 55 also mentioned that the Tampa 2 would not happen over night and to be patient. It’s a new offense and a new defense. I think we can get more out of the current roster, but we are still years from competing at a high level. The Bear’s first season with Lovie they went 5-11. The next season they won their division. Please don’t show Lovie the door just yet.

  57. Soggy Says:

    I have seen rebuilding before, some take years, some never do, and some get her done.. 02 was a long time ago..

  58. Rrsrq Says:

    After further review, this team is not the circus it was the two previous regimes ran, no player trust, no discipline, general not a good football organization. However I believe the ship gets righted over these next four games going 3-some of these players have been through five years of dukey, Lovie will return stability and all these fans including myself, will say thanks L & L, we overreacted

  59. DB55 Says:

    Let’s remember that last years 4-12 team lost 5 games by 7 points or less.

  60. Incognito Says:

    Wow total bush league all the way around. Hopefully the next OC is required to take a physical before they hire.

  61. richardtyson Says:

    @ Incognito

    I agree it was very unfortunate; however, outside of his age it was something unforeseen. Hope he has some cards up his sleeve for future games. I have not seen the Evans-around yet though. Good thing probably.