Lovie Admits He Is Not “Energized”
September 27th, 2014
Lovie reacts to Mike Tomlin
Early in the week, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin talked at length about the Bucs and said Lovie Smith is “energized” by an 0-3 start.
“Knowing Lovie Smith, I know he will be undeterred by the start. As a matter of fact, he is going to be energized by it.”
Well, Joe thought that was a strange word to use for any coach that begins a season 0-3. Joe can think of all sorts of words, but “energized” would not be one of them. It seemed strange to Lovie, too.
Joe asked Lovie to comment on Tomlin’s quote, earlier this week. And a smile actually cracked Lovie’s face.
“Let me think about that a little bit,” Lovie said, rubbing his chin with a twinkle in his eye. “I don’t know if energized is the way – I would like to think that I am energized always. I’m pretty even-keeled, I’ll just say that we’re not happy being it and we want to get this right. I think that’s what Mike is saying. Yes, our football team is anxious to play better and see what it feels like to win a football game. As I said earlier, what better team to have to get ready to play than the Steelers, knowing what type of game they’re going to bring to the table, the same type that we are. It’s going to be a big challenge for us.”
Let Joe just say the following: If an NFL coach isn’t energized, period, for minicamps much less the regular season, then maybe he is in the wrong line of work.
Like Lovie said, he is as even-keeled as they get. He doesn’t venture far from his emotional center. Joe remembers in the “100 Days” piece put together by Buccaneers.com, Lovie confessed he lives a clean lifestyle but football is his lone drug.
“Energized” with being winless? No, not Lovie.
September 27th, 2014 at 8:20 am
Hopefully Mike Glennon goes up to the line on third down the entire game after the coaches have called for a run, looks over at the coaches….smiles…..checks out of the run and slings the ball …THE WHOLE GAME!!! I would! Take over the team Mike!!! It’s the only way you’ll keep the job. Take charge, read the defenses and run the plays that YOU see available. Cut this running on third and seven crap right out. Quit this running on first down EVERY SINGLE FIRST DOWN!!! I don’t mind a run on first down if you have a drive established and you’ve got the defense with they’re hands on they’re knees, but when it takes the team and the coaching until the fourth quarter and they insist on continuing to run the ball every single first down, throw it on second and run it on third even my six year old daughter could line up on defense and make a play. Be professionals people play to win and actually TRY to make Tampa proud. Sick of this conservative BullSh&$!!! Unless Glennon comes out and throws pick after pick like cousins did the other night….let him throw the damn ball LOVIE!!!
September 27th, 2014 at 8:27 am
@Kevin#1
We all know the definition of insanity…..doing the same thing over & over and expecting a different result.
Constantly running on 1st down (without success) has put all Buc QBs in a bad situation…..
The few times we have called a passing play on 1st have usually been successful.
Buc Ball only works when you play mistake free football with a stout defense.
I agree with you….we need to try to “light it up”…..
September 27th, 2014 at 8:31 am
The problem with losing for anyone is that it’s very instructive on how to fix what you’re doing wrong – but only if you’re not too proud to accept it. It takes sharp minds with brutal self-honesty to point the finger back on ideas and say “you were wrong”. If a person can handle it, fix what they thought would work, and try again – they’ve got a chance.
Schiano couldn’t accept reality, let’s see if Lovie can.
September 27th, 2014 at 8:38 am
Don’t worry Lovie…a lot of us fans just aren’t real energized either.
September 27th, 2014 at 8:45 am
@ Louis Friend – You know, when I heard Lovie talk about his year off and how he saw the league had really evolved and become an offensive driven passing league, I really thought he meant it. Up to this point – like ^TBBF^ said Lovie is insane. So far him and Schiano keep doing the same damn thing and expecting different results. I really believed Lovie learned something. Professionals or not but if the coaching keeps putting together these same game plans every week how can anyone ask these guy’s to play hard????!!!!!!!! At least thats my mindset. I always was outspoken at my previous jobs when I saw the same things failing over and over. I usually got fired. Now I own my own successful business going on eight years because I got tired of dealing with other peoples bullsh$#. But I guess these guys don’t give a shit they know the game plan is not going to change week in week out and they know they are still going to get they’re fat paychecks so they just show up to work, get they’re asses handed to them and pray during the offseason that they are either traded or released to play on a better team. We are the new Cleveland Browns. I’ll bet you anything Gus Bradley let’s Blake Bortles Sling the ball for four quarters this week. But no….not us. Not Lovie Smith….let’s run the ball and at the end of the game keep running, with our tail between our legs and off the field 0-4, 0-5, 0-6!!!!! Every week!!! If something doesn’t change then neither will the attendance problem in Tampa!
September 27th, 2014 at 9:00 am
More like “desperate” or “frantic” comes to my mind. Energized is to positive a word for this situation. Now, if we were 3-0 and facing the Steelers, Lovie would be energized.
September 27th, 2014 at 9:06 am
@Kevin#1
That’s the thing with new ideas and brilliant concepts that get handed to a lot of leaders: They always revert to their own instincts when the stress hits. Regardless of what Lovie thought about, what he said he learned and how the draft went, he went right back to his instincts when the metal met the road. There’s probably some cliche about ‘can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ that fits in here somewhere.
As much as Lovie thought he could adapt, he can’t fight his own nature of playing conservative, defense oriented football. It’s in his blood, and he’ll go down doing it. And that’s the biggest tragedy of this season. They could have a chance if they did things differently, but they’re not going to.
September 27th, 2014 at 9:15 am
Kevin & Louis…2 excellent posts…..
September 27th, 2014 at 9:21 am
I truly believe if Tedford had been healthy all offseason and not had the procedure things would have been a little different. I think Lovie probably gave Tedford his blessing to run the offense his way. With Tedford out there was no way in Hell Lovie let our backstreet boy “OC” open it up.
I really shouldn’t have got on here on a Saturday. To early in the weekend to be depressed!!! Going to enjoy my day until tomorrow comes and the dark we suck clouds roll over like they do every Football Sunday in Tampa.
September 27th, 2014 at 9:26 am
Lovie admits: even an idiot can win with Urlacher and Briggs in their prime.
September 27th, 2014 at 9:28 am
a lot of effort over semantics, no?
September 27th, 2014 at 9:34 am
What bothers me a bit is the statement from lovie is that “We have a plan” and we need to stick to the plan and it will work. I think the problem is that we don’t have the players to make that plan work.
It starts on defense with the front 4…..for some reason it has been many, many years since we have had even an adequate pass rush. We lost AC (not much of a loss)…..Johnson hasn’t shown up….(may never)…….GMC & McDonald are OK but need much more help from the outside.
Aside from LVD, I think our linebacker corps is weak….especially without Foster.
As far as the offense….what good do all the “dunkaneers” do if you don’t toss it to them?
September 27th, 2014 at 9:35 am
@Kevin#1
You’re probably right. Don’t take it too seriously. You already know the outcome tomorrow, really. Let’s hope that it’s at least a good game for a little while.
I had a moment of clarity during the Falcons game – I was giving better effort as a fan than my team was getting paid to do it. First time in my life I ever felt that way. I think as a fan I’m better than these guys are as players, because I’m sticking with them and they don’t deserve it right now. They’re getting paid large amounts of money to embarrass themselves, I’m spending money to watch it. So yeah, they owe me personally. And they owe everyone of you good people that shows up here and keeps hoping. Until they pay me back I’m going to keep going, but I don’t feel ashamed to be a fan. I feel like they should be ashamed for making me endure them turning into a laughingstock last week.
September 27th, 2014 at 9:40 am
The Bucs running game will have to be clicking early on, otherwise it will be a long afternoon. Lovie said he has the same plan as Tomlin. Our mini bulldozers will have to match or better their bigger bulldozers to take the heat off the passing game. The Bucs will give all the effort they have, we will see if it’s enough. If it’s possible, a clearer picture will emerge of the Bucs reality as a team moving in the right direction.
September 27th, 2014 at 10:12 am
So glad I checked out after the rams game and am ALSO not energized!
This is BY FAR the MOST disappointed I have ever been in leading up to a new season with a new Coach, staff and players!!!!
Im not even looking forward to the 2016 draft at this point….ugly and desolate doesnt even begin to describe how I feel about the Bucs right now….about to completely give up, and I dont care if that pisses anyone off!!
September 27th, 2014 at 10:23 am
Scotty in Fat Antonio Says:
Don’t worry Lovie…a lot of us fans just aren’t real energized either
————————————–
Post of the week. ^^^
September 27th, 2014 at 10:57 am
Lovie also admits: Hey guys, I like the Steelers in this game too.
September 27th, 2014 at 10:57 am
Not being “energized” doesn’t mean he is not “determined.”
September 27th, 2014 at 11:18 am
this team,(organization) besides a 4-6 year run, is and has been the absolute laughing stock, of late night comics (johnny carson) and opposing teams since it’s inception. after the death of H.culverhouse and the sale of the team, a local reporter tried to interview mrs Culverhouse only to be met with a brash rude triade of truth. she did not want her husband purchasing the team, she did not care for the game, and could care less what happens to them going forward. thus comes Mr glazer, to whom I think actually gave a damn about the team and wanted to put pride back in the bay area. within a few short growing years, his team was competitive and relevant and eventually superbowl champs! what happened? mr glazers health declined, giving over his duties and responsibilities to this teams success to his sons. eventually in the name of PROFIT vs LOSS they chose PROFIT. they are responsible for this teams failures and they keep selling the same product , each and every year to the fans of this club. I really think they have a lot in common with mrs Culverhouse. as the lord says ” you will know them by their fruit”. they have had years to straighten this mess out, but alas, it hasn’t and wont be taken care of any time soon.
September 27th, 2014 at 12:34 pm
james west, that is a bunch of crap, lol.
September 27th, 2014 at 12:54 pm
Energized means 10 days rest to recharge thats all..
September 27th, 2014 at 2:17 pm
BuccaneerBonzai Says:
September 27th, 2014 at 12:34 pm
“james west, that is a bunch of crap, lol.”
Says Bonzai as he takes out his checkbook for another round of season tickets…lol
September 27th, 2014 at 2:19 pm
naa…the pittsburgh blowout is coming!
At least MAYBE MG8 will start and prove he’s the better option over McClown…..
September 27th, 2014 at 2:23 pm
There have been too many teams to succeed despite their roster challenges. Since what 2008 we’ve been looking for a sign this team is headed in the right direction and the turnover during this period says that you can’t blame the roster anymore.
Maybe everyone is right and it’s time to let go of the old ways and when we picked mark barron that high it would have been the perfect time to do what we’ve failed to do and go get a franchise quarterback because you can change over all you want if there’s no quarterback you don’t have a team. How is it that qb is the most important position and all these years of high draft picks we don’t address it, that’s our issue because we’ve tried everything but that