Lovie Can See It In Their Eyes
November 18th, 2014
Lovie Smith is a pretty straight-forward, black-and-white kind of cat. His favorite phrase sure seems to be “simple as that.”
So Joe was a bit surprised yesterday when Lovie started talking about reading his players’ eyeballs.
Belief and reality, Lovie said, are key components to assessing his football team.
“I believe you are what your record says you are, but there’s a little bit more to it than that,” Lovie said. “And for our football team, I know as a head coach that the message, they’re getting the message. And you can look in their eyes and see and know when they believe in what they’re doing. But you need to get wins to truly validate what you believe. And when you go on the road in a hostile environment, and dominate a team like that, it has to help.”
Joe sure hopes Lovie is on the mark with his evaluation of his team’s look and demeanor. Joe wonders what Lovie saw previously, like, say, before the home chain-whipping by the Ravens?
If the Bucs are going to salvage anything from this season, then yesterday must serve as a turning point. Tampa Bay absolutely should not play a non-competitive game from this point forward — in their final six games. The team is very healthy by NFL standards, and there’s enough talent in place to not get curb-stomped any longer.
For those who like to compare the 1996, who also started 1-8, to the current Bucs. The men from Year 1 of Father Dungy were only blown out once while they closed that season 5-2 in their final seven games. The loss came 24-0 at the hands of the division champion Panthers at Carolina. Trent Dilfer threw two interceptions and it wasn’t the Bucs’ day.
November 18th, 2014 at 3:05 pm
Why….why did the talent lay down so long…Lovie is a different story….Why….why did the talent LAY DOWN so long…. :rolleyes:
November 18th, 2014 at 3:15 pm
I’m so happy right now. I am calling the dish network to renew my subscription. Lovie knows players and their eyes.
I’m back on the bandwagon baby.
November 18th, 2014 at 3:17 pm
Another great article Joe – you are on a roll today.
Seems to me that Lovie has been more straightforward and revealing the last 2 weeks with his statements to the media. Glad to see it.
November 18th, 2014 at 3:21 pm
News break…This just in…
Pittsburgh Steelers just released Legarrette Blount.
November 18th, 2014 at 3:26 pm
a playoff bound team with pick him up…
November 18th, 2014 at 3:27 pm
It was never the Bucs’ day when Dilfer started.
November 18th, 2014 at 3:39 pm
LGB
Not a Buccaneer Man
Not a Patriot Man
Not a Steeler Man
Not a ?????? Man
& for the “Cry over spilt milk” crowd……Mark Barron had 1 tackle yesterday!!!
November 18th, 2014 at 3:42 pm
@TBBF-
I agree. Can you believe he has a reputation for being selfish?
Shocking!
November 18th, 2014 at 3:45 pm
Now LGB can hang out with Freeman and Tanard.
November 18th, 2014 at 3:48 pm
Tbbf
Where are all the ints from the safeties? Isn’t that why barron sucks cuz he can’t cover? Unless my eyes deceive me I thought I saw Djax running free down the field TWICE with no buc in sight.
Yes barron sucks. And the bucs are going to the playoffs. You know they’re only 2 games out. Lmao.
November 18th, 2014 at 3:54 pm
@DB55-
That’s a tad bit of an exaggeration. I saw 2 Bucs about 8 yards behind DJax on both plays you’re speaking of.
November 18th, 2014 at 4:08 pm
“I’m so happy right now. I am calling the dish network to renew my subscription. ”
——
Let me know how that works out for you.
November 18th, 2014 at 4:36 pm
Dave
What the heck are they going to do 8 yards away. Applaud as he scores?
November 18th, 2014 at 4:39 pm
I was being sarcastic.
November 18th, 2014 at 4:46 pm
Bring in Blount. Should never have let him go in the first place!
November 18th, 2014 at 5:00 pm
Dave
Lol. You never know with some of these “real fans”. They’ll defend anything. My bad, good day sir.
November 18th, 2014 at 5:19 pm
@DB55-
We’re good. I am a “real” fan, though. Also a “realistic” fan.
November 18th, 2014 at 6:25 pm
@DB55. You do realize that Barron was always out of position right? Not saying what we have now is better buut Barron sucked in our scheme.
November 18th, 2014 at 6:58 pm
Lovie’s first three years in Chicago played out like this: 2004: 5-11 ,2005: 11-5 ,2006 13-3 & a superbowl birth!! It just takes time to implement the system. I have faith.
November 18th, 2014 at 8:34 pm
Lets just hope they get it together before GMC and LVD are past their prime. Vjax has what, 2-3 seasons left?
November 18th, 2014 at 10:15 pm
Last I checked Djax was considered a pretty damned good WR…
November 18th, 2014 at 10:17 pm
look in their eyes???? Am I being cut after the season benched or traded????? dispair ?? these guys should be ashamed of themselves 2@8 record lookin the fans eyes why dont ya LOVIE???????
November 18th, 2014 at 10:32 pm
jlynch…1/2 of the roster has not been in Tampa long enough to give an ef about us. So really don’t expect them to care about us at all. Apparently you do though. The players we drafted SHOULD care about us though imo.