Still Trying For Those Takeaways
November 14th, 2014
From the time training camp started, if not before, Bucs coach Lovie Smith was like a preacher with a one-track sermon. He preached the word of takeaways.
It’s hard to argue. Teams with the most takeaways often are the better teams. It is simple math.
Last year the Bucs were fourth in takeaways per game, and still had an embarrassing 4-12 record, which just goes to show how shameful last year’s offense was.
For reasons unknown, those takeaways have not come this year. That doesn’t mean Lovie has quit preaching. He hasn’t stopped trying to find a way for his club to start collecting turnovers.
Still racking his brain to figure it out, Smith has been playing musical chairs with his safeties since passive Mark Barron was traded to St. Louis. The rotation is, in part, an attempt to force turnovers Lovie said yesterday.
“I won’t say looking for the right combination,” Lovie said. “We’re playing the guys that we feel like deserve to play. Yeah, we are doing that. There’s a lot that goes into – I’m disappointed in our takeaways in general. Sometimes, you have to look at the amount of opportunities that you get. Are you dropping balls? They’re not dropping a lot, but there is some. Probably more disappointed – but to me, you can create them. If there’s a run, you have an opportunity to get it out then. Yeah, very disappointed in the amount of takeaways we have right now from interceptions to fumble recoveries and all.”
Right now, Lovie is almost in the mode of do whatever it takes to get a win. Anything to stop the constant losing.
That’s why you saw the quarterback of the future benched. That’s why you see Lovie rotating guys in the secondary. Anything to jump-start his team.
November 14th, 2014 at 7:04 am
Difference is Schiano “coached” take aways all the time. Big difference between coaching and talking…
November 14th, 2014 at 8:07 am
I see guys trying to strip the ball instead of tackling and as a result, give up way too much yardage, or losing the tackle all together.
November 14th, 2014 at 8:07 am
If had wanted wins & takeaways he wouldn’t have cut the best player on our team and the best cover corner in the league. Based on Lovie’s actions I don’t think either of those are important to him.
November 14th, 2014 at 8:15 am
They had a strip in the Atlanta game that the refs didn’t acknowledge. Granted, they should’ve had a lot more by now but there’s that at least.
November 14th, 2014 at 8:22 am
Lovie wants another “Tillman” type player
So does everybody else but there are not many around like he was for years
November 14th, 2014 at 8:35 am
We suck at take aways, but at least we’re still competent at give aways.
November 14th, 2014 at 8:54 am
SeanyMac in SC Said:
I see guys trying to strip the ball instead of tackling and as a result, give up way too much yardage, or losing the tackle all together.
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Agreed. First guy wraps him up. Second guy goes for the strip.
November 14th, 2014 at 8:58 am
If they tackled with gusto instead of trying to take the ball, they would have more fumbles from the hits, because the trying to strip is not working except for the other teams yards.
Last I looked an interception is a take away. We have lost some to the DB not catching the ball, but most you have to be somewhere near where the ball is thrown and we seem to have a problem with that, for the most part on the defensive scheme, but some on just not ready for prime time (NRFPT) players. I think we have a lot of NRFPT players and coaches on both sides of the ball, or and special teams.
November 14th, 2014 at 9:09 am
I’m hoping the Bucs takeaway Lovie!
November 14th, 2014 at 9:10 am
THE ONLY !!! takeaways is in lovies bank account.
November 14th, 2014 at 9:26 am
Lovie has been playing musical chairs with his safeties since about 2006. It won’t stop anytime soon guy’s. Trust me on this.
November 14th, 2014 at 9:41 am
has there ever been a bigger failure as a coach in comparison to expectations than lovie smith this year?
November 14th, 2014 at 10:34 am
Well Banks has dropped 2 game clinching interceptions so far, correct? One against Minnesota and one earlier in the season, correct? Can’t recall the opponent. St. Louis maybe? All these losses look the same to me now, sadly.