Lovie Endorses Dietrich-Smith For 2015
December 17th, 2014
Lovie Smith said “true football fans” can see the Bucs are “on the verge.”
Lovie said he knows the exact steps needed to take next.
And now Lovie has endorsed his starting center as part of that future.
Former Packers center Evan Dietrich-Smith, who Green Bay personnel legend Ted Thompson let walk away in free agency, was inked by the Bucs early in March to replace Jeremy Zuttah.
Asked about his new starting center today by Packers media, Lovie was quick to identify him as a building block to greatness.
“He’s been great,” Lovie said of Dietrich-Smith. “Loved him when I got a chance to meet him, you know, on his free agent visit. Evan, like a lot of our players, aren’t used to losing as much as we have been here right now. But he is part of that foundation I’m talking about, and why we’re gonna, you know, dig ourselves out of this, you know, this hole.
“But Evan has been, you guys know exactly who he is, he’s a consummate football player. He’s not a guy that’s shy in the corner and not do any talking. So he’s been a good addition to our team.”
Per RotoWorld.com, Dietrich-Smith is scheduled to earn $3.75 million next season. That’s a lot of cash for a guy Joe isn’t sure could be classified as an “average” NFL starting center.
Joe knows loads of Bucs fans are trying to figure out what moves the Bucs will make this offseason. Many assume they will blow up the offensive line.
Don’t count on it.
December 17th, 2014 at 3:34 pm
“He’s been great,” Lovie said of Dietrich-Smith.
__________
HUH?!
December 17th, 2014 at 3:37 pm
If Lovie was a race horse they’d put him down…….
December 17th, 2014 at 3:38 pm
Lovie Smith is not smart.
December 17th, 2014 at 3:39 pm
Maybe Lovie’s seeing that Warhop isn’t getting what he should be out of the players. Perhaps he doesn’t want to get rid of the players if he thinks they’re capable of much more than we’ve seen with better coaching.
December 17th, 2014 at 3:42 pm
As long as G. Gilkey, A. Collins, and L. Mankins is gone after the year, I am good. If he takes a pay cut I will be even happier.
December 17th, 2014 at 3:45 pm
So it is possible to dislike Smith even more. Going to be a long offseason for ‘true’ Buc fans.
December 17th, 2014 at 3:45 pm
Zuttah >>>>>>>>>>Epic Disaster Signing.
December 17th, 2014 at 3:48 pm
Lets keep the rolling ball hike play..lol
December 17th, 2014 at 3:49 pm
Patrick, please explain how you continually rationalize unrational statements or decisions by lovie.
not trying to be a smart a$$, but dang man….it’s like your defending your own father.
some of this stuff is just not rational to 95% of JBF, yet you continue to endorse lovie.
I have no beef with him as a person and admire his level headed approach, but man o man…….. where’s the shakes head emoticon?
December 17th, 2014 at 3:50 pm
i am telling you guys, the smart thing lovie is doing is systematically trying to get fired. there’s no other rational explanation.
December 17th, 2014 at 3:52 pm
How many times has Joe and others made the connection between Cleveland’s much improved Oline since Warhop left with the same players in place? How is that unrational?
December 17th, 2014 at 3:53 pm
If we go QB in the draft, then our head coach better be Harbaugh.
December 17th, 2014 at 3:55 pm
38% of bucs sheep are very excited about this news!
December 17th, 2014 at 3:57 pm
so, it’s warhop then. we can keep the whole OL then.
that explains it.
seriously.
This guy was supposed to be pro bowl caliber. and because of warhop he forgot how to play or snap the ball?
December 17th, 2014 at 3:59 pm
Patrick,
Lovie called out the “true” fans for having an opinion on his level of coaching disability.
Also, he scoffed and said, “this is a 4-12 team”, when talking with the media this preseason about the necessary roster moves.
Think about it, bro, Lovie is twice as bad on paper and film then was Schiano. And Schiano had bonafyde crisises to deal with: MRSA ending a potential HOFer’s career (Nicks), and Josh Freeeman sinking the ship and by releasing his own medical recrords.
All of that, and Schiano still won 4 games. Lovie talks the smack, but delivers jack.
Why is t Glennon playing? He is better than McCown and ten years younger. Only a damn fool would be this hard headed. I’d be all about firing Lovie for Harbaugh.
December 17th, 2014 at 4:00 pm
The reason I was never excited about the Lovie Smith hire is his proven track record of terrible offensive line personnel decisions. He has never been able to put together a decent line. Some things don’t change I guess…
December 17th, 2014 at 4:06 pm
I’m not saying that the entire line should be brought back but coached by someone else. Far from it. I think that Cousins, Collins and Gilkey need to be handed greyhound tickets out of town. I’m also not saying that there have been mistakes by the guys on the line that may not need to get out of town immediately. I’d like to see them all step their game up next year and perhaps a new coach can help with that. Maybe he can’t and some more guys need to be replaced. All I know is that failures on an entire line indicate to me a coaching issue. If one or two don’t do well then those one or two can be replaced but if the whole line is below the mark then the coach is where I would look first.
December 17th, 2014 at 4:06 pm
I’m not srue why you guys are attacking Patrick for making an opinion about the O-Line. No where did he say I love Lovie and he is the best thing. He said maybe Lovie believes these guys can do better than they are without Warhop as the coach. He then stated it happened in Cleveland why would it be different here. It was just a thought and an opinion nothing else. You guys need to take a chill pill and just relax a bit. Maybe take a break from JBF for awhile.
December 17th, 2014 at 4:11 pm
@Skyline – These guys are here to pile on to the team and kick them when they’re down. I’m not sweating that they don’t like it when someone disagrees with them and dares to still be a fan of the team. I realize that it’s unheard of in the sea of people who have made a sport of bashing the team but I’m pulling for the team to right the ship and get things together. I trust people who know football better than I do to do the right things and make this a winner. Whether they do what I want or not, I just want them to get back to being perennial contenders (also unheard of here)
December 17th, 2014 at 4:13 pm
…..more evidence of why Lovie must go! WTF is he smoking? This isnt what we signed up for and I hope the Glazers feel the same…smdh
December 17th, 2014 at 4:13 pm
EDS has not played well this year. Not one player on the OLine has played well overall this year. I have no idea which of them will be back next year – but I would probably keep Dotson and Mankins and draft or find FA replacements for the other 3 spots – AFTER firing the OLine coach and getting a much better replacement. Maybe that hire will be up to the new OC.
December 17th, 2014 at 4:17 pm
Ok, now this concerns me. Because Eds has been anything but great. He’s botched way too many snaps, and gets man handled on a regular basis. I’m seriously starting to question whether or not Lovie is blinded by a players niceness. Because from what I’ve seen Evan is a good guy, but a shit football player.
December 17th, 2014 at 4:19 pm
Robert 9 Says:
December 17th, 2014 at 3:50 pm
i am telling you guys, the smart thing lovie is doing is systematically trying to get fired. there’s no other rational explanation.
I was thinking the exact same thing after reading the title to the article….dude got his money and is ready to go. Nice job Lovie, you hit the Glazer lottery! And look at how he talks, seriously is he on something? WTH?
December 17th, 2014 at 4:25 pm
Of course they wont blow up the offensive line. They dont want to admit that they have completely f’d it up.
December 17th, 2014 at 4:27 pm
@ Patrick in Va & Everyone Else
Patrick is not endorsing Lovie Smith…..he’s merely pointing out that….yes, as head coach, Lovie is ultimately responsible for everything…..but surely you can place some of the blame on the assistant coaches.
Lets see what kind of changes he makes….sure, you can blame him for hiring Warhop & perhaps he relied on Warhop’s choices for Oline (including Zuttah trade)
I’m willing to reserve some judgement until I see the changes….I suspect the Glazers will also.
As far as EDS….I think there may have a better game than we’ve been seeing.
December 17th, 2014 at 4:27 pm
He’s been just terrible. I mean really, really bad. EDS a building block? That’s the biggest load of horse crap I’ve ever heard.
December 17th, 2014 at 4:33 pm
I say we move Cousins to center. I’ve never seen such a gatbage player as that bum plugged into so many positions on a terrible line. Imagine the middle of the O Line if Cousins was center, and Gilkey and Omamaeh were the guards…. We’d end every game with negative yardage. FIRE WARHOP
December 17th, 2014 at 4:33 pm
i think Lovie isnt playing with a full deck if you know what i mean.
Geeze.
December 17th, 2014 at 4:34 pm
If you’ve never been critical of the Bucs, then you must just watch for the laughs.
December 17th, 2014 at 4:41 pm
-Patirck,
I don’t like Lovie and never have. I had hope he would do ok, but he is doing what he did in Chicago. I have no hope for him. I understand what you are saying about the OL. However, I just don’t trust Lovie to fix it.
December 17th, 2014 at 4:51 pm
Patrick*
December 17th, 2014 at 4:58 pm
Lovie gave EDS the kiss of death by saying he is the foundation. See ya EDS
December 17th, 2014 at 5:04 pm
From a basement in Chicago to the basement of the NFL.
$5M richer.
This guy is a real inspiration…. for the obtuse.
December 17th, 2014 at 5:05 pm
the first job of the center is to snap the ball correctly and on time. if he doesn’t do that, the offense is either scrambling to recover a fumble or marching back 5 yards due to delay of game. EDS has failed as a center at the very first hurdle multiple times this year. a center who messes up about a snap per game is like a kicker who botches about a kick per game. unemployable in the NFL at the position. EDS’ head is stuck in a place where it anatomically should not be, maybe that’s why it’s so hard for him to hear his QB’s cadence or snap the ball cleanly. if he’s going to be a buccaneer next year, i sure hope he gets it unstuck.
December 17th, 2014 at 5:06 pm
anybody asked him if glennon is part of that core? that should be good for a laugh
December 17th, 2014 at 5:17 pm
Have to stop Effin with the OLine at some point
Keep Dotson at LT
Mankins at LG
and Dietrich-Smith at Center
and more than half the line is consistent for next year
Regardless of good or bad evaluation
at some point you have to STOP the dickering with it and let it ride,
Plug in improvements, and move forward
December 17th, 2014 at 5:24 pm
I’m starting to think Lovie needs to be drug tested by the NFL.
December 17th, 2014 at 5:24 pm
you know, you know, you know, you guys know……
no Lovie we don’t know. thats why the question was asked. What we do know is that you can’t outright throw him under the bus or he’ll blow up and get penalties, he might roll the ball….oh wait.
well he might not be a nice guy anymore.
Tell it like it is lovie. He came in here as a heralded free agent and along with the rest of the O-line, they have underperformed as a group. Whether thats on them or coaching is yet to be determined, but we expects his best on each play regardless…..
you know……..
December 17th, 2014 at 5:26 pm
Calm down people, Liar Smith is just what the name suggests, a liar.
“I’m excited to work with Darelle Revis”
– Cut
“This isn’t a rebuilding year”
– On the verge of a 1st overall pick
“It was a coach’s decision”
– “I thought it was my elbow” -Anthony Collins on being held out of the game.
EDS has been “great”??? Lovie has to be BS’ing us. Who does he think he’s fooling? Guaranteed EDS is outta here or Lovie is on crack.
December 17th, 2014 at 5:27 pm
pick6 Says:
anybody asked him if glennon is part of that core? that should be good for a laugh
——————————
This was the point of no return for me about trusting this coach.
From trade bait to QOF overnight.
December 17th, 2014 at 5:30 pm
Pile on a team and kick a team while they’re down???
This rebuilding has been open-ended since 2009….
Pardon you——-
December 17th, 2014 at 5:35 pm
Can I go back and change my vote to zero confidence now?
December 17th, 2014 at 5:42 pm
I know the exact steps needed too. Step 1 draft Jameis. Annnnnnnnnnnnddddd process complete
December 17th, 2014 at 6:38 pm
Hasn’t he rolled the ball to McCown 2-3 times this year? I’ve never seen a good center do that even once in a year.
December 17th, 2014 at 6:39 pm
and Mike Glennon is the quarterback of the FUTURE
December 17th, 2014 at 6:52 pm
Another J Says:
December 17th, 2014 at 5:24 pm
I’m starting to think Lovie needs to be drug tested by the NFL.
———————————————————————
At least we know it hasn’t been performance-ENHANCING drugs.
tickrdr
December 17th, 2014 at 7:00 pm
this is the guy whos neck is so fat he cant look up to see the play clock?
dude is a complete fake…
December 17th, 2014 at 7:04 pm
never trust a texan…
armstrong
clemons
pettite
smith….
December 17th, 2014 at 7:23 pm
Howard agrees with the people who think that this is
the equivalent of the Mafia Kiss of Death.
December 17th, 2014 at 7:55 pm
How do you know when Lovie is lying?
His lips are moving.
December 17th, 2014 at 8:01 pm
Even the Glazers no lovie is lying on this one.
December 17th, 2014 at 8:02 pm
^^^Know
December 17th, 2014 at 8:25 pm
There are a handful of good players on the team worth keeping and EDS isn’t one of them. Lovie really needs to keep his mouth shut. He’s digging a deeper hole every day and if we see it, you know the Glazers see it. They aren’t stupid and they brought Lovie here to win. I don’t think he’s safe. Maybe he might skate by but this team should have had at least 5-6 wins and 2 wins fall back on Lovie. I think next season will be more of the same if he stays.
December 17th, 2014 at 8:44 pm
EDS can stay but we still need to address the offensive line this off season. Anthony Collins in my opinion should be playing right guard the last 2 games.
December 18th, 2014 at 12:00 pm
yo glazers…this dolt makes it easier to find something else to do with our sundays
December 18th, 2014 at 1:39 pm
FIRE THIS GUY. I heard today speculation of Orton next year- a game manager with our 90’s defensive mentality. *Loads gun, blows brains out* Signed- 2014 NFL fan who knows offense is emphasized/ crucial in today’s NFL.