“Let’s Not Hold That 2-14 Against Any Of Us”
March 25th, 2015
Poor Cleveland Browns fans. It’s bad enough just to be a Browns fan, but now they’re faced with Josh McCown likely leading their team on opening day.
In a fun exchange at the NFL Owners Meetings this morning, where Joe is live in Phoenix, a Browns beat writer asked Lovie Smith why Cleveland fans should look at McCown’s 1-10 record as a starter last year and do anything but cringe.
Joe admits perking up in his chair and thinking, ‘Man, this should be a good.’
Lovie Smith, looking very refreshed and fit before a plate of fresh fruit, didn’t disappoint.
He acknowleged that McCown had a poor season and quarterbacks get too much credit and too much blame, and McCown has good play in him, as evidence by his 2013 season in Chicago.
The reporter followed up by asking Lovie whether he believes McCown is more the guy who succeeded in Chicago, versus the guy who failed in Tampa.
“Yes, I do,” Lovie said “I also think that I’m more of the coach that went 10-6 my last year before this 2-14 season. Let’s not hold that 2-14 against any of us is what I’m going to say. Yes, ma’am.”
That answer sort of illustrated a lot of Lovie’s thinking entering the 2015 season. The head coach told Joe today he has dumped mistakes, filled a giant hole in his coaching staff and is supremely confident in his abilities and in the attitude of the football team from top to bottom.
Yes, Lovie knows the Bucs were 2-14, but he doesn’t feel like anything about himself, his staff or his plan reflects it.
March 25th, 2015 at 12:07 pm
Lovie was quick to repeadetly bash the pprevious regime and state “But we were 4-12”.
Haven’t heard “But we were 2-14” once yet.
Taking a 4-12 team and winning half the games is not progress.
March 25th, 2015 at 12:08 pm
The “Buck” has to stop somewhere, if not lovie then who?
March 25th, 2015 at 12:09 pm
*repeatedly
March 25th, 2015 at 12:09 pm
I’m more shocked each day.. Does Lovie forget he has no OL
March 25th, 2015 at 12:10 pm
Lovie is beyond reproach. Don’t you know he went to a supperbowl 10 years ago. Hello!
March 25th, 2015 at 12:11 pm
Lovie is delusional.
March 25th, 2015 at 12:12 pm
I saw an unprepared team the first 4 games of the season last year….
I don’t know what everyone else saw.
March 25th, 2015 at 12:13 pm
Forgot he blamed schiano hahahah…prolly still blaming pres bush err schiano
March 25th, 2015 at 12:15 pm
According to Lovie he has dumped his mistakes. Even if you think that is right he has not replaced any of his mistakes with actual talent.
We have a average center, a run block only guard, and average tackle and all the other lineman on the roster could not make the practice squad of most NFL teams.
I would say he has lost his mind, but I forget he actually thinks he has an offensive line.
March 25th, 2015 at 12:17 pm
lkjabgfklajdbgldksdfjas!
…. is all that spike of adrenaline allows my fingers to type!
Your a defensive coach and your players admitted to not knowing the scheme until 3/4 of the way thru the season – aka you’re a bad teacher/coach
Your offensive line was garbage all season and played as confused as you and all of the fans were days before the start of the season when no one knew who our starting guards were. You traded away and released lineman that performed well elsewhere and you were forced into a knee jerk trade where you gave up too much for Mankins at the last minute. – aka you had a bad plan
Players you hand picked in FA and gave boat loads of cash to were sat at some point throughout the year and are no longer here. – aka you are a bad talent evaluator.
First day of the season you have your OC that again, you hand picked, go down and you don’t replace him all season long. Your offense looks like a train wreck!
Lovie, last season is not a pass as much as you would like to wish that upon yourself. You blew it chief, you get at worst one more year to prove you can turn what is now YOUR mess around. Fix it, or update your resume.
March 25th, 2015 at 12:18 pm
Ditto to Buc1987
Do we forget all the penalties, too many men on the field, multiple delay of game calls. This was not a well coached team.
If you lead the league in penalties it is usually
a. you have no talent
b. poorly coached
c. all the above
March 25th, 2015 at 12:23 pm
If you buy Lovie’s logic, he shouldn’t have held last year’s performance by Michael Johnson against him and kept him on the team….
Come on man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 25th, 2015 at 12:24 pm
Wow I’ve wandered into a Lovie “lovefest” here eh.
He HAS a winning record overall. He HAS taken a team to the SB, one of only 50 coaches to do that in the half century the game has existed.
He DID get fired after a 10-6 record. Hate on the man all you want but he’s not the first nor the last coach to have a bad season or to get fired.
And so let’s see how Bill Belichick, the man acknowledged as the best in the NFL performed.
From 1991 until 1995, Belichick was the head coach of the Cleveland Browns. During his tenure in Cleveland he compiled a 36–44 record, leading the team to the playoffs in 1994, his only winning year with the team.
In Belichick’s last season in Cleveland the Browns finished 5–11, despite starting 3-1
New England Patriots (2000–present)
Soon after hiring Belichick, owner Robert Kraft gave him near-complete control over the team’s football operations.
The Patriots went 5–11 in the 2000 regular season and missed the playoffs. To date, this is Belichick’s only losing season with the Patriots, and also the only year in which Tom Brady did not start at quarterback in any regular season games
In 2001, the Patriots went 11–5
I’ve added the bold. You guys can’t have it both ways. Fameis is the savior and he’ll lead us to the promised land. If Fameis is all that he’s been built up to be, and I’m open minded…show me the results which I hope he can…then Lovie will have his Tom Brady and all of the sudden just like Bill Belicheat he’ll become a freaking genius.
Gawd…if you love sports..you better also love hyperbole!!! It’s all black and white for sports fans. Either the coach player is HOF or POS. Is there any middle ground? Like perhaps Brian Billick? Bill Cowher?
March 25th, 2015 at 12:25 pm
He acknowleged that McCown had a poor season and quarterbacks get too much credit and too much blame, and McCown has good play in him, as evidence by his 2013 season in Chicago.
The reporter followed up by asking Lovie whether he believes McCown is more the guy who succeeded in Chicago, versus the guy who failed in Tampa.
“Yes, I do,” Lovie said “I also think that I’m more of the coach that went 10-6 my last year before this 2-14 season. Let’s not hold that 2-14 against any of us is what I’m going to say. Yes, ma’am.”
_____________________________________________________________
Wow this is scary to read. McCown’s run in 2013 is the epitome of a fluke. Like a total statistical anomaly. His career numbers don’t lie. And Lovie once cut McCown for Jason Campbell. Yeesh….
March 25th, 2015 at 12:25 pm
Ws99
Don’t forget he lost that super bowl 10 years ago to greatest big game choke artist in history Peyton Manning . I’d bet Peyton sends Lovie a xmas card every year. he is the only head coach Peyton ever beat in a championship game.
March 25th, 2015 at 12:25 pm
Mike10 said everything I was thinking
March 25th, 2015 at 12:29 pm
@mjc
I think something that might’ve been overlooked is the fact that the Bucs showed terribly poor strength and conditioning. Petty injuries everywhere, not to mention looking gassed in the second half constantly. Remember when the Bucs almost beat the Saints behind a surprisingly good game from MG? Then the defense crumbled to allow the Saints to force OT, and lost because of some of the poorest tackling ive seen in YEARS and let some guy named Kyre Robinson run all over them (who the F*#K is Kyre Robinson??).
March 25th, 2015 at 12:30 pm
I guess the epic meltdown in schiano’s first year had nothing to do with game planning or coaching? one season does not define a coach which is why schiano got a second year….lol it’s embarrassing how everyone was all hype as soon as we got schiano, calling into radio shows talking about playoffs his first year like it’s so easy….it ain’t easy which is why none of you are doing it, much easier to criticize than take this regime’s place. year 2 says it all so im in wait and see mode
March 25th, 2015 at 12:36 pm
“Give Peace a Chance”…….”Give Lovie Another Chance”
March 25th, 2015 at 12:37 pm
2-14 and 5-11, sounds like half of fame right there?
of course that is what the new regime will say, well they were 2-14 and 5-11 and there will be lots to rebuild!!!
March 25th, 2015 at 12:43 pm
Who did pay for those billboards to dump Schiano? Lovie will never get that treatment. Lovie has one foot in the quicksand.
March 25th, 2015 at 12:43 pm
We will see how he does if he gets the start for the Browns. It wouldn’t surprise me if he has a decent year with a very good Browns Def. I’m glad he is gone and Jameis is coming but of those 10 the Bucs lost 4 games by 3 points or less and 6 were losses of one score with no help from the OC or OL. There were 3 early games the Def gave up a led on the last drive.
March 25th, 2015 at 12:45 pm
lovie sucks
March 25th, 2015 at 12:45 pm
@TBBF
YES! The 2nd John Lennon reference today. First ’87 brings us “Come Together” and now you give us “Give Peace a Chance”.
Love that music and agree totally with your point. Which lead me to…
@bucsforlyfe
year 2 says it all so im in wait and see mode
Agree 100%. And so I can choose to believe Lovie will fail or he will succeed.
Why would I want to believe he’ll fail.
It would be a whole lot easier to have hoped Belicheat failed in his second year at N.E. instead of LUCKING out with a sixth round draft pick that basically turned him into a “genius”. Belicheat is a total AAAAhole. Lovie is a nice guy.
Given they’ve had some similar challenges I agree with TBBF and Bucforlyfe.
Give him a chance. Rooting against him or constantly talking about the half empty part of the glass without ever mentioning his successes is hardly objective or balanced and it’s certainly not productive.
Our business sucked after the great 08 recession. We were down to 2-3 new patients a month. We have 32 this month. We didn’t get there by whining about any or our past mistakes or failures.
Keep your eyes on the prize guys!
March 25th, 2015 at 12:50 pm
year before lovie smith took over Chicago went 7-9. his first year 5-11 and im sure the city had some concerns but no one freaks out like bucs fans…..his next year 11-5 next year 13-3 and superbowl. that’s not a stat its a part of history and for me something I can look to and say give the guy another year. hey you have no choice he’ll be here whether you want him to or not lol choke job in the superbowl that is funny because all teams and their coaches get there with ease right. went 13-3 and with that dull personality somehow got nervous and emotional for the superbowl…..right lol great analysis
March 25th, 2015 at 12:57 pm
StPete
I may have to hire you to replace my anti Lovie anger management therapist who is not getting results obviously.
Save the Bay, send Lovie to the Basement
March 25th, 2015 at 12:59 pm
Lovie you are 2-14 as head coach with roster control. Il forgive it if u refund my season ticket money
March 25th, 2015 at 1:00 pm
bucs4lyfe I’m with you. Lovie inherited a team with years of bad drafting. He tried getting the best free agents available last year and won free agency. We know now that winning free agency means squat. L and L which a lot of people on here have called hard headed admitted and cut his mistakes. We also have to staff the team with players that fit the system which it seems they are doing this off season. We had no OC last year so I don’t even know how bad are line really is because a bad OC will make your whole offense look bad. Lovie went out there and got one of the best OC available. This alone is huge. How many more games would we have won if we had Dirk last year? This is the year that we shall see if the defense gets it. Things did get better we had more sacks than any year since 2005. The sack total must grow but it is a start. I am willing to see a team built to win for the long term with young drafted talent it takes time and a plan. I am going to give this coach more than one year.
March 25th, 2015 at 1:09 pm
Tmax
I may have to hire you to replace my anti Lovie anger management therapist who is not getting results obviously.
LMAO We can gather a group like on Charlie Sheen’s “Anger Management” show. We’ll have to make room for Dallas Buc and from this thread it appears the counseling session will be loaded! 🙂
Certainly we’d have to invite…Ihateloviesmith!
lovie sucks
Geez could you come to the pont IHLS. Stop beating around the bush.
March 25th, 2015 at 1:09 pm
the team had 5 draft picks last year we signed like 3 or 4 big name free agents and the rest were there the year before plus the add ons of undrafted free agents and random pickups and players traded for. lovie tried to upgrade key positions….he failed but he tried and your kidding yourself if we would have done any better had we not gone after those players. how much worse would the sack total and defense have been without the pick up of jacquies smith? 2nd and 3rd round picks were injured…..and here we are again about to go into the draft and all of you will be once again going nuts of these rookies just like you did last year
March 25th, 2015 at 1:14 pm
Lovie inherited a 4-12 team and made it worse. You can’t argue that. You can try to excuse it as a bad team before Lovie got here but still doesnt excuse the fact he made it worse.
I dont care what Lovie did in Chicago and I dont understand why you all think any of that is relevant to our Bucs. So far he has been horribly bad here. Worse than Rah or Schiano. Handing McCown the starting job was just 1 of the many horrible decisions he’s made since being here. I hope the guy turns it around and takes us to the playoffs.. But im not seeing anything that suggests he will.
I cant imagine the Glazers expected a worse season than the previous year either. A 5 or 6 win season would of assured he’d be around awhile. But now, welcome to the hot seat Lovie.
March 25th, 2015 at 1:17 pm
“Yes, I do,” Lovie said “I also think that I’m more of the coach that went 10-6 my last year before this 2-14 season. Let’s not hold that 2-14 against any of us is what I’m going to say. Yes, ma’am.”
Bwaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahahahahaha!!!! Bet we won’t get many smug reminders of last years record this offseason. This guy is a joke.
March 25th, 2015 at 1:20 pm
WTF????
yall dilusional?
he sucked last year at every phase of coaching a team.
i think yall been in the sun too long
March 25th, 2015 at 1:23 pm
only a nut would complain about a 2-14 season when using a quarterbacks coach from college and then say you should out and just get anybody to come in and help with the offense. think this regime didn’t realize they over estimated the talent after going through the training camp? why else trade for logan mankins? imagine how worse the line would have been without logan mankins….meaning someone like garrett gilkey would have been a full time starter
March 25th, 2015 at 1:23 pm
Stpete
You just forgot to mention that Belli already had a ring on his finger as DC for NY.
Belli 5
Smith 0
March 25th, 2015 at 1:24 pm
Lovie’s a career .519 coach. And, when he was hired, that’s about what I thought of him, he’s good enough to get you to 8-8 and to the playoffs some years.
The hope is Koetter. If Lovie can make everyone else .500, even Steven, and Koetter is able to make the offense less offensive, then maybe we have something.
The thought of a Koetter/Winston/Evans/VJ offense keeps me positive.
March 25th, 2015 at 1:30 pm
I can draw a lot more positives from what we built towards last year than any year in recent memory.
For one; if we are going to suck; might as well get the #1 pick and get a franchise QB. No point in winning 3-5 games honestly and missing out on the future. The single best thing that can happen to any team in the NFL is landing a franchise QB.
Second; with prior regimes; the Bucs typically faltered in the 2nd half of the season and finished on a bad note. In Schiano’s last year; the team was DESTROYED in the last 5 games of the season; getting outscored 152-56
The year before that; we went 1-5 after starting 6-4. Outscored 169-97
We started 2011 4-2; and then went 0-10 haha. Giving up rediculous points.
While we finished on a losing streak last year; the defense played much better in the 2nd half than any team we’ve fielded the last 5 years or so. We kept games close and the players played hard. Still outscored 131-83 over 6 games; but that is a lot better than 169-97; or 150-56 over even less games
Schiano was literally the worst second half NFL coach I have ever witnessed in my life. It was truly amazing.
March 25th, 2015 at 1:41 pm
@WS99
OK point taken. Belicheat was lucky enough to coach for Parcells on an SB team.
And he was incredibly LUCKY that a 6th round draft pick turned out to be one of the best QB’;s in the history of the freaking game.
If Fameis is all that then Lovie too can become the “genius” that is Bill Belicheat.
Has Belicheat ever gotten to the SB without Parcells or Brady.
Lovie did it with freaking Rex Grossman. Think Rex “carried” Lovie to that game?
March 25th, 2015 at 1:42 pm
@bucngator
LOL shots fired
March 25th, 2015 at 1:45 pm
Schiano was literally the worst second half NFL coach I have ever witnessed in my life. It was truly amazing.
——————
This I can agree with. But his defenses were much better than what Lovie has produced thus far. While the D did improve as the season went on, I’m no where near confident enough to say they will actually be better.
March 25th, 2015 at 1:47 pm
WS99 Says:
March 25th, 2015 at 1:23 pm
Stpete
You just forgot to mention that Belli already had a ring on his finger as DC for NY.
Belli 5
Smith 0
_______________________________________________________________
Lovie Smith has a superbowl ring as well he was the DC of the RAMS when they won the Superbowl
March 25th, 2015 at 1:50 pm
Lovie absolutely did not win a Super Bowl when he was the Rams DC. He was the Bucs LB coach that year (and Shaun king sucks and so we lost 11-6). He was their DC when they lost to New England.
March 25th, 2015 at 1:54 pm
@tombsen
Lovie smith became the DC for the rams in 2000, the Rams won the superbowl in 1999
in 2001 they made a superbowl apperence but lost to NE patriots when belicheat filmed the rams walk-thru!
The legend of Lovie smith grows!!!
March 25th, 2015 at 2:03 pm
I wanted Schiano gone as much as the next guy, but IMO he wouldn’t have gone 2-14. His Bucs would’ve demolished Lovie’s Bucs. And Schiano’s team was awful.
March 25th, 2015 at 2:12 pm
Im giving love a chance. I don’t think L&L had nearly enough time to put things together properly last year and a few seconds before the season started we lost our OC and replaced him with a 35 year old towel manager or somethin. Now, if they pull the same kinda thing this year (start 0-8, hell maybe even 0-4), then I will definitely go all in as a member of the LovetoHateLovieandLicht mobsters and be a part of the ominous glow on the horizon that is gettin ready to burn OBPalace to the ground
March 25th, 2015 at 2:21 pm
buc4lyfe….you can’t use the no OC thing as an excuse there were plenty of OCs available that could have came into help make the offense stable and lovie chose not to go that route, not to mention the guy has been wround professional football for probably 20 years and he can’t call plays? Cmon man, Lovie and Licht have done a HORRIBLE job running this team and if it was anyone else, anyone else that was not part of the father dungy tree, that coach would have been shown the door after the 2014 debacle…after the Ravens and Falcons games he should have been shown the door….the defense sucked again too
March 25th, 2015 at 2:29 pm
SOEBuc as in John Willis? lol
March 25th, 2015 at 2:33 pm
@Dusthty Rhothdes
then no one can use offensive line excuses for why mike glennon is 5-13 as a starter. raheem morris replaced the offensive and defensive coordinator all in one season and it wasn’t anyone off the street it came from in house. besides what credible offensive coordinator needs a job from a team desperate to improve that kind of situation PLUS tedford was supposed to come back after like 5 games
March 25th, 2015 at 2:47 pm
Raheem was in over his head, he had an established Cover 2 defensive personnel and then brings in a 3-4 guy, to the bucs, and because itw as raheem and the way he was given the job after gruden, he was unable to attract a decent OC so he got some scrub college guy, who like tedford was way in over his head
I wish last year lovie would have let glennon be the QB all year instead of mclown, the OL still would have sucked and probably would have been 2-14 but because of the ineptitude of Lovie and Licht they GAVE the job to Mccown and the rest is gaining the #1 pick this year…..
The NFC South is the weakest division in all of football, had Lovie improved the team and the coaching the bucs would have been champs at 8-8 maybe 7-9? but no they reverted to the Leeman Bennett bucs and that is unacceptable as a bucs fan
March 25th, 2015 at 2:47 pm
L&L are also the one’s that formed said O-line in question, mind you. Getting rid of everybody but Dotson.
March 25th, 2015 at 2:51 pm
@ bucs4lyfe
“I guess the epic meltdown in schiano’s first year had nothing to do with game planning or coaching”
The “epic meltdown” that resulted in 5 more wins than Lovie’s Bucs HC debut coincidentally followed a disturbing decrease in performance out of Josh Freeman. TD’s went down, interceptions went up, wins became losses. Smartest thing Schiano did was draft a QB the following year after seeing the wheels fall off the Freeman train.
March 25th, 2015 at 3:05 pm
it’s called defense for a reason…..you cant keep running the same high school offense and defensive plays without thinking real coaches will catch up to it. people talk about lovies defense still forgetting we had the worst pass defense in history…..the defense blew 5 leads once again that freeman had a win plus his first two games of 2013 the dude was sitting on the bench with a win. I know how wildly inaccurate josh freeman is but it says more about mike glennon that as inaccurate as he was that glennon cant even do as much as freeman did. people throw out the passer rating and qbr and forget to look at wins and losses.
the team is no better off than it was with schiano but it is no worse either considering that as depressing as last year was we have a new quarterback in 2015, to get rid of glennon it was all worth it
March 25th, 2015 at 3:55 pm
Here let me summarize: Lovie says…I Claim ‘Do Over’. “It just wasn’t fair”…what is this, Jr. High School? We fans are supposed to just forget about last season, as it didn’t really count? That’s one special dream world…whatever he’s taking, I need some.
March 25th, 2015 at 4:15 pm
I just can’t stand this attitude. Why won’t Lovie admit their fault and say we owe it to everyone to do a better job in all aspects, and assure us he will do everything to ensure it?
Why the “we deserve a pass” ?
Sickening
March 25th, 2015 at 4:15 pm
@BigMacAttack well i have been referenced as “white devil” before
March 25th, 2015 at 4:19 pm
Lovie did it with freaking Rex Grossman. Think Rex “carried” Lovie to that game?
—————–
Lmao. You right he should win for that alone. But you and I both know it was Ron Rivera that carried him to the SB. Too bad rivera is coaching our division champions now. That was a dig.
March 25th, 2015 at 4:21 pm
@Buctebow Wait a minute, this isn’t junior high? with all the complaining 12 year old girls on here you really had me fooled
March 25th, 2015 at 4:38 pm
Lovie & company know who the first pick is, the fans know too. Make an announcement asap who the pick is to shut out the opposing voices for all eternity. Yeah I know that’ll never happen. A shout out to whoever is making that pick, just “Gimme Some Truth”, I could’nt resist one of Lennons best for the third reference.
March 25th, 2015 at 5:01 pm
What a moron
March 25th, 2015 at 5:59 pm
@Buccfan37
“just “Gimme Some Truth”, I could’nt resist one of Lennons best for the third reference.”
OK now you’re egging me on LOL. So I’ll respond with 4th Lennon classic..
“Whatever Gets You Through the Night”
March 25th, 2015 at 6:01 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA
StPetesBucsFan just compared Lovie Smith to Bill Belichick.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAH
March 25th, 2015 at 6:30 pm
@Stalie
Nope simply compared their records. Do FACTS bother you. You like to spout opinion with nothing behind it eh?
Here is Belicheats record the first six years before Brady.
41-55
First six years for Lovie
52-44
Oops Stalie, You’re right, Lovie’s record was a winning record. How dare I compare that to the losing coach. Belicheat was a LOSER before he LUCKED out and a sixth round draft pick became on of the best QB’s in the history of football
HA HA HA HA INDEED!!!
March 25th, 2015 at 7:53 pm
Stpetebucsfan….Ha ha ha ha that was good.
Silence!….I kill you!
March 25th, 2015 at 9:16 pm
I am not a fan of this man by any means
March 26th, 2015 at 7:03 am
The consummate dope. Does not admit his (numerous) mistakes let alone learn by them.
March 26th, 2015 at 4:10 pm
Probably knows admitting he did a sh!t job in year one of his Bucs HC tenure makes his leash even shorter than masterfully deflecting blame his way. Schiano manned up and admitted he needed to do better and was rewarded with termination…Lovie won’t ever fall on the sword on his (most likely) final shot as a NFL HC. I doubt he wants to go back to a DC.