Lovie: I Am Demanding
August 1st, 2015
Lovie Smith discusses his coaching style.
Yes, Joe knows a lot Bucs fans are not exactly fans of Lovie Smith after last year’s 2-14 debacle. Understandable. Any Bucs fans with a pulse should be outraged by that showing.
But don’t think for a second that just because Lovie isn’t Chucky and always howling and screaming and cussing and stomping his feet on the sideline, that means he doesn’t have standards.
Lovie reacted sharply to the notion that he is, well, passive, when he met with the fourth estate camped out at One Buc Palace to watch guys walk from their cars into a building yesterday. Someone asked Lovie if he was going to be more demanding this year and Lovie didn’t mince words.
“No. More demanding is saying I wasn’t demanding then,” Lovie said. “I let some things go by. Saying I purposely went something go by then. I didn’t do that. Yeah, I have to be better. We all have to be better in all areas. We held them to a high standard last year. We are going to do the best job we possibly can in every situation.
“We are not going to talk a lot about last year though. It’s on record what we did. We all – and when I say we all, starting with me – have to do a better job in any subject, any area that you would bring up right now.”
Joe sure as hell wouldn’t let the team forget last year. You know why? Everyone from Gerald McCoy to Lavonte David right down to the towel boy needs to know they have to raise their games. Period. Last year was flatly unacceptable and no matter how long a player has been here, no matter how much cash they earn, they started for the worst team in the NFL and their job security is on the line. Simple as that, as Lovie might say.
True, Joe understands how everyone wants to put last year in the past, Joe gets it. But there ought to be a shot across the bow: Play better than last year or you are replaceable.
August 1st, 2015 at 8:13 am
everyone from Gerald McCoy and Lavonte David right down to the towel boy needs to know they have to raise their game.
I honestly do not see this as a problem. These people from Lovie to Licht to GMC, LVD and all the players, as well as the cheerleaders, vendors and yes we fans, all did a horrible job last year. EVERYTHING about last year sucked. We ALL get that!!!
Everything I see in the off season leads me to believe that last year was humiliating and has left a horrible taste in everybody’s mouth.
Everybody is highly motivated to avoid that taste of bile again this year and all are anxious to get started on 2015.
Every year is different for sports teams. You are what your record says you are. The 2014 Bucs were 2014 and that’s inexecusable.
The 2015 Bucs are 0-0 which is exactly where they should be this time of the year. All other stuff looks good…the draft could be truly excellent! FA’s are not splash signings but instead solid pieces to our puzzle.
On a scale of 1-10 our coaching staff has improved by TEN!!! Bajakian is far better than Arroyo and Koetter is better than Tedford much less Arroyo. Having a REAL NFL OC is a yyuuuge improvement.
0-0 baby. Let’s get it on!!!!
August 1st, 2015 at 8:28 am
I am sure the coaching staff will use that approach with the team when its appropriate.
I can certainly see Lovie taking that stand with the media though else he will have to readdress last year every time he gets in front of the micorophone. Right now he is trying to build confidence in the team this year. Make them think they can play with anyone. The media will just keep hounding him with “you sucked last year, explain to us again why you wont suck this year”. I can see him attempting to shut that down.
August 1st, 2015 at 8:33 am
I think it’s a good idea to move on. As a Buc fan we have plenty of past failures to dwell on if we like…..we are constantly reminded of our mistakes…..Bennett, Zuttah, Revis….Gaines Adams, Clayborne, Barron…..Josh Freeman and even Myron Lewis.
I try to remember the good….Superbowl…..etc.
It’s a new day in Tampa Bay…..let’s embrace it!!!
August 1st, 2015 at 8:41 am
StPeteBucsFan … My sentiments exactly. New year … Time to move on.
August 1st, 2015 at 8:49 am
“Play better than last year or you are replaced.”
So if Gerald McCoy doesn’t play better, if Lavonte David doesn’t play better, they should be replaced?
No need for such knee jerk reactions. While this may apply to some players, and some (including some coaches) have indeed been replaced, there are a good number of quality players that simply needed time in the system and proper coaching to play well.
The defense started coming around late in the season. The offense had no direction, no time to gain continuity, and band-aide coaching. Improvements should be obvious in the first game.
August 1st, 2015 at 9:18 am
I have been moving on from Buc choke jobs for most of my life. I’ll believe it when I see it materialize into reality. Yeah, where is that Lovie confidence poll? I have little to date.
August 1st, 2015 at 10:10 am
Don’t know about the rest of you but I am very tired of Lovie’s pablum-puking jibberish, coach-speak, excuses and his inability to recognize that the change of rules by the NFL have made it very, very difficult for the Tampa-2, a defense that was very effective a decade ago.
As Derrick Brooks once explained:
“A lot of people have the recipe, very few have the ingredients….”
Lovie has an outdated recipe with not enough of the right ingredients.
August 1st, 2015 at 10:22 am
Last year was last year. The Bucs tanked for Jameis. Nothing that happened last year means anything – other than that we finally got our franchise QB.
As far as I’m concerned – the evaluation of Lovie as coach of the Bucs starts now. Nothing that happened last year means anything to me. We got the best QB prospect to have come out in a long time and it will set this franchise up for success for many years. That’s all that matters about last year to me. At some point – the decision was made to do what was necessary to get Winston and set this franchise up for success – and Lovie made it happen.
Good Job Lovie Smith!
Time to Siege the Day. Go Bucs. Shock the world this season and don’t look back.
August 1st, 2015 at 10:37 am
Pickgrin says: “At some point – the decision was made to do what was necessary to get Winston and set this franchise up for success”.
That occurred when they made Josh McClown the starting QB…….The first time that is.
August 1st, 2015 at 10:38 am
LOL
August 1st, 2015 at 10:50 am
Wisest words spoken in reference to this article pick. rayjay you are correct. How people can’t see the fix was in for the entire season when you make a career back up your starter is beyond me. And where are the “Animosity Amigos”Dallas,couch,tom and tmaxx?
August 1st, 2015 at 10:53 am
Well Joe, your philosophy of how to coach a football team is probably the reason you are writing a blog and not coaching men.
I’m sure you believe in rousing half time speeches too. That rah rah high school coaching crap doesn’t work in the pros.
they know their job is on the line every week, they don’t need someone hitting them over the head with a sledge hammer ever day reminding them of it.
August 1st, 2015 at 11:04 am
I wonder did he demand not replacing a coach to tanking for James? I have no faith in a person who embarress the bucs like that. Loves time has come and can’t wait till its gone. Its that time of the year where everbodys pumped up just to be let down with excuses for losing.
August 1st, 2015 at 12:11 pm
Couch is just sitting back and waiting to see some football. You all know how I feel at this point. I dont need to keep bashing until Incompetent Lovie makes another incompetent football decision. Which probably isnt to far away. GO BUCS!!!
August 1st, 2015 at 12:25 pm
Now when Lovie cut Mccown, I respected that. He could have gone on about accountability and getting better but it would have come off as fake if Mccown, the biggest reason we won but two games last year, was still on the roster.
August 1st, 2015 at 12:50 pm
onetrick I dare you to hold your breath and allow us to see what happens first. Lovie gone real soon or maybe you? I’ll leave it to your imagination.
August 1st, 2015 at 12:51 pm
Animosity Amigos member couch Whus good dude..
August 1st, 2015 at 1:04 pm
It aint the freakin weather I’ll tell you that much.
August 1st, 2015 at 3:32 pm
.whats the matter truth hurts nole? Been following since the bucs became a team and can say its been more down years than good ones and see nothing good coming and already hearing excuses of winning only a hand full of games if that’s good enough for you so be it
August 1st, 2015 at 11:59 pm
So OneTrick what is your take on Scirano in Indy? He tanked the season to get Lucky and look where they are now. Would you respect him? Couch you keep calling Lovie incompetent but you’re the incompetent one who can’t see the plan was to get Jameis and last year was for that purpose. It’s a shame that even if he coaches the Bucs to a super bowl win you and your hater buddies will still never give him credit. Lovie Smith is a very smart, intelligent AND competent individual but I guess to you maybe he is only well spoken!