Report: Lovie To Take Over Playcalling Duties
August 20th, 2015
If this latest report is accurate, then Joe believes it says a heck of a lot about what Lovie Smith thinks of the Bucs’ 2014 defense.
Tampa Bay Times beat writer Rick Stroud is claiming Lovie will take control of playcalling duties for the Tampa Bay defense ASAP. Stroud says Lovie was relaying calls for the defense during today’s practice via linebackers coach Hardy Nickerson.
This is stunning, considering how much defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier talked about the revival of the defense during the second half of last season. Frazier and Bucs officials have talked about how the team was top-10 in multiple defensive stats during that period. Heck, Lovie even pronounced, “True football fans can see we’re on the verge” last December.
Perhaps this coaching change is part of the “verge,” Lovie referenced.
Joe also wonders if this move could be related to 21-year-old rookie Kwon Alexander taking over playcalling on the field. Lovie might want to be the guy in his young ear.
One could also speculate Lovie is feeling pressure to produce in 2015, or that he feels so comfortable with new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, that he feels liberated to run the defense. It could also be that Lovie simply thinks Frazier is over his head.
Regardless, Lovie sure has put himself into a fire.
August 20th, 2015 at 4:50 pm
It’s been his defense all along. Frazier was just a front, occupying a title.
August 20th, 2015 at 4:51 pm
No scapegoat now…..
August 20th, 2015 at 4:53 pm
They will be even more passive!!!
August 20th, 2015 at 4:54 pm
$hit!… If he has Tai KWON Do & BEAST LVD playing like Urlacher & Briggs it’s all gooooooooood!
August 20th, 2015 at 4:54 pm
I don’t get this. Lovie’s game management already leaves something to be desired, let alone if he now has play calling duties to worry about on top. Leslie Frazier doesn’t exactly have a HOF defensive coordinator resume, but I thought was more than capable. Will Lovie’s play calling suddenly spark a pass rush? I think not.
August 20th, 2015 at 4:56 pm
Oh I believe that Lovie feels the pressure to produce in 2015…..and he’s not going to let Frazier bring him to the point of losing his job or possibly his career. Who knows what else is also happening behind the scenes between these coaches or between Frazier and the players.
August 20th, 2015 at 4:58 pm
Damn Joe….you almost had me LIVID!!!!!!!
I thought this was going to say Lovie was going to be taking on offensive playacting duties. Had that been the case I don’t think I would have been able to sit through a single game. As a matter of fact he just needs to stay as far away from the offense or any situation that involves the offense as possible.
As for defensive play calling….if this is true, I couldn’t be happier. I was never a fan of Frazier coming here. I heard people say he was a good defensive coach but never saw anything that suggested that to be the case. Love can run a D. This is the best chance for the defense to produce results this season.
C-ya Frazier!!!!!
August 20th, 2015 at 5:00 pm
On first down, Lovie is going to call Cover 2. On second down, Lovie is going to call Cover 2. On third down, Lovie is going to call Cover 2. When everybody knows Lovie is going to call Cover 2, Lovie is going to call Cover 2.
August 20th, 2015 at 5:04 pm
So Lovie will concentrate on the defense and let Koetter run the offense, sounds like a winning combination. Each will be judged respectively if one or the other is deemed an improvement or not.
August 20th, 2015 at 5:10 pm
This is good news….Lovie will concentrate on defense……and…
Realist….you were happy with Frazier?
August 20th, 2015 at 5:14 pm
This is simply a case a where “If you want something done right, do it yourself” applies. No more, no less. What it says about Frazier is obvious.
August 20th, 2015 at 5:22 pm
If your ship is sinking with no help in sight and your the captain, you may as well take the helm for the final hours….. (or 16 weeks in this case). 🙂
I agree with the move as I never thoguht much of Frazier as DC or HC in Minny. He has no nasty in him aka Dick LeBeau
August 20th, 2015 at 5:34 pm
I am very happy about this. My northern friends told me that Leslie played a passive, keep the play in front of you, defense and Lovie called a much more aggressive defense, trying to jump routes and force turnovers.
August 20th, 2015 at 5:36 pm
I’ll wait and see how this plays out. Might be a good thing for the D.
August 20th, 2015 at 5:37 pm
He’s feeling the heat after Teddy Checkdown torched Frazier’s d. Maybe Lovie learned a thing or two from Rivera and Marinelli about calling a good d. Lovie was best when he was just a coordinator so this just might work
August 20th, 2015 at 5:47 pm
When Lovie is calling the plays, hopefully he remembers everything he learned from Monte
August 20th, 2015 at 5:52 pm
Surprised Lovie hasn’t convinced Urlacher to get off his couch and come down here to mentor the Wrath Of Kwon on his Mike basics…That being said, the Beast of the Bay LVD#54, has been good enuff to be calling plays since his rookie season. As long as the Beast of the Bay is next to him, Wrath of Kwon will be just fine.
August 20th, 2015 at 5:53 pm
csidedave- I’ve heard the same thing from friends in St Louis. They were sorry to see him leave to HC Chi.
Leighroy- Leslie Frazier did coach the viking def to 3 top ten (6, 6, 8) finishes before he took over as their head coach. Maybe not HOF but not bad either.
P’cola- Totally Agree!
August 20th, 2015 at 5:55 pm
I swear I was thinking this sat night. They showed lovie with the play sheet then..
August 20th, 2015 at 5:59 pm
I like your thought about Lovie wanting to be in his young MLBer’s ear Joe.
This is appropriate IMO.
Frazier has just been keeping the seat warm for whenever Marinelli becomes available anyway.
August 20th, 2015 at 6:05 pm
Something really strange going on behind the scenes I bet. My hunch is that Leslie Frazier will be gone before too long.
August 20th, 2015 at 6:08 pm
I hate to be so negative, but I just have a very bad feeling about this season. It already is starting to feel like last season.
August 20th, 2015 at 6:08 pm
Tampa Tony no way this has anything to do with the last preseason game. Play calls were vanilla and pretty much scripted.
August 20th, 2015 at 6:27 pm
GREAT news.
August 20th, 2015 at 6:28 pm
The Bucs won a SB when the HC called plays in his specialty.
August 20th, 2015 at 7:11 pm
Lovie is smart enough that his defense has to produce this year, or He’ll be back in basement, unemployed, watching football.
He could survive an offense with a new coordinator, and three rookies, but if his defense regresses in year two, and he doesn’t make it to 6, or 7 wins he’ll be seeing “Fire Lovie” Billboards all over town.
August 20th, 2015 at 7:27 pm
Why with this move there is a chance this season that the Bucs may actually win a home game lol
August 20th, 2015 at 7:41 pm
Not a big Lovie guy here but I will give this one to him
It’s about time you grow a set and make some moves
August 20th, 2015 at 7:47 pm
The plot thickens then, doesn’t it.
Go Bucs
August 20th, 2015 at 7:47 pm
I guess Lovie was the overall overseer prior to this self promotion. It can’t hurt, seeing he knows defense. This might be the ticket to better blitz, sack, pick and turnover numbers.
August 20th, 2015 at 7:57 pm
DAAAAAMNNN!! LOVIE IS taking over!?
1? SH!T IS ABOUT TO GET REAL SON!!!
“It’s as simple as that” – Lovie Smith
August 20th, 2015 at 8:02 pm
Isn’t this the one thing that Incompetent Lovie Smith is supposed to be good at…calling the plays on defense? My guess is that unless you have enough quality players and you actually can coach the game it won’t make a difference who calls plays. My question is what the hell is Leslie Frazier doing now?…making coffee and take out runs with the lapdog GM?
August 20th, 2015 at 8:07 pm
Sweet. Hopefully it helps
August 20th, 2015 at 8:22 pm
It could be that you ruined shocking news with all your guessing showing how little you know about this. Truth be told i dont like frazier playcalling and since its your defense lovie and your not doing anything else besides staring off into space like a goon while your squad falls apart yea i think doing something on gameday is a great idea, defense should now improve if this is true
August 20th, 2015 at 8:29 pm
Dallas
He’s standing around catching a tan. I could have told you this weeks ago. The fact that you don’t see Frazier coaching in any vids, pics or even in the background tells a story.
August 20th, 2015 at 8:38 pm
Pick grin
Frazier has just been keeping the seat warm for whenever Marinelli becomes available anyway.
****************
Exactly! Give this man a prize!
August 20th, 2015 at 8:48 pm
Yall sound stupid!!
August 20th, 2015 at 8:57 pm
Mclown – 3/6 for 17y and 2 Ints. 2nd qrt 9mins left
August 20th, 2015 at 9:02 pm
Sounds like a bad 2015 season equals Koetter as HC and Marinelli as DC. Outlook just improved for this season.
August 20th, 2015 at 9:06 pm
Leslie is pointless.
Dirk is the O
Love is the D
This is not a shock. I also agree with 2 points Joe made
1. He wants to be in the ear of Kwon
2. He is comfortable releasing almost all control of the offense
August 20th, 2015 at 9:24 pm
Frazier now has something in common with Schiano & Anthony Collins….he’s getting paid by the Bucs to do nothing!!!
August 20th, 2015 at 9:45 pm
Loved it when Lovie was our linebackers coach back in our hayday. Love this news about Lovie calling the plays on defense. This team is going to be a defensive powerhouse this year.
August 20th, 2015 at 9:45 pm
I believe this move is positive for our Buccos.
August 20th, 2015 at 9:56 pm
Howard will use deduction (like Sherlock Holmes)…
OK…Lovie is quiet but intimidating.
Koetter has a little Gruden in him.
You have to be a d**k sometimes to be a good coach in the NFL.
From what I’ve seen of Frazier as a HC and a DC he seems:
a.) Too passive
b.) Too quiet
c.) Too polically correct with his comments
d.) etc, etc
Hardy Nickerson is another passionate coach.
Howard is thinking possible mutiny against Frazier?
Maybe McCoy and David and Nickerson all went to Lovie
and said “we want you to call the plays because Frazier
isn’t cutting it.”
The Kwon Alexander thing was an interesting prelude
to this move.
Go Bucs!
August 20th, 2015 at 10:11 pm
Tampabaybucfan- being paid by the Bucs to do nothing?…you can add Incompetent Lovie Smith to that roll call!
August 20th, 2015 at 10:26 pm
Hardy for DC!!!
August 20th, 2015 at 10:27 pm
Once again Lovie wants to do too much. We have a good DC that did well when we finally let him run the D last season. Lovie needs to be a HC and that’s it. They should let Frasier go if this is the case so he can get with a real team and actually be a DC. What a joke. I am so fed up with all the bs we constantly have to deal with.
August 20th, 2015 at 10:27 pm
So he does a little play calling during a portion of 1 practice. And all of a sudden frazier is out. Come on now. We gotta see it happen more than 1 practice. Frazier might have been off that day for some reason.
August 20th, 2015 at 11:02 pm
I actually have no problem with this. He wants to control his own fate, and if the defense looks good it’ll make him look good. Conversely, if the D struggles, he’s not gonna have a leg to stand on.
August 20th, 2015 at 11:35 pm
Could be a positive seeing as how Lovie was a good DC with the Rams. The thing that scares me has been pointed out by several other posters…he seems taxed enough as it is to be the HC (blah blah he took the Bears to a SB…and got out coached badly). I’m actually going to stay optimistic with this particular move though, as he certainly can’t do worse than Frazier did in year one with the Bucs in the DC capacity. Sad thing is I think with Lovie as our DC, Koetter as our OC, and a good HC this team would get scary good fast
August 20th, 2015 at 11:50 pm
Lovie not known for offense so he better take control of this defense if this is his specialty.. I agree, if defense doesn’t improve, then Lovie will be gone. Having a good d might save him cause our offense is doubtful with rookie qb and suspect o-line with no depth. Bottom line, to survive as coach you gotta be good at something either defense or offense.
August 21st, 2015 at 12:00 am
@Brent
“Having a good d might save him cause our offense is doubtful with rookie qb and suspect o-line with no depth.”
Oh I’m sure he has a good D! Just ask DallasBuc’s Mom!!
“It’s as simple as that” – Lovie Smith
August 21st, 2015 at 12:08 am
^^^mom jokes! That’s the best you got tough guy?
This incompetent Lovie Smith run football team took a good D all season long last year to the tune of 2-14.
“It’s as simple as that”
August 21st, 2015 at 12:23 am
I think it was the last 4 games of the season when Frazier took over play calling on D. Our D played better those weeks than they did all year. Frazier is a good DC. Lovie is our HC not our DC.
As much as I don’t like Shameis. It appears we have our franchise QB, as long as he stays out of trouble, now we need the coach to go along with it. Maybe we start off bad and they fire him. I hate thinking like that but Lovie is not the answer. We need a coach who gets up in their asses and motivates them. Just not Schiano like in regards to controlling every detail of their life. Just a motivater
August 21st, 2015 at 1:11 am
watching the Vikes game on TV last weekend, i felt i saw the Bucs sideline demeanor was better than i’d ever seen it, under any coach. The body language seemed to be confident, and their actions were all business. No pouting, just “what happened, coach? what did we do wrong, and how do we correct it?” It’s just a brief sample of course, but it would be great if this was then most disciplined Bucs team ever, and i think it might be. It seems to be to be a 180 from last year. i’m inclined to think Lovie was badly embarrassed last year and I think many of the commenters here badly underestimate him. I think he understands what it takes to be a successful NFL head coach, perhaps more so than any coach we’ve had. But, we’ll see.
August 21st, 2015 at 1:11 am
also, surprised nobody said, “Down Goes Frazier!” at least i didn’t see it?
August 21st, 2015 at 2:06 am
Makes ppl want to tune in more!!
August 21st, 2015 at 3:55 am
This is another great recipe for the success down the line. I felt all along that Frazier should not be calling plays on defense over Lovie. This move will also be vital in the grooming of Hardy Nickerson as a defensive coordinator in the near future once Frazier bolts for another head coaching gig. It also will further develop the young rookie starter at Middle Linebacker.
August 21st, 2015 at 8:28 am
Wise words johnny and one love the Amigos get a little sensitive when you bring up their mom’s bro.
August 21st, 2015 at 8:53 am
Its just play calling duties. Why is everyone making such a huge deal out of it.
I’m sure Frazier will still have work to do during the week AND on game days.
There are PLENTY of other head coaches in the league that call the plays for their respective area. Does that mean that those same OC/DC are useless as well?
August 21st, 2015 at 10:41 am
how can people say that defense was good last year? They improved but they were nowhere near good.
If you put powdered sugar on a turd the taste is improved but it is still sh*t!
They were better than they were at the start of the season but they were not good.
August 21st, 2015 at 10:58 am
What I see here is a bunch of idiots liked to blame Lovie for the things that went wrong on defense when it was Leslie Frazier.
I NEVER liked the Leslie Frazier hire. I believe Lovie only had Licht hire him as a stopgap until Rod could come, but because Rod stayed in Dallas, plans were messed up.
Lovie is a better defensive coach than Leslie Frazier. Heck, he’s a better all around coach than Leslie Frazier.
IF THE REPORT IS ACCURATE (which we really don’t know because Rick Stroud has lied through his teeth constantly in the past), then it is a good move.
If it is accurate, then I guess most of you should eat crow for blaming Lovie, but you won’t, because you would rather live in denial.
August 21st, 2015 at 11:03 am
ToesOnTheLine! Says
“…I think with Lovie as our DC, Koetter as our OC, and a good HC this team would get scary good fast.”
I agree with everything you said EXCEPT THIS.
The team can only get as good as the talent allows. We still have too many holes on defense.
And I believe at least 2 holes on the offensive line, though the recent hire MIGHT buy us a year at RT.
I never felt Dotson was as good as people claimed. He may have been the best on the line, but it was the worst line in the league and that isn’t saying much.
Anyway, back to my point…I agree that the team will improve more quickly…I just don’t agree with the “scary good fast” part.
I caution patience for another year.