Defense Held Intense, Players-Only Session
September 17th, 2015
The agony of defeat sent Gerald McCoy into action
Gerald McCoy says he isn’t going to tolerate messy play any longer.
And the Bucs being out of position and off their game against the Titans sent McCoy into action.
Last night on the Buccaneers Radio Network on WDAE-AM 620, McCoy revealed that he and fellow captain Lavonte David assessed the rampant mistakes on Sunday and called a defense-only study session — after yesterday’s practice session.
The focus was communication and positioning.
A fan reaching out to the radio show expressed that the Bucs looked out of position against Tennessee and wondered whether there would be a special defensive meeting at One Buc Palace, like the ones Derrick Brooks and Warren Sapp led.
“We’re out of place a lot. They did a lot of things to get us off balance. They did some things we hadn’t seen before,” McCoy said of the Titans. “But they also did a lot of things we did see where were just out of place.
“So he mentioned Sapp and Brooks having meetings or doing whatever they needed to do to fix it. We actually did that [Wednesday]. Lavonte David and I pulled the defense together after practice and we watched film as a unit without the coaches. That has to be done. You can’t always depend on the coaches. We’re professionals.
“The leadership that’s being said that lacks, it’s there. I promise you. We’re doing everything necessary to fix it. We understand that Sunday is unacceptable.
“Me and Lavonte David had a long talk. We actually had a meeting after practice with the entire defense, where Lavonte called out the defense, and every position had to call out the fits. You had to ask the other position group, ‘Where you supposed to be on this?’ Because there doesn’t need to be any miscommunication any more. Not moving forward. If that can happen with a rookie quarterback, we’re facing a future Hall of Famer this week. We understand that. Hopefully, if we continue to have these meetings, it’ll show up on Sunday.”
Joe finds it intriguing that McCoy said you can’t always depend on the coaches.
Joe hopes David and McCoy are on to something and can revitalize the troops. The Saints are almost sure to score a few touchdowns at home against any team. If the Bucs aren’t on point Sunday, then the Bucs could be looking at back-to-back hammerings of their defense, Lovie Smith’s defense.
September 17th, 2015 at 9:33 am
Good. I hope it translates to positive results on the field.
September 17th, 2015 at 9:36 am
Great its progress, but I’m more concerned about the lack of effort. I would rather they get together as a unit and watch the Titans game and shame everyone to their face for every example of poor effort. Of course they would still there because there isn’t enough time in the week to call out everyone by name every play.
September 17th, 2015 at 9:36 am
They can’t say it and totally undermine the coach, but I’m sure they think the scheme they’re playing is a total joke. Lavonte in particular is being horribly misused.
September 17th, 2015 at 9:37 am
CANT DEPEND ON LOVIE…simple as that”…
September 17th, 2015 at 9:37 am
Well this is somewhat encouraging. It sounds like McCoy is at least taking that embarrassment personally.
Although one has to ask the question — isn’t this what Training Camp is for?
September 17th, 2015 at 9:38 am
This is literally the first piece of positive news I’ve heard all week. Of course it doesn’t mean squat if we get our butts kicked Sunday, but at least we know the leaders are stepping up and holding people accountable. Now if only the coaches would do the same.
September 17th, 2015 at 9:42 am
Give me a break. Did they turn the music up and bust out the Madden during this players only meeting?
Incompetent Lovie Smith’s squad of least resistacne will still show up woefully unprepared with or without these players only meetings because they are led by professional failures.
September 17th, 2015 at 9:54 am
I don’t. Honestly Joe, do you depend on a “boss” to run JBF? Players still have to execute and everyone sucked last Sunday. So many blame the coaches with the assumption the players are going 100% all the time. Clearly after several interviews this week with several different players that wasn’t the case. The players can’t depend on the coaches to play their best.
September 17th, 2015 at 9:56 am
Quite the vote of confidence for Lovie and Leslie, the self proclaimed greatest teachers.
September 17th, 2015 at 9:56 am
They held meetings last year, and the year before that. Just because you want to do something right doesn’t mean it’s going to happen. How well would this defense do if they did do everything right against a good offense? Seriously, what’s the bar here?
None of us know what these guys are even capable of doing yet. What we saw on Sunday might have been as good as it gets this year. So until we see more I’m just going to keep expecting them to be beaten to a pulp.
Talk is cheap.
September 17th, 2015 at 9:58 am
To me, this says that the coaches can’t motivate this team, so the players are increasingly having to take matters into their own hands. This is symptomatic of a dysfunctional culture at One Buc. This could descend quickly into chaos, with every player and coach pointing fingers at everyone else, in order to shift the blame from themselves. This could get really ugly fast if everyone doesn’t pull together quickly!
September 17th, 2015 at 10:02 am
Lovie is making what five million bucks just this season on coaching this. If we improve by leaps and bounds, then we’ll be a mess. I would say Lovie is a thief but with the idiot guys running the show at one buc, they signed him so. This team needs better leadership at the very top. If the idiot brothers were smart or cared, they would hire a president/CEO type that knows football and he can make the hires. But these guys could care less.
September 17th, 2015 at 10:03 am
Doing everything necessary to fix it? They waited until now? Matt Ryan wasnt a wake up call? Guess not. How about Flacco? not really. Maybe Derek Anderson? Nope. Derek Anderson again? nah, we fine. Lets let a rookie QB in his very first game sit out the entire 4th quarter before we do “everything necessary to fix” the biggest joke in the league. Sorry my bad… Those other guys dont count because this is only one game!!
September 17th, 2015 at 10:11 am
Since this team was taken over by Lovie, I have heard more times that this team ” has not seen that” !!!!!
The Ravens did a 3 step drop all game and they “never had seen that”!!! They play a 3-4 defense and they ” never seen that” , a rookie QB’s come into RJS and they ” never seen that” !!!!!
Lets all save everybody time and have Lovie’s team tell us what they “have seen” that would be a lot shorter!!!!!
#unprepared #outcoached again!!!!
September 17th, 2015 at 10:15 am
Where the heck is swearinger put him in over ex bear chris conte at least we will have an enforcer on the field
September 17th, 2015 at 10:15 am
The Bucs are the Little Rascals of the NFL. There is no adult supervision.
September 17th, 2015 at 10:18 am
Blah, blah, blah. I love McCoy, but it’s time to show us Gerald! Quit friggin talking about it and SHOW US!!
September 17th, 2015 at 10:21 am
Tired of the cliché. Start winning. Lavonte and Gerald both referenced quitting since the game. They aren’t leaders. They are soft players that have led this terrible team to its darkest point in recent history.
September 17th, 2015 at 10:23 am
Somehow McCoy is falling short of convincing me to match the high hopes I had before the last game.
September 17th, 2015 at 10:37 am
I keep asking this question. I would really like to know. Is it something to do with the Tampa two??? Why do our corners always play 5 to 10 yards off of theyre receivers? The league only grants defenders 5 yards of contact before its hands off. It seems like common sense to me especially with the zone defense to have your corners press and play more physical. That alone would help. We havent done it as long as I can remember in seasons past either. Someone please clue me in on why this is!!!???
September 17th, 2015 at 10:43 am
The NFL needs to implement a per game pay scale based on individual grading out in each game. No more of this sign a hefty contract and the security that comes with it and make excuses for up and down or no play. If the players won’t go along with it bring in some that will. Unions are becoming a thing of the past in America with skyrocketing salaries. Where does it end? Per game pay in all pro sports. That will produce major effort.
September 17th, 2015 at 10:49 am
@Buccfan37….
They tried that in the XFL, remember.
Players on the winning team got a bonus
September 17th, 2015 at 10:55 am
It’s about damn time GMC!!!! I hope you B!TCHSLAPPED all of those SCRUBS for being SO INCOMPETENT!! You have to be REALLY SH!TTY to make LOVIE SMITH LOOK BAD!!!
“It’s as simple as that” – Lovie Smith aka “I’m not a babysitter”
September 17th, 2015 at 11:01 am
“Hopefully, if we continue to have these meetings, it’ll show up on Sunday.”
***************************************************************
FUK that man. What do you men “If”. Being leaders and captains of the team you make that $hit mandatory. Everyone has to show up to the defensive meetings. Learn and build as a unit. In reality, are you guys really upset that he said they can’t always depend on coaches? I honestly wouldn’t have it ny other way. They are 2-15 with the coaches in those meeting rooms. Change is a breath of fresh air. #RIDEORDIE
September 17th, 2015 at 11:03 am
On boy a meeting!!!!
This will fix everything!!!
NOT!!!
What a freaking joke!!!
Hey our team sucks ass – lets call a meeting!!!
Yea!!!
Go Bucs!!!
September 17th, 2015 at 11:08 am
First of all, as much as I HATE to say this LVD fckd up more than anyone else outside of Verner. LVD is my favorite player but his last 2 weeks have been highly uncharacteristic.
You can’t call people out when you fckn up yourself.
As for McCoy, he wanted to call the meeting to give everyone ice cream and cotton candy after a tough loss. They all gathered around and watched “The Notebook”. Now he can smile again.
September 17th, 2015 at 11:10 am
Quick question why when u know it’s a slant coming why play 5-10 yards off the receiver why not jam to disrupt the timing of the route?? VERNER?? Why continously get sucks in by the pump fake THE WHOLE GAME??? ENTIRE DEFENSE??? Why were u not covering the middle of the field KWON??? It’s like this d did there own thing and threw out everything the coaches told them to. Grant it Lovie called some questionable plays. Lovie what happened to blitzing lavonte and putting him position to make plays. Look I hope on Sunday we don’t see this defense cuz if so I will have my bottle ready to down cuz this is ENOUGH!!
September 17th, 2015 at 11:12 am
Personally I think the team should start by making everyone from the Glazers to the guy cleaning bathrooms stand up and apologize for that farce. Eat some crow, personally take responsibility. The first step in fixinga problem is admitting there is a problem then own it.
September 17th, 2015 at 11:24 am
Players Only meeting after week 1!!!!!???????
This team is a joke.
There’s blood in the water folks. We could be looking at a complete collapse depending on how badly NOLA curb-stomps these pu**ies.
#15weekstilltheoffseason
#cantwait
Go Sucs!
September 17th, 2015 at 11:25 am
On the first touchdown the safety was playing 25 yards+off the line of scrimmage. … and both linebackers not named david bit hard on the run fake. Leaving david alone in coverage on a number one wr in the middle of the field. That safety should have been no more than 15 yards off the ball. Especially since david was in coverage alone vs their number 1.
September 17th, 2015 at 11:31 am
I think they should take their remaining home games and ask for permission to switch them all to away games. That way Buc fans that attend games don’t have to be subjected to what they’ve been seeing for the last 2 years.
Poor season ticket holders.
September 17th, 2015 at 11:37 am
Don’t trash our defense after 1 week,it is possible that the Titans offense and MM will make a lot of defenses look bad.
September 17th, 2015 at 11:39 am
I think this is a joke…seriously…this team and some of its so called leaders need to be called out publicly by name during an interview, during the game, something anything to lit a fire under this team and get everyone motivated…everyone except for a few players seem to just be going through the motions…its as if everyone on the team were playing like,”when is the offseason?”…players didn’t look prepared or motivated..maybe players are taking lovies kindness for weakness..maybe we need a coach like rex ryan..someone that has a personality and knows how to prepare and motivate men…I just don’t know…sunday cant get here soon enough…GO BUCS!!!
September 17th, 2015 at 11:42 am
How can a defensive minded coach let a rookie perform the way mariota did. Tired of the excuses from coaches and players. Time to win some ball games. The Colts did it with Andrew luck and Seattle did it with russel wilson. Time for the bucs to do it with winston. If not we need to find someone who can. Tired of the losing s__t!
September 17th, 2015 at 11:42 am
“They did some things we hadn’t seen before”
I give props to GMC and David for showing some leadership. Time will tell if it helps the situation. The bigger problem might be the statement above. This suggests the coaches didn’t do enough to prepare the team. Every team will try things they don’t usually put on film from previous games. It’s up to the coaches to recognize the problem and make the adjustments. Adjustments might’ve been made on Sunday but it didn’t show. It looked like the standard Cover 2 to me.
September 17th, 2015 at 11:45 am
Wow!?!?!?!
This is pointless…….
So it took 2 – 14 season and an entire off season and still the defense looks like this???
September 17th, 2015 at 11:56 am
Bucballya…I’ve been trashing the D since last season. They look worse this season.
September 17th, 2015 at 12:18 pm
HEH, held a session to sing kumbaya?..a session on helping the opposing team’s players up?
Ya’ll are whats wrong with this whole situation….Cant blame Jameis and the other few Rooks!
September 17th, 2015 at 12:26 pm
At some point we have to put this behind us!! I’m tired of the misery. Let’s move on. Is Sunday hopeless?
Last year in week five…were we feeling optimistic going into N.O.?
MG8 actually outplayed Drew Brees..2TD 1 int versus 2TD 3 int..and MG8 had a higher QBR as well as a higher pass %.
Someone mentioned LVD’s lackluster play so far this season. Last year in N.O.
LVD was a BEAST!! 14 tackles 10 of them solo.
Danny Lansanah was even better…10 tackles..7 solo..and a pick to go along with Banks and Verner’s picks.
We did it last year with the “inferior” QB on our roster. Lovie was the coach then as well as now. Time to sack up and stop with all the freaking excuses!
IT CAN BE DONE!!!
September 17th, 2015 at 12:43 pm
The irony is that while this is probably a good thing to hear, if this was just about any other HC in Tampa the story would be “players have meeting without coaches, loses locker room!?” Lovie Smith still gets the kid gloves media treatment…where’s the hatchet jobs like Rah, Schiano, and even Gruden got?
September 17th, 2015 at 1:26 pm
The defense really just needs two or three personnel changes. They need more speed from the linebackers to make up for the lack of it up front so if Carter is healthy then lets give him a shot to start over the confused and slow guessing Lansanah. Swearinger should also start at Safety along with maybe Moore changing from nickel to safety as well to be more physical, faster,and having players that know how to find the ball. I would also like to see Johnson and Gholston in the lineup over the non producing favorite Jac Smith. We need to start putting our talent in the starting lineup instead of journeyman like McDougal, J.Smith, and Lansannah. They are the ones who look confused to me on the field and all of lovie smith guys from free agency like Wright and Conte can’t stay healthy so they start either because they are not reliable with the exception of Melton who’s been great so far and should start at end imho. These are the proper adjustments that lovie should looking to make
September 17th, 2015 at 1:34 pm
Here’s how that (most likely) McCoy-led talk began:
“Here, look, that’s my game check. That’s how much I make, so you should listen to me.”
I’m concerned if McCoy or David are leading these team talks. Both should “accent” someone else.
September 17th, 2015 at 1:37 pm
lovie took over defense and it’s still terrible. cover 2 is not that hard to learn it’s a simple defense. FIRE LOVIE SMITH!!!!!! By the way, Falcons defense looks good
September 17th, 2015 at 2:03 pm
Blah blah blah…show it on the field
September 17th, 2015 at 2:40 pm
Derrick Brooks said on his radio show that he and Sapp used to look at the video board after each play and see what happened. They used it to hold each teammate accountable for blown coverages and missed assignments and use it as teachable moments.
September 17th, 2015 at 3:24 pm
A “no coaches allowed” team meeting after thre FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON?
That usually means the coaches have lost the team, and the wheels are coming off…
September 17th, 2015 at 4:08 pm
Joseph mama, The Bucs owners do care, I haven’t seen any evidence that they don’t care. The money they have spent and the whirlwind of different coaches tells me that they care alot. The problem as I see it is they keep making the wrong decisions. Hiring the wrong personnel to run this team. Just because they don’t have a winning team right now is not an indication that they don’t care. I say the evidence says otherwise.
September 17th, 2015 at 4:19 pm
I like it as there should be a few more players stepping up after such a poor performance by both players & coaches.
September 17th, 2015 at 4:52 pm
@BucfanBF, I agree, I’ve said here before that the Glazers need to hire an experienced head of football operations. As it sits now they have business people between Licht and them, no one that knows how to build a winning football organization. They need someone who will put the right people in place top to bottom.
September 18th, 2015 at 1:44 am
Something bad happens – trash the team and the players and the coaches
Something good happens – trash the team and the players and the coaches
All you negative idiots are ridiculous. You would have a new coach and new QB every year and just wallow pathetically at the bottom forever if we listened to you.
The foundation for the defense and some of the offense is there.
You are blond and completely ignorant about football if you can’t see that.
They have played 2 game. Give it a rest. Wait until 4 games at least, then freak out and call for the peanut stand worker and everyone else to get fired.