Immediate Change For Kwon Alexander
September 18th, 2015
Gerald McCoy weighs in on Sunday preparation for rookie middle linebacker Kwon Alexander
Lovie Smith opted to roll with a 21-year-old quarterback of the defense, starting 2015 third-round pick Kwon Alexander at middle linebacker.
After Alexander’s first showing Sunday, things already have changed for the rookie, said Gerald McCoy.
McCoy took to Total Access on the Buccaneers Radio Network this week and said coaches have eased up on what Alexander must store in his brain as the defensive play caller on the field against the Saints on Sunday.
Like Raheem Morris did for Mason Foster in 2011, Lovie Smith will lighten the mental load on Alexander.
“I think he did well. Of course, there were pieces missing, obviously, with how they were moving up and down the field,” McCoy said of Alexander’s first game.”But I think he knows his mistakes and what he needs to do better. And he already showed improvement [Wednesday] in practice.
“And I think it will be a lot better. They simplified a lot of things for him this week, especially facing a future Hall of Famer. And I think it will be a lot better, a lot easier, smoother this week.”
McCoy made it clear that Alexander will remain responsible for perfection and not being a rookie when he’s making the calls in the heat of the game. McCoy said he won’t hesitate to “yell at you” if your the MLB and not on your mental game.
Raheem said he had to “cut down the menu” for Foster so he could play faster. Joe suspects Alexander is in for the same treatment, sort of like eight early-bird choices versus the Chinese buffet.
Joe sure hopes it’s a difference maker for Alexander. Drew Brees and company will be happy to up the tempo and do their best to confuse the Bucs defense, which looked awfully confused against Tennessee.
September 18th, 2015 at 4:01 pm
Lovie is just winging it at this point.
September 18th, 2015 at 4:08 pm
Still think Lovie is expecting too much of Alexander. He’s got all the tools, but expecting a rookie to play his position AND make all the calls for the defense AND call whatever adjustments might be necessary after the call is made seems unrealistic to me. As good as folks seem to feel that Kwon is, perennial Pro-Bowl QBs like Drew Brees thrive on taking advantage of inexperienced defenders.
September 18th, 2015 at 4:08 pm
“Raheem said he had to “cut down the menu” for Foster so he could play faster.”
was that during the 2011 blowout season where the entire team quit? seemed effective… how about have someone else start at the position?
September 18th, 2015 at 4:12 pm
Hey guys, think about this. Wade Phillips returns to Denver and their defense is really flying around, getting tons of takeaways, etc.
you want to go against Buffalo? Add ‘ol rex baby and that very good defense is lethal.
The point is a very good coach makes your team better. A great coach like Parcells, Belicheck, etc. makes your team GREAT.
Our coach and our coaching staff sucks. They have one game to staighten it out or the Glaziers better replace him. If they don’t watch the exodus of fans, like rats on a sinking ship.
September 18th, 2015 at 4:17 pm
Alezander & Winston 2 rookie QBs one for the offense the other for the defense.
We are toast!!!
0-16
We are under SIEGE!!!
Somebody call the coast guards!!!!
September 18th, 2015 at 4:19 pm
The more I read the more I’m convinced Lovie was a bad hire.
September 18th, 2015 at 4:20 pm
The Pirate Ship is SINKING!!!!
September 18th, 2015 at 4:21 pm
108 days until the Lovie Smith siege ends.
September 18th, 2015 at 4:21 pm
And for the record – WHO PUTS A ROOKIE IN CHARGE OF CALLING A DEFENSE?????????
September 18th, 2015 at 4:22 pm
If they simplified it for the rookie, does that mean instead of Lovie’s 12 plays he will only have 6???? We need answers?????
September 18th, 2015 at 4:24 pm
The Glazers won’t fire Lovie until the end of the season. Glazers are aiming at the #1 pick in the next draft.
September 18th, 2015 at 4:29 pm
If it takes a whole year to feel confortable in the Tampa 2, why are we having a ROOKIE calling plays????
He probably made the wrong adjustments during the game. KA probably confused the rest of the defense. David should take over. -smh
September 18th, 2015 at 4:37 pm
Is there a reason the rookie is tasked with making the calls over David? Why not let David make the calls and slowly bring the rookie along while allowing him to learn it.
September 18th, 2015 at 4:42 pm
But then again if David is in command of the defense and he doesn’t like a call by the ref, we are doomed! lol
0-16
#1 pick is coming again…
September 18th, 2015 at 4:43 pm
So…. I’m going to ask…..
Can someone point to one thing Lovie has done that’s worked?
September 18th, 2015 at 4:48 pm
I don’t get it. A 50 million dollar contract and he is able to loose his fire because of a call. BTW – the call by the ref was correct.
If a 50 million dollar contract does not make you play with INTEGRITY, I say trade him. Michael Clayton anyone????
September 18th, 2015 at 4:51 pm
@Buc Trooper Lovie knew how to get us a # 1 pick in the draft!!!!
If you don’t believe me, he is about to do it AGAIN.
So be GREAT-Full! lol
September 18th, 2015 at 4:56 pm
Lovie Smith…..sigh.
September 18th, 2015 at 4:57 pm
In other words, we’re in for a clubbing this Sunday. Baby jesus, bring back John Gruden!
September 18th, 2015 at 5:02 pm
We have 6 starting rookies on the team. There are going to be growing pains. The staff doesn’t suck. The fans just expect too much too soon.
Hate mongers will hate, but if you are a true Bucs fan who is just frustrated because you expected more, then welcome back to reality. Teams do not go from total crap to the top in one season. ANY team you point at with a one season turnaround has also had most of their talent already there.
Developing talent from scratch means taking the time to do it right. The sooner you wrap your heads around that, the better.
The solution IS NOT constant turnover in coaches. Fan whined about Gruden. Fans whined about Raheem. Fans whined about Schiano. Fans whine about Lovie.
Each coach has had less tim than the one before. Why? Fan pressure. And it has gotten us nowhere.
How about trying something different. Likee patience.
September 18th, 2015 at 5:05 pm
@Aunt Geraldine AKA Houdini Geraldini
With all the weighing in you are doing on your teammates you better ball the FUK out in Sunday! Period!
September 18th, 2015 at 5:12 pm
Oh shut up, if you watched Sunday’s defensive performance and you are still making excuses for them you really aren’t a fan as far as I’m concerned.
ZERO excuses for defensive regression.
Complete collapse.
All the promise, ZERO follow through.
September 18th, 2015 at 5:30 pm
Forgive me but why the hell is this guy starting? He’s a green rookie? We brought in an experienced mlb who knew our system in carter. He’s not hurt? He had 5 picks last year and is said to be very good in coverage. No problem with me bringing in Leon when he knows what he’s doing. We should have started carter for now though.
September 18th, 2015 at 5:31 pm
Kwon not Leon?
September 18th, 2015 at 5:41 pm
Im guessing we have Kwon calling the plays due to he won the gig for MLB. In the Cover2…the MLB calls the plays. LVD could call the plays, but then it would just slow him down too. Might as well tough it out for a few games with Kwon. He will get it. Unfortunately all the players still look out of sink. I can’t believe they are still getting comfortable in the Cover2. I like it cuz we invented it, but we need to upgrade it. Do some other stuff. Theses guys looked like fools the last game.
September 18th, 2015 at 5:45 pm
We should have resigned Mason Foster instead of signing Bruce Carter, that’s our biggest problem. We’re always getting rid of our experienced players and then bring in inexperienced or a player of less quality. Every season we downgrade instead of upgrading.
September 18th, 2015 at 5:51 pm
First pick!
September 18th, 2015 at 6:09 pm
Well sadly….although I want the Bucs to win this week and will be cheering for them to do so….I would be a complete idiot to not start every single offensive player on the saints in all of my fantasy leagues this week. I usually bench guys going against our Bucs in hopes that they will come out and play dominant but sunda is officially the national start brandin cooks day for fantasy leagues across the nation. Sad but true…
September 18th, 2015 at 6:13 pm
This team will steadily improve. I mean what Ya’ll expected?.. Playoffs? I just wish we can win a game! Remember people.”They are who we thought they were”
September 18th, 2015 at 6:14 pm
Just wait on it☺.
September 18th, 2015 at 6:35 pm
Is it too early to start hoping for Joey Bosa out of Ohio State?
September 18th, 2015 at 7:13 pm
Someone should ask Lovie how does he remain so outwardly calm under so much pressure.
September 18th, 2015 at 7:35 pm
Bucfan37, Lovie has 25 million reasons to be calm, and it’s all guaranteed. It’s not like he’s working on a 9-5 and he’s working production on hourly wages. Lovie is 57 years old and this contract has set him for life, he don’t have to work another day in his life. He will be 60 years old and ready to fish all day, when his contract expires. And there’s a typo in this article, Kwon is a 4th round pick, not a 3rd round pick.
September 18th, 2015 at 8:25 pm
James Walker I wouldn’t waste the top pick on Joey Bosa, I remember Bosa when he played for Ft Lauderdale St. Thomas. They were our rival( Lakeland High) until they moved up to 8A. We should start trading our top picks for more picks, that’s the only way that we can improve our roster. I was hoping that we did it in this draft, but we do the opposite. We trade our picks for veterans like George Johnson, Logan Mankins . Then we trade more picks to move up to draft Ali Marpet, and Kwon Alexander. Only the Bucs SMH.
September 18th, 2015 at 9:08 pm
While it’s no secret that Kwon is calling “adjustments”, the DC/HC is calling the plays.
The adjustments aren’t that so complex as to yield 50yd TD’s from 5yd passes. No, that’s not anything more than individual situational failure.
Maybe McCoy should just play like an All-Pro, LEAD BY EXAMPLE and STFU when it comes to PR.
September 18th, 2015 at 9:44 pm
Lavonte David was calling defensive plays when he was a rookie and he turned out pretty well
September 18th, 2015 at 10:10 pm
@louis friend,
Schiano had LVD calling the plays as rookie IIRC.
September 18th, 2015 at 10:28 pm
Shoulda listened to our best two coaches: Tony and John
September 19th, 2015 at 12:51 am
Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda
September 19th, 2015 at 2:26 am
Lakeland Buc – I agree on Mason Foster. The defense looked so bad that it makes me wonder? Is it the Tampa2 or is it the players we let go? Foster, Clayborne, Johnson (yes, Johnson), Barron, Bowers and Goldson? The Safeties and CB could not cover. Conte could not cover a Tackle if needed. I am starting to question if Banks and Verner have what it takes or are the really just mediocre? If Kwon Alexander can not get it together this week put Carter or Greene in there.
September 19th, 2015 at 5:39 am
Siege the Smith…time to take a walk, Lovie
September 19th, 2015 at 5:53 am
The only player on this team being put in a place to succeed is ASJ, as a safety valve for a rookie QB with a bad o-line. It’s a shame, because this LB unit could be very exciting with a sentient coach.
September 19th, 2015 at 8:52 am
Bucs Fan #7423 Says
“Lavonte David was calling defensive plays when he was a rookie and he turned out pretty well”
Exactly! The difference is the fans.
David got steadily better at it with experience.
Kwon has been calling plays for one game and the fans are already turning on him.
Bucs fans are total complete morons.
September 19th, 2015 at 8:58 am
I still don’t see why Kwon must call the plays and get everyone lined up. David has the experience
September 19th, 2015 at 9:50 am
“Exactly! The difference is the fans.
David got steadily better at it with experience.
Kwon has been calling plays for one game and the fans are already turning on him.
Bucs fans are total complete morons.”
@Buccaneer Bonzai – I’ll deliver this for you a little slower since you are missing the point of the anger around the fans.
We are tired of loooooosssssiiiiinnnngggg!!!!
Any light bulbs going on?????
September 19th, 2015 at 9:52 am
Winning and having cohesiveness among the defense should be the focus after a 2-14 season. IMO
David must be given the call duties. “As Simple As That!” lol
September 19th, 2015 at 9:55 am
Since there are no adjustments or thinking in Lovie’s world we are 2-15…
…same old different season!
September 19th, 2015 at 12:23 pm
So you sign an experienced mlb fa paid him good money. And you start a 4th round guy who is clueless at this point. I love the Leon pick but damn what a whiff again by l&l!!
September 19th, 2015 at 2:14 pm
We will be alright. .GO BUCS
September 19th, 2015 at 2:53 pm
There’s an “optimist”
and then there’s the “Hopeless Optimist”
Hello Bonzai
September 19th, 2015 at 5:56 pm
Learning on the job is part of the NFL let’s hope he’s able to do it quickly. But its up to him n u can tell how he plays. He leaves it all out there so I think he will be just fine.