“It’s Not Like There Was Any Hesitation”
November 2nd, 2015
Lovie explains
Bucs fans are quite divided on whether Lovie Smith should have gone for a likely game-clinching 4th-and-1 on the Buccaneers’ 40 yard line with two minutes remaining in regulation yesterday.
Many fans, and even some ex-Buccaneers, claimed the Bucs should have punted to Atlanta. Joe loudly applauded the aggression — and anything that involved keeping Matt Ryan away from the Bucs’ secondary.
Lovie offered more detail on the decision tonight. Speaking on the Buccaneers Radio Network, Lovie said the decision was a no-brainer and one he would make every time.
The Bucs were leading by a touchdown with the Falcons on the ropes, but the offense was stalling and had just failed on 3rd-and-1.
Lovie said there was 100 percent consensus on the Bucs’ sidelines — from players and coaches.
“It’s not like there was any hesitation,” Lovie said. “The football team knew what I was going to do right away. It’s not like there were coaches telling, ‘Oh, let’s not do it.’ Or players, ‘Oh, no, let’s do it [differently],’ no, everybody wanted to do it that way. And we’ll always be aggressive with that. Eventually at the end of the game you need to make a play. At the end of [overtime], we made a play. But not making that [fourth-quarter first down], we saw something about ourselves. We saw that we are resilient and we can come back.”
Lovie added that either with a punt, or no punt and a failed effort on fourth down, the defense would have been called on to preserve a tie game.
Joe’s all-in with Lovie here and hopes the attack mindset continues. As for every player and coach being on board with Lovie’s call, Joe buys it. Why? Because with America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, leading the team, it’s easy to believe.
November 2nd, 2015 at 7:21 pm
Whatever, the attempt failed. The try was like shotputting one foot. In reality, I’m guessing most teams would punt in that situation.
November 2nd, 2015 at 7:23 pm
And after they didn’t make the first down. How much time was on the clock when Atlanta started their drive for the tie? A minute 35 or so?
As Atlanta was moving down the short field Lovie had TWO timeouts and chose not to use them. Using them could have served 2 purposes. 1 to give you’re D more time to adjust and res. 2. To possibly have enough time on the clock for JW and Co. to move the ball down field should Atlanta tie it up so we could set up for a long Connor Barth FG.
Some don’t see it that way and that’s fine by me….but I was pretty damn pissed off when Lovie chose to not use those timeouts. Atlanta scored with 17 seconds left on the clock and there could have been like 58 seconds left.
The season is still young though he has plenty more ef ups to make to prove my point.
November 2nd, 2015 at 7:30 pm
In the future, it would be nice to have the execution to be successful on these kind of calls. We can dream.
November 2nd, 2015 at 7:33 pm
Even I could see that going for the win on 4th and 1 was the way to go. I liked being aggresive and going for Atlanta’s throat then.
November 2nd, 2015 at 7:35 pm
I wonder how fans would feel if we made the yard…..
It’s easy to criticize the call after it failed.
I liked the call because of the message it sent……..”I want to win”
We need to figure out a way to make these 1 yard plays.
November 2nd, 2015 at 7:50 pm
Yes, he should have gone for it. Had the Bucs punted, Atlanta would have made back the punt in two throws from Ryan to Jones. And, we would have been right back on the same line of scrimmage with Atlanta first and ten. For two games in a row the Buc defense has given up a TD on the other team’s last drive of the day.
Our best defense is our offense; keep the ball away from the other team.
November 2nd, 2015 at 7:54 pm
I was 100% on board with the 4’th down call. I’d say 75% of the time Jameis is going to make that play. I am so impressed with Jameis and his game. Still feeling good about getting better. Giants will be a tough game.
November 2nd, 2015 at 8:00 pm
Oh yeah I forgot to mention I was also 100% on board with the call on 4th and 1 as well. It’s when our idiot HC decided to call timeout before the play that confused me as it looked like the first time was going to work. They then ran the same play again and the Falclowns were ready for it.
I was also on board with going for it on 4th and goal last week for the win. Yet once again our idiot HC decided to kick the FG so Kirk Freaking Cousins could still win the game.
If the Bucs punched it in on that play, the game was over. The team would be 4-3 right now and in the middle of a 3 game winning streak. Let that sink in for a second. A….3…..game….winning …..streak.
November 2nd, 2015 at 8:07 pm
THAT WAS A GUTTY’S CALL . I WOULD HAVE NEVER WENT FOR IT , ATLANTA HAD THE EDGE ON THERE SIDE , I WOULD OF MADE THEM GO THE LENTH OF THE FIELD , THE GAME WOULD HAVE BEEN OVER, BECAUSE IF THEY HAD TO DRIVE THE LENTH OF THE FIELD THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN OUT OF TIME,, ON OVER TIME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 2nd, 2015 at 8:23 pm
The thing is this team is HORRIBLE in short yardage situations, plus on your own 38 and ATL out of timeouts, gotta punt it.
November 2nd, 2015 at 8:35 pm
I agree with the call because it is obvious that Jenkins nor Banks nor McDougald are capable of stopping a slant or dart route. Right call wrong play. Should have ran the good old QB sneak right up the middle. Maybe in the future the team will ask Evan Smith to put another 30 pounds on so he is around 350 so the next time we have a 4th and one we bring in Smith and run Jameis right behind him. Is he already that weight??
November 2nd, 2015 at 8:43 pm
Anyone saying we should’ve punted better not have talked about Lovie being conservative
November 2nd, 2015 at 8:50 pm
Another dumb move by Lovie with a stupid play call and calling same play out fo a timeout,punt, they had no timeouts…..jameis is going to be the real deal, just need a new HC to take over and keep their hands off the personnel moves because lovie is HORRIBLE at those…like what koetter and jameis have going on, and have evans stop whining every play
November 2nd, 2015 at 8:53 pm
This was a typical decision that is great if it works or stupid if it fails. Jay Gruden would have been raked over the coals in DC if the onsides kick in the 3rd quarter failed. If the pitch out on 3rd &1 scored a TD, Koetter would be a hero for play calling and Winston would have been the Rookie of the Week instead of Gurley. Hindsight is 20-20 and easy to question failed plays.
November 2nd, 2015 at 8:58 pm
IMO…it was not aggressive….it was Stupid.
Punt the ball and make Atl go length of field with no timeouts
or miss it and give them a short short field to score a td.
Stupid is as stupid does.
November 2nd, 2015 at 9:01 pm
You guys on here are a laugh and a half. Right now, the Bucs are 3-4. They could be 5-2, ‘cept for Buc luck. And why is Jameis Winston called “America’s QB”? All the screeching on here about Lovie sure sounds like a bunch of gas bags. The Bucs sure look better than they did at this point last season.
November 2nd, 2015 at 9:10 pm
It is one thing to be aggressive, and quite another to make a poor decision. With no TO’s you have to punt to Atl and make them go the distance. Yes, all calls of this nature have hero or goat outcomes, and this time he escaped being the goat. Be aggressive on the other side of the 50 yard line and I’ll never second guess you.
November 2nd, 2015 at 9:12 pm
I agree with the call! It doesn’t matter WHO YOU ARE, giving Matty ice the ball in his house with a chance to TIE/WIN is NOT A GOOD IDEA!!
Although the call didn’t work out, our offense found a way to MARCH DOWN THE FIELD and give us the lead and our defense found a way to get a STOP TO WIN THE GAME!
I understand it’s easy to second guess every call a NFL Head Coach makes after the game is over, but let’s not get carried away here guys. Let’s remember the most important thing. These guys are Head Coaches at the NFL LEVEL!(Please go look it up if you don’t know what that means) AND YOU’RE JUST A B!TCH POSTING ON A BLOG!!! (Please go look it up if you don’t know what that means)
It really is AS SIMPLE AS THAT!
“It’s as simple as that” – Lovie Smith
“Changing coaches about halfway through a rebuilding effort is a recipe for perpetual failure.” – Johnny “America’s Commenter” Dejay
“If Lovie don’t no how to coach so be it… Hard to believe he would get a job offer and you wouldn’t…. Wonder why??? Your idiots that’s why…” – JAB83
“So my advice would be, yes, it’s okay to throw things at your TV when your team has a monumental collapse like the Bucs did on Sunday in Washington. But take a deep breath and understand that it is only going to get worse if you continue to jump from one coach to the next.” – Peter King
November 2nd, 2015 at 10:09 pm
And we’ll always be aggressive with that.
Ok, Lovie. Sure man. That’s the first time in your conservative life you’ve ever gone for something. The decision was right but the play didn’t work out. I don’t even dislike the playcall. Atlanta just Defended it well but Dirk had the right playcall. That’s one of those moments when you really wish you had a healthy ASJ out there. This is 2 games in a row that we had a chance to ice the game and instead had to take a FG which put us up by 7. Of course, Matty drove his team down to score the tying TD. Against our defense which has been opportunistic but easy to march the ball on, it is a recipe for failure. When Dougie single-handedly got us in position to win the game we run on 1st down, run on 2nd down and eventually have to try to get in on 3rd down. Although JW did miss an open Humphries, these runs on obvious run downs by the goal line aren’t working. We need to make those plays to finish games. That’s what good teams do. JW was simply amazing. To drive us down in OT when ATL had all the momentum should tell you all you need to know about this kid and the fact that the QB position is now all set. Some seriously impressive 3rd down throws on that drive.
November 2nd, 2015 at 10:14 pm
For a coach that values the FB so much he certainly doesn’t use the FB very much if at all. Weird.
What I found strange is the winning play this week drew a personal foul last week. Go figure. The ice cream man fell into the QBs knees. Last week they called it roughing the passer or whatever this week they ate the flag. I don’t get it but I’ll take it.
November 2nd, 2015 at 10:18 pm
I have two words for Lovie Smith: ODB! Good luck with that Sir!
November 2nd, 2015 at 10:22 pm
Murda
Although JW did miss an open Humphries,
*********************
I gotta put this on the savior. He under threw Evans 3-4xs. The last time Evans was open down the sideline. Once those two get on the same page the league is in trouble.
November 2nd, 2015 at 10:34 pm
@DB
I said the same yesterday. He kept under throwing Evans. But it’s all good. He made up for it in OT. Like a real leader he made plays when it counted.
November 2nd, 2015 at 11:16 pm
Lovie says he would go for it 10 of 10 times. Why didn’t he do it last week on 4th and one? He kicked the field goal to increase his lead to six. That still lost to a touchdown. All it did was avoid overtime prospect with Washington field goal. This week’s decision meant he almost certainly couldn’t lose in regulation (unless Atlanta went for two) but he still could lose in overtime. If he had done it twice, I would say he was being aggressive. Not doing it against Washington and doing it here on his own 40 means he was simply reacting to being called too conservative. Wrong basis for making a decision.
November 2nd, 2015 at 11:34 pm
Hey just a serious thought for a change… You folks who say Lovie sucks and all… Is this because you consider him a passive defensive coach who can’t adjust to what the league is all about these days????
Well have you seen what he has been doing as the BUCS coach??? The guy took over an offense in shambles that had a coach a star QB and a.running back who all quit or was injury prone before he got here and turned it around in less then two years!!! He has made some good coaching hires and some bad ones… Some good personnel moves on the field and some bad ones…. But all in all he has turned an otherwise.laughing stock of an offence into a SERIOUSLY GOOD THING…. He even appears to be anything but passive from time to time with what he allows… He has all the making of a long term solution on offence thank to coach Dirk and JW…. Kudos Lovie….
So what was it you were doing in that basement Sir!!!!
Time to ask him Joe!!!!
Consider this as well…. If he was relying on a defence that had guys in place to play better and they have failed him because they learned to lose under other coaches …. Not his fault….. I sure am.glad the ONE and only defensive guy they have drafted has come.in and shown these slackers what heart and passion are all about!!!! Me thinks Lovie and gang just hit the 3rd grand slam in as many at bats with Kwon….
So Lovie has adjusted to the game…. Just not the way most of us expected… Imagine.if he revitalizes the ONE OF THE MOST DOMINATE DEFENCIVE SYSTEMS IN LEAGUE HISTORY THE WAY HE HAS OUR OFFENSE…..
wow mind = BLOWN….
it may seem.like a.stretch but facts are facts… Look at last year as well….. Lovie has OFFENCE ON HIS AGENDA with D as his….. “Please child that’s the easy part once I’m.done fixing the hard part.”
November 2nd, 2015 at 11:39 pm
ITS…….
AS…..
SIMPLE AS THAT…..
NO……
REALLY IT IS…..
November 2nd, 2015 at 11:40 pm
Come on people this another idiotic move by this moron, how are you going to tie Matty Ice a short field with 1:35 on the clock, when you know haven’t stop him all game. He was throwing the ball over the middle field the whole game and this dope fails to adjust his defense to stop this crap. We were winning 20 to 13 at this point. Kick the ball away give them a longer field earn the touchdown. Give your the defense a better chance to make a play get another possible turnover. I thought he wanted more from Lavonte David, why not use him on a blitz situation, how is he going to get any sacks, if you don’t send him in. Matt Ryan was comfortable and just playing catch, just like the Fox announcer said they’re just playing like it was 7 on 7 seven drills. Lovie is playing soft and scared. Let your best weapon loose after your winning. Stop holding back Jameis and Coach Kottier and the offense.
November 2nd, 2015 at 11:48 pm
One last thing
38-17,BUCS over the Giant Losers Trolls and Fans of Depression on this site, after the G men used up all their points for the month in one game….
Besides that…. We be the Apostates so we can beat the NY Littles as well….. If not good for them they still suck and the BUCS are AMAZING….
November 2nd, 2015 at 11:57 pm
ZERO DOUBT he should have gone for it after last weeks defensive meltdown to cough up the W.
It’s the coaching staffs horrible offensive play-calling when the game is on the line that is the problem. As if we didn’t have a massive QB to sneak it with in those short yardage situations.
November 3rd, 2015 at 12:09 am
I agree with that PR. Where are the Qb sneaks in those need a yard situations. It’s almost a slam dunk to get it. Look at all the sneaks Belichick has dialed up for Brady and they always work.
Giants are ripe for the taking at home. Their defense is porous and we are gelling on offense even if we have some guys hurt. Our defense is a concern dealing with ODB but who else on the Giants scares you? Nobody. There will be a lot of attention paid to ODB and we should be able to keep them in check.
November 3rd, 2015 at 12:44 am
People botched when they didn’t go last week. Same people bitching they went for it this week.
Whiners
They are not a SB team yet so I have no problem going for it. Get the right mindset going. See who is made of what.
AND most importantly, it was their best chance at sealing the game because the defense hasn’t proven they can stop anyone at 40 yards or 80 yards do might as well see if the offense can ice it.
Didn’t work. Who cares. Great call.
November 3rd, 2015 at 12:57 am
By going for it there on 4th and 1 Lovie showed that he had no faith in his defense.
If the Bucs had lost that game in overtime, everybody would be talking about how that call cost the Bucs the game and everybody would be calling for Lovie’s head, including you Joe
Bucs won the game when they won the overtime coin toss
November 3rd, 2015 at 1:03 am
How ironic. If they punt, Atl still scores, and you all say he should’ve went for it. Lol sheesh some of you form an opinion and refuse to change no matter what. If a win in Atlanta isnt good enough, you are hopeless. No we are not “there” yet but the progress is SO obvious. Through 7 games last year we were 1-6. This year 3-4, and two division wins both on the road when last year we got swept by our own division. Please look at the big picture and stop nitpicking. No wonder our fan base is the biggest joke in sports. Sucks, but its true.
November 3rd, 2015 at 1:48 am
In what world are you expecting our defense to stop anyone let alone a good offense like Atl’s from scoring on either a short field or a long field? You have 1 yard and the game is over. I’d also go for it every time.
November 3rd, 2015 at 2:14 am
Brian…they’ll be calling for Lovie’s head again soon enough anyways.
November 3rd, 2015 at 2:20 am
Brian… Obviously and rightfully so.
November 3rd, 2015 at 2:36 am
T-Kras was right. Bucs were lucky the Falcons didn’t go for 2.
November 3rd, 2015 at 9:10 am
Then why the timeout after the 2 minute warning?
Very sloppy coaching
November 3rd, 2015 at 9:25 am
Loved the call by Lovie finally! Show some balls (: it’s one yard!! We didn’t get it but at least we aren’t scared to go for the win! Keep it up Lovie!!!! Don’t sit on a lead