Bromance Lives
December 6th, 2015
Lovie sure does love some Mike Jenkins.
When Bucs coach Lovie Smith arrived in Tampa Bay, he seemed hellbent on a mission to gut a productive cornerbacks stable.
First, he ran off Darrelle Revis. Even though Revis has struggled this year with the Jets — by Revis standards — one would have to be a devout hater to suggest Revis couldn’t help the Bucs out now.
After admiring his work in running off a future Hall of Famer in his prime, Lovie then set his sights on second-round pick Johnthan Banks. However, Banks thwarted Lovie in his quest to bench (or run off?) him by having nearly a third of the team’s interceptions last year (four). We all know Lovie loves takeaways more than points, so try as he might, he would have been Pearl Harboring himself by benching Banks.
This year, after Banks blew out his knee at Houston in the third week, Banks has never been the same. He looked rusty against Washington and was benched after the overtime win against the Dixie Chicks.
Today, when Hey Jude was injured, he was not replaced by Banks, but by the notorious toasty Mike Jenkins, who Lovie has slobbered over the past two seasons until it got to the point that not even Lovie’s strong feelings for Jenkins could hide the fact he was a horrible corner.
So now it is out there in the open: Banks and Jenkins may not be starters, but in the eyes of Lovie, it is Jenkins who is higher up the totem pole of the depth chart than Banks.
It took Lovie nearly two seasons, but he finally found a way to put place Jenkins above Banks.
December 6th, 2015 at 6:30 pm
And the pick immediately after Banks….. Kawann Short, If only I had some nitrotrinadium….
December 6th, 2015 at 6:40 pm
Bucs as a team played a heck of a game. From section 314 row Y I couldn’t see the names on the back of the jersey so I don’t care whether Banks is starting or is benched.
Oh, by the way the Bucs have tripled their win total! Where are all those Dan Quinn lovers out there? The Falcons are in a tailspin.
December 6th, 2015 at 6:53 pm
I feel like Joe has his own bromance with Banks.
Why does it matter? Who cares? They bucs have their starters and it’s not Banks or Jenkins.
December 6th, 2015 at 7:00 pm
I love that Sterling Moore. I didn’t realize that he’s just 25. Nice pick up.
December 6th, 2015 at 7:02 pm
Ummm.. Banks was starting today after Hey Jude went out. No idea what you are talking about.bankswas out there every play after.
December 6th, 2015 at 7:03 pm
Later in the game – Banks was in and Jenkins was out.
December 6th, 2015 at 7:08 pm
Jenkins was in right after Hey Jude went out – then Banks came in the next series for the rest of the game – i think – have to go back and re-watch – but Banks was definitely in there
December 6th, 2015 at 7:09 pm
Lovie haters? Come Forth!!!
December 6th, 2015 at 7:28 pm
I agree with Anthony. There was an article on this very site titled “Banks on the Cusp of greatness.” Yeah. That was like 2 years ago….
December 6th, 2015 at 8:23 pm
Don’t count out Banks. He will be back in sooner or later. No way Hey Jude is a better CB than him. Talked to him on Instagram he feels everything will work out.
December 6th, 2015 at 8:25 pm
As far as Jenkins I would cut him. No way he should even be on this team.
December 6th, 2015 at 8:34 pm
Somebody should put this and the Eagles game on youtube. Can someone help a Bucbrother out in Va. out?? I’m forced to see deadskin games
December 6th, 2015 at 8:46 pm
Speaking of his man-crushes:
Today was probably the first time that I began to see what Lovie sees in Simms
…just so as long as it isn’t being the primary back.
December 6th, 2015 at 9:01 pm
Revis might be an upgrade over the current CB’s but he’s not a 16 million dollar per year player. The Jets can have him.
December 6th, 2015 at 9:03 pm
@Paul
I agree, I love Sterling Moore! He’s matching up well with the #1 WR’s on other teams Beckham, Julio Jones, Dez Bryant, etc. and makes less than 16 million a year.
December 6th, 2015 at 9:21 pm
D-Rome Says:
December 6th, 2015 at 6:40 pm
Bucs as a team played a heck of a game. From section 314 row Y I couldn’t see the names on the back of the jersey so I don’t care whether Banks is starting or is benched.
Oh, by the way the Bucs have tripled their win total! Where are all those Dan Quinn lovers out there? The Falcons are in a tailspin.
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I’m pretty sure Joe was riding Dan Quinn’s WANG when they were 6-0!!! Who wasn’t??? All the Lovie haters were riding that small ass WANG, but Lovie Smith ended up B!TCH SLAPPING THAT B!TCH TWICE!!! WHERE THE HELL IS FALCONDAVE AT!?!?! COME BACK OVER HERE YOU B!TCH!!!!
December 6th, 2015 at 10:19 pm
To me, Lovie’s apparent disdain for Banks is the biggest mystery of this team. I really can’t think of Banks having a bad game. I can’t recall a QB ever picking on him play after play. Can’t say the same for Jenkins or #38. He’s the best tackling CB on our team as well. I know he dropped an easy pick, but damn, Evans drops a couple passes per game and that’s his job! Jenkins can’t get his hand on a ball because he’s too busy slipping or tripping over his own feet.
The only conclusion I can come up with is there is just a philosophical difference of opinion between he and Lovie. By no means am I an expert, but I can tell he is better than most of our other corners, and it’s not even that close. Whatever the problem is, they need to hug it out, because Banks is a good player, and he can help this defense down the stretch.
December 6th, 2015 at 10:36 pm
I like banks, but the chemistry seems to be good with jude in the lineup. Quite frankly i dont care who starts. As long as they perform well, im not going to get into the politics of the game.
We dont need a team of all pros, they just need to play as a unit and execute. Right now thats what they are doing. None of our secondary starters would start for another team. But they are playing as a unit and it is beautiful to see.
December 6th, 2015 at 11:55 pm
@Hawaiian Buc Says – “I really can’t think of Banks having a bad game”. “He’s the best tackling CB on our team as well”. First of all Lovie’s apparent disdain for Johnthan Banks went for Alterruan Verner as well. Remember when he was benched and was getting little or no snaps? Then there was the love affair with Tim Jennnings. We all know how that one ended.. in divorce. Banks is not the best tackling CB on this team, Verner is and continues to be. Banks struggled in every game since coming back from the knee injury. The last Falcon game he played in Ryan completed a staggering 37 of 45 passes at an 82% completion percentage. Not sure why Jenkins would get playing time over Banks but it is clear why Jude was. He is playing better.
December 7th, 2015 at 3:04 am
Banks was starting after the injury to Hey Jude. What is Joe talking about????
AND Banks has been every bit as bad as Jenkins this year anyway.
The CBs have all sucked except Moore. As far as I am concerned, bring on 3 new ones to add with Moore during the offseason.
Lovie has been working with crap and trying to find combos that work.