Ex-Buc Gives “C” Grade To Lovie
January 2nd, 2016
Only about one-third of Bucs fans surveyed claim to be confident in Lovie Smith.
But what kind of grade would they give Lovie for the 2015 season to date?
Former Lovie coaching intern (2014) and Bucs defensive end Steve White (1996-2001) was asked to grade Lovie after 15 games this season, during his latest visit to Ronnie & TKras on WDAE-AM 620.
White explained that he would give Lovie a “C.” Expectations on Lovie widely were raised when the team moved to a 6-6 record, White explained, but ultimately, the Bucs are what most believed they would be after 15 games: a six-win team. White said the defense is improved, though facing personnel issues that the regime has struggled to fix in past offseasons.
The Bucs had a positive offensive revolution this season, White said, and Jameis Winston has been strong but might have hit a rookie wall after 12 games.
Joe wouldn’t be comfortable grading Lovie for this season with one game remaining. With Lovie playing his key starters and claiming he’s going all out to win, Joe wants to see the Bucs show up and compete tomorrow. That game will have an impact on Joe’s season grade.
You can hear all of Steve White’s latest Bucs breakdown below, via the 620wdae.com player.
January 2nd, 2016 at 12:10 pm
A C is somewhat generous…but if he can pull off a win against Carolina….he probably will deserve that.
The question is what kind of grade the Glazers give him….I suspect they only have a pass/fail system….and they will give him a pass this year.
JBF posters can either accept that and respond intelligently to the subject matter of Joe’s articles….or they can rant and rave like a bunch of morons who don’t have the ability to deal with more than one subject.
And….if the “Realist” is truly a “Realist”….he will realize that Lovie is here for another year……suck it up….and act like true fan.
January 2nd, 2016 at 12:13 pm
Jameis – B+
Lovie – D-
Glazers F-
January 2nd, 2016 at 12:15 pm
I think a C is appropriate for this year. Finding our qb, overall improvement on offense, the oline far surpassing expectations, the vital hire of Koetter, C.
Last year. 2-14, Josh Mccown, F
Overall, D.
January 2nd, 2016 at 12:27 pm
Going off of defense, Lovie was average this year, I give him a “C”. More than three-quarters thru the season and he was still playing musical chairs with the CB’s when Banks should’ve been starting all along. Not good at adjusting at halftime when down or up and end up having a mental collapse with the combination of penalties and not putting players in the right position to succeed.
Its the same thing every week fake the “double A gap” blitz to get out LB’s out of position and leave the middle of the field open and the safeties cant get over the top in time b/c the CB’s doesn’t reroute the WR’s off the line and let them run free and thats all on Lovie. He gets a “C”
January 2nd, 2016 at 12:28 pm
The only reason that Lovie got as many as 6 wins was because of a rediculously weak schedule where they played one very bad team after another, losing to most.
I give Lovie a solid D
January 2nd, 2016 at 12:40 pm
LOVIE AN F + FIRE HIM !!!!!!!
January 2nd, 2016 at 12:54 pm
I’d like to give him a “C”…as in C U Later, Lovie.
January 2nd, 2016 at 1:08 pm
I think we all expect Lovie to be back next year. If you want to be the sheep that Realist call you and “suck it up” thats your perogative. I’m not. I’m going to bitch and moan all through the off season about what a lousy coach we have and continue it into next season until Lovie is finally fired, which will happen because he is an awful coach. I expect better from my favorite team. Free free to call me all the names you like. I dont care. Imcompetent Lovie needs to go! I give him an F-
January 2nd, 2016 at 1:28 pm
And what if the Bucs win 10 or 11 games next season and make the playoffs for the 1st time in years and perhaps even advance. What then Couch “Fan”??
Will you still be here bitching and looking like a fool?
If you think this is impossible – then you are not paying attention nor living in reality.
January 2nd, 2016 at 1:34 pm
That’s what I’m talking about couch fan. Don’t let these lovie nut swingers change how we feel. Koetter gets a B+ and Loser lovie and his down sindrom defence gets a big fat F–
Promote koetter and bring in Jim Schwartz as DC and then mario williams will come in free agency. He had his best year under him. And the bills had a great defense with him. (54 sacks)
January 2nd, 2016 at 1:47 pm
It’s down syndrome….and it’s nothing to joke about….
January 2nd, 2016 at 1:52 pm
And what if the Bucs win 10 or 11 games next season and make the playoffs for the 1st time in years and perhaps even advance. What then Couch “Fan”??
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If that happens I’ll be more than happy to eat my plate of crow. But my question to you is what in the world have you seen in 31 games that could possibly make you think Lovie is competent enough to get more out of his players? I havent seen not 1 single think that tends me to believe that this team will be any better next year. Licht I believe will have another excellent draft, Jameis will improve but Lovie still wont know how to prepare, or motivate his team!!!
January 2nd, 2016 at 2:43 pm
A C is passing.
Now if we’re grading by the Bucs standards, I’d give him a C-. He picked first in the draft last year, and too often marched out a hapless, flat team this year.
On the standards of the whole NFL, he gets an F. We’re finishing last in our division for a record consecutive year since the merger, and our defense is worse than it was under the past 2 coaches. If we’re not an F than no other team in the NFL is.
January 2nd, 2016 at 3:00 pm
All but one draft pick on offense, including a franchise qb, and bringing on a legitimate coordinator. The defense will improve through drafting. These free agents are free agents for a reason.
January 2nd, 2016 at 5:03 pm
Espo, outside of guys like Jenkins and Conte, that’s not entirely true
January 2nd, 2016 at 5:09 pm
Considering he’s lost 75% of his games, I’d give him a “F-“.
January 2nd, 2016 at 6:37 pm
Bucs play there superbowl against carolina sunday and win!
GO BUCS!
January 2nd, 2016 at 7:31 pm
Lovie gets a D-. There is no way he gets a grade where you would be like “ehhh not good, but not bad either.” He is a wretched head coach. Great person. Terrible coach.
January 2nd, 2016 at 9:22 pm
Must be being kind.
January 2nd, 2016 at 9:24 pm
I agree with TampaBayBucFan: a C is generous. The team did do some things that I thought were promising: like sweeping the Falcons and winning big in Philly but couple that with losing at home to the Saints and Bears along with that unforgivable loss to the Skins where I thought Lovie was going to go 2-14 again and well; it just seems like a competent coach would have had this team at 0.500; 8-7 going into the Carolina game at the least. Lovie let a few games get away from him and a few of the wins: Falcons OT game, Saints and Cowboys all could have been losses and the Bucs would be right there with the Titans and Browns fighting for #1 with Lovie likely fired….. Sure: if the Bucs went 10-6 some crtics would liken it to rah Morris going 10-6 via smoke and mirrors but the Bucs should have done that with superior coaching; lovie is not even close to that bar thus I give him a D+ for his body of work….
January 3rd, 2016 at 1:19 am
You know what they say, Cs get degrees!
Lovie is doing fine. Certainly not great…. but better than most (as in “More than half”) of the league. We know the defense needs an influx of talent. Either they could have added Jameis – and protected him with two outstanding young O-linemen and given him a weapon with Kenny Bell (lets see next year) or… gotten a corner and DE. I’m pretty sure they made the right call on that, yeah? Kwon is looking like a long-term fix at MLB, which is outstanding for a 4th rounder. What else were they supposed to do? Sign every FA and hope they work out? You’d just kill them for going back to that well again which had given us Mike Johnson and the like. Rome wasn’t built in a day and they only have so many draft picks. Just be glad that the front office is making literally the most out of them they could possibly make.