Time To Fire Mike Smith
September 30th, 2018
It’s time to fire Mike Smith. He’s earned it.
Yeah, Joe typed it.
Raheem Morris fired his 2009 defensive coordinator in midseason and radically changed the defense and the team responded.
Smith’s defense is awful, as evidenced in the first half today in Chicago with the Bears busting out 38 points. And the defense was brutal Monday in the first half, and in New Orleans. And the Bucs were too often brutally punished last season.
Joe is waving the white flag. And so are legions of Bucs fans.
It’s not just the available talent on the Bucs roster. It’s the coaching and the ability to motivate the players.
Dumping Smith would represent hope and reason, not a panic call. Again, Raheem did it, dumping veteran Jim Bates and his two-gap scheme in order to dial up Raheem’s one-gap, Tampa-2.0, as he called it.
What fans just witnessed in the first half was embarrassing, but this is no isolated situation. The Bucs defense has gotten progressively worse since the late in the 2016 season.
The adjustments aren’t there. The innovation is absent. The response from players is weak overall.
Is Smith the defensive coordinator to take the Bucs to the Super Bowl? No chance. So he’s got to go.
Accountability for this defense should be swift. No more status woe.
Linebackers coach Mark Duffner has NFL experience as a coordinator and commands respects. He certainly won’t hurt this defense.
September 30th, 2018 at 2:51 pm
Jameis is warming up. I swear to God he better not get injured
September 30th, 2018 at 2:52 pm
Not happening, Koetter is just too loyal and it will be the end of his coaching career.
September 30th, 2018 at 2:53 pm
Fire him right now….before the game ends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 30th, 2018 at 2:57 pm
Promote Duffner for the second half. WHY do the Bucs defer the kick off? Offense is their strength. Why put your weakness out there to start the game? When the Bucs received the received the opening kick off this season 2-0. Defer 0-2.
September 30th, 2018 at 2:58 pm
Now is not the time. The time was after the 2017 season. Better late than never I suppose.
September 30th, 2018 at 2:58 pm
Everyone needs to boycott Bucs home games until Mike Smith is fired. SEnd in calls, emails, tweets, whatever! Get his as$ out of here!
September 30th, 2018 at 2:58 pm
America’s Turnover Machine is back. Order restored to the universe
September 30th, 2018 at 2:59 pm
Please fire him. There is no excuse for this.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:00 pm
Yah. Licht has to know it looks bad on the guys he brought in and the guys he drafted. This is worst defense I have witnessed in long time. Players have given up.
Glazers need to get involved.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:00 pm
Good Bye. Don’t let the door knob hit ya.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:00 pm
I was coming here to write just that then i saw your article Joe. I was in favor all last season too. Dont see how you can let this guy keep coaching the d after that half. And yeah Jameis is in, too bad he cant coordinate the defense instead. What an embarrassment. Mitch freaking Montana does it again. Way to go sittin back smitty. Soft served up Mitch Montana. Nice. A promising season spiraling downhill fast.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:00 pm
YA THINK?!
September 30th, 2018 at 3:01 pm
keep him, then after season dirk goes, jason goes, the bucs go 5-11 get high draft choice, new coaches and gm, the best part of the bucs season is always the offseason
September 30th, 2018 at 3:01 pm
This game is like watching Alabama play Louisiana Lafayette.
Mike Smith should be given a separate flight home from the rest of the team just to ensure he’s not thrown out by the players at 30,000 feet.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:02 pm
Koetter’s unwillingness to fire Mike Smith in the off season is why I have had little confidence in him. The Bucs are reaping what they have sewn.
Worse than Lovie, and it’s not even close
September 30th, 2018 at 3:02 pm
Unbelievable It’s bad enough there kicking our ass by our sucky defense is letting us down the referees even suck
September 30th, 2018 at 3:02 pm
NPR his hand was hit. Watch the replay.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:04 pm
Koetter and licht need to go too!
September 30th, 2018 at 3:04 pm
D-Rome is 100% correct. Clean house time has arrived.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:04 pm
NO SH!T!
#FireMikeSmith
September 30th, 2018 at 3:05 pm
Mike evans has thrown the last 2games to get Winston back. He’s killed drives early on balls a 6 year old can catch. Guess he hates d Jax showing him up
September 30th, 2018 at 3:05 pm
Fire now!!!
September 30th, 2018 at 3:06 pm
I hope they fire this sorry arse f**k. I hope they run the score up on this D and set a record for the worse arse whooping an NFL team has ever endured. Fire the D Clown Mike!
September 30th, 2018 at 3:06 pm
Who hired Smith in the first place?! Oh that’s right, Jason Licht.
#FireLicht
September 30th, 2018 at 3:06 pm
Very rarely do the Joe’s post anything during a game. Usually let the thread do the talking until the game is over. Hats off to you guys for speaking with most of us. Now 6 td’s by Mitch. I only hope it pisses the whole team off and they come back and beat the dog $hit out of Atlanta. Is it Buckner that’s the next man up Joe?
September 30th, 2018 at 3:07 pm
Winston 1st drive throws a pick lol. Are we winning with jw. Nah he’s down by more than 40 points.
Fire grimes and smith
September 30th, 2018 at 3:07 pm
Thank you Joe! Never thought you would come around!
September 30th, 2018 at 3:08 pm
Nothing could hurt the defense Joe. It’s the worst defense at any level of football I have ever seen. He shouldn’t have been brought back. Don’t even ask Koetter. If Licht wants to keep his job, this has to happen
September 30th, 2018 at 3:08 pm
Jw is gonna get knocked the first kcal out
September 30th, 2018 at 3:08 pm
AGREE!!!!!
September 30th, 2018 at 3:09 pm
good thing the Bucs kept and built the defense around GMC!!!!!!!! They can fire the DC, but you should also fire the GM, because he “did not do his job” as so many claimed!!!!! no matter what, next offseason will see major turnover on the defensive roster!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!
September 30th, 2018 at 3:09 pm
Kncocked the f*ck out!
September 30th, 2018 at 3:09 pm
The last time we took a beaten like this was ironically by the Falcons coached by the one and only Mr.Smith himself
September 30th, 2018 at 3:10 pm
Give him the Lane Kiffin treatment and don’t let him on the team plane after this awful display
September 30th, 2018 at 3:11 pm
I would have done it at half time..
September 30th, 2018 at 3:11 pm
Did Griffin travel today? If so put him out there before they break Winston’s legs
September 30th, 2018 at 3:12 pm
That’s when I cancel direct tv
September 30th, 2018 at 3:12 pm
I agree. He’s got to go. They have talent.
As for bringing Winston in in the second half of the blowout, I completely disagree.
They should not have brought him in to face the best pass rushing team in the NFL in a half that is irrelevant. They should have let him just take the next two weeks to prepare for the next team
September 30th, 2018 at 3:13 pm
Let’s see if jw is as good as were told
September 30th, 2018 at 3:13 pm
Hell Joe is Koetter even safe? He and Smith both may get a text before they hit the plane for the ride home
September 30th, 2018 at 3:13 pm
The Bucs will have 2 weeks with the new DC to right the ship.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:14 pm
Why should we the fans keep enduring this incompetence. I called for regime change last year. This is just poor preparation. I blame the head coach for that.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:14 pm
Jw, America’s qb, the savior……he can do it. Go 5 wide
September 30th, 2018 at 3:14 pm
Yeah he needs to go. I was so wrong about this defense. Thanks for the letdown Bucs. No pressure. No coverage. Linebackers are sucking. What a joke.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:15 pm
I blame mike evans for throwing the last two games to get jw back
September 30th, 2018 at 3:16 pm
Trubisky will break the nfl passing touchdown record today against the Bucs.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:16 pm
Props to Joe for typing this before the game ended.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:16 pm
Fire Smith!!! It just can’t get worse then this. For some reason I had visions that this game was going to be the one that gets Smith fired. Go Bucs!
September 30th, 2018 at 3:16 pm
I think next Sunday our Defense will not allow any points. Enjoy the break.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:17 pm
Bye week is the best time to make a big change.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:17 pm
@Robert I cancelled Direct TV in July. Only reason I had it was for the ticket to watch $hit like this today. Streaming is where it’s at. Living here in Knoxville you never see the Bucs. Lol now I get the ticket for free
September 30th, 2018 at 3:17 pm
Do it after this game! Send a message to the fans that we aren’t just throwing away another season.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:18 pm
FIRE HIM NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 30th, 2018 at 3:18 pm
Just imagine if we had gotten Mack. He was worth everything the Bears gave up for him.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:18 pm
Smitty: wha… Isn’t this the bye week?
September 30th, 2018 at 3:19 pm
LOL…with the defense, Mack would NOT have made a difference
September 30th, 2018 at 3:19 pm
THANK YOU JOE
September 30th, 2018 at 3:19 pm
I wondered why they kept Trib in the game at QB for the Bears. Why risk injury with such a big lead……..Then I remembered that with the Bucs non existent pass rush, he is safer playing than being on the sidelines. 😅
September 30th, 2018 at 3:20 pm
I had a lot of diarrhea. Kind of resembles the Bucs’ defense!
September 30th, 2018 at 3:20 pm
HE NEEDED TO BE FIRED LAST YEAR!!!!!!!!
September 30th, 2018 at 3:23 pm
Missed a wide open Jackson. The inaccuracy hasn’t changed
September 30th, 2018 at 3:23 pm
Knox please elaborate
I don’t know how to stream 4 free
September 30th, 2018 at 3:24 pm
BTW Kerryon Johnson scored a TD for the Lions a week after being the first Lions RB with 100 yards in 5 years. But glad we could have a practice squad level player in RoJo in the top end of the 2nd round instead. #ThanksLicht
September 30th, 2018 at 3:24 pm
Winston’s accuracy is pathetic. Only FSU homers can’t see it.
We need a whole new team. Including a QB. He’s average at best.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:25 pm
a petition and a billboard should go up on 275 to fire mike smith
September 30th, 2018 at 3:25 pm
PLEASE GOD SOMEBODY REMOVE MICHAEL SMITH FROM THE PREMESES AND PUT A TRESPASSING WARRANT ON HIS ASS SO HE CAN NO LONGER SABATOGE THIS TEAM. OR AT TGE VERY LEAST SOMEONE TAKE HIM AROUND THE BACK AND WHIP HIS ASS!!!! I AM SO EMBARRASSED!!!!! THAT IS ENOUGH!!!!!
September 30th, 2018 at 3:26 pm
Mike evans is getting his balls though. Mike evans Ned’s his ass kicked for killing the beginnings of these last 2games. Telling you guys he wanted his boy jw back and d Jax was kickin his ass with Fitz in there
September 30th, 2018 at 3:26 pm
Why would anyone say not now? It helps us zero percent to wait til the end of the season. He should be pacing the sideline RIGHT NOW not sitting in a comfy chair pretending that he is directing our defense. His “ scheme” has rarely put a defender within 5 yards of a receiver ALLDAY. Total embarrassment to anyone who claims to be a defensive coach. Put some new blood in NOW and at least try to coach our new kids up a little bit. Shamefull. Just shameful to call this a defense! Get out of town Smith! If The Coach can’t make the call then the Glazers need to step in. NOW. Not one more day!
September 30th, 2018 at 3:26 pm
The receivers are already on the plane home. They arent even TRYING to get open.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:27 pm
someone startup a go fund me page to fire mike smith
September 30th, 2018 at 3:28 pm
Has anyone else noticed we are hiking under center now with Jameis and haven’t been all year. Did Koetter take over? Play action isn’t fooling anyone at this point. Should be hiking in shotgun like we have been the first 14 quarters…
September 30th, 2018 at 3:28 pm
Buckner or Duffner!!!! Anything but Smith….this has got to stop
September 30th, 2018 at 3:29 pm
I agree with you all, it’s time for a change.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:30 pm
this loss feels worse than the whooping the falcons put on us during the duheem morris years
September 30th, 2018 at 3:30 pm
Thank you for writing this article joe 🙂
September 30th, 2018 at 3:30 pm
Fire his azz NOW! Before the game is over! I am so tired of this crap
September 30th, 2018 at 3:30 pm
I can’t see wasting very many more Sunday afternoons watching this garbage if he’s not fired. Our offense stood no chance today because Smith put them in too much of a hole. The best overall offensive talent we’ve ever had and watching it get pissed away.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:32 pm
ha ha the announcer in the game said the tackle by demar dotson on mack was the best tackle the bucs made all day
September 30th, 2018 at 3:32 pm
“I cant wait for the Bucs to get here”
Matt Ryan
September 30th, 2018 at 3:32 pm
Replace him with who? WTF are you people talking about, at the end of the year yes!
September 30th, 2018 at 3:33 pm
Fire him!!!!!!!!!!!!! The time has come.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:33 pm
ha ha ha ha ha
the announcer said the tackle by demar dotson on mack was the best tackle the bucs made all day
September 30th, 2018 at 3:33 pm
make buckner d cord
September 30th, 2018 at 3:33 pm
The magic is gone.
Let’s see what Jameis brings against a soft defense.
Perfect time for a bye week.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:34 pm
Does Koetter have the stones to fire smith? Doubt it. We’ll see.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:34 pm
I agree with Joe enough is enough Mike Smith’s got to go
September 30th, 2018 at 3:34 pm
Man this don’t have nothing to do with Winston or fizpatrick this defense is bad. Winston been out 3 weeks so he is rusty right now . This defense Mike Smith need to be gone . This is a prime example of the quarterback is not the most important position in football. You can’t win without defense. So all y’all that think it’s all about quarterback you don’t know football. You listen to what the national media say and believe them. Winston will be alright watch what happens in 2 weeks. If he sucks the hold year then draft another quarter back. We have to build the defense first I have always believe that.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:35 pm
How about Jack Del Rio?
September 30th, 2018 at 3:36 pm
NO
NO
NO
The need to fire mike smith now to send a message to the team that we cannot stand for it……..bad coaching/play period!!!!!!!!!!
and the defense has been terrible starting from last season………..that has been coming for a very long time
September 30th, 2018 at 3:36 pm
I called it, if this Bucs defense allows Trubisky to look like a Hall of Famer Mike Smith has to go. During his tenure with the Bucs, the Bucs defense have been plagued with miss communications, lack of pass rush, lack of toughness and an inability to adjust to what offenses presented.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:37 pm
Joe – would Buckner be a candidate at all? Why/why not?
September 30th, 2018 at 3:37 pm
ol kwon
September 30th, 2018 at 3:38 pm
I mean cmon………….the defense is beyond bad
September 30th, 2018 at 3:38 pm
Lol and next week the falcons. Man ol man. Next week will be equally as ugly
September 30th, 2018 at 3:38 pm
My support for this article would be better written if I could concentrate over the obnoxiously loud Bears fans at this sport bar I am at. Every 5 minutes loud uproariously cheering, I guess when your team scores at will Its like that. It’s such a bucs life
September 30th, 2018 at 3:39 pm
Maybe worst defense in bucs uniform
September 30th, 2018 at 3:39 pm
ouch
September 30th, 2018 at 3:39 pm
Execution?
All for it!
September 30th, 2018 at 3:40 pm
It seems to me Koetter has hitched his wagon to mike
Smith. Is he going to let his career go down because of mike smith??
September 30th, 2018 at 3:41 pm
This defense is Lovie Smith bad
September 30th, 2018 at 3:42 pm
Joel Glazer needs to call up Jason Licht tonight and tell him to Fire Mike Smith……………Koetter won’t have a say in it
September 30th, 2018 at 3:42 pm
Everyday that this no talent a$$ clown is here is another middle finger to the fans
September 30th, 2018 at 3:43 pm
we have talent on D. No reason we shouldnt have a decent D.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:43 pm
Just wait till Mike Smith makes his bye week adjustments.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:44 pm
Some of you pretend-fans are incredible. Fire Mike Smith? Did any of you even see the garbage that the Bucs put on the field today, on BOTH sides of the ball? THAT was the embarrassment. Mike Smith has close to nothing to work with. Heck my Bama Boyz could probably beat the crap out of what Jason Licht provided Smitty to build a defense around. If y’all are so bent on firing somebody, FIRE JASON LICHT. The defensive personnel are a joke, and so is the half of the OLine.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:44 pm
I hope the bears break 50 points, maybe that’ll get Smith fired
September 30th, 2018 at 3:44 pm
@sweep the leg…. no your wrong . I guarantee we won’t lose next week! Because of the bye. In TWO weeks Atlanta.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:45 pm
Listen
NO NFL team should have 35 points dropped on them by a crappy QB who’s offense is ranked 15th in the league……..
Like I said……..this is beyond horrific
September 30th, 2018 at 3:45 pm
Mike smith has been here 3years you idiot. And for 3 years it’s been the same sh it. Stfu you idiot
September 30th, 2018 at 3:45 pm
Defense
He’s got to go. I won’t argue Licht with you..I agree.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:46 pm
No they will find a way to lose during the bye week.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:46 pm
What a joke of a defense. “What do you think about the execution of your defense?” I’m in favor of it…
September 30th, 2018 at 3:48 pm
Excuses. Your good at it DR.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:48 pm
I guess Mike Smith will be Jason Licht 2019 scapegoat
September 30th, 2018 at 3:50 pm
Punch him in the face on his way out.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:52 pm
No more of Mike Smith adjustment on defense he has to go that guy is out dated him in koetter.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:53 pm
I like Mike Smith……………..just not his defense
September 30th, 2018 at 3:53 pm
Exactly, Lakeland.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:54 pm
Behind this 100%
Defend him now Realist.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:55 pm
I would have given Mike Smith a Greyhound Bus ticket during Half-Time and asked him not to return to the game in the 3rd Quarter…. He is clueless on how to build a defense in 2018….
September 30th, 2018 at 3:56 pm
@Zwak
Replace him with literally anyone. The guy is worthless when it comes to designing a coverage scheme in the modern day NFL. I’m sick of watching this defense run the same crap and get embarrassed in the same way practically every week.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:57 pm
Cmon Trubisky drop another on em and twist the dagger. DR there is talent on the defense but the scheme is trash. I have said this before, you gotta play press coverage with these nfl rules. Mike smith should have never been allowed to return this year. Dirk… he gone….. licht he gone too. Smith…. dropped in the bay like a Trafficante hit.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:57 pm
Wow, Dirk and Smitty putting on a clinic of how to be a sorry ass coach.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:58 pm
Winston lNT
September 30th, 2018 at 3:58 pm
Wtf was that
September 30th, 2018 at 3:58 pm
Ok you FSU idiots. Who you gonna blame that pick on huh?
Winston sucks. Just not as bad as Fitz.
September 30th, 2018 at 3:59 pm
@wesley right on bro!!!
September 30th, 2018 at 4:00 pm
the pick was hillarious …………………never seen a lineman pick one off like that so easy in open space
September 30th, 2018 at 4:00 pm
Fire mike and take McCoy’s soft arse with him.
McCoy has as many tackles as Donovan Smith, pathetic.
September 30th, 2018 at 4:00 pm
QB controversy is on now. Forget the past. Is for real now.
September 30th, 2018 at 4:00 pm
I think putting winston in was the right thing to do. Knock off some of that rust.
September 30th, 2018 at 4:02 pm
Smitty shouldn’t be allowed on the team flight home!
September 30th, 2018 at 4:02 pm
The dude has practiced for two days and didn’t even get to rep with the first team and was better than Fitz.
September 30th, 2018 at 4:03 pm
thankyou Joe
FIRE MIKE SMITH TODAY!!!!!!!!!!
He has lost us many games over his Buccaneer time, if he is not fired then FIRE KOETTER at the end of the season
September 30th, 2018 at 4:04 pm
Honestly, this team has no heart. If you come at them physically, they fold. Pittsburg did it last week and the bears just did it. That was a strange thing to watch. But that was a total collapse on both sides of the ball. Clearly Mike Smith should be fired. If Koetter can’t or won’t then frankly he has sealed his own fate at the end of the season.
September 30th, 2018 at 4:05 pm
Not sure I would support Duffner… Our great linebackers have regressed this year.
September 30th, 2018 at 4:07 pm
Fire him!!!
September 30th, 2018 at 4:09 pm
We can’t blame Mike smith for this. Obviously, our defense is not the same with Chris Conte out, but I didn’t think it would go this bad.
September 30th, 2018 at 4:11 pm
Greg you are 100 percent correct. Mike Smith has not be able to fix this D in 4 years. He never will. I’ve lost all faith after openly supporting Smith a few days ago
September 30th, 2018 at 4:11 pm
Our defense is allowing an average of 35 points a game
September 30th, 2018 at 4:12 pm
Message to the Galzer’s
If you want fansin your stadium fire Smith now. Defense has no drive playing for him and he uses a brutal system.
September 30th, 2018 at 4:12 pm
Finally a reputable blogger says this. Great article. Drop The Mike… Cut Koetter and Fire Licht
September 30th, 2018 at 4:12 pm
Wait what. Fire Mike Smith. He wasn’t fired at halftime. Worst defensive performance I have seen in a while. Hum last time I watched something like that it was a Mike Smith defense as well. Defense quit playing flat out, and that is on the players.
September 30th, 2018 at 4:12 pm
If dirk doesn’t fire smith he doesn’t deserve to stay. 3 years is way to much time to tolerate this defense. PLease please please DO IT. IM OVER THIS NON SENSE. HAS TO BE THE WORST EVER THREE YEARS AND RUNNING. DAMN IT!
September 30th, 2018 at 4:12 pm
@DBS … “Excuses. Your good at it DR.” No excuses there. It doesn’t matter one lick if they fire Mike Smith, because whoever they bring in will still have the same crappola to work with. Did you even look at who the Bucs had manning the DLine today? GMC & JPP were game, but the rest got eaten for lunch. Gholston? Worthy? Two lightweights playing DT against the top rushing team … brilliant. And yes, they got owned. So did our lightweight LBs by the way. And oh ya, our Secondary that was all in college just last year.
But why blame Smitty? Why not blame Buckner? After all, he’s the DLine coach. And our Secondary … what a joke. Reid was on the market … Licht passed. Breeland was available … Licht passed. And actually, for the right price we probably could’ve signed Kahlil Mack ourselves. But instead Licht goes cheap with his signings, grabbing guys out of the dumpster. Excuses? The only one making excuses is you DBS … excusing Jason Licht for the P-Poor job he’s done pouring almost all the Bucs $$$ into an offense over his 5 years here and not having the foggiest idea how to build a defense. What you saw on the field today in Chicago is what you’ll likely see for the rest of the year … an offense that’s average at best and a defense made up of hand-me-downs.
September 30th, 2018 at 4:13 pm
@robert One way is Reddit. Games in HD Plus I can watch him through my Amazon Fire
September 30th, 2018 at 4:13 pm
Fire Mike Smith.
September 30th, 2018 at 4:13 pm
Don’t fire him, fire Dirk and make Mike Smith the head coach and force him to hire a real DC. Then have Monken run the offense with no interference from Dirk.
Firing Mike Smith at this point does nothing except make emo Dirk cry in front of the players.
September 30th, 2018 at 4:15 pm
@robert There’s tons of videos on YouTube to walk you through on how to set it all up
September 30th, 2018 at 4:17 pm
Only good part of this game is that Winston came out and did what he always does, give the opposing team the ball. 2 picks against a team playing prevent defense. Time to blow the whole thing up from the Gm all the way down. Keep our offense minus Winston and our pathetic collection of running backs. As for defense get rid of McCoy and start using a 3-4 as our main defense. Pass rushers are easier to find and we already have our 3-4 NT in Vea. This game make me sick to my stomach because it shows we stuck.
September 30th, 2018 at 4:18 pm
The time to fire mike smith was last year in the offseason when everyone had nothing but excuses. Dirk should have been fired too. But the one big positive from the game is our supposed leader of the defense gmc is all smiles because he got to have fun getting blown out.
September 30th, 2018 at 4:19 pm
Mike Smith is a class individual, but his defense SUCKS. Receivers running open all day, secondary plays so far off its like pitch and catch for 1st downs all day. Class act or not he has to go today if not before they board the plane at least by tomorrow afternoon. Players have been brought in, JPP, Curry & Allen from a good defense, Vea, etc. It has to be coaching. I say call up JACK DEL RIO and beg him to fix our defense and if he won’t come from this staff I guess I’d give Duffner or Buckner the job for the rest of the year
September 30th, 2018 at 4:22 pm
Thats right JOE..SAY IT..Got..Ammit!!! Its been way past time to fire Mr Smiley!!
I took a shower during halftime and when I returned My wife said she swa Smiity sittin in his beloved..Pressbox eatin Tacos!!! Course we not thats not true but hell, he might as well have been! I’m glad Buc fans got a chance to see what a shutdown Defense loooks like. I’VE Been shoutin to the high heavens The Glazers are gonna have to step in and end Smitty’s pain..ours too!! With ourt current Defense this team will NOT..win 8 games. Give SMitty his walking papers..PLEASE!!
September 30th, 2018 at 4:26 pm
@defense rules I’m not sure what game you were watching to say gmc and hop were game but the rest got eaten for lunch. 1 sack out of all those defensive snaps doesn’t make it a good day. GMC did absolutely nothing and everyone in the middle got manhandled. Go back and watch the first bears series of the game and you could see this coming. O line and d line were pushed around all day.
The interior guys starting the game were trash and it’s completely stupid to have a defensive end playing d tackle. So now we’re gonna have to debate this trash arse game for 2 weeks. 2 amazing games followed 2 games that look like the bucs of old. Yea the two amazing games were a mirage until proven otherwise
September 30th, 2018 at 4:31 pm
TOO MANY guys looking at each other they have no clue what is going on. Guys completely blowing assignments. SMH!
September 30th, 2018 at 4:33 pm
“Raheem Morris fired his 2009 defensive coordinator in midseason and radically changed the defense and the team responded.”
Yeah…and it worked for all of one season. That won’t be good enough.
However…the past two years I have said that it was not fair to judge Smith when he did not have the talent to succeed. He has the talent this year, and he has not had a good game yet.
So count me in on the fire Mike Smith bandwagon.
My only concern is who should replace him. I DO NOT believe it should be someone currently with the team. We need new blood.
September 30th, 2018 at 4:35 pm
Mark Duffner??? No way. If you go with an inside guy, they will stick with the same defensive playbook that we’ve got already. NEW BLOOD FOR NEW PLAYBOOK!
September 30th, 2018 at 4:36 pm
Del Rio sounds good to me. Hell, anybody else sounds good. Smith should have been fired last year, but now is not too soon.
September 30th, 2018 at 4:39 pm
Defense Rules…you have to be Mike Smith’s family.
It’s like 10,000 Bucs fans vs 1 …you.
This was Mitch Trubisky.
September 30th, 2018 at 4:49 pm
Tandy wasn’t good enough to play for the Bucs. Maybe you could get him back to Coach your lousy arse defense. Know he could do a better job than Smith. Maybe if Smith had been fired 2 years ago Tandy would still be there and your Yucs might be 4 & 0 instead of 2 & 2. Looks like another 5 & 11 for you. See you in Atlanta for another Arse Whuppin!!!!!!
September 30th, 2018 at 4:53 pm
Fire Smith. Just run zero coverage with disguised blitzes every play. If we stop them about 30% from scoring touchdowns it’s an improvement.
September 30th, 2018 at 4:58 pm
Promote from within and reassess the entire Front Office from top down after the season. Not too hard.
September 30th, 2018 at 4:58 pm
If you want a good laugh go read the comments on the poll if the Bucs would win or not. It’s amazing the number of people who thought the Bucs would blow out the Bears in a game where the Bucs, historically, almost always fail. Live and learn people, history matters, if the Packers were 11-0 coming into Tampa against a 3-8 Bucs, I’d still take the Bucs to win, there’s just something about certain teams in certain situations that transcend time and talent.
September 30th, 2018 at 5:02 pm
I could have just told the team to play man-on-man all day today and it would have been a better game plan then Mike Smith’s plan.
I don’t know how a professional coach survives that performance……again!!!
September 30th, 2018 at 5:03 pm
Gerald McCoy sucks
September 30th, 2018 at 5:06 pm
Trade McCoy to Pittsburgh for LeVeon Bell
September 30th, 2018 at 5:08 pm
@Not There Yet … “everyone in the middle got manhandled. Go back and watch the first bears series of the game and you could see this coming. O line and d line were pushed around all day. I couldn’t agree more (kinda what I said, maybe, about Gholston & Worthy being lightweights?) Two guys on the DLine can’t do anything (easy as all git-out to neutralize) if the other two are getting manhandled one-on-one.
And our Secondary is not just a bunch of infants, plus Grimes (who isn’t looking like the Brent Grimes of old IMO). Personally thought the Secondary was playing MUCH better before Grimes went back in as a starter (Steelers game).
All 3 position groups are a disaster right now … very little to build on until guys get healed up. At the NFL level, I have no idea what ANY DC could do with this defense. Smitty may not be ‘THE MAN’ for the job, but until this defense gets a MAJOR infusion of talent and experience, I think what we saw today is about the best we’ll see all year regardless of who’s coaching it.
September 30th, 2018 at 5:08 pm
For those that say you ignore history and it doesn’t matter, going into the season I predicted, based on past performance, that the Bucs beat the Eagles at home, then lose to the Steelers and Bears. The Saints game I didn’t have pick for since the history is too mixed to make any conclusions, but out of the picks based on past performance, it’s 3-0 so far this year.
September 30th, 2018 at 5:11 pm
Defense – Grimes hasn’t looked good, but hard to say it’s his fault. The defense was terrible at NO, they then gave up over 300 yards to Foles, who missed wide open guys all day long, then you face Big Ben and now this.
The defense looks merely bad against the Eagles, but otherwise has looked terrible.
Which is why at the end of the Steelers game you don’t punt the ball away.
Anyways things will get better, since as they say it’s always darkest just before it goes pitch black.
September 30th, 2018 at 5:26 pm
• Pepper Johnson
• Rex Ryan
September 30th, 2018 at 5:28 pm
He must be fired in order for Koetter to have a chance at saving his job. Today was disgusting. My High school state champ team could have beat this bum azz scheme
September 30th, 2018 at 5:35 pm
Fun facts:
THIS Bucs defense has given up the most points in these first four games than in their entire history of opening four games!
The Atlanta Falcons today became the first team since the 1966 Jets to score 36 points in consecutive weeks and lose both games. Maybe they would like Mike Smith back?
September 30th, 2018 at 5:39 pm
I’ve always said Mike Smith is garbage. Then the blind squirrel D found a few nuts in late 2016 and so many dummies wanted Smith to stay. The dude has proven he can’t field even an average defense while being the head man in Atlanta for seven years when he went through numerous defense coordinators but still never had an average unit.
This clown should have been canned at halftime… last week. This week. This should have never gotten this far. Bad is bad and he is terrible. Washed up Grimes should probably be sent packing with him.
September 30th, 2018 at 5:44 pm
@Buccaneer Bonzai: I totally agree about Rex Ryan….A attacking aggressive Defense would be a total turnaround from the Mike Smith defense that plays 15 – 20 yards off the receiver and let him catch it then rally up for the tackle. SOFT, SOFT, SOFT. With this offensive potential all we need is a middle of the road defense to be successful and this is what we get — #32 last year and # 32 this year…..PATHETIC!!!!!!!!!
September 30th, 2018 at 5:52 pm
Out coached again. How could this game been such a mismatch? Most NFL games go down to the wire, the talent on the squads tends to even itself out because of the salary cap.
Coaching and organization, discipline and motivation, having prepared yourself physically during practice are more important than talent.
All I can say is most of what was displayed at Chicago has been seen before, this team has not moved forward mentally. The lack of motivation today was obvious.
Players have to be benches, coaches have to be let go. The Bucs, without making changes this bye week will be punched in the face the next 12 games. C’mon man, start releasing players and coaches, don’t reward the players that aren’t playing hard with a paycheck.
September 30th, 2018 at 6:30 pm
fellas this has to do with coaching, poor clock management on coach and players. Steelers game with a little more that three minutes left in the game on their final drive, the play calls were horrific. with alittle over two minutes left, you give Big Ben the ball. other teams in this league play two win! What example does that say to your team.
September 30th, 2018 at 8:21 pm
It’s starting to look like Mike Smith to the Bucs is what Jeff Fisher was to the Rams. It may be time to get a new voice in the DC box. Players just aren’t responding.
September 30th, 2018 at 8:22 pm
Let’s go back to the beginning of this defense in 2016. This defense has struggled since it was first installed during that off-season. The problem that was cited that year was communication, apart from that four-game winning streak when the defense inexplicably played lights-out all of a sudden. The reason credited for that change? The communication problems got fixed, they said. Then, the defense went back to being junk just as quickly as it got fixed. What was the problem then? Communication, again. (What?? How?)
Last year, it was the same story (minus the mysterious recovery – or ANY recovery even). The Bucs defense finished the season ranked dead last in the league. IS there anything worse than last in the league?
Well, leave it to Mike Smith to find it. Not only are we last in the league in 2018, we’re historically bad – worst defense EVER. EVER! And what is the only problem we hear about? Communication.
How do you not fix a communication problem in THREE YEARS?? That’s an eternity in the NFL. Sure, Mike Smith started with a roster that needed talent upgrades across the board, but he got them – especially this year. So, explain to me again how, no matter who is on this team or who is lined up where, no one who plays in this defense understands how to communicate in it? FOR THREE YEARS!!
How can you have a defensive line with Gerald McCoy, Vinny Curry, Jason Pierre-Paul, and a slew of good players behind them (including Vita Vea who finally got to play) and not have a pass rush that terrifies people? You have a linebacking corps featuring Lavante David and Kwon Alexander that actually does scare people. You have a Pro Bowl corner in Brent Grimes (who’s playing like he’s still recovering from injury) and some really solid rookies (Stewart, Davis, Whitehead), not to mention Justin Evans. It’s almost like you could give these guys no scheme at all and just tell them to cover people man-to-man sandlot-style and with just their talent and innate skills alone they could produce better results.
I honestly never thought I would ever see anything worse than Lovie Smith’s “Cover None” defense. But we could run the Jim Bates two-gap defense (which we have the wrong personnel for) and do better.
I agree with Joe on this. It’s sad, but good-guy Mike Smith needs to be let go Monday morning and Mark Duffner needs to be promoted to interim DC. It’s actually not possible to do worse and there’s a better-than-even chance he’ll be able to do a better job with the same scheme and the same roster than M. Smith.
It would be professional malfeasance at this point to do otherwise.
September 30th, 2018 at 8:44 pm
I like the human being, Mike Smith. But his time as a DC in Tampa should be over.
September 30th, 2018 at 8:47 pm
It’s beyond obvious that mike smith needs to be ousted. And immediately. Do NOT waste anymore time entrenching these young talented defensive players in this horrid system. Time for some new blood. With the bye wei it’s a perfect time
September 30th, 2018 at 10:03 pm
Fair-weather-a#$ fans. When things go wrong it’s the end of the world. Fire everyone, right. We got a good coach and GM, but it’s not working out with Mike Smith. When Mitch Trubisky throws 6TD’s in the first half, that’s an embarrassing sign. Use the bye week and promote Buckner.