the lack of depth is attributed to his regime how many years did they draft a safety...go look it up...and they still don't have one....this from a "defensive specialist" .......this team needed to be rebuilt and during one offseason they fixed what Lovie and his pals couldn't do in years
Wow, you got a bunch of shiny new stats. You know what Belichick thinks of stats? Belichick says "Stats are for losers, the final score is for winners". The Bears went 10-6 last year in a much, much tougher division. Bears fans are delusional with Trestman. How about instead off spewing those O stats you say that the Bears went 2-4 in the worst division in football, went 2-4 vs teams that canned their coaches this week, and got out coached by the Schwartz twice. Oh yeah, Trestman is the genius who decided to kick a 47 yard FG on 2nd down in OT that cost his team the game. That call by itself is way worse than any one of Lovie's red flag challenges. No way should you have a head coach job in the NFL if you decided to kick a 47 yard FG on 2nd down.
Wait, I just fixed it for you. Kind of hard to win the division when one of the best QBs in the game misses half the season, all-pro Linebacker is injured and several other key players missing signifcant times. Signed the Green Bay Packers. No way can you say the Bears had worse injuries than the Pack especially with Rodgers being out. He moves a line more than all the injured Bears starters. What happens when Rodgers plays 16 games next year Bears fans?
These are good points but think if Lovie Smith coached the Bears this year and Cutler went down, they would have lost every game because he would have went even more conservative. Lovie may have schemed something marginally better on D, but they had a ton of injuries on D also. Both teams D's were decimated by injuries. McCarthy did a good job reinventing his offense to relying on Lacy more, something Lovie wasn't good at.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/buccaneers/2014/07/09/tampa-bay-bucs-lovie-smith/12399589/
Buccaneers report: Change starts at top with Lovie Smith
Chris Korman, USA TODAY Sports 9:51 a.m. EDT July 9, 2014
It's a new world in Tampa.
The Buccaneers' 2013 season was tumultuous in the locker room and disastrous on the field. Quarterback Josh Freeman went from starting to looking for a job in a matter of weeks. Three players were infected with MRSA. Greg Schiano's totalitarian style irked players, and they spoke out against their coach in the news media. One anonymously compared Tampa Bay to Cuba. Star cornerback Darrelle Revis said the atmosphere was really tense. The team managed just four wins despite having big-name talent such as Revis and receiver Vincent Jackson.
Not surprisingly, Schiano was fired at the end of the season. The Buccaneers went in a totally opposite direction and hired Lovie Smith, who most recently was the head coach of the Chicago Bears. His philosophies on coaching could not be more different from Schiano's. He spoke about them at his first news conference as Bucs head coach.
"This is what I've found from men: They will do whatever you ask them to do if you look them in the eye and they feel like you know what you're talking about and you have a plan," Smith said. "I never had a hard time. I've dealt with very few players I haven't been able to motivate and get them to do what we ask them to do. They'll listen.
"Way back when, when I was a younger coach, I thought it would be so much harder coaching NFL players than junior high or high school players. It's the complete opposite. I think the easiest player there is to coach is an NFL player."
The changes start at the top but don't stop there. Ex-Minnesota Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier will implement a new defense. Jeff Tedford, head coach at the University of California for 11 seasons, will revamp an anemic offense.
The roster was overhauled. Revis and the $80 million remaining on his contract were released. Receiver Mike Williams was traded to the Buffalo Bills. Josh McCown, who backed up Jay Cutler in Chicago, was signed to give the Bucs an instant quarterback competition. Cornerback Alterraun Verner joined the retooled secondary. The team used its first-round draft pick on Mike Evans, the tall wide receiver who made Johnny Manziel look so good at Texas A&M. In fact, the Bucs used all six picks in the draft on offensive players.
With so many changes, the Buccaneers are one of the most difficult teams to read heading into next season.
Quarterback
After the Freeman debacle, rookie Mike Glennon took over last season. He was solid at times but often looked like the inexperienced, developmental quarterback he is. The team signed McCown, 34, who has been reliable but unspectacular, and put him atop the depth chart. Tedford will monitor the battle over the next few months and have a decision to make about which player better fits his scheme. But McCown is expected to open the season as the starter.
Running back
Tampa Bay's rushing offense was unimpressive in 2013, netting a little more than 100 yards per game. Doug Martin missed much of the season with a shoulder injury, and Bobby Rainey had two brilliant games stuck in the middle of poor showings. The Bucs picked Charles Sims out of West Virginia in the third round, giving Tedford plenty of options to turn to on the ground.
Wide receiver
Last year, 38% of the Buccaneers' receiving yards were generated by Jackson. Asking one man to carry so much of the load is not a way to create a successful offense, and the Bucs were ranked last in the league in passing. Now, with the addition of Evans, Jackson will get help in the form of a 6-5 wideout who produced eye-popping statistics at TeasA&M.
Tight end
Though the role of the tight end has grown for most NFL teams, Schiano's Buccaneers resisted this trend. This strategy will change under the new regime. Tampa Bay used its second-round pick on Austin Seferian-Jenkins, a 6-5 tight end from Washington. He instantly gives Tampa Bay an option as a receiver and a blocker. Along with Jackson and Evans, Seferian-Jenkins is part of a receiving corps that will create mismatches.
Offensive line
Glennon was the ninth-most-sacked quarterback in the NFL last season, and the running game often was stagnant. Tampa Bay rightly decided to focus on rebuilding the line through free agency, making two major signings that should stabilize the offense. The Bucs grabbed center Evan Dietrich-Smith from the Green Bay Packers; left tackle Anthony Collins jumped from the Cincinnati Bengals.
Defensive line
Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who led the team with 9½ sacks and was an all-pro in 2013, will be back and playing for a new contract. The Bucs also nabbed Michael Johnson in free agency, guaranteeing him $24 million to hopefully bring pressure off the edge. Fellow defensive end Adrian Clayborn had 5½ sacks last season. Akeem Spence could split time with Clinton McDonald, signed from the Seattle Seahawks, at tackle. Spence stops the run; McDonald brings pressure.
Linebacker
Second-year outside linebacker Lavonte David blossomed into a star last season, leading Tampa Bay in interceptions and tackles while adding seven sacks. In the middle, Mason Foster had three interceptions and two sacks last season. Jonathan Casillas should be back from a knee injury and will need to adjust to the new defense and prove he can be an every-down player.
Secondary
Picking up free agent Verner was key for the secondary. The cornerback can disrupt passing offenses with his size and physicality, which will help Tampa Bay's middling pass defense. Smith and Frazier emphasize turnovers, so the pressure will be on Verner, safety Dashon Goldson and cornerback Johnthan Banks to get in front of passes and make game-changing plays. Safety Mark Barron must continue to improve his pass coverage.
Special teams
This is one area of stability. Punter Michael Koenen averaged a respectable 44.2 yards per kick. Kicker Connor Barth is expected to return after missing all of last season. He tore an Achilles' tendon in a charity basketball game in July 2013 and then contracted MRSA. Eric Page's ability to handle kickoff- and punt-return duties makes him valuable.
Coaching
Last season, the Buccaneers played under a hard-nosed, discipline-minded, college-style coach in Schiano, who had success at that level. In Smith, the team has a leader who is known for being a players' coach in the NFL, taking care of veterans and possessing an even-tempered style that won over his team in Chicago. He's also known for emphasizing defense and leaving the offense to the offensive coordinator. Doing so will give Tedford room to work on Glennon and McCown.
Buccaneers report: Change starts at top with Lovie Smith
Chris Korman, USA TODAY Sports 9:51 a.m. EDT July 9, 2014
It's a new world in Tampa.
The Buccaneers' 2013 season was tumultuous in the locker room and disastrous on the field. Quarterback Josh Freeman went from starting to looking for a job in a matter of weeks. Three players were infected with MRSA. Greg Schiano's totalitarian style irked players, and they spoke out against their coach in the news media. One anonymously compared Tampa Bay to Cuba. Star cornerback Darrelle Revis said the atmosphere was really tense. The team managed just four wins despite having big-name talent such as Revis and receiver Vincent Jackson.
Not surprisingly, Schiano was fired at the end of the season. The Buccaneers went in a totally opposite direction and hired Lovie Smith, who most recently was the head coach of the Chicago Bears. His philosophies on coaching could not be more different from Schiano's. He spoke about them at his first news conference as Bucs head coach.
"This is what I've found from men: They will do whatever you ask them to do if you look them in the eye and they feel like you know what you're talking about and you have a plan," Smith said. "I never had a hard time. I've dealt with very few players I haven't been able to motivate and get them to do what we ask them to do. They'll listen.
"Way back when, when I was a younger coach, I thought it would be so much harder coaching NFL players than junior high or high school players. It's the complete opposite. I think the easiest player there is to coach is an NFL player."
The changes start at the top but don't stop there. Ex-Minnesota Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier will implement a new defense. Jeff Tedford, head coach at the University of California for 11 seasons, will revamp an anemic offense.
The roster was overhauled. Revis and the $80 million remaining on his contract were released. Receiver Mike Williams was traded to the Buffalo Bills. Josh McCown, who backed up Jay Cutler in Chicago, was signed to give the Bucs an instant quarterback competition. Cornerback Alterraun Verner joined the retooled secondary. The team used its first-round draft pick on Mike Evans, the tall wide receiver who made Johnny Manziel look so good at Texas A&M. In fact, the Bucs used all six picks in the draft on offensive players.
With so many changes, the Buccaneers are one of the most difficult teams to read heading into next season.
Quarterback
After the Freeman debacle, rookie Mike Glennon took over last season. He was solid at times but often looked like the inexperienced, developmental quarterback he is. The team signed McCown, 34, who has been reliable but unspectacular, and put him atop the depth chart. Tedford will monitor the battle over the next few months and have a decision to make about which player better fits his scheme. But McCown is expected to open the season as the starter.
Running back
Tampa Bay's rushing offense was unimpressive in 2013, netting a little more than 100 yards per game. Doug Martin missed much of the season with a shoulder injury, and Bobby Rainey had two brilliant games stuck in the middle of poor showings. The Bucs picked Charles Sims out of West Virginia in the third round, giving Tedford plenty of options to turn to on the ground.
Wide receiver
Last year, 38% of the Buccaneers' receiving yards were generated by Jackson. Asking one man to carry so much of the load is not a way to create a successful offense, and the Bucs were ranked last in the league in passing. Now, with the addition of Evans, Jackson will get help in the form of a 6-5 wideout who produced eye-popping statistics at TeasA&M.
Tight end
Though the role of the tight end has grown for most NFL teams, Schiano's Buccaneers resisted this trend. This strategy will change under the new regime. Tampa Bay used its second-round pick on Austin Seferian-Jenkins, a 6-5 tight end from Washington. He instantly gives Tampa Bay an option as a receiver and a blocker. Along with Jackson and Evans, Seferian-Jenkins is part of a receiving corps that will create mismatches.
Offensive line
Glennon was the ninth-most-sacked quarterback in the NFL last season, and the running game often was stagnant. Tampa Bay rightly decided to focus on rebuilding the line through free agency, making two major signings that should stabilize the offense. The Bucs grabbed center Evan Dietrich-Smith from the Green Bay Packers; left tackle Anthony Collins jumped from the Cincinnati Bengals.
Defensive line
Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who led the team with 9½ sacks and was an all-pro in 2013, will be back and playing for a new contract. The Bucs also nabbed Michael Johnson in free agency, guaranteeing him $24 million to hopefully bring pressure off the edge. Fellow defensive end Adrian Clayborn had 5½ sacks last season. Akeem Spence could split time with Clinton McDonald, signed from the Seattle Seahawks, at tackle. Spence stops the run; McDonald brings pressure.
Linebacker
Second-year outside linebacker Lavonte David blossomed into a star last season, leading Tampa Bay in interceptions and tackles while adding seven sacks. In the middle, Mason Foster had three interceptions and two sacks last season. Jonathan Casillas should be back from a knee injury and will need to adjust to the new defense and prove he can be an every-down player.
Secondary
Picking up free agent Verner was key for the secondary. The cornerback can disrupt passing offenses with his size and physicality, which will help Tampa Bay's middling pass defense. Smith and Frazier emphasize turnovers, so the pressure will be on Verner, safety Dashon Goldson and cornerback Johnthan Banks to get in front of passes and make game-changing plays. Safety Mark Barron must continue to improve his pass coverage.
Special teams
This is one area of stability. Punter Michael Koenen averaged a respectable 44.2 yards per kick. Kicker Connor Barth is expected to return after missing all of last season. He tore an Achilles' tendon in a charity basketball game in July 2013 and then contracted MRSA. Eric Page's ability to handle kickoff- and punt-return duties makes him valuable.
Coaching
Last season, the Buccaneers played under a hard-nosed, discipline-minded, college-style coach in Schiano, who had success at that level. In Smith, the team has a leader who is known for being a players' coach in the NFL, taking care of veterans and possessing an even-tempered style that won over his team in Chicago. He's also known for emphasizing defense and leaving the offense to the offensive coordinator. Doing so will give Tedford room to work on Glennon and McCown.
