Bucs still building, but need results 
The first practice of Buccaneers training camp was canceled Saturday, then later moved to USF. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS By Martin Fennelly | Tribune Staff Published: August 2, 2015 at 11:05 AM TAMPA — What an ominous beginning.The first open practice of Bucs training camp was ... canceled by rain. Off to the artificial surface and lights at USF.In the name of Jameis, you’d think by now that the Glazers would spring for an indoor practice facility. Maybe the head coach could organize a barn raising, a good team activity and all.Lovie Smith has bigger things to build. Still.It seems like just yesterday that it was the Summer of Lovie. It seemed like old times for the Bucs, Tony Time, because Lovie was back, a steady hand, a return to proven NFL coaching competence.It’s not the Summer of Lovie anymore. It’s the referendum on him. It’s the pressure on Lovie to raise this ship with Cap’n Jameis at the offensive helm.The Bucs were the worst team in the NFL last season, at least if you go by draft order. On the other hand, receiver Mike Evans hit camp Friday and pronounced that the 2014 Bucs “were the best 2-14 ever.” That sounds like bulletin-board material for the 2-14 Tennessee Titans, the Bucs’ opponent in the season opener.“Hey, WE’RE the best 2-14 ever!”Back to Smith. He can’t survive another disaster like 2014. But it would take that much for the Glazers, supremely tired of playing Fire the Coach, to shoot another one out of the cannon. It would take, say, another two-win campaign, plus a defense that doesn’t move forward, plus maybe Jameis crying “Mommy” in the huddle.It’s still a referendum on Lovie. The honeymoon was short-lived. Smith came in with total control, and look what happened. We went from, it’s great to have Lovie back to wondering if his way of doing things, Tampa 2 included, were in tune with the changing NFL, if this will be his last stop as an NFL head coach if things go wrong again. And I can’t remember Smith outcoaching too many guys last season.The Bucs need a turnaround.What’s Lovie got to do with it?A lot.In that regard, Smith was asked Friday if he needed to be more demanding this season.He was incredulous.“More demanding?” Smith said. “That’s saying I wasn’t demanding last (season). Let some things go by? That’s saying I purposely let something go by then. And I didn’t do that. Yeah, I have to be better. We all have to be better in all areas. That’s what I plan on doing.”He’s coaching a 2-14 team until these Bucs say different.“It (was) the first season. Things happen,” Bucs Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy said. “Some things didn’t go as we thought they would with some of our offseason pick-ups. Things happen. But it doesn’t take away from his vision and what we see moving forward.”I’ll give Lovie some credit. Any inflexibility disappeared in a blink in the face of a debacle. He admitted mistakes. He’s about to start a rookie quarterback, having tossed Mike Glennon, once deemed “quarterback of the future,” into the dust bin of Lovie history.After one season, Smith dumped the three biggest offseason signings turned drips — Josh McCown, Anthony Collins and Michael Johnson. And he brought in a competent offensive coordinator whom he can leave alone, easily the best Lovie course. This might speak to desperation. I’m going with flexibility.Smith said it’s simply the business of football.“This is part of the process. We don’t give out lifetime jobs or anything like that.”Same goes for head coaches.“As a coach?” Smith said. “What do you think? Every coach feels that way. Every day I come to work, I don’t take that for granted. It’s about production. I realize that. But that’s how I’ve lived my life. There should be pressure. If you feel like there’s not any pressure on you, you’re misguided.”LovieVision, Part I, just went 2-14. Consider him guided.
