Controlled approach works best for Lovie By Roy Cummings | Tribune Staff Published: January 12, 2014 at 08:50 AM
TAMPA — Knowing the danger he would face should he encounter a band of howler monkeys, Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith carried a machete with him just about everywhere he went during a vacation to Costa Rica last year.When the seemingly inevitable confrontation came, though, Smith kept the machete in its sheath and simply used a broom to shoo away the monkeys that had ventured into the villa he and his wife rented for their stay.A broom instead of a machete — that is so Lovie.Soft-spoken yet stern, Smith has mastered the ability, his former players say, to get his message across and achieve his objectives without resorting to the harsh style so many of his rival coaches lean on.He never swears and seldom raises his voice, but don't let that deceive you. As he did in Costa Rica, Smith always arms himself with a verbal machete and says he'll cut a player up with it if he has to.“If a guy wants to raise up a little bit, I can raise up a little bit,'' Smith said shortly after he was introduced as the Bucs' new coach on Monday. “But most of the time, I've found, guys just want a stern teacher to teach them.''This method did not necessarily come naturally to Smith. He adopted it from former Bucs coach Tony Dungy, who pulled Smith out of the college coaching ranks and made him the Bucs' linebackers coach in 1996.But it wasn't just Dungy who taught Smith the value of this quiet approach to coaching. Smith learned while working with players such as Derrick Brooks and Warren Sapp that a controlled approach works best.“If a guy does something wrong, you confront him immediately,'' Smith said. “And when you do, it can go a couple different ways. But I've learned that all these guys really want is for you to coach them and they'll do anything you ask. So, I never got into a confrontation with any of those guys. That's something I've never had to do in my life.“Normally, you don't have to if you establish what you are right away with them. You just look guys in (the eyes) and you let them know you're trying. How many times did you confront your teachers, the ones you really believed in? How many times did you say, 'Hey, I've got a better way of doing it.'“My guess is, you didn't do that, and I think we've got a good staff (of assistant coaches) here and it's not going to have to come to that here. But if it does, if somebody wants to go in that direction, we'll go.'' Draft debateBucs quarterback Mike Glennon finished his rookie season ranked 26th in the league in completion percentage (59.4), 24th in passing yards (2,608) and 21st in passer rating (83.9).As modest as those numbers are, they're enough, ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay said, to warrant Glennon getting at least another year as the Bucs' starting quarterback. That is not McShay's call to make, obviously, but McShay said before the BCS Championship Game last week that Glennon showed enough promise to warrant the Bucs targeting positions other than quarterback early in the 2014 draft.“It makes sense to me to go in a different direction than QB, and I wouldn't have said that two months ago,'' McShay told the Tribune's Joey Johnston. “I think Mike Glennon has shown improvement and there's promise there.''So, what would McShay target if he were with the Bucs? He said offensive tackle has been an issue, which it certainly was down the stretch last year, and he believes the pass rush clearly needs a dynamic edge rusher.The problem is, the best edge rusher in the draft, South Carolina's Jadeveon Clowney, will almost certainly be gone by the time the Bucs pick at No. 7 overall. Not to worry, though, McShay said.“There are two really, really good pass rushers in this draft — Jadeveon Clowney and Anthony Barr, who is really more of an outside linebacker but could be a defensive end in a 4-3 scheme,” McShay said.Smith will run a one-gap, 4-3 scheme in Tampa. And if he's willing to tweak that scheme just a bit, Barr could prove to be a good fit for the Bucs.“There are a lot of variables and questions, but I do think you have to give Glennon a chance based on what he has shown so far,'' McShay said. “That gives them an opportunity to fill another hole.'' [email protected](813) 259-7979Twitter: @RCummingsTBO
Don't know much about Barr, but some here have said he is soft? A speed guy? Don't we have Dekoda Watson already? Cause that is who he sounds like without knowing too much about the kid...Any UCLA followers comment on Barr?
I bet he would be just as successful here as Brian Price.
Don't know much about Barr, but some here have said he is soft? A speed guy? Don't we have Dekoda Watson already? Cause that is who he sounds like without knowing too much about the kid...Any UCLA followers comment on Barr?
Not a UCLA follower, but have seen Barr a few times this year. I wouldnt call him soft, but def more of a speed rusher. Wouldnt compare him to Watson though. I like Khalil Mack better as a pass rusher.
At the very least. Injuries and poor work ethic. Donesauce.
I think our best shot is to address DE in FA this year and also see what Lovie can get out of Gholston, Bowers and Clayborn, go WR in round 2-4 as it is the deepest position in the draft and hope like crazy that Greg Robinson is there at #7.
Means is a guy I want to see this coaching staff work with.
At the very least. Injuries and poor work ethic. Donesauce.
I don't know about the injuries but coaches have called him a great kid and one of the hardest workers on the team.
If we don't get Clowney you have to get Watkins.
Stopped reading after "McShay..."
If we don't get Clowney you have to get Watkins.
Should be a no-brainer
Mack is going to be way better than Barr, I hope we dont draft Barr.
Barr is very talented. But extremely, extremely raw. I don't want him for 1 reason. And it's a valid one. He's a pass rusher that cannot properly use his hands. That's probably one of the most important aspects that all great pass rushers have. Using their hands. Barr doesn't do it and could be the next Vernon Gholston, who was also very poor at hand usage.
Mack is going to be way better than Barr, I hope we dont draft Barr.
I am really intrigued to see what Mack can do at the Senior Bowl practices. If he is dominant at DE then he will surely be in the mix at #7
I'm a UCLA alum, I've watched every snap of Barr's career...He's a 4.4 guy playing D end.. Seriously. . RB convert, we often have him covering running backs and 3rd receivers in the slot and has good range in a zone. He beats a lot of Tackles with his speed and wingspan, but he needs to add significant strength to anchor. If we play a true one gap, he might have good opportunities to succeed, but I think we can buy him time with Clayborn on rushing downs until we can shape his body to handle the rigors of an NFL season. His ceiling is very high, but with good coaching and added strength, and the ability to anchor and convert speed to strength, he can be a dominant rusher in the future. But he's fast and has great bend and balance, with GMC in the middle, we might be destroying quite a few pockets. And as a UCLA fan, he ended Barkley USC career, so extra points for that.People forget how good Price was in the very small sample size we saw. Unfortunately his hip never let him play, but he was very very good early in his first few games. I remember people here saying he was gonna be better than GMC after a few games.. i wouldn't knock Barr at Ll for Price's misfortune.
