A Lovie-fest busted out at One Buc Place on Monday.
Lovie Smith was announced as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' coach, reuniting him with the franchise that gave him his first NFL start as a linebackers coach from 1996-2000.
With his grandson, Jackson, crying to open up his press conference, Smith discussed how happy he was to be back in the place he cut his teeth and still calls home.
Smith gushed about the organization and the current roster. He used the term "excited" copiously about the players he now leads.
The coach specifically said he is excited about moving forward with rookie Mike Glennon at quarterback. Smith said the young signal caller is "strong-armed" and has "great pocket presence."
Here is what else we learned from Smith:
- The coach made certain to address the Darrelle Revis question strongly: "We don't play cover-2 every snap," Smith said, praising Revis' physical style. "There's a reason why Darrelle Revis is one of the best players in the game. We're excited to get our hands on him."
- Smith said he met with offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford in his basement in Chicago, while he sat out this past season. Smith believes the two have a similar vision for the offense, including a power running game. The quarterback position was of main concern, however. "I wanted to get a guy that had been a quarterback guru for my offensive coordinator," Smith added.
That is another good sign for Glennon.
- Smith said Leslie Frazier would be his defensive coordinator and the team had no plans to speak with Dallas Cowboys' defensive line coach Rod Marinelli.
- Smith said no matter who ownership hires as GM there would be a "marriage" in the decision-making process.
- While Smith talked up seemingly every noteworthy Buccaneers player, he specifically said he thinks linebacker Lavonte David has the chance to be as good as former Bucs great Derrick Brooks. High praise.
- What did Smith do besides football research and basement pow-wows with Jeff Tedford? Apparently he protected his wife from wild monkeys while at a trip in Costa Rica and went to college football games with his son/agent.
The latest "Around The League Podcast" recapped all the Wild Card Weekend action.
