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Bucs need to become tougher team

 
Gerald McCoy says the Bucs are soft. [AP photo]
Gerald McCoy says the Bucs are soft. [AP photo]
Published Oct. 26, 2014

TAMPA — Coach Lovie Smith calls it not being physical enough. Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier believes it's a lack of playmaking. Gerald McCoy says the Bucs are soft.

By any description, the Bucs are not a very tough team. Not on the field, and certainly not in the film room.

"Coupled with a new coaching staff and bodies in and out, put those things together, that sometimes equates to details being negated or overlooked," LB Jonathan Casillas said.

"To be honest, I think we've fallen short of that standard (Smith) set for us so far. Being 1-5, the defense giving up 28 points in the first quarter (against the Ravens in an Oct. 12 loss), it's very embarrassing. We've got to start playing ball. We're all here for a reason. If we lose, we lose. But there's no reason that should happen. Baltimore is a good team, but it should be hard."

With every coaching change, there is a transition. Some are faster than others. It helps to have players on your team with a little mean streak in them. As a new linebackers coach on Tony Dungy's Bucs staff, Smith had Hardy Nickerson, an established Pro Bowl free agent from the Steelers who would split helmets in practice.

As defensive coordinator in St. Louis, Smith had LB London Fletcher. As head coach in Chicago, he had LB Brian Urlacher.

McCoy and LB Lavonte David are outstanding players, arguably the best at their positions. But they haven't won anything in their pro careers, and their calm demeanors belie their aggressiveness on the field.

It's not fiery speeches that are needed. It's a fiery mentality, a killer instinct on the field.

"I've been talking for five years," McCoy said. "We've done enough talking; it's time to play, simple as that."

NO TRADE WINDS: The Bucs have received a lot of calls from teams wanting to trade for WR Vincent Jackson. But Jackson, 31, still is productive and the kind of character player that would mesh with any locker room. Because of his age, it's unlikely the Bucs would receive the kind of compensation that would make them consider a deal. And in order to fully evaluate QB Mike Glennon, they have to surround him with weapons.

GLENNON OR MCCOWN? As long as Glennon gives the Bucs a chance to score with the passing game, he will be the starter. Josh McCown still isn't healthy from the torn ligament in the thumb on his passing hand, and his deep throws lacked velocity in practice last week. The question is whether he's well enough to serve as the No. 2 today against the Vikings.

That's not to say Smith won't go back to McCown later this season. If the Bucs fail to win over the next month and Glennon plays poorly, it's possible the Bucs could turn back to their 35-year-old veteran by the time he faces his former Bears team in Chicago on Nov. 23.

SIMS Might TAKE OVER: The Bucs' offense will get a lift when RB Charles Sims is eligible to play next week at Cleveland. Sims, a third-round draft pick this year from West Virginia, showed promise in the preseason before having foot surgery. To say the Bucs are unhappy with Doug Martin and his 2.9-yard rushing average is an understatement. If Martin doesn't show more production, more carries might go to Bobby Rainey, and ultimately Sims.

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DEFER OR NOT DEFER? If the Bucs win the coin toss today, Smith has indicated he might take the ball rather than defer to the second half, his usual practice. The theory behind deferring is that teams try to "steal" a possession by making an opposing offense go three-and-out or creating a turnover on the first series. Knowing they start the second half with the ball essentially gives them an extra possession.

Contact Rick Stroud at rstroud@tampabay.com. Follow @NFLStroud.