Today’s news was no surprise, not after the past two weeks. Today’s grave dancing by sports radio and internet tweets was just as predictable. Personally I find that distasteful, counterproductive and juvenile…..but it was predictable nonetheless. That Lovie Smith will be the next Head Coach of the Buccaneers is, IMO, also predictable. No need to worry about the Rooney Rule or keep other candidates on a string. It will be done within the week if Lovie wants it.Here’s what is not predictable, here’s what has me wondering and worrying at the same time. WHO will be the GM? Will our scouts all leave as well? WHAT about the offense and a new OC? And obviously….who will QB the Buccaneers next year.I hope this gets done soon, getting a top GM and OC is essential to Lovie’s and the Buccaneers success. Essential to bringing back a team that can score points, excite fans, sell tickets and WIN.I don’t have answers, only questions tonight. I thought this was a playoff team only a few short months ago. Now? I THINK we need another QB in the mix. I THINK the defense has most of the pieces, another reason Lovie is a good fit. I THINK this could be a quick turnaround……wish I knew it.I’d LIKE to be excited about next season ASAP. I’d LIKE another top QB in the draft. I’d LIKE the rational opinions of the many good posters here.Happy New Year!
Rumors from Lovies camp are Tedford OC and angling for Ross as GM.
we have a few scouts who could leave
Garv; it's above our pay grade and I will start off supporting the new GM and Head Coach like I always do. I think we might be in a tricky spot here? Our players are mostly set up for a Schiano/Sullivan/Seridan scheme, and I am not sure if many of them could survive a complete scheme change? I do know that the faster the GM and HC is named, the faster the players can start making weight/quickness/speed/power strength adjustments. If the new HC is just moderately changing the previous scheme then we are only a few players away from making the adjustments; if the new HC has a totally different scheme concept then we are in need of many players. Right now I am feeling very positive that this whole mess these past few years is over. Go Bucs!
Rumors from Lovies camp are Tedford OC and angling for Ross as GM.
I've heard these names mentioned as well. I'm not familiar with either though that doesn't mean much. Yuccaneers is posting some interesting stuff on Tedford, he sounds like a qualified guy we might like. Coached a lot of good QB's too. Though we still have some weapons on offense in V Jackson, Mike Williams, Doug Martin, Rainy even Tim Wright, I'm concerned about the OL AGAIN and of course QB. Doc, you were one of many who was right about Freeman all along...... I'm thinking Glennon is too stiff, not mobile enough to excel and we need another good young QB in the mix at least. Ideas?
Garv; it's above our pay grade and I will start off supporting the new GM and Head Coach like I always do. I think we might be in a tricky spot here? Our players are mostly set up for a Schiano/Sullivan/Seridan scheme, and I am not sure if many of them could survive a complete scheme change? I do know that the faster the GM and HC is named, the faster the players can start making weight/quickness/speed/power strength adjustments. If the new HC is just moderately changing the previous scheme then we are only a few players away from making the adjustments; if the new HC has a totally different scheme concept then we are in need of many players. Right now I am feeling very positive that this whole mess these past few years is over. Go Bucs!
Though I'm not big on starting over, it's done so lets deal. Personally I think the OL needs an overhaul, we need another good TE and another QB. I like most of the defense and believe Lovie will be more than happy to work with those guys. Lots going on and this will, once again, be one hell of an offseason. I certainly agree that the sooner a HC, GM and O/D coordinators are hired, the better. I think the Glazers learned from hiring too late in the past.
I've read and heard the rumors about Smith being the favorite as the Bucs new head coach moving forward with Tedford joining his staff as the Bucs offensive coordinator and Leslie Frazier becoming the defensive coordinator with Marc Ross becoming the GM. Not a bad group...as long as Tedford does not bring Lane Kiffin with him in any capacity as they have ties...out of the current staff that is still employed by the Bucs I am hoping Byner, Robb Smith and Cox are retained. Its also been reported that Tony Sparano would also be part of Smiths staff as offensive line coach.Change was needed...but it will be interesting to see how it all plays out. And if any of Schiano staff is retained by the new head coach.As far as competition at QB...I think a veteran is needed and if the draft falls right and the Bucs feel a QB is worth the 7th pick then pounce. But under no circumstances should they force it. The team is already without a 3rd rounder and 6th rounder. Now if they trade Revis before the draft they would get the third rounder back and have to give the Jets a 4th rounder instead.Could they get a 1st and 2nd rounder for Revis? Now that leaves the void of having to find a replacement for Revis...
Dear god that would be a heck of a staff, Sparano is a bit of a joke now but as an OL coach he is spiffy. Trading Revis is interesting if you want to run a zone heavy team, and Lovie was less cover 2 than folks think to be fair, then he will never be worth $16m so do you trade him and sign 2 more starting capable CB's to go with Banks?
I've read and heard the rumors about Smith being the favorite as the Bucs new head coach moving forward with Tedford joining his staff as the Bucs offensive coordinator and Leslie Frazier becoming the defensive coordinator with Marc Ross becoming the GM. Not a bad group...as long as Tedford does not bring Lane Kiffin with him in any capacity as they have ties...out of the current staff that is still employed by the Bucs I am hoping Byner, Robb Smith and Cox are retained. Its also been reported that Tony Sparano would also be part of Smiths staff as offensive line coach.Change was needed...but it will be interesting to see how it all plays out. And if any of Schiano staff is retained by the new head coach.As far as competition at QB...I think a veteran is needed and if the draft falls right and the Bucs feel a QB is worth the 7th pick then pounce. But under no circumstances should they force it. The team is already without a 3rd rounder and 6th rounder. Now if they trade Revis before the draft they would get the third rounder back and have to give the Jets a 4th rounder instead.Could they get a 1st and 2nd rounder for Revis? Now that leaves the void of having to find a replacement for Revis...
I doubt we'd get a 1 and two for Revis, even a one. But him staying doesn't bother me, he'll be 100% all next year. As for QB, and I KNOW this will bother a lot of people, but I'd love Johnny Manziel if he were there at 7. Not only would he sell tickets but he's accurate, is a great leader, moves on the field like a Russel Wilson AND he'd have his Mike Evan in VJ right away. Now I'm not a drat guru or great judge of college talent but every time I saw that kid play I was amazed at the WOW factor he brought. Just a thought.
I gotta say, there's a few things that worry me about the whole way the staff is shaping up (if these rumors are close to true). First off, I don't know a ton about Tedford... rarely watched Cal games when he was coaching. So there are a few basic themes with him, all of which make me nervous. The huge rate of straight up flame outs of his highly drafted QB is bad; Aaron Rodgers is the outlier of the group unless I'm missing some guys. When you watched Akili Smith, Harrington, and Boller - the ones off the top of my head - you could see how reliant they were on his mechanics. They couldn't function in a pro offense for the most part. Maybe it's not all his fault or mean that his teachings are garbage, but there's a real common denominator. Then he has no pro experience from what I gather; maybe it alone isn't a disqualifier but it doesn't help his cause. Finally there's a reason he was run from Cal. Maybe there were unreasonable expectations based upon his success... but bottom line, he was fired. As for Lovie Smith... I said it early season when Schiano was looking to be toast. I think Smith is a decent choice. But people have to remember the utter madness that was Chicago's offense. Maybe some of it was personnel, maybe it was lack of consistency - through a cycling of coordinators, pos coaches that wasn't totally on Smith. And when it comes to defense, is he the type of coach that's going to force players into his scheme, or will he adapt? I know it's not fair to pin "Tampa 2" ideologue on him but it's what he's known for... if we get rid of Revis or don't maximize his talents because of scheme, or any other player for that matter, it's a travesty. There's a lot to like about him, not least of which is his knowledge of our franchise and ties to it. Just some things that need to be explored before we end up with more disappointment or Tony D the 2nd. EDIT: ... meaning our team's not performing, but the offense is the largest source of dissatisfaction, at least for me.
I gotta say, there's a few things that worry me about the whole way the staff is shaping up (if these rumors are close to true). First off, I don't know a ton about Tedford... rarely watched Cal games when he was coaching. So there are a few basic themes with him, all of which make me nervous. The huge rate of straight up flame outs of his highly drafted QB is bad; Aaron Rodgers is the outlier of the group unless I'm missing some guys. When you watched Akili Smith, Harrington, and Boller - the ones off the top of my head - you could see how reliant they were on his mechanics. They couldn't function in a pro offense for the most part. Maybe it's not all his fault or mean that his teachings are garbage, but there's a real common denominator. Then he has no pro experience from what I gather; maybe it alone isn't a disqualifier but it doesn't help his cause. Finally there's a reason he was run from Cal. Maybe there were unreasonable expectations based upon his success... but bottom line, he was fired. As for Lovie Smith... I said it early season when Schiano was looking to be toast. I think Smith is a decent choice. But people have to remember the utter madness that was Chicago's offense. Maybe some of it was personnel, maybe it was lack of consistency - through a cycling of coordinators, pos coaches that wasn't totally on Smith. And when it comes to defense, is he the type of coach that's going to force players into his scheme, or will he adapt? I know it's not fair to pin "Tampa 2" ideologue on him but it's what he's known for... if we get rid of Revis or don't maximize his talents because of scheme, or any other player for that matter, it's a travesty. There's a lot to like about him, not least of which is his knowledge of our franchise and ties to it. Just some things that need to be explored before we end up with more disappointment or Tony D the 2nd. EDIT: ... meaning our team's not performing, but the offense is the largest source of dissatisfaction, at least for me.
. The fact Tedford was fired should have no bearing on his ability to squeeze the most out of college quarterbacks. It's not his fault NFL teams did not scout and grade his pupils justly. Smith during his latter years he ran a very aggressive 4-3 defense. Not to mention played a lot of man to man coverages.
Every coach has been fired... I get that... but it's worth seeing why and if it will detract from his ability to do better than a guy like Sullivan who would've been run out by pitchfork this offseason. To me it stinks, just like the Smith leaks in general, of being put out by Smith's people as a notice to owners what his demands are, i.e. Tedford as part of the package.As for NFL teams being at fault for his QB... maybe... but what's set him into the minds of most football fans more so than any other D1/recognizable program OC is his work with getting QB to maximize their talents. The majority have failed at varying levels. I'm not saying it DQ's the quy; maybe the dude's more creative/capable than just that and can work with any QB to fix his flaws. But it's definitely something that people need to know when learning about the guy. Smith's defense... that's good. My guess is the dude's not rigid and incapable of shifting to his personnel's strength, i.e. Schiano.
I want the new HC to pick his own coordinators.I don't want the Glazer's picking them.
Every coach has been fired... I get that... but it's worth seeing why and if it will detract from his ability to do better than a guy like Sullivan who would've been run out by pitchfork this offseason. To me it stinks, just like the Smith leaks in general, of being put out by Smith's people as a notice to owners what his demands are, i.e. Tedford as part of the package.As for NFL teams being at fault for his QB... maybe... but what's set him into the minds of most football fans more so than any other D1/recognizable program OC is his work with getting QB to maximize their talents. The majority have failed at varying levels. I'm not saying it DQ's the quy; maybe the dude's more creative/capable than just that and can work with any QB to fix his flaws. But it's definitely something that people need to know when learning about the guy. Smith's defense... that's good. My guess is the dude's not rigid and incapable of shifting to his personnel's strength, i.e. Schiano.
Why wouldn't Smith pick his coordinators? That is normal operating procedure.
your'e right BR... it just seems a Smith hire would come along with an interview and discussion of his philosophy, including what kind of offense he'd run and with what coordinator. Maybe that's happened... but if not, hopefully the Glazers get into it with eyes wide open and don't feel pressure to hire Smith regardless of what he'd bring with him
