Michael Bennett’s Move to Seattle: The Lasting Effect of the Greg Schiano Era in Tampa BayBy Leo Howell - Jan 11th, 2014 at 8:06 pm
Jan 11, 2014; Seattle, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) reacts after a play as Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett (72) celebrates during the second half of the 2013 NFC divisional playoff football game at CenturyLink Field. Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports Michael Bennett is one of only a select few Tampa Bay Buccaneers to eclipse nine sacks in a season in franchise history in 2012. But for whatever reason, the Buccaneers did not bring Bennett back in 2013, instead opting to rely on Da’Quan Bowers (a Dominik draft pick who had yet to reach full potential) and Daniel Te’o-Nesheim (a “Schiano man” who played with a ton of effort, but not a lot of pure talent). Now that Schiano and Dominik are gone, and Bennett is playing for an NFC Championship with the Seahawks, it’s clear that the worst lasting effect of Schiano and Dominik’s time in Tampa Bay will be players who went on to succeed in other places while the Buccaneers habitually lost games. No player personifies that fact more than Bennett. After leaving town, Bennett opened up to Mike Silver of NFL Media, telling him about how life was under Schiano in Tampa Bay. And even though there were rumors that Bennett might have returned to Tampa, he took a one-year deal in Seattle and has proven to be more than a one-year wonder. Schiano’s stubborn style and personality conflicts with certain players helped keep the middle and bottom of the Tampa Bay roster thinner than it should have been. Key players will always sign for a big paycheck, but the role players and young hopefuls can’t afford to risk spending time under a bad coach on a bad team, or they may never get another chance in the NFL. Bennett was an unheralded and undrafted player himself, but worked his way into being one of the most sought after defensive ends in free agency. But even he couldn’t risk spending another year in Tampa, instead opting to go to a winning organization in Seattle. It’s possible that Mark Dominik simply short-changed Bennett and he left to get more money, as well. But considering Bennett’s comments, it’s safe to say his preference was to find a better environment in which to work. Luckily for Buccaneer fans, they now have one of the most respected coaches in the NFL on the sideline, and players will consider Tampa Bay as a more desirable destination in the future. One of those players might even be free agent defensive end Michael Bennett. http://thepewterplank.com/2014/01/11/michael-bennetts-move-seattle-lasting-effect-greg-schiano-era-tampa-bay/
Schiano’s stubborn style and personality conflicts with certain players helped keep the middle and bottom of the Tampa Bay roster thinner than it should have been. Key players will always sign for a big paycheck, but the role players and young hopefuls can’t afford to risk spending time under a bad coach on a bad team, or they may never get another chance in the NFL.
That just may be the brightest thing I've ever seen written by Leo. The first sentence is a grammatical atrocity but I think his point may be spot on.
I just hope they had the hazmat guys follow schiano out the door.
Not a bad article. All NFL teams make mistakes when it comes to the bottom 10 players on the roster..and they often re-emerge when they join other teams given enough time. However, I do agree the Bucs simply hit the eject button too quickly with some of the players at positions that needed competition (WR, DE) and as a result the depth was very putrid.
I understand the reasoning behind jettisoning Blount and Talib but Bennett really stings. Dominick's biggest flaw was leaving certain positions way too thin and "hoping" that injured players immediately regain their past success and high level of play or younger guys make that huge next step. His lack of contingency plans cost him his job.
Don't forget Wallace Gillberry wasn't good enough either....so after we cut him he went to the Bengals and had a great year with 7.5 sacks in just 500 snaps.Or George Selvie with his 7 sacks and a solid year in Dallas.Bennett was by far the biggest and most disgusting mistake, but keeping DTN and giving him almost 1000 snaps this year over Gillberry and Selvie was a pretty damn awful decision in it's own right.At least he got rid of Myron Lewis. We can always be thankful for that.
When did Micheal Bennett turn in to freakin Reggie White? I like the guy but good lord.The bucs must be the only team in the league that ever let a good player walk. The team made a mistake and gambled on the wrong guy. That player isn't here, that coach isn't here, and that GM isn't here. It's done... Get over it.
When did Micheal Bennett turn in to freakin Reggie White? I like the guy but good lord.The bucs must be the only team in the league that ever let a good player walk. The team made a mistake and gambled on the wrong guy. That player isn't here, that coach isn't here, and that GM isn't here. It's done... Get over it.
Bennett is an issue becaus pretty much everyone here other than captain peanut butter knew it was a mistake. We saw it coming and called it before it even happened
When did Micheal Bennett turn in to freakin Reggie White? I like the guy but good lord.The bucs must be the only team in the league that ever let a good player walk. The team made a mistake and gambled on the wrong guy. That player isn't here, that coach isn't here, and that GM isn't here. It's done... Get over it.
Bennett is an issue becaus pretty much everyone here other than captain peanut butter knew it was a mistake. We saw it coming and called it before it even happened
It was a mistake I agree, but how long do we need to huff and puff about it?Every time the guy makes a tackle there is 5 threads about it.
When did Micheal Bennett turn in to freakin Reggie White? I like the guy but good lord.The bucs must be the only team in the league that ever let a good player walk. The team made a mistake and gambled on the wrong guy. That player isn't here, that coach isn't here, and that GM isn't here. It's done... Get over it.
Bennett is an issue becaus pretty much everyone here other than captain peanut butter knew it was a mistake. We saw it coming and called it before it even happened
It was a mistake I agree, but how long do we need to huff and puff about it?Every time the guy makes a tackle there is 5 threads about it.
Cmon, youngone. I have seen you beat a dead horse around here!
Tired of people complaining about guys who aren't on our team anymore. They are gone. Deal with it.
Tired of people complaining about guys who aren't on our team anymore. They are gone. Deal with it.
When did Micheal Bennett turn in to freakin Reggie White? I like the guy but good lord.The bucs must be the only team in the league that ever let a good player walk. The team made a mistake and gambled on the wrong guy. That player isn't here, that coach isn't here, and that GM isn't here. It's done... Get over it.
Bennett is an issue becaus pretty much everyone here other than captain peanut butter knew it was a mistake. We saw it coming and called it before it even happened
It was a mistake I agree, but how long do we need to huff and puff about it?Every time the guy makes a tackle there is 5 threads about it.
Cmon, youngone. I have seen you beat a dead horse around here!
You sure?
At least he got rid of Myron Lewis. We can always be thankful for that.
Josh Freeman as well. They replaced him with a pretty good young quarterback in the 3rd round. They made some excellent picks among the meh and the headscratchers. There was just too much of the latter. But Greg Schiano's style is really hard to pull off. He was over the top hard ass in a league that sees some hard asses. You gotta know what the fuck you are talking about to come out like that with grown men many of whom are long time veterans of NFL football. He instilled discipline on his first year NFL team the way he would if he was walking into a shitty college team. Oh and he set up a toxic environment for free agency for a franchise that already has a shitty reputation in free agency. I don't think Greg Schiano has a lasting impact, to answer the op. He'll be a trivia answer in 20 years for Bucs fans. Another bad hire might have made his negatives more of a potential issue moving forward.
At least he got rid of Myron Lewis. We can always be thankful for that.
Josh Freeman as well. They replaced him with a pretty good young quarterback in the 3rd round. They made some excellent picks among the meh and the headscratchers. There was just too much of the latter. But Greg Schiano's style is really hard to pull off. He was over the top hard ass in a league that sees some hard asses. You gotta know what the **CENSORED** you are talking about to come out like that with grown men many of whom are long time veterans of NFL football. He instilled discipline on his first year NFL team the way he would if he was walking into a **CENSORED**ty college team. Oh and he set up a toxic environment for free agency for a franchise that already has a **CENSORED**ty reputation in free agency. I don't think Greg Schiano has a lasting impact, to answer the op. He'll be a trivia answer in 20 years for Bucs fans. Another bad hire might have made his negatives more of a potential issue moving forward.
Agree.
