This Is Out Of Hand
October 1st, 2009
How the hell can anyone say Raheem the Dream is one of the worst NFL hires in the past 25 years after only three games?
SI.com’s Joe Posnanski has a list of the worst coaching hires in the NFL since 1984 (not sure why he chose to start with that date). On top of the list is forward-thinking, two-bit actor Eric Mangini.
What shocked Joe is that Posnanski has Raheem the Dream as No. 8.
Whew, yeah, that’s a bad hire. But, again, at least he was hired from within and he had not just been canned.
While Joe totally understands concerns about Raheem the Dream, isn’t it rather premature to write off Raheem the Dream after three games? Look what he has to work with.
The Bucs front office is more to blame with the Bucs 0-3 record than Raheem the Dream is.
October 1st, 2009 at 4:20 pm
It think its too early to make that judgment.
October 1st, 2009 at 4:25 pm
While I agree it’s premature to label Raheem this soon just remember what Morris said about Leftwich? While it wasn’t all Byron’s fault for the Bucs losses the sword had to fall and it was on Byron’s head.
Same with the coach – ultimately it’s the coach’s responsibility for the final product that appears on the field. Now when you put in there the Jeff Jags hiring/firing and the McCown/Leftwich/Joshson fiasco one begins to put together a case for bad hiring
October 1st, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Let’s face it. The team looks unorganized. They don’t look prepared. Morris looks lost on the sideline. Whenever he’s on camera he doesn’t seem to ever use his headset. Clayton said before the season started about how loose the atmosphere was in the locker room. I just don’t think he can be their friend and be boss also. I think he moved up to quick. I don’t think you can compare him to coaches in the past. When he finishes this season 0-16 then compare.
October 1st, 2009 at 4:44 pm
I dont understand the statement “look at what he has to work with” these are the players he chose so all the blame has to fall on him.
October 1st, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Yes, he chose them. He buttered his bread now he has to sleep in it.
October 1st, 2009 at 5:06 pm
I disagree, Joe. In fact I wonder if he should be lower (or higher depending on how you look at it).
October 1st, 2009 at 5:09 pm
What’s up Joe you were critical of raheem in the past now you seem to be going soft on him what’s up?
October 1st, 2009 at 5:21 pm
A bit premature IMHO but he’s getting close to some of the losers we’ve had in the Culverhouse years. Anyone remember Rick Venturi? He didn’t make the list?
October 1st, 2009 at 7:16 pm
Joe, you are definitely a diehard Bucs fan. But I strongly believe that you are giving Raheem way too much excuses. “Looks what he has to work with”, you say. Well I say a very good, qualified coach can make a mediocre player a productive player, a very good player a great player, and a mediocre team into a competitive team. I don’t agree with you about your statement implying the current Bucs team is just a pile of crapola that not even Vince Lombardi can turn into a winner. I believe in the hands of a good coach (say Gruden or better yet Dungy) this team can be competitive every given Sunday. Again, I strongly believe Raheem is the ROOT of the PROBLEM. This season is over so the Bucs need to have a qualified coach whom everyone is confident that he has the competence to lead the team to respectability and winning football again.
October 1st, 2009 at 7:27 pm
Look everyone – Joe’s getting soft. I guess Rhonde Barbers’s comments DID have an effect – at least on Joe.
Hey maybe if you tell everyone that’ Dominik has nothing to do with this mess and that the Glazers are really NICE owners you’ll get you exclusive pass to the inner sanctum Joe.
Of course, we, your loyal readers, know the truth – and we’re not afraid to speak our minds. Too bad you’ve been corrupted already.
Eh tu Brutus?
October 1st, 2009 at 7:31 pm
Just thought I’d throw in some Shakespere for good measure – NFL style
Joe: Doth not Raheem bootless kneel?
Readers: Speak, hands, for me! [They stab Caesar.]
Joe: Et tu, Raheem? Then fall, Joe! [Dies.]
Readers: Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead! 🙂
October 1st, 2009 at 9:23 pm
IMHO we have to keep watching.
Sure, Raheem has made some mistakes. He’s a rookie, and all rookies make mistakes. Gruden and Dungy made mistakes too.
I like Joe’s POV, and I think our secondary will be WAY better when we get TJax back.
October 1st, 2009 at 9:56 pm
I gotta agree with some of these posters, Joe. It seems like you have not been entirely consistent with regard to Raheem.
October 1st, 2009 at 10:39 pm
I think if Raheem didn’t show up to the game on Sunday, no one would miss him. He’s been on the job fo a while now so maybe it’s time for his vacation. Face facts, drafting Freeman in the 1’st round was a colossal mistake. K2 with wounded knee for a second round pick is also questionable. We could have had 2 big D linemen or a safety. I wonder if the Bucs offered Raheem to others as a trade if any teams would take him.
October 1st, 2009 at 11:36 pm
Joe can’t crucify a guy after three games. Maybe because Joe had low expectations.
Let’s just say Joe hasn’t been blown away with Raheem the Dream (yet). This switch to zone blocking for the offensive line has been a worse failure than the defense in Joe’s eyes.
October 2nd, 2009 at 7:17 am
The other Joe here,
Mr. Lucky, Justin – Joe is not going soft on Raheem. Just not prepared to call him an epic failure of biblical proportions in just three games. THREE GAMES.
That said, he’s still 0-3 and has proven absolutely nothing.
This post is about a so-called expert calling Raheem The Dream one of the worst hires in league history. Sorry, but Joe can’t make that judgement yet with a straight face. Maybe if the Bucs are 2-9 with no improvement.
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:08 am
There was a sense from alot of people that Raheem will be a complete failure even before the season started. The mindless,bungling media conferences, the illogical (idiotic) personnel changes, terrible choice of a top draft pick without any regard for the main deficiency of the team (defensive line), no coherent, focused plan for the game or the future,…(I can go on for several more). It was obvious to many very early on that this would be a disaster. To me just listening to him spout jibberish- pseudo-macho-worn-out football cliches like a twelve year reciting old NFL films was a huge red flag. I hope somebody does what they did to Jags very soon, and do now what they intend to do later on. Replace Raheem.
The Bucs could win this Sunday. I’ll be rooting for the team and JJ. But this will not mask what is truly wrong with this team, the head coach.
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:20 am
Paul:
Not sure how long you’ve been reading Joe, but Joe pounded on the Bucs daily before and for weeks after the draft what he thought of picking Josh Freeman in the first round.
If you weren’t around, let’s just say Joe wasn’t pulling any punches.
Joe was also concerned the way Raheem the Dream handled his early press conferences. Let’s just say he’s greatly improved.
Joe also thought the Bucs could have acquired Tony Gonzalez for a second round pick and wrote about this long before Gonzalez was traded to Atlanta… for a second round pick.
Please remember two things: 1) Someone in the Bucs front office had to sign off on the above points.
2) All of that written, to suggest after only three games that Raheem the Dream is one of the worst hires in the past quarter century is wwwwaaayyyy too premature. Raheem the Dream still has a ways to go just to match Dave Wannstedt.
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:58 am
Joe, to answer your first question. This is the first season I have been reading your post. You are doing a great job. I like your analysis better than most of the local papers. They were overtly critical of Jon Gruden and I believe still way too soft on Raheem. Still, I will respectfully disagree with you about Raheem…He is the ROOT of the PROBLEM. (Just here to vent)
October 2nd, 2009 at 10:06 am
Thanks for the compliments Paul and by all means feel free to vent!