THE OPTIMIST: Patience Worked Just Fine In 2007
June 8th, 2010
You’ve all read THE PESSIMIST, who will return soon. Now, Joe wants to introduce you to THE OPTIMIST. Click here if you missed his first column last week.
THE OPTIMIST is Nick Houllis, a Bucs fan and an accomplished writer whose steadfast allegiance to the team goes back to the 1970s. Houllis is the founder, creator and guru of BucStop.com, a place Joe goes to get lost in time via Houllis’ stunning video collection.
THE OPTIMIST will shine that positive light in your eyes. Some will love it. Some won’t.
Sometimes, we just worry too much! Second-guessing can be a fun part of being a football fan, and a curse for general managers and head coaches.
Case in point: January 2007, and the Bucs just completed a terrible 2006 season. It was a season on the heels of an optimistic ’05 playoff campaign that looked like we had retooled the team. Instead, by the finish of the ’06 season, Tampa Bay looked like a team that needed a complete overhaul instead.
At the heart of the matter, a secondary that had simply the worst safety play the team had seen in years. Jermaine Phillips and Will Allen were simply awful, and there was no doubt replacements were needed.
Another issue was the loss of quality coaching in that department. While guru Monte Kiffin was still on the job, Mike Tomlin had left to become the Vikings defensive coordinator. Before Tomlin left, secondary assistant coach Raheem Morris bolted to become the defensive coordinator for Kansas State, not aware at the time that Tomlin would be leaving, too.
Tampa Bay hired Greg Burns to assume the position, but later on several Bucs reported having a hard time adjusting to the coaching style of Burns. So changes would be made.
Raheem Morris, after his one-year stint as D-Coordinator, was coaxed back to the Buccaneers and assumed the position as defensive backs coach; but no one assumed that would be enough to turn around such a poor safety duo.
Bucs fans waited when free agency started, hoping to hear about acquisitions that would help out in a time of need.
Nothing.
Nada.
The Bucs made NO moves. Mike Adams, Deion Grant, Ken Hamlin, Todd Johnson, Michael Lewis, and Omar Stoutmire, all available free agent safeties to name a few, and Tampa Bay did not sign one single safety, instead going into the 2007 season with only a coaching change.
…And a rookie.
Safety Tanard Jackson from Syracuse was the only player picked up to address the situation, but surely the Bucs had to realize that both safeties needed replacing, not just one? Bucs fans couldn’t believe that the front office could be so shortsighted on the glaring need on this team.
Coaching Was The Difference
Opening day at Seattle, Jermaine Phillips and Will Allen started at safety, but by the second half Tanard Jackson had replaced Allen permanently, establishing himself as one of the first rookies to start on a Monte Kiffin defense since 1996, when Donnie Abraham did so. Jackson shined and, in fact, the position as a whole, and the secondary too, excelled during 2007 under the leadership of Raheem Morris and his assistant, Jimmy Lake.
Sound familiar? The two are reunited again in 2010.
The Bucs had realized that the problem wasn’t so much the players, but the coaching the players were getting. Burns was not up on the intricacies of teaching the Tampa-2, thus Philips and Allen suffered lapses in fundamentals. The front office was convinced that with proper coaching, the safety position could be a strength on the team.
2010 Is For The Patient
Switch to offseason 2010, and Bucs fans were equally up in arms over the lack of wide receiving talent. Several receivers were out there available to be picked up along with their baggage, but the Bucs decided to start anew with their corps — highlighted by a receiving tandem of rookies to grow together with quarterback Josh Freeman.
Will it be the right move? Do the futures of Arrelious Benn, Mike Williams and Sammy Stroughter outshine the tail-end careers of some of the high-priced free agents that the Bucs passed up on? It depends on if you need the Bucs to win next year, or if you’re patient enough to build a team that goes beyond 9-7 year in and year out.
We’ll stay tuned!
June 8th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
Nice job Niko…Good to read your stuff.
June 8th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
niko is da man, we are going to the top again GO BUCS!!!
June 8th, 2010 at 3:14 pm
I take my Kool Aid in an icy glass.
Enjoyed the read.
June 8th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Wonderful article, Nick. You are a fan, and a knowledgeable one at that.
I especially like how you can put the lie to the usual nonsense being spread about the team.
All the difficult labour in the off-season will result in success in 2010. I think the Bucs have a good shot at a wild card berth.
June 8th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
Great article. Let me apologize in advance for all the nattering nabombs that will soon appear to savage your efforts. Lay on Thomas, and Eric and Louie . . . .
June 8th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
I think you are forgetting that Sabby was picked in the second round of the same draft where Tanard Jackson was picked in the fourth. They did draft two players to address the needs at safety not just one. It just so happened that Phillips played much better in 2007 than in 2006. Also Sabby got injured in 2007 as well.
June 8th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
The 2007 season was one the Glazer boys stated as a reason to get rid of Gruden. some of you wil see that as a positive thing…
June 8th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
Nattering nabombs? Are those the same as negative torpedoes? I think you meant nattering nabobs.
June 8th, 2010 at 5:22 pm
Nabombs Away! 🙂
Sorry to disappoint JimBuc. I don’t have a major problem with the Optimist on this one. He happens to be more optimistic then I on this season, but I hope he’s right.
I remember the 2007 season. Everyone was expecting the Bucs to tank, but I was fairly confident because we had a good head coach.
June 8th, 2010 at 6:35 pm
I like the read ..
But I thought we got 2 safeties that season .. Sabby in the 2nd round .. and Tanard jackson in the 4th ??
i can understand forgetting Sabby plays Defense for the Bucs though
Also .. Tanard Jackson started against the Seahawks .. Will Allen was on the bench .. I had that game taped both Garcia and Caddy got hurt that game.
But still a good article 🙂
June 8th, 2010 at 9:15 pm
the 2006 disappointment was because the team lost its first and second string qbs, simms and griese, and were forced to go with a sixth round rookie. most teams will struggle with your 3rd string qb, that problem was resolved by turning to I believe garcia in 2007.
so the comparison w/ 2007 doesnt fly. last years 3-13 had to do with a depleted roster that was horrendously coached.
June 8th, 2010 at 9:39 pm
I thought 2007 was a disgrace cause they lost in the first round?
And didn’t they get Garcia and Faine on the first day of free agency?
And didnt we win in large part due to Garcia, Galloway, Graham, Hilliard, and other experienced pros playing for us?
And, most importantly, we had an outstanding head coach who knew how to win.
Sorry, aint no comparison.
June 8th, 2010 at 10:54 pm
@ ERIC
I was always confident in the Bucs when Gruden was around. He loved winning and was a tireless worker. The 2007 season was a good one. Our record was 9-7, but you have to remember that Gruden rested the starters for the final two games. So really, we should’ve gone 10-6 or 11-5.
All those players you mentioned were vital to our success in 07. Especially Graham. But now we have a suckish staff who won’t even utilize his talents and let him RUN.
Another great thing Gruden did was pick up a hidden gem in Antonio Bryant. He made him go from a nobody to a great 1,200 yd 7 TD receiver. Having a receiver of his caliber was a rare thing for the Bucs, but Raheem just threw him away and wasted him, saying he “complained” too much. I don’t even remember him complaining hardly at all. As a recall, he made a comment or two that weren’t even that big of a deal! I will forever say that letting him go was a big f up! If we still had AB on the team, along with K2 and the others, our offense would be that much better.
As for this thing between 07 and now, there’s no comparison at all. In 06, we went 4-12. We turned the team around in one offseason and went 9-7 in 07. Not that much patience was required there. Of course it worked out fine. In 09 we were 3-13. And now we’re supposed to jump for joy if we go 6-10 in 2010! Not only that. We’re also gonna have blackouts for the first time since the creamsicle days. I don’t remember any of that crap back when he was here.
It really kind of disgusts me how low the expectations have been set and how the Glazers are okay with having blackouts, low attendance and more losing seasons. How can an owner be pleased with that at all, rebuilding or not rebuilding?? I mean seriously, that’s pretty rock bottom if you ask me. You don’t go this far downhill to become a long term contender and give your team no chance to compete during a season. Show a damn winning attitude!
June 9th, 2010 at 7:01 am
Patrick and Eric (and Thomas)– do you notice your own slanted recounting of the Gruden record? I am a Gruden fan but its funny how much you guys slant your description of his record. For example, Patricks says in 2007 the Bucs should have had 10 or 11 wins but for the decision to sit starters. As I recall that was a controversial and wrong (in hindsight) decision. Left that part out.
Patrick does not even address the down years, but when Thomas does he tries to explain away 2006 by saying that the poor record was ONLY the result of injuries to two QBs, which led to Grads playing. That is the funniest argument ever because it was precisely Gruden/Allen’s failure to get a true franchise QB that led to their demise. No mention of that.
Finally, none of you ever even acknowledge the reason Gruden was fired. Gruden was not fired for his X and O ability. He was fired (along with Allen) because the backbone of the team degraded under his (their) watch due to really poor drafting. Think of this one example. All of you have said at one time or another that if they keep Grfuden last season things would be very different. That is probably true. We certainly win more games. But, if Gruden stays who is the QB?? I presume a stopgap because no way we take Freeman. You realize that approach is part of the problem?
How about the WRs we selected? We probably take keep AB (which is good) and maybe we even get BM BUT at the cost of two second round picks, which hurts down the road (that’s the whole point, right). So we win a few more games in 09 but do we get into playoffs? past first round? Do you understand the flaw in that thinking? Maybe you think that as long as we have Gruden we can patch a team together every year and make another run at the SB? Do you realize that it does not usually work that way. The Bucs long-term competitiveness was mostly a result olf their defense, which was almost entirely draft picks.
In any event, don’t mean to make this a referendum on Gruden. As I said, I am actually a fan. Just curious if you are aware of your own very selective (dare I say over-the-top) description of the past?
June 9th, 2010 at 7:45 am
Joe here,
JimBuc wrote: “Patrick and Eric (and Thomas)– do you notice your own slanted recounting of the Gruden record? I am a Gruden fan but its funny how much you guys slant your description of his record. For example, Patricks says in 2007 the Bucs should have had 10 or 11 wins but for the decision to sit starters. As I recall that was a controversial and wrong (in hindsight) decision. Left that part out.”
Wrong decision? How the heck do you make that case? And we’ll never know the truth about keeping Garcia out, which subsequently cost him a seven-figure bonus.
Brandon Marshall is 26 years old. Hurts down the road??
“But, if Gruden stays who is the QB?? I presume a stopgap because no way we take Freeman. You realize that approach is part of the problem?””
Uhh, Team Glazer could have just told Bruce Allen to trade up for Freeman or Sanchez, which essentially what they mandated to Dominik/Raheem. … You can’t hang that on the Gruden/Allen
June 9th, 2010 at 8:39 am
Joe: Nice job of stirring the pot. 🙂
1. How did the Bucs do after sitting their starters Joe?
2. You just wrote that at least the Bucs think they got a BM in Williams. If that is even close to being true (not saying it is) then they got Willaims and save two premium draft picks. We will see how BM and his hips and attitude perform. I am sure he will do fine, but not so good as to give up two premium picks, especially while rebuilding. Giving up the picks is exactly what got the Bucs in the mess they are in, right? Well . . . uh . . . and bad use of what picks they had. Sorry. Again, I am actually a fan of Gruden but it is impossible (unless you are Thomas) to deny that he was fired due to poor drafting/short-term philosophy.
But Joe, this is the craziest of all your statements and proof of the pot stirring:
“Uhh, Team Glazer could have just told Bruce Allen to trade up for Freeman or Sanchez, which essentially what they mandated to Dominik/Raheem. … You can’t hang that on the Gruden/Allen”
So it was the Glazers who mandated the Morris/Dom get Freeman????? Really? I mean I know they said that the team lacked a franchise QB (that falls on Gruden/Allen, right?) but you are actually arguing that it was the Glazers, not Morris that wanted Freeman? if Gruden satys no way we get Freeman and the only way we get Sanchez is by trading way up. No indication that Gruden wanted to do that. I am a Gruden fan, but if he stays we get a stop gap at QB (or maybe Brett Favre).
June 9th, 2010 at 8:40 am
Joe — I did not even address the Gracia bonus conspiracy theory because I have a policy of not responding to Thomas. 🙂
June 9th, 2010 at 9:31 am
All of the haters arguments about Gruden being awesome are total BS. That fool had years and years to make this offense go, and never did. Gruden had a very good window of opportunity while our D was still dominant and never did anything but lose in the wildcard game, if that.
Yea he won a SB, so does that mean he gets a pass to suck for almost a decade… no way. And even in the SB, we won with our D since we knew what plays they were running. That wasn’t great coaching on his part, just because he was their old coach and Callahan was stupid enough to keep running the same stuff.
Of course Gruden looks good right now because Rah is so inexperienced, but he only had 1 year. Bad as it was, he has potential. We saw exactly how far Gruden would have taken us, so stop wishing he was still here because we would be 9-7 every year just like the optimist said.
June 9th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
Except of course for the 11-5 and 12-4 teams………………..
June 9th, 2010 at 1:01 pm
@ Joe
“Uhh, Team Glazer could have just told Bruce Allen to trade up for Freeman or Sanchez, which essentially what they mandated to Dominik/Raheem. … You can’t hang that on the Gruden/Allen”
Joe, that comment is interesting in a way.
I actually kind of wonder what it was like inside One Buc Place during the final days of Gruden/Allen era in January 09. You ever think it’s possible that the Glazers had a meeting with them and told Gruden and Allen the direction they wanted to go in and to do it that way only? As in going young, bringing in a QB, youth movement, etc.. Maybe there was some disagreement and it came to an end there.
Or maybe the Glazers just fired the two of them right way without even discussing what they would like from them for the future?? My guess is that they didn’t even consult with them. I don’t think Gruden and Allen wanted to lose their jobs. They would’ve listened closely if there was a serious meeting between them and the owners.
Shocked and jumping for joy, Raheem was probably told by the Glazers what they wanted, and he followed their orders exactly as told since he was in heaven after getting the biggest, most unlikely promotion in his life. This is definitely a possibility. Raheem and Gruden were even on the same coaching staff for many years. After working together for so long, it’s quite odd to see that they’re thinking the complete opposite of each other when it comes to coaching and building a team. The Glazers obviously have a role here.
June 9th, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Patrick:
From what Joe has learned, this all came as a shock to Chucky. Remember, Chucky was feasting on an Italian dinner with his wife and he got the phone call to get his arse back to One Buc Palace.
Also, from what Joe has learned, Bruce Almighty actually fell on his sword for Chucky. Team Glazer told Bruce Almighty to fire Chucky and he refused.
June 9th, 2010 at 1:37 pm
@Joe,
So they consulted with Allen but not with Chucky?
June 9th, 2010 at 1:40 pm
Patrick:
Up until the Friday afternoon Chucky was fired, all was normal. Bruce Almighty was called in, told to fire Chucky, he refused, and the dominoes begin.
June 9th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Good for Bruce Allen……………………………………
June 9th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
@ article/blog “…or if you’re patient enough to build a team that goes beyond 9-7 year in and year out.”
that goes beyond 9-7 year in and year out….. seriously? what a dumb a$$ cop-out. I am sick and tired of this horse sh!t excuse to why Raheem Morris gets a pass for losing.
Raheem Morris will never get us to 9-7… EVER. Yet the optimist has the audacity to claim “if you’re patient enough to build a team that goes beyond 9-7 year in and year out” then accept losing and chaos from poor coaching?