Todd Wash’s Days May Be Numbered
January 11th, 2011
There is no question that the position on the Bucs that played poorly if not underperformed was the defensive front.
More often than not on a Sunday, Joe had more bagels in a sack than the Bucs had a sack. The Bucs’ rush defense was poor, but Raheem Morris worked miracles it seemed to squeeze whatever juice was left in this lemon.
Well, per Judd Zulgad of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Vikings defensive line coach Karl Dunbar has been offered a gig by the Bucs.
The Buccaneers are believed to have made an offer to defensive line coach Karl Dunbar to coach the same unit in Tampa Bay and there is little the Vikings could do if Dunbar decides to accept. Unlike many of the Vikings assistants, his contract is expiring and he will become a free agent. If nothing else, this will create some nice negotiating leverage for Dunbar.
Dunbar has been the Vikings defensive line coach since 2006, when Brad Childress hired him to be a part of his first staff.
Wash was scrutinized heavily when Gerald McCoy got off to a slow start and admitted he was pretty clueless through the first four games. Wash also felt heat when the Bucs’ rush defense was gashed repeatedly and the team’s sack total was flirting with a dubious league record this season.
Former Bucs defensive end Steve White also fired some piercing shots at Wash on his blog.
Dunbar, 43, played defensive lineman in the NFL and coached under Lovie Smith in Chicago and joined the Vikings staff in 2006.
Joe’s all for a change. This guy Dunbar has had some great success. The Bucs also have enjoyed great success with former players as position coaches in Alex Van Pelt and Eric Yarber. That experience has to be a big positive for young players.
The interesting element to this is that both Dunbar’s contract with the Vikings, and Wash’s contract with the Bucs, is up.
Look, rock star general manager Mark Dominik has invested a boatload of Team Glazer’s cash the past two seasons on the defensive line. Of course there is GMC but also Roy Miller and Kyle Moore, all drafted the past two seasons.
Throw in Brian Price, who was hurt, Dominik simply cannot be pleased with the progress, or lack thereof, of the defensive line. They simply have not developed. Miller horribly regressed this year. Stylez White took a step back. Moore is more a rumor than a player. GMC was publicly frustrated with Wash.
The new face and new ideas cannot be a bad thing here. If Joe were Wash, he’d be updating his resume.
January 11th, 2011 at 10:03 am
Dunbar sounds like he could be the second coming of Yarber, but for the D-line of course.
January 11th, 2011 at 10:20 am
when i look how worked minny DLine with the williams wall and Jared Allen, things can be great for us, its obvius the bucs will pick 2 DEs and we have a lot of talent in DT if this guy can develop the line, im preety sure no one wanna play against us…..
its preety sure Rah and Dom know what they want and what they need for
January 11th, 2011 at 10:35 am
Finally! I have been calling for Wash to be replaced since midseason.
Joe, please explain how GMC was “publicly” frustrated with Wash, never heard anything from him. What are you talking about?
January 11th, 2011 at 10:41 am
Gary:
That’s been well-documented. He didn’t call Wash out by name but the implication was very, very clear.
January 11th, 2011 at 10:41 am
i love how mark dominik already said bucs wont spend any money in free agency because we already had our free agency by bringing in frank okam, larry assantee and al woods what a joke
January 11th, 2011 at 10:44 am
I wonder if Steve White’s name is being thrown around at One Buc Place. Not to replace Wash (or Dunbar) but as an assistant D-Line coach or advisor. I thought certain comments in his last blog post indicated that he was attracting some interest from one or more teams.
If we could upgrade one coach this off-season, Wash would be my pick. And the Glazers/Dom need to keep Bisaccia!
January 11th, 2011 at 10:49 am
Can Dunbar bring Ray Edwards with him?
January 11th, 2011 at 11:34 am
Hip Hip, Hooray!
January 11th, 2011 at 11:48 am
Oh,… is Wash still here…?
January 11th, 2011 at 11:51 am
Dunbar, please accept. Thank you, The Fans.
January 11th, 2011 at 2:17 pm
A little Dunbar trivia:
Over the past three years under Dunbar, the Vikings d-line only allowed an average of 68.5 rushing yards per game.
January 11th, 2011 at 4:39 pm
The Wash is in the Dryer, on high.
January 11th, 2011 at 7:38 pm
Good Riddance Wash, it is official, we have a NEW D Line Coach in Tampa !!!!!!!!!
January 11th, 2011 at 8:52 pm
“Moore is more a rumor than a player.” – Joe
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LOLOL…couldn’t agree moore…ha ha
January 11th, 2011 at 8:53 pm
oar Says:
January 11th, 2011 at 2:17 pm
A little Dunbar trivia:
Over the past three years under Dunbar, the Vikings d-line only allowed an average of 68.5 rushing yards per game.
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I like the sound of that!
January 11th, 2011 at 11:43 pm
I think this would be an excellent hire. Aside rom Jared Allen’s decline this year, the guy has coached some tremendous D-Lines. Of course, talent is the key to everything.
January 12th, 2011 at 12:01 am
Thats OK we will see now that it wasn’t the D-Line coach it was the talent given Todd. Ndamokong Suh knows the coach cant do it for him. I can’t blame it all on Wash. Cmon McCoy put out my brother for the big cabbage you are taking lets earn it!
January 12th, 2011 at 1:11 am
This sounds like a good idea. Hire this guy! We need change on the D line. Maybe he can lure Ray Edwards to Tampa as well!
January 16th, 2011 at 1:01 pm
Give me a break, 2 rookies Michael Bennet, Roy Miller and some other no names other than Styles and you want to blame Wash…….you guys have no clue what a good coach he is, and by the way – Wash will probably leave Tampa not the other way around, as he was offered a 2 year contract – rumor has it that the Glazers low balled all their coaches except Rah – shocker huh!