Setter-Upper-In-Chief
October 12th, 2012
Joe’s heard for years from quality football men that playcallers on both sides of the ball, especially the good ones, make decisions in games in order to be effective immediately but also to set up future successful plays.
Heck, it’s even done in high school basketball, when a coach might call a few set plays in the first half to set up a backdoor cut later, for example.
That’s just how great playcallers operate. They live in the moment with an eye toward the future. It’s one of the great chess games of football.
So Joe was flummoxed yesterday when Greg Schiano threw cold water on that mindset. Schiano said he believes “setting things up” when it comes to playcalling is the head football coach’s job, not the guy calling the plays.
“I love doing it. That’s one thing I miss. I love each play having to think and make a decision, but the decisions that I have to think about are bigger,” Schiano said of playcalling and being a head coach. “You know, and I have to think ahead. You know, as a playcaller you’re thinking a little bit ahead but not as much. You can think about the next call, that setting things up, I think is a little overrated. I think it’s the head coach’s job to set things up. But as a playcaller, it is a fun day, but it can be a tough day, too.”
This whole take by Schiano didn’t sit right with Joe.
How can a head coach who’s dialed into all three phases of football, and managing the overall game, be the lead on “setting up” an opponent during a game over a coordinator? First, the coordinator/playcaller has the distinct advantage of extensive in-game study of overhead photos when his unit is on the sidelines, as well as in-depth communication with a quarterback or defensive players, and assistant coaches.
Maybe Joe’s missing something, but Joe’s just not getting how Schiano can set up an opponent more effectively than a coordinator when the head coach is not the one calling the plays.
Perhaps Schiano has a greater hand in playcalling than is known.
October 12th, 2012 at 10:29 am
Hmmmm? That’s trying to overwhelm yourself with offensive side. He should just stick to the defense and when he gets more pro experience then he should worry about the offense. I’m pretty sure teams are expecting him the blitz the victory kneel so that’s not setting things up.
October 12th, 2012 at 10:34 am
WTF? Schiano’s making offensive calls to set up a defense. We’re in trouble if this is the case.
October 12th, 2012 at 10:36 am
Oh boy. Now we know why the offense is playing so unimaginatively. The whole Ray Rice 3 yards and a cloud of dust Rutgers offense is beginning to make more sense now. You’re holding us back Coach. Time to release the reins or this season is toast.
October 12th, 2012 at 10:39 am
Im beginning to have second thoughts abouts Shiano abilities as a HC. The Blount debacle, force feeding us “Martin up the Middle”, lack of DE’s and OL, carrying 5 TE’s, blitzing when OBVIUOSLY wrong time, and on and on, and now this. Hope the Glazers dont “unleash” this guy, right now anyway. He definitely needs someone to be accountable to, a good GM, would be ideal, and Dominik is NOT the one,IMO.
October 12th, 2012 at 10:41 am
He’s no more or less qualified than Sullivan who is a brand new OC anyway. BTW, when are the Bucs going to STOP being On-Job Training for aspiring offensive coordinators?
October 12th, 2012 at 10:43 am
Schiano talking is like music to my ears. This guy knows his stuff!
Thank you owners for firing the boob from last year, and replacing him with NFL competence… Schiano coached with the Bears, coached with Butch Davis… Davis has a long NFL resume of experience… Sully coached the great Eli Manning… Sheridan and Schiano have turned this defense into a run stuffing machine, a defense we can actually watch unlike Rah’s weak showing in his 3 years… I can go on and on all day about how smart and savvy this ownership is in taking their time and hand selecting the proper coach for this team of unruly malcontents that Raheem built.
October 12th, 2012 at 10:43 am
I like Schiano, but this is odd.
October 12th, 2012 at 10:59 am
Stats don’t lie. Time for a new QB.
24 Matt Cassel, KC—–Total QBR 44.7
25 Cam Newton, CAR–Total QBR 42.4
26 Kevin Kolb, ARI——Total QBR 41.7
27 Blaine Gabbert, JAC Total QBR 38.6
28 Sam Bradford, STL–Total QBR 37.3
29 Russell Wilson, SEA–Total QBR 33.9
30 Josh Freeman, TB—-Total QBR 33.1
October 12th, 2012 at 11:06 am
@Buc Fan #237
Where are those stats from?
October 12th, 2012 at 11:22 am
NFL Stats:
31 Matt Cassel, KC—–Total QBR – 66.2
20 Cam Newton, CAR–Total QBR – 80.9
16 Kevin Kolb, ARI——Total QBR – 89.7
29 Blaine Gabbert, JAC Total QBR – 73.3
22 Sam Bradford, STL–Total QBR – 78.6
27 Russell Wilson, SEA–Total QBR – 75.2
26 Josh Freeman, TB—-Total QBR – 75.3
October 12th, 2012 at 11:41 am
All of the local media, Buc fans and NFL pundits are constantly trying to associate the Little General with some sort of common sense or logic in his approach. As I have been saying all along, there is no method to the madness.
The reason that he claims that he is calling the biggest plays and only the biggest plays is that he wants to take credit for any success. How do you think a poor to average college football coach became the highest paid public employee in one of the crookedest state’s history. He sure didn’t earn it with a 20-48 Big East conference record. Without his interference, Rutgers is having its finest season.
The reason Freeman and Blount are handcuffed is that only Greg can be the hero. He will be the only one to succeed.
Joe wonders, “How can a head coach who’s dialed into all three phases of football, and managing the overall game, be the lead on “setting up” an opponent during a game over a coordinator?”
The answer is more complex, after watching him in the first game, I realized that he’s not dialed into football, his main focus is collecting fines for hands on hips, untied shoelaces, and other ridiculous stuff. I remember him on national TV jumping all over Donald Penn as he left the field nailing him for hands on hips. He spends most of the game jotting jersey numbers in his little fine book. Ronde made the perplexing comment that he has rules for rules.
He admits at halftime, he takes a leak, has a snack and drinks an icy cold beverage. He does not meet with his coordinators during his well earned siesta. That’s why the other professional coaches are eating his lunch during the 2nd half. That’s why he couldn’t win in the Big East.
In a battle of wits, the Little General is unarmed.
Imagine flying an airliner and upon your descent the navigator dives into the pilot’s seat and grabs the controls. That’s Schiano.
October 12th, 2012 at 11:54 am
Ahh Yesss! Welcome to the NFL BIZZARO WORLD
– Where 6’5, 55million dollar receivers come to rot, and where hamsters are hopelessly slammed against opposing defensive lines with the hopes of first downs…
The NFL BIZZARO WORLD – Where no matter the score, a defensive line can ALWAYS win the game by blowing up the other team’s victory formation…
The NFL BIZZARO WORLD – Where blitzes come to rinse and repeat in the final two minutes with 80 yards to defend…
The NFL BIZZARO WORLD – Where a 250lb, 5yd per carry running back (through much study and contemplation) becomes the resident expert on the molecular structure of bench wood…
Yes welcome my fellow Buc fans, we now exist in a PARALLEL UNIVERSE…
October 12th, 2012 at 11:56 am
I read his remark as meaning he isnt calling the plays. Otherwise, why would he be missing it?
Either way, if we cant slip by the Chiefs the season is effectively over. Its hanging by a thread as it is given Atlanta’s start.
October 12th, 2012 at 12:16 pm
Good stuff, PewterC! The Bucs have become Costanza-esque and need to do everything opposite to be successful.
– unpunish Blount…let him punish opposing defenses
-let Freeman improvise and MOVE for crying outloud
-stop the feeble 180lb cb blitzes and leave them in coverage…weird,I know
October 12th, 2012 at 12:32 pm
It’s been obvious to me for weeks that Miguel El Magnifico is definitely tuned into this coach’s frequency and knows what he’s talking about regarding Napoleon Schiano.
The theme here is that Schiano wants to LOOK the part and will do whatever to maintain the outward appearance. However internally, he exhibits the behaviors of a control freak and is far less talented with X’s & O’s than he tries to portray.
I’m reminded of his reputation with NFL scouts who when visiting Rutgers, would be forced to stand in a designated “boxed area” far away from the players they would be observing:
http://www.bucsnation.com/2012/9/21/3369732/greg-schiano-ibully-hated-by-nfl-scouts-mike-silver
Was this a ploy to hide his inadequacies and domineering behavior?
More & more, I’m beginning to see this guy as a perpetrator that goes through the motions but has little substance. I hate to say it, but it even seems that he tried to attach his name to Eric LeGrand’s heart-tugging story. I beginning to believe that at best, he’s an opportunist…
October 12th, 2012 at 12:36 pm
I’m with you 100% on that JonBuc!
October 12th, 2012 at 12:55 pm
ESPN dot com.
October 12th, 2012 at 12:59 pm
You just reinvented the Total QBR buddy.
“Total QBR BasicsA quick primer on the fundamentals of Total Quarterback Rating:
Scoring: 0-100, from low to high. An average QB would be at 50.
Win Probability: All QB plays are scored based on how much they contribute to a win. By determining expected point totals for almost any situation, Total QBR is able to apply points to a quarterback based on every type of play he would be involved in.
Dividing Credit: Total QBR factors in such things as overthrows, underthrows, yards after the catch and more to accurately determine how much a QB contributes to each play.
Clutch Index: How critical a certain play is based on when it happens in a game is factored into the score.”
Therefore, the following is accurate:
24 Matt Cassel, KC—–Total QBR 44.7
25 Cam Newton, CAR–Total QBR 42.4
26 Kevin Kolb, ARI——Total QBR 41.7
27 Blaine Gabbert, JAC Total QBR 38.6
28 Sam Bradford, STL–Total QBR 37.3
29 Russell Wilson, SEA–Total QBR 33.9
30 Josh Freeman, TB—-Total QBR 33.1
This takes into account Josh’s extra suck rating.
October 12th, 2012 at 3:04 pm
Oh that crap. By that means Alex Smith should have been out the league four years ago.
October 12th, 2012 at 3:16 pm
So you are telling me that Jake Locker, Christian Ponder will give me a better chance of winning over Aaron Rodgers, and Drew Brees?!? Get that out of here. These QBR are made up by a bunch of people who have nothing else to do.
October 12th, 2012 at 3:24 pm
I wish I could see the QBR for Head Coaches…
October 12th, 2012 at 3:54 pm
@PewterC
Schiano wouldn’t allow you.
October 12th, 2012 at 5:47 pm
Josh fails in the total QBR because he under and over throws dudes while also failing to convert on 3rd downs.
Sorry… but Josh is responsible for the Bucs being 1-3. Im sure Schiano cant wait to replace this obvious bust.
October 12th, 2012 at 6:04 pm
I don’t care who does what, just make it work. Just win baby!
I believe the inexperience of the coaching staff is showing, but they have been competitive. Can’t quite pull it all together yet but that could change this Sunday. Only a fool like Miguel would pull the plug on the coach before game 1. This may take some time but doesn’t mean we’re on the wrong path. I don’t think we should give him 4 yrs like a sucky President but we need to give him a couple.
This week should show whether Schiano is willing to adapt and make winning changes or if his head is truly buried in the sand. I don’t think it is but Freeman has to make the offense work. I would give Josh this season to prove he can do it, but after that it may be time to draft a QB for the future.
October 12th, 2012 at 6:08 pm
Whatever or whoever, I can’t see the Glazers tolerating much more losing. They want to win and I know this for a fact. Now how they react I can’t say, but they want to win another Lombardi very badly.
October 12th, 2012 at 6:43 pm
1 and 15 Sports fans! You heard it here!
October 12th, 2012 at 6:43 pm
By the way! Toes on the lines!
October 12th, 2012 at 6:57 pm
The G Boys only care about money. It must kill them to see all those empty seats and blackouts after prying open Daddy G’s wallet.
They also hate to pay coaches contracts after firing them. Gruden milked every penny he could from them after they fired him. They thought other teams would kill each other fighting over him. He taught them a valuable lesson because he knew exactly how to hurt them the most.
If Schiano is fired, nobody will hire him. He’ll be unemployed for at least five years or even more. They will have to pay him every penny.
Funny, the Old Ball Coach, refused any Redskin money at all after he walked away from the job. I think Snyder owed him about $15 million. Raheem is the highest paid DB coach in the NFL.
October 12th, 2012 at 7:09 pm
El Idiotico,
You and your mindless Schiano bashing is ridiculous. Freeman has been dreadfully inconsistent . The head coach has taken the heat for his qb but anyone observing Josh knows he is just not clicking like an NFL qb should. The qb has to hit guys in stride and not telegraph where he throws. If Josh was accurate, we would be 3-1 or undefeated. This team is close to winning. Stop bashing the Bucs and their coach after only four games bro. At least see how the 1st season plays out. Go Bucs!