Jackson Breathing Easy, Battling “Union” Limits
January 17th, 2013
Joe’s glad to see he’s not the only one breathing a huge sigh of relief because Bucs offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan didn’t land as a head coach Chicago, in what what have been a devastating setback to Josh Freeman and the offense.
Vincent Jackson expressed similar sentiment, documented by Buccaneers video mogul Scott Smith, and explained that continuity alone should help the Bucs as they try to squeeze the most out of every last minute of practice time, which is restricted by the player-owner labor agreement.
“I think it’s huge,” said Jackson of Sullivan’s return. “To get that year under your belt is huge, and if we had gotten a new guy here we could have had a different system and we would have had to pretty much start from scratch like we did last year. So having this confidence – you know, we kind of know what to expect from him and the coaching staff knows what to expect from us – it’s definitely going to give us a head start this offseason.”
The Bucs didn’t achieve their postseason goals, but they did set new franchise single-season records for points scored, yards gained and passing yards gained. Obviously, the arrival of Jackson (and rookie RB Doug Martin) had a lot to do with that, and Jackson thinks the Bucs can top themselves again in 2013, thanks to that much-appreciated continuity.
“I think there is a huge chance that we will be a lot better just because the fact that, again, you feel all different kinds of struggle when [you] get a new coordinator or [you] get a new head coach and everything is kind of fresh,” he said. “Even though we put in lots of work and I felt we were playing at a high level and we felt very comfortable with the system, you know, well early on in the season there were still things we could improve on and we could have been more consistent with. I expect us to definitely to have a head start on that. This offseason we won’t have to spend as much time installing, you know. Some of the veteran guys will know what is expected of them and know all of the calls and formations. We’re all in this league racing against the clock, with the union and all the hours we are only allowed to do in the offseason and during the season, that’s what we’re all competing against. It’s preparation. So for us to have that knowledge under our belt, it’s definitely going to help us.”
Smith has more excellent nuggets from Jackson, which you can find by clicking above.
Joe finds it interesting that Jackson talked about how the Bucs could have been more consistent and tighter early in the season, versus later in the year during the December collapse. It was a similar sentiment that former wide receivers coach P.J. Fleck told Joe last week, when Fleck said alleged miscommunication between Freeman and receivers was more a function of defenses catching up to the Bucs than anything else.
Regardless, Joe, along with Jackson, is confident that Year 2 of the Sullivan offense should translate to stellar and consistent production given the Bucs’ talent. There really are no more excuses.
January 17th, 2013 at 2:01 pm
i didnt see a video on the page..but good read
January 17th, 2013 at 2:44 pm
“i didnt see a video on the page..but good read”
Scott Smith does all the interview/game film mashup weekly videos at one buc that we see during the season. He also blogs and writes small columns sometimes.
January 17th, 2013 at 3:18 pm
I think the team exhaled down the stretch when they realized the DB’s couldnt stop anyone
January 17th, 2013 at 3:19 pm
…..and the O-Line was in shambles
January 17th, 2013 at 3:27 pm
Manti two draft stock keeps falling and falling.
January 17th, 2013 at 3:29 pm
This is why I have no respect for the morons who said the Bucs looked “tired” toward the end of the season. The NFL players in 2012 practiced less than ANY NFL PLAYERS IN THE HISTORY OF THE LEAGUE. Got that?
The defense may have been a little more tired, but that’s because the league caught up with Sullivan’s offense and figured out how to rattle Freeman consistently…therefore the offense was on the sidelines much more than they were earlier in the season and the defense was on the field much more.
But as a whole the team was not “tired”, idiots, and Schiano taking blame from the numbskulls who believed that was beyond ridiculous. Get your heads outta your asses and open your eyes for a change.
January 17th, 2013 at 3:37 pm
Funny toes on the line ad Joe. Like it
January 17th, 2013 at 4:23 pm
I think bucs fans were more excited about the bears hire than the bears fans were!!!
January 17th, 2013 at 4:43 pm
I think this offense left a lot of points and yards on the field, lots of missed opportunities that I hope they can correct next year and be healthy.
January 17th, 2013 at 4:50 pm
FLboy…Tell us how you really feel! great rant.
January 17th, 2013 at 6:39 pm
We’ll see. I thought the play calling was pretty vanilla and predictable in that losing streak only to be confirmed by opposing opponents. Hopefully Sullivan learns from his first year as an OC and mixes things up.
January 17th, 2013 at 6:48 pm
so does manti te’o fall to us at 13?
January 17th, 2013 at 6:56 pm
I was very impressed watching Teddy Bridgewater from Louisville destroy the Gators. He’s 6-3/220 and his timing routes were money. He played so smart that game and he looks NFL ready or very close. I know he’s only a sophomore but maybe next year might be worth a mid round pick to have another option for QB.
January 17th, 2013 at 6:59 pm
I think M Teo was exposed by Bama. I see possible bust there because the Irish never really played any great teams. I would not draft Teo, but I could be wrong. Nothing about him says Beast to me.
January 17th, 2013 at 7:35 pm
I hope he plummets and we don’t even sniff him if he is indeed lying
January 17th, 2013 at 8:04 pm
I hope Dominick hits free agency again and gets another CB. Now we can all thank Mr. Wright for giving the team the $$$ to get someone of quality. Grimes from ATL or maybe Ed Reed to replace our legend at Barber, who I do expect to retire. He has nothing else to prove. Legends= 99 55 20
On the draft, I like the kid from ALA OT Fluker in round 1.
Stay away from Manti–he is a bust. If he cant tackle Lacey-ALA RB in the biggest game of his life…then he doesnt add up.
January 17th, 2013 at 8:16 pm
@BigMac
I felt the same way when I watched Bridgewater play. Great poise, accurate and quick release. He stuck a dagger in the Gators defense over and over in that game. Impressive.
January 17th, 2013 at 8:27 pm
The best thing that could happen to the Bucs offense would be to hire Marinelli as the DC. We’ve seen enough of Freeman to know if the Bucs make the playoffs, it will be despite Freeman. I’m so ready for another QB. Ask yourself how many times has Freeman led us to big wins and playoffs. I say we sign Matt Moore from the Dolphins and give him a chance.
January 17th, 2013 at 9:42 pm
@ Lurker
Manti falls past us at 13. lol. with the way things are going for him, waaaaaaaay past us.
January 17th, 2013 at 9:45 pm
@Pelbuc
I hear very strong rumors that Marinelli is a Cowboy with Kiffen.
January 17th, 2013 at 10:23 pm
Marinelli is a good DC and the fans in Chicago (that haven’t been shot yet) love him. It makes little sense for a coach like Rod to step down below DC to a line or position coach. Maybe he goes to Dallas but it doesn’t make much sense.
January 18th, 2013 at 12:06 am
Can we please get rid of Sheridan already. There are good DCs out there and sounds like theres about to be another one in Ray Horton. We can’t wait til the last minute again.
January 18th, 2013 at 1:06 am
Back up the Brinks Truck for Ray Hornton DB coach and assistant coach. What does bucsnation think??
January 18th, 2013 at 1:09 am
@Joe
No disrespect; great read. But (RAY HORTON) has hit the blocks. One of the best defensive minds in the game is available. PLEASE RIGHT A STORE ABOUT THE GUY…
January 18th, 2013 at 1:10 am
correction (write a story)…lol
January 18th, 2013 at 1:12 am
I’m in with Horton, a 3-4 guy but he’ll figure it out. He got the shaft today
January 18th, 2013 at 1:18 am
Yes he’s a 3-4 disciple from the Lebeau tree but they guy can coach and he’s by far one of the best defensive coaches available.
January 18th, 2013 at 1:42 am
This guy would make a great hire.
January 18th, 2013 at 1:56 am
I don’t want Manti here in Tampa; the guy is a weirdo
January 18th, 2013 at 2:15 am
Marinelli, Smith, Horton, there’s too many good coaches out there!!! WE CAN UPGRADE FROM SHERIDAN. He took a SB winning Giants defense and made it worse! And we expect him to get our defense out of the gutter?
January 18th, 2013 at 6:53 pm
I agree with all of you. LOL!!!