A Promotion And A New Face
February 7th, 2013
“Relax everyone. We’ve got another Rutgers man in the house.”
The Bucs made their 2013 coaching staff official today and, while various changes were widely publicized weeks ago, there were a couple of new moves revealed.
Linebackers coach Bob Fraser, a Schiano man from Rutgers, was promoted to assistant defensive coordinator and another Rutgers man, Robb Smith, is the new linebackers coach, his first time in the NFL.
Smith will enter his first NFL season, having spent the previous 14 seasons in the college ranks. He previously served at Rutgers as defensive coordinator/secondary coach (2012), special teams coordinator and linebackers coach (2011), special teams coordinator/cornerbacks coach (2010), and special teams coordinator/outside linebackers coach (2009); at Maine as assistant head coach/outside linebackers coach (2006-08), assistant special teams/linebackers coach (2005), and defensive backs coach (2002-04) at Maine; and at Iowa as a quality control/defensive graduate assistant (1999-2001).
In his only year as the defensive coordinator, Smith helped make Rutgers one of the best defenses in college football, ranking fourth in the nation in points allowed per game (14.2), sixth in rush yards allowed per game (95.2) and 10th in total defense (311.6 YPG). Smith also helped Rutgers LB Khaseem Greene become an All-American.
Under Smith’s guidance, Rutgers routinely had one of the best special teams units in college football. In 2012, the team led all FBS schools with eight blocked punts. They ranked second in 2011 and first in 2010 in blocked punts, with nine each year. While Smith was at Rutgers, the Scarlet Knights led the nation with 31 blocked punts.
A Pittsburgh native, Smith was a three-year letterman at Allegheny College, where he graduated in 1997. During his time with Maine, Smith helped oversee one of the Top FCS defenses in 2006, ranking in the top five in rush defense (first), total defense (second), sacks (third) and scoring defense (fourth).
After Fraser’s success with the linebackers — what an improvement!! — with a big assist from Bryan Cox, Joe’s not surprised by his promotion. As for Smith, clearly he will do exactly as Greg Schiano tells him with the Bucs linebackers. Just the way Schiano likes it.
The Complete 2013 Bucs Coaching Staff
Greg Schiano Head Coach
Brian Angelichio Tight Ends Coach
Bob Bostad Offensive Line Coach
Jay Butler Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
Earnest Byner Running Backs Coach
Bryan Cox Pass Rush Specialist
Bob Fraser Assistant Defensive Coordinator
Phil Galiano Assistant Special Teams Coach
John Garrett Wide Receivers Coach
Bob Gilmartin Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
Jeff Hafley Secondary-Safeties Coach
Steve Loney Assistant Offensive Line Coach
Tem Lukabu Defensive Assistant
Kevin MacConnell Director of Football Operations
Ben McDaniels Offensive Assistant
John McNulty Quarterbacks Coach
Randy Melvin Defensive Line Coach
Tony Oden Secondary-Cornerbacks Coach
Jimmy Raye Senior Offensive Assistant
Bill Sheridan Defensive Coordinator
Robb Smith Linebackers Coach
Mike Sullivan Offensive Coordinator
Joe Vaughn Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
Dave Wannstedt Special Teams Coordinator
February 7th, 2013 at 1:47 pm
Looks like a Championship line-up to me. Glad Bryan Cox is back. Now lets get some players like….Raven DE Paul Kruger
February 7th, 2013 at 2:05 pm
Is Butch Davis still part of the Bucs coaching staff?
February 7th, 2013 at 2:12 pm
The improvement from the linebackers was outstanding and definitely a pleasant surprise last season. I would even go so far as to say that it was our strongest unit on defense so, you’re right, his promotion was well deserved. the only gripe I have with the linebackers was their tendency to play poor in pass coverage, but I’m sure once they get things ironed out along with another year in the same system that will improve as well. I’m very interested to see how they handle the Sam linebacker position though.
February 7th, 2013 at 2:20 pm
Stan,
Butch Davis is in the Bucs Front Office. To be a member of a coaching staff would be a violation of his NC separation agreement.
February 7th, 2013 at 2:25 pm
@ Joe
There is one thing I still don’t understand though. was Schiano primarily calling defensive plays or was it Sheridan? I only ask this because our defensive scheme resembled that of the Rutgers defense while Schiano was there and yet Sheridan position as D coordinator implies that he is the one that is supposed to be calling the plays.
February 7th, 2013 at 2:49 pm
Andrew 1 –
Bill Sheridan called the plays, but it is Schiano’s defense.
February 7th, 2013 at 3:52 pm
HELL YA Bigger and better 2013 GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!
February 7th, 2013 at 3:55 pm
That’s why Schiano didn’t fire Sheridan, because let’s face it, Schiano the architect, and Sheridan was his auctorati. He would have had to fire himself too.
February 7th, 2013 at 4:04 pm
o ok. that makes sense.
February 7th, 2013 at 4:38 pm
Kiper Mock Bucs: Manti Te’o
McShay Mock Bucs: Damontre Moore
WRONG
February 7th, 2013 at 6:30 pm
Anyone else wondering when Earnest Byner will have a bad year with a RB? Clinton Portis, Chris Johnson, Maurice Jones Drew, and now Doug Martin. I wonder how much of Martin’s success is from himself, and how much of it is from the presence of Byner.