Michael Bennett Slaps Schiano Tactics
August 24th, 2013
The Buccaneers’ 2012 sack leader and tackles-for-loss manbeast, Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett, sat down for an extensive interview with ESPN Radio in Seattle this week. And Bennett recorded one more sack — of Greg Schiano.
Bennett explained why he’s skeptical of New Schiano Order tactics and said he doesn’t believe it’s an ideal method for grown men
“The coaches are very different. You know, Coach Schiano is more hard-nosed, military-type guy. And Coach Carroll is so laid back, it gives the guys chances to not be on their back but still coach them at the same time,” Bennett said. “Because I think a lot of players, they’re adults, too, and when you treat them like kids they get offended by that. You know what I mean? Because players, you know, they got their mortgages, they got their kids, they got wives, they got family, they got things they can do.
“So they know it’s their job and they know when they make mistakes. But it’s a coach’s job to keep them honest, you know what I mean. But when a coach is just too much on them, I think the players rebel. Because, you know, they’re going to be like, ‘Why is he on me like this? It’s my fifth year in the league. I know more than him.’ Guys are just like, you know, it just becomes a big conflict, I think.”
None of this surprises Joe. However, Joe is troubled hearing it come from Bennett, who is a very level-headed guy. Bennett also appeared to be the textbook Buccaneer Man under Schiano. He was hard-working, versatile and he played through an injury and took on a tremendous number of snaps.
Current Buccaneers surely share Bennett’s attitude. But Joe has no problem with that. You don’t have to love your boss. Numerous hard-nosed NFL coaches have achieved greatness, including Tom Coughlin winning two Super Bowls recently. Schiano’s tactics can work. Joe’s more skeptical of Schiano’s ability as a game-day coach. (You can hear the Bennett audio below.)
August 24th, 2013 at 9:08 am
It sounds to me like a guy who is bitter that the team he used to play for no longer wanted him – sour grapes!
August 24th, 2013 at 9:13 am
In NSO’s defense, I think when Shiano did his “exit” interviews after last season with guys like Barber and Bennett, I have to think that he received this kind of feedback and that is why he has loosened the noose so to speak and it isn’t as bad as last year.
Keep in mind that this type of military mindset was needed for our team last year to change the “Rah” culture.
I think Bennett might have a different perspective this year..if he was still on the team.
August 24th, 2013 at 9:17 am
“I know more than him.” What a clown. I don’t care who u are. You don’t know more than a head coach. If u think u do, I for one am glad he’s gone. Didn’t think that til now tho. When I managed, if there was snot nosed kid with that attitude he no longer had a job. Even if Schiano was a dumb coach, he don’t know more.
You’re right on Joe about the in game coaching. I’m not sold yet either.
August 24th, 2013 at 9:20 am
I still cant believe we let bennett walk when he cost 5 million a year? Is Dom that Cheap? You left us with Bowers!!!!!!!!!?????????
As many high profiled moves Dom has made the past 2 seasons in Jackson, Revis, Goldson, he’s left us pretty thin depth wise in the front 7 and offensive line.
August 24th, 2013 at 9:21 am
Sounds like a friend of mine. He keeps telling his bosses they’re wrong about EVERYTHING then wonders why they don’t respect him.
August 24th, 2013 at 9:22 am
Chef paul
To be fair, I think that comment had a lot to do with the countless times of Gerald mcCoy going to them to get rid of the damn stunts.
August 24th, 2013 at 9:28 am
Whenever a player says something about a coach it must be accepted at absolutely true.
Ask Michael Clayton.
August 24th, 2013 at 9:30 am
He wasn’t an elite pass rusher but he was great at stopping the run. I wish we kept him for depth. Very stupid move letting him go because if one of our DE’s goes down we’re screwed.
August 24th, 2013 at 9:32 am
That could be what he meant. And that is fair. I still don’t like it tho. I was never on the military but I truly believe in that kind of leadership. Especially like Scotty said, after the buddy system Rah had
August 24th, 2013 at 9:52 am
True. Chef Paul. But maybe things are tture? It was Michael Bennett who questioned after the Skins loss, ‘WHY BLITZ SO MUCH ” in the final drive? Those blitzes left Fred Davis open for two big gains.
He questioned the coaching in Tampa while he was there.
Bennett was a perfect compliment to Clayborn at LDE.
August 24th, 2013 at 9:52 am
I to never liked the move to let him go. But the more and more the guy talks, it sounds to me like he didn’t want to be here rather than us not trying to keep him. I guess because he felt disrespected we didn’t shower him with the money. Oh well, let him keep crying over in Seattle.
August 24th, 2013 at 9:53 am
Of course he prefers the coach who encourages PED use and generally care free behaviour. He’s also bitter that the Bucs were right to not give him a long term deal, as evidence from the fact no one else did either.
August 24th, 2013 at 9:55 am
Raheem Morris was laid back. How did that work for the Bucs! The team quit on him halfway through the last season.
August 24th, 2013 at 9:57 am
I’m not in favor of what Bennett and other former buc players say when they get to different atmospheres. But isn’t it skeptical? Talib is out of trouble in New England. ? Blount looks a bit improved in pass protection and running harder.
I’m not questioning Greg Schiano as much as I am of the decisions of hiring bill Sheridan as his def. coordinator.
August 24th, 2013 at 10:00 am
It appears that Bennett is reacting to the culture change that took place when Schinno came in. Schinno did what had to be done to change the culture of the lockerroom and is now settling in on more his typical coaching style. Bennett should see a huge difference between last years camp and his camp this year in Seattle because the culture in Seattle has already been established. Bennett is not going in to a situation where the coaching staff is trying to change the locker room culture.
August 24th, 2013 at 10:01 am
Hearing this from Bennett helps me to understand his release. I will guarantee you that his feelings showed up and he was not a “Buccaneer Man”
August 24th, 2013 at 10:01 am
I believe every time Bennett gives an interview the picture becomes clearer as to why he was allowed to leave. There was a reason his brother didn’t come play TE for us the previous year. Coach sensed a little too much disention. Oh well, we have Bowers. Haha
August 24th, 2013 at 10:09 am
Welker has been bitching about Bellichick since his arrival in Denver.
I’d venture a guess that successful NFL head coaches aren’t the most likeable human beings around. They have to make personnel decisions and anyone on the losing end is gonna be angry.
That’s why it’s silly to fire coaches based on what players say.
August 24th, 2013 at 10:10 am
Bennett got used to winning under Raheem and that 10-6 can be achieved without being a douche
August 24th, 2013 at 10:12 am
BIlly Bob Says:
August 24th, 2013 at 10:00 am
It appears that Bennett is reacting to the culture change that took place when Schinno came in. Schinno did what had to be done to change the culture of the lockerroom and is now settling in on more his typical coaching style. Bennett should see a huge difference between last years camp and his camp this year in Seattle because the culture in Seattle has already been established. Bennett is not going in to a situation where the coaching staff is trying to change the locker room culture.
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I believe Mike Tomlin did the exact same thing in Pittsburgh year 1. Toned it down, established the culture, in year 2. Won Super Bowl.
Now I’m not going to sit here and say that’s going to happen. I still have some question marks on the coaching staff, lack of depth, and decision making personell, and lack of Frnachise QB. Freeman is a question mark heading into year 5. We all know it. Dom knows it. Schiano knows it.
Bill Sheridan had a horrendous year in NYG, then not a very good year in 2012. Dom didn’t do much to fix the depth and pass rush.
There were rumors that Schiano wanted a LB but Dom insisted to go wit dline, especially since he has had poor decision making there in the past (Price, Bowers). To me, outside of Clayborn and McCoy, we truly have no one who can start at NT and LDE. Spence I think can start down the road, but he’s best served to rotate. I don’t like that we line up in that rotation of having McCoy and 3 defensive ends, kicking one inside. Not everyone is Justin Tuck.
I think there is a chacne we can finish first and a chance we finish 5-11 last in the division. We’ve built a strong team with pro bowlers, but people forget, so did the Eagles in 2011.
August 24th, 2013 at 10:13 am
“Of course he prefers the coach who encourages PED use and generally care free behaviour.”
Bucrightoff is right on. Also, not to mention, Pete Carroll is a known cheater who once was found out about at USC quickly quit and left for the NFL.
August 24th, 2013 at 10:17 am
But isn’t it skeptical? Talib is out of trouble in New England. ? Blount looks a bit improved in pass protection and running harder.
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Come on now Chris, I agree with you on most things. But, you can’t really say Talib is out of trouble yet. He was out of trouble here to until what the 2nd game? Give the man time and he will most likely find a way to get in trouble. Blount looked good in 1 game but just ok against us…. plus as everybody keeps saying, “It’s only pre-season”. Lol
August 24th, 2013 at 10:19 am
Bucrightoff is right on. Also, not to mention, Pete Carroll is a known cheater who once was found out about at USC quickly quit and left for the NFL.
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Hints the Cheaty Petey nick he’s grown accustomed to. Which for some odd reason cracks me up everytime I say or hear it.
August 24th, 2013 at 10:19 am
Pretty shocked by his blatant disrespect. Schiano had to turn around a group of losers. The 2011 season was sickening to watch, at least for me. This interview speaks volumes to Bennetts character and makes the fact that they let him walk less surprising.
August 24th, 2013 at 10:27 am
Kellen Winslow, Preston Parker, Michael Bennett. All pissed when they were no longer wanted and all bitch after the fact. Weak.
August 24th, 2013 at 10:32 am
The most disappointing aspect is you go from the Raheem circus show to a well disciplined and organized head coach in Schiano. The record reflected and the on the field play showed improvement.
I do see how the team can become less responsive down the stretch but that’s expected with a young team. This year should be better, although the record may not reflect. I prefer a better prepared team that looks physical than a team chest bumping after getting a first down.
Bennett should retract his statements and focus on gettin his health better.
August 24th, 2013 at 10:35 am
The best coaches in the NFL are unliked by players. Shiano got the most out of Bennett. He’ll never have a year like he did in 2012.
August 24th, 2013 at 10:38 am
Had it ever occured to you, who keep crying about Dominik not resigning Bennett, that maybe the reason Bennett is no longer with us, was because of his attitude? If Bennett was upset about his non-offer, why would he only show resentment toward Schiano, rather than the Organization, and Dominik? The guy should be happy to have landed on a team, that’s favored to win everything.
The Bucs have never said anything publicly derogative about Bennett. They allowed him to move on without raising questions about his character. Bennett apparently doesn’t appreciate what the Bucs did for him, and that is testimony right there, about Bennetts character. If he’s willing to come out after the fact, and publicly shed Schiano in a bad light, can only mean that there was animosity to begin with, and one of the reasons why he’s probably no longer here.
He may not have been a cancer in the locker room yet but he was a ticking time bomb. Plus, I think he knew had he been vocal it would have hurt his stock in a contract year. Honestly, I wouldn’t want those who don’t want to be here, on my team either. So now that we have a little clarity, with some reasons why he’s not here, stop blaming Dominik for doing what most of us would have done if we were in the same situation.
August 24th, 2013 at 10:43 am
this guy had 9 sacks last year… his previous 2 best years were 4 sacks (2 years ago) and (1 sack 3 years ago) 9 sacks in the absence of Clayborn, no wonder why they wanted him off the team… makes sense now, an obvious character flaw. Sometimes bosses are hard, sometimes they’re soft… adults usually understand this aspect of work and deal with it accordingly.
August 24th, 2013 at 10:54 am
Schiano inherited a team that quit the prior season, nuff said.
August 24th, 2013 at 10:58 am
“military mindset was needed for our team last year to change the “Rah” culture”. and what did that get this team. Every one keeping talking about the quarterback is under pressure this entire coaching staff is under pressure. This Gm will be fired and they will bring a GM that can get along with the players and not hide in his office. Bennet spoke the truth and did not notice what real N.F.L coaches were until he got to the Seahawks. The guys that they cut are now on playoff teams, and never makes the news. This team need to keep the coaching decisions in the locker room, and not in the media. when you bring it to the press that is when you loose your team.
August 24th, 2013 at 10:58 am
Ol softy coaches like Carroll. Might be well liked by players. But think about super bowl winning coaches. They are usually coached by hard a$$ coaches. Andy Reid’s and Pete Carroll’s just set it up. Then a real coach can finish it off.
August 24th, 2013 at 11:28 am
@76buc76
Just like how soft-ass Dungy left it in Gruden’s hands to win a Super Bowl, right?
Bennett is spilled milk, though it would have been fantastic if Dom didn’t put all his eggs in his unproved draft pick. RBellBuc puts it nicely. Bennett may have been having qualms with the coaching structure – we don’t know. That, coupled with his injuries and high asking price for a contract, may have been a one-way ticket outta town.
Let’s see how Clayborn fares against Miami’s wet tissue of a left guard. If there is no pass rush tonight then folks, we are going to be in trouble.
August 24th, 2013 at 11:39 am
under a “soft” coach (rah) he wasnt that good…under a “hard nosed” coach (schiano) he had his best year…. maybe everyone is looking past that
August 24th, 2013 at 12:43 pm
When Freeman is gone and he will be, you guys are going to turn on Schiano with a vengeance.
August 24th, 2013 at 12:48 pm
Well the jury is still out for Schiano. He hasn’t prove anything yet in the league and it’s going to be hard for him to gain the respect of the players unless he start winning games and not get out-coached…
A military style discipline is good only when those providing it can walk the walk, and our HC hasn’t done it in the NFL and has done very little in college for the players not to question his leadership style.
Hopefully Schiano start winning games with this team, but I’m skeptical that it will happen
August 24th, 2013 at 1:11 pm
Anyone hear Bennett’s name called in preseason other than a possible knee injury against the Packers that turned out to be OK? Bennett is a rogue that has talent but breaks scheme too many times and costs big gains. That was his M.O. under Morris and it wouldn’t surprise me if Schiano saw the same thing.
August 24th, 2013 at 1:12 pm
Does anyone remember the early press conferences of the Dungy era? I sure do. I remember listening to the guy and how he was so bland and inanimate. I remember saying to my wife every time Dungy talked. This guy sounds like another loser, here we go again honey. (Yeah it was negative thinking) I think Schiano is very similiar in his pressers. Bland and inanimate. It does not seem to me that he likes the microphones all that much, and keeps most of what’s going on with the team on the downlow. It seems like the press has to drag his thoughts out of him. Very cautious with his words.
August 24th, 2013 at 1:29 pm
According to some of the comments here, Schiano can do no wrong. Maybe they released Bennett and refused to sign other veterans because a true vet might balk at having to do the Schiano D-line stunts? Rookies and early career players will do whatever the lying control freak college coach Schiano tells them. However, vet D-lineman might recognize that Schiano’s scheme is kindergarten sauce.
Can’t have Bennett, Miller, or bring in any other vet that rattle the kindergarten class with complaints.
August 24th, 2013 at 1:34 pm
In the 2006 season, Schiano’s Scarlet Knights achieved their first Top 25 ranking since 1976. Following week four of the college football season, Rutgers with a record of 4–0 was ranked #23 in the AP and Coaches poll. The team was ranked as high as #6 in the country (BCS standings) with a 9–0 record after a historic win against the Louisville Cardinals, beating them 28–25 . Throughout the season, coach Schiano and Rutgers were featured prominently in both the local and national media, and Schiano’s motivational phrase “keep choppin'” became part of the lexicon of college football. Rutgers finished the season with a 10–2 record, the first time they had won ten games since 1976. Following the season, Schiano and the Scarlet Knights accepted an invitation to play Kansas State in the inaugural Texas Bowl where they would go on to defeat Kansas State 37–10, capturing their first ever bowl win. For his work in the 2006 season, Coach Schiano was awarded several Coach of the Year honors, including the Home Depot Coach of the Year award and the inaugural Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award.
Of course maybe the Bucs should have just went after Steve Spurrier, because of all his success in College FB. Oh that’s right the Redskins already tried that, and he failed miserably and looked lost. The point is Rutgers sucked a** before Schiano came there. Much like the Bucs did in 2011.
The guy was sought after by numerous NFL teams, and kept turning them down. The jury is still out, but I like him a helluva lot more than Raheem the Dream.
August 24th, 2013 at 1:36 pm
Bennett had by far his best year WHILE UBER THE INFLUENCE OF SCHIANO.
Enough said. He will never achieve 9 sacks again. Of course, he knows better than the coach. Schiano has forgotten more about football than Bennett ever will know.
August 24th, 2013 at 1:37 pm
^^^ you seem to be the only one in left field. How’s that working for you?
August 24th, 2013 at 1:38 pm
that was for the Pewter
August 24th, 2013 at 1:39 pm
Pewter Bullion..thanks man that’s a keeper.
August 24th, 2013 at 1:41 pm
RBellBuc …don’t worry man. I’m saving a lot of this negative crap on file for the end of the season.
August 24th, 2013 at 1:56 pm
I said it last year you cant coach grown men like a pop warner team. All that yelling s#!t dont fly with grown a$$ men. Now its coming out!
I got crucified by fans last year on this topic.
August 24th, 2013 at 1:57 pm
Under Schiano’s first year we were mere minutes away from a 11-5 season. We were in every game except the Saints game and that was so much more entertaining than the 2011 season where the outcome of the game was known after the first quarter. I think we made all the right moves in the off season and I look forward to a better year than last year. We’ll miss Bennett about as much as we missed Winslow…..
August 24th, 2013 at 2:02 pm
When I got sick of the ignorance of my bosses, I went into business for myself and became very successful. I guess, in the NFL, you just move to a better team. I’ve always treated employees as family because they are.
One of my favorite Coughlan stories, when he was in Jacksonville, he would send the QB’s to bed without supper for throwing a pick in 2 a day practices. He never won anything in Jax. He only won in NY when he changed his ways.
When the Little General destroyed his best defensive lineman on the 1st day of camp, running gauntlets, I knew he was a moron.
Look at his tenure at Rutgers to see that he has never won anything in college. Ray Rice is totally responsible for any success Rutgers had and Rice was not recruited by Schiano. Rice reneged on his Syracuse commitment and at the last minute chose a school geographically convenient.
“Anthony Davis, Rutger’s alum and San Francisco 49ers guard made some comments about his college coach, Greg Schiano.
Davis signed a seven-year contract extension worth nearly $37 million last week. After inking the lucrative deal, Davis slammed current Bucs head man Schiano, who coached him at Rutgers.
“Schiano didn’t do s—,” Davis told NFL Draft Bible. “He like, breaks your confidence down. That’s his idea of molding guys, by breaking their confidence down. But really, without confidence, you’ve got a s— team.
And I feel like, what he’s doing, I thought it was because I was young and I just didn’t appreciate what he was doing, but now that I’m a little older, I just realize that his plan is not working. And I think he’s going to start finding that out soon enough.”
Shaun King said it best when he declared the Bucs were wasting time with the Schiano hire.
August 24th, 2013 at 2:06 pm
Maybe Bennett felt this way all last season which may have contributed to his release. He may very well have poisoned the D Line with his opinion. I don’t know, I wasn’t there but if he is bitter now about it, he was probably bitter then.
August 24th, 2013 at 2:25 pm
Buc1987 said,”In the 2006 season, Schiano’s Scarlet Knights achieved their first Top 25 ranking since 1976. Throughout the season, coach Schiano and Rutgers were featured prominently in both the local and national media, and Schiano’s motivational phrase “keep choppin’” became part of the lexicon of college football.”
Schiano has never won his conference (11 long years) and we’re not talking the ACC, SEC, Big 10 or PAC 10, we’re talking the notoriously weak Big East.
Didn’t Coach Gruden, in 2002, coin the lexicon of football, “Just pound that rock.” Sounds like the Little General is a plagiarist as well as a below average coach.
August 24th, 2013 at 2:29 pm
Winning cures all. A lot of players didn’t like playing for Tom Landry, because he was hard nosed. But he won. We will see. If they win, this kind of talk is irrelevant.
August 24th, 2013 at 2:39 pm
“Joe’s more skeptical of Schiano’s ability as a game-day coach.”
Yes sir. I can totally agree with that Joe. There was no question that Schiano seemed to be learning as he went along last year. The question for me about him is this. Will he learn from his mistakes? I guess I’m about to find out this season.
August 24th, 2013 at 2:48 pm
SacBucs…your hatred for Schiano, Sheridan and Dom is well documented on JBF. It’s also well documented in my file too. I won’t post it again though, but thanks for reminding everyone how brilliant you are.
August 24th, 2013 at 2:54 pm
Low hanging fruit Joe! You are better than this!
What fruit? Bennett gave an intelligent interview without a shred of animosity or bitterness. Listen to the audio. Bucs fans are always eager to learn this kind of stuff and judge for themselves. –Joe.
August 24th, 2013 at 3:01 pm
Former Rutgers running back Ray Rice—Schiano’s best player on that squad had this to say about Schiano leaving for Tampa: “The Bucs are getting a great man and a great coach.”
Bill Belichick on Schiano :
“I think the world of Greg. I think he is a good coach. He has got a good personality. He treats his players well. He is smart. He is tough. He did a great job with the Rutgers program without some of the opportunities that he was going against had. I thought he competed very well and had confidence against those teams. I have always been impressed in the way his teams performed. I don’t have any problem saying that at all.
“I think he is a very experienced guy. He has won a lot of games. He has coached a lot of players. He has coached NFL players, they were just in college – that’s all. The Vince Wilforks, Devin McCourtys – all the guys that he has coached. They are NFL players. They just weren’t in the NFL yet and he has coached in the NFL. He knows what he is doing. He will be fine.”
August 24th, 2013 at 3:18 pm
Bennett forgets that discipline was lacking in a big way when Schiano came in. Those same “grown men” were out of control.
Bennett can say otherwise but even his game got better under Schiano. These players liked Morris because he gave them free reign. When Schiano came in he made them earn those massive paychecks.
August 24th, 2013 at 3:22 pm
“What fruit? Bennett gave an intelligent interview without a shred of animosity or bitterness. Listen to the audio. Bucs fans are always eager to learn this kind of stuff and judge for themselves. –Joe.”
This!
I don’t believe Bennett has any ill intention or that he’s any less of a person for stating his honest opinion.
He still gave his best when he was here for this team even if he disagreed with certain things. I think that says a lot more good about him than anything else.
August 24th, 2013 at 3:28 pm
Pete 422 Says: August 24th, 2013 at 2:29 pm
“Winning cures all. A lot of players didn’t like playing for Tom Landry, because he was hard nosed. But he won. We will see. If they win, this kind of talk is irrelevant.”
This. You can bet that Bennett will be talking about how good a coach Schiano was while he was with the Bucs if Schiano gets us to the playoffs this year.
So far as coaching…I don’t beieve we have seen the full picture of his ability yet. We should this year. Last year he had a bleeding secondary. He had to mix things up. And he had horrible players there to work with.
Which is also why I think Freeman will do better as well. If the Bucs secondary had just prevented one more TD per game Freeman would have won us 3-4 more games and thos two 4 int games would not have mattered as much.
August 24th, 2013 at 3:50 pm
The Scarlet Knights had been to one bowl game since 1869 when Schiano arrived in 2001, but Schiano took them to five straight bowl games from 2005-09, and again in 2011, before leaving for the NFL.
He also produced Rutgers’s first first-round draft picks in receiver Kenny Britt (2009), tackle Anthony Davis (2010), and defensive back Devin McCourty (2010), and produced 16 draft picks over the last five years, including seven this year.
August 24th, 2013 at 3:51 pm
*including seven his final year.