No “Pity Party” For Mike Sullivan
December 11th, 2013
Mike Sullivan talked about his performance
When an offensive coordinator leads the NFL’s 31st-ranked offense in December, and its second-half struggles never seem to end, his job performance becomes an important question.
Joe’s already written about Mike Sullivan’s murky future and apparent dissatisfaction in him from Greg Schiano.
Today at One Buc Palace, Sullivan was asked about his performance.
As one might expect, the West Point graduate, was the model of accountability.
“There’s no excuses. I’m never going to have a pity party, never point to what could be better, what we have what we don’t have,” Sullivan said. “I’ve from Day 1, whether we’re having great success and setting franchise records, or if we’re struggling, you know, the struggle part I’ll take full responsibility for. I’ve got big shoulders, and I know there’s no excuses. It’s a constant process to try to just, I don’t know any other way. To throw up my hands and get frustrated, any of those things aren’t going to serve a purpose.”
As Sullivan said, no excuses. There really aren’t any excuses for the Bucs being this bad offensively.
But Joe hasn’t made a final decision on Sullivan. He’s no Greg Olson. Joe wants to see what happens in these final three games.
Unless the Bucs go chasing Jay Cutler in the offseason, or another veteran starting QB, Joe sees a lot of potential value is Sullivan being around to groom a young quarterback. The man revived Josh Freeman’s career last year, elevated Eli Manning’s game, and help developed Mike Glennon into the best rookie quarterback so far this season.
December 11th, 2013 at 4:26 pm
Please sullivan stunk in NY thats why they got rid of him. His offensive scheme blows. Mcnulty will be OC next year.
December 11th, 2013 at 4:32 pm
@ Bucsfan13; when Sullivan was the QB coach in NY, he helped
Eli develop into a SB QB. He wasn’t fired, he was allowed to
take the OC job here in Tampa.
December 11th, 2013 at 4:43 pm
We don’t need our OC to develop quartebacks….we need him to run the Offense….we have a QB coach for QB development.
I can’t see any reason to continue with Sullivan. I’m not so bothered by Sheridan because he is simply implementing & managing the Schiano defense…but we could still improve there also.
Pick up a TE, WR, DE and a couple of Coordinators & I think we will see major improvement in 14….
December 11th, 2013 at 5:08 pm
You’re damn right he did.
December 11th, 2013 at 5:30 pm
After the way Josh Freeman’s career in Tampa Bay ended, I think we can stop saying Sullivan ‘revived’ it.
December 11th, 2013 at 5:40 pm
With a ‘third-round’ rookie QB, a third string (at best) RB, two WRs who have yet to spend an entire season on *anyones’* roster and a turnstile O-line, I’ll cut the guy a little slack. Oh, yea, and add in a third string (or is it fourth string) converted TE.
I won’t even bring up all the MERSA/Freeman drama that surrounded the offense for half the season.
December 11th, 2013 at 5:46 pm
Holy crap seriously! how picks did eli throw ……A TON! Josh last year was a product of an awesome line and great run game. Same with Eli. Notice how without a run game Mike Sullivan’s quarterbacks look like crap!
December 11th, 2013 at 5:51 pm
I was thinking there is a slim chance that Big Ben might become available.
December 11th, 2013 at 5:51 pm
I think Developement of QB’s is on the QB. It’s like with the rays when the rays are hitting good. The hitting coach is safe but when they start whiffing every pitch than the fans are calling for the hitting coaches head. QB’s will put in the work and be good or they won’t. They either will have good players around the or they won’t. Josh mcdaniels got credit for tom brady’s developement and when he went out on his own he flopped.
December 11th, 2013 at 6:02 pm
@ hawk I couldn’t have said it better myself!
December 11th, 2013 at 6:33 pm
Lots of excuses, cheap shots, and so on. So, who is to blame for the drop in offense? If Freeman does well, some say it’s because the line blocked well, and the team had a good running game. Always seems to be a lot of wouda, coulda, shoulda; you know we have lots of injuries, or our schedule is too easy, or too hard.
Do you really think things will improve with McNulty? Schiano will tell him when to wipe his ass, and with what hand.
With this clown coaching, the Bucs will always be 6-10, 7-9, 8-8.
Merry Xmas from Canada
December 11th, 2013 at 6:56 pm
Cutler is injury prone… please stay away
December 11th, 2013 at 7:00 pm
Not sure we should use Freeman and revived in the same sentence.
December 11th, 2013 at 7:20 pm
Cutler will be franchised.
December 11th, 2013 at 7:56 pm
Sullivan offense stats are horrible this season but I wouldn’t mind to see him next year. Its not its fault that Freeman was an idiot and that he deal with 2 RB season ending injury, a rookie qb, a lesser squad of wr and an overhyped oline… Changes needs to happen, especially on the oline if we want to be competitive..
December 11th, 2013 at 10:38 pm
“Holy crap seriously! how picks did eli throw ……A TON! Josh last year was a product of an awesome line and great run game. Same with Eli. Notice how without a run game Mike Sullivan’s quarterbacks look like crap!”
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I’m not a Sullivan fan, but your facts are completely wrong. First of all, you are apparently blaming the QB coach for a QB throwing interceptions. While that could be the case on occasion, more often than not it’s just the way the QB is. Look how many picks Eli threw this year. Is that Sullivan’s fault? As for Josh Freeman having an awesome line – HEH??? You mean the one with Ted Larsen and Jamon Meredith at Guard? That was a patchwork OL, so that’s just a turrible (in my best Charles Barkley voice) example. Again, I think Sullivan has been awful, but your facts are completely skewed.
December 11th, 2013 at 10:46 pm
stay away from cutler what are you high this team needs a veteran with morons posting here no wonder buc fans like winning 4 games a year
December 11th, 2013 at 11:33 pm
rookie qb >>> one good wr 4 bad ones>> no tight end> what do you expect????
December 11th, 2013 at 11:39 pm
I may be completely wrong, but it appears as if our offense is very predictable. I would be very interested in seeing the percentages of running on first and second down. I’ve gotten to the point where I can predict either a run or pass while they are still in the huddle. That shouldn’t be able to happen. I’m pretty sure if I know what’s coming, then the other team’s DC knows what is coming. They are a lot smarter than me. Also, there seems to be way too many vertical routes. The rare times when we do try to run a slant or screen pass, it looks like a complete disaster from the snap (as if we’ve never practiced it before). It very well could be due to a lack of healthy weapons, but I would like to see some improvement.
December 12th, 2013 at 12:18 pm
We’ll stay with Glennon next year. Give Cutler 15M per phhhhhh please. Just. Think if we extended Freeman. He’d be a 12M per backup right now. Stafford,Romo and Ryan got SB winning QB money. With what a playoff win or two under their belt. Stafford and Romo are stat stallions but those fumbles and Int’s these guy’s amass. Happen to come at the worst possible times resulting in losses.
December 12th, 2013 at 3:53 pm
Very well put Hawaiian buc!