No Culture Change Needed
January 3rd, 2014
Mike James speaks out
The downfall of Greg Schiano was about wins and losses, though “guys didn’t see eye-to-eye,” said Mike James yesterday on WDAE-AM 620. The Bucs’ beastly rookie running back made the cloudy claim when talking about the New Schiano Order’s demise.
But James was very clear that Tampa Bay’s locker room has a great “culture” and is filled with strong leadership.
James joined Jay Mohr Sports to talk all things Bucs. Joe found the culture comment interesting, and while it looks good for Greg Schiano, it also makes him look bad. Schiano’s team played hard but wasn’t well coached compared to its NFL counterparts. That’s just the bottom line.
James told the story of his nerves before his touchdown pass in Seattle, and he revealed his well known great attitude while explaining how he’ll introduce himself soon to the Bucs’ new offensive coordinator. And for those wondering, James says he’s recovering smoothly from his broken ankle in November and will be ready to roll when the Bucs return to One Buc Palace.
Enjoy the full audio below.
January 3rd, 2014 at 11:40 am
Even the Rock Star bashers will have to admit that the Bucs stable of running backs is really solid.
January 3rd, 2014 at 11:52 am
@teddy
they are so stacked at running back they finished 22, they were better than 10 other teams, Typical failure of the pop-star.
January 3rd, 2014 at 12:00 pm
hey joes,
who you gonna bring in to make a culture change in the comments section?
January 3rd, 2014 at 12:02 pm
Guys would have seen eye to eye if they were in the playoffs or SB…see Belichick in New England (hate him all you want he is a winner). Was hoping we had found a guy like that in Schiano (but was hoping it was Belichick like in his Patriots years instead of still in his Browns years). I still think only two years into a complete rebuild is a raw deal for any NFL head coach, but hopefully it all works out for the best for all parties (Bucs, fans, Schiano).
January 3rd, 2014 at 12:03 pm
DRAFT CLOWNEY OR WATKINS. SIGN GRIMES AND HESTER.
January 3rd, 2014 at 12:05 pm
“The Bucs’ beastly rookie running back…”
Really? 295 yards rushing is beastly? I know he got injured but I certainly don’t believe they started molding the bust for the HOF!
January 3rd, 2014 at 12:12 pm
The only thing schiano was missing was tom brady!
Bill bellichick would be a loser coach without discovering Tom Brady. When Tom brady retires either bellichick will retire or go back to sucking.
A coach is only as good or as amazing as his QB!
January 3rd, 2014 at 12:16 pm
I agree with what Beckles said this morning.
These players need to keep their mouths shut until they prove themselves.
Based on the horrific season they have no credibility. If they had all this great leadership and culture why 4-12?
January 3rd, 2014 at 12:18 pm
Glad to hear he’s recovering Nicely from his injury. He was a Steal for the Bucs in last year’s Draft. Dom really hit his stride as a Drafter last year.
January 3rd, 2014 at 12:33 pm
According to the whiny self-important little children around here Lovie and Tedford have already failed before they’ve started, we know the future and there’s no need to even play the 2014 and 2015 seasons because it’s already written in stone. So let’s fast-forward to 2016 already and start looking at coaching candidates because, well, it’s already over.
So stop writing Bucs articles, Joe, because we already know the outcome. It’s a total waste of time. Start analyzing the coaching landscape and the franchise QB candidates for 2016 and quit with all this nonsense for 2014 already. Don’t you know the whiners are the experts? How could you dare to offer insight that doesn’t agree with them? Who do you think you are, anyway?
January 3rd, 2014 at 12:37 pm
^
Talk about whiners…..
January 3rd, 2014 at 12:39 pm
@ FlBoyInDallas
So you noticed…..
Hey Buc Realist…..who is your choice for the new GM….by all means, we want to avoid a return of your “Pop Star” posts….so, give us your choice & we’ll hope he is signed.
January 3rd, 2014 at 12:48 pm
The bucs realist lmao we are stacked at tb the only reason we weren’t as productive with them is because it took ya man schiano till week whatever when Doug got hurt to realize more then 1 back can get carries and be productive plus if he wouldn’t have had our feature back running Flys and deep route like our slot receiver then maybe they’d b healthy to you kno do what they do which is rush the ball. And James got hurt what 2 or 3 games in but u tell me who else was chipping the Seattle run defense up at 5 yards a clip with no threat of a passing game because of a rookie with constantly stacked boxes of 9 man fronts I’ll wait lmao go follow ya pops schiano to penn state loser and take your pothole of an opinion else where and learn football or at least just start repeating everything u hear on total access u might sound alil more knowledgeable
January 3rd, 2014 at 1:32 pm
it’s really too bad. with both morris and schiano (and their coordinators) it was not hard to notice us getting outcoached with regularity on sundays the past 5 years. it had to be hard for the players to watch tape after every loss and see that much of the time they were not put in the best position to succeed due to the scheme or playcall. if we could see it in the stands (mismatches exploited all game long), it must’ve been painfully obvious to those professionals & veterans who know what it’s like to be on the team that outcoaches the opponent.
January 3rd, 2014 at 1:35 pm
Good to see idiots still walk the planet – no need to let the zombies out on patrol yet.
January 3rd, 2014 at 4:08 pm
I present Exhibit A: Legarrette Blount. Case closed.
January 3rd, 2014 at 5:51 pm
I realize haters will hate, but things were not that bad under Schiano. Yes, he was very controlling, but the locker room remained loyal to him until he left. They played hard for him.
Did we see that with Raheem Morris? No. Did we see it with Monte Kiffen? No. In fact the defense we hold up as a standard laid down on Monte a month before that season ended.
I heard someone on the radio say the players did not trust Schiano. That is 100% bullspit.
Trust. Belief. Accountability.
How many times did we see or hear players speaking out in Schiano’s defense? All season long. The only people speaking against him were media and former players that had an axe to grind.
So many of you forget what Morris left us with. It was REALLY bad. Schiano restored the team. He made leaders out of men.
And there are strong leaders on this team now. The only one we had before Schiano was GMC…and it was clear the other players didn’t care to respect anyone, not even him.
We saw players quitting on plays that led to scores for opponents. We had to much of a bad element here, and Schiano changed it. He did leave this team better off.
So stop rewriting history.
The wins did not come. True. He was controlling. True. He drove the players very hard. True.
He did not cause MRSA. He did not leak info to the media about Freeman. He did not betray one player. At all.
Could we have used Bennett another year or two? Yes. But that was not an option. Bennett wanted a long term, bigger paying contract. It was only when he foresaw not playing at all that he took a cheaper, short term contract.
Did they let Roy Miller get away? Heck yes. And guess what? Greg Spence is twice the player Miller was and he’s only just finished his rookie year.
If you all agree Freeman is a bust, then he was the reason the offense failed. Period. Freeman was forced on the man. When he finally got another QB he had to wait until the third round.
So really, he still hadn’t gotten what he wanted.
January 3rd, 2014 at 5:55 pm
Do I think Schiano should have remained? Yes. For one more year. Only one more year. Because I think he at least deserved as much time as the dud Raheem Morris got.
If nothing else, having him leading one more draft would have really set this team up. And you know Dominick would have traded up to get a QB or Clowney.
But that’s water under the bridge because Schiano is gone and Smith is here now. I like Smith. I still have concerns though.
I only want those concerns put at ease, like anyone else. Who our DC is and who the GM will be could do just that. Hopefully.
January 3rd, 2014 at 6:30 pm
@ BuccaneerBonzai
I feel exactly the same way as you do on Schiano and Smith. Owners not scared to death about season ticket holder mutiny would have given Schiano a third year to right the ship or walk the plank. Lovie or Wisenhunt were probably the only two available candidates with previous Super Bowl visits (from this century anyway) on their resumes, and Lovie’s hire was a good PR relation smoothing for the fans of nostalgia. He has inherited a team in much better shape to win now than the one either Morris or Schiano inherited.
January 4th, 2014 at 2:06 pm
I agree with some here saying Schiano should have had 1 more year. He got railroaded at beg of year by the media…Freeman crap, saying he leaked out private info when it was actually Freeman’s camp; Using Revis wrong even though Schiano covered for him that he couldn’t play press coverage; MRSA etc. He got radio from 620 & 980 totally against him and ownership caved.
What if Schiano brought in Tedford, drafted Sammy Wadkins, brought in Hardy or Jared Allen for pass rush, brought in another Offensive Tackle and Guard…AND got healthy???? Can’t tell me with all the above the Bucs with ANY COACH including Schiano wouldn’t be much better next year. Schiano started cutting out all the shit he did wrong early in his tenure and he admitted it. He was evolving. Bucs will win 8-10 games next year and Smith will get all the credit
January 4th, 2014 at 3:34 pm
bill t speaks reality.
January 5th, 2014 at 1:01 pm
agreed with Bill T and lurker.