Bucs (Officially) Have A New QB Coach
January 22nd, 2015
The Bucs announced the hiring of Mike Bajakian as their new QB coach.
What was rumored earlier today is now fact. The Bucs have a new quarterbacks coach and his name is Mike Bajakian, by way of the University of Tennessee.
It seemed Bajakian, the former Volunteers offensive coordinator, was in the running for the head gig at Central Michigan, which just opened up. Apparently, either the Bucs quarterback gig is a better job, or someone else got the Central Michigan job.
You can read all about Bajakian here.
Joe’s pleased he at least played the quarterback position, albeit at a small school.
From the UT website:
A 1996 graduate of Williams College in Williamstown, Mass., Bajakian was an All-New England Small College Athletic Conference and All-Eastern College Athletic Conference selection as a quarterback. He broke into the coaching ranks as the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator at Delbarton School in Morristown, N.J., helping lead to the school to consecutive trips to the parochial state finals.
And Bajakian has ties to Lovie Smith’s Bears, where he was a quality control coach from 2004-2006.
January 22nd, 2015 at 7:50 pm
Buy him some sunscreen Joe
January 22nd, 2015 at 7:55 pm
That makes it official. McClown will not be the QB Coach. Now does he retire?
January 22nd, 2015 at 7:59 pm
Hey!
Good deal!
Something positive happened.
Howard likes the hire.
This Mike Bajakian looks like a potential MGM’er to me.
MGM!
Draft Lovies monster DE because he’s BPA
#No QB crushes
January 22nd, 2015 at 8:00 pm
Last I read was even though he had the job he is still considering the job at Central Mich.
January 22nd, 2015 at 8:01 pm
Licht told him to sh*t or get off the pot.
January 22nd, 2015 at 8:02 pm
So now we have our next HC & OC under the roof….
January 22nd, 2015 at 8:09 pm
This guy looks intense
January 22nd, 2015 at 8:16 pm
Seems like he’s done some good things…knows Lovie and has the same philosophy as Koetter. Not sure what to think? Sometimes it better than a “name” coach, maybe a little less ego to worry about, maybe more focus on the task at hand rather than working up the next rung of the ladder right away?
January 22nd, 2015 at 8:18 pm
Joejoes your logic doesn’t compute. In order for Koetter to be the next HC here one would have to assume he did a great job with our offense, which likely means the team would have a good record, which means Lovie wouldn’t be going anywhere.
January 22nd, 2015 at 8:23 pm
jfat…kind of like 2 men and a bear…you don’t need to be faster than the bear,only the other man. All koetter needs to be is a bright spot is next year which will be tough sledding with a rookie QB and fans screaming to play him.
January 22nd, 2015 at 8:26 pm
Assuming we draft a QB in the first round.
January 22nd, 2015 at 8:34 pm
Bucs.com has a nice article on him. It’s very informative. He used to coach at Rutgers. Lol
January 22nd, 2015 at 8:52 pm
Probably has something to do with that whole 1st overall pick thing that u talked about before.
By the way joe, here’s a story just for you:
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12211738/cleveland-browns-offensive-coordinator-john-defliippo-unsure-starting-quarterback-building-right-now-not
January 22nd, 2015 at 8:53 pm
aka just read the title of the link
January 22nd, 2015 at 9:07 pm
Just read he was a quality control coach for Lovie with the bears. We are DOOMED!!!
It might as well have been a 1 year deal!!!
January 22nd, 2015 at 9:09 pm
Welcome aboard coach Bajakian.
Here’s hoping that you have a shiny new 1st round rookie QB to mentor. And preferably NOT the one who’s initials remind you of colorful, round chocolate candies.
January 22nd, 2015 at 9:12 pm
Hey Mike…….Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike……it’s hump day!!!
January 22nd, 2015 at 9:18 pm
Well, I’m optimistic about this hire. He’s more qualified to be an NFL QB coach than Arroyo was – he’s coordinated potent offenses in college, has experience in the SEC, and knows what it’s like to work in the NFL. I’d say Lovie is 2-for-2 on hires this offseason. Time will tell if Bajakian has what it takes to coach NFL QBs, but he’s got some qualifications.
January 22nd, 2015 at 9:20 pm
Off topic, but is anybody besides me missing Thursday Night Football? Only one more real game to watch this season. Withdrawals are setting in……
January 22nd, 2015 at 9:23 pm
This guy has to be very “smaht.” Williams College is regarded as the best Liberal Arts college in the nation.
January 22nd, 2015 at 9:28 pm
I’m stoked at the offensive hires. I like both of these additions. Break up the Bucs!
January 22nd, 2015 at 9:29 pm
As a die hard Vols and Bucs fan I can attest that this is a really good hire for the Bucs. His play calling wasn’t the greatest with the fan base in Tennessee, but his ability to get the best out of his QBs was incredible.
Josh Dobbs had a breakout season this past year as a sophomore starting the last half of the year. Saw his growth and ability definitely being coached up as he adapted quickly to the offense.
He ran a spread offense(mostly because of what head coach Butch Jones runs) and Dobbs set a few school rushing and passing records. Not sure if he will have any influence on what qb is drafted but if it’s Mariota, Bajakian definitely has the knowledge and track record to coach him up.
January 22nd, 2015 at 10:03 pm
It’s so refreshing to not see 150 messages from the knee-jerk naysayers.
January 22nd, 2015 at 10:13 pm
@Mr Patrick , I am ready for the season to be over to see what offseason changes, free agency, combine and pro day’s will potentially bring us next season. For me the draft is almost as exciting as the season and with the # 1 pick belonging to the Bucs it’s going to make draft season that much more fun to watch.
January 22nd, 2015 at 10:16 pm
Cascade Says:
January 22nd, 2015 at 10:03 pm
It’s so refreshing to not see 150 messages from the knee-jerk naysayers
True that Cascade. Would be so nice if Joe(s) would install a thumbs up and thumbs down button for comments – and make it like Yahoo’s system where if 80% are thumbs down – then the comment is hidden.
January 22nd, 2015 at 10:24 pm
his guy has to be very “smaht.” Williams College is regarded as the best Liberal Arts college in the nation.”
RastaMon is proud to say his #1 son is a Williams grad “05”….
January 22nd, 2015 at 10:39 pm
Our version of Bill Lazor.
January 22nd, 2015 at 10:45 pm
Lol, tell me this dude doesn’t look like “Nidge” (Tom Vaughan-Lawlor) from that TV show Love/Hate.
January 22nd, 2015 at 11:01 pm
Everything that I’m seeing and reading about this man makes it look like a good hire. I am surprised a little that Bucs still have the same OL coach though
January 22nd, 2015 at 11:03 pm
Get rid of the OL coach!
January 22nd, 2015 at 11:04 pm
Oh oh his soon to be star pupil is flashing gang signs with unsavory characters out in California.
http://instagram.com/p/yKvu23BMQg/?modal=true
January 22nd, 2015 at 11:09 pm
Uh oh Joe…. writing’s on the wall. Tennessee ran a up-tempo spread offense similar to Oregon’s, sounds like a Mariota guy to me.
January 22nd, 2015 at 11:38 pm
People still think the pick won’t be Winston.
Sorry. It’s a done deal folks. Barring a major disaster.
January 22nd, 2015 at 11:38 pm
If he’s the same guy who coached Tyler Bray at Tennessee he can’t be too bad.
January 23rd, 2015 at 12:27 am
Mr Patrick posted:
“Everything that I’m seeing and reading about this man makes it look like a good hire. I am surprised a little that Bucs still have the same OL coach though”
Yes, why is Warhop still employed??? Same thing goes for O’Dea as the special teams were especially pathetic…..
January 23rd, 2015 at 2:26 am
Anyone have any info on his successes or non successes?
January 23rd, 2015 at 6:55 am
BucFan20 Says:
January 22nd, 2015 at 7:55 pm
That makes it official. McClown will not be the QB Coach. Now does he retire?
————-
So some of you idgits were serious about that? A player/coach? Or McCown giving up his $5 mil dollar salary to work for peanuts despite putting in twice the hours? Wow! When is the last time there has been a player/coach in football? Has there ever been
January 23rd, 2015 at 7:47 am
Yea FIRE Worthop. He had great players to work with & a really good OC and QB play. The OL players are so good they don’t need any continuity in place to help their improvement.
January 23rd, 2015 at 7:49 am
[…] the Bucs now have a new offensive coordinator and a new quarterbacks coach, Joe thought he would give readers one last peek into his interview with former OC Jeff Tedford […]
January 23rd, 2015 at 9:44 am
Eric Says:
January 22nd, 2015 at 11:04 pm
Oh oh his soon to be star pupil is flashing gang signs with unsavory characters out in California.
Unsavory? Did you even look at those 2 nerds?! LMFAO
January 23rd, 2015 at 10:03 am
Bajakian appears to be a good hire. The Lovie ties are a little concerning. Hopefully this hire was morea bout Koetter getting a guy he wanted rather than Lovie pushing a former staff member on Koetter. Either way, Bajakian has experience and could be in line for a promotion to OC if the Bucs turn things around and Koetter leaves for a HC gig somewhere. This would be a good way to maintain continuity while developing a QB.
January 23rd, 2015 at 12:15 pm
Now all we need is a HC & OL coach and we’re all set.
January 23rd, 2015 at 12:32 pm
@ Brandon
Your another of the usless punks that love to call people names. No that was for those thinking he would be or will really return as the starter. I DON’T think he wll be the starter so he can go ahead and retire!!
January 23rd, 2015 at 3:20 pm
Maybe the Bucs hate these tow QB’s and will trade down to get 1st round picks the next two years to pick up a “franchise QB” later. Pick up a FA QB (Hoyer) to fill in (again) and stock up the other positions to get some wins now and save Lovies job so he gets to use those draft picks.
January 23rd, 2015 at 5:56 pm
Ok, who has info. on this guy? The last 6 seasons have made me much more aware of our need for a solid coaching staff than I ever have been, by a large margin. If Joe’s dream comes true, the rook will need, dare I say, EXCELLENT coaching.