Clarifying The Record On Bajakian
January 25th, 2015
A report on new Bucs quarterbacks coach Mike Bajakian is interesting but misleading.
The good folks over at BucsNation.com penned a piece yesterday claiming Bajakian said he expected to have input into Tampa Bay’s decision-making in the NFL Draft, specifically at quarterback. An recent interview on WNML-FM in Knoxville was cited and quoted.
However, Bajakian was never asked about the NFL Draft. Here’s the exchange, per Joe’s exact transcription:
WNML-FM Host: As the quarterbacks coach, will you have input into Tampa Bay’s selection?
Mike Bajakian: Yeah, I gotta assume I will. You know, in talking with Dirk Koetter, the offensive coordinator and Lovie, and with my previous experience with Coach Smith, there’s always been a sharing of ideas and a sharing of thoughts. And, obviously, you come to a conclusion based on the information that everybody gives. And everybody gets behind it 100 percent. But yeah, I’m going to assume that I’m going to have quite a bit of input.
During the interview, the Bucs’ use of the No. 1 overall pick wasn’t being discussed prior to that question. There was no discussion of the NFL Draft.
One could just as easily assume Bajakian was talking about evaluating players on the Bucs’ roster and offering his take on the quarterbacks depth chart, not who will be selected in the NFL Draft. Personnel decisions are way beyond the pay grade of a quarterbacks coach with no NFL experience at that job.
Joe’s not trying to slap BucsNation.com here. Joe just can’t make the leap they did.
January 25th, 2015 at 2:21 pm
I think the key word was “selection”. I would interpret that as a reference to draft pick selection.
January 25th, 2015 at 2:38 pm
While it’s possible that Bajakian was referring to his level of input regarding the QB position in general, it really does read like he’s talking about the draft pick selection.
It would make sense for him to have some involvement anyway, being the QB coach and all. The Bucs didn’t take the second half of the New Orleans game to trade the pick to Philadelphia or to draft a non-QB at number one. It just wouldn’t make much sense.
January 25th, 2015 at 2:49 pm
Don’t over-read this. Input into the selection is expected. All of the coaches will have some level of input. It doesn’t mean anything. In the end, the Glazers are signing off on the pick.
January 25th, 2015 at 2:56 pm
Input into the selection….I take to mean the draft selection…..not the selection between Glennon & McCown….
Now…..Input is just that….input….and of course, you would seek the input from you QB coach on any QB decision or selection….I would think it would be very odd not to seek input.
I suspect that Koetter will have significant input….but the input that counts is the input from the Glazers……that is input with a capital I.
January 25th, 2015 at 3:14 pm
Has nothing to to with McCown and Glennon. It’s the draft, obviously. Take it from the Almost Always Right Buccaneer Prophet. 😛
January 25th, 2015 at 3:52 pm
By the way….I love this Pic of Bajakian…..makes him look like a “Toes On The Line” sort of coach!!!
January 25th, 2015 at 4:18 pm
Joe’s not trying to slap BucsNation.com here…..
Not trying to slap them would be leaving them alone. They can say whatever they want, and do a really good job with the articles.
It’s funny because the the comment section on BN is so positive whereas JBF is a full of angry people. I like both sites but calling them out is pretty low
January 25th, 2015 at 4:29 pm
Angry people here?
Nah… only 60% of JBF readers hate Lovie.
January 25th, 2015 at 4:39 pm
I thought we weren’t allowed to talk about bucsnation and their reasonable comment section where emotion doesn’t trump reason.
January 25th, 2015 at 5:28 pm
I find Bucsnation to be pretty much straight up news….like Buc.com…….important…but kind of boring…..especially comment section….there is certainly room for both….as for this article….I think its a stretch to say they read too much into Bajakian’s comments…I think he responded to the question & there was no confusion about it….he was talking about the upcoming draft selection.
January 25th, 2015 at 5:36 pm
Yeah, I would have to agree with the rest. The term selection applies specifically to the draft. I am highly certain the question was in regards to the first pick in the draft. Of course the QB coach should have a good level of input, but he by no means makes the call.
January 25th, 2015 at 5:36 pm
Bucsnation can’t hold a candle to JBF when touted QB’s the Bucs should draft….more cow bell Joe !
January 25th, 2015 at 5:37 pm
Ah good ole joe. Any clue that points to Winston he jumps for joy. Any clue that points to mariota he “dismisses it”. Joe still has yet to admit defeat on his Johnny love.
Not sure why you like taking shots at Joe. And why would Joe take back his love for Johnny Football.–Joe
January 25th, 2015 at 6:09 pm
I just sense some favoritism to one prospect without proper evalautions like example your fascination with Manziel.
Nothing personal just your ability to rate qbs is pretty skewed. And Manziel what have been a putrid pick that I’m glad we let Cleveland make. Kid wasn’t ready for the nfl nor professionalism. Nor to be a qb.
Manziel’s handling and performance in Cleveland are totally irrelevant to what would have happened in Tampa. Joe stopped caring about Johnny once he wasn’t a Buccaneer. You should, too.-Joe
January 25th, 2015 at 6:10 pm
The fact so many of you are assuming right along with BucsNation is the point. Joe pointing out that a piece of news isn’t necessarily accurate is totally legit and I appreciate it.
January 25th, 2015 at 6:10 pm
I’ll give credit for Joe not editing or deleting more comments than he does. I do feel they are a little over sensitive to the pop-up / redirect complaints that being said I understand their frustration at times. On the other hand, Sanders or whatever his name is on Bucsnation loves to delete comments he does not agree with. So while it might appear to more negative on JBF in reality it’s just Bucsnation is far more politically correct and more censored. Over the last couple of years that I have been visiting JBF there have been several discussion on here that would have never been had on bucsnation whether that’s right or wrong that’s for individuals to decide for themselves. I read both because I am passionate about my team. It’s more fun here for sure. It’s not every site on the web you can read the gospel according to “THE KEVIN” or learn new creative math formulas to justify Glennon’s failures. And let’s not even go to all the armchair lawyers who would have hung Winston by now at the old hanging tree. It’s a diverse and opinionated group for sure.
Draft Winston and Trade Lovie to the CFL. I hear tedford could use a defensive guru to make his team worse.
Has it been confirmed the QB is even going to stay and coach the bucs or is there still a chance he goes to Central Michigan. Has that been finalized and I missed it somewhere?
January 25th, 2015 at 7:48 pm
I still like Johnny Football. I think he would kill it spinning passes to Evans again.
January 25th, 2015 at 7:52 pm
I find BucsNation to have good news and bias. I don’t find them to be a blog site like here. I typically go there first to find out news then cone here to make fun of the Winstonites for their undying love a 21 yr old kid.
January 25th, 2015 at 7:54 pm
Agree. There’s too much bias here. Example. Johnny football was an all world prospect who came from a spread who showed no ability to read defenses note go through progressions.
Mariota comes from a spread offense
You might want to look a little deeper into the differences between A&M and Oregon, and throwing in the pocket. Joe’s had enough of your malicious intent tonight. –Joe
January 25th, 2015 at 7:55 pm
Yet mariota shows traits intangibles to throw in the pocket and go through defenses and has excellent eye discipline to look off safeties.
January 25th, 2015 at 8:04 pm
Mariota is a project at best with great intangibles. Lovie does not have time to wait for mariota after his 2 – 14 mess he created with bad draft and fa signings. Mariota will be good in a few years on the right team. The bucs are not the right team fomariota
January 25th, 2015 at 8:05 pm
For the most part, the fans at BNat much better informed, hence a prolly rate a bit higher on the ‘wonderlic’ scale, but mostly are able to disagree on topics but carry on meaningful discussion,….of course not all of them. This is, undoubtedly, the shallow-end of the fan pool, if you will, but that doesn’t mean there’s no value to be gained here, and you just have to accept it for what it is. I gives props to Joe(begrudgingly) because he saw a niche for this type of a forum, and capitalized, on the “Ebrace the Hate” type of…well, whatever you want to call it.
You guys are hilarious. Joe saw no niche for this type of forum, not a forum as it relates to comments. So few of Joe’s readers actually even look at the comments, it’s not 1 percent.–Joe
PR is the one that’s really hard to figure out. They all most seem to have periodic ‘breakdowns’ and then climb on a religious soapbox for some reason, crucifying players who they don’t seem worthty and pushing for others who they deem worthy, regardless of need or even talent. I know MC is an FSU alum and big fan of Winston, but IMO, he has ZERO professional credibility. I will say SR has been in this biz for a very long time and has been a HUGE contributor to me as a Buc fan and many others. IMO, losing Jim Flynn was a big hurt, they were a good team, and no one covered the draft, FA, and TC like PR did. C’mon MC, get over Winston & make PR what it once was….2nd to NONE.
January 25th, 2015 at 8:18 pm
@JOE
I agree with Tmax.
I’ll give credit for Joe not editing or deleting more comments than he does.
You’ve never hid the fact that this is largely an opinion site. I appreciate that you allow the rough and tumble to largely take place until posters cross the line.
I think you’ve been eminently fair in your exchanges with posters including those you’ve had to delete.
In addition while I respect that this is largely an opinion site I believe you incorporate a lot of good journalism in between the opinions like scoring the Koetter interview before any other outlet.
This reminds me of some people who read the newspaper and btch about editorial columns without realizing that by definition editorials are simply opinions and not intended to be the same as actual news articles.
Whatever…I’m a big fan of JBF and the vast majority of the posters here, including those with whom I disagree.
January 25th, 2015 at 8:20 pm
If he has the intangibles who not draft a guy who’s going to be great in a couple years?
People are assuming Winston will translate bc he comes from a pro style concept in college. That doesn’t always work that way fellas.
Winston also possesses that josh freeman tunnel vision where he’ll stare down the DB. He also regressed from freshman to sophomore year.
Mariota you seen consistent imrpovement to becoming a great player.
Winston- great year. Then average year.
Mariota? Good – great- elite.
January 25th, 2015 at 8:51 pm
Not sure why you like taking shots at Joe. And why would Joe take back his love for Johnny Football.–Joe
…………………………………..
‘Nuff said I guess
January 25th, 2015 at 9:18 pm
Tmax
January 25th, 2015 at 9:19 pm
Tmax
Last i read was that the QB coach could still go to Central Michigan. Haven’t read where he has said he won’t go.
January 25th, 2015 at 9:30 pm
Hmm, bad copy paste
“I accepted the job at Tampa Bay, called up Lovie Smith [Thursday] morning and an hour later the CMU job opened up,” Bajakian said. “And because of my history there I think there was a natural connection. People within the admnistration did reach out to me and we had a conversation, but ultimately I felt like Tampa Bay was what was best for me, my career and my family.”
January 25th, 2015 at 9:50 pm
Butch Jones – the HC that Bajakian served as OC and QB coach under for the last 8 years at 3 different schools – said he’s known that Bajakian had NFL coaching aspirations. So it makes more sense to work your way up through the ranks at the NFL level then continue to climb ranks in College football hoping to make the switch to the NFL “some day”.
Bajakian is not going to take the Central Michigan HC job. He will be here to help guide our #1 rookie QB.
“It’s the highest level,” Bajakian said. “It’s the best football in the world. I think everyone wants to be at the highest level, the chance to be the best of the best.”
January 25th, 2015 at 10:02 pm
StPeteBucsFan Says:
“Whatever…I’m a big fan of JBF and the vast majority of the posters here, including those with whom I disagree.”
Yeah it ‘s where the cool kids hang out.
January 25th, 2015 at 10:36 pm
JBF is the chosen site of TBBF & Pablo…..it just doesn’t get better than that….
January 25th, 2015 at 10:44 pm
Tampabaybucfan
I can’t wait until Pablo turns on you and purchases a Winston jersey and fan pack.
January 25th, 2015 at 11:12 pm
@tmaxcon
“Pablo is a huge fan of Winston” ” Pablo likes excitement and uises sleep aids, so he can sleep regardliess of what Winston does” “Winston is Pablo’s second choice to Mark Sanchez””Pablo liked Mariota…then found out he was half Samoan/Half German”