First Reported Scheduled Interview
January 8th, 2016
Stinking Panthers DC Sean McDermott is scheduled to interview with Jason Licht this weekend.
Though Bucs general manager Jaosn Licht did not mention any names other than current offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter in his press conference Wednesday, another candidate has emerged to replace Lovie Smith.
Good guy Peter Schrager of FOX Sports reported that Stinking Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott will interview with Licht this weekend.
McDermott was an Andy Reid defensive assistant with the Eagles when Licht worked in the Philadelphia front office. McDermott was hired as the Stinking Panthers defensive coordinator in 2011.
Outside of McDermott’s first season as DC, Carolina’s defense has been in the top 10 in the NFL the past four seasons for fewest yards allowed per game.
January 8th, 2016 at 12:41 am
Are you sure, Joe? Is the news reliable? Because I’ve heard from so many “experts” today that nobody would like to coach the Bucs, after this boneheaded move of firing Lovie Smith. Why would a coordinator now coaching in arguably the best team in the NFL bother with such a filthy franchise like the Bucs?
And yes, I’m being slightly sarcastic…
January 8th, 2016 at 12:42 am
No.
Unless Koetter stays as OC.
January 8th, 2016 at 12:49 am
Peter Schrager is pretty reliable. Joe knows him and trusts him. Has solid contacts.
If doesn’t trust the source, he wouldn’t have run the story.
January 8th, 2016 at 1:00 am
Oh Joe, you’re so kind to actually take the time to reply, but I was just being sarcastic, as stated at the bottom of my previous comment. I trust pretty much every news you post on your site. I’m sure you’ve heard how many people are shocked by Lovie’s firing and I’ve heard a number of analysts stating that nobody would want to coach the Bucs, which to me just isn’t true and nothing more than a slanderous kind of statement in a poor attempt to make the Bucs sound like the laughingstock of the NFL, while there are worse organizations out there to be sure, such as the Browns and their “money ball” approach that will change the NFL forever. Yes, I’m being sarcastic again.
January 8th, 2016 at 1:39 am
I like it! Wasnt even on my radar. Now this would be an infusion of new coaching talent who isnt stubborn and stuck in the past….and most likely not a “players” coach, but a “results” coach instead. Outside of the few talents we have on D, this would be a MAJOR upgrade in motivating and pushing everyone else in order to get the best out of them….and of course replacing some of them who fail to get with the program and fall in line.
Eh, its a long shot, but very possible.
January 8th, 2016 at 1:41 am
I don’t think the Bucs would have let Lovie go so quickly after getting a request from Miami to interview Koetter unless they weren’t very seriously wanting to retain Koetter to be HC, I would be surprised if they hired someone else but I was also surprised by Lovie’s firing so who knows for sure what they will do.
January 8th, 2016 at 1:50 am
They have to make it look like a legitimate coaching search, otherwise it’s an obvious sham and they can get in trouble with the league office especially with regard to the Rooney Rule. So expect them to take at least several days or even a week to make a decision, after interviewing several candidates including at least one minority. At the end they will magically decide that Koetter is the best available candidate although it was a “tough decision”. Hehe…I see what you’re doing there, Bucs.
January 8th, 2016 at 2:14 am
If we hire a defense head coach then there was no point in firing lovie
January 8th, 2016 at 2:23 am
Except one has proven results and the other didn’t.
If Lovie’s defense was just adequate, he’d still be here.
January 8th, 2016 at 2:23 am
koetter might be a safety net, but i fully expect licht to take this search seriously and interview serious candidates. koetter might have a leg up by virtue of this past year, but it is not guaranteed.
January 8th, 2016 at 3:06 am
Part of being a good coach is putting people in a position to be successful. Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott. We need a scheme that plays to the strengths of our players not players who need to adjust to the scheme.
January 8th, 2016 at 3:29 am
I hope they will interview Matt Patricia – DC at New England… He’s got my vote… He has learned from one of the best and has seen first hand how to build a successful team around a great QB…
January 8th, 2016 at 4:08 am
That the replacement wasn’t ‘in the bag’ already is another bit of evidence in the “Glazers are fools” argument. They’ll now spend enough time kicking tires elsewhere to allow some other team to hire Koetter out from under them, and thus, waste a chance at continuity/growth for their best QB prospect in ages.
McDermott is the kind of candidate they should have been looking at back when they hired Lovie, not now after the first season of Jameis +Koetter
What exactly are the league rules they have to follow for interviews?
January 8th, 2016 at 4:55 am
I truly feel so sad for the real Buc Fans. Those of us who have endured thru yrs of agony. Man, You got what you wished for. Another coach after 2 yrs.Don’t you football fans understand a championship team takes time? Sure there have been, flashes in the pan. But they fizzle out in rd 1 of the playoffs. Buc fans and media want a powder they can shake up and produce an instant winner. And then you want to take an OC who has a so so college record with no NFL HC experience and pray he wins for you? How very sad. Again you will pay Buc fans. Once again proof the Glazers and a few unknowing how to build a team Tampa media and fans are desperate. And the name Lovie Smith will come back to haunt TB just like..Doug Williams did. Get ready for more agony of defeat as Carolina rules the roast for another 3 yrs or so. We will not win next season or the season after. Despite Famous Jameis scoring points.Move over Buc fans, Mediocrity is here to stay. How depressing.
January 8th, 2016 at 6:03 am
@Mike Johnson – Licht said it in his press conference, rebuilding takes time but you can be competitive while you’re rebuilding. We simply were not competitive from the day Lovie walked in the door. How many times did his team take the field here and look completely ill prepared to be on the same field with professionals and hotter many times did we get thoroughly out coached. You can develop talent. You can develop depth. Those were not what damned Lovie’s tenure here.
And to your point about Koetter not having HC experience in the NFL, I suppose the only coaches you think are worth having are the retreads on the coaching carousel that have been fired elsewhere? There aren’t any Zimmers, or bowls
January 8th, 2016 at 6:08 am
@Mike Johnson – Licht said it in his press conference, rebuilding takes time but you can be competitive while you’re rebuilding. We simply were not competitive from the day Lovie walked in the door. How many times did his team take the field here and look completely ill prepared to be on the same field with professionals and hotter many times did we get thoroughly out coached. You can develop talent. You can develop depth. Those were not what damned Lovie’s tenure here.
And to your point about Koetter not having HC experience in the NFL, I suppose the only coaches you think are worth having are the retreads on the coaching carousel that have been fired elsewhere? There aren’t any Zimmer or Bowles or Harbaughs out there that are talented but haven’t been given that opportunity yet? Come on, guy. Koetter has already earned the respect of players in our locker room. That’s a big part of the job already in the bag. He’s already led them to the best offensive production we’ve had in team history, and that was with a busted receiving core. The guy has earned serious consideration and his lack of HC experience should not be counted against him. The guy he would be replacing had HC experience and you see where that got him…
January 8th, 2016 at 6:09 am
Hey Mike, the only thing that is “mediocre” is your English and analogies. Carolina can have the “roast”, we’ll take the NFC South. Illiterate troll.
January 8th, 2016 at 6:10 am
Sorry for the nearly duplicate posts. Accidentally hit the button while typing
January 8th, 2016 at 6:29 am
They better hurry along with koetter. Im tired of the defensive coaches. I want koetter as hc….than find a dc and let jason draft well for the team over the next decade
January 8th, 2016 at 6:53 am
Jason said during the press conference that Koetter being interviewed by other teams had nothing to do with firing Lovie. If you look at the timeline they weren’t in a hurry to fire Lovie as six other teams had already fired their coaches. Lovie was fired because his record wasn’t good enough and his defense was getting better but worst. Koetter could end up being the choice but I don’t think it’s a done deal.
January 8th, 2016 at 7:35 am
It is loud as thunder that they interviewed a DC and not an OC.
January 8th, 2016 at 7:35 am
Mike Johnson, quit trolling with your boohoo posts. You can jump off the bandwagon anytime douche. We will let you back on like all the other Lovie shills next year when all this passes over and training camp starts. You can then post your “i knew this new caoch was the right hire! He was on my short list” blah blah blah Go BUCS. Thank you Glazers for saving us from another piece of shiz season.
January 8th, 2016 at 7:45 am
I know we have had 3 defensive coaches in a row but i am ok with this. Koetter as OC will keep the offense growing and churning. Mcdermott has a damn good d in carolina. I wonder if he can fix ours
January 8th, 2016 at 8:09 am
@MadMax what are you talking about not stuck in the past? McDermot and the Panthers run Tampa 2 Defense.
January 8th, 2016 at 8:31 am
top 10 in the NFL every year since 2012. i know they have had a much BETTER pass rush than the Bucs, with far superior DEs. but it’s also no coincidence that was the year the Bucs passed on Luke Kuechly for Mark Barron, and Kuechly wound up in black and blue.
January 8th, 2016 at 8:55 am
I would be fine with Sean McDermott IF we still keep Koetter. To be honest, I don’t want Koetter to be head coach unless that is the only way to keep him.
January 8th, 2016 at 9:42 am
I love those old blitz happy philly defenses
January 8th, 2016 at 9:57 am
Licht and Glazer’s made the tough decision, so I will put a little faith that they got the right GM, the right QB, and will now get the right HC (again since I actually believe they canned Schiano too soon, but hey there’s other good coaches out there…Licht will do his diligence like he did with Jameis)
January 8th, 2016 at 11:10 am
I promise…no matter who they hire…the trolls here will hate on him. I won’t name names, but they always want a different coach, and when they get one, they want him replaced. Every time.
I would suggest patience to the rest of you when we get one…but that would be dreaming.