The Age Issue
January 13th, 2016
Joe sometimes finds the way Bucs fans think is, well, interesting. Sometimes puzzling.
Take this knock against Tom Coughlin. Yes, he’s 69. The lone valid argument Joe hears against signing Coughlin is that he is too old. Joe doesn’t totally buy that, but OK.
A day or two later, someone floats Nick Saban as a potential Bucs head coach. Now Joe knows with Team Glazer, the unpredictable is predictable.
Joe thought maybe Saban was about 60. By the magic of Google, Joe learned Saban is 64. That’s only five years younger than Coughlin. And all of a sudden Saban is the fountain of youth?
This just in: We likely will elect a president at least 69 years old this November, unless one believes Ted Cruz will ride a white stallion out of Super Tuesday. (For the true crazies/hopeless dreamers, Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden are both in their mid-70s.)
And, yes, Joe would prefer Coughlin over Saban. Yes, Saban may be a top-five-of-all-time college coach. As an NFL coach, he has four more wins than Greg Schiano. Let that sink in a moment. Some guys are meant to be college coaches and some guys are meant to be NFL coaches.
(And before you throw Jimmy Johnson is Joe’s face, go Google the college records of Bill Walsh and Bill Parcells. Just because Johnson had success at both levels doesn’t mean every guy will.)
Coughlin is a proven program builder. He built the Jags from nothing to a playoff team. He built the Giants into a two-time Super Bowl winner.
As for Saban, while anything is possible with Team Glazer (hell, Joe wouldn’t be shocked if they interviewed John Davis, who recently retired from Clearwater Central Catholic), it is difficult to believe just two years after unloading a college coach, in part, for his heavy-handed ways, that Team Glazer would jump back in the same pool with Saban, who, lest we forget, bolted the Dolphins.
If Team Glazer wants to go the college route again, then just call Jim Harbaugh. Ask him how much he wants to be paid and be done with it.
January 13th, 2016 at 7:44 am
Koetter will lead us to a Super Bowl
January 13th, 2016 at 7:49 am
Age isn’t the only issue. He only made the post season once in the past 7 years, hasn’t been above .500 in the past 4 seasons. Going from a 6 win coach to a 6 win coach that’s 69 years old doesn’t seem like much progress to me.
January 13th, 2016 at 7:56 am
A 110 year old can win a SB with a great QB…
January 13th, 2016 at 8:15 am
Saban ain’t going anywhere, until and IF he breaks Bear Bryant’s record for all time National Championships.
January 13th, 2016 at 8:31 am
Wish I had some oatmeal…
January 13th, 2016 at 8:37 am
I like the idea of Harbaugh. 48ers problems began because the GM didn’t have his back probably because Harbaugh didn’t kiss his butt. Now look at them
January 13th, 2016 at 8:38 am
Oops 49ers
January 13th, 2016 at 8:39 am
Saban couldn’t operate anywhere without complete control.
Where would that leave Licht and the offensive and defensive staff already here.
He’s a way more successful Schiano type.
January 13th, 2016 at 8:41 am
I’m not opposed to Coughlin because of his age. My dad is 80, and he’s still a rockstar (to borrow a phrase) in his profession. I do understand the age opposition thing, however, because it’s harder to imagine Coughlin coaching another ten years. Obviously, you’d want a coach who can be here for a decade or more. If Licht thinks Coughlin is that guy then fine. Same thing with Saban.
At this point the Saban rumor mill is stone cold. With NFL owners approving the Rams move to LA yesterday, the Rooney Rule satisfied, and the Koetter interview done, my money is on Licht announcing Koetter today. Exciting times for the Bucs.
And Joes, thanks so much for your outstanding and tireless coverage. It’s easy to see you guys love what you do and it makes it that much more fun for us!
January 13th, 2016 at 8:42 am
Forget Coughlin, no NFL coach has ever won two super bowls with two different teams. Not Parcells, Vermiel, Fox, Reeves or Holmgren. If you want a super bowl winning coach our best bet would be Gruden. Personally, my vote goes to Koetter.
January 13th, 2016 at 8:47 am
Lets be real… We are the Bucs run by the Glazer…. Coughlin and Saban aren’t even going to return the call and discuss coming to Tampa. Those kind of things happen when you fire a gruden for a Morris. We are not thought of too highly.
January 13th, 2016 at 8:47 am
By the way Joe, is there any chance the Glazers would consider replacing those mammoth player posters on the side of Ray Jay with something more appealing like say provocative poses of the cheerleaders?
January 13th, 2016 at 8:51 am
rhenry:
Joe likes the way you think! 🙂
January 13th, 2016 at 8:53 am
Pretty much.
To the Saban element: He and Belicheat are tight and Belicheat is/has been a big influence on Jason Licht.
January 13th, 2016 at 9:12 am
Sabah was the most hated coach in the history of the Dolphins. Jim Mandich has openly said if Nock Saban walked in the room he would punch him the face.
Leave the Nick-tator in college and forget this nonsense. For everyone who wants to point out Jimmy Johnson I’ll see your JJ AND raise you a Petrino, Ericsson, and Spurrier.
January 13th, 2016 at 9:51 am
The only way Saban would coach the Bucs —– he would have to own the team
January 13th, 2016 at 9:58 am
1 playoff appearance the last 7 years – the whole time having a healthy franchise QB in an attractive market in a winnable division.
Why the hell should we hire that? It’s like a worse repeat of Lovie
The only thing that’s improved on that team lately is offense via Ben Macadoo. Their GM also has been terrible to be fair but that’s a pretty bad run of bad recent regular seasons that inspires no confidence.
The scariest thing is the Giants D was like the worst in the NFL this last year
Again I think this is a horrific hire if it happens and not based on age
January 13th, 2016 at 10:17 am
I like the idea of the type of discipline both Saban and Coughlin would bring.
I do think with Winston Saban would be much more successful his second time around.
Assuming that either coach could come here and set the team up to have long term success. The age isn’t an issue with Coughlin today, he’s proven he’s a great coach. I honestly think he doesn’t get the kind of credit he deserves, which is odd for someone with a NY team. My only concern would be, how many years will be want to keep going? Three, four, maybe 5…even if he’s successful your looking at finding a new coach in another relatively short period of time.
I think just based on potential years left coaching, the five years Saban has in hand becomes s bigger deal. However, if anyone has watched or cares to watch the Nick Saban interview with David Ferhety on the golf channel. He talks about his time at Miami and his reasons for taking the Alabama job. The one thing I found interesting is when he says if the Dolphins had signed Drew Brees he might still be there. That statement makes me think that the only way he would even consider a return to the NFL would be if the team had a bonefide franchise QB. I.E. A certain team that plays on Dale Mabry.
I still would be shocked if he left Alabama. In that interview he talks about how much his family loves college football life. Plus, he’s within striking distance of catching Bear Bryant’s 6 championships. In terms of cementing your name in history, there’s not much he could do in the NFL that would be more significant than tying or breaking that record. Especially to do it as a coach at Alabama.
In the end My choice is Koetter. Based purely on the fact that I think the continuity with the offensive system is in Jamies, and therefore in everyone’s best interest.
And if it is Koetter like we all expect, we know what we get with him and his offense. Frankly, promoting him is the easy part. The peice they cannot afford to whiff on is the D coordinator, that will actually be the hire that will make or break Koetter as a head coach and possibly Licht as GM.
January 13th, 2016 at 10:26 am
Also, Harbaugh is a true superstar rockstar in Michigan right now. He’s probably somewhere between Kid Rock and Steve Yzerman in terms of state heroes. (Seriously, they love them some Kid Rock up there)
A team may be able to lure him away from there but it’s not gong to happen anytime soon.
January 13th, 2016 at 10:35 am
When choosing which college to play for, Jameis so, so, so easily could have chosen to drive an hour away to play for Saban. Instead, Saban wasn’t even among his final choices. He damned near went to Stanford or LSU instead (yes, he did go to FSU).
Might just be a hint there.
January 13th, 2016 at 11:06 am
I don’t want either one. But it doesn’t matter. Neither one would take a job here.
Bucs have hired big name college coaches before…and it has NEVER worked out. And no, I’m not talking about Schiano.
Coughlin isn’t as good a coach as people think. The giants have two rings under him, but they’ve done nothing outside of those years.
Koetter will be the choice.
That said, if Koetter were willing to stay as OC…I would rather have the Panthers DC as head coach.
I don’t care what anyone says…it’s still defense that wins championships. Take a good look at the best teams in the playoffs. And yes…they use Cover 2.
January 13th, 2016 at 11:11 am
I wouldn’t mind Jon Gruden back. Say what you will about the way he ran things…he did keep things interesting.
January 13th, 2016 at 12:12 pm
Gruden is not coming back.
I would love Harbaugh, way better than coughlin or Saban.
January 13th, 2016 at 12:19 pm
@D-money
Frankly, promoting him is the easy part. The peice they cannot afford to whiff on is the D coordinator, that will actually be the hire that will make or break Koetter as a head coach and possibly Licht as GM.
BINGO!!! Licht will keep the ship upright for any HC…Koetter and #3 and for wha we could see the entire offense will play for Koetter…
The big question…who is going to mold this defense?
January 13th, 2016 at 1:01 pm
StPeteBucsFan
“The big question…who is going to mold this defense?”
This defense already has mold!
January 13th, 2016 at 1:44 pm
My #1 pick for head coach is Jim Harbaugh… People asking for John Gruden need to get a grip on reality…
January 13th, 2016 at 7:32 pm
56 years old.
Dominated the NFC south.
Dirk Kotters former boss
Mike Smith