“We Stretch On The White Line”
January 14th, 2016
As Bucs overlord of football operations Jason Licht searches every corner of the globe (allegedly) for the best head coach to lead the Bucccaneers, Joe is reminded of what allegedly was wrong with Greg Schiano.
Schaino was too rigid, too disconnected from 21st-century professionals, too obsessed with every detail, even if owning a specific detail might only give him just a .00003 percent greater chance of winning. That was the common slam on Schiano.
Kellen “Vaseline” Winslow’s famous “Toes on the line! Toes on the line!” rant comes to mind.
Just before Lovie Smith was fired, Joe had a private chat about Schiano and his coaching tactics with a current Bucs player. The player (who Joe will not name) made it clear that Schiano was very straight-forward and never asked players to do anything that was outside the bounds of the NFL labor agreement, and he really never asked for anything more than what was in his authority.
Schiano, per the player, was simply a tough-love coach who believed an extremely disciplined approach resulted in discipline on the field. The player said Schiano and his motives were too often misunderstood, but that might have changed as he evolved and more of his type of players were added to the roster.
Lovie Smith? One reason he’s gone is poor on-field discipline and repeated playing mistakes, evidence of weak coaching.
Lovie and Schiano have contrasting styles. Raheem Morris was very different from both of those guys. Dirk Koetter appears to be nothing like any of them.
This week on SiriusXM NFL Radio, host Jim Miller, the former NFL quarterback, shared a story about how he was cut and landed in training camp with Tom Coughlin’s Jacksonville Jaguars.
Miller said he was superstitious about stretching on a white line, and he stretched alongside one during his first practice. Miller shared that he had a note in his locker from Coughlin the next day. It closed with, “We stretch on the white line.”
Joe has no idea what identity Jason Licht is seeking in a head coach. Is Licht confident his players can adapt to a coach of any style?
What gives Joe confidence is America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston. Joe believes Jameis is tough enough, and mature enough, to adapt to any head coach. Jameis will lead as his Alpha-male self, while still maintaining the message and tone of any head coach.
January 14th, 2016 at 11:42 am
Just don’t get the Coughlin love if based on recent trends which is typically the way this league operates.
1 playoff appearance in 7 years in a mediocre division with a franchise QB and attractive market for FA. Worse defense than the Bucs last year. Why????!!!??
I think it’s between Koetter and Josh Mcdaniels right now if going with my gut
January 14th, 2016 at 11:42 am
…not that this team needs any self-discipline (LOL).
January 14th, 2016 at 11:44 am
There is more than one way to get many jobs completed.
Belicheat is a very strong personality…as is Tom Brady…they somehow make it work.
To be honest…all of this personality, disciplinarian stuff goes out the window once the W-L records start evolving. Winning covers almost anything…losing brings out all of the worst flaws of ANY coaching style.
IE..Win and the authoritarian coach is considered an asset
Lose and that same coach is a liability who cannot communicate with today’s
playes.
Win and the lax coach is considered a creative players coach
Lose and the lax coach is considered to lenient with an undisciplined team.
I tend to go down the middle. Don Shula certainly had disciplined teams but he didn’t spend the day screaming and yelling unless it was required.
In today’s game somebody I like is Mike Tomlin….he doesn’t have to preen and parade around proving he’s an alpha male…but I know his team respects him.
I do not want Coughlin’s style nor do I want a Marvin Lewis who allows anybody with talent to play regardless of their lack of character.
I think Koetter is right down the middle! Give me Dirk!
January 14th, 2016 at 11:52 am
@StPeteBucsFan
Discipline will probably be an issue with Koetter. It was in the past. His college players as a head coach got into a lot of trouble, including committing murder.
January 14th, 2016 at 11:53 am
I think Koetter’s Defensive Coordinator hire is the most important thing.
January 14th, 2016 at 11:55 am
Hmmmm Lovie sounds like Raheem the Dream and a certain guy in D.C.
Push-overs.
January 14th, 2016 at 11:57 am
My only issue with Schiano was the same as Lovie: Poor in-game coaching, and bad/lack of adjustments.
As STP says above, if you win, it doesn’t really matter if you are rigid or lax.
January 14th, 2016 at 11:58 am
BucBonzai
And so because ONE of his players was a thug and committed murder that means he has a discipline problem? Really?
If he had a discipline problem why did he have such an excellent graduation rate.
That MURDER/discipline meme was largely started by an article in an “alternative newspaper” in AZ.
I think people who are still miffed at Lovie’s release are just looking for crap to throw against the wall.
EVERY freaking college or pro coach in the nation has suspect people playing for them. I think it’s the balance that one takes.
Tomlin…yes…Lewis…no…Schiano..no.
In addition Licht will be the one in charge of personnel. Without the proper personnel I’m not sure what the coach can do. Very limited tools…playing time/suspension which may harm the chance of winning…or cut the player sometimes not practical. See Mike Evan!!!
If Mike keeps yammering at refs and taking stupid penalities what is the solution?
January 14th, 2016 at 12:05 pm
@StPeteBucsFan
It wasn’t just one player that had issues.
I’m not saying he’ll be a bad coach. I’m just trying to predict the style of coaching he has.
January 14th, 2016 at 12:07 pm
Also…if Licht is completely in charge of personel…then how is Koetter going to build his team?
I think Licht said that because until a coach is hired, he does have full control. When a coach is hired, the control is shared.
January 14th, 2016 at 12:07 pm
Its Dirk.
Just announce it already.
If it’s not, then the entire staff will be blown up and the Bucs are set back another 2 years. Browns of the south
January 14th, 2016 at 12:10 pm
We’re talking about Mike Tomlin like character here in a Buc’s head coach? The Mike Tomlin that stepped onto the field during an opponents kick return that was heading for the end zone, his back to the kicker? That head coach that altered the returners path even if slightly to allow his team to catch the guy? That head coach that allowed his assistant to go on the field last week and antagonize Adam Jones into a penalty that cost the Bengals the game? Not me. I want a man of integrity for Bucs HC.
January 14th, 2016 at 12:14 pm
The Bucs were the 3rd most penalized team in the NFL in 2013.
January 14th, 2016 at 12:15 pm
while it is true that Mike Evans got out hand complaining.I believe Lovie should tell Evans to can it, uncross his arms and work on the referee to when there was a bad call. It should be a coaches job to talk to referee not Evans.
January 14th, 2016 at 12:22 pm
You can tell a great deal about a GM/Coach by the people he has working for him…the fact that Jon Robinson will likely be the GM of the Titans speaks volumes about Jason Licht.
I’m wondering what sorts of job offers Lovie’s Sons are receiving.
January 14th, 2016 at 12:24 pm
“D-Rome Says:
January 14th, 2016 at 12:14 pm
Schiano, per the player, was simply a tough-love coach who believed an extremely disciplined approach resulted in discipline on the field.
The Bucs were the 3rd most penalized team in the NFL in 2013.”
So, you were ok with Schiano being fired after 2 seasons?
January 14th, 2016 at 12:29 pm
The more perspective we get, the more I think Schiano got run a year early. Resulting in Jameis…but also this current coaching mess.
January 14th, 2016 at 12:54 pm
I believe this coming seasons Bucs will be better despite the tougher schedule. But then I think that every offseason. One of these go rounds reality will match expectations.
January 14th, 2016 at 12:56 pm
I’ve been trying to tell people here that this Bologna about all the Bucs players hating the guy and the nonsense about him fixing elections or leaking medical records was nothing but hog wash. The guy may be many things (controlling, horrible at halftime adjustments, and demanding), but based on his time at Rutgers and the two seasons in Tampa he was fair and a straight up dude. Glad to see the truth finally coming out…a shame the perfect sh!tstorm dumped on him in 2013. At least it led to the Bucs having two good QB’s (yes I mean Glennon as one) with Jameis perhaps achieving elite status one day?
January 14th, 2016 at 1:05 pm
“he was fair and a straight up dude.”
Absolutely Toes. After the way he handled the Eric Legrande tragedy it’s clear he’s a great human being…but great human beings don’t always make great coaches…although I do believe Schiano landed at the right spot.
He’s probably now Urban’s successor in waiting at OSU.
January 14th, 2016 at 2:41 pm
i had some confidence that schiano would loosen up and trust his players to hole each other accountable given more time. i had no confidence he could come around as a game day head coach or that he could suddenly stop badly losing the second half of every football game. schiano was probably let go for the wrong reasons, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t right reasons to fire him too. backing off the idea of a firm hand for this team was probably a bad idea – lovie’s famed willingness to “let men be men” doesn’t play out very well on a roster still full of kids and guys who haven’t seen winners go about their business in the NFL
January 14th, 2016 at 3:45 pm
The NFL is a QB driven league as well know. Schiano had a pretty decent first season. The team imploded in year 2 because of J-Fro’s meltdown. No team or coach could have rebounded from that mess. I do not believe the Bucs would have been 2-14 with Schiano as HC and Glennon under center in year three, which means we would not have Jameis today. And we probably don’t have Licht either. Strange how life unfolds.
January 14th, 2016 at 4:26 pm
I’ll take 1 SuperBowl every 7 years if those are my only playoff appearances.