Losing A Coach
February 19th, 2016
NFL teams already eyeing Bucs DBs coach Brett Maxie as a head coach?
Intelligent Bucs fans were aware after listening to the weekly “JoeBucsFan.com Hour” heard exclusively on WDAE-AM 620 — Joe’s Wednesday sitdown with the dean of Tampa Bay sports radio, “The Big Dog,” Steve Duemig — that the main reason Duemig was concerned with hiring Mike Smith as defensive coordinator is Smith may be an NFL version of a talented college basketball player: one-and-done.
Duemig believes the Bucs should strive for consistency with coaches, especially after the facepalm tenure of Lovie Smith. In theory, Duemig has an excellent point. However, NFL teams are not wont to pluck assistant coaches from mediocre or schlock teams.
That’s the game you have to play in the NFL: If a team is successful, it is likely to be raided. But unlike Duemig, who fears if the Bucs do anything Smith will jump ship for a head coaching gig, Greg Bedard of SI.com believes a different Bucs assistant will become a hot commodity.
That would be defensive backs coach Brett Maxie. Bedard listed him among a group of assistants already on teams’ radars for possible head coaching gigs.
Maxie, a 13-year player, was a rising star in the coaching ranks after stints with the 49ers (2002–03), Falcons (’04 to ’06), Dolphins (’07), Cowboys (’08 to ’11) and Titans (’12 and ’13) before he decided to stay in Nashville and jump to Vanderbilt the previous two seasons. With Tennessee, he helped Alterraun Verner make the leap to Pro Bowl player, and he tutored Terence Newman and Mike Jenkins with the Cowboys. Maxie will be reunited with Verner in Tampa Bay and needs to revive him, but the entire secondary is a bit of a mess. Maxie has the track record to work some magic.
Well, at first, Joe had shivers up his spine and upon seeing the name “Mike Jenkins” in Bedard’s text. Then again, the only time Jenkins ever played halfway decent (yes, Joe is taking liberties here) was when Lovie’s bromance-mate played for Maxie.
The more Joe reads and learns about the new defensive staff, the more Joe thinks the Bucs very well could have an all-star cast of defensive assistants.
February 19th, 2016 at 11:45 am
All Star Caliber assistant coaches wow what a contrast to Lovie’s friends and family approach…
Joe, feel free not to mention Jenkins the rest of the off season. thanks!
February 19th, 2016 at 11:46 am
LOL
Well, if you think it’s bad to read his name, for Joe to type his name he has to be thinking of him first. #tormented
February 19th, 2016 at 11:52 am
The sign of great management in any business is hiring people smarter and better than yourself. If your people aren’t in demand then they probably aren’t any good.
February 19th, 2016 at 11:54 am
I guess the [Now, now. You know better. — Joe] like the consistency of what lovie family and friends here in Tampa
Because they were going nowhere!! Literally no where!!!!
LOL at the Tampa2 mafia scared of good coaching and having the roster poached by other teams!!!
February 19th, 2016 at 12:02 pm
“But unlike Duemig, who fears if the Bucs do anything Smith will jump ship for a head coaching gig…”
Of course Smith is going to jump ship if the Bucs D does anything significant. Why else would Jay Hayes leave Cincy? Think about it… The Bucs approach Hayes and basically tell him, “If the Defense turns it around, Mike Smith will be offered a head coaching gig. This means we have a need for a coordinator. Mr. Hayes, you sign with us and this will be your defense in 2 years… Even if he doesn’t turn it around, we’ll make a change. Interested?” Something that may not have been promised in Cincy.
-(Silverback, get back to work!)
February 19th, 2016 at 12:06 pm
Funny, because I was sure Koetter was using the OC gig here as a stepping stone to being a HC somewhere. Sooner than later too.
Lovie’s OC’s (hell, and DC’s) rarely had tenure.
M. Smith when successful is a short timer here. Nobody’s going to be surprised when his name hat is back in the HC ring next year.
As long as his eventual successor is on the staff today that is. Continuity is vital in every level of the organization.
February 19th, 2016 at 12:13 pm
OK Joe..so we got all all star cast of Bucs Defensive coaches? Then this means the 1st season we should finish with nothing less than 8 wins. Anything else? Is unacceptable. We’d better get bigtime help on Defense from..wherever we can get it..and fast.
February 19th, 2016 at 12:18 pm
“Joe thinks the Bucs very well could have an all-star cast of defensive assistants”, that’s rocking music to Bucs fans ears everywhere. I second that emotion.
February 19th, 2016 at 12:57 pm
coaching staff depth has been a weakness post gruden, although even then it probably was already on the decline from the dungy era. a lot of quality coaches were hired or fired out of town, and the “next man up” philosophy started to buckle when gruden and kiffin were no more and our next move was to promote assistants across the board (after hiring and firing 2 outside coordinators, of course). after that, schiano cleaned house and brought a bunch of inexperienced assistants and a bunch of overqualified consultants, and then lovie smith and his Band of Pals came here and seemed to coach with no urgency. this is the time of year for hype, but if the hype pans out we are finally reversing the trend
February 19th, 2016 at 1:27 pm
SMITH only here for one year?? AND THE BACK-STABBING CONTINUES!!
February 19th, 2016 at 1:31 pm
Someone’s still a little butthurt about Lovie
February 19th, 2016 at 1:37 pm
Hah! The Buc Realist got in tro-o-u-u-b-l-e!
February 19th, 2016 at 1:38 pm
Personally, I believe the rules for hiring assistant coaches from teams should be changed. Teams should not be able to offer jobs until that coach completes 2 years at a new team. Minimum.
February 19th, 2016 at 2:06 pm
destro44 is a smart person.
Comment copied and saved to be added to my personal list of success proverbs.
Hayes coming up behind Smith is just the latest example of Lichts copious talent and attention to detail. Get ready Bucs fans. This team will be flat-out good next year. Howard would place money on it.
February 19th, 2016 at 2:57 pm
Heck I’ll take that scenario any day. It probably means the Bucs had a good season, and more important they might actually take on the mindset of winning.
February 19th, 2016 at 3:06 pm
Isn’t it great to have as your primary fear….having coaches so good that you might lose them to other teams?
I new day in Tampa Bay…..
February 19th, 2016 at 3:12 pm
Good luck finding many coaches who will agree to that. Most coaches, like all Americans, want to climb up the corporate ladder. Only guys who have given up on being a head coach would agree to such a contract.
February 19th, 2016 at 3:50 pm
This should come as no surprise Hayes,Maxie and Vaczor were all voted by PFF as three of the best coaches at their respective positions in the league. All these cats go all the way back to jville early 2000s.
February 19th, 2016 at 3:52 pm
If you want heads up of what our defense will resemble start looking at film of those jags. They were good just could never beat Manning.
February 19th, 2016 at 3:54 pm
And oh by the way Nkemdiche at #9.
February 19th, 2016 at 3:58 pm
Before reading the captain on the pic I thought that was Eric Dickerson.
February 19th, 2016 at 4:25 pm
@biff
As long as his eventual successor is on the staff today that is. Continuity is vital in every level of the organization.
Bingo Biff! That’s true in any organization in any field. I hated working for any boss who didn’t want to see me move up the ladder.
When I managed anything I always wanted the very best person possible and wanted them to know that I supported their moving up into a better position.
It’s not nice to be selfish and resent other’s success just because holding them back makes your job easier.
This is what has impressed me about Licht. He wants ALL of his guys to better themselves with the possible exception of Koetter who is at the top of the heap.
Imagine in a few years if Smith gets another HC gig…Hayes gets to move up to DC…and Maxie leaves to be an HC. Do you imagine other coaches might be lining up to come to Tampa?
You are 100% correct Biff…this is how good organizations operate. It’s one of the true signs of a quality group…see New England.
February 19th, 2016 at 4:35 pm
I thought it was interesting the confidence Licht had before hiring Spytek as Director of Player Personnel, when he stated that they’ll find the best person, and that person will also become a general manager. Licht isn’t afraid to hire the best, and he can back up his confidence because he has seen how successful organizations work. I have great faith that the organization in his hands is headed in the right direction over the long term.
February 19th, 2016 at 4:47 pm
What Salish just said!!!
February 19th, 2016 at 5:05 pm
SPBF, like minds.
I’ve said often enough, our existing roster is going to be better simply because of coaching.
God forbid anything happens to Koetter, (re:Tedford nightmare), but it’s not like Mike Smith doesn’t know the HC job. It’s not like Monken doesn’t understand Koetter’s offensive philosophy either.
On D, We’ve got Maxie. Hence the article. Hayes came too. Not at all shabby.
Organizational and coaching depth is underrated.
February 19th, 2016 at 5:18 pm
This is a very “strange topic and concern.” As Jerry Gllanville once said: “NFL stands for NOT FOR LONG.” Every year stands alone and after 2016, successful coaches are always in demand. If the BUCS have a successful 2016 season, then the coaches will be closely looked at for other losing teams. Let’s enjoy 2016 for whatever it turns out to be and not worry about stupid concerns!!!
February 19th, 2016 at 7:42 pm
We are getting the cart before the horse. If these coaches turn our team around and we finally have a winning record then they deserve other opportunities but worrying about it before hand is just loser talk. If we aren’t a winning club then no one is going anywhere. And if we are winners I’m confident our GM and coach can find replacements.
Duemig doesn’t even like Jameis. He would rather be right about Marriota and have Jameis fail than be wrong and the Bucs improve.
February 19th, 2016 at 7:54 pm
@unbelievable: LOVIE is lone gone, and he took all the crap you and people who see things your way and did so very well, my thing is to continue to remind everyone who was the (GM) the two years LOVIE was coach. JASON my be good at his job, but that ain’t the only thing he good at because to be a BACK-STABBER takes a person who doesn’t give a /$£%!
February 19th, 2016 at 11:46 pm
Licht told Joe not long ago, discussing Jon Robinson leaving, that if other teams raid them for front office positions or coaches, then that means the Bucs must doing something right (as in winning and drafting good players).
So he welcomes the raids.
February 20th, 2016 at 7:58 am
The only way you will not lose a coach is to make him HC. I would rather have an offensive minded players coach than a DC as HC. It’s part of the business unfortunately. The positive thing we have going is GM Jason Light. If we need help coaching on defense when a coach gets plucked from us he will find someone.
February 20th, 2016 at 6:27 pm
Jason Licht and Mike Smith have all the pieces in place to improve our defense. From Brett Maxie (Defensive Backs Coach) and Jon Hoke (Secondary Coach) to Mark Duffner (Linebackers Coach) and Jay Hayes (Defensive Line Coach). The problem is that you can only “coach up” talent so far. Granted Mike Smith has stated that he is going to scheme the defense to his players strengths but we can’t sit here and believe that with our current player roster will be able to turn this defense around on coaching and scheme alone. With this in mind why would this group decide not to re-sign Sterling Moore? He was our best CB last year and it wasn’t even close. I just don’t see how Johnthan Banks and Alterraun Verner are going to go from below average to above average? Licht needs to stop talking about being conservative in FA and do whatever it takes to being in help for CB, DE, WR and Safety.
February 21st, 2016 at 8:00 am
@big hog Haynes
the only real backstabbing was Raheem morris fired Derrick Brooks for a bunch
of unknown linebackers.