Rumor Already Swirling
December 16th, 2016
Scuttlebutt floated.
It’s one thing to speculate, as Joe has since June, that defensive coordinator Mike Smith would be a head coaching candidate to fill an upcoming vacancy in January.
It’s quite another to throw crap against the wall to see if it sticks, suggesting Smith has the Jags job if he wants it. A job yet to open, Joe might add.
Joe used to admire the publication Pro Football Weekly. It was run by long-time NFL writer Hub Arkush, who is based in Chicago and has covered the Bears for decades. Arkush is a fixture on CSN Chicago. Hell, it was Arkush who hired and gave the world the original draftnik, the great Joel Buchsbaum.
The publication, like anything printed with on paper with ink in the past decade, fell on hard times and was sold and now is just a digital operation. Arkush remains the editor but there is something dubious about the website.
Nowhere on the website is a list of staffers. Nowhere on the website is a byline, with the exception of Arkush’s son, Arthur. Joe was Googling and found Hub Arkush is still the editor.
But in a story on the website with no byline and no sources cited, the publication claims if Smith wants the Jags’ job, it is his for the taking.
Sources have told us that Smith might believe the Jaguars job is his if he wants it, and that he has already begun reaching out to candidates to put a staff of assistants together.
To be clear, Jaguars owner Shad Khan has not confirmed that Gus Bradley will be fired, and we at Pro Football Weekly do not wish to play any role in promoting the loss of his job, but we have confirmed with multiple sources very close to the situation there is next to nothing Bradley can do now to save that job after going 14-47 though three seasons and 13 games.
There are multiple dots you can connect to get Smith to Jacksonville, but a number of them depend on whether Khan intends to retain general manager David Caldwell and allow him a second shot at hiring a head coach.
Now it would not shock Joe if Smith had a list of coaches he wants to bring with him to his next head coaching job, wherever that may be. Hell, Dirk Koetter had such a list. After Koetter was hired, Hall of Fame general manager Bill Polian said on SiriusXM NFL Radio that Koetter and Smith had a handshake agreement in 2015: whoever got hired as a head coach first would hire the other as a coordinator.
But this report on Pro Football Weekly is so thin it is almost invisible. “Sources” … “might” … “believe” … “if.” Hell, Joe might want to go to the can this morning if there is a chance he believes he has to drop an ASJ.
Does Joe believe Smith very well could be a head coaching candidate after the season? Of course. Doesn’t mean he’s gone (yet).
But get ready, Bucs fans, stuff like this will pop up more and more in the coming weeks, especially if the defense continues to play lights out.
December 16th, 2016 at 6:14 am
Please, please, please don’t let Mike Smith go just yet, another year or two please!
December 16th, 2016 at 6:30 am
Funny. I am dropping a nasty ASJ as well this bright early morning
December 16th, 2016 at 6:44 am
Make him the highest paid coordinator in history.
December 16th, 2016 at 7:09 am
I hope he stays. The players are just now starting to understand what’s expected of them. It would be a shame if they have to learn a new system next year.
December 16th, 2016 at 7:16 am
Maybe we can go after a Marvin Lewis or Rex Ryan as DC replacement.
December 16th, 2016 at 7:18 am
This is the kn of rap that gives “negative Joe” reason to be negative. Remember what happened when we learned Monte was leaving with 4 games left!!!
December 16th, 2016 at 7:21 am
I do have to say if the job opens up, Jacksonville is probably the most appealing prospect. That team has talent that has been horribly undercoached.
December 16th, 2016 at 7:48 am
Everyone knew this was a temporary job for him.
It’s inevitable this year or in the next few so if ya gonna go then get to steppin
December 16th, 2016 at 7:48 am
Where is all this talent that Jax has? I keep hearing that but watch them play and you won’t see much talent. Ramsey has no real position, Fowler is always hurt or dumb, Hurns hasn’t done crap this year and both their backs are slow plotters. That’s not even talking about Bortles and how big of a head case he has been this year. Good luck to whoever gets that gig.
December 16th, 2016 at 7:57 am
Jax would be a great job for Mike Smith to take due to all the young talent that team has amassed the last 3-4 years. Under the proper leadership, the Jags are ready to bust out and become a good team.
It may in fact be the only HC job likely to become available this year that Smith WOULD be interested in. He’s in a good position here and can afford to be patient and picky.
Coaches in the NFL rarely get a 3rd shot at being a HC without a Super Bowl on their resume if they have already been fired twice.
I feel pretty strongly though that Jacksonville, as well as the majority of teams looking for a HC this off-season. will be primarily interested in hiring a HC whose background and strength is on the Offensive side of the ball.
December 16th, 2016 at 8:17 am
Pay the man his money
December 16th, 2016 at 8:24 am
Pure unadulterated speculation! I hate it! “unnamed sources”, “connect the dots”! Lets stop it already. We act like it’s written in stone!
CONCENTRATE ON THIS SEASON! MIKE SMITH IS THE BUCS D-COORDINATOR FOR THE UNFINISHED 2016 SEASON!!!!!!!!!!!!WORRY ABOUT NEXT YEAR, NEXT YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If we haven’t learned by now that the NFL is a business with zero loyalty to anyone by now then you’re going to have your heart broken.
December 16th, 2016 at 8:28 am
This is the reason we were able to get Hayes to come here . I’d love to keep Smith too but I’m a realist
December 16th, 2016 at 8:33 am
Time for ownership to pony up, and pay Smith to continue our defense rebuild. History remembers great defences and all the coaches…make him an offer he can’t refuse!
No
December 16th, 2016 at 8:37 am
I’m not sure if I have a valid “Sky is falling” feeling about this but if he leaves after this year, it feels like this is a magical season that wont be repeated. The offense hasnt been playing good enough to win without a great defense. Can a new DC make this defense play just as well as they have recently? Lavonte and GMC are both playing better this year than recent years. Not to mention Conte and Tandy are playing better than years past too.
Is it Mike Smith that’s making the defense better or is it like Brooks says just plain old effort? I think Smith and Ayers are the unsung heros this year. I know they some credit but not nearly enough IMO
December 16th, 2016 at 9:04 am
Our Defense will be alright as long as we promote from within, and don’t change the scheme. If we bring another Defensive Coordinator, then the Defense will have to learn another system, and everyone will be complaining about our Defense struggling next season since they’d have growing pains learning a new system.
December 16th, 2016 at 9:06 am
yep, that went great for us when we basically refused to look at anyone but a former assistant turned longtime head coach turned unemployed head coach. mainly for the sake of the bucs’ continuity, i encourage them to be spooked by the Lovie comparisons and look elsewhere
December 16th, 2016 at 9:18 am
Guys guys guys…mike smith has done a great job coaching the defense…and if takes a head coaching job next year or the year after its well deserved…but mike smith does not play the game…give the players alot of credit for how our defense is…we will be fine post mike smith…and if we are not then shame on the bucs defense ….the players have finally gelled together and are making plays…but its not mike smith who deserves ALL the credit for the defensive turnaround…so saying the bucs brass should throw money at mike smith to stay? Theres no coordinator who would pass a head coaching job to stay for more money as a coordinator …especially a defensive coach like mike smith who has established himself as a winning head coach in this league…I do think the jags rumors are B.S but there are going to be alot of jobs open this offseason and Mike Smith will be a top candidate …thats for sure…and regardless of how much the bucs offer him…its almost a 90% chance he will interview and possibly take a gig elsewhere
December 16th, 2016 at 9:23 am
Makes since to see him go to JAX but I would think they would want an offensive guy. I always thought we’d have him no more than 2 years so if he goes after 1, good for him. Thanks for the playoff run and hope you will stay 1 more year.
December 16th, 2016 at 9:37 am
“Sources have told us that Smith might believe”
Key word there. What they are saying is “He might or he might not believe…we don’t really know but that won’t get us visits, so let’s stick with ‘might’.”
December 16th, 2016 at 9:40 am
Espo Says
“Make him the highest paid coordinator in history.”
Come on now. There is no reason to panic over a fake news story. I’d love to sell you a bridge in England. London as a matter of fact. I have other bidders on it though…so you will have to wow me with your offer.
Get it?
December 16th, 2016 at 9:41 am
mike Says
“I would think they would want an offensive guy”
Winner, winner chicken dinner.
They drafted a QB. They need a guru and an offensive mind.
December 16th, 2016 at 9:43 am
“Bill Polian said on SiriusXM NFL Radio that Koetter and Smith had a handshake agreement in 2015: whoever got hired as a head coach first would hire the other as a coordinator.”
This is key to what I said yesterday. Loyalty is big between these two. Mike Smith knows that Koetter kept his word…he’s not going to abandon him after one year.
Also, consider this…he would not get as much as he would if he helped the Bucs get to at least an NFC title.
December 16th, 2016 at 9:56 am
Oh ye of little faith! If Smitty walks I wish him the very best especially if it’s in the other Conference. He’s a straight up guy and a good dude and has earned a shot if he wants it. The Bucs should be proud that he comes from their organization.
And that’s just it. We could debate a number of pieces of the Bucs puzzle from the owners down to the starting OL but the most exciting thing about this Bucs resurgence is that with all due respect to #3’s play…been great..star in the making….DK’s coaching…excellent overcoming injuries and adversity and a poor start…Todd Licht…Mike Smith..Jay Hayes…Moncken…the organization now has depth!
If Smitty gets promoted it’s simply next man up and we have a deep bench starting obviously with Jay Hayes. We’ve actually been getting pressure on the QB now that the DL is getting healthy. Maybe Duffner is ready for a promotion.
If not other coaches will want to come to a winning organization.
It will work hopefully for the best for both Smitty and the Bucs. He may be enjoying this resurgence a lot. He sees #3 and realizes with a franchise QB the Super Bowl will be within reach by next year. He may like it here and be picky about the next job. Is Jax that attractive? Meh. Bortles. ?
Whatever we’ll be fine.
December 16th, 2016 at 10:03 am
Well said St Pete. Mike Smith is a seasoned HC with an excellent track record of winning. I for one also hope that he gets another opportunity to be a HC. He deserves it.
December 16th, 2016 at 10:04 am
hopefully we keep him another year. There may only be 3 or 4 openings rather than the usual 6 to 9. Nay just be rams, jags and colts.Chargers may be open but who knows where they will play so who would want that?
December 16th, 2016 at 10:09 am
Id be very surprised they would hire MS. They will want an Offensive coach. They will look at Tampa. But what we did with our Coaching to work with our QB. They have BB and 2 good WRs and a good RB. I think its easier to find quality D Coordinator than it is to find good, imaginative Offensive Coordinators. or you go with re-treads like Norv Turner etc… I think most teams will be looking for “O”.
December 16th, 2016 at 10:45 am
Just more Fake News by the same Trump supporters that tried their best to get us to believe the Clintons have bodies buried from Little Rock to D.C. lol
I cannot believe some people are dumb enough to believe the crap they read on the internet. Just because you WANT it to be true, does NOT mean it is.
Some of you need to wake the **** up!
December 16th, 2016 at 10:51 am
I’m not buying that Mike Smith is a hot coaching candidate based on a 5-game stretch. Before this win streak, people were openly questioning if the game had passed him by. If the defense holds up and plays well for last 3 games, and hopefully into the playoffs, then there is enough proof that he’s really turned this defense around. As John Madden says, “Winning is the best deodorant.”
December 16th, 2016 at 11:38 am
Huge, as in sleep on the couch level, debate going on in my house. Wife says Bortles is a victim of bad coaching. I say Bradley is a victim of poor quarterback play. If I was Smith, I’d want to go somewhere like San Diego. Would avoid Jacksonville, Buffalo, Cleveland, Houston like the plague
December 16th, 2016 at 12:09 pm
Joe, is it just media driven hype, or do all coaches want to be a HC? Just seems team-be-damned, systems-be-damned, players-be-damned, city-be-damned, if a coach has a chance to be HC somewhere else, they take it and leave the team they were successful at with a big hole to fill. Are coaches so egotistical that they will jump ship at that chance, regardless of “how good” the current system either is or has the potential to become?
Sad if so, because that’s contrary to one of the principal philosophies of coaching: “Set aside your ego and put the team first, there is no “i” in “team” and it’s really nothing but a bunch of rah-rah crap and as soon as the season ends it’s the beginning of the “Me First” season.
One of my next toasts for this holiday season will be hoping the bond between Koetter and Smith is strong enough that they both agree to stay together, regardless of which one is the HC. Because Koetter’s offense coupled with Smith’s defense could truly compete to become the next NFL dynasty.
December 16th, 2016 at 12:49 pm
Of course most coaches want to be a head coach. And Mike Smith has never denied he wants to return to head coaching. Shoot, just before he took the job with the Bucs, he was a finalist to replace Tom Coughlin in New York.
In fact, most thought if the Bucs were successful under Dirk Koetter, it would be only a matter of time before Mike Smith got hired as a head coach.
December 16th, 2016 at 1:48 pm
I hope he stays because the defense he installed is finally working with our current personnel. But, if the man wants another shot at coaching I hope he goes for it.
Now there is a difference between installing a defensive philosophy and calling a defense on game day. I’m not sure if any of the following coaches have experience calling a defense on game day. Anyone have any insight?
Defensive Quality Control Dave Borgonzi
Linebackers Coach Mark Duffner
Tight Ends Coach Jon Embree
Defensive Line Coach Jay Hayes
Secondary Coach Jon Hoke
Defensive Backs Coach Brett Maxie
December 16th, 2016 at 2:12 pm
When Lovie was canned and DK made HC, he brought in Smith. The word (including on here) was that if Smith turned the defense into a compliment to DK’s developing offense, he would get HC offers. DK has made sure that the defensive coaching personnel could replace Smith if the offers come in, and he accepts one. Smith has always wanted to be a HC again. So, let’s finish this season one game at a time. I’m more concerned about LVD being hurt than I am about Smith’s leaving. Anyway, GO MIGHTY BUCS!!
December 16th, 2016 at 5:52 pm
Funny how Joe bashes a site for not crediting who writes the article when they do they same thing.
December 16th, 2016 at 9:10 pm
Jay Hayes will be our next defensive coordinator if Mike smith leaves. Joe was all over this the day he was hired