“I Don’t Think There Is A Desire For Change”
November 16th, 2017
Weighs in on Bucs.
In the mind of a former long-time Team Glazer employee, those who are more excited about Chucky’s return to the Bucs’ sidelines than by staring at the quality features of a Hooters waitress may want to put down their beer.
Former Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik worked for Team Glazer for some 16 years. Obviously at one point, he only answered to someone at One Buc Palace who held a last name that started with a “G” and ended in an “R” and also contained a “Z.”
Dominik still lives in south Tampa and has his fingers on the pulse of the NFL, as well as the Bucs. And in his mind, barring a total meltdown by the team, Dominik does not foresee any changes in the structure of the Bucs football operations, judging by his knowledge of the inner-workings of Team Glazer.
Recently, Kevin O’Donnell of WTVT-TV Channel 13 caught up with Dominik to ask about the immediate futures of Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht and winning Bucs coach Dirk Koetter.
Of course, Dominik added he doesn’t directly know the full intentions of Team Glazer.
“It sure seems like they’ve committed to Jason Licht and Dirk Koetter,” Dominik said. “Obviously, there is a bumpy road going on here. But I don’t think there is a desire for change.”
Of course, Team Glazer isn’t going to share its intentions with anyone outside the walls of One Buc Palace. But if anyone has any idea of the Team Glazer mindset and how they think and evaluate things, Joe’s going to trust a guy who worked for them for over 15 years.
Props to O’Donnell on the catch. And Joe apologizes he missed this over the weekend. Perhaps Joe should sit on the internet more on Saturdays rather than watch college football?
Former #Bucs GM Mark Dominik weighs in on his old team. What’s he expecting for their 2nd half of the season and does he see Dirk Koetter and Jason Licht surviving this year? pic.twitter.com/vgXTISyF3G
— Kevin ODonnell Fox13 (@ODonnellFox13) November 12, 2017
November 16th, 2017 at 11:12 am
Better late than never Joe and we’re reaching the time of the year when even I’ve started watching College football…some of the games are just too compelling to miss.
Keep enjoying your Saturday football!
November 16th, 2017 at 11:14 am
Mark Dominick’s opinion on everything but draft picks is only questionable….with his draft picks it was certain disaster. Glazers, Licht, Koetter and Buc fans are just now starting to rebuild from the Dominick years.
Mark Dominick…..Rock Star…..Ha, Ha!!!
November 16th, 2017 at 11:14 am
I wish I can give this guy an F for how many years he screwed over the bucs in talent evaluations and aquisitions.
November 16th, 2017 at 11:15 am
Year 2 of Greg Schiano, I point blank asked Dominik how long he was going expect Bucs fans to sit in the stadium without a win, and without making coaching changes–and basically when were they going to dump Schiano. He didn’t answer (I didn’t expect him to). So I pressed him again, same question. He said (unexpectedly) “Let’s stay the course for now to have a better picture by the season’s end.” Of course, he was fired too. BL is no one knows really what the Glazers are thinking. However, I don’t think they will dump either Koetter or Licht for at least another year, and only then, if they turn in a real steamer NEXT year.
November 16th, 2017 at 11:16 am
As long as the Bucs can be competitive the 2nd half of the season and win at least 3 of the remaining 7 games – I don’t believe we will be seeing any changes at the GM or HC/DC positions.
Finish 4-12 though and all bets are off…
November 16th, 2017 at 11:18 am
change would mean that these were bad decisions, so i think everyone would prefer that no changes appear to be needed. in the final 8 games (counting last week) the playoffs are beyond a long shot, but they can prove they are a good group of players and coaches who just got caught up in a bad start. that would be the best outcome for all, putting the chucky hype aside: a wiser, battle-scarred team that is much closer to the 2016 team that rattled off 5 wins than to the 2017 group that got smacked in the face with a 5 game losing streak.
avoiding the axe and getting 2018 to correct some now-obvious flaws of the 2017 offseason would take this team a long way. but they have to earn that additional year, mostly by proving they can recognize what isn’t working and use these same players in better ways. Whether that’s having the guts to marginalize doug martin, stopping the madness with the OL platooning, or staying aggressive on defense…just proving they aren’t robots who repeat the same mistakes
November 16th, 2017 at 11:18 am
Really a lot of games left so I’m sure if the Bucs finished 5-2 down the stretch and Jameis looked improved, of course there would be no changes. The week to week stuff is for the idiot fan. I’m guessing it would take a 2 – 5 finish with a couple of non competitive losses for the glazers to pull the plug. If we did go 2-5 and Jameis didn’t look good and we did clean house… how the hell would even want to come coach us? No big names, just younger cordinators.
November 16th, 2017 at 11:22 am
Bump in the road indeed!!!! I can not believe that I am saying this, but dominik is correct for once!!!!!! This bump in the road is not the 5 car pile up total disaster that was the incompetent coach my scheme!!! The Glazers now know what mistakes were made, ( some on their own making) as I have covered in many post dating back to early off-season!!!!!! The intelligent move is to batten down the hatches and ride the season out!!! Fix the roster and keep adding to it is the plan for success!!!!! a few so called “fans” will scream and cry that the sky is falling and will try to look to the past for their answers!!!!! ( I am surprised that they don’t request Seinfeld reruns during half time to complete their dream nestalgia!!!!!!!!) scream and cry as they may, they fall on deaf ears of the powers that be and the “real” fans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 16th, 2017 at 11:27 am
I question Dominick’s knowledge of the situation…but I do hope the Glazers stay the course. This team is getting so many ducks in a row that I would hate to see it disrupted by yet another coaching change.
So far as the fans who want change…you’ve been getting your way with these coach changes for ten years…don’t you think its about time to admit it doesn’t work?
November 16th, 2017 at 11:28 am
So translated into intelligent people speak, They are as good as gone.
November 16th, 2017 at 11:34 am
If Jason licht is not resigned I don’t think a new gm will want Dirk especially a veteran gm so I guess if they want licht to stay so will Dirk
November 16th, 2017 at 11:40 am
Of course, Dominik added he doesn’t directly know the full intentions of Team Glazer.
that tells you your answer right there!!!!….he doesn’t know what the glazers will do…..he’s only assuming!!!!
wise man once said: when you assume, you make a a$$ out of “u”….
dirk is as good as gone….lovie got fired after improvement….how would he justify his regression?….the glazers silence speaks volumes….they’ll let dirk continue on with this sh!t show of a team and cann him 01/01/18….GO BUCS!!!!
November 16th, 2017 at 11:50 am
@realist
your losing all creditability….you’ve never agreed with dom and bashed him just as much as lovie but now that he “assumes” dirk is save, your in his corner…..GTFOH!!!!
this staff has been here for 2 years…..if theres a “5 car pile up because of incompetent coaches” is the fault of dirk and smitty….there is no evidence that suggest lovie is the cause of this years regression…..nor is HK….this staff is responsible for regression…theres no way around it…..
dom’s guess is just as good as Michael Lombardi who thinks dirk is a dead man walking…..#HIREHARBAUGH….GO BUCS!!!!
November 16th, 2017 at 11:53 am
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
November 16th, 2017 at 11:27 am
I question Dominick’s knowledge of the situation
^^BINGO^^
GO BUCS!!!!
November 16th, 2017 at 11:53 am
“When i see all those empty seatd, i start petting my chucky doll”
Darcie Glazer
November 16th, 2017 at 11:54 am
Blake_Bucsfan Says:
November 16th, 2017 at 11:28 am
So translated into intelligent people speak, They are as good as gone.
^^BINGO^^
GO BUCS!!!!
November 16th, 2017 at 11:58 am
Dominik set the Bucs franchise back to Culverhousian days. What a horrible general manager. Young, corporate, and nose brown from having it inside Glazer butt.
November 16th, 2017 at 12:06 pm
I was peeking thru the Hooters front window and I saw…
hooters girl slap Dominik square across the face and yell “You unemployed nobody! Whats next, podcast at JBF!”
Kobe Faker
November 16th, 2017 at 12:10 pm
That’s a helluva idea!
November 16th, 2017 at 12:12 pm
Buc Realist:
Thank you for being honest and fair.
November 16th, 2017 at 12:24 pm
Dominik didn’t think they were going to dump Lovie either
November 16th, 2017 at 12:54 pm
I could see the Bucs dumping koetter but keeping Smith if the defense starts playing consistent. Gruden is generally hands off with the defense, Smith is like a second HC…let him keep all his assistants. Its not that big of a reset as some might imagine.
Keep in mind, when Gruden was brought here, it was extremely late in the offseason and he basically ran with the staff that was in place. He did overhaul the roster with 24+ new players but the GM stayed…the coaching staff was kept in place. I think the evaluation for Koetter is less about wins and losses. IMO…its the same for Koetter as it was for Lovie…..Does the offense look like its improving or regressing.
Dating back to Week 15 of 2016….this team is 4-8. Last year we started 3-5….Right now we sit 3-6. I think a rally that falls short of the playoffs again….is a sign to ownership that the talent is there but coaching isnt getting consistency out of the team. If we go .500 from this point on….i dont see that saving his job either and if we keep losing….he’s obviously done.
November 16th, 2017 at 12:57 pm
I would like to stay the course. We have seen flashes of talent and coaching that can be progressive. The draft hasn’t been horrible. Licht has made some head scratchers for sure, but I would like to stay the course. I can see the D getting some love more love this year in the draft. I am encouraged to see the amount of talent on the team. I think we need Koetter to get a real OC and stick to being the Head Coach.
November 16th, 2017 at 1:30 pm
The Bucs have a much tougher schedule ahead in the second half. Dirk looks like a deer in the headlights. Finish 9-7 or 10-6 and have a great answer for how you fix the issue and I might retain them. We had one great game on defense against the Josh McCown led Jets and the offense was not very good. As much as I want the Bucs to win, it is far more likely that we get blown out a few more times the remainder or the season and bye bye Dirk and Licht.
November 16th, 2017 at 1:49 pm
JUst think licht has not given dirk the correct pieces along the way and the defense is patch work at best and there is no plan to build the bucs, the GM of th jags sure had a plan and great drafts and key FA aquisitions, that team is a competetnt qb away from being in the super bow
November 16th, 2017 at 2:01 pm
If they sit Jameis, over/under is 4 1/2. Fitz gutted out a tough game, but he had some terrible throws and got bailed out on the second interception. We were never behind and he never was in situation where the team relied entirely on him. It’s never fair to fire a coach that loses his Qb, but can he survive 4-12, 5-11 without making major concessions like firing his offensive coordinator?
November 16th, 2017 at 2:11 pm
I can’t buy that Lovie improved anything in terms of even the 2 win to 6 win season.
He inherited a 4 win team that had 7 wins the prior year and talked sh1t about the team for having only won 4 games the year; talked sh1t about the O-line saying changes needed to be made before moving those pieces which lead to further regression; and said the fans shouldn’t have to wait for the team to compete and improve immediately. He then won 2 games; and “improved” to 6 wins the next season; despite a historically weak schedule (think the schedule that got the Dolphins in the playoffs last year). The defense regressed in all statistics from year 1 to year 2; and that was why we hired him – to have a respectable defense at least
Big picture –
Schiano averaged 5.5 wins per season in 2 years; with a high point of 7
Lovie averaged 4 wins per season in 2 years; with a high point of 6
Dirk could lose out every game right now and will have still hit the Schiano win average; and will still be the only coach of the last 3 to have a winning season. If the team wins just 3 more games he’ll be at a 7.5 win average; and these last 2 years included much tougher schedules compared to Lovie.
This is not a Dirk for coach of the year post – but just my opinion on the big picture of the team.
Dirk has sh1t the bed this year with play calling imo. The defense sh1t the bed early and did not show passion / effort / toughness gut to get over the injuries to Lavonte/Kwon/Grimes – it seems when those 3 have played the defense has been solid every game; but you should be able to overcome that without your defense going from solid to giving up 30-40 points on average.
I’m going to wait to see how the season plays out still before I’m on the fire or keep Koetter train. I’m open to both possibilities. I’m obviously way down on him right now compared to my feelings before the season.
Regardless of keeping Koetter or not we still need to make obvious changes to the organziation. Hire a real OC; and cut the fat of the losers in that locker room. Move GMC for some picks or anything really and start a new identify on defense with new leaders and a new attitude. Rebuild the trenches – primarily the D-line – maybe even move to a 3-4.
November 16th, 2017 at 2:23 pm
@Gambelero
That would be kind of tricky, considering that Koetter is his own Coordinator.
November 16th, 2017 at 2:36 pm
Im still waiting on the App
November 16th, 2017 at 2:55 pm
The Bucs has no choice , they have to keep Dirk Koetter for next year and years afterward. The Glazers need to understand that no intelligent coach want the Bucs HC job. The Bucs can only get a mediocre college coach, a fired ex-HC or an assistant coach that no other team want. It don’t make sense to fire Koetter and start over with another HC. I have said this a thousand times….It take 4-5 years to build a team in the NFL. Some team has success one year, then suck the next 2-3 years. That’s not building a foundation, a foundation is like the Steelers, Patriots, Seahawks etc.
November 16th, 2017 at 3:53 pm
Isnt he the guy who married himself to Josh Freeman??? Yes during his reign the Bucs were flushed with undeniable talent. NOT
November 16th, 2017 at 9:38 pm
Go ahead and waste another year with Koetter and Licht. We’ll be having these same conversations next year.
November 17th, 2017 at 4:37 pm
I have a hard time listening to a guy that lets Bennet walk out the door . what team is he the gm of?