Did Team Glazer Grow Confidence In Jason Licht’s Coach-Hunting Skills Weeks Ago?
January 3rd, 2019
“Look, Glazer, my spreadsheet on available coaches was a freakin’ masterpiece.”
It seems general manager Jason Licht was shopping for head coaches weeks or months ago.
That was part of speculation today from arguably the one outsider who best knows the workings of Team Glazer, former Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik.
Of course, that shouldn’t surprise anyone. If Team Glazer is responsible, they were in coach-search mode after the Bucs were humiliated at Carolina to fall to 3-5 in November. And then when the record got to 3-7, well, that should have become Priority 1 for ownership.
Dominik said on WDAE-AM 620 today that he was “not completely surprised” Licht was retained while Koetter was launched.
“I think that they wanted something to be a constant,” Dominik said of Team Glazer. “And maybe Jason has done a very good job to alerting the owners to candidates and different avenues and they’ve been comfortable. That could be a big reason why they made the decision they did [to keep Jason Licht].”
Those last two sentences really intrigued Joe. The reality is that Licht is in his first go-around of a real head coach search.
When Koetter was hired, it felt like the Bucs were just going through the motions because Koetter was their no-brainer candidate.
Can Licht successfully lead a head coaching search? Nobody has that answer.
Dominik added that Bruce Arians would be a “natural transition” as head coach because of his relationship with Licht, and Dominik speculated that also could be part of the reason Licht was retained as GM.
January 3rd, 2019 at 10:52 am
Yeah…Licht is awesome…
Lets hope he is better at finding coaches than 2nd round draft picks.
What a joke!
January 3rd, 2019 at 10:54 am
While Arians is a good coach, I hope that’s not the reason Licht was retained. Arians has health problems and I don’t see him lasting one season here with the current personnel problems. This disaster will take a monumental effort to fix and I don’t think Arians is mentally or physically up for the job.
January 3rd, 2019 at 10:54 am
Dom’er can hold his head high that his 5 year record is better than that of Jason Licht…
January 3rd, 2019 at 10:55 am
“LOL
This is why DOM DOM is still unemployed
So why did Team Glazer cut a million dollar check to Korn Ferry to find them a Head coach if they believe in Gump?
After this years pathetic draft, Team Glazer has heard enough of Gumps BSing
day before the draft everyone knew Derwin James was a Buc. Team Glazer, Gump, all the mocks, dewin james….
Derwin James was going to lead the Buc defense for the next 10 years. Even at #12, Gump had the position to take James but instead picked VV and told the Glazers it was the right pick
Gump was wrong and Korn Ferry is picking the Head Coach”
Kobe Faker
January 3rd, 2019 at 10:58 am
Why would they listen to Licht still? Unless he plans to make total changes in the support staff that Koetter hired. They are the reason for the dysfunction of the locker room. Players don’t trust the equipment guys, video, strength or trainers. They all snitched on the players to Koetter.
January 3rd, 2019 at 11:00 am
search firms don’t pick a person for a position. They present a short list of candidates. They have ZERO, ZERO final say.
I say this with experience.
January 3rd, 2019 at 11:00 am
“maybe” being the operative word.
I think Licht just sold them on “the greatest offense of all time” stuff and that the right coach would lead to an immediate turn around.
Dubious at best.
January 3rd, 2019 at 11:03 am
“Jason, You said for the last month and even draft day afternoon we will pick Derwin James. Why didnt we get him at #12 when you said we will get him at #7 yesterday”
Joel Glazer
“Joel, Drafting is like a box of chocolates, I dont dont who ill draft but it will be a bust”
Jason Gump
January 3rd, 2019 at 11:05 am
Licht is a dunderbox, the glazers dont need Licht, the glazers on their own got gruden but then also got to where the bucs are now. Licht doesnt want to lose his job so why would he hire a brian kelly, arians, mccarthy or harbaugh. Licht will hire a bienemy or other freshman coach who wont step on lichts toes.
January 3rd, 2019 at 11:07 am
Put me in the minority that isn’t that upset by Vea over James. Not yet. Give me 3 years and then we’ll see. If Vea = Haloti Ngata which is what he looked like towards the end of the year then give me that all day over a S in terms of the positional value.
James also likely gets ruined by Mike Smith coming to Tampa. The Chargers had elite boundary CBs and a young front that can rush the passer. And they used James creatively which we wouldn’t have.
This isn’t even defending Licht I’m just saying realistically I believe James would have been 1/2 the player in Tampa.
The real issue is we don’t know sh1t when it comes down to all the best and worst decisions made between Lovie and now. The team has never made it clear on who drove what decision… so like I said before, I HOPE / PRAY that:
1. Aguayo was pushed by ownership (and that they NEVER do that again)
2. shorter athletic CBs were targeted and prioritized over Dlineman or rangier corners due to Mike Smith’s influence
3. McNIchols & Rojo were targeted due to Koetter’s influence and what RBs he wanted
That’s really it. I can live with missing on Spence/ASJ and late round picks. Sh1t happens. The above has felt unforgivable though. If that is all on Licht then wtf are we doing..
January 3rd, 2019 at 11:08 am
@Joe … “felt like the Bucs were just going through the motions because Koetter was their no-brainer candidate”. Really Joe? NO-BRAINER CANDIDATE? You know that JBFers take everything at least two ways huh.
Yet another possible explanation as to why the Glazer Boyz kept Licht (for now at least) is because they themselves may be isolated in terms of who they trust in the world of NFL decision-making. The fact that they’re paying some headhunter group to ‘advise’ Lapdog kind of implies to me that they don’t trust Jason 100% to make recommendations on his own, nor do they seem to have anyone close to advise them (like Arthur Blank has in Rich McKay for instance). But hey, we don’t need no friggin President of Football Operations here; we’ve got this covered.
Glazers just strike me as ownership COMMITTEE trying to make the best BUSINESS decision that they can. Nothing wrong with that approach necessarily, but SOMETIMES (IMO) that leads to short-term decisions to improve the ‘bottom-line’ that aren’t necessarily in sync with long-range aspirations. Not everyone agrees I know, but the Bucs really as a mess right now, and short-term ‘fix it now’ choices may not yield the long-term results the Bucs so desperately need.
January 3rd, 2019 at 11:09 am
It’s amazing how quickly the idea of using undersized d ends disappeared after draft Spence and trying to make jac Smith a starter as well. Smart to go with traditional ends like he’s done lately. This fan base has lost for so long they think every pick is supposed to be a home run. All our running backs suck under Koetter so I haven’t given up on Rojo. He’s on the team so I wish for his success. You can’t blow up a team like this and this reason this offense is so attractive is because every single player on it was brought in by Licht except Dotson. He did some things right and the defense is a coordinator away from evaluating the young talent fairly
January 3rd, 2019 at 11:11 am
I don’t think licht has any say in it either, or not much. He was only retained because the whole group is such a clusterf^ck the glazers need at least one numbnut they can call for answers.
better the devil you know then the devil you don’t
he’s on very thin ice IMO
January 3rd, 2019 at 11:18 am
Whoever they end up hiring, I will fall in line and support that person once hired. However, I do have some opinions:
• Bruce Arians. I like him okay as an offensive mind, but he has never proven to be capable of building a team with a good defense, which is our main weakness. I think he could turn Jameis around…but that won’t be much help when the defense is still losing games for us.
• Kris Richard. If he had more constancy in his past, I would support a hire like this. My issue with him is that when he got his DC opportunity, he had the worst pass defense in the league and got fired for it. Then he got hired by the cowboys and had a good year. Sounds like a roller coaster coach to me. Pass.
• Brian Kelly. I love his college record, and I think he’s a good coach. But no NFL experience? We tried this once…a college coach with a great win/loss record…John McKay. We got a winless season out of it and almost a second one too.
• John Harbaugh. He’s an okay coach…but let’s face it…the Bucs were set back years the last time they traded for a coach. We’d have to give up picks just to talk to him, and then again to get him. And that’s just a bad idea when there are other options.
• George Edwards. Well, we did get Tony Dungy from the Vikings. The difference is that Tony had been on a long list of successful teams, whereas George Edwards has been with mostly losing teams. Pass.
• Eric Bieniemy. They have the number one offense in the NFL in Kansas, and he may well be the reason. First in yards. First in points scored. Unfortunately, they are also first in penalty yards with a staggering1,152. In comparison, we thought the Bucs had too many penalties and they had 975 yards.
January 3rd, 2019 at 11:22 am
I believe Licht is a typical workplace suck up backstabbing snake…..and a 50-50 talent evaluator….The GBoyz could do just as well following consensus mock draft and FA picks by perceived team needs….
January 3rd, 2019 at 11:23 am
Well at least we have a chance to be the winners of the off-season. We can start as “paper champions” with the splash coach. Then conquer the free agency. Next comes the annual draft maneuvering via Licht with all the excitement of so much potential. Underwear football looks wonderful followed by pre-season of hope. Once again reality will set in as the 2019 season unfolds as we.look forward to winning another off season.
January 3rd, 2019 at 11:31 am
Can Glazers take a tax write off for some of the depreciated free agents Licht has signed. With all the bad signings for big bucks, I would a lot more concerned
about what’s in my wallet than they apparently are.
January 3rd, 2019 at 11:35 am
Backstabbin’ Jason Licht has failed to put together a good team throughout his entire tenure here. Worse five year record than Mark Dominick. Building a good team goes far beyond acquiring talent and looking good on paper.
Worst GM in the NFC South.
January 3rd, 2019 at 11:37 am
Bonzai,
If Bruce Arians is the guy, than bringing Todd Bowles with him would be a good solution to the “D” question that you raised. I think Arians would be a fantastic fit.
Kris Richard’s stock is rising faster and faster. Dallas is desperately trying to find a way (short of firing Garrett) to hold on to him. He literally built the legion of boom in Seattle, and his work with the Cowboys has been great. He is very intriguing.
January 3rd, 2019 at 11:43 am
Bonzai
Bruce Arians has had good defenses. In 2016 they beat us 40-7. Jameis had 4 INT’s ,1 fumble forced and recovered, and 3 sacks.for a 39.2 QBR.
January 3rd, 2019 at 11:47 am
if he cant bring in BA, he should be fired. Look at the free agency track record. And good luck finding many wins in his drafts. 3 Dlineman in 5 years as a GM will get you FIRED. Hes a Former OLineman but we made a first time starter the highest paid center in the league, havent figured out the RG, and have zero depth at tackle with an old RT.
January 3rd, 2019 at 11:50 am
Bonzai, you sound like you’re not thrilled with ANY of the six candidates you mentioned. (Neither am I BTW). But you didn’t mention Mike McCarthy 9nor a couple others who’ve been bantered around as possibilities).
Personally prefer an experienced ex-NFL-HC, but not one who’s ready to be put out to pasture. For our next HC to be ‘build the right staff’ is critical I think, and I tend to favor guys who’ve shown success in that area. Right now I’m ‘leaning’ towards Mike McCarthy for his demonstrated past skill in that area, but I’m really hoping that there are others on the horizon with even better team-building skills. Time will tell. (Still waiting for the Glazers to ask for my opinion, but not holding my breath on that).
January 3rd, 2019 at 11:53 am
with this coming from a mile away they should have had their coach picked, spit shined and coddled
the rest should be courtesy interviews.
bucslife
January 3rd, 2019 at 11:58 am
Let’s all get behind our team as we have a real legitimate chance to have one of best off seasons ever. Most of all stay cool, calm, and collected. The future is indeed looking😊
January 3rd, 2019 at 12:36 pm
We will continue to be terrible as long as Licht is making picks for this team. He is at his worst when it comes to draft and free agency. He will continue to drag this team down. FIRE LICHT NOW.
January 3rd, 2019 at 12:46 pm
bonzai
your dead wrong about kris richard…..you keep bringing up 2017, the year pete carroll fired 8 coaches in total not just richard…..
kris richard was a DC in seattle for 3years….please talk about the defense he had in 2015 and 2016……
and he never had the wrost pass defense…that title belonged to smitty!!!!….his worst year as DC seattle ranked 14th in points allowed…..
he has had 3 excellent years as DC….2015,2016 and 2018…..2017 he had to deal with injuries to sherman, kam chancellor, e.thomas, michael bennett, cliff avirl….2DE’s, 2safeties and a CB and he still managed to adjust and hold things together where they finished 14th in the league…..
stop selling kris short and do some damn research!!!!!!!
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!….#ADIOSDIRK!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
January 3rd, 2019 at 12:53 pm
bonzai
stop nit picking!!!!!
and lets be honest….all the “good coaches” will be coaching this weekend…..all the solid coaches are still employed by their teams…..all the coaches that got canned sucked and couldnt get it done….candidates like richard edwards and eric are all quaility coaches that deserve a chance and have the resumes to back them up……
none of those coaches you listed wouldnt do any worst than dirk!!!!
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!….#ADIOSDIRK!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
January 3rd, 2019 at 1:11 pm
Makes perfect sense that Our Glazers have retained Licht for just this reason. Sometimes it’s not what ya know it’s who ya know.
One thing I’ve always liked about having Licht is that he seems to be very well connected within inner NFL circles. It’s hard to say(from the outside) how big of a deal that is.
If JLs connections have aided in bringing in guys like JPP and Logan Mankins that makes Licht a valuable asset to our team. Something you don’t wanna lose. Those were trades with NE and NYG, those aren’t schleb franchises guys.
Our Glazers have been trying like mad to hire a big high profile HC…..Only to get stood up each and every time. If JL can bring us that bring us that high profile HC we have been yearning for….you have to admitt……keeping him has paid off already.
Bad part is that it only feels like a fantasy. We are Bucs fans and we never get what we want. I’m fully prepared for Licht to totally fail and come limping into One Buc Place introduced the next Rich Kotite to coach our beloved team.
This franchise repeativy kicked it’s fanbase in the gut over and over and over again for 2 decades now. Can’t expect anything good. That’s not our reality.
January 3rd, 2019 at 1:20 pm
Bonzai…..I too will support whoever the Bucs hire.
Even if it’s one of the guys I do not want. After all, the only thing I really know about any of these guys is sound bites, not much depth there.
Just prepare yourself Bonzai. It doesn’t matter who they hire. A good Chuck of the fanbase is not going to be happy and they will be here to voice their displeasure. Some will come unglued. It will be fun times IMO.
Honestly I can’t blame anybody if they are upset about who we hire. I don’t care if we clone Lombardi as our next coach. Anything the Bucs touch turns to rust.
January 3rd, 2019 at 1:50 pm
The Bucs are taking care of the Rooney rule first. Going overboard a little bit but in the end they will announce BA as the next head coach. I don’t think he would be a canidate if he wasn’t given a clean bill of health. Besides I think he would designate more responsibilities to his coaches.
January 3rd, 2019 at 2:04 pm
TOM Says:
“The Bucs are taking care of the Rooney rule first. Going overboard a little bit”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tom, did it occur to you that it is because those were actually really good candidates (rather than just Rooney quota)?? — Seems kind of insulting to Eric Bieniemy & Kris Richard that are literally 2 of the hottest coaching prospects in the entire NFL.
January 3rd, 2019 at 2:05 pm
(who are)
January 3rd, 2019 at 2:10 pm
I like both Bieniemy and Edwards but neither has Head coaching experience or are even doing the play calling as coordinators for their respective teams. The next coach needs to be a head coach with strong coordinators.
January 3rd, 2019 at 2:16 pm
Joe
I think I remember you writing an article last offseason how the Glazers said they were going to stick with Licht through 2019. Why I’ve been constantly yawning about people saying fire Licht. No need for him to leave at this point. It would likely just be a bigger disaster.
January 3rd, 2019 at 2:27 pm
13frain Says:
“The next coach needs to be a head coach with strong coordinators.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I tend to agree with you, 13frain, and in spite of what I was just saying about Richard & Bieniemy (who I really like)… my first choice would be Bruce Arians. I think he is literally perfect for Jameis, and I would love to see him get Todd Bowles in here as DC.
January 3rd, 2019 at 2:32 pm
-Can they put a coaching staff together?
-Do they know at least somewhat of the other side of the football than they are known for (KOETTER KNEW NOTHING ABOUT DEFENSE! i.e. Keeping Mike Smith).
-Do they have long term experience with good playoff teams. Under good HC if it’s a coordinator or assistant coach.
January 3rd, 2019 at 2:34 pm
Ariens would no doubt be able to put the best coaching staff together.
January 3rd, 2019 at 2:44 pm
Licht is unqualified to set the record straight. Nothing he does will fix that at this point. His draft picks are coin flips. The 2nd round kicker pick was utter stupidity.
January 3rd, 2019 at 2:45 pm
813bucboi Says:
bonzai
kris richard was a DC in seattle for 3years….please talk about the defense he had in 2015 and 2016……
—————————————————————————————–
ppssssssst, hey bonsai, heres a hint – “Legion of Boom”.
Watch some videos of Kris Richard motivating his players, coaching them up, see them buying in to this man. This is exactly what the Bucs need.
January 3rd, 2019 at 3:17 pm
I’m a little biased because Arians is Hokie alum. If you don’t know, Hokies are tight-knit.
He does have health issues, however. Like TOM says, if he is the hire, I would expect good coordinators under him.
January 3rd, 2019 at 7:23 pm
Don’t look at how Jason has selected in his drafts to try to gauge how he will do in a head coach search process. I would suggest that we look at how has done when bringing in free agents and how he has negotiated trades.
What he did to acquire JPP shows him at his best.
What do you think are his best and worst moves in these areas? What do they tell us about how he operates?
________
Go Bucs!!!!
January 4th, 2019 at 8:09 am
Fireeeeee Licht!
January 4th, 2019 at 9:03 am
You guys are the most negative bunch of fans I have ever seen. Licht brought in some of those guys for his coach. You always want to make the coach happy don’t you? Licht is doing a good job and you guys don’t get it.
January 5th, 2019 at 12:17 pm
I hope its Arians.I bought the hat !!