Time To Call Wade Phillips
April 1st, 2020
A legendary defensive mind and coordinator is looking for work in a 32-team league that already has 32 defensive coordinators.
If the Bucs are heart-attack serious about going all-in for a Super Bowl, they should be on the phone to Wade Phillips about a consulting/assistant coach/Tom Moore kind of gig.
Yeah, yeah, Todd Bowles. Joe’s not advocating the removal of Bowles, just the hiring of Phillips. After all, Bucco Bruce Arians has the biggest staff in the NFL. So what’s one more?
Phillips has been a defensive coordinator in two of the past five Super Bowls (Broncos and Rams), and he’s known for his defenses getting fast results.
We all saw what happened when Phillips took over in Houston back in 2011. Despite a new defense in a lockout season, Phillips’ finished with the NFL’s No. 2-ranked defense, one that had been ranked No. 30 the prior season. The guy gets the most out of players in a hurry.
Phillips, 72, didn’t have his contract renewed by the Rams after last season and nobody hired him. Via Twitter and his recent book-tour interviews, Phillips has made it clear he’s very hungry to continue coaching. It’s also clear from those interviews that he understands he wouldn’t be a coordinator in 2020.
What possibly would be a reason not to interview Phillips about a defensive consultant gig?
Ego?
If Joe were Bucco Bruce Arians, who is hungry as hell to win immediately, Joe would schedule a Zoom call with Phillips and Bowles over a couple of cocktails. What an addition to the staff Phillips would be and, if Bowles somehow got another head coaching gig in 2021, Phillips would be one helluva short-term replacement.
The thought of not calling Phillips to talk sickens Joe. Hopefully, Arians already has at least reached out.
April 1st, 2020 at 2:15 am
c’mon …get real ..too many cooks in the kitchen
April 1st, 2020 at 2:37 am
Great idea
April 1st, 2020 at 3:48 am
Dumb idea lol it has nothing to do with ego. This is the type of idea you get when non football people try to get to cute. Why don’t you call rick stroud over to help edit some of your articles before publishing? Umm yeah exactly lol for you it would be 100% ego even though you clearly need the help some days
This was funny. First, Stroud certainly doesn’t have any thing close to Wade Phillips’ resume. And that’s the point here. Phillips would/should/could be a valuable asset to any team. Second, for years before he was hired, Joe was telling Ira Kaufman that newspapers were dying and there was a job waiting for him at JoeBucsFan.com. Third, Joe already owns the Lombardi Trophy when it comes to Bucs coverage. Local media is graded by fan interest, and Joe’s metrics dwarf them all. That written, there is at least one member of the media Joe would sign in a heartbeat if available in free agency. –Joe
April 1st, 2020 at 4:33 am
If Todd Bowles can work with Wade,then I don’t see a downside.
April 1st, 2020 at 5:55 am
we had him in Buffalo , back in the day….. he is not a head coach … but he was born to be a defensive coordinator …. egos aside it would be great…
April 1st, 2020 at 6:16 am
Bum Junior is one hell of a defensive coordinator
April 1st, 2020 at 6:34 am
It’s a league wide travesty this guy don’t have a job. About 25 teams should be embarrassed. Proud to say we’re not one of those teams
April 1st, 2020 at 6:46 am
There is only one way you bring in Phillips as a defensive consultant and that is if Todd Bowles asks for it.
April 1st, 2020 at 7:00 am
Joe, you are simply searching for something to “be sick over” then. Lots more valid reasons to “be sick” over something these days. How about shifting to “being sick if this Covid-19 BS screws up our 2020 season”?
Then I could join you.
But Wade?
Yeah, no.
April 1st, 2020 at 7:21 am
Couldn’t agree more. Phillips has been around this league for decades for a reason. Plus he’s a 3-4 guy. His defenses have always been attacking. Tell Bowles this is without question your show. Maybe have him come in and ask where he could help. Maybe he could learn Bowles’ playbook and concepts and just be a stand-in, in case of corona…who knows. I don’t know why you wouldn’t want this. Bowles himself probably would welcome Phillips.
April 1st, 2020 at 7:25 am
In fact with Arians stepping aside, perhaps as soon as next year, if Bowles moved into the Bucs head coaching spot, think on this. Bowles as HC, Phillips as DC, and Leftwich as OC. Sounds pretty good to me.
April 1st, 2020 at 7:27 am
@Pancake, exactly. Head coach he is not. But a hell of a DC. Just as Norv Turner was no Head Coach, but a fantastic OC
April 1st, 2020 at 8:06 am
I guess its something to think about but like someone already said only if Bowles is ok with it. After all its his defense and he should have the last word.
April 1st, 2020 at 9:00 am
Wade is great coach but Bowles is not new at this as was leftwich as OC. Bowels is not learning the position and has a reputation already as a great defensive mind.
April 1st, 2020 at 9:54 am
While we’re at it why not dig up Vince Lombardi and Chuck Knoll, and victor Von Frankenstein to get them involved in our game plans?
Sooner or later you have Trust those that hopefully know what they’re doing, rather than adding every Tom, Dick & Harry coach that has had success in the NFL!
April 1st, 2020 at 9:56 am
Nothing against Wade, he’s undoubtedly a great DC, but too many cooks in the kitchen rarely works well.
April 1st, 2020 at 10:01 am
Smart money says Tampa should very well bring him in if all sides agree. Todd is going to eventually take over as coach of BA pans out wins the Super Bowl and rides off into the sunset. It’ll be an easy transition to have Wade remain as a consultant to whoever Todd see’s for to run his defense or if he wants Wade to run it.
Obviously depending of course BL would continue as the OC I can’t see BL getting a head coaching job even if we do succeed most organizations would view it as Tom Brady being to OC and not BL. BL would have to prove himself after the Tom Brady era. The league isn’t to hot on Black head coaches anyway I mean look at how many offers/interviews Eric Bienemy received and that’s saying something considering the decent amount of success coaches from Andy Reid’s coaching tree have in the NFL.
April 1st, 2020 at 10:04 am
There’s a reason the Rams didn’t bring him back and no one else hired him.
April 1st, 2020 at 11:03 am
Misrepresenting Joe’s work is not permitted here. Why continue to come here if you don’t like it so much? –Joe
April 1st, 2020 at 11:04 am
Little Bum has built so very good to great defenses. How he doesn’t have a job is puzzling.
April 1st, 2020 at 11:07 am
Not needed at all.
April 1st, 2020 at 11:10 am
You’ve now entered permanent moderation with hundreds of others.
This is what happens when readers ascribe false motives to Joe’s work and misrepresent Joe’s work. –Joe
April 1st, 2020 at 11:24 am
I agree with Joe here. I love me some Wade Phillips. He has been successful as a D coordinator in Dallas, Denver, St Louis, Houston and Cleveland and basically with a combo 3-4 defense. I think his teams lead with a lot of turnovers.
Give me coaches like Phillips, Bowles, Arians, Moore. The more the better.
Guys that know how to coach that know the NFL.
The more the better.
It will also give more opportunity for posters to rip another old guy on the Buc’s coaching staff.
April 1st, 2020 at 11:25 am
Do you not understand people, Joe? Team building?
Do you not understand that Joe wants the Bucs to strongly consider Phillips with Bowles? Joe did not write to sign Phillips tomorrow. You don’t know if you don’t reach out and talk. –Joe
You’re usurping Bowles’ authority, period, with this move. With Tom Moore 5 years removed from OC duties and clearly retired WITH a rookie OC, Leftwich was in no way threatened or challenged by Mr. Moore, even subconsciously. Terrible suggestion, frankly.
April 1st, 2020 at 11:30 am
You must be really bored Joe. Why don’t we see if we can find a medium to contact Vince Lombardi from the great beyond to help our beloved Bucs. Leave no stone unturned right? Absolutely. And of course Joe is not bored. –Joe
April 1st, 2020 at 11:32 am
thin-skinned
Hardly, but Joe doesn’t invest time and effort representing an opinion only to have others read anonymous others who misrepresent that opinion. There are many other websites where you can misrepresent Joe’s work. This is hardly the first time you’ve expressed extreme dis-satisfaction with JoeBucsFan via malicious commentary. –Joe
April 1st, 2020 at 11:45 am
I’m certainly open to this suggestion. Not sure why Joe got all this hostility.
He crossed the proper t’s and dotted his i’s…IF Bowles is on board then why not.
Could this not be viewed similar to Moore working with JW last year. Do we suppose our budding star MLB who will be calling the D on the field could learn from Phillips?
If for no other reason than giving our future star MLB the wisdom of all those years…freeing Bowles to spend even more time with his DB’s…why not?
I have truly large hopes for D White. He showed me a lot last year both on and OFF the field. He is class…he is talent…why not provide him with every advantage possible. If that’s Phillips in his ear at practice…GREAT!
April 1st, 2020 at 12:19 pm
Umm, Todd Bowles is doing just fine.
If anything, I would fire the guy telling them when to go for challenges and bring in a competent replacement as well as bring in a guy who has a PhD in game clock management. Especially clock management where both our HC and DC have failed repeatedly in their careers.
April 1st, 2020 at 12:24 pm
Can you imagine the look on and anger of one Tom Brady if he lost a game at the stretch because a coach called a timeout they didn’t have?
I would not want to be in that locker room if that ever happens.
April 1st, 2020 at 2:11 pm
I get it! This is an April Fools joke!
April 1st, 2020 at 3:01 pm
Jean Lafitte Says:
April 1st, 2020 at 2:15 am
c’mon …get real ..too many cooks in the kitchen
All that needs to be said!
Jimmy Johnson is out there, maybe we can call him in to consult. This is the part I hate about offseason fill.
April 1st, 2020 at 3:02 pm
@ joe handled like a professional
@get over it get over it
April 1st, 2020 at 3:05 pm
Todd Bowles runs an updated version of old Wade’s system. I get it, if we had issues, but when it comes to defense, I like the coordinator, but if you want to improve, find us a position coach who can teach the system better.
April 1st, 2020 at 3:42 pm
Hi Fernando… You don’t even know what I wrote! This is funny.
April 1st, 2020 at 4:32 pm
“Bucco Bruce Arians has the biggest staff in the NFL” …
Still laughing.
April 1st, 2020 at 4:48 pm
I get this, Joe. Wade Phillips would be the Tom Moore of the defense, if Todd Bowles wanted him on the staff. There’s no salary cap for coaches.
April 1st, 2020 at 6:18 pm
You should probably get something for that sickness as I don’t think you’re getting any Wade Phillips. Bruce has the staff he wants.
April 1st, 2020 at 8:07 pm
The one who should make the decision on whether or not to hire Phillips as a ‘consultant’ is Todd Bowles. He may appreciate having another great defensive mind to bump things off of. Or not.
April 2nd, 2020 at 9:39 am
I really doubt that Wade Phillips will come here, and be second fiddle to Todd Bowles.
Although some friends of mine who are Jet’s fans are shocked Bowles is doing so well here.
Up in NY, they called him “Toilet Bowles”, and were glad to see him go.
I am glad we have him!