How Good Is Tim Wright?
December 16th, 2013The question brings Greg Schiano’s development skills into the spotlight
Fans by nature, yearn for the positive. It’s what feeds their hope. And sports are all about hope. It’s what makes August such an exciting time of year.
Joe actually even had a Bucs fan last week, a smart guy Joe knows for years, passionately explain to Joe why Greg Schiano is a “great” NFL coach. Not a good coach, not a promising a coach, a great coach.
“Yeah, but Schiano hasn’t had a winning season yet, unlike the other coaches in the NFC South. So how is he great already?” Joe replied.
The Schiano-loving fan then rolled into a long rant about how Schiano can identify players, develop them, and get their best out of them, and that is what will turn the Bucs into a dynasty once Schiano learns what works in the NFL, much like it took Bill Belicheat time.
Joe admired the fan’s spirit. And one can give a lot of merit to Schiano’s player-development strengths. It seems slightly limited to Buccaneers that entered the program under his watch, but heck, you could even make a case that he worked miracles with Josh Freeman leading the NFL’s ninth-ranked offense last year.
Bucs fans have watched rookie tight end Tim Wright go from a nobody to not only a good tight end, but among the better ones in the NFL. (Quick: name 10 tight ends performing better than Wright.) He’s got 45 catches after very limited snaps in September — in an offense that isn’t focused on the tight end week in and week out.
Wright catches a very high percentage of what’s thrown his way. And consider that his best games this season have been against winning teams, Arizona, Philly, Detroit, Carolina and San Francisco.
How good is Tim Wright? That question won’t be answered for another couple of years.
But at least it’s a question you can ask with a smile on your face and goodness in your heart. Just like you could ask the same thing about Johnthan Banks, Akeem Spence, Will Gholston, Bobby Rainey, Eric Page, Lavonte David, Doug Martin, Mike Glennon, Mike James, and other young Schiano men.
December 16th, 2013 at 9:11 am
From reading this as well as other articles what is actually being said. Is what is being said is that Greg Schiano has a talent for spotting talent ? Others write about his virtues of being head of a team’s Defence. Sounds like its a great argument for him being a wonderful defensive coach or head of choosing player personnel. Does this automatically translate that he be best suited as a NFL Head Coach? Perhaps with time…..but I don’t know…..
December 16th, 2013 at 9:13 am
Oops right statement, wrong article……sorry
December 16th, 2013 at 9:15 am
Wait….I guess the content of the article does warrant the discussion.
December 16th, 2013 at 9:19 am
Joe, its just a lot of people overestimated the talent. Coach Schiano is still cleaning up after the Rah/Dom experiment. This team was not playoff ready this year.
December 16th, 2013 at 9:33 am
Realist…you make an important point….every local fan of every team “overestimates” the talent. None of them wants to admit that they have a number of below average players that couldn’t start on a top tier team. Look at our receiving corp…two of them would be on the active roster on a good team…the rest wouldn’t get more than a sniff. I do think this team was sorely in need of a talent infusion as you said…and at least one more as good as we had last year. Then we will likely be on a road to something special.
December 16th, 2013 at 9:48 am
We do not need a head coaching change. He is getting a lot out of his younger players. Our future looks fine, of course with some new additions on the offensive side of the ball (Draft: QB/WR/OL). Look at how well James performed prior to injury, Martin’s rookie season, GMC’s improvement, David’s dominance, emerging Banks, Spence, W. Gholston. Not to mention, how Barron has made significant progress also. I like the player development. I like what Coach stands for. I like that he did not lose his locker room. A program is not built in 2 years. Screw the “win now” mentality, it is not a reality when building a team from the ground up. We do not have Alex Smith and J. Charles on our roster. We have done well in the face of more adversity than most clubs face in 5 years. I know writing about our coach is fun fodder, but it is also divisive for true Buc fans.
December 16th, 2013 at 9:48 am
And realist…do I dare say that I think even some local sports media folks overestimate the talent? It is always easier to blame the coach…particularly when you are trying to develop relationships with players inside the organization for stories or information. And you don’t get that by pointing out their lack of talent or shortcomings. I think that is the case….though I am not talking about you Joe.
December 16th, 2013 at 9:54 am
Schiano’s a mixed bag that still doesn’t add up to a good head coach. Anyone think he’d get another job if he was fired in two weeks? Would LOVE to hear you answer that
December 16th, 2013 at 9:56 am
I posted this yesterday under the Gholston article…it applies here also.
Another player in development showing signs of value….at the very least he will provide depth and that’s what you want from your draft picks….looks like the draft has really improved since Schiano got here…..
Barron
Martin
David
Banks
Glennon
Spence
Gholston
James
And even Tandy
Some undrafted like Wright, Rainey, Johnson, Page, & even Tiquan
Jury out on Means, Melvin, Demps & Michael Smith…..and we used a #1 pick for Revis…so I count him with our draftees….
December 16th, 2013 at 9:59 am
Guys – while we keep talking about talent, at some point it has to turn into production.
You can’t talk this game and that’s all I am hearing, a bunch of talk and chatter. The Houston Texans have talent but…
You can’t talk this game gents – you got to play it! There is no prize for having or perceiving to have (talent).
December 16th, 2013 at 10:05 am
So he’s made some guys better for sure, how about all of the players that have regressed from last year to this year? If our team was so poor last year why did we start off 6-4 and have a top 10 offense? If he has such an eye for talent then why did he let go 5 or so d-lineman that are starting and have more sacks then out ends now? You have to look at both sides of the fence.
Also as a defensive coach how many big defensive stops have we had we needed in the last 2 years? 10 minute drive yesterday, cmon
December 16th, 2013 at 10:08 am
Very well stated Marlow… I cringe at some of the bashing dished out by critical folks who call themselves Bucs Fans!
December 16th, 2013 at 10:09 am
If you inherit an old, run down house with faulty plumbing and shoddy electrical system and leaky roof….you can do one of two things…the first is slaps some new paint around, install some new countertops and shove some stainless steel appliances in…and hope that buyers are distracted by the shiny new things enough not to notice the underlying problems…or you can strip the drywall and fix the plumbing, call in an electrician to rewire the electric system, and get rid of the old leaky roof and put a strong new roof on…then add all the new fixtures and features. Now you have a great home that will last. Kind of like building a football team…when it gets really run down, you have to strip it and rebuild, and not just cover it up by adding a few high priced free agents. I think the Bucs are on the right track…sure it takes longer to strip it and rebuild, but the results will be better in the long run. I think we have a great young foundation of players to build on now…we need a little more help at DE, OL, TE and WR…but I think if we stay the course, we will be very competitive next year! Give Schiano and Glennon a shot in 2014 to show what they can accomplish!
December 16th, 2013 at 10:21 am
@ Jordan
I am with you and Marlow…and I believe the Glazers are with Schiano…I believe they know he is following a plan and, although it is ugly to watch, I see a bright future.
You heard it here….Schiano will be our coach in 2014. Now, you can whine all off-season and into next year but it won’t matter.
December 16th, 2013 at 10:44 am
@tampabaybucfan
Since you speak with the Glazers personally can you ask them if Dom is going to be around, or the rest of the coaching staff?
December 16th, 2013 at 10:58 am
This team was not ready to cause serious damage in this division, this year. The former coach had taken the team down (mentally and physically) too far. Even with the ‘amazing’ additions of this regime, they are still a few players away from scaring their division rivals. IMO, the team is mentally prepared to win. What they lack, now, is another ‘party-crashing’ D-lineman, an ‘ochlophobic’ WR, and a ‘bully’ O-lineman (or two).
December 16th, 2013 at 11:07 am
I agree with your friend Joe, Schiano is a good coach. Great coach? That is yet to be determined. I liked the hire from the onset, and I have expressed that opinion in every post concerning Schiano. Fans want immediate success, that’s unrealistic. I’m laid back and patient, always have been. That’s the way I’ve dealt with a lifetime of love of the Bucs when there was not a lot to cheer about or look forward to.
December 16th, 2013 at 11:33 am
If we can play fundamentally sound football (minimize penalties and drops, etc.) and consistently make the field goals, I think we can win a lot of games. That’s what Dungy’s teams did anyway…..
December 16th, 2013 at 12:20 pm
Its a catch 22 . he has all the tools to be a great coach ( fire , love for the game , developmental skills , etc). But he is missing 1 of the most important things . CHANGE !!!! He so stuck in his way of ball that even if you fire the staff and bring in a completely knew one it will showcase the same results . sh*t coach Bell had to learn his stubborn ways would not last in this league . thats why they can lose players every year because he adapts to the players skills . not because he has the great Tom Brady …he lost him and went 11-5 and they are the same no nonsense coach . he just has to get past that hurdle and when that happens everyone will once again say…IVE ALWAYS LOVED THE BUCS EVEN WHEN THEY WERE LOSING . HAHAHA
December 16th, 2013 at 1:11 pm
Tampabaybucfan Says
“You heard it here….Schiano will be our coach in 2014.”
I’ve been saying it for months. I agree.
I’ll even add that I think it is very possible that Schiano drafts a first round QB in the next draft. He’s all about competition.
I think we’ll see
1st round – QB
2nd Round – OL
3rd Round (acquired by trading Rainey) – DE
4th Round – WR
and so forth.
I think we’ll take another OL later in the draft as well. Maybe a center, since Zuttah needs a good backup.
December 16th, 2013 at 1:17 pm
The Buc realist is always defending this coach spit the mans junk out of your mouth and get real this bum gotta go or we will go threw this next year
December 16th, 2013 at 1:18 pm
you should be more concerned about free agents than the draft
December 16th, 2013 at 1:27 pm
I think we’ll see big changes on the O-Line and we’ll go WR in the first round. Watkins or Evans.
December 16th, 2013 at 3:28 pm
“You heard it here….Schiano will be our coach in 2014.”
Yeah , you might be right. And that’s downright depressing. Personally, I’d like a change. I just don’t see Schiano showing ANY ability to adapt , in game, or even between games , for the upcoming team. I feel the single most important property for a head coach to have, is the ability to adapt to what the other team has done in the past & what it’s doing in the current game. I really don’t think the Schiano ‘Braintrust’ prepares well during the week, and I’m TOTALLY convinced they are incapable of making an in-game adjustment. I fully believe whatever coach said they don’t make changes during the game. I don’t feel any ability he might have for evaluating and / or developing talent makes up for his lack of adaptability. Just me.