Mike Sullivan To Army?
December 16th, 2013
Mike Sullivan is rumored to be a candidate to take over Army.
Joe was just typing a post about how Bucs offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan may be a Bucs scapegoat when Joe learned of this rumor floated from a national NFL scribe.
Mike Garafolo of FoxSports.com Twittered that Sullivan is expected to interview for the newly opened head coach position at Army, as Rich Ellison, after getting sunk (again) by Navy over the weekend, is not expected to return as the leader of the Black Knights of the Hudson.
@MikeGarafolo: Among candidates expected to interview w/Army for vacant HC job is Buccaneers OC Mike Sullivan, a candidate the last time the job was open.
Just for a bit of background on Sullivan, he is a former Army Ranger and played for Army as a defensive back and graduated from West Point. Sullivan coached at Army for two seasons in the 1990s.
Now Joe thinks, if you look closely, Sullivan, who has been pilloried by fans this season, very well could be a scapegoat. He’s a damn good quarterback coach. Eli Manning has been horrible without him, save for a 600-yard game against the Bucs to open the season in 2012. Some of Rip Van Freeman’s best games were last season with Sullivan.
And who would ever have expected Mike Glennon, at one point in his rookie year, to throw 10 touchdowns against one interception?
Also note that last year, the Bucs Sullivan-led offense was a top-ten offense. Many of those same weapons Sullivan had last year are not available this season for a variety of reasons, including a seasoned quarterback, a Pro Bowl running back and a solid No. 2 receiver.
So is Sullivan getting the most out of what he has, or does he just not have enough tools in the drawer to get the job done?
Is Sullivan a scapegoat for the Bucs’ woes this season?
December 16th, 2013 at 3:26 pm
Probably, good luck to him…Now, where do we send Shiano?
December 16th, 2013 at 3:35 pm
I hope it comes through for him. He seems like a good guy and I think that would be a nice amicable split where we can move on and he lands on his feet somewhere
December 16th, 2013 at 3:54 pm
Wish him good fortune as well but, I don’t see him as the guy molded to fit the complete West Point tradition. With 5 years of losses to Navy the expectations will be huge. If you think Schiano is disciplined he’s a piker compared to the Long Grey Line.
December 16th, 2013 at 4:03 pm
McBuc, my answer is anywhere but here.
December 16th, 2013 at 4:07 pm
Whether , or not, Sully is to blame for our anemic Offense depends on how much Schiano and / or Davis have their fingers in the pie. If Sully’s just doing what Schiano is telling him to do , its hard to put the blame on him. I suppose he could go all ‘integrity’ on us & quit cause Schiano won’t let him do his job…but that’s a bit much to expect, i suppose, & if he did , there’d be no change. Best thing is fire them all & let the NFL sort them out!!!
December 16th, 2013 at 4:17 pm
Sully to Army sounds good. Now send Schiano to any high school in Jersey where his offensive brand of football will be appreciated. Set Davis a drift in Tampa Bay and I’m good.
December 16th, 2013 at 4:17 pm
Who honestly believes Sullivan is the crux of the problem with this team?
December 16th, 2013 at 4:20 pm
I hope he gets the Army job because he is about to be unemployed….
December 16th, 2013 at 4:29 pm
Espo, exactly! I really think Sully is not our issue. Last years offense looked better. This year it looks like the offense of Rutgers…run, run, pass, punt, and if you have the lead, run, run, run, punt. Shiano came out and said they needed turn overs to win, you cannot count on turnovers. It seemed like some of the bad tackles were guys trying to strip the ball before securing the tackle. I am sure there is some small college team in need of this coaches crap ass brand of football. I am tired of him messing up my Sunday afternoon’s.
December 16th, 2013 at 4:44 pm
The oc dc head coach need to be fired oh wait the gm to.
December 16th, 2013 at 4:47 pm
Heckuva job, Gregory!
Rick Stroud @NFLSTROUD 29m
#Bucs offense now 32nd in the NFL — last — in total offense and passing offense behind the Jaguars
December 16th, 2013 at 4:49 pm
I hope he gets it, I hope Sheridan gets a job offer too. He might be a great QB coach but I dont think he has done a good job as an OC, the stats from yesterday prove it.
December 16th, 2013 at 4:52 pm
The blowup needed to include the GM the first time. Mediocre Mark is still mediocre.
Let’s overpay more guards and safetys!! Maybe we can find another blocking TE that we covet as a pass catcher?! Who needs veteran DE depth?, we have Bowers!!
Then I will have to listen to all the Summer koolaid drinkers tell me how this (Year 6 of the Dominick rebuild), is the playoff year.
December 16th, 2013 at 5:02 pm
Why are we comparing last years team to this years team? They are two different teams! Don’t give me the argument that injuries don’t matter. Ask the Colts from a couple of years ago. Ask this years Falcons! The next man up is NOT the same man up. There are levels of players with different levels of skills. All position players ARE NOT the same. Let’s stop assuming they are. If that were true ALL players would be in the HOF. If you are following this so far, then the same coaching staff has a different set of problems to solve year in and year out. One season IS NOT the same as the next season. Haven’t we learned that in the NFC south yet?
I for one do not know what this team needs. There are so many variables that play into the outcome of a season, in the outcome of a game. I’m going to hope the Glazers make their decision based on facts and good hard questions to the staff. I’ll root for the team next year as well as I have the past 37 years.
December 16th, 2013 at 5:07 pm
Schiano wants to run this offence, so that he can blame Sully and then get his man the OC job. Schiano being a micromanager has a huge say in the offence as well. Schiano needs to go
December 16th, 2013 at 5:17 pm
I don’t think Schiano is going to get fired. Do I think he should be? Well I’m now currently at 55% in his corner to stay. 2 more weeks to go!
December 16th, 2013 at 5:21 pm
ATLBucsFan…I’m with you. I’m going to renew my season tickets this season no matter who the coach is next season.
December 16th, 2013 at 5:27 pm
Jason La Canfora thinks it’s possible the Longhorns reach out to Schiano.
December 16th, 2013 at 5:40 pm
Please longhorns. Pleaaaaaaaaase.
December 16th, 2013 at 5:42 pm
I don’t understand how we can put blame on sully. He has one legit receiver a 3rd string tailback, 3rd rd rookie qb and a surprising rookie tight end. Just look at what he does when there is no time for schiano to contribute to the play calls. If schiano gets another year and fires sully then it’s total BS. I wish Sully the best wherever he goes. Sheridan is another story.
December 16th, 2013 at 6:03 pm
As a Naval Academy alum and Oklahoma Sooner fan, please God, let Schiano go to Texas and Sullivan to Army!
December 16th, 2013 at 6:04 pm
We don’t have the Rutgers offense….Rutgers averaged 26.4 points per game in Schiano’s last year….
We don’t have an offense period.
It never ceases to amaze me how some fans want to give Sully a pass….I guess it’s because he is so soft-spoken and is such a likeable guy. He absolutely, positively needs to go!!!
December 16th, 2013 at 6:05 pm
And @ Ruggyup, it’s not five years in a row that Navy has beat Army, it’s 12 years straight.
December 16th, 2013 at 6:13 pm
I’ll pay for his plane ticket.
December 16th, 2013 at 6:13 pm
If Texas hire Schiano that would be hysterical.
December 16th, 2013 at 6:14 pm
Non Stop – 1 Way – First Class
December 16th, 2013 at 6:15 pm
Texas needs to hire Muschamp and Florida needs Charlie Strong.
December 16th, 2013 at 6:23 pm
@sg5821
That thought crossed my mind as well. I seems as though nobody as the balls to come out publicly and say they are the reason behind our 32 ranked offense. I know Sully is listed as the OC, but I have feeling Schiano is meddling with our offense.
December 16th, 2013 at 6:24 pm
* it seems
December 16th, 2013 at 6:47 pm
Last years offense had a good streak but it was just that.
It did not take long before Sully’s offense proved that it didn’t have what it took to get W’s and that it was predictable.
How long was the losing streak last year that led to the end of the season?
And it’s lead all through this season?
Being a good QB coach and being a good offensive coordinator are two different things.
Get him the hell out of here, good riddance.
December 16th, 2013 at 6:49 pm
I guarantee you that Sullivan is the one drawing up the plays. Now whether Schiano says run or pass on a particular down is one thing but the creativity behind the run or pass is all Sullivan. I see zero creativity for the most part. Woody Hayes was more creative with a scheme.
December 16th, 2013 at 7:23 pm
Greg:
Joe’s impressed. Well done, sir.
December 16th, 2013 at 9:07 pm
So the offense now ranks last in the league. Does Schiano still think it’s working? I really do like Schiano as a man, but as an NFL head coach he is totally unqualified. I hope the Glazers put us out of our misery
December 16th, 2013 at 9:17 pm
The glazers have told him he is safe and to hell with the season ticket holders and they do not espect to win next year either just a little birdie and they are looking to dump this team
December 16th, 2013 at 9:34 pm
^^^^ hilarious and you’ll be glad about it all too
December 16th, 2013 at 10:41 pm
You like him as a man?
December 17th, 2013 at 12:04 am
@Greg
Don’t you send Schiano to Texas – he wouldn’t make it through the spring Orange/White game.
Too many turnovers and questionable calls against his own team.
December 17th, 2013 at 1:00 am
With our luck Lane Kiffin will replace him.
December 17th, 2013 at 8:22 am
Good riddance !!
December 17th, 2013 at 1:54 pm
It’s great how at points we were worried about losing him to a better job. Clearly things have changed.