Back To The Future?
December 30th, 2013
Team Glazer might turn to their time machine
If nothing else, since the jettisoning this morning of former Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik and commander Greg Schiano, there will be swirling tea leaves from all the names thrown out as to who will fill the voided seats at One Buc Palace.
Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune has his ear to the railroad tracks and tossed out a few names he is hearing through solid sources.
@RCummingsTBO: Already hearing talk of the Bucs bringing the band back together. i.e Rich McKay, Lovie Smith, maybe Tim Ruskell, Jerry Angleo.
Here’s the thing. Reunions in sports often fail, sans Billy Martin and George Steinbrenner. There is a reason Rich McKay got bounced upstairs by Artie Blank. Do the names Jim Mora, Jr. and Bobby Petrino ring a bell?
Once upon a time, McKay was among the best of the NFL’s general managers. That was nearly 20 years ago now (geez, time flies).
And Joe simply is not a Lovie Smith kinda guy, the worst of the Father Dungy clones. One might argue it was Rod Marinelli’s defense that got Lovie to where he was. It surely wasn’t Lovie’s offense.
Team Glazer likes splash. They like offense. Unless Lovie was forced to take an offensive coordinator of someone else’s choosing, well, let’s just say Joe is suspicious.
And yet again, if a defensive coach is hired, and the offense with a good quarterback (you can scratch bratty Jay Cutler off the list if Lovie is hired) succeeds, the offensive coordinator will leave for greener pastures and that annoying merry-go-round of offensive coaches and rattled quarterbacks will start spinning.
December 30th, 2013 at 2:31 pm
The guy not being mentioned is the guy they are targeting. If you want splash…how about Jay Gruden?!
December 30th, 2013 at 2:31 pm
correct Joe. I dont want to see a reunion either. a former employer once said to me that once an employee was let go or left, he never brought them back because there was something wrong with the situation to bring it to that point in the first place. we need new blood with a new philosophy. this is a quarterback league so we need a coach with offense skills and an knack for getting the most out of talent starting at the quarterback position and yes our division is not fun to have to roll up your sleeves and play but we want someone up to the challenge.
December 30th, 2013 at 2:33 pm
Rod Marinelli wasn’t even on Lovie’s staff the year they went to the Super Bowl.
December 30th, 2013 at 2:34 pm
It looks like the Glazers have learned their lesson and made the firing decision in a timely manner. Its my suspicion that they already have a candidate(s) in mind. They will really have to open up their checkbook this time to go big. (good thing it doesn’t count against the cap)
December 30th, 2013 at 2:34 pm
Greg Roman!
December 30th, 2013 at 2:34 pm
Since when do the Glazers like offensive splash?
Dungy
Raheem
Schiano
The only offensive guy they hired was Jon.
December 30th, 2013 at 2:35 pm
They have to interview him because of color, so he’ll be included in the talks regardless.
December 30th, 2013 at 2:35 pm
They’ll most likely interview him instead of have to**
December 30th, 2013 at 2:38 pm
Woody Cummings is hearing talk…from some fans.
It will not happen. McKay will not leave Atlanta. The Glazers want an offensive head coach.
December 30th, 2013 at 2:38 pm
@ Eric. they dont. that was my point. they have to adjust there philosophy a bit to get this to work. this is a qb league now like it or not. the rules dictate it and the glazer have to adjust. that is what I meant
December 30th, 2013 at 2:41 pm
Eric Says
“Since when do the Glazers like offensive splash?
Dungy
Raheem
Schiano
The only offensive guy they hired was Jon.”
And they got the results with Jon. We have a defensive nucleus in place. It is all about scoring points now. They will go offense.
December 30th, 2013 at 2:41 pm
Tweet from Rick Stroud
Rick Stroud @NFLSTROUD 16m
The #Bucs decision to fire Schiano and Dominik came down to 2 main things: No return on a huge investment in free agents and Darrelle Revis
Revis contract may be in jeopardy!
Joe really doesn’t buy this Stroud Tweet. –Joe
December 30th, 2013 at 2:43 pm
Joe…is it that so few remember or weren’t around then? McKay and the Glazers had about as bad a falling out, during a season none the less. The chances of Gruden coming back are about as good as McKay.
How about other GM candidates…that is what I’m most interested in.
You are right about Lovie….not the answer.
December 30th, 2013 at 2:44 pm
Dashon goldson is a even bigger mistake than revis.. Without punishing hits, he’s a very ordinary safety with limited cover skills
December 30th, 2013 at 2:47 pm
Anybody remember Gibbs2.0? Reunions rarely work. Its a new NFL. We need offensives identity. Not the Tampa2.
December 30th, 2013 at 2:50 pm
So a Fuller Brush guy sold the Glazers a new broom and they swept clean. Now pray they remember to close the door and not let old dirt, leaves and trash blow in.
December 30th, 2013 at 2:51 pm
I already pointed out that Revis would be toast. Easiest way to clear cap space.
December 30th, 2013 at 2:53 pm
Although I worry about the time he has been away from the sidelines, Bill Cowher is the best way to go. But you have to bring in a GM who agrees with that. That’s where McKay would work, since he’d buy into that arrangement.
December 30th, 2013 at 2:53 pm
we’ve been trying to win by keeping some ties to our super bowl “DNA” defensive holdovers into the gruden staff, raheem and dom who were practically kids with the bucs at the end of our championship window, and then dom getting to pick a new head coach. time for a clean break, it will never be 1999-2002 again and the league has changed alot since the likes of mckay, smith, kiffin, marinelli, and all the rest were having great success in tampa. turning back the clock is not a common formula for success for a franchise
December 30th, 2013 at 2:53 pm
We don’t need to look to the past. We need to look to the future.
December 30th, 2013 at 2:57 pm
Hey, I am all about getting an offensively oriented head coach.
I’m just saying the statement that the Glazers are all about offense doesn’t hold up to their past.
My number one candidate is Jay Gruden. Perfect candidate, young, offensive minded, Tampa connections, and the town would rally around him.
But, Lovie Smith brings a lot to the table too IMO. Heck he was 10-6 just two years ago with the bears. 6/9 winning seasons. That is very good. Hardly a relic from the past. Id take 6 winning seasons in the next nine years.
I agree with no Rich Mckay. That would be going back too far.
December 30th, 2013 at 3:00 pm
On the Stroud tweet Joe, elaborate! Now or in a future article. Since the announcement, I’ve been walking around with shades in one hand and toilet paper in the other. I don’t know whether to sp!t or go blind. Enlighten us!
December 30th, 2013 at 3:03 pm
What about the Saints Offensive Coordinator Pete Carmichael? He’s spent the past 5 years learning under Sean Payton who we all know is a great coach. He could potentially give the Glazers (and fans) the high powered offense they want and also causes disruption to the coaching staff of one of our division rivals.
December 30th, 2013 at 3:03 pm
And if Revis is gone then the trade was not just bad but catastrophic. First and second for one average at best season. First rounders average 9.3 years in the NFL..could have had Richardson next to Gmc for at least 6-7 years.
December 30th, 2013 at 3:05 pm
First and third
December 30th, 2013 at 3:20 pm
HAH!
…and don’t forget the CAP H-E-L-L lil’ Richie left us in (annnddd PUT Atlanta in).
No, I’m sorry the McKay ship has sailed. Nice guy, no substance. Kind of a quisling. I have also always held Richie McKay responsible for leaking that draft day stuff about Warren Sapp…so he could get his hands on him… Nah, now that I think about it, he’s not even a nice guy.
You want to really shake it up?
Zimmer as HC, Tomsula (49er’s D-Line) as DC, Chudzinski as OC.
GetRDun
December 30th, 2013 at 3:23 pm
I think Revis is very much in jeopardy of returning to the team. If I am an experienced GM coming in, I look at the $16M I would be paying Revis and I think to myself that I could spend that money in multiple ways to improve the team. I give Dominik credit for at least making Revis’ deal year to year. Gives the team wiggle room.
I agree with those that want Jay Gruden. I think he is the best young offensive guy out there. But, I hire an experienced GM first and let him decide (tell him I would prefer an offensive head coach, but ok with a defensive HC as long as they bring in an imaginative OC).
December 30th, 2013 at 3:23 pm
Holmgren as GM and Jay Gruden as HC
December 30th, 2013 at 3:25 pm
BB
Revis is an elite corner in his prime
He will be one of the talents attracting our next coach. He won’t be leaving.
Besides, I have a feeling Revis is finally ready to settle in one spot.
I think the moment he’s not worth his pay he restructures.
Just my opinion
December 30th, 2013 at 3:26 pm
Might want to put the bourbon down.
December 30th, 2013 at 3:26 pm
Dear Bucs fans and JoeBucs readers, Our Tampa Bay Buccaneers are back to being the low rent franchise of the NFL. If it were easy to find a coach that can turn a franchise around, then everyone would have that kind of coach.
Headlines and optimism in April don’t mean championships in February.
Just like govt. You get the coach and team you deserve.
….and for what, so your drunk ass can feel vindicated when you obnoxiously shout across the bar, “Hey, I knew that guy was a bad hire!”
It’s called hindsight bias. And now Bucs fans, we will be right back here in two or three years.
Good luck to all of you, I think I’m done with this team, this league, this colossal waste of time and energy.
December 30th, 2013 at 3:27 pm
At least we have hope again and something new to look forward to. Offseason is long enough already, and thank The Lord we don’t have to hear another excuse out of Schiano’s fat mouth.
I wouldn’t mind seeing Lovie and Marinelli back, but Jon Gruden is my first choice for HC. He lives here and he’ll be a better coach today than he was 5 years ago.
No matter who they hire, if they don’t get a Drew Brees or QB like him, they will not become a Championship team. Time to get rid of some players too.
December 30th, 2013 at 3:35 pm
Rick Stroud @NFLSTROUD 16m
The #Bucs decision to fire Schiano and Dominik came down to 2 main things: No return on a huge investment in free agents and Darrelle Revis
Revis contract may be in jeopardy!
I think this needs to be read literally and not picked apart, because it’s true. The Glazers cleaned house because the expensive free agent signings and Darrelle Revis (who the Bucs traded for) did not result in any playoff appearances. I don’t think it’s meant to imply that Revis himself was a bust, because he wasn’t. It’s more an indictment of Dominik/Schiano and their inability to achieve results with these expensive players.
Again, Joe’s not buying that take. –Joe
December 30th, 2013 at 3:37 pm
All this talk about Revis being gone is ridiculous!! Defense is fine. Get some depth on the DLine through the draft and free agency, and worry about the offense. the core of the D is solid just need depth. Offense needs major work and major depth
December 30th, 2013 at 3:51 pm
Eric in DC, step back from the ledge my friend this is football. It’s just entertainment! Well, in other cities anyway!
Ah, this is the fun part. We get to speculate and fantasize about the ‘what ifs’. Lets just hope that they get it right. We are NOT the Browns for crying out loud! This should be a destination GM/HC job.
There’s a lot of change on the horizon, good, bad, who knows?
Go Bucs 2014!!!
December 30th, 2013 at 3:57 pm
Jason I agree with you. Defense is fine besides D-Line. Sign Greg Hardy from Carolina in the off season. Draft a QB and we got a solid team to work with
December 30th, 2013 at 4:02 pm
Cutting revis would be useless. We have the cap space to keep him and add plenty other pieces if the new gm wants. Cutting revis would make a terrible first impression for bucs fans. I know i would be nearly as mad as when dominick cut derrick brooks. Not a good start to make cap space when we already have a ton of space.
December 30th, 2013 at 4:03 pm
Lovie IS the answer. Sorry the rest of you can’t. He did extremely well in Chicago despute less than ideal talent. Hire him, get a solid OC and this team will contend in ’14. Marinelli would come with him. McCoy thought he learned a lot under Schiano…just wait til he’s had a season under the best DL coach in the world.
December 30th, 2013 at 4:20 pm
We will know what to expect by the hiring of the next coach. Show us u want us rooting for this framchise glazers.
December 30th, 2013 at 4:29 pm
I honestly feel bad for EVERY Bucs fan that wants to hire a 3rd straight Defensive Head Coach… This just in.. Offensive Coordinators that succeed leave and become Head Coaches after a year or two.. If we want to draft AND DEVELOP a FRANCHISE QB or trade for a Mallet type QB that’s young and behind a FRANCHISE QB(No stop gap Cutler Rivers type please) we need to hire a Roman(SF) Bevell(SEA) Whisenhunt(SD) McDaniels(NE) Kromer(CHI) Gase(DEN) Clements(GB) Koetter(ATL) Carmichael Jr.(NO) O’Brien(PSU Former NE OC) as our HC or we are just gonna lose whatever QB coach we hire to be our OC with a Def HC in a couple years and set whatever YOUNG QB back like we did with Freeman.. JOE you can hate him all you want for how he wanted to get out from the BUCS but his failure is purely on Dom for hiring a piss poor HC and a swinging gate of OC’s that weren’t any good..
December 30th, 2013 at 4:54 pm
Listen if we bring in the right guy to transform our offense it doesn’t matter his label.
Whether he’s HC or OC as long as he has all rights to do as he pleases with the offense it makes no difference.
That’s a weak point.
December 30th, 2013 at 4:59 pm
I’m gonna say it again 16 million a season. 1st (2013) & 3rd if he’s on the roster March 14th (2014)
Why would you wanna pay ONE guy that kind of money. I WOULD TAKE RONDE BARBER IN HIS PRIME OVER REVIS ANYDAY.
-REVIS STILL LOOKS LIKE HE’S NOT HEALTHY
-REVIS NOT REALLY GOOD IN OFF MAN COVERAGE
-REVIS WHIFFS ON TO MANY TACKLES
-REVIS IS OVER PAID AND OVERRATED
A lot of these younger guys are so quick. To say this or that guy is the next best thing. I can name countless corners over the last 40+years; that have shined for a moment. They didn’t have all the camera angles & Statisticians we have now days. To over hype a guy playing a bunch of over the hill, still wet behind the ears wideouts and say Hey this guys the truth…WHAT.
December 30th, 2013 at 5:01 pm
If they bring in any OC worth his salt he will be hired away in 1-2 seasons to be a head coach elsewhere. Def need to hire an offensives HC.
December 30th, 2013 at 5:03 pm
Well that’s your opinion
Not many share that opinion professionally but hey, your entitled to it.
He’s not old by any means by the way
December 30th, 2013 at 5:04 pm
Revis would never Make the ALL-Decade Teams of the 70’s 80’s 90’s. IMO I wouldn’t rank him above Champ Bailey, Ronde Barber and Ty Law of the 2000’s
December 30th, 2013 at 5:15 pm
Again, thanks for the opinion however much in the minority it may be.
It’s crazy that in a season where he’s been a shadow of his all pro self while he’s undergone rehabilitation of his knee he still made the Pro Bowl.
And yes fans have one third of the say but the other two thirds are from the professionals who know a little bit about the sport.
December 30th, 2013 at 5:19 pm
And what’s funny is you speak of corners whose careers are over and you can look at them in their entirety and try and compare them to Revis whose career is no where near over and most likely has his best years ahead of him. It’s just not logical.
December 30th, 2013 at 5:46 pm
O line! O line! too many bums on the o line lets fix that
December 30th, 2013 at 5:47 pm
Nobody throws to Revis side, isn’t that what we want?
December 30th, 2013 at 5:57 pm
@PRBucFan
Pro Bowl aint nothing But a popularity contest. And since Revis played in the biggest TV Market: meh. IMO Revis has been and always will be extremely overrated in my book.
December 30th, 2013 at 6:03 pm
@smith
And we still gave way to many touchdowns as a unit. So Meh
December 30th, 2013 at 6:20 pm
False
Again 1/3 is based on fans who vote based on popularity
Two thirds is coaches and players who do not vote based on popularity but acknowledge skill.
ProBowl berths are a very much respected accolade in the NFL.
but I made my point, don’t speak of Revis as if his career is over and he’s done everything he’s going to do.
Fact is it’s not, he’s young, when it’s all said and done than you can actually begin to compare him to CB’s who have retired. Again, his best years may very well still be ahead of him.
December 30th, 2013 at 6:35 pm
Seems the bigger mistakes this past year isn’t in who they brought in but signings they failed to make. Bennett should have been on our defensive line. He signed to cheap for us to let him go. We should have also secured a veteran corner. Grimes going to the dolphins instead of being offered a contract by the bucs hurt.
December 30th, 2013 at 6:40 pm
BS
So you mean to tell me after the 1/3 vote from the fans. You don’t believe Players & Coaches have their FAVORITE guys too. You don’t have to watch a bunch of Top 100 show to know that’s a load of crap.
Hey, we all get older and slower so no biggie(natural progression of things). But there’s strong statistical evidence that prove players, set seriously regress after major knee surgery. Especially for players longer in the tooth. What is Revis 28? 29..Lol Dog years for the new NFL
December 30th, 2013 at 6:41 pm
skill sets
December 30th, 2013 at 6:50 pm
Since the topic seems to be morphing towards the pros/cons of keeping Revis, I’d like to weigh in with my ‘opinion’. If the right FA(s)/draft pick(s) for the D-line, can be acquired, the defensive backfield won’t require a ‘Revis’. If not, then his worth the money. BTW, to those who’ve suggested that Revis would “restructure” if his play doesn’t measure up, I say, “Look at his history of restructuring his contracts and then take an aspirin.”
December 30th, 2013 at 6:51 pm
It’s no surprise anytime they begin a list of accolades for an NFL player it usually always begins with his number of pro bowls.
Again your assuming a lot, and you cannot act like the you have seen this man’s entire career when you haven’t.
Knee injury or not, he’s still young, and still has yet to play out his prime.
But i’m done, we’ll agree to disagree 🙂
December 30th, 2013 at 6:52 pm
The debates over, but you guys can chat it up all you want.
Adios
December 30th, 2013 at 9:59 pm
BigMacAttack- I think that’s pretty spot on. The Glazers spent a lot in free agency. They believed this team had the talent to make the next jump. They based that one what they were told by Dom and Schiano.
When the team regressed- despite their investments- heads were bound to roll.
LuvmyBucs- 16 million times is a lot of times to be completely wrong. Revis wasn’t at full speed- and was still avoided by every offense. He was targeted only on the occasions he was in Zone. His body of work makes the case for him to be the best Defender playing right now.
If you can’t see that- then you should try watching the games more closely. He is dominant in a way Richard Sherman dreams of.
Revis is the man. You don’t cut a guy who single handledly improved our pass defense from 32 to 16.
Or meybe you think Jonathan Banks was the difference?
December 30th, 2013 at 10:25 pm
So this is what I’m hearing today from Buc fans: Lovie can’t win in the NFL. Revis is not any good. Pro Bowls mean nothing. Holmgren should be our GM. Is there never an end to the stupidity that people will type?
December 30th, 2013 at 11:20 pm
LUVMYBUCS & Hawaiian Buc. What will you guys say about Revis next year when he is 100% and makes the Pro Bowl again?
December 30th, 2013 at 11:34 pm
@BoJim,
Perhaps you didn’t catch my use of sarcasm. I think Revis was a fantastic addition to our team, and he’s going to be much better in 2014.