“The Fault Falls With The Glazers”
March 19th, 2014
A local beat writer speaks out on the massive roster shuffling
Five Buccaneers remain from the 2010 roster, the one that took the team to a 10-6 record and was a touchdown-negating terrible call on Kellen Winslow away from 11-5 and the playoffs.
Bucs beat writer Rick Stroud blames Team Glazer for this stunning overhaul of what was then the youngest roster in the NFL.
“It tells me that when you have three coaches in five years, and you have that much change and, I’m sorry, sure, Mark Dominik didn’t do a great job, and that’s why he’s not here, and they’ve had two coaches that couldn’t win, but the fault falls with the Glazers,” Stroud said passionately on WDAE-AM 620 this morning. “This was their plan. These are the people they hired. Ok. Bad organizations lose, just like good organizations win. This thing has been a disaster in many ways just because you can’t have this much turnover in any sport, let alone football. I mean football is the ultimate team game. Right?”
One can always blame ownership of any team for the failings of the club. But Joe thinks there are a lot more layers here than Stroud addressed.
What gets overlooked so, so often is that Bucs succeeded in 2010. The plan was working. In 2010, the young, learning-on-the-job head coach managed to win 10 games with the youngest team in the NFL under a paltry payroll. The coach showed an ability to make in-game adjustments, overcome major injuries and develop a young quarterback into a dominant, multi-threat force. The 2010 Bucs defense had the likes of Sean Jones and Cody Grimm at safety, and a garbage pass rush, and still managed the seventh-ranked pass defense, as well as allowing less than 20 points a game.
Does Team Glazer really deserve the wagging finger of shame for the whole thing imploding in 2011 after a 4-2 start?
Joe can’t assign that kind of blame. One could say Team Glazer’s plan was flawed from the outset, but that’s awfully broad and a little too easy.
As for the New Schiano Order, yes, Team Glazer hired the wrong coach. Put aside all the “Toes On The Line” stuff, the dictatorial tactics and assorted shenanigans, Schiano’s Xs and Os and gameday preparation consistently placed him in the bottom 15 percent among his NFL head-coaching peers. He wasn’t up to the job on the field.
But as far as roster moves, the Bucs didn’t go too crazy during the Schiano years to the point of screwing up their future. And Team Glazer, if they’re going to absorb all this blame, deserves credit for that. There’s now an established, winning head coach in place who had the freedom to wheel and deal and build his roster. That’s all Joe cares about. The 2010 roster blame game feels like a pointless exercise right now.
You can hear Stroud’s full take below, via the 620wdae.com player.
March 19th, 2014 at 11:21 am
I think a large part of that 7th ranked pass defense had something to do with the fact that they could stop absolutely NOBODY on the ground.
March 19th, 2014 at 11:22 am
What do you expect from a couple of guys who’ve never worked a day in their life? They were handed the Bucs from their father who actually knew how to run a business.
Hasn’t been the same since.
March 19th, 2014 at 11:23 am
Hindsight is always 20/20. The Glazers had a plan with both Raheem and Schiano and it didn’t work out. The culpability of any organization starts at the top. I believe the Glazers want to win and realized they didn’t have the coach to get the job done when they reportedly started shopping for Schiano’s replacement in November. It would be easier to criticize them if they weren’t trying.
March 19th, 2014 at 11:29 am
The Glazers took far too long to get rid of Mark Dominik.
March 19th, 2014 at 11:30 am
Huge props to Stroud for having the balls
to point out to the emperor that he has no clothes.
I like it. The truth hurts, but it needs to be told.
Hell, I’m surprised the owners don’t step up
and take personal accountability for their disheveled franchise.
March 19th, 2014 at 11:33 am
Joe- I used to be a believer in the 2010 season. But let’s face it, it was a fluke. 9 of those wins came from garbage teams. We only beat one team with a winning record, the Saints. During the last week of the season. Remember what happened when we played the Big Ben-less, Dennis Dixon-less Steelers week 3 who had Charlie Batch starting? What about that Ravens game? Or the two games against the Dirty Birds that the Bucs failed to close out (though that Brent Grimes INT was BS)? Only the Detroit game were we robbed a win of. We would’ve likely been destroyed in the first round had we made the playoffs.
March 19th, 2014 at 11:35 am
No owner is guilty of anything. Thems the rules. Money forgives all sins!
March 19th, 2014 at 11:37 am
There was only one common denominator in those years – the “rock star” turned roadie Dominik.
March 19th, 2014 at 11:38 am
I don’t know if it’s bad form to post an outside link here (so my apologies if it is), but this chart is relevant:
http://corner.bigblueinteractive.com/index.php?mode=2&thread=491617
Note how the good teams are the stable teams. Now, is that because they win quickly and stick with their winners, or is it because they give their coaches time to develop some continuity and build a roster? I’m not sure. But it’s pretty obvious that firing your head coach and coaching staff every two years is a recipe for failure.
March 19th, 2014 at 11:39 am
Exactly Walkdaplank. Agree completely. It was a mirage and not even a very good one because anyone that watched that season could see that we werent a good team. I think a 7-9 Seahawks team made the playoffs that year and I bet they would of blew us out if we had played them.
March 19th, 2014 at 11:41 am
Two words Man U! That has been the diversion from the Bucs. I hope we’ve turned the corner with the hiring of Lovie. GO BUCS…
March 19th, 2014 at 11:43 am
We’ve been losing since the years after the Superbowl. Back then, Gruden and Allen signed almost everyone to 1 year contracts. Some considered it salary cap intelligence but it was a poor way to promote a team atmosphere. There’s so much more than player stats, X’s and O’s when it comes to building a winning team.
Glazers are responsible for all of this, yes. But it goes way back before Rah. They started digging the franchise victory grave when they gave Gruden and his shill unlimited power to experiment on whatever they pleased and toss players around based on their unrestrained egos.
We are in a new era now and we can look forward to the future so long as we don’t forget the lessons of the past.
March 19th, 2014 at 11:54 am
@ Rob,
Interesting Chart. One thing I’d be curious about from a cross-reference standpoint, for the coaches with more than 5 or 6 season, who was the QB when they took over (or at least by year 2)?
I think with the exception of the Steelers, most of the Coaches with that kind of tenure had arguably a Top 5 QB in place (or someone that would become a Top 5 QB) by their second season.
I always think the QB/HC argument is a classic Chicken or the Egg, question. I don’t lean one way or the other, but I doubt you’ll ever again see a coach last more than 5 years without having a very good QB at the helm.
March 19th, 2014 at 11:54 am
I see Joe’s take as fundamentally wrong,
The 2010 record was fool’s gold. The defense could not stop the run, the offense could not move in the first half, and the team benefitted from a string of weird bounces and fortunate breaks. But the the talent was not there, and area never believed. It was like watching a string of boxcars at craps, or seeing a no-talent fan go 10 for 16 on half court shots. Fun, sure, but you know it is not real and the streak has to end.
You never had that feeling about San Fran, or N.E., or Seattle. You knew they are built to last.
Meanwhile, the LapDog was yipping about the low game attendance and calling the local fan base “racists” for not supporting a Black coach. How times change.
From my perspective, the Glazer’s error was in turning the talent search over to the Rock Star. If you are going young, fine, but you have to hit on your picks. It is painful to remember how bare Gruden left the cabinet. The next three drafts were atrocious. (Hitting on a #3 overall consensus pick does not count as genius). Domenik seemed more comfortable poking through the free agent garbage pile and walk-on camp scene than in getting quality in the draft. Remember the back-to-back strategy picking tackles, wide revivers, and d-ends?
I give Schiano a lot of credit for the last three drafts. Even some players who are no longer around here are still in the league (like Goode). He did get quality players, but didn’t ‘t seem able to coach them.
In short, 2010 was an abberation. The team won on string and gum. It could not last and did not. The. Glazers were responsible for the youngry low money no free agent strategy that failed. The current team lacks any depth but does have good “bones,” and we can reasonably look forward to success for several years. I hope the Glazers — and the Bucs — are on the Highway to Success.
March 19th, 2014 at 11:57 am
i think sometimes cause and effect are muddled a little. “good organizations” tend to be the ones that stumble upon a winning QB\coach combo or can field a dominant defense. it has almost nothing to do with owners. the bucs were considered one of the best organizations around while dungy’s defense could pull 9 wins out of its rear end no matter what was or wasn’t happening on offense, but today the organization isn’t highly regarded despite our shiny new facility and big investment in players the last 3 years. tom benson was a lousy owner trying to leave town until brees and payton linked up in the superdome, now he’s supposedly one of the best in the league. The cowboys were once a great organization, yet the same brain trust post-aikman is a laughingstock. basically, the formula is to find your defensive guru or your elite QB, then sit back and be praised for 10 years or so
March 19th, 2014 at 11:57 am
This reminds me of the scene from “The Godfather” when the Robert Duvall character turns to James Caan who wants to shoot up all the Mafia families for trying to kill his father….”Sonny you’re making it personal it’s just business.”
I get the sentiment behind this piece. But hey reality check. The Glazers are freaking geniuses. Does that make them the best owners the Bucs could have. Not really…for them it’s business not personal. And who can blame them? They’re not freaking fans, they’re businessmen trying to earn a buck.
And so they leveraged their value in the Bucs to purchase Man U the most valuable sports franchise in the entire world, bigger than the Yankees, bigger than the Cowboys.
The Glazers made this play just as the world economy collapsed. They were so leveraged it was touch and go. But they pulled it out!!!
These guys now own the Bucs and are finally able to invest in them once again, and for those “bad years” that Stroud is whining about, the Glazers can show Man U on their balance sheet.
In the world of business the Glazers have won five Super Bowls back to back.
March 19th, 2014 at 11:57 am
The Glazers are as accountable as anyone for this mess. Joe, I don’t think this is about a “blame game” as you call it, but more about tempering expectations a little. Stroud is essentially fleshing out thr common denominator: the Glazers.
Whether you liked Gruden or not, they really f?@$&d that firing up. Way too late in the game to have any sort if coaching or GM search. We got stuck with Dom and Raheem, and the rest is history.
The Brothers have been reactionary businessmen ever since, and it has shown in the product. I really hope they’ve learned, and I like the movies Lovie has made FWIW. But, I retain my right to remain skeptical of the guys writing the checks.
March 19th, 2014 at 12:08 pm
Joe, you are dead wrong about 2010. ” touchdown-negating terrible call on Kellen Winslow away from 11-5 and the playoffs.” Talk about revisionist history. 1st of all Win-slow could have been called on 15 push off penalties during that game and that would have still been generous. The Bucs did play 2 games after that, Which the final game ( the one were the Buc finally beat a team with over a .500 record.) was the same game that the Saints were pulling starters out in the second quarter!
First, Joe didn’t revise anything. And the bad call in question was one the NFL apologized for later. Second, good luck identifying Saints players that were removed in the 2nd quarter. –Joe
The Bucs still finshed 3rd in the division! ( what does that tell you )
The Bucs face a record 6 3rd sting QBs!
The Bucs were not playoff ready team, and if anyone else thought otherwise they were not paying attention!
March 19th, 2014 at 12:16 pm
Glazers get credit for getting LovieLicht here, they make a good first impression.
All the Bucs need now is easily to fill with next draft and next years off-season and boom baam we got ourself a real contender – and it will be exciting this year regardless – brand new offense sheme + a Lovie Smith defense in Tampa!!
Just curious to see if the can make the Barron/Goldson combo work in combination with new CB´s and sheme.
All Bucs need to get real dominant team right now: Some more o-line(Robinson, Matthews, others..), one WR threat(Watkins, Evans, Lee, others..), one TE weapon (Ebron/safarian Jenkins) = offense set.
Defense:
another interior D-line (that FSU guy, or NotreDame guy, others)
LB (Barr and later round value guys) CB (lots of capable 2nd and 3rd CB in draft available), Safety lets see,
So many good options, and it seems like the new regime will take advantage instead like the older ones, just acting like knowing what they do.. real professional football for florida finally!! GoBucs!!
March 19th, 2014 at 12:19 pm
The buck stops there at the Glazers feet.
March 19th, 2014 at 12:27 pm
I agree Joe and Stroud has really been a dick lately. Ever since his boyfriend Jock Holder left, he has had a bad case of SIVS.
March 19th, 2014 at 12:42 pm
@StPeteBucsFan
You’re exactly right.
The owners have done very well for themselves
at the expense of the Buccaneers.
If you want to shill for the owners then lets
get down to the details: Basically a spread sheet
of ManU investment vs other kick-ball teams and
Buccaneers investment vs other NFL teams. Front office,
coaching and player salaries, taxes, facilities, etc.
If you think about, using a tax free NFL franchise
to get the start-up for a massive kick-ball franchise
is absolutely brilliant. Unless you’re a fan of said NFL
team, then it sucks.
March 19th, 2014 at 12:44 pm
Of course a fish stinks from the head….unless you’re in Government…..then its the bottom that always gets the blame when the top gets credit.
All can be forgiven with a quick turnaround. Even with the blame going to the Glazers….that doesn’t excuse the misteps by the GM & Coaches….it took many to tango.
March 19th, 2014 at 12:47 pm
Some of you people crack me up.
Let me go on the record saying I’d kill for a 2014 young Bucs team that had a very young quarterback tearing up the league, along with a standout rookie receiver and a bruising rookie running back that was unstoppable in the second half of the season.
That was your 2010 Buccaneers. Good times. 10 wins ain’t easy. Just ask Chucky.
March 19th, 2014 at 12:55 pm
@WalkdaPlank; I tend to agree with you on the 2010 season but you never really know what might happen once you get into the playoffs. Even though the team had a lot of incredibly good fortune, it did seem to have the “it” factor.
If that call goes our way against Detroit, we would have been in and Green Bay, the eventual Super Bowl Champs, would have never made the playoffs. Go figure!
We wouldn’t have won the Super Bowl, but I do believe that, for better or worse, things would have been much different
March 19th, 2014 at 12:58 pm
Jesus really?? People are blaming the Glazers? For what? Opening their cheque books when needed, making big organizational changes when needed, and being involved as little as possible with personnel and on-field decisions? I have two words for these people with short memories….Hugh Culverhouse. Or maybe they prefer Jerry Jones? Or Dan Snyder? We could do a HELL of a lot worse than the Glazers. About time they get some appreciation I say!
March 19th, 2014 at 1:13 pm
Water over the dam. The Glazers didn’t have to allow all this cap money to be spent and they got the best Coach available this time. Give them their Kudos now.
March 19th, 2014 at 1:31 pm
@warren
What about Bob Kraft and the Rooneys?
We don’t deserve that? I guess as marginally
educated backwoods hicks we should just be
happy with what we have, right?
You’re absolutely right, my friend.
Just to show how right you are I’m willing
to let some pristine, prime South Florida
water (front) real estate go for a trivial fee.
I know I’m going to regret this but you deserve it.
March 19th, 2014 at 1:40 pm
get off the glazer’s backs—-yes they made the final call on the two coaches but the decision was based on others input—-they didn’t pull names out of a phone book—–and no, I didn’t like either choice—I do like the lovie smith choice—-let’s go bucs!
March 19th, 2014 at 1:56 pm
Water under the bridge at this point. Very accurate none the less. Fans need to sit back and enjoy this new regime. All good organizations eventually have there down falls. New England, Pittsburgh and New York are primed for major let downs.
March 19th, 2014 at 2:03 pm
The Glazer’s are businessmen….and very good businessmen. I love how people act as if the sons dont know what they are doing….They know exactly what they are doing. People forget that from 2005-2010 aka the years they essentially stop spending, they were also purchasing Manchester United. During that same time they had a looming NFL lockout on the horizon so instead of dumping Gruden/Allen and hiring new staff, they went “in house” for folks already on the payroll….THATS GOOD BUSINESS. Why take on more expenses with staff if you wont have a product on the field. It’s also a good time to “rebuild” through the draft, unfortunately that didn’t really occur until Schiano came to town. Raheem and Dominick were supposed to build the foundation the way Schiano did, instead they build an entire team around a QB that flamed out so the return to the playoffs has been delayed but from a business standpoint in futbol/football….they are financially doing well.
March 19th, 2014 at 2:25 pm
Keep in mind that the following year the big free agent splash was u getting a punter. And under the first two years Raheem coached the glazers were still paying gruden salary.
I think now that they have Man U situated they want to put money in the team.
March 19th, 2014 at 2:55 pm
Warren Said:
“Jesus really?? People are blaming the Glazers? For what? Opening their cheque books when needed, making big organizational changes when needed, and being involved as little as possible with personnel and on-field decisions? I have two words for these people with short memories….Hugh Culverhouse.”
Man I remember those years. They sucked bad. Wouldn’t even pay Williams 400k a year. The Glazers were a breath of fresh air. And still are.
March 19th, 2014 at 3:18 pm
Lol, some of you act like you think you’ll get raises
for blindly supporting the owners.
Again:Huge props to Stroud and his industrial-size
cajones.
March 19th, 2014 at 4:16 pm
It is all about the quarterback. Raheem won in 2010 because Freeman lead the team to comeback victories over and over again. The team still started slow and had to comeback which is what doomed rah in 2011. That and freeman had begun his decline.
Freeman’s decline was mostly why schiano had problems in 2012 and 2013.
And of course, the entirety of Dominik’s tenure is just basically how freeman played.
March 19th, 2014 at 5:35 pm
The buck stops here. Plain and simple.
March 19th, 2014 at 5:37 pm
@mpmalloy history matters. Bucs history pre-Glazers was a continual stream of shit. So maybe you’re like 15 and don’t remember. Most of us do
March 19th, 2014 at 5:49 pm
Thanks for the Super Bowl Glazers I am forever grateful to you for it. I know it cost you a ton of money.
BUT what have you done for me lately?
March 19th, 2014 at 6:33 pm
One thing I would like to add: Schiano looked like he was going to fail, but so did a lot of coaches in their first few years. He might have found his stride in year three, probably not, but who knows? I believe this is a QB driven league but also a GM driven league. If this Licht guy is good, we will win eventually if he gets enough time.
March 19th, 2014 at 6:53 pm
mpmalloy Said:
“Lol, some of you act like you think you’ll get raises”
No, maybe a better football team.
March 20th, 2014 at 8:10 am
Schiano was 7-9 in year one, year two was probably a bad dream based on so many off field issues. I think the Bucs would have seen a winning record in year 3 or at the very least another good crop of drafted players. Wonder where the a Panthers would be if ownership caved to fans and media on firing Rivera after year two?
March 20th, 2014 at 4:24 pm
Joe’s a lunatic if Joe believes that crap about 2010 being evidence of a plan that was working. We won with a last-place schedule. Rah, like Schiano, was clearly in over his head. Freeman reached the pinnacle of his career, but no one thinks he’ll ever come close to that again. And, as others have stated, that defense was severely flawed. Dominck was no rock star. He was a terrible GM and he hired terrible coaches. I don’t fault the Glazers too much because they’re not football guys. They gave Dominick and his proxies plenty of time, money and resources to succeed … and now they’ve corrected their mistakes very well.