Bucs Could Do Worse Than Bill Lazor
December 15th, 2014
The next Bucs offensive coordinator? Dolphins OC Bill Lazor (r) has helped develop multiple quarterbacks.
They’re calling for Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin’s head, from the Miami Herald and beyond. Seven- and eight-win seasons aren’t tolerated in South Florida.
Imagine that.
That means Philbin’s first-year offensive coordinator, Bill Lazor, could be walking the streets in 14 days and ready for the Buccaneers.
Joe’s not campaigning for Lazor exclusively, but Tampa Bay could do a heck of a lot worse.
A former Cornell quarterback, Lazor was one of Chip Kelly’s right hands with the Eagles, and Kelly raves about the guy and credited him, in part, for transforming Nick Foles. (You can read that ESPN story here.)
Kelly also paints Lazor to be an extraordinary teacher, and that’s the characteristic Lovie Smith says is priority No. 1 for any of his coaches.
“Billy’s very, very intelligent I think one of the first things that struck me when we first interviewed him was his intelligence just kind of jumps out at you,” Kelly explained. “He’s an Ivy League guy that has a great way of teaching and has great knowledge in terms of the game. He did a great job with our quarterback position.”
It’s no surprise that Ryan Tannehill is in the midst of his best season.
Think Philbin is calling the shots on offense? Think again. NFL.com reported Lazor was given total control of the Dolphins’ offense, which ranks 19th in the NFL, 12th in points scored.
Lazor, 42, has developed quarterbacks, has played the position, and has coached under several big offensive names, including Joe Gibbs, Dan Reeves, Mike Holmgren and Kelly.
Isn’t it amazing that the Dolphins somehow rebuilt an offensive line in shambles following assorted messes, including the Richie Incognito/Jonathan Martin circus. Their front office deserves huge credit, but Lazor didn’t need much time to get humming.
The Bucs desperately need a QB guru for the stud rookie prospect they’ll, hopefully draft. Lazor might not be the best choice, but he wouldn’t be a bad one.
December 15th, 2014 at 10:41 am
Wow, this so weird, I was just reading up on what OC might be available for the Bucs, and thought Lazor would be a great fit. Came to JBF to post just that and here was your article.
Great minds think alike Joe(s)!!
December 15th, 2014 at 10:44 am
Lovie Smith and Josh McCown need to be banned from Football for Life.
Don’t tell me that there is not a conspiracy going on.
Lovie Smith Got with McCown and said. “I brought you in and you let me down. If you do what ever you can to lose the last 4 games, I will get a QB and then keep you on for 2 more years to mentor him”
Josh McCown said, “I will take the deal”.
Get rid of them both.
December 15th, 2014 at 10:44 am
question though, wasn’t Philbin himself a hell of an offensive coordinator in a Green Bay? Why would we skip the big fish and go for his assistant. Either way both of them are better than the worst coordinator in the league, Marcus Arroyo.
December 15th, 2014 at 10:50 am
I’ll take it. Bill Lazor and Mariota? The question is whether Lovie wants a fast-paced offense that has the potential for more frequent 3-and-outs.
December 15th, 2014 at 10:53 am
Lovie will not have control and Bill Lazor’s offense requires more mobility then our franchise QB Mike Cannon Glennon shows off on Sundays. Glennon forced Russell Wilson to transfer back at NC State.
December 15th, 2014 at 10:56 am
The Bucs could do a lot worse than Lazor. Although, he would probably want the same deal he had in Miami, total control of the offense. This would be the best situation for Lovie, but he might not give up all the control. There were several reports coming out of Miami earlier this year about the players having issues with Lazor. That could be a factor. The last thing the Bucs need is another coach the players don’t want to play for.
December 15th, 2014 at 11:02 am
He seems too qualified and modernly productive for Lovie to tolerate. I fully expect Clyde Christiansen to be our next OC.
December 15th, 2014 at 11:05 am
I believe that the Glazers in return for sticking with Lovie will demand that Lovie give the new OC autonomy….and I believe they need to do the selecting and select someone who is capable of taking Lovie’s job…..”hire his replacement”….
Lovie needs to feel the same heat that his players should feel….next man up!!!
December 15th, 2014 at 11:10 am
@ Marcus…. Please tell me you’re kidding? I live here in NC and no such thing happen. Wilson wanted to play ball and NC State wasn’t ok with that, so Wilson transferred and then Glennon got his start. I have nothing against Glennon at all. Actually wanted him to start over McCown really. But he did nothing to get Wilson’s job at State.
December 15th, 2014 at 11:14 am
Bucs should just fire Lovie if they get the number 1 overall pick. Does anyone trust Lovie to get this thing right? Why not hire an offensive guy who knows how to develop a young QB and build a system around him?
Cut your loses Jason Licht..
December 15th, 2014 at 11:15 am
I just read an article on PFT… It suggests that we trade our #1 pick, trade Vincent Jackson, trade Mike Evans and pass on trying to find a franchise QB…
Instead we should find a “run first” QB (it mentions Tebow, Vince Young and T. Pryor), a few average running backs and some run blocking road grader lineman and run the ball 50 times a game… Then we should load up on defense in the draft and free agency…
Most teams defenses are geared to stop the pass so implementing this type of offense may cause some problems for the league…
I’m not saying I’m for this but it is an interesting thought… It seems the officiating and rules are highly favoring a pass heavy offense (pass interference, defensive holding, personal fouls on QB and receiver hits)…
Has anyone else read this?
Could this type of offense really work in today’s NFL?
December 15th, 2014 at 11:21 am
Firing Lovie and hiring an offensive coach is essential to the success of a QB if we’re going that way #1. A QB can’t afford constant OC turnover like it will be under Lovie. He’ll be a failure without a doubt. Lovie hinders QB success.
December 15th, 2014 at 11:22 am
@mac – we’ve been discussing it a few articles back in the Demar Dotson story thread
December 15th, 2014 at 11:24 am
But if you’re gonna run the ball 50x a game, then why trade a receiver who has shown that he can block as well as catch?
December 15th, 2014 at 11:26 am
As I see it…
Foles and Tannehill were young, but not rookies when Lazor got them. *IF* Lazor is available and *IF* Lovie picks him as his new OC, Lazor just might want to work with Glennon and a veteran (McCown or replacement). Tannehill is starting to show signs of being a very good QB… in his third season. Maybe Lazor could create the same kind of ‘magic’ here.
There is no guarantee that a new OC would want a rookie QB. Starting a rookie QB would be taking a big chance with a HC who is already one season into failure. There is no way to know whether a new OC would even want different QBs than who is already here. He may be so confident in his ‘system’ that he believes he could even win with a ‘Dilfer’. The new OC may take the job on the condition that they build an O-line that can ‘run’ all the way to the endzone. With just a couple of pieces, on defense, the Bucs wouldn’t have to score 30 points per game. They’d just need to control the time-of-possession.
From now until…, speculation is our friend.
(Let’s just hope that L&L demands a FULL physical, before hiring another OC. A physician to check his heart, and a psychologist to check if he HAS heart)
December 15th, 2014 at 11:26 am
^^^Read the article. It’s an interesting thought, but trading Evans is crazy. That and running the ball that much will make it fairly easy for teams to game plan against. Load the box. The other problem is if the team is down by more than a score, it makes it tough to come back. The defense would have to be the greatest defense to ever take the field for this to work. The rules favor the passing game. An opponent with a pass happy offense can get a few big plays a game and pretty much game over. I don’t see it working. Although, having a good running game with a stout defense is the recipe for winning championships.
December 15th, 2014 at 11:26 am
to bad tampa is not like south florida cuz that is what awaits us buc fans. at best 7or 8 win seasons. at best with this clown running things. his head should roll also. this team had a chance to win the south title cuz division sucks so bad! and this moron still has the bucs in last place. wtf!!!!!
December 15th, 2014 at 11:27 am
Whoever is good enough to be the OC, make him the HC with the runner up as the OC. Our DC just might be OK for the next year.
December 15th, 2014 at 11:32 am
The PFT thread is pure trolling. Please do not take it seriously. Buffalo has an exceptional defense but so what? With a good QB they’d be Super Bowl contenders.
December 15th, 2014 at 11:34 am
REALLY! JOE. smith likes teachers as coaches. what in hell! is he been doing? teaching the bucs to s..k.? mission accomplished.
December 15th, 2014 at 11:41 am
We could do worse?…than what, McTrash and 2-14? Kinda tough to do worse but if you say so…
December 15th, 2014 at 11:49 am
Glennon didn’t for Wilson to do anything. Wilson did it himself because of baseball.
December 15th, 2014 at 11:49 am
^^Force
December 15th, 2014 at 12:08 pm
Chudzinski.
December 15th, 2014 at 12:12 pm
Trade Mike Evans?
Who wrote this article, Mark Dominik??
Umm, Joe never suggested such a thing. –Joe
December 15th, 2014 at 12:15 pm
Bill Lazor was the OC for UVa when Matt Schaub was the QB there, then he left to become the OC for Jacksonville. I wasn’t impressed by him at either stop. At UVa he was very pass happy and had quite the reputation of never wanting to stretch the field. With Jacksonville, he just flat out stunk. There are worse candidates out there, I’m just not overly impressed with Lazor.
December 15th, 2014 at 12:20 pm
Oh haha, not you Joe.
I was referring to the article mentioned by mac. 😉
December 15th, 2014 at 12:20 pm
mac Says:
December 15th, 2014 at 11:15 am
I just read an article on PFT… It suggests that we trade our #1 pick, trade Vincent Jackson, trade Mike Evans and pass on trying to find a franchise QB…
Instead we should find a “run first” QB (it mentions Tebow, Vince Young and T. Pryor), a few average running backs and some run blocking road grader lineman and run the ball 50 times a game… Then we should load up on defense in the draft and free agency…
Most teams defenses are geared to stop the pass so implementing this type of offense may cause some problems for the league…
I’m not saying I’m for this but it is an interesting thought… It seems the officiating and rules are highly favoring a pass heavy offense (pass interference, defensive holding, personal fouls on QB and receiver hits)…
Has anyone else read this?
Could this type of offense really work in today’s NFL?
—
Yeah, it’s on PFT. Those guys are really good at reporting the news, the X’s and O’s and actual know how of football, they aren’t so hot on. Florio was a full-time lawyer and other than writing about football, mostly regurgitated articles, time and time again he shows how little he knows about football.
Let’s say for _____ and giggles, we did what PFT said and went all Georgia Tech on offense… and we got rid of Evans and Jackson… Georgia Tech’s offense works best when there is a stud outside that can keep defenses honest (Calvin Johnson, the bust 2nd rounder for the Jets…forgot his name, Charles Johnson, etc).
December 15th, 2014 at 12:23 pm
My prediction we maybe end up with 2nd or 3rd pick. Marcus might there if so… we’ll trade philly for their 1st and 2nd round pick so chip can get Marcus. We’ll get Sanchez and this new OC Lazor cause Sanchez will be up to speed with the NFL, Glennon goes to Saints, McCowen stays as backup QB and Lovie will STFU and let this new OC do HIS job cause Lovie has egg on his face with a possible best record of 4-12 this year which he was so vocal about the Bucs being that last year so he’s made no improvment, and I don’t think they’re tanking the season they can’t out smart a seasoned DC with a QB’s coach and if they did those DC’s would be on the hot seat… let’s see what happens….
December 15th, 2014 at 12:33 pm
Nah, we need to take Cooper with the 1st pick, then trade Martin and Vjax to get back up into the 1st and take Mariota or Winston. How F’n awesome would that be. Cooper and a QB in the 1st. Then use other picks for lineman.
December 15th, 2014 at 1:05 pm
As I recall, Joe Philbin himself was a good offensive coordinator. He may not be doing well as a head coach, but that doesn’t mean he could not be OC here. Norv Turner is a horrible head coach, and a great OC.
And I would rather have a more experienced guy who wants to prove he can be successful in order to get another shot at HC some day.
December 15th, 2014 at 1:09 pm
My spies would never make up malarkey. Russell just was replaced by the Total Package Mike Glennon. I Marcus Dominus Crassus Dominick don’t draft linemen at all, don’t worry we will just pay free agents large sums. I could have drafted Chris Long, Travis Frederick, amongst others but Mark Barron knew what it took to be a Buccaneer Man more so then Lukas Kueckley, Chandler Jones, even Harrison Smith, Bobby Wagner, and Alshon Jefferey.
All hail our chief warriors Doug Martin and Mark Barron!!!
I Will be back with Mike Sherman as my OC! I think I’m feeling Karlos Williams FSU S/RB 1st overall to backup/replace my misguided drafting in 2012. Mike Glennon has more in the pocket agility and accuracy then Mariotta and he can’t get a date so we won’t have to worry about women screwing up his head like Winston.
Dom, Mike Sherman (OC) Lovie (HC) Glennon QB the future is so bright we should all invest in shades!
December 15th, 2014 at 1:14 pm
Let’s clarify something here. There is NO POINT in saying Lovie Smith should be fired this off season. It simply WILL NOT happen no matter how much you try to say it.
The Glazers want stability. Lovie will likely have 2-3 years minimum. So get off the “”Fire Lovie” train and start contributing something constructive.
The best we can hope for is that the Glazers force the drafting of the QB & Oline, and that they force Love to replace the OC, who can choose his own Oline coach and QB coach. And then force Lovie to keep hands off.
The best OC we could get would likely be Tom Moore, but I don’t know his status with the Cards.
December 15th, 2014 at 1:22 pm
We should hire Lazor as OC and then all we have to do is find a defensive coordinator and a special teams coach.
December 15th, 2014 at 1:39 pm
@ BirdDoggers
Sorry, but my mind runs a whole lot faster than my typing (I’m up to using two fingers). I didn’t mean to indicate ‘only’ a running attack, but a run game that could be counted on, with passes sprinkled in to keep them (somewhat) honest. If you can control the clock AND punch in the TDs, then you’d rarely be down by more than one score. If your OC AND their DC know that you have no trouble getting 4-5 yds, with a run, then you do not need a ‘great’ passing game. Just efficient.
It certainly isn’t perfect (what is?), but Super Bowls have been won by less than perfect offenses. A great defense can keep the ‘big plays’ to a manageable number( Seahawks/Broncos–Buccaneers/Raiders). The new rules may ‘favor’ the passing game, but it hasn’t made the running game impotent. I believe that teams will start drafting players who are ‘specialists’ at slowing the passing game, to the point that the running game will, again, become very important.
I hope that alleviates your fears of my craziness (It really shouldn’t).
And I would NEVER advocate trading Evans. THAT is crazy talk.
December 15th, 2014 at 2:23 pm
Ok, Lazor may be good, but how is his heart?
Seriously.
December 15th, 2014 at 11:13 pm
Wow, that PFT article…they suggest running the Georgia Tech wishbone on offense. IN THE NFL. And trade away one of the best young wide receivers in the league – after all, if you’re going to run the Wishbone, why do you need him?
Then of course, the coup de grace – the Bucs should sign Vince Young or Tim Tebow.
Great googly moogly. That is the dumbest thing I’ve seen in some time on PFT.
December 16th, 2014 at 12:24 pm
Brandon, you are wrong. Lazor was at UVA, but not with Schaub – not even close. He didn’t get to Charlottesville until 2010.
He was also never the OC at Jax.