Hiring A Non-NFL QB Coach
February 2nd, 2015
Was the hiring of Mike Bajakian as Bucs QB coach a good hire?
One could argue the Bucs’ season went down the drain the day former offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford had a heart issue. That meant ill-suited quarterbacks coach Marcus Arroyo, who may have been over his head as a quarterback coach in the NFL given his zero experience in the league, was suddenly thrust into running the offense.
This flashes back to the Bucs’ recent hire of Mike Bajakian as quarterbacks coach, a guy with scant NFL experience but seemed to be an up-and-comer as a quarterbacks coach in college.
The Marcus Mariota Gang immediately jumped with glee because Bajakian has experience as a spread-offense guy, meaning, for the dot-connectors, that the Bucs were going to draft Mariota.
Nevermind that Bajakian, in an interview he did when he was hired by Tennessee, from whence he comes, openly scoffed when an interviewer tried to label Bajakian as a spread guy.
One person who hasn’t been won over by this hire is Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune. In a recent interview with TBO.com’s Olivia Stacey, Cummings waved a caution flag.
“I am not sure that he will be [a good hire],” Cummings said. “He doesn’t have a lot of experience working with NFL quarterbacks. He does have a varied [background] in spread-type offenses and pro-type offenses. I think that is good. What he can do for the quarterbacks, I don’t know. It is really kind of a guessing game.”
Joe thinks the rejoicing by the Mariota Gang over the Bajakian hire is a bit premature. Let’s think this through, shall we:
So the Bucs are going to be influenced on who to draft No. 1 overall not just from a position coach, but a glorified coffee fetcher (quality control coach) with the Bears during has last NFL stop?
That’s the guy who is going to tip the scales in favor of drafting Mariota? Really?
February 2nd, 2015 at 7:03 am
Do you really put anything over this coaching staff?
February 2nd, 2015 at 7:36 am
Everyone has to start somewhere to gain experience. If Tedford had not gone down no one would have complained about Arroyo being the QB coach and he was a college guy. This is just an over reaction of what transpired last season.
February 2nd, 2015 at 7:57 am
Again, an opinion from a Talking Head . I think he will do great with both Glennon being the QB and grooming Mariota on the sidelines for a year.
February 2nd, 2015 at 8:02 am
The season went down the drain the minute they hired Lovie Smith.
February 2nd, 2015 at 8:24 am
As a matter of fact, looking at the very last season – thats true
February 2nd, 2015 at 8:24 am
Joe….you are looking at this a$$ backwards….the Bucs aren’t influenced by Bajackian…..the Bucs….Licht, Lovie & Koetter have made up their minds already to draft Mariota…..so they brought in Bajakian…
Or….and, thiis is what I believe….they hired a QB coach that was versitile enough to coach whichever QB they picked….(including Mariota)
February 2nd, 2015 at 8:31 am
He will be fine as we don’t have an NFL QB at the moment ..
February 2nd, 2015 at 8:33 am
so this is what happens when the bucs have the number 1 pick and a chance to finally get a quarterback…..joe talks about the freakin quarterbacks coach for weeks already. Its the quarterback coach ok bortles, geno smith, ej manuel, teddy b. nobody talks about the freakin qb coach and you have no idea who the qb coach for these players are without looking it up and that’s only 4 teams with new qb’s. quarterback is no different than cornerback, do you think anyone taught ronde barber to be great or he was just destined to be a great corner because he did get benched his rookie season. you’ve got great players and you have average players and we could have the best coach in the world teaching leonard Johnson but he’s still be a steaming pile of poo on gameday. it’s about the freaking quarterback….how many years do you think a quarterback is gonna listen to a qb coach, where is the qb coach on gameday do we ever see him in the picture when the qb is talking to the offensive coordinator? I doubt it damn it’s gonna be a long offseason
February 2nd, 2015 at 8:37 am
Dot Connecting Dullards?
Jamesis’ Juicers?
Lovie’s Lackeys?
Stay tuned for another compelling conundrum!
Same Bat Time, Same Bat Channel!
February 2nd, 2015 at 8:42 am
Gotta agree, Joe. Admittedly, I know nothing about this guy, but unless it’s an OBVIOUS hire, that logic is indeed spread a little too thin. About as far as I can reasonably stretch that line of reasoning is to say that as a coach who has recently worked with college QBs, he’ll be well suited to groom the (presumably) 2 or 3 young QBs that will be on the 2015 roster. Besides, if the new OC has signed-off on the guy, what’s the problem? Woody, care to comment?
February 2nd, 2015 at 8:49 am
Your world must be so, so small.
February 2nd, 2015 at 8:56 am
Ha ha ha ha Joe.
February 2nd, 2015 at 9:08 am
Woody Cummings, LOL.
February 2nd, 2015 at 9:39 am
The only connection I can make is IF they draft a QB @ number 1 they’ll have a QB coach who will be more tuned to coaching college QB’s. Maybe the technical aspects of QB play are not Cutter’s thing.
February 2nd, 2015 at 9:52 am
Bajakian has extensive playcalling experience, has built solid offenses with limited talent and developed Dan LeFevour & Zach Collaros (2 mediocre CFL QBs) into great college QBs. He’s also a “personnel dictates plays” guy like Dirk Koetter so the hire makes a lot of sense. He can work with Mariota or Winston or even McCown and help put them in situations they’re comfortable with. No one knows exactly what caliber NFL QB coach he is but he has the credentials. To act like this hire was anything other than a huge upgrade is completely stupid, imo.
Local beat writers are just clueless in general. Joe & Auman are better than the rest but that’s not saying much.
February 2nd, 2015 at 9:55 am
Who is willing to shutup and suffer through another 2-4 win season with a #1 pick QB sitting on the bench? I am, but who else?
February 2nd, 2015 at 10:21 am
Anyone who thinks the Bucs would have their minds made up before ever sitting down with either prospect is a buffoon. They hired a versatile coordinator and QB coach that could coach either guy.
February 2nd, 2015 at 10:29 am
What happens if Koetter goes on medical leave?
February 2nd, 2015 at 10:34 am
BrianDorry55….welcome to JBF. There’s LOTS of buffoons.
February 2nd, 2015 at 11:17 am
To say it isn’t a good hire is bad. He will obviously be heads above what Arroyo was.
February 2nd, 2015 at 11:30 am
Once we draft Jameis. He will make this guy look like a great hire.
February 2nd, 2015 at 12:31 pm
“BrianDorry55….welcome to JBF. There’s LOTS of buffoons.”
Including the Buffoons who point out all the other buffoons, LOL.
Not trying to start anything, just couldnt resist.
February 2nd, 2015 at 1:56 pm
Personally, I think they are getting guys that can coach both Glennon AND Mariota.
In one you have a pock passer who will get a shot at starting. On the hand you have a mobile quarterback in case the pocket passing thing doesn’t play out.
I simply do not believe Winston will be the pick. If I’m wrong, I wish him the best, but I don’t see it. Not behind an offensive line that will be in full development mode.
February 2nd, 2015 at 1:57 pm
And you better knock on wood, DB55!
February 2nd, 2015 at 2:03 pm
Who cares if Woody Cummings “isn’t sure” Bajakian is a good hire. None of us are sure. But are we supposed to doubt the guy now that Woody Cummings has expressed unsurety?? Where’s the story here?
As others have said – Bajakian seems pretty well credentialed for this position. Lovie knows and trusts him since he worked for Lovie as an offensive assistant for the Bears (04>06 which includes SB year). Other than that – Bajakian has been teaching QBs for almost 20 years – and has been a College OC and calling plays for the last 8 years (including last 2 at Tenn in the SEC)
So to answer your silly question DB55 – If the same thing were to happen to Koetter that happened to Tedford last year (God forbid and what are the odds?) – then Bajakian would be at least 8X more qualified than Arroyo was to run an NFL offense.