Joe Cullen Is Gone
January 15th, 2016
Gone.
The first assistant domino to fall after the hiring of Dirk Koetter might have been the Bucs’ best remaining assistant.
That would be Joe Cullen, who, per Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports, has been hired by the Ravens.
@MikeGarafolo: Ravens are hiring Joe Cullen as DL coach. Had interest from that was initially blocked by Bucs but eventually allowed to interview.
Joe sure hopes this Mike Smith is a good defensive coordinator hire, and he has good coaching friends.
January 15th, 2016 at 5:56 pm
Jay Hayes is the Bucs new D-Line coach, Cincy’s d-line coach for the past 13 seasons.
He wasn’t hired away, rather replaced
January 15th, 2016 at 5:58 pm
This is the question mark now. Will the defense improve or tank?
January 15th, 2016 at 5:58 pm
Our D-line sucks, what suggests he’s a keeper?
January 15th, 2016 at 6:00 pm
For Mike Smith to improve our defense, he has to be allowed to bring in his own assistant coaches who are focused more on his schemes and techniques. I really liked Joe Cullen, but nothing worse than keeping someone from moving on when they’ve decided it’s time to go. Glad the Bucs decided to let him interview with the Ravens. That showed some class.
January 15th, 2016 at 6:03 pm
Perhaps Koetter’s promotion and the hiring of Smith is a clear sign of things to come. Perhaps now the focus is going to be the offensive side. Perhaps we’re done with the history of defense we have here, and I, for one, can’t wait to embrace a brand new philosophy. Enough of the Tampa 2, enough of all this paramount importance given to the defense. In today’s NFL, you don’t need an absolute beast of a defense to win. Focus on the one and only player that, with a bit of lucky, could really take us to the promised land again, and that’s, obviously, Winston.
Remembering the past is a good thing, but living in the past is not. Let Koetter reshape this franchise into something new. How about a potent offense that is gonna scare the crap out of anybody?
January 15th, 2016 at 6:06 pm
Hayes got Ghost Johnson to be productive, how’s THAT for a resume?
January 15th, 2016 at 6:09 pm
If we judge coaches based on the product put on the field then Cullen was subpar as a coach. Clearly Smith/Koetter think they can find someone who can put a better product on the field, and hopefully get someone a smidge more talented than George Johnson.
Hopefully Jack Smith can prove himself next year, and a clear cut DT can go alongside McCoy. It has always seemed to me that McDonald, Spence, and Bowers never seemed to really help McCoy get to the next level on the interior.
January 15th, 2016 at 6:15 pm
Well, Jaq Smith progressed under him, Will Gholston progressed under him and crippled GMC had one of his best seaosns under Cullen.
January 15th, 2016 at 6:24 pm
Cullen was pretty good considering what/who he was working with.
Cicni has had a pretty strong D-Line though, I would say more impressive than what the Browns had with Cullen before we hired him, so this doesn’t seem like a step down.
January 15th, 2016 at 6:25 pm
Anybody who tells our Dline to Disengage when the QB three step drops and just Raise their Hands into the Passing Lanes will be an improvement
January 15th, 2016 at 6:28 pm
Meh. Gholston never developed a pass rush. Stopping the run was good and all, but teams don’t run the ball that much anymore. We need to get to qbs. And cullen could not get that out of his d line.
D line play is the one spot where system and scheme don’t count for much. Pass rush is about simply beating your guy and getting to the qb. You can’t blame lovie’s crappy schemes. That is on the position coach to teach his guys how to be productive players.
January 15th, 2016 at 6:29 pm
Good Luck Coach! We appreciate your hard work & dedication.
January 15th, 2016 at 6:39 pm
The formula for success is simple:
Our defense doesn’t have to be “lights out.” It needs to be a top 20 team in scoring
PLUS
Our offense needs to continue it progress, simply adding a field goal’s worth of scoring
EQUALS
End of the Playoffs Drought
January 15th, 2016 at 7:04 pm
Lateral move for Cullen? He must have seen the writing on the wall with Mike Smith wanting to bring in his own guys. I liked Cullen’s tenacity but didn’t know anything beyond that so I don’t find myself depressed.
January 15th, 2016 at 7:23 pm
Oh no and I had such high hopes for the DL under this guy….
January 15th, 2016 at 8:29 pm
The d line has not played with any effort… Why would we keep that guy? Face it joe, reset on defense is needed
January 15th, 2016 at 9:07 pm
The Bucs have DTs. Just need a couple DEs and they are set
January 16th, 2016 at 12:50 am
If Mike Smith didnt feel that Cullen was right to run his defense, so be it. Its vital to get the right coaches in here.
I digress, as Cullen must have done something right to be hired by Baltimore.
January 16th, 2016 at 3:38 am
Looks like ol’ “Neckid Joe” Cullen was just an insurance policy in case Koetter couldn’t land Mike Smith. Mike Smith kept Cullen off the street while Smith explored HC opportunities…right up to the last minute…whe it became clear that Smith was everybody’s second choice. When THAT became clear, Smith signed with Koetter and will work for another HC gig next year – that bodes well for us – if he’s not ecpecting to stay, he won’t be tempted to install a 3-4 here.
January 16th, 2016 at 3:50 am
🙂
January 16th, 2016 at 6:37 am
you had no pass rush a lot the of games i watched. that is why this guy is gone .he hosed lovie because he got no pass rush from his guys.no defense can work with a poor pass rush like the bucs had last season. the cover two worked when you has rice and sapp