Hole Opens In Bucs’ Coaching Staff
February 7th, 2017
UPDATED: Koetter makes a hire
UPDATED 5:05 p.m. – The coach who explained that Cameron Brate isn’t really a full-time player has bolted One Buc Palace.
Bucs tight ends coach Jon Embree has bolted for the 49ers and Kyle Shanahan’s new staff in San Francisco, per Alex Marvez of SiriusXM NFL Radio.
Embree worked under Shanahan with the Redskins in 2010. Plus, Embree is west coast guy, born in California and a guy who played (Rams) and coached most of his career far away from sunny Florida.
This move is no big surprise.
Embree was on Lovie Smith inaugural staff and his biggest feather is the development of Brate, the Harvard man who stunned the NFL and the fantasy football world with eight touchdown catches this season.
During a rare Buccaneers Radio Network appearance in November, Embree talked about Brate’s development.
“Cam has done a good job of improving. There’s a lot of things that I’ve tried to get him to improve on and get better at, and one of it is run after the catch,” Embree said. “He’s getting better as a route runner. He’s getting better at his releases. He’s improving in the run game. I think Cam has had a good year up to this point as far as his progression to becoming an every down tight end. And I look forward to this process as we finish this next eight or so games and seeing him improve and keep taking that next step.”
Joe wishes Embree well. Now Dirk Koetter is tasked with finding a tight ends coach while 31 other teams already have coaches in place.
UPDATE: Bucs promoted quality control coach and former NFL tight end Ben Steele to the job. Here’s his bio at Buccaneers.com.
February 7th, 2017 at 8:50 am
Got to take the bad with the good.
It’s the price to pay to get Shanahan out of this division.
Good luck to the both of them
February 7th, 2017 at 8:52 am
Chip Kelly is available.
February 7th, 2017 at 9:08 am
theodore,
alvin and simon would be very disappointed in you right about now for saying that! lol.
February 7th, 2017 at 9:18 am
There are plenty of good coaches to be had for the asking, life moves on!
February 7th, 2017 at 9:21 am
Theodore you are on drugs if you think we would have any interest in that ego manic. Plus he would go back to being a college coach first before he would choose to be a positions coach.
February 7th, 2017 at 9:38 am
It would be interesting if they went after a TE coach in college. You know, maybe it would tip their hand if they were interested in a certain player. Imagine if they hired the TE coach from Alabama or Miami. Rumors would be sure to start to swirl. Idk if its possible, but like I said. Interesting for sure.
February 7th, 2017 at 9:51 am
Tony Gonzalez
February 7th, 2017 at 9:53 am
damn…brate was a pleasant surprise….the te coach really got a lot out of him….hope dirk fills the void with a coach just as good if not better…GO BUCS!!!
February 7th, 2017 at 9:55 am
the loss of Embree isn’t too bad, losing him and mike smith would have been a kick in the crotch.
February 7th, 2017 at 9:57 am
Embree is not a huge loss. I think he is still banned from the state of Colorado after that embarrassing coaching performance. It was Loviesque
February 7th, 2017 at 9:59 am
We wont be competing for a TE coach. Dont understand the comment about 31 other teams have a TE coach. Who cares.. plus you’re assuming every coaching staff for every team is filled. Like it’s a big deal… or not. OMG we need a TE coach. Our 2017 season is doom to fail now.
February 7th, 2017 at 10:52 am
Wow…I don’t know who was funnier…Theodore or Macabees response. Thanks for the laugh guys!
Brate is a Harvard educated dude and clearly motivated. He’s smart and can figure it out with the help of any number of coaches.
So does Rah get credit for that sick catch JJ made in the 2nd half that SHOULD have iced the game? Nah…I think coaching is critical but sometimes when it comes to the “development” of talented players it’s overrated…TE coach…who cares…now the guy working with QB’s and designing the entire offense around him is one thing…but a TE coach? Excuse me if I’m not concerned…can Monken not also oversee the TE’s?
February 7th, 2017 at 12:02 pm
Somehow, I’m not breaking a sweat over this news. DK being fired?? THAT’S ANOTHER STORY!!! Finally, the Tampa Bay Musical Chairs has come to an end, for now. Praise gawd!
February 7th, 2017 at 12:48 pm
We will miss him and his 4-21 head coaching record…
February 7th, 2017 at 2:02 pm
Yeah I’m not sure it’s hard to find a decent TE coach.
February 7th, 2017 at 3:08 pm
this is where that whole continuity thing can pay off. if we are lucky there’s an offensive QA coach worthy of a promotion already in the building
February 7th, 2017 at 4:00 pm
Hopefully Coach Hayes can woo – his brother away from the Bengals.
Jonathan Hayes
February 7th, 2017 at 4:41 pm
Ben Steele already has the job.
February 7th, 2017 at 6:23 pm
He got lucky with Brate because ASJ and all others were not productive.
February 7th, 2017 at 11:11 pm
Not that it is a really bad thing or anything but Ben’s resume is weird. before working for the bucs he spent 13 years working 11 different jobs. He was what you would call a journeyman as an NFL player. Never stuck in any 1 place for more than a year. Then his coaching career, he only had 1 job for more than 1 year, all of the others only lasted 1 season.
He did spend 1 season coaching TEs in college, so he does have some experience there. Im not criticizing him at all, just found that weird that he moved around a lot over the past decade and a half.
Congrats on the promotion ben. Go kick our TE’s butts and get them playing better than they ever thought they could.