“Sizzle”
January 3rd, 2019
One very-well plugged-in member of the Fourth Estate that covers the NFL said he wouldn’t outright dismiss the linkage of Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly to the Bucs.
That would be Albert Breer, the frontman for theMMQB.com. Breer has been hearing chatter in NFL backchannels what Team Glazer is looking for in a head coaching candidate to replace Dirk Koetter and Kelly provides a key element on the wish list.
And that is splash, or as Breer termed it, “sizzle.”
Speaking on a YouTube podcast, Breer explained why Team Glazer might be smitten with Kelly.
“They are looking at big names and a big part of that is ownership is wanting to create some sizzle,” Breer said of the Bucs’ coaching search. “They need a program later. So a guy like Brian Kelly, I can understand why a guy like that makes sense.”
Yesterday, David Haugh of WSCR-AM 670 in Chicago, also a columnist for the Chicago Tribune, learned the search firm Team Glazer hired is pushing Kelly towards Tampa Bay.
But Breer threw out another name for Bucs fans to watch out for.
“A guy like Mike McCarthy, a guy that has 13 years experience, head coaching experience, that makes sense too,” Breer said. “I think you need somebody with experience coming in there and you need somebody who can build a program because I think that is what is part of what is lacking there.”
McCarthy makes sense to Joe only for the following factors: Koetter told America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, that he was more like Aaron Rodgers than Tom Brady, and stats back this up (spefically Jameis’ strong numbers outside the pocket like Rodgers).
Joe was always mystified why Koetter didn’t design more plays for Jameis to roll out if Jameis’ strengths are outside the pocket. So who better to build an offense for Jameis than the same guy who built an offense for Rodgers? It only stands to reason McCarthy would help Jameis.
January 3rd, 2019 at 5:31 am
Are Winston’s picks and fumbles included in your string number assessment Joe?
January 3rd, 2019 at 5:32 am
Well Kelly, well he certainly has had to work with some terrible college QB’s in his tenure. So Jameis won’t be that much of a stretch…
January 3rd, 2019 at 5:33 am
I don’t know enough about Kellyto make an educated opinion. But correct me if I am wrong wasn’t their malcontent between McCarthy and Rodgers due to his inability to adjust his playbook? Could have sworn I heard that on moving the chains.
January 3rd, 2019 at 5:37 am
Jameis makes plays mostly when he is forced out of the pocket, IMO . Several years ago, I thought that Glennon looked smoother on the rollout. I don’t believe thats true anymore. He is fitter and his running is much smoother. But it seem when we try rollout the defenders are often there to
stop the play before he gets to designed point. Could be defenses trying to take that away or more likely poor blocking that fail to sustain blocks the extra time
needed to rollout and set up play.
January 3rd, 2019 at 5:45 am
all this talk of ‘re-treads’ … is this suggesting that a coach or any other administrator for that matter has only one shot at success and if that does not happen right away then the coach/administrator should leave the profession and flip burgers? Sure sounds that way according to some on these boards. If you’re a young professional you need to follow your own philosophy and better succeed now because if you don’t then, well, your career is over. The concept of re-tread also ignores the concept of professional growth. Do these coaches/administrators stop growing and learning? Sure sounds that way according to some here. The NFL, like any other business, is not a place where success is guaranteed. No business venture is guaranteed as long as you have to depend on others to ensure your success. Injuries, bad calls, incompetence in some performers, lack of depth to name a few are all threats to success. For me, I trust Licht to work to select the best possible candidate with the best possible resume. This is how it works in the private sector.
January 3rd, 2019 at 5:46 am
This article started out great, someone to build a new Bucs culture….then it did a 180 with the WinSTUNNED crap. Forever making excuses for him and how he’ll change. 4 years and he still has “potential” …you get what you see…Leftwich 2.0
January 3rd, 2019 at 5:53 am
The same five people trashing Winston in every article. I use to enjoy reading JBF comment section.
January 3rd, 2019 at 5:58 am
” For me, I trust Licht to work to select the best possible candidate with the best possible resume. This is how it works in the private sector.”
This is not really the private sector… it is a monopoly club
When Jason Licht became the Bucs’ general manager, Tampa Bay was the worst team in the NFC South. Five years later, the Bucs are still the worst team in the South
Licht = 27-53
Winston = 21-33
Since Malcolm’s Stroke = 77 – 131
New HC = 0-0 (but he will have to coach Licht’s picks)
January 3rd, 2019 at 6:10 am
Ever wonder why coaches like Nick Saban go back to college from the NFL?
Quite a difference when you have a good recruiting system
and you can try to pick and choose the players you want. So you get to NFL
and in this case somebody else will likely be picking your players.
January 3rd, 2019 at 6:25 am
They are going to screw this up. The Glaziers need to stay out of this.
January 3rd, 2019 at 6:40 am
Licht didnt pick Lovie, or Koetter. He was picked by Lovie, and Koetter was promoted for J winstons development. maybe this is what the owners were thinking when keeping Licht to pick his coach? valid point? that being said, not thrilled with personel moves that he has made, but maybe he didnt get to make his choices? or being influenced by the head coaches?
January 3rd, 2019 at 6:57 am
Eric Bieniemy and Kris Richard. Im hoping one of those guys gets the job.
But adding sizzle to make buzz to sell tickets is an expected move from the Glazers
January 3rd, 2019 at 7:00 am
OLD FART, agree with everything up to the point that Licht did not make the choices. He has said before he is the final authority and IMO he takes the
responsibility for the missed picks and free agent signings.
January 3rd, 2019 at 7:09 am
The rumor is bucs looking for the big splash and to get it :
They are offering the 10 mil/year for a coach (Jon Gruden money)
I think only Belicheat makes slightly more then 10 mil per.
It actually makes sense cause a big name would more likely want to stay away from this franchise. However , money talks people. I wish the damn ravens had lost Want or still want John Harbaugh.
Arians will do
January 3rd, 2019 at 7:12 am
But I also have to admit that Vita Vea was very likely a player that former defensive coordinator would have wanted.
January 3rd, 2019 at 7:37 am
Wow! That’s quite a condemnation from Albert Breer IMO … Bucs need ‘somebody with EXPERIENCE who can BUILD A PROGRAM because that’s PART of what is LACKING there.”
So according to Albert we have less than nothing going for us it sounds like. NO PROGRAM … and that’s only PART of our problem. Maybe my glasses are foggy, but that sure sounds like a condemnation of OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT to me because THAT’S where BUILDING A PROGRAM emanates from. Even an EXPERIENCED HEAD COACH (Lovie II?) would fail given this roster. The ROSTER needs to be upgraded significantly or we’ll see more of the same results.
I do pretty much agree with Albert’s conclusion though that Bucs need an experienced HC … one who’s got a history of WINNING & who has the RESPECT of others in the coaching profession. Great leaders know that you don’t win as an individual; you win through the people you surround yourself with. Great HCs build great staffs composed of great assistant coaches. Tony Dungy wasn’t experienced as a HC when he came here, but he had a pedigree that was just as good (I believe his primary mentor was some coach named Chuck Noll?). Tony had learned how to surround himself with quality people & he created a great staff here as we all know. And it snowballed from there.
Personally I’d only be asking our head coaching candidates 4 questions:
1 – What’s your VISION for the Bucs?
2 – What’s your evaluation of the PRESENT roster to fulfill that vision?
3 – What personnel CHANGES would you need to fulfill that vision?
4 – What COACHING STAFF … with names … would you need to make that happen?
January 3rd, 2019 at 7:37 am
I am no fan of a college coach being a rookie pro coach, especially an authoritarian college coach. The track record of such hires is abysmal.
How much difference is there between Schiano and Kelly?
January 3rd, 2019 at 7:37 am
Pete I Says
“When Jason Licht became the Bucs’ general manager, Tampa Bay was the worst team in the NFC South. Five years later, the Bucs are still the worst team in the South”
So tired of seeing this. Yes, on paper, that is true. But let’s consider our division for a second. We play in a division where two teams have been to the superbowl in 2 of the last 3 years, and a third team has a strong chance of getting there this year.
Of the three other teams, one was built to last (Saints) and is led by an aged QB. The other two teams were built for fast success and have succeeded.
That makes our division the toughest in the NFL during most years.
But…let’s take a good look at the Bucs. After every losing season, the fans rightly freak out, but wrongly suggest to ‘blow things up’. They never account for developmental time when players are drafted.
Vita Vea is a prime example this year. Because he was injured and then took time to prepare, some fairweather fans were calling him a bust. When he finally got a few games under his belt, the wind shifted and so did their opinions.
And then they point out MJ Stewart as being too slow. Here’s a history lesson for you: the same thing was said of Rhonde Barber during his first year…in fact, he was used for rushing the QB more because of it.
But, as he has stated a number of times, the game sped up for him in his second year. Suddenly, he had the speed fans thought he lacked.
This team started a full-fledged rebuild when Winston was drafted, first on offense, now on defense. It is being built through the draft and through young players…and the occasional veteran. The Bucs free agency approach is to sign Bridge Players…guys that can be tolerated until young players are ready. Conte is a good example of this.
The team is being built to last as a competitor. We haven’t had the wins to show it yet, but they will come. We do have a top offense and the defense is a year into fixing it. We’re going through growing pains, but we’re still growing.
Last in the division? Yes. But only a few steps away from becoming a consistent leader in the division.
January 3rd, 2019 at 7:40 am
Jim Harbaugh or Bruce Arians or we’ll dong this again in 2 years.
Bruce Arians isnt just a qb whisperer, hes also a millennial whisperer. We need that just as bad. It’s been about the team culture for a decade now.
I dont see these two guys getting through to the players like Arians could. The only way to change to the culture is by being able to talk to these guys. Both Kelly and McCarthy already had great cultures. The culture in Green Bay seemed to corrode under McCarthy.
January 3rd, 2019 at 7:45 am
Another vote for Arians.
January 3rd, 2019 at 7:46 am
None of the other teams will have balance that our team will have on both sides of the ball.
The Patriots have lasted because they are balanced. Tom Brady is not as great a passer as people claim. He wins because he throws high percentage passes and keeps mistakes to a minimum in a balanced offense, and their defense is always solid.
The truth is, kicker has hurt this team more than anything else. The last two years, it has caused us to have losing seasons. Jason Licht is trying to fix it. Finding a lasting consistent kicker is the thorn in his side, but he’ll eventually get us one.
January 3rd, 2019 at 7:48 am
BTW Joe, came across a fascinating article on Yahoo Sports yesterday about the Bucs. It was titled “Jason Pierre-Paul: Bucs have “a lot of guys who just don’t keep it real.” (https://sports.yahoo.com/jason-pierre-paul-bucs-lot-135317571.html)
JPP’s key point IMO was that “players weren’t ‘all in sync’ and that changing that will be essential to better results under a new coach.”
January 3rd, 2019 at 7:50 am
When is the BA interview?!
January 3rd, 2019 at 7:50 am
After 10 years of “Sizzle”…we need SUBSTANCE !
January 3rd, 2019 at 7:53 am
Clodhopper Says
“Jim Harbaugh or Bruce Arians …”I
Jim Harbaugh is my preferred choice, but he’s also an unrealistic one. I just don’t see the Glazers paying $30m+ to $45m+ to get him, with $17m+ in the first year. ($10m contract buyout + $7m+ annual salary over 3-5 years)
Bruce Arians is simply the wrong choice. If we go with an offensive coach, he has to also be able to build a defense. Arians never has. Harbaugh has. McCarthy has.
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:01 am
Hey Joe! do some research and sure they had some success but Rogers isn’t a big fan of McCarthy at all. A lot of former players came out and said Rogers used to roll his eyes when McCarthy called a play and then Rogers would change it. Also, give me one QB that has worked with Kelly that HE has developed himself??? This big names are just for a spark in attendance and nothing more. This is why Tamp will always be at the bottom with owners have no idea how to run a football team.
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:02 am
While Kelly would be a big splash, high-risk-high-reward is the kind of hire he would be. He’d very possibly fail big (like John McKay), but if he succeeds it will be in a big way. The problem is it’s a 50-50 shot. That’s not good enough odds.
Eventually though, a team will give him his chance, and it would suck if we end up looking back and wishing it had been us.
Mike McCarthy is the best option for us at this point. Lower risk, better chance of success.
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:05 am
“BA?”
Bryan Anger?
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:06 am
@VFL98
Every fully developed quarterback changes plays. That’s part of his job. Rodgers and McCarthy only had issues because Rodgers was injured and came back too soon.
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:10 am
Only former college coach who has done well in the NFL over past five years is Pete Carroll….more flops than success stories…….Saban, Spurrier and the list is pretty impressive of guys who didn’t make it…
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:22 am
No to McCarthy and hell no to Kelly.
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:25 am
Team Glazer….”sizzle” lies in JOHN HARBAUGH. Encompasses everything written above and then some.
Please and thank you. JOHN HARBAUGH.
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:25 am
Bonzai, I commend you for your consistent defense of Lapdog Licht, even though I obviously don’t share your opinion of his performance & skillset. And I agree that we went into full REBUILD MODE in 2014 when Lovie arrived … NOT because we needed to, but because Lovie (with his Lapdog in tow) blew up just about everything, then replaced it with even worse mediocrity (2-14 in 2014 pretty much speaks for itself?).
The VISION for the Bucs to become an OFFENSIVE POWERHOUSE wasn’t Licht’s; it was Lovie’s (wow what an irony there). So who called the shots in 2015 draft & FA pickups, Lovie or Licht? And IF it was Lovie (as I suspect), who gets the credit (or blame) for our 2015 pickups (Jameis, Donovan, Ali, Kwon)? And IF 2016 was Lapdog’s FIRST REAL DRAFT steering the ship, would you consider THAT draft a success? And what is LICHT’S VISION of who our Bucs should become? (Offense? Defense? Mixed bag?)
In these past 3 drafts & FA cycles (under Licht’s VISION?) it looks to me like the Bucs have been partially proactive but predominantly reactive. I have no idea any longer where Lapdog is trying to steer our Buccaneer ship. Personally I favor a DEFENSIVE FOCUS (great defense never goes out of style), but we’re quite a ways from having a dominant defense (we were pretty much bottom-of-the-barrel last year … for a REASON). But in reality we’re much closer IMO to becoming “Kansas City East’ than we are to becoming ‘Chicago or Baltimore South’.
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:37 am
I said before that I like the idea of a young fiery NFL ass’t as a HC. But I do believe if the Glazers want to sell tickets they will need to hire a big name like Arians or Mccarthy. I would prefer Arians. When are they going to interview him?
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:42 am
I love all the Gator fans on this site bemoaning the Bucs retaining Jamies. Still pissed Tebow couldn’t make it guys? Get a life man. I’m not an FSU fanboy, I have no allegiance to any college in the state of Florida. To say Jameis has no talent is patently false. If you put virtually any quarterback as a rookie in 2015 with the Bucs, no one fairs much better with the lack of talent, lack of running game and lack of defense this team has put on the field.
Yes Jameis has to address the turnovers, no question. Putting him in a situation with a legitimate running game and a top 15 defense, I believe he will thrive. The kid is talented and I’ll bet my house that if we would have let him go, there would have been a bidding war for his services by 20 NFL teams.
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:46 am
Here is why I like Ariens, the is always talk about young coordinators not having connections to build a staff. Ariens may be one of the best connected coaches in the league, definitely the best of those available. While he is an older coach, he has shown that he isn’t stuck in the past. He had routinely hired young forward thinking coaches to his staff, I’m pretty sure he hired the first female coach in the NFL a couple years ago. It’s very hard to find “established” head coaching options that aren’t stuck in the past and trying to recreate their previous teams.
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:47 am
He would be gone in one year because the local media will be horrified by his in your face disciplinarian style. Someone said “Schiano II” The local media will not, can not, cope with a tough guy like Coach Kelly.
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:50 am
Defense Rules, right on with the assumption from Breer that the ppl the glazers want seems to show they are not completely happy with Licht. McCarthy is going to want his guys. And Bonzai, this team has been built into a last place team by licht because he is a horrible GM
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:53 am
The new Glazer book is now on the shelves.
How to ruin a franchise in one easy lesson
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:55 am
@Bonzai. Ronde never had elite speed. In fact, as CB’s are judged, he would be considered slow by today’s standards. The thing is the 40 time doesn’t tell you the whole story. It only took one year under his belt for it all to click. He had the instincts, the intangibles regarding the mental side, and he was an absolute ballhawk. Never will I ever forget Ronde making Donovan McNabb his beyotch when he undercut the slant and took it the other way to the house in the 2002 NFCCG. That play wasn’t about speed. I won’t throw in the towel on MJ Stewart. It’s honestly way too early to judge Licht’s 2018 draft. In fact, right now MJ looks like a bust and Whitehead looks like gold in the 4th rd. Honestly, if I had to predict, I think MJ Stewart could develop into a solid CB but I’m skeptical of Whitehead especially in coverage.
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:55 am
SIZZLE would be hiring kris richard on Saturday!!!!!
folks keep talking about bruce arians….lol….he has a similar offense that dirk runs….down filed deep ball passing attack….too finesse…..we just saw how this offense preformed in that style of offense….
harbaugh…forget about it…..either will be in tampa…thats a pipe dream…..
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!….#ADIOSDIRK!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:57 am
DR
i read that yesterday too….sounds to me like he was talking about GMC, Grimes and Djax…..maybe others too….
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!….#ADIOSDIRK!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
January 3rd, 2019 at 9:12 am
No College coaches please. They don’t work. ND sucked this year, regardless of their record, they were not good.
January 3rd, 2019 at 9:14 am
Dano, you have to ignore Pete. His only goal in life is to troll Jameis. All of the haters on this site just say ridiculous stuff. One of the trolls the other day claimed that only 5 or 6 teams would want Jameis. Teams would pounce on the opportunity to have a QB with his skill set. If they ever get a balanced team around this kid with a RB and an average defense watch out. Eventually he will shut them all up but it will take time. They still like to chirp and even did so after the last game of the season when he threw for 350 yards and had 4 TD passes. Eventually they will run out of steam and will admit that they were wrong.
January 3rd, 2019 at 9:15 am
Pete I Says:
“Licht = 27-53
Winston = 21-33
Since Malcolm’s Stroke = 77 – 131
New HC = 0-0 (but he will have to coach Licht’s picks)”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You literally post this every fricking day, Pete.
January 3rd, 2019 at 9:22 am
There are only 5-6 teams in the NFL that would want Jameis to come in and be the starter, 3 are in Florida, one in DC due to injury and possibly the Giants, no other place would pay Jameis the $20 mil to play for them. He could go be a backup for 20 teams at a very low rate though.
January 3rd, 2019 at 9:32 am
It’s been 4 years all. Jameis is who Jameis is. Stop wishing it will change. He is an Avg QB who will do Avg things. He isn’t magically going to be awesome. He will need a strong support cast. We have the WRs for now, but need a strong RB. We need a better D to stop teams from scoring 30+ pts on us all the time. With a better D we would have won 3-4 more games.
January 3rd, 2019 at 9:39 am
^^ lol because you are the BE ALL END ALL final WORD in all that has been and all that shall be.
January 3rd, 2019 at 10:05 am
If you wanna give QBs 10 years to prove themselves be my guest. We’ve seen rookies come in to the NFL and take their teams to the playoffs. Winston hasn’t done that. Not sure what you are waiting on. He is an Avg QB in the middle of the pack. Nothing special in the NFL, he is like Kirk Cousins. He has flashes, but you aren’t going anywhere unless you have a strong D and supporting cast. Think Eli, Defense won them SBs, he is just an Avg QB doing Avg things. Think Rivers, Avg QB throwing up tons of yds, but not taking them anywhere without a strong cast. They finally got a RB and some D, now they are in the playoffs. It’s reality.
January 3rd, 2019 at 11:12 am
Bucsdelight Says:
“Not sure what you are waiting on.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Not waiting for anything, man. — He has definitely shown enough to see that he can perform and that he can win a lot of games for this football team, with even just a MODERATE improvement in some other areas of the team.
It’s why there WILL be a very good coach here, ready to take the reigns.
January 3rd, 2019 at 4:44 pm
@D.R.
4 great questions for our candidates. I wish you were doing the interviewing instead of Licht and the Glazers.
@TomE I share your fear of college coaches in the NFL. I went to the University of Cincinnati so I confess a little prejudice towards Brian Kelly….UC was the death bed for college football coaches…Kelly at least made the program respectable for awhile.
But of course you say…but Cincinnati is also college. Kelly scares me a bit as do all college coaches all the way to Saban
Someone wanted Dabbo Sweeney…like he’s going anywhere now…I guess money might do it..but if we have to have a college coach Dabo would be my first choice.
January 3rd, 2019 at 10:37 pm
Hey Dislocated BUCS Fan
U r clueless!!! Jameis threw 19 TDS, 14 Picks this year w 2 meaningless picks against the Bears on a short week and Jameis having been back in the building for only 3 days. Also included in those picks are 2 end of game Hail Marys and then the ONE BAD GAME HE HAD 4 picks at CINCY ! Do a little research instead of buying into those BS numbers! Name the games Jameis lost because of his play? Name them, CINCY and that’s it!! Last year 19 TDS 11 picks. At least 4 games Jameis had them in the lead in the last 4 mins of games. Also if we had a kicker we also beat the Pats Last year. The year before Jameis 28 TDS, 18 picks and the BUCS went 9-7 & as a ROOKIE 22TD PASSES , 15 picks w 9 coming in 3 FREAKING GAMES & he had 6 TD RUNS. So basically u all r gonna count BLIND SIDE STRIP SACK FUMBLES? Go ahead if it makes u happy! Jamie’s is 1 million times better than Blake Bortles and ANY COACH would live to have him! The NARRATIVE from people like Rick Stroud and Martin Fennelly and Tom Jones was anti Jameis narrative since the suspension was announced! Be above those half assed no knowledge agenda driven writers/Hacks for once please. We have a very good QB here & u all will eat your words next year!
January 3rd, 2019 at 10:54 pm
As a Bucs fan not from Tampa, I love debating the sheep who believe every national publications nonsense about Jameis.
Rube who watches PTI & fancies themself an expert: “The Bucs gotta go with Fitzgerald at QB, he threw for like 400 yards per game and Jameis just throws picks”
Me: “Actually over the last half of the year he had 12 TDs and 4 picks and was very efficient. Plus Koetter changed their whole acheme with deep drops and a terrible O Line and no rollouts”
Rube: “Yeah but all that off the field stuff, I mean he’s a suspension waiting to happen”
Me: “This year was his first actual suspension in the NFL and it was something that happened in 2016. Most all that stuff happened back at FSU and his teammates and coaches alike have called him a model teammate and praised his work ethic and leadership”
Rube: “Um, he stole crab legs!”
Me: