It’s Not The Giants’ Offense, Says Mike Sullivan
June 12th, 2012
Former Giants receivers and quarterback coach Mike Sullivan is a first time offensive coordinator and many pundits have just assumed he showed up at One Buc Palace with Tom Coughlin’s playbook raring to go.
Sullivan would transform Josh Freeman into Eli Manning, and LeGarrette Blount and Doug Martin would take the roles of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, and everyone would be happy.
Don’t go there, Sullivan told Joe yesterday, after asking Sullivan to explain the evolution of the Bucs’ playbook starting with the day he interviewed for the job. Joe never mentioned the Giants, but Sullivan wanted it clear that the Bucs’ offense will be its own unique amalgamation.
“Really, it’s a combination and the synthesis of a bunch of different ideas. I mean to say that this is, you know, a New York system is really a misnomer,” Sullivan said. “There will be some components, but there’s so much experience that’s on here. You know, between the guys sitting [next to me,] Ben McDaniels from his experience from being with his brother in Denver and Earnest [Byner’s] experiences in Tennessee and Jacksonville, and Jimmy Raye and his 30 odd years in the league and Ron Turner. So it’s foolish just to not listen to and accept and kind of mold and get an assessment of what type of players we have and how we can fit everbody’s ideas and concepts into what is the Buccaneers’ offense.
“And so it’s really been a very dynamic process, and we’re still trying to finalize and really hang our hat on the things we’re going to be good at, that we’re going to feature. … So I would just say that while there are some components to a New York system, I think what it boils down from a fan standpoint. I think they just need to anticipate and expect that the product that is out there is a unit that is tough, that is smart, and that is explosive. That’s going to be our marching orders to what we want out there on the field.”
Joe found it somehat interesting that Sullivan didn’t mention Greg Schiano when talking about the development of the playbook. Surely Schiano was all over the details, but perhaps the head coach didn’t take a dominant role in crafting the offense, other than making it clear he wants to pound the ball like teams did back in the 1970s.
Regardless, Sullivan might have the most pressure on him of any Buccaneer not named Freeman. On paper, the Bucs have a powerful, win-now offense. Sullivan needs to prove quickly that he’s an adept play-caller.
June 12th, 2012 at 8:00 am
Only 2 paragraphs and i had to tune him out. I can only imagine what the players think (It’s probably like Charlie Brown sitting in the Classroom…Wah waah, wah wah wah, waaaah)
June 12th, 2012 at 8:27 am
What I got from that, combined with Sullivan’s past words, is that he is awful at contextualizing, wording and communicating the thoughts in his head effectively. Same problem Raheem had.
The more I hear from Sullivan, the more I dampen my positive hopes of the upcoming season.
That is a good thing, though. The less I expect, the less I will be disappointed and the more I will be impressed with mediocrity.
June 12th, 2012 at 8:42 am
You better watch how you all talk about Sullivan or it will be a judo chop to the neck. Can he really be worse then Olson? I just don’t think that’s possible.
June 12th, 2012 at 8:43 am
OMFG he used two 3 syllable words, run the bastard outta town…
June 12th, 2012 at 8:43 am
Please don’t rely on jimmy raye. Raheem Morris shut his offense down. And he coordinated one of the most heinous offensive teams in Bucs history. Can’t believe this guy is on the staff.
Otherwise, I have no idea what Sullivan said, other than the tough, smart, and explosive cliche.
What’s wrong with the giants offense?
My biggest fear is we’re gonna run wanstedt’s offense or Turner’s. Ugh.
June 12th, 2012 at 8:49 am
Have you guys considered that he’s intentionally not saying anything?
June 12th, 2012 at 9:10 am
wow guys he already said in his opening press conference that he would purposely be vague. I like that the bucs are not giving opponents a head start on gameplanning for our team
June 12th, 2012 at 9:16 am
As Bart Scott once articulated…….
CAN’T WAIT!
June 12th, 2012 at 9:16 am
I don’t know what everybody else heard, but I heard the man say that the playbook will be a collage of ideas taken from other successful NFL schemes and it will evolve and obtain it’s own identity by what we do best.
If successful it may one day have it’s own identity like the “Tampa 2” from our defense of yesteryear.
Not to hard to understand!
June 12th, 2012 at 9:38 am
Thats how I interpeted it to Macabee. Let the man atleast call ONE game before calling for his head.
June 12th, 2012 at 9:39 am
Mcdaniel – unsuccessful
Turner – unsuccessful
Raye – disaster
Hopefully Byner knows what he is doing.
June 12th, 2012 at 9:48 am
What I gather from this is that several fans that claim to understand football here are pretending.
A. He said that they are not the Giants. This is good because the Giants, even in previous years, are not run first. Over the last five years they have had over 400 more passing attempts than rushing attempts. Only in one of those years were they a run first team.
B. He said that the offense is a combination of giants and the experience around him…AND of what best fits his players…what they do best.
June 12th, 2012 at 9:50 am
All we need to know is the Bucs players will know their assignments, execute the plays called to the best of their ability, and that our emphasis on the ground game and controlling the clock will enable us to keep our young defense off the field as much as possible. I feel our offense will be vastly improved (that would not take much improvement lol) and our defense will focus on pressuring opposing quarterbacks and stopping the run. I can’t wait to see our team suit up for real. Go Bucs!
June 12th, 2012 at 9:53 am
He’s adapting the scheme to his players and then raising their skill levels. I know this is an alien concept around here since Dungy left. Gruden tried to force players into molds that didn’t work. Raheem let players do as they wished.
June 12th, 2012 at 10:23 am
And of course, Mr. Pete, you were one of the leading “Raheem is great” posters.
Now, your tune changes and you lecture others as to your superior football knowledge.
Interesting.
June 12th, 2012 at 10:32 am
What’s NOT “interesting” bitchin’ Eric, is your constant whining and complaining.
You are one miserable SOB and obviously quite proud of it. Rather sad really.
Of course that’s just my opinion. I’m sure Mr. Grandee of the third world and 2,whatever enjoy your crying. Misery does indeed love company, no?
June 12th, 2012 at 11:22 am
In case any hasn’t noticed, this regime is closely guarding what they do, and how they operate. It’s classic Belicheck.
This is going to be a long summer, and you are going to be fed a ton of basic coach speak. This looks to be how Schiano will operate, so, get used to it.
As long as the team is united, and they are working hard, I’m happy. Hopefully it transforms into W’s. That’s all that matters, not if the OC gives the writers of TB lots of article material. But, it doesn’t help the blog biz, aye Joe?
June 12th, 2012 at 12:23 pm
Eric, surely you realize that there are a myriad of reasons why coaches fail at some places (Bellichick in Cleveland) and then succeed at others. It happens to both players and coaches. I’m believing that we have the players in place to succeed with. Sullivan is no dummy. He is a West Point guy, not a Key West guy. I’m looking for good things.
June 12th, 2012 at 12:23 pm
Eric, surely you realize that there are a myriad of reasons why coaches fail at some places (Bellichick in Cleveland) and then succeed at others. It happens to both players and coaches. I’m believing that we have the players in place to succeed with. Sullivan is no dummy. He is a West Point guy, not a Key West guy. I’m looking for good things.
June 12th, 2012 at 12:25 pm
Sorry for the double post. If your fingers double tap on an android thats what you get..
June 12th, 2012 at 12:33 pm
@ bobby
Sullivan may be outstanding. The Turner, Raye, McDaniel combo is very scary though.
Along with our head coach with virtually zero experience in pro offenses.
I for one believe that is an important skill.
But, we shall see. Perhaps the figure it out as we go method will work. I remain skeptical.
But June exuberance never hurt anyone. I prefer my Bucs football with a dose of reality.
June 12th, 2012 at 12:52 pm
I already like his idea, nw it’s just comes down to play calling that’s what is about Go Bucs!!!
June 12th, 2012 at 2:23 pm
Eric
Last I checked, Ron Turner took Rex Grossman and the Bears offense to a SB in 2006. He seemed to get the most out of Eric Kramer too, in his first stint with Chicago in the mid 90s.
June 12th, 2012 at 4:14 pm
@oar,
Turner has the same level of respect among Chicago fans as Raheem Morris does to Tampa fans.
Notice how he can’t get a OC gig.
lousy football coach.
June 12th, 2012 at 4:37 pm
Eric
Come on man, he was an OC just 2 years ago. You act like hes been out of a job for 10+ years. Taking a team to the SB with Rex Grossman, says a lot. Check out what they did offensively under him. We could use those numbers.
Dont get me wrong, I dont think he’s great, but he does have NFL experience and it was good. Besides, he’s our QBs coach.
June 12th, 2012 at 9:06 pm
Oar,
Since he left the bears in 09 he has been position coach. Those bears offenses were crappy. The man even managed two winless seasons in the Big Ten.
I’m hoping he’s got limited input.
And jimmy raye?
Please.
Sullivan’s work with Eli has been excellent. Hoe he does his own thing and doesn’t rely on losers.