Radical Culture Change Doesn’t Mean Fast Success
July 3rd, 2012
Veteran Bucs fans know all about culture change.
Father Dungy walked into Tampa in 1996, and brought new rules, order and overhauled the defense, replacing wacky Sam Wyche, whose ’95 team started “5-dash-2” but finished 7-dash-9.
The Bucs struggled mightily out of the gate for Dungy, but finished 6-10 in 1996, before making the playoffs in ’97.
Former NFL safety Matt Bowen, now a scribe for NationalFootballPost.com, relayed a similar story of successful culture change when he was with the Redskins. The loose ship of Steve Spurrier gave way to the return of legendary Joe Gibbs.
Gibbs did alter the “culture” in our locker room and on the field. We were prepared, dealt with adversity in a professional fashion and displayed a much more physical attitude in our play on the field.
Accountability. That’s the word I’m looking for under Gibbs.
But that first year was still a transition period for our team. No playoffs, some rough losses and plenty of film to work with. However, in our second season under the new coach, we ran off five straight wins to get into the playoffs, won the Wild Card round and eventually lost to the eventual NFC Champion Seahawks up in Seattle.
In Tampa, Schiano has some young talent, a QB in Josh Freeman and has already made some roster moves. And I expect to see a very physical football team this season on the field. Does that mean we will see the Bucs compete for a playoff spot this season? I can’t say that without seeing them play under the new coach. But this will fall on the shoulders of the players.
As a locker room, we bought into Gibbs, his style of coaching and a training camp environment that was pure hell on a humid August day.
Is Greg Schiano a Tony Dungy or Joe Gibbs? Surely nobody knows.
But even if he is in that caliber, the Bucs are still looking at an uphill battle for 2012. They’ve got an offense with win-now weapons everywhere, but the defense has so far to go and so many question marks, it pains Joe to think about likely growing pains on that side of the ball.
July 3rd, 2012 at 1:09 pm
I think the defense is going to surprise a lot of people this year. The focus on fundamentals is going to pay big dividends. The ability to adjust from a coaching standpoint is going to be the biggest factor. Last year we had no answers for the other team’s offense. If our defensive scheme didn’t work in the first half we were doomed because we came out with the same thing in the second half.
July 3rd, 2012 at 1:38 pm
And the excuses are ready to go.
July 3rd, 2012 at 2:17 pm
It means we’re finally headed back in the right direction IMO.
I’m really looking forward to this season. I think that like 1997, our
Buccaneers are going to surprise some skeptics and annoy some
“fans” (SARCASTIC) like 2.whatever, dini’s weeny, erica and the ex-patriotic Mr. err, Dr. Grandee! LOL
Buccaneers in 2012?
Can’t WAIT!!!
July 3rd, 2012 at 2:59 pm
@Eric:
Explain yourself you angry simpleton. What excuses? Who wrote anything about excuses?! No excuses, just reflection, a (radical) new course of action, and hopefully, production on the football field.
It is the simplest thing in the world to piss and moan, which is why so many people do it, it is simply (pun definitely intended) the easiest thing for simple, ignorant, people to do.–Grow up. Observe. Ask. Learn how to add something tangible to the discussion. Your vomitous drivel makes this site far less appealing, and that’s a fact.
@Bobby:
Completely agree that Schiano’s coaching staff’s focus on fundamentals will pay dividends, and immediately. The ability for the Defense to snuff out big plays will go a long way in helping this run-first Offense be productive, if not (dare I say) dominant. As Joe stated, there are many question-marks on Defense; they won’t all be answered this season either, I’ll wager.
Also completely agree that the overall level of coaching will be far beyond what we witnessed the last three seasons. How could it not be? The last regime’s responsibilities were supposed to be evaluating the young talent and cultivating our veterans, but they ran that ship into the rocks, as we all witnessed. With a deep, experienced coaching staff, we’ll likely see the true talent levels on this roster. Some players will shine, and surely some others will disappoint. I’m along for the ride, regardless.
July 3rd, 2012 at 3:17 pm
Eric, you do know WHEN not if the Bucs succeed under Schiano you’re going to look like a douchebag right? Explain why Schiano was able to have succes with Rutgers when he had piss poor talent. And no he didnt win the Big East but Rutgers did become a contender because of his coaching. Now imagine what he can do with the talent we have.
July 3rd, 2012 at 4:16 pm
@clayburn
Eric already looks like a douchebag. I think our defense will be fine because a read somewhere that out linebackers will be playing closer to the line of scrimmage wich should help our run defense. instead of hesitating, all they will have to worry about is hitting somebody. I think that will do the trick.
July 3rd, 2012 at 4:21 pm
Can you imagine if we had the core of defensive players that Dungy did when he took over how easy this would be considering all the offensive talent we now have?
Nothing short of a deep playoff run would be acceptable in 2012! But alas, we don’t! The positive is that if these guys buy into this system we could be well on our way…Just like when Dungy took over. 68 days and counting, until we see what’s in store for us DIEHARDS!
July 3rd, 2012 at 4:51 pm
I am incapable of articulating why Schiano had the extremely mediocre record at Rutgers, or the ability to fathom why you folks believe it will translate to NFL success.
It’s a highly unlikely prospect IMO.
July 3rd, 2012 at 6:13 pm
@Eric Mediocre talent at Rutgers. How is that so hard to understand?
July 3rd, 2012 at 6:38 pm
Lots of coaches do great things with mediocre talent. Like Spurrior winning the ACC at Duke.
The whole big east is mediocre, yet Schiano never won the conference in eleven tries.
I understand the new coach rose colored glasses approach. It was here when Perkins took over too.
Our last two successes at HC had deep and extensive NFL experience.
Why we decided to ignore that recipe is beyond me.
July 3rd, 2012 at 7:57 pm
Well, Eric, I guess you’re screwed for a few years, cuz Schiano’s not going anywhere soon. As stubborn as you are about being negative now, I hope you will agree to not enjoy any wins the Bucs achieve under Schiano, since they will undoubtedly be tainted with the certainty of ultimate failure.
July 3rd, 2012 at 8:19 pm
@george,
Actually, not a bad summary.
July 3rd, 2012 at 11:27 pm
Again Eric, you have absolutely no idea about college athletics. It is not a level playing field by any means, and Rutgers was the lowest of the lows (yes, lower than Duke).
That does not mean he will be successful in Tampa, but you are completely ignorant to college athletics if that is truly what you believe. You will notice I don’t give much of an opinion on legal matters, because I don’t know law. I don’t pretend to know about things I don’t know about. However, I have first-hand experience when it comes to college athletics (my father was a college coach and I was the star bench warmer on my college basketball team).
There are no excuses if Schiano doesn’t succeed here. I supported Raheem Morris, but do you hear me making any excuses for him? I was wrong about him, and he deserved to be fired. I’m man enough to admit that. However, he’s going to need some time. That would be the case if Bill Bellicheat were coaching us. I feel he will be very successful here. If I’m wrong, I’ll be wrong. I know I would sure as hell be wrong and admit it later than make ignorant, negative comments like you constantly do.
July 4th, 2012 at 12:34 am
“Eric Says:
I am incapable of articulating why Schiano had the extremely mediocre record at Rutgers, or the ability to fathom why you folks believe it will translate to NFL success.”
**And yet you feel it necessary to comment on something that you know ABSOLUTELY nothing about.**
“Eric Says:
Our last two successes at HC had deep and extensive NFL experience.
Why we decided to ignore that recipe is beyond me.”
**Again, you comment on something you admittedly know nothing about. This pattern of ignorance that you’ve woven is already tiresome to behold. Please up your game, or go away.
This website suffers by your presence. Period.
“Hawaiian Buc Says:
I don’t pretend to know about things I don’t know about.”
**See how that works, Eric?**
“Hawaiian Buc Says:
There are no excuses if Schiano doesn’t succeed here. I supported Raheem Morris, but do you hear me making any excuses for him? I was wrong about him, and he deserved to be fired. I’m man enough to admit that. However, he’s going to need some time. That would be the case if Bill Bellicheat were coaching us. I feel he will be very successful here. If I’m wrong, I’ll be wrong. I know I would sure as hell be wrong and admit it later than make ignorant, negative comments like you constantly do.”
**Post Of The Week.**
July 4th, 2012 at 3:12 am
I honestly think Greg Schiano is the second coming of Christ, as far as Tampa is concerned.
I see a lot of similarities between him and Tony Dungy, as far as how he is starting to turn us around.
July 4th, 2012 at 5:03 am
Dungy and Schiano seem to share a lot of the same philosophies in their approach to constructing a team. I do hope Schiano will not be as stubborn and inflexible as Dungy was at times. Be nice to see a glimmer of emotion once in a while too.