Are Bucs In Danger Of Losing Mike Sullivan?
November 8th, 2012
For Joe, a giant surprise this season has been Bucs offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan. The guy is a first-time coordinator and new to calling plays, yet he’s already led the crafting of a powerful offense from scratch and successfully made significant adjustments to his game-planning since opening day.
Sullivan also has to get some credit for Josh Freeman’s renaissance, and his unit’s stats speak for themselves.
Throw in the fact Sullivan is a West Point grad and Army veteran, and has worked for two of the most militant head coaches in the NFL, Greg Schiano and Tom Coughlin, and Joe’s pretty confident Sullivan is going to be a somewhat hot head coaching candidate this offseason if the Bucs offense doesn’t nosedive over the next eight weeks.
Add to that the reality that most teams seeking a head coach also need to develop a quarterback, and Joe suspects Sullivan, from his time with Freeman and Eli Manning, can talk that talk very well in an interview.
Yeah, there’s half a season to play, plenty of time for Sullivan to channel Greg Olson, but the potential loss of Sullivan is real and something Joe’s going monitor. It would be a dreadful loss, assuming the Bucs offense keeps performing. But Joe’s just not seeing how Sullivan won’t land on teams’ radars.
November 8th, 2012 at 11:01 am
You’d have to be crazy to seriously consider a first year OC as a head coach, I don’t care how good he was in that year, there is no track record, no consistant year after year history of winning, he still has to prove himself over a period of time longer than just one season, if I were a GM or a VP I wouldn’t bet my job on him, I’d have to wait some time to see if he can do it consistently.
November 8th, 2012 at 11:23 am
If the Bucs continue their offense explosion, I can see Sullivan getting an interview or two, similar to Chud in Carolina, but I think he’ll be back next season. The Bucs need some consistency with their coordinators, so I’m hoping we Sullivan continues the good work and doesn’t regress next season. If the Bucs continue to grow the rest of this season and next, they should have at least one playoff game under their belt and that’s when I could see a team making an offer, just like Jax did with Mularky.
November 8th, 2012 at 11:28 am
Money (raise) and contract verbiage can fix that.
November 8th, 2012 at 11:30 am
Maybe IF he proves himself for more then one season …..
November 8th, 2012 at 11:42 am
@flmike Mike Tomlin was a 1 year DC b4 becoming head coach of the Steelers and he hasn’t done too shabby there…. just saying
November 8th, 2012 at 11:44 am
Wouldn’t the team have to allow him to take interviews. That is what happened to us; no team would allow us to interview that staff members.
Coach Sully is not going anywhere, stop trying to find things to freak us out with Joe!
November 8th, 2012 at 12:02 pm
Please stop prematurely especulating all over my web browser.
November 8th, 2012 at 12:05 pm
Josh Freeman + Vincent Jackson + Mike Williams + Doug Martin + Dallas Clark
+ decent o-line & Lorig
= The O-coordinator looks good.
I don’t see how a o-coordinator could fail. And I don’t see how this translates to other teams.
November 8th, 2012 at 12:13 pm
A first year OC has probably never gone on to get a head coaching job the next season. Even Mike Martz had to wait a couple of years and his offense was truly special…. which could also be used to show why NOT to give a newer OC a head coaching job. Martz was pretty mucha flop when it came to dealing with players and utilizing personnel.
November 8th, 2012 at 12:15 pm
Joe not that you have to reveal any sources or contacts but if I may ask, was this s theory or a substantial possibility.
November 8th, 2012 at 12:19 pm
Unless this offense clinches a post season berth, I am 100% confident that Sully is back.
November 8th, 2012 at 12:19 pm
I could definately see him progressing towards coach but I would think he has another year in coordinator in him at to see this through and to pad the resume.
November 8th, 2012 at 12:26 pm
Joe
There are plenty of teams that want a good HC, but what does Mike want to do? Does he want a shot at the SB next, assumming we come up with the DBs and returned IR linemen on both sides that are out now, and unless a miricle happens, Myron Lewis doesn’t play?
November 8th, 2012 at 12:30 pm
Joe, you hit the nail on the head man.
You are 1000 percent right about this.
In the first 4 games the a lot of dumb fans wanted him fired.
In the last 4 games he has turned this offense into a scoring and yardgae machine.
Considering all what you wrote, he has a compelling track record to be offered a HC job somewhere, and deservedly so.
It’s too bad that many Buc fans are too dumb to see this.
November 8th, 2012 at 12:36 pm
Raheem was a 1 week DC before he became a HC…..
November 8th, 2012 at 12:37 pm
With Cowher, Gruden, and Reid being fired most likely at the end of the season even Chip Kelly. I think teams will look into them first before giving Sullivan Head Coach money after, so far a good half a season offense. Give him like 4 years then I could see it happening.
November 8th, 2012 at 12:56 pm
You’re paranoid.
November 8th, 2012 at 1:30 pm
LoL @ the propaganda machine…seems like a fox news story…haha..
we simply say no..meanwhile try and extend his contract…
Butch Davis will get a job before Sully will.
November 8th, 2012 at 1:48 pm
Joe is right. Things change really fast in the NFL.
Look how 10-6 Raheem started his last season at 4-2. NO ONE seriously thought that he would end up being canned at years end. Even Raheem himself said he was safe, and reminded all that he was the runner-up COY last season.
Anything can happen in even just 1 month in the NFL.
November 8th, 2012 at 2:12 pm
What happened to nahjee Goode?
November 8th, 2012 at 2:59 pm
Joe I gotta disagree with you 100%. Last Year there were some people that wanted us to hire some 1st year OC that had a remarkable year with a rookie QB. Now he is about to be Fired as OC.
November 8th, 2012 at 3:09 pm
There should be a rule that new staff cannot be recruited by other teams for at least 3 years.
November 8th, 2012 at 3:11 pm
I think raphael is right about Butch. Unless they make him assist head coach or something.
November 8th, 2012 at 3:36 pm
Jerry Jones is sending his jet
November 8th, 2012 at 3:41 pm
This actually made me laugh. C’mon Joe. It’s been 8 games. Just half a season. And of that half season our offense has been good for about 4 of those 8. I dont think anyone is jumping on him as of yet. Even if they finish the season strong I dont expect anyone to be jumping all over a 1st year OC. Thats no disrespect to Sully but there are plenty of horrible OCs that have had a good 4 game stretch.
November 8th, 2012 at 10:16 pm
Let’s see how everything looks at the end of the year. I m all for giving someone the opportunity to further their career, but does anyone know what his aspirations are? Remember, Kiffin was content to be a DC. Sullivan may be happy with his gig and my not want the aggravation and constant scrutiny that a head coach faces. I have to say honestly say, and came on the board and ate crow on Martin last Sunday, but Sullivan has impressed me the past several weeks. I thought initially his scheme was the most unimaginative play calling I had seen since Mike Shula. It has improved immeasurably. Hope it continues