The Other Secondary Upgrade
June 29th, 2013
For whatever reason, one bad fit for the New Schiano Order last season was defensive backs coach Ron Cooper, who was quick to leave after the season for the South Florida Bulls
Cooper was a newcomer to the pro ranks and, well, his secondary was dreadful. Greg Schiano even seemed obligated to step in and get hands on with the unit in a big way late in the season.
Joe can’t thoroughly hang Cooper, who was stuck with the fearsome foursome for part of the season, “E.J. Leonard, Danny and LeQuan.”
Hopefully, the Bucs updated their coaching ranks with the addition of Tony Oden, who has spent years with the Saints and Jaguars. Eric Wright typed up a blog posting recently that implied Oden’s experience already is making a positive impact.
One other change that was made to the secondary was the addition of a new defensive backs coach, Tony Oden. The organization and the coaches bringing in somebody like Tony with a lot of NFL experience is going to help us on the back end.
He’s somebody that I respect a lot. I’m like a sponge, trying to learn as much possible, and Tony’s a guy that I can learn a lot from. I’m looking forward to working with him this season, and continuing to try to perfect my craft. Tony has a lot of knowledge about the game and how to deal with NFL players. He asks a lot out of us, but I think the guys are responding well.
Position coaches matter. The Bucs have learned that lesson over the years in a big way.
June 29th, 2013 at 2:53 pm
No place to go, but up.
Revis, Goldson, and Banks. We should be a much better secondary.
June 29th, 2013 at 2:54 pm
True. Having an experienced NFL veteran secondary coach working with your DBs gives the DBs confidence in their coach by default. It’s tough to be a newbie coach, period. Especially when many of the players they are coaching have been in the NFL longer than them, whereas a veteran coach already demands respect, and the players are more apt to listen. I feel sorry for Ron Cooper. I didn’t think he was ready to make the leap yet, especially with so many young inexperienced NFL players he got stuck with. This was not the right job for him. He needed a defense that was already somewhat established so he could also learn and gain experience while on the job. Hopefully Cooper will get another shot someday, at least one more favorable for him to succeed. Of course if he could have made last year DBs average, he’d still be here probably. He wasn’t ready.
June 29th, 2013 at 3:14 pm
Cooper was not the culprit.
We had terrible talent at the CB position.
Talib, Wright, Myron, Gorrer, LJ….
LJ is pretty solid, but the other guys are all giant question marks.
It is what it was, Cooper takes the wrap for it, but the CB talent around him was atrocious. In this case he couldn’t turn that pumpkin to a stage coach.
June 29th, 2013 at 3:16 pm
Oden was the Jags secondary coach (2012)last year and the Saints the year before 2011? NFL experience prior was asst at NO. (5 years)and Houston(2 years)is that correct?
June 29th, 2013 at 3:21 pm
“The fearsome foursome” that’s a good one Joe!
June 29th, 2013 at 6:07 pm
SteveK- agree with your post.
Leonard Johnson has instincts, talent, desire, etc. has a great work ethic
But he doesn’t have enough speed to be a starter. That’s why he wasn’t drafted. It’s a damn shame- but most human beings can’t race world class WRs – running backwards. It’s a Rare gift. The more I watch LJ, the more apparent it becomes.
I am really starting to believe that Eric wright is finally making a commitment to his career. Everywhere I look, he is voicing an opinion. I hope it is a sign that he is finally ready to live up to his talent.
June 30th, 2013 at 1:40 am
I blame Schiano more than Cooper. He was the one trying to get zone corners to play in a man to man scheme, Cooper was just suppose to teach them technique. They played more of a zone scheme in week 17 and what happened? I rest my case.
June 30th, 2013 at 6:08 am
Cooper was like a chef with limited ingredients at his disposal. Perhaps he was not up to the task of preparing something edible without those great LSU players.