Midseason Coaching Change Not So Easy
October 30th, 2013
It is not just a hand-wringing issue for locals. So too it is a national puzzle. Just how long will Bucs commander Greg Schiano last?
Joe has written several times there is zero rationale for pulling the plug on the Greg Schiano regime before the end of the calendar year. What, (maybe) that helps win a couple meaningless games that fans will forget about before the draft is over with, blowing a chance at drafting Jake Matthews or this Mariota character from Oregon? Please! Get your priorities straight!
It seems Olive oil-lapping, popcorn-munching, coffee-slurping, fried-chicken-eating, oatmeal-loving, circle-jerking, beer-chugging, cricket-watching, scone-loathing, college football-naïve,baseball box score-reading Peter King, of Sports Illustrated and NBC Sports fame, has his priorities right. King, in his weekly appearance with the one and only Chris “Mad Dog” Russo on the channel that bears his name, Mad Dog Radio heard exclusively on SiriusXM Radio, explained terminating Schiano before the season is over is much more complex than simply waving goodbye and deactivating his keycard for One Buc Palace.
Chris “Mad Dog” Russo: Alright, Schiano, is he going to make the season?
Peter King: I am dubious about that Chris, but I said the other day on NBC that one of the problems for them to make a change — and I can say this categorically, the owners do not want to make an in-season change — but if they are going to make a change, here’s the biggest problem: Butch Davis is kind of the assistant to the head coach. Dave Wannstedt is a special teams guy. Those guys obviously have had head coaching experience. Those are big Schiano guys. They were brought in by Schiano; they are kind of a team. So you fire Schiano and have one of those guys coach. I’m not sure the players would view that as any sort of fresh air.
Russo: So he might last, despite their getting booed off the field and getting things thrown at? You know, the problem with Schiano is, you can’t act like Vince Lombardi and Bill Belichick without any rings.
King: You know, I compare Schiano now to Bill Belichick in his first few years in Cleveland, or maybe his first three years. Until you have the pelts on the wall — I mean there was a time when Bill Belichick was not Bill Belichick. I mean, he was a coach. A quiet coach who didn’t curry any local favor in Cleveland and he didn’t win enough and people were booing him a lot in Cleveland. They were down on him. And you know, he certainly lasted longer and had more success in Cleveland than Schiano has had in Tampa. All I am saying is it reminds me of that same situation because there was a time in Cleveland where people looked at Belichick and basically thought, “Hey, we don’t like this guy and we don’t think he will pull us out of this.” Now, it was those three Super Bowls that have him bulletproof for life.
Many Bucs fans can’t understand that Team Glazer has never made a coaching change midseason. It hasn’t happened. Didn’t happen with Sam Wyche; didn’t happen with Father Dungy; didn’t happen with Chucky; didn’t happen with Raheem Morris.
The best thing the team can do is lose. (That doesn’t mean Joe is cheering for losses and wants to bench starters.) If you cannot secure a playoff berth, then it is all about the draft. Finishing with a middling record is akin to going to a clothing option establishment where you can’t touch the hired help. Then what the hell is the point of even going?
October 30th, 2013 at 7:29 am
#2 pick compared to maybe #3-5 just to lose out? No thanks.
October 30th, 2013 at 7:41 am
My emotions want him gone right now. When I take my emotions out of it, I kind of want him to stay for the rest of the season. My fear is if he gets fired now and Wannstedt or Sully or Davis, or whoever takes over and the players feel refreshed, and win a few, I fear the Glazers will hire that coach full time next year. Like the Chiefs and Romeo.
Who cares about the draft. Giants and Steelers have each won 2 in a row. That only leaves Jags and Vikings fighting us for the first spot. At worst we get third pick. This draft is too rich in talent to want the first pick. And personally I don’t want the first pick. Because I don’t want Bridgewater on this team. Let the Jags draft him. I’m not denying his talents but he is a teeny tiny little guy. (194 lbs.) That’s less than Vick and RG3. Vick is hurt all the friggin time, and RG3 is already on his way to that reputation, almost but not quite.
October 30th, 2013 at 7:45 am
Very good point Joe and we lose bargaining chips to lure a legit head coaching candidate here.
October 30th, 2013 at 7:46 am
Wins are only useful if they’re getting us closer to a playoff spot. There is no chance that we could even dream about a playoff spot this season so what in the world is the point of trying to squeak out a useless win or two. I mean, I know schiano wants them because that’s at least something working in his favor but the better the draft pick we have the more enticing it will be for the really good coaches to come here to couple the talent we have with the quarterback he gets to hand pick from what looks to be a solid QB class. a number 2 pick is much better than 3-5. #2 gives you a chance to trade back to 3-5 and pick up other picks along the way to help out further still.
October 30th, 2013 at 7:47 am
I just van’t accept losing as a strategy & I don’t think Owners, Coaches or Players should either. Draft position is a consolation prize for losers.
Now, that being said…if we lose trying our best and lose developing our younger players then I’ll take the benefit of the better draft position.
Here is the problem with firing mid-season….the replacement coaches will do the same as Schiano…they will do their best to win…so we will not focus on younger player development.
Whet is happening now due to injury is we are going to get a chance to develop James, Page, Owusu Shepard,Wright, Gorrer, Gholston & Means.
October 30th, 2013 at 7:48 am
losing is for losers
October 30th, 2013 at 7:49 am
@joe
There is a reason to get rid of this guy now. If Greg somehow get A two to three game win streak at the end of the season over meaningless games the owner will view It as “progress” and feed that bs too the fans so they have a cheap way of keeping this garbage For next year.
October 30th, 2013 at 7:51 am
Mariota is my choice if possible or Clowney!
October 30th, 2013 at 7:53 am
Jerseybucsfan,
I’m assuming you know more about Schiano and have a longer history with him than all of us. How did you feel when he got hired?
October 30th, 2013 at 7:58 am
@chef Paul
Sure do. I lived in jersey my whole life and been and seen this guy for close to a 8years and nothing about this guy is going to change. I wanted him to do well but his ways just aren’t going to cut it in the nfl
October 30th, 2013 at 8:03 am
So….let me get this straight….Get rid of Schiano because he might win a few games….and….don’t get rid of him because his replacements might win a few games.
The only way to proceed if you fire Schiano is to order the coaches to “play for next year” and let them know they will be evaluated on that basis….that means (for example) starting Means.
What I mean by that is TEO is toast anyway….lets put our younger players to the test.
October 30th, 2013 at 8:13 am
King stop with the Belichick comparisons. The ass clown has no clue what he’s doing. Just because a coach is a hard ass dictator doesn’t make him smart.
Schiano could be canned tomorrow and the outcome of Sundays game would still be the same. The fans would just be able to breathe easier knowing this latest coaching debacle is closed.
October 30th, 2013 at 8:16 am
“So….let me get this straight….Get rid of Schiano because he might win a few games….and….don’t get rid of him because his replacements might win a few games”
LOL I gets complicated when mixing emotions and rational thought all in one guy.
October 30th, 2013 at 8:16 am
@TBBF – That’s really the only thing that makes sense at this point. The season is lost so let’s treat the rest of the year like an extended preseason for next year. Let’s sort out the useful players so we know what we’re working with in game situations with the players we retain and we can focus our preseason efforts next year on sorting through the players we’re going to add to compliment who we already have
October 30th, 2013 at 8:22 am
“you can’t act like Vince Lombardi and Bill Belichick without any rings.”
Enough said.
I think about it like this, Next season we will truly get a fresh start all the way around. New coach, new Gm, new tip five qb Sounds bad but I would keep schiano in there! We’re winning the draft selection race!
October 30th, 2013 at 8:22 am
@chef Paul
Where did I say replace him to win a few games. I say if he somehow wins a few games that wouldn’t be enough reason for the owners to keep him into next year. Read my post right before you want to be a smart guy.
October 30th, 2013 at 8:40 am
Sounds like King would offer Schaino a contract extension and wait for the next comming of Vince Lombardi.
October 30th, 2013 at 8:47 am
The Glazers almost fired Raheem midseason, but would have been left without an defensive coordinator. So there is a will there within the Glazers if need be.
October 30th, 2013 at 8:54 am
Jersey,
I don’t know what you are talking about. I never said anything about you, other than asking your thoughts on Schiano. I respect your answer and agree with it.
I laughed at TBBF because the whole thing with Schiano gets complicated because we have so much emotion yet trying to be rational is hard
October 30th, 2013 at 8:54 am
I must equate this to a business decision. Let’s say profits are down 75% and the stock of your fortune 50 company is down from 200 to 25. Your COO has made very bad decisions and it does not appear that he knows how to fix them. Your top sales people are fleeing to other companies and you the CFO are preparing to broadcast your mid term stockholders report via teleconference. Tell me how explaining to your major stockholders that you have decided to see how the balance of the year works out?????????????????????????
October 30th, 2013 at 8:55 am
Y’all are making good arguments for all your points. But what about winning for the fans? It isn’t just about playoffs. At this point, many fans would be content with a decent team they can watch put up a good fight win or lose – but with reasonable chance to win. Count me as one of those. I’m not willing to throw away an entire 1/2 season just because we are out of the playoffs. I want to see smarter game planning and adjustments. I want to see less penalties. I want to see Revis in zero man. I want the stunts to stop. A coaching change can accomplish all of that. I want Schiano gone now so I can watch my team with some hope they might actually win. It is painful to watch this team right now.
October 30th, 2013 at 9:06 am
The real clown is mark dominik. Everything I’ve read is he’s a power tyrant and difficult to work for.
October 30th, 2013 at 9:23 am
Uh, oh!
October 30th, 2013 at 9:24 am
ROTFLMAO!!!
October 30th, 2013 at 9:29 am
Joe read walterfootball article. Why is Tampa losing many scouts since Dom took over? Campbell is an insider from his Tampa days and hasn’t been wrong so far.
October 30th, 2013 at 9:32 am
passthebuc:
Here’s the rub: NFL revenues are up.
If they wanted to, Team Glazer could go all Hugh Culverhouse, give fans the middle finger, keep everyone for 2014 and still make more cash.
Gulp.
October 30th, 2013 at 10:35 am
I hate him being compared to Bellecheat in Cleveland:
1991 39 Cleveland Browns NFL 16 6 10 0 .375 3
1992 40 Cleveland Browns NFL 16 7 9 0 .438 3
1993 41 Cleveland Browns NFL 16 7 9 0 .438 3
1994 42 Cleveland Browns NFL 16 11 5
Belecheat won games. Firing schiano now shows potential hires we are serious about winning. They took so long to get a coach last time and I think it hurt us. They need time to evaluate. Act now. Save another generation of fans before its too late.
October 30th, 2013 at 10:45 am
The Glazers would likely prefer to keep Schiano for the rest of the season and there are many reasons why it makes sense. Although, there is one reason the Glazers might decide otherwise. If Schiano continues to lose and the Glazer’s don’t feel he can pull out a single win, they might have to replace him to prevent the embarrassment of going 0-16.
October 30th, 2013 at 11:33 am
Only to rain on parades here…but a couple things…
A. Now that EVERYONE wants to lose…watch us beat Seattle.
B. If you want to lose all the games it possibly won’t happen. There is a good chance the last to games will be too easy to lose. Teams will be resting players IF they make the playoffs.
Rams are unlikely to make the playoffs, but they do have 3 wins so anything is possible.
Saints are pretty much a lock for the playoffs so its likely they will rest players…giving the Bucs a win the last week.