Schiano’s Magic Number
October 31st, 2013
In the span of one month, Ron Rivera went from Dead Coach Walking to a brilliant leader. Could Greg Schiano pull off the same feat?
The Buccaneers” head coach is Greg Schiano, and with nine games to go, that means Schiano has an opportunity to right his ship and return to Tampa next season as the leader of the New Schiano Order.
This should be obvious. However, Joe realizes many fans have given up on the virtues of toes-on-the-line and can’t handle that reality. These fans have either checked out, engage in daily prayer for a top draft pick and a new head coach, joined the Lovie Smith Mob, or are doped up on Valium for severe Bucs anxiety.
But again, Schiano could return. A lot can happen in nine games.
So what’s Team Glazer’s magic number for Schiano? That surely is the billion dollar question around One Buc Palace.
One could easily make a logical case to retain Schiano if he were able to somehow emerge with five wins from the Bucs’ brutal schedule. If Schiano can win going forward with a rookie QB and a decimated offense, that could be considered a standout coaching job.
Joe looks to the north and sees how Ron Rivera was the consensus village idiot in Charlotte one month ago. Now he’s a genius being celebrated nationally. That kind of turnaround could happen here. Now that doesn’t mean Joe thinks that would happen here. Hardly. But it remains a possibility.
So back to that “magic number.” Joe’s confident Team Glazer needs to see proof its coach can win games.
Joe’s going to go out on a limb and say Schiano’s magic number is five. If somehow that can be accomplished with Mike Glennon, after all the drama, nonsense and agony of September and October, Joe’s sure Team Glazer would not be so quick to oust its head coach.
October 31st, 2013 at 6:40 am
Why can the Glazers just go hire Bill Cowher already. He’s not doing anything but sitting in a TV set so he could come to work right away. Sure they probably have to pay him 10 million a year but I’m OK with that.
October 31st, 2013 at 6:49 am
I want a coach with nfl experience, and not from tennears ago as an assistant. I want a oriven coach that has been at keast an oc or dc for a couple years. Hire jay gruden!
October 31st, 2013 at 7:02 am
I have to agree with McBuc on getting someone with proven NFL experience. We dabbled in the college coaching market last time and the two top candidates we had have both ended up being flops in the pros. I was a member of the “love smith mob” but I think that after seeing this stale product put out on the field game after game it’s time to get someone in that’s a little less old school. We need a contemporary coach that understands today’s NFL and has shown the ability to get the most out of his players. I’m just glad that we don’t need a personality now. The last coaching search was about finding someone to clean up the relaxed style that Raheem left behind. We’ve seen that hiring a personality doesn’t equate to wins so let’s just focus on talent and proven accomplishments
October 31st, 2013 at 7:18 am
Since today is Halloween, I’m going to say Schiano’s magic number is three sixes. He carries around a card in his wallet that says V.I.P. access to Satan’s Lair.
October 31st, 2013 at 7:32 am
Good God Almighty do not hire Lovie Smith, I would absolutely abandon any idea of being a fan of this team any longer if they hire that moron. Given the talent on this team already, someone like Whisenhunt or Zimmer would be good choices, draft your franchise QB (Mariota or Bridgewater), draft a left tackle or if you trust Dotson enough move him over and draft a RT/G and a true pass catching TE.
October 31st, 2013 at 7:35 am
Magic number of wins? What’s the number of losses it will take before the Glazers step away from there kick ball team and do something, anything. If Man U was playing this terrible would they sit by idlely? HELL NO!
October 31st, 2013 at 7:46 am
The big difference is Rivera hasn’t drawn so much negative publicity as Schiano. I doubt the Carolina fans have voiced their opinion of their coach nearly as loud as Bucs fans. I don’t think 5 wins will give the fan base enough confidence in Schiano going into another season.
After all the bad publicity, regardless of Schiano’s level of responsibility, the Glazers might have to make a change no matter the win/loss record. This season has been a complete wreck and does nothing for ticket sales and fan support. The Glazers are businessman. Right now, Schiano is bad for business. Barring a complete turnaround, with maybe 8 wins, I don’t see there being any majic for Schiano to keep his job.
October 31st, 2013 at 7:53 am
I’m not sure how you could EVER justify going from 7 wins one year down to 5.
It’s 7 wins or he’s gone.
October 31st, 2013 at 8:00 am
I don’t know if it’s the same reason that Joe chose 5 wins, but politically speaking, he has to win one more than Morris did when he was fired. Every national network will have a field day discussing this issue. You can already hear the debate between Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless. Not where the debate ought to be, but it inevitably will be!
October 31st, 2013 at 8:03 am
I think if Schiano wins 5 games it becomes difficult to fire him…the Glazers don’t want a revolving door on the HC job.
Phil, of course you don’t have a problem paying someone $10 million dollars…it’s not your money…oh, and you can get over the Cowher thing…he is staying put in the studio AND he has been out of the game too long
MTM…have you seen how ManU is playing this year? Very rough start…Moyes is having a tough time…but then again, tell me one coach who has been successful anywhere when they follow a legend.
October 31st, 2013 at 8:09 am
Unsure how to get to 5 wins with the personnel on the field and the “proven” schemes we run.
We’ll be lucky to win one or two.
October 31st, 2013 at 8:16 am
I’m thinking 9 wins. Then a coin flip if we don’t get a wild card haha.
October 31st, 2013 at 8:27 am
There’s no magic number, Joe. Except for 9. 9 more games til he’s fired.
October 31st, 2013 at 8:31 am
Hilarious to read that anyone actually believes this guy will win ANY games. We’re going 0-16 folks. Get ready. He’ll be fired December 30.
October 31st, 2013 at 8:40 am
FIVE?! No way, I’ll say three tops. The Bills & Rams are their best shot at wins. Maybe Miami, but that’s a stretch.
Now if they fire the dictator, I’d throw in another game or two. I don’t think so though. They want to “give him every opportunity” before letting him go.
October 31st, 2013 at 8:49 am
“One could easily make a logical case to retain Schiano if he were able to somehow emerge with five wins from the Bucs’ brutal schedule.”
What about the flip side of that, Joe?
I belive it would be logical to relive schiano of his duties due to the fact that he lost at least 6 totally winnable games. Also, as you’ve said so yourself, the adjustments in the second half. Zero.
Five wins will not change the angry fans’ minds.
Fire schiano.
One could make that argument, too, even if the Bucs win 5. Sure. –Joe
October 31st, 2013 at 8:51 am
First off, no way we win 5 games unless a entire group of different players show up with a different scheme and different adjustments at halftime…I mean adjustments at halftime.
I know winning is everything Joe but do you really think the Glazers would go that hard against the grain with the fanbase. I have never seen a coach more hated in TB sports. That has seemed to matter the the Gboys in the past hasn’t it.
October 31st, 2013 at 9:01 am
No Way Joe! You can’t tell me if he goes 5-4 in the next 9 games that it’s an accomplishment. It’s one game over .500 and we’re supposed to forget about the 12 out of 13 losses during a time when he said this team is not rebuilding??? No way, if he has any chance at returning he needs to go 6-3 in the next 9 games. A 6-10 record is only 1 game below last year… given all the drama, a rookie QB, and injuries… that would BARELY be OK to justify keeping him. I’m not worried about our draft position thou, there is no way he gets more than 3 wins with this remaining schedule… 3-13 at best!
October 31st, 2013 at 9:08 am
I totally agree with you Joe. 5 wins out of last 9 with a rookie qb and running back and all the injuries will give Glazers some hope and they will keep him., would be foolish not to in my opinion. But all im doing is hoping for win this week. If they somehow pull off a victory in Seattle then all the Schiano haters better find something else to do because that might be his ticket to another season.
October 31st, 2013 at 9:15 am
I’ll have to agree….don’t think it will happen…but with Martin MW19, Nicks gone and Freeman not working out….to win 5 with this team would give you no reason to believe that he couldn’t achieve a very good year next year.
Miami, ATL, Buffalo St Louis & perahps a meaninless game for the Saints at the end….
Not impossible…but also not probable.
October 31st, 2013 at 9:23 am
I think 4-5 wins gets him at least the possibility of being retained based on how those wins look. I think 6 wins and he’s guaranteed another shot. Either way, if he’s kept I think there’s a good chance there are some coordinator/assistant changes. The Glazers don’t want to hire a third coach in 5 years and have to pay Schiano for 3 more years. They’d like him to earn the right to return, so I think they give him a bit of a break based on all the drama and injuries this year if he can show some improvement and promise.
October 31st, 2013 at 9:29 am
The chances Schiano survives this year or the Bucs win in Seattle “zero point zero”.
October 31st, 2013 at 9:42 am
This is why so many fans want Schiano fired right now instead of after the season. They are afraid he might save his job.
It shows how shallow fans are.
The truth is, if Schiano starts winning the majority of games, he may well be worth keeping. At least for another year to see if he can maintain the success.
Another thing…the experience thing no longer matters so why are you guys even bringing it up??? Schiano has 1 1/2 seasons NFL experience as a HEAD COACH now.
He has NFL experience. It is a non-issue now.
Look, I’m not 100% sold on him. I just feel that making an emotional decision to fire him is wrong. The logical thing is to let him finish the year and evaluate then. Really evaluate.
The only reason…and I’ve said this before…to fire him before season end is the locker room. I think saying the team will not speak against him is bull. ALL TEAMS speak against coaches they do not like after a certain point. So long as it doesn’t happen here, Schiano should stay till end of season.
I believe if he wins five games, they would have to be the last 5 of 6 games for it to matter. Sporadic wins won’t save his job. It would have to be a really strong finish. That’s IF the wins are used by the Glazers to decide. I’m not them, so I don’t know how they’ll decide.
Part of me thinks they are committed to keeping him another year unless the investigation by the NFL results in disciplinary action, allowing them to get out of paying him. Even then I have my doubts.
This team WILL play better once it knows they are “stuck” with Schiano. I’m sure there are players devoted to him…and there are likely other players that are not starters that are not. Those are the ones costing us wins.
October 31st, 2013 at 9:45 am
I believe all coaches, unless they are tearing the team apart at the seams, should have 3-5 years to get things in order.
Schiano is not tearing the team apart at all. The only issues we’ve heard of are media rumors without solid sources. Until otherwise…Schiano stays.
October 31st, 2013 at 9:50 am
Shiiiiiiid – if he comes back joe your site hits will trend downward!
October 31st, 2013 at 9:57 am
Schiano is the worst coach in Buccaneer history
October 31st, 2013 at 9:58 am
I don’t know, Joe. It’s looking more like the owners have the HC they want and no matter how much the fans mutiny as long as the gate receipts hold up and the players don’t quit Schiano will remain captain of this sinking ship. I’m beginning to think they’re determined to prove they the right choice.
October 31st, 2013 at 10:04 am
Freeman is the worst QB Bust in Bucs History.
Rather have Shaun, Baby Hands, King in there sucking it up.
Schiano is bad, but the “bad” is exagerated by the failures of Freeman and Dom.
Schiano is merely the skin of the problem, as he is the first thing you can visually see as being wrong. However, to give Dominick a pass for the failures over the past 6 years is sad.
10 of Dom’s 24 wins came 3 years ago.
Since then we have had a 10 game losing streak in 2011, 5 game losing streak in 2012, and a 7+game losing streak in 2013.
Schiano has only been without the awful Gosh Freeman for 4 games.
So, if Schiano goes, the regime shall receive a clean sweep.
If Dom stays, do you think it takes 5 offers to finally nab a coach, again?
October 31st, 2013 at 10:11 am
Joe, wtf are u talking about?
This guy is a dead man walking.
No way he makes it back with 5 wins. This team has way too many good players.
Didn’t you write it’s not a matter of if but when? #0-16
Yes, Joe wrote that, always with the understanding if the Bucs don’t turn it around in a big way.–Joe
October 31st, 2013 at 10:19 am
@ BuccaneerBonzai – I’m sorry your expectation level has been set so low that you believe that if Schiano wins a few games he’s worth keeping. The organization has made many of the fans apathetic towards this sh*t show they keep throwing out year after year. When some fans look at a 5-11 season as growth or 7-9 as improvement at this point it makes me want to vomit.
October 31st, 2013 at 10:28 am
If the Glazers bring this guy back next year, Ray Jay will look like a Ghost Town on Sundays
October 31st, 2013 at 10:37 am
Is five wins a big way joe?
October 31st, 2013 at 10:43 am
How many Head Coaching canidates turn us down this time, should Schiano be fired and Dominick retain his job?
Schiano was the 5th candidate offered the job. Why did Chip Kelly turn us down? Was he forced to work with Dom/Freeman, or both?
Maybe we should say that poor Raheem and Schiano were saddled with Freeman and Dom? Not the other way around.
October 31st, 2013 at 10:43 am
I think what Bonzai is saying is the owners know that things don’t happen overnight in most cases. For every Harbaugh in San Francisco you have the Jimmy Johnson’s who struggle for their first two years. If you just fire every coach who struggles out of the gate then you are in constant reboot. I’m NOT saying Schiano is Jimmy Johnson. Right now he looks like Jimmy Dean… I’m saying you need to give coaches 3-5 years to really get a good evaluation.
Fans do this same thing with draft picks. They label people busts after one year and it’s just impossible to evaluate a draft pick after one or two seasons. Many posting on here had McCoy labeled a bust. You know who you are and you know you were wrong. Schiano will be fired if he doesn’t show he can get things turned around and going in the right direction. He has two things going for him right now, he still has the team playing hard for him and he has a rookie QB that he had to install 4 games into the season. These are things that the Glazers will probably consider when evaluating Schiano’s progress. I will say this, if he doesn’t start to adjust his game planning better on both sides of the ball he will be gone at the end of the year. Offensively I can understand our struggles but defensively there is really no excuse.
October 31st, 2013 at 11:00 am
7 wins. anything less than last year’s results is not showing progress. Can’t hide behind injuries.
October 31st, 2013 at 11:11 am
T in Orlando, it’s not just injuries…it’s putting in a rookie QB along with losing your RB and #2 receiver along with your pro bowl left guard and your starting TE. Then throw in the fact that Joseph isn’t 100% and V-Jax has been fighting injury too. I wouldn’t call that hiding…I’d call that a recipe for disaster on any team.
October 31st, 2013 at 11:39 am
Good franchises don’t settle for mediocrity. 5 wins isn’t even mediocrity, it’s garbage.
October 31st, 2013 at 11:51 am
Why even pose the question. With a rookie Qb, no running back, and only one receiver , they will be lucky to win 1 game let alone 5.
October 31st, 2013 at 12:16 pm
As a TRUE Buc fan that is what you wish for is a turn around….All these Schiano Haters in my opinion aren’t true BUC Fans.