The Andy Reid Effect

January 3rd, 2014

Team Glazer had to take notice

There are always hot trends that NFL owners seem to chase like Joe would sprint after Rachel Watson if she were on the market.

This year, one of those was the Andy Reid Effect. The Chiefs, a rather conservative organization, hired Reid before they secured a general manager and gave him their blessing this offseason to do whatever to craft a fast winner. With the first pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Chiefs are now in the playoffs.

NFL.com scribe Albert Breer penned a feature today about how Reid is happy distancing himself from many personnel matters, unlike his heavy dual role in Philadelphia. In Kansas City, Reid got the general manager he always wanted, and Breer references that Chiefs boss Clark Hunt has a non-traditional executive structure that suits Reid.

The Chiefs chairman tweaked the team’s structure this year to allow for more open communication. Instead of the coach reporting to the GM, and the GM reporting to Hunt, both now report to him.

Reid has been freed of the enormous amount of responsibility he had in Philadelphia, where he had gradually ceded key on-field and classroom duties to trusted offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg as his role shifted closer to that of a general manager than a head football coach.

By the end, he said, “I’d turned everything over to Marty, who did a phenomenal job for me and had a great year this year (with the Jets), by the way. I just wanted to get back to doing football. I missed it. And in the offseason, I was spending most of my time — or, really, all of my time — doing personnel. And that’s when a lot of things take place on the offensive side. Probably a bit selfish, but I love coaching, and I’d taken myself out of it for the most part.”

Like the Chiefs roster of 2012, the Bucs of 2013 were loaded with talent.

Joe suspects that fact wasn’t lost on Team Glazer. While Team Glazer surely liked the trust and respect factor Lovie Smith brings to the table, they likely were looking to duplicate the quick fix that retread Reid brought to Kansas City. And it couldn’t hurt their perception seeing Jeff Fisher building a physical, young team on the rise in St. Louis — a team that clobbered the Bucs each of the past two years.

Joe’s already speculated that the speed of the Lovie hire was very much about power. During the interview process, Joe is confident Lovie told Team Glazer his exact plan to build the Bucs offense, from personnel to coaches. And Team Glazer promised him he’ll get what he wants.

Just like it’s Andy Reid’s team in Kansas City. The Bucs are now Lovie’s team in Tampa. And if he, too, can turn out a nothing-too-sexy, pound-the-rock, 11-5 playoff season next year in Tampa, then there will be dancing on Dale Mabry.

54 Responses to “The Andy Reid Effect”

  1. Leighman114 Says:

    I believe in Lovie, but have more tempered expectations. This team is still a couple pieces and a seasoned QB (be it year 2 of Glennon or anybody else) away from an 11-5 year and playoffs THE NEXT YEAR.

    Let’s see how the chips fall, but you gotta believe the bucs will rise and fire under Lovie, and at least sniff the playoffs as a competitive team. Raheem/Schiano couldn’t do it, Lovie will. Count it!

  2. Buc1987 Says:

    Joe…at this point I’ll be dancing down Dale Mabry at 8-8.

  3. FLBoyInDallas Says:

    Someone posted on here yesterday about how the GM is “higher ranking” than the head coach, implying the coach has to answer to him. Sometimes you just can’t reason with people who don’t know the NFL and that the precedent has been long established for the head coach to be the primary decision maker in certain organizations and/or for the GM and head coach to have equal authority with both answering to the owner. The NFL is not the military with a rigid chain of command, and every team’s organizational structure is different. Welcome to the modern world where unique managerial structures and styles can all be effective.

  4. Kalind Says:

    I’ve been quiet on this here corner of the interwebs for awhile seeing how things shake out. I have to say ‘meh’ to the whole thing. I don’t love Lovie. He’s ok. They could have done worse. They certainly could have done better. The Tedford hire has to be the most terrifying personnel move I can remember in a long time. Who is this guy? How did he get tapped for this position so quickly? Is it too much to ask for a team that routinely rolls up 35?

    I fear Lovie is going to harken back to the glory days of winning games 6-3. That can’t and won’t work. If that’s what Tedford was brought in to do (pound the ball and kill the clock,) wake me up in 4 years when we get a new coach/system. The Glazers and Lovie need to wake up and realize what year it is. Hiring Lovie ’cause he had ties here is a terrible, horrible, stupid reason to hire a head coach. You hire someone who wins and has a plan to win games beyond “we’ll control the clock and keep them out of the end zone.” My sister can handle that game plan.

    Why can’t we get innovators in Tampa???! There’s no mcCarthys out there? No Kellys? No Paytons? No Harbaughs? We went defense again???? In an offensive focused league? Sigh. Again.

  5. Mr. Patrick Says:

    First thing Reid did in KC was to go get himself a QB

  6. BuccaneerBonzai Says:

    I am of the firm belief that the GM we are getting is in the playoffs. That, I believe, is why the Bucs presser for Smith was delayed 5 days.

  7. gianluca pesole Says:

    Chiefs ,panthers,49ers,bengals,Seahawks, are defensive first team and are in the playoff who care offense? Defense win Championship. Good hire lovie smith go bucs.

  8. Larry Says:

    Joe, you are slipping sir.

    Yet again a reference to Ms Watson without a hyperlink.

    I think it’s time to add some new photos to the rotation too. I’m sure you have more than the regular 3-4 that you link to.

    A new coach is certainly good to read about, but forgetting a hyperlink is a terrible oversight.

    =)

    Joe didn’t want to ruin anyone’s Friday night with their old lady with a photo of Rachel. –Joe

  9. Dungy's boy Says:

    Could not agree more with Kalind, bucs fans are looking for anything to get excited about, hopefully Lovie learned in Chicago and with Dungy that you gotta have OFFENSE to get over the hump in today’s NFL.

  10. Harry Says:

    @Mr Patrick

    It is nice to read intelligent posts in here. Sometimes I feel so alone, lol

  11. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    Remember:

    *On at least two occasions during his tenure as Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager, Rich McKay attempted to hire Jeff Tedford as the team’s offensive coordinator (and was turned down both times).

  12. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Lovie had a plan…presented it to the Glazers…they bought it….end of story. We see parts of the plan (Tedford)….only time will tell….
    You can speculate, prognosticate, surmise,wonder, guess, suppose, contemplate, deliberate, theorize, hypothesize all you like but that is all it is right now…
    The folks with the money on the line are buying it!!!

  13. Harry Says:

    btw, if you did not know, GMC and LVD were selected for All Pro. Very cool and a great honor for 2 classy guys.

  14. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    @joe

    I don’t know how many times, I’ve started my morning off with your page on my phone. Only to hear my wife say “Who the Buc.. is this broad, that you have on your phone babe”…smh. I tell yah!

  15. Mr. Patrick Says:

    @Harry
    I’m with you

  16. Eric Says:

    I’m dancing the jitterbug if we get blown out in a wild card game.

  17. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Juar getting to the playoffs in this conference & division will be an accomplishment…my expectations are not better than 8-8 next year, however.
    We have a lot of talent but need some more pieces to contend.

  18. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    @Eric

    Lol, you a fool that. But I’m with you

  19. Harry Says:

    @Eric
    @LUVMYBUCS

    Yeah, you say that now… LOL

    But, I am with you too!

  20. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    @Harry

    Hey anything close to sniffing the playoffs and I’m solid..hahaha

  21. Mr. Patrick Says:

    What Reid did was the exception and not the norm. Still some weeding out to do here

  22. Harry Says:

    So what does Lovie do with that first pick? Trade up and get Clowney? Take Watkins? Take an OT (boring)? I would prefer he draft a QB, but I don’t think that is going to happen, unfortunately

  23. mark2001 Says:

    Harry…what if you could draft the best receiver in the draft?

  24. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    @ Harry

    Trade Down…..get extra picks…we have many needs.

  25. Mr. Patrick Says:

    Not having a 3rd or 6th round pick is huge right now

  26. Couch Fan Says:

    Trading up I think is a bad idea. We dont have many picks as it is. Stay where your at or trade down. One player isn’t going to help us very much despite what certain arrogant know it alls think.

  27. unbelievable Says:

    @Kalind re:Tedford – you should actually learn who the guy is before commenting, otherwise you would know how misinformed your posts sounds about him. I too thought we would go offensive not defensive this time around for the HC, but it’s obvious Lovie had a plan that he sold the Glazers on. At least now we have a coach that people respect, and players want to come play for.

  28. Capt. Tim Says:

    Eric- count me in to the jitterbug club!
    Finally have a legit coach. Confident we will be dancing soon!

  29. Patrick in VA Says:

    I’ve gotta think that they’ve been in talks with Lovie since we were 0-8. They let schiano close out the season but they knew they were moving on. Lovie had 8 Weeks to put together his pitch and pick his staff. This has been in the works for a while

  30. Teddy Says:

    If Lovie gets us to a wild card game, we’re all gonna need this link:

    http://youtu.be/Fs8tbzUr6cQ

    (It’s an instructional video on how to dance the jitterbug for those who are link-challenged).

  31. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    @ Patrick in VA

    At least 8 weeks……Lovie has been “assembling” his team since he was fired in Chicago.

    @ Couch

    Absolutely trade down if we can….we will still get a great player in the first…perhaps Ebron or a WR….but we need the picks

  32. Drew H. Says:

    Joe,

    http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000308570/article/2013-allpro-teams

    Are we going to mention LD54 getting his due?

    Joe will, but Joe’s not a big All-Pro guy. Pro Bowl has fans, coaches and players vote. All-Pro is media. Not sure who’s smarter.–Joe

  33. StAugBuc Says:

    Couch Fan Says:
    January 3rd, 2014 at 7:24 pm

    Trading up I think is a bad idea. We dont have many picks as it is. Stay where your at or trade down. One player isn’t going to help us very much despite what certain arrogant know it alls think.
    __________________________________________________________________

    You nailed it, Bro.

  34. Chef Paul Says:

    I think they’ve been talking since the day Lovie got fired in Chicago. Then in the offseason they got Josh addicted to drugs and threw MRSA all over the locker room. Just to make sure we lost enough to justify a firing

  35. Couch Fan Says:

    @Chef

    LMAO. Thats good. I like that.

  36. bucrightoff Says:

    Thing is, Andy Reid is a better coach than Lovie Smith. For instance…

    Playoff appearances: Lovie 3/9 (33%); Andy 9/14(64%). And the NFC East was a more difficult division in that time than the NFC North

    Times past the divisional round: Lovie (1/3); Andy (5/9)

    Times completely fleecing another team for Kevin Kolb: Lovie 0; Andy 1

  37. PRBucFan Says:

    Houston stated they’d trade their pick

    Offer the farm for Bridgewater

  38. VeeJay Says:

    Thanks Unbelievable, Kalind if you don’t know then ask somebody! Jeff Redford was Oregon before Oregon. He has prepared so many players for the NFL it’s ridiculous; a whole lot more than the clown that just left here I might add. Tedford has been ready for the NFL and I think Lovie would’ve added him in Chicago if the rug wasn’t pulled from under his feet. Hiring Tedford is a clear sign is a clear sign that Lovie is no longer willing to let his offense hold the team back. I just can’t wait too here who else is going to be on this tremendous staff.

  39. Harry Says:

    @PRBucFan

    I’m totally in on that one. To me, Bridgewater is a lock, at least as much as QB draft pick can be.

    Hope you read my comment clearly this time, lol

  40. Harry Says:

    @Joe:
    “Joe will, but Joe’s not a big All-Pro guy. Pro Bowl has fans, coaches and players vote. All-Pro is media. Not sure who’s smarter.–Joe”

    Interesting comment, but I am with you Joe. The media guy who wrote the article said the All-Pro was more prestigious, lmao

  41. Harry Says:

    @mark2001 Says:
    “Harry…what if you could draft the best receiver in the draft?”

    If Glennon is my QB next year I am drafting Watkins. Adding him to VJ and Mike Will gives us a very nice receiving group. I am not a big Glennon fan, and if he is the QB, he will need all the help he can get or we will again be very limited offensively.

    Further, if I am the OC, getting to pick the player of my choice with that first pick in the draft would be part of my package to sign on. And, as everyone is questioning Lovie’s ability to creat some serious offense, I would be surprised if he is not all in on that plan.

  42. PRBucFan Says:

    All Pro is considered more prestigious by most people for sure.

  43. Patrick in VA Says:

    @Harry – so we have offensive coordinators making draft picks now? What if his o-line couch makes it part if his package that he gets to make our first pick but then the equipment manager won’t sign on unless he gets to pick. Lovie and the GM will be deciding what’s best for the team and making the picks

  44. PRBucFan Says:

    I agree Harry 100%

    If Tedford does not like Glennon, Lovie will give him his pick of the QB in the draft unless Jeff has his eye on a FA.

    Lovie will give Jeff 100% control over the offense and it’s personnel

  45. BucPuck Says:

    Whoever our GM is they better take a hard look at drafting Sammy Watkins. He is electric! He would immediately give us a slot player that can stretch the field.

  46. Bucfan#37 Says:

    Lovie could improve the team and the layoff until next season might produce a playoff spot. In that case, I hope for a rematch vs the cowboys in the first round. That 38-0 beat down on the Bucs still irks me today. The Bucs will win this next matchup, with Lovie’s help.

  47. Harry Says:

    @Patrick in VA Says:
    @Harry – so we have offensive coordinators making draft picks now? What if his o-line couch makes it part if his package that he gets to make our first pick but then the equipment manager won’t sign on unless he gets to pick.

    Patrick, you are taking my example a little far… I don’t think we have an equipment problem, do we? Look, all I am saying is that if I am Lovie, and the knock against me is I have no offense, I am going to fix that. So I go to Tedford to sell him that I am going to put him in a situation that he will have the tools to succeed, that includes quality personnel, like maybe getting Tedford a 3rd WR who is a stud. Bc if I am Tedford, I am obviously going to be concerned that Lovie, a notorious D-coach, will he give me the tools to do the job?

    I don’t think I am too far off on that, am I?

  48. Harry Says:

    @Patrick
    So the bottom line is, expect an offensive player with that 1st rd Pick. If I am wrong, I owe you a beer.

  49. Drew H. Says:

    ESPN report…ahem BSPN

    http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10240276/leslie-frazier-says-joining-tampa-bay-buccaneers-defensive-coordinator

  50. lurker Says:

    u too slow, drew

  51. QB Says:

    With the new QB rules we won’t win more than 7 games without a very special QB (Brees, Newton, Ryan). The days of QBs like Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson, and Joe Flacco winning SB is diminishing every year with every rule change. Look to the future of the game and build from there. The rules won’t allow you to stop offenses in a few years.

  52. Kalind Says:

    I gotta say I love seeing the Tedford support. But the thing that concerns me is he’s Lovies guy. And Lovie likes All Things Dungy (Lest we forget the timeless Dungyball.) I don’t want to watch Tedford call 35 power runs up the middle w Martin. Toss a few screens and hope to put up 12 points. That’s not a winning formula.

    No I don’t know Tedford. I know Lovie. I know what Lovie loves (heh that’s rue to get old soon). And I can’t see him saying “you know what we need? A quick strike offense, like the ones bulldozing defenses across the league.” That just doesn’t smack of Lovie Smith/Dungy does it? As for Oregon before Oregon…how is that a hallmark of greatness? Kelly made Oregon, Oregon. Premise issue.

    I’m not saying I hate the pick. I’m saying what needs doing is fixing the offense. Scoring 35 a game and trying to stop them form scoring 20. Throw the ball.

  53. Kalind Says:

    As for the draft. The two guys I think Lovie will love (heh), are Louis Nix from ND, and Stephon Tuitt from ND. Look at those guys. Both should be there at 7. You want edge pass rushing?? Tuitt played at 320. What right tackle can handle a 320 end who can run? The guy was a force all year.

    As for Nix, (assuming he is healthy) I’m all in. The guy will DEMAND a double team. He’s 340. That frees up GMC to have a one on one. Tell me, what offensive lineman is favored one on one with mcCoy?

    Answer: No one.

  54. Left_Coast_Bucs_Fan Says:

    Still waiting for that article from Joe telling me about all the accolades and praise from former players of Tedford that encourages me more about his hiring as OC. I know it’s a long off-season Joe, but the social media support for Lovie from former players and associates was tremendous, isn’t there anyone posting “great hire” comments regarding Tedford anywhere? From Aaron Rodgers would be real nice to hear.