Keep An Eye On John Harbaugh
November 4th, 2018
Bucs fans know what the horrid stink of a sinking franchise smells like.
We were shocked by it in December 2008. And we inhaled it in 2011, and then swallowed it whole in 2013 before being told to embrace it as 2014 came to a close.
It’s back on the menu again — with no Lysol in sight.
Intelligent Bucs fans know exactly how this ends in eight weeks.
Joe always roots for the Bucs when the whistle blows, and Joe likes Dirk Koetter. But barring a football miracle, there will be a new head coach next year.
Hot seat season is in full swing and the seat under Super Bowl-winning Ravens head coach John Harbaugh is sizzling. NFL Network delivered the story this morning and Harbaugh lost to the arch-rival Steelers today, dropping the Ravens to 4-5.
It’s Harbaugh’s 11th season leading Baltimore and he’s had just one losing season. Overall, he’s 98-71 in the regular season and 10-5 in the playoffs with one Lombardi Trophy on his resume.
The Bucs could do a lot worse, if they’re looking.
It always seems like teams look for a head coach who is a lot different than the coach they just launched.
Team Glazer turned to Raheem Morris after Chucky. Then they went to freakish disciplinarian outsider Greg Schiano after Raheem’s party regime. After Schiano, it was back to the glory days with established, defense-first Lovie Smith before they turned to Dirk Koetter, a first-timer with little interest getting involved on that side of the ball.
Harbaugh, a special teams/defense guy, sure feels like a big contrast to Koetter.
Joe likes the idea of a seasoned head coach battling against the beastly coaches in the NFC South.
Sean Payton is elite. Ron Rivera has three division titles and a Super Bowl appearance in his first seven seasons. And Dan Quinn has yet to have a losing season in Atlanta since taking over in 2015. He’s been to the Super Bowl, too.
The strength of that troika should be considered in any coaching search.
November 4th, 2018 at 10:55 pm
Well the Bucs do have the 4th best coach in the NFC South
And the 4 best QB
And the 4th best team
November 4th, 2018 at 10:56 pm
I would be so happy if we got him
November 4th, 2018 at 11:01 pm
Will he bring a real No. 1 RB with him in three years of establishing his offense?
November 4th, 2018 at 11:01 pm
I am happy that we can talk coach’s now. Ready for another embarrassing era to be over………onward to the next embarrassing era.
I expect a quick turnaround and a playoff berth!!!
November 4th, 2018 at 11:02 pm
It won’t matter if Licht is still here.
November 4th, 2018 at 11:03 pm
That’s a lateral move. Barring the next Sean Mcvay is out there, or Belichick feels like a change of scenery, firing Koetter is downright stupid. Wouldn’t put it past the Glazers though
November 4th, 2018 at 11:06 pm
The one thing about the Glazers is they like to aim high with coaching hires. The Bucs have usually been an awful situation but I’d like to think we have enough offensive talent to entice somebody for a change.
November 4th, 2018 at 11:07 pm
Harbaugh would be an upgrade for sure…
Dirk Koetter and his entire coaching staff blows…Even Licht will be lucky to live to see another offseason if we continue sucking…Dirk and Smitty are literally doing the same thing that got them ran out of Atlanta…
November 4th, 2018 at 11:07 pm
I would think John Harbaugh would choose the Denver Broncos over the Buccaneers if both teams offered him the head coaching position. More likely that the Bucs will have to go the Raheem route of hoping to strike gold with a younger head coach like Sean McVay. Heck, even Tony Dungy and Jon Gruden were both fairly young when they arrived in Tampa.
November 4th, 2018 at 11:12 pm
We wish. Him or his brother…
November 4th, 2018 at 11:13 pm
Is the Big Tuna too old for a comeback?
November 4th, 2018 at 11:16 pm
I aren’t want no rookie HCs…….including college guys
November 4th, 2018 at 11:22 pm
LMAO! @ WhaDaPlank!!
November 4th, 2018 at 11:24 pm
Seems like a good fit – and since he’s not an offensive coach so it’s possible you don’t have to deal with a rebuild and instead you keep Monken and keep that offense in tack. That’s what the Bucs did with Gruden, they said you’re here to fix the offense and kept the defense and the defensive staff completely in tact.
November 4th, 2018 at 11:48 pm
I wouldn’t be against it. It won’t happen though. Glazers don’t hire successful head coaches.
November 4th, 2018 at 11:48 pm
So we’re rooting for another coach on the hot seat to come save us like Lovie Smith who got to worse after taking a year off? I literally don’t care who gets hired as long as dirk and licht are gone. Maybe the eagles d coordinator. Definitely doesn’t need to be an offensive guy this offense just needs the qb to wake up
November 4th, 2018 at 11:54 pm
i’m with ya rod munch, get harbaugh to fix the defense keep on the monken offense show and see what happens
November 4th, 2018 at 11:57 pm
joes pulling out a little ruskie there with troika
November 5th, 2018 at 12:05 am
If John Harbaugh was any good he would not be leaving the Ravens. When has recycling a losing coach ever worked? Finding a McVay is not easy but they are out there, however, why would they want to come to Tampa?? No one is even sure who the QB will be next year. No running game. Below average defense and a GM that only hits on half his draft picks, if that. Tampa is a nice city to live in but a depressing place to coach and play. Good luck finding the next McVay!
November 5th, 2018 at 12:13 am
Larry, I don’t think recycling losing coach’s work too often. That’s why recycling Harbaugh sounds like a good idea because he is a winning coach.
November 5th, 2018 at 12:21 am
Just back the Brinks Truck up to Jimmy Johnson and bite the bullet.
Give him entire control for the next decade and committee to it.
November 5th, 2018 at 12:22 am
Sign over the Aquafina contract to Jimmy and call it a day.
November 5th, 2018 at 12:41 am
Maybe Bill Cowher saw that 100M contract Gruden signed and wants one himself.
November 5th, 2018 at 12:59 am
Would be a great hire. Also be a bad move by the Ravens. Dont know what ya got until its gone. If they got rid of Harbaugh it would remind me of the Bucs getting rid of Dungy. Sometimes ownership feels they need a different voice then regret it for the next 2 decades.
November 5th, 2018 at 1:01 am
It is very simple. The Bucs have an above average offense and a below average defence. If they had a defense Winston would not have to take so many risks because he is behind by 3 scores by the second quarter. Get a defense that can hold opponents to 21 points and the Bucs are a playoff team, even if Uncle Rico was calling the plays.
November 5th, 2018 at 3:39 am
this is not a below average defense at this point…you guys are being way too kind…i’m a long time bucs fan and used to solid defense around here…we’ve never really had an offense like this…but this is not a below average defense…it is potentially one of the worst nfl defense to ever suit up and step on a field in a lot of categories…so please wake up – this is a major major issue – and hurts our offense substantially, and causes fitzie or jameis to always be pushing the envelope because we are deep in the rabbit hole almost immediately after kickoff
November 5th, 2018 at 5:50 am
These teams will need new HCs
Denver
Ny Jets
Clev
Miami
Arizona
Possibly…
Balt
Jacksonville
Green bay
Dallas
Who would want to head coach the Yucs when you can choose these teams?
November 5th, 2018 at 5:59 am
I want Jimmy Johnson! And if we can’t get him go hard after Nick Saban!
November 5th, 2018 at 6:05 am
time to clean house, Hire Derrick Brooks as President of Football operations and let him hire the right person
November 5th, 2018 at 6:15 am
Why would a good coach come here when the marching orders will be to “fix JW3” and to “build another defense around GMC” so that he can retire a buc so they can crowbar him into that stupid ring of honor???????
November 5th, 2018 at 6:21 am
Oh man, no way. Can’t stand the guys offense constantly trots out there. His brother tho, that’s a different story.
November 5th, 2018 at 6:22 am
Kobe you hit the nail on the head. Bad teams are always in competition with OTHER bad teams for GMs and Coaches. Everyone (including Joe) seems to be focusing on who the next HC should be. Wrong approach IMO. Focus instead on hiring a highly-experienced President of Football Operations FIRST. Let HIM be the one to create a VISION for the Bucs and THEN figure out who’s best qualified to run it. President of Football Operations FIRST … new GM SECOND … new Coaching staff THIRD. Rebuild this sucker from the TOP DOWN, not bottom up.
November 5th, 2018 at 6:33 am
That stupid davis penalty yesterday does not happen to a top tier coached team. Clown was woofing down by 3 tds. Mike Macarthy will be available and Josh McDaniel is a good fit with the pieces already in place.
November 5th, 2018 at 6:42 am
Agreed DF
I believe Glazer Boys going to admit they were too close with the GM and all his BSing
“***Hiring a President of operations, there is more ingrained ACCOUNTABILITY in this system of hierarchy”
Kobe Faker
November 5th, 2018 at 7:11 am
Nick Saban?
No thanks to the quitter who walked away,from Miami DURING the season. He wouldnt touch this cluster fudge with a 20 ft pole anyway. He is a great college coach but not for the nfl, just because you are great in college dont necessarily equate that in the nfl always
November 5th, 2018 at 7:12 am
Mike McCarthy might be available also.
November 5th, 2018 at 7:17 am
The offensove roster is attractive to any offensive minded coach. But.if Josh Daniels passed up Andrew Luck he’ll pass up Jameis. I for one thinks it’s time to call Colin Kaepernick. The dude balled out in San Fran with average players. Imagine what kind of threat he would bring to this division with his mobility.
#New HC #New GM #I Want Kaepernick
November 5th, 2018 at 7:44 am
Jimmy Johnson? Nicky Saban/Satan? And Kapernick for the “hat trick”. Desperation Nation has reached a fevered pitch…
November 5th, 2018 at 8:11 am
El_Buc941
LOL That can hasn’t played football in forever and I’d only like watching him play if he got smashed on every dropback.
November 5th, 2018 at 8:26 am
HHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! It’s Déjà vu all over again
November 5th, 2018 at 8:50 am
I would love John Harbaugh. In his 11 years as a head coach, he has only had two losing seasons.
But it’s not going to happen. The Ravens would he absolutely insane to fire him. Then again, insanity happens all the time.
Frankly, I think Jim Harbaugh would be a better fit though, because of his time the past few years in college coaching. The NFL is becoming more and more like the college games. The rule changes at least. College coaches are better suited to make the adjustments.
If the Glazers can get Jim Harbaugh to sign on as head coach, he’d probably get most of his staff from colleges too, and I’ve been saying that would be the best thing so far as our defense.
But in the end, the Bucs have as much chance of getting a Harbaugh to be head coach as they do of getting Bill Purcell.
November 5th, 2018 at 8:53 am
El_Buc941, if the Buccaneers sign Kaepernick, that will be the last straw for me. The trend he started of kneeling during the anthem is an insult to veterans and soldiers alike, including the long list of my family members who served this nation.
November 5th, 2018 at 8:57 am
Defense Rules,
I could get behind that, but who would you suggest? I doubt Dungy would do it.
What other candidates are there? We’d need someone familiar with the new rules limiting defenses, and someone who understands how to get someone who can adjust to those rules. He’d also have to be at least partially offensively minded, because if whoever comes in starts tearing this offense apart, a lot of fans will jump ship.
November 5th, 2018 at 9:06 am
I prefer to keep Koetter.
In fact, the only offensive coach I would replace is the Running Backs coach.
However, the Defensive decisions need to be taken out of Koetter’s hands, just like the offensive ones were taken out of Dungy’s hands with the Colts.
If a president is told to leave the offense alone (except for addressing the running game and bringing in a new QB Coach), and to focus on the defense, I think that would be the best move.
Because, frankly, no one the Bucs can get as Head Coach is going to be better than Koetter with the offense.
Regardless of the turnovers from Jameis, in most games he always led the team back to nearly win those games, except for a couple instances. If the defense had limited opposing scores, we would have won big time.
Hate on Jameis all you want, you’re going to anyway. But he only self destructs when things go horribly wrong on defense. Otherwise, he keeps his head. The popular thing might be to give up on him, but all these people saying he’s a bust now, will deny saying it in 5 years when he’s proven out to be elite. And hte Bucs will have given up on him.
So far as I can tell, Monken is the failure with Jameis. HE is the one who spends the most time with him. He is the one who should have coached out the issues. Koetter has a whole team to run. His time is more limited. Monken if the one who screwed up Jameis so far.
November 5th, 2018 at 9:38 am
Yes Harbaugh is different from all of our head coaches except Tony Dungy and Gruden. Hes a winner.
November 5th, 2018 at 10:41 am
My guess, management felt betrayed by Winston and want to release him, but don’t want an injury this year to force them to spend all that caproom on him next year. So a deal was made with Koetter not to play him and they’ll guarantee Koetter keeps his job.
We’ll see. I think given how lousy the team looks and how any coach would be fired for it, if Koetter is here in 2019 and Winston isn’t, then we’ll know.
November 5th, 2018 at 11:05 am
Gone are the days of Vince Lombardi and his 6 running plays. A good NFL coach needs to be prepared for anything. A younger enthusiastic coach who has his team prepared is the way to go. The Rams have set the blueprint for what was a dumpster fire and is now a lightening show. I agree with the guys who have stated get a President of Football Operations. Have him assess this mess and get started turning it around.
November 5th, 2018 at 11:07 am
For what? Why?
I mean seriously Joe – After LB Ray Lewis (Retired), FS Ed Reed (FA), DT Haloti Ngata (FA) – Baltimore has been a shell of its former glory. Makes you wonder who was really the backbone of that team.
Besides you are only as good as the coaching staff you can assemble.
And don’t get me wrong Baltimore had one of the best from 2008-2013
Example(s)
Offensive Coordinator(s)
• Jim Caldwell (QB/OC)
• Cam Cameron (OC)
• Jim Zorn (QB)
• Hue Jackson (QB)
• Jim Hostler (WR)
Defensive Coordinator (s):
• Rex Ryan (DC)
• Chuck Pagano (DB/DC)
• Teryl Austin (DB)
• Dean Pees (LB/DC)
• Clarence Brooks (DL)
• Greg Mattison (LB/DC)
• Vic Fangio (LB)
• Ted Monachino (LB)
• Mike Pettine (QC/LB)
But that list is full of sour grapes & burned relationships.
And his current skeleton crew ain’t getting the job done.
So ask yourself – who can he assemble?
Mind U he coming off *5 consecutive seasons of at/or under .500 at the mid-way point.
Sooo
November 5th, 2018 at 11:08 am
“Keep An Eye On John Harbaugh”
For what? Why?
I mean seriously Joe – After LB Ray Lewis (Retired), FS Ed Reed (FA), DT Haloti Ngata (FA) – Baltimore has been a shell of its former glory. Makes you wonder who was really the backbone of that team.
Besides you are only as good as the coaching staff you can assemble.
And don’t get me wrong Baltimore had one of the best from 2008-2013
Example(s)
Offensive Coordinator(s)
• Jim Caldwell (QB/OC)
• Cam Cameron (OC)
• Jim Zorn (QB)
• Hue Jackson (QB)
• Jim Hostler (WR)
Defensive Coordinator (s):
• Rex Ryan (DC)
• Chuck Pagano (DB/DC)
• Teryl Austin (DB)
• Dean Pees (LB/DC)
• Clarence Brooks (DL)
• Greg Mattison (LB/DC)
• Vic Fangio (LB)
• Ted Monachino (LB)
• Mike Pettine (QC/LB)
But that list is full of sour grapes & burned relationships.
And his current skeleton crew ain’t getting the job done.
So ask yourself – who can he assemble?
Mind U he’s coming off *5 consecutive seasons of at/or under .500 at the mid-way point.
Sooo
November 5th, 2018 at 11:45 am
Correction: For the *fourth consecutive season, the Ravens are at or under .500 at the midseason mark
November 5th, 2018 at 11:59 am
It won’t make any difference who the HC is if they don’t get rid of Licht.
November 5th, 2018 at 12:08 pm
@LUVMYBUCS, you just saved me a bunch of typing. thoughtfully stated. there’s a little bit of Lovie in the Harbaugh hire, a coach who got very comfortable in his previous gig riding future Hall of Famers he did not draft to some consistently good seasons. He will demand too much coming in, overestimate his ability to recreate the magic of his first gig, and blow up more stuff than he needs to before running himself out of town. Not unlike the path Gruden is already on in Oakland and would have put the bucs on had he gotten the job back
November 5th, 2018 at 12:17 pm
the problem with teams like the bucs is that there is no organizational backbone or self awareness to check a coach who is exhibiting either overreaching arrogance (lovie, latter day gruden) or inexperienced ignorance (morris, koetter…schiano had a little bit of both)…much less picking a guy who won’t veer towards either. So they yo yo from philosophy to philosophy with no sense of continuity or general values from regime to regime…just hoping to get lucky with the latest person they hand the keys to
November 5th, 2018 at 1:54 pm
Joe likes the idea of a seasoned head coach battling against the beastly coaches in the NFC South.
I Agree.
November 5th, 2018 at 3:56 pm
I’d take Harbaugh (I doubt this happens). Norv Turner, a big no.
November 5th, 2018 at 6:08 pm
Bruce Arien’s would be a great choice.
November 5th, 2018 at 7:21 pm
The Glazers fired Gruden because Raheem interviewed for the Broncos head coaching job. They thought he would be another version of Mike Tomlin. Three years later, they passed on Mike Zimmer and hired Schiano. The 49ers interviewed Dirk and he probably would have been Bill Walsh the second so Lovie got fired. Hiring head coaches, just like the draft, has become a crapshoot.
I think if Harbaugh gets fired, he’ll take a year off and wait for a better job to open up.
November 9th, 2018 at 1:02 am
John Harbaugh or Mike McCarthy, Mike drop.
November 10th, 2018 at 10:36 pm
John Harbaugh as HC, Jason Garrett as OC/Assistant HC