Report: Butch Davis Will Lead Bucs’ Defense
February 9th, 2012
He surely didn’t come cheap. He’s got Super Bowl rings. And Joe suspects he’s not about to take any crap from his players.
Butch Davis has joined the Buccaneers as a “senior defensive assistant” coach, so reports Alex Marvez of FOXSports.com. No, Joe has no clue what that title really means, or if the title is accurate. But Marvez is credible and Davis is sure to be wearing pewter and red.
A source told FOXSports.com that Davis was hired Thursday as a senior defensive assistant. Davis will work closely with new Bucs head coach Greg Schiano and whomever the team ultimately names its defensive coordinator.
After winning a national championship at the University of Miami, Davis was hired by the Cleveland Browns as their head coach in 2001. Davis was unable to duplicate his college success, resigning under pressure just before the end of the 2004 season. Davis had a 24-35 overall record with the Browns, but he did lead Cleveland to what remains its lone playoff appearance since returning to the NFL in 1999 as an expansion team.
It will be interesting to see if the Bucs really bring in a defensive coordinator, or whether Davis and Schiano effectively share the role. As the Cowboys’ defensive line coach during their glory years, Joe is very intrigued to see who comes in as the next D-line coach — or perhaps there will be two working under Davis’ watch.
Marvez also reports that NFL coaching veteran Jimmy Raye, Jr. will be a senior offensive assistant, though Marvez did not report that Raye will work closely with Schiano.
It will be interesting to see how many coaches the Bucs end up with. Perhaps Schiano is trying to build a staff that ensures he has a close eye — and a firm grip — on the new “Buccaneer Way” he plans to instill.
Joe has no problem with Davis, and Joe surely wouldn’t mind if Davis’ University of Miami ties help Jonathan Vilma find his way to the middle of the Bucs’ defense.
February 9th, 2012 at 8:52 pm
Hells yeah! I love it! This is huge! Sofa king pumped.
February 9th, 2012 at 8:54 pm
Get Tomsula as d-line coach now and we’re set on defense. Great hire.
February 9th, 2012 at 8:54 pm
I like it and more importantly, Greg Schiano likes it…..obviously.
I makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it? This is a hire we’ve all been half expecting for
quite awhile.
Next.
February 9th, 2012 at 8:55 pm
Great news man! Things are looking up!
February 9th, 2012 at 8:56 pm
The important thing is Davis won two superbowls under the Cowboys as their D line coach one year and their d coordinator the other. Great hire but I do hope we hire someone better for OC other than Raye.
February 9th, 2012 at 8:57 pm
totally awesome news. tip of the hat to dom and the glazer boys.
instant credibility.
February 9th, 2012 at 8:58 pm
What is with the Defensive assistant label?? Is he gonna bail in a year??
February 9th, 2012 at 9:00 pm
Sweet!
I want assistant to the assistant waterboy.
February 9th, 2012 at 9:01 pm
@ FLBoyInDallas
Why not DC? Tomsula is already a DL coach and with Butch being the “sr. defensive asst” it’s clear he’d rather not coordinate the defense. Bring Tomsula in as the understudy to Butch and Schiano. That would be something…even though I’m sure the Niners wont let him go 🙁
February 9th, 2012 at 9:02 pm
@ jvato24
That’s what I’m thinking too.
February 9th, 2012 at 9:03 pm
@sensiblebuc i dont think tomsula is under contract for the niners. Hes unemployed.
February 9th, 2012 at 9:04 pm
Either way Davis is running the D. And that is some of the best news we’ve heard yet. Now it doesn’t really matter who the coordinator is honestly.
All focus is now on the Offensive side of the ball.. Who’s the guess for that side. And god i hope they bring someone who will work magic on Freeman instead of a lame duck Olsen2.0
February 9th, 2012 at 9:06 pm
Then we need to Grab Tomsula. Plain and simple. I love the idea of him working under Davis and Schiano. Our D would be strong coming into next year.
February 9th, 2012 at 9:07 pm
I think the label basically means. We couldn’t find a good Coord this year. So Davis will come in get the ship right. While also training an understudy to take the steering wheel in a year or 2.
February 9th, 2012 at 9:10 pm
joe it now says he will be naked d coridnator footballscooptwitter source
February 9th, 2012 at 9:10 pm
lol named not naked
February 9th, 2012 at 9:19 pm
@Clayburn
Can’t seem to find that he is jobless anywhere. This is the only thing I could find:
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/bucs/content/49ers-jim-tomsula-name-watch-bucs-search
February 9th, 2012 at 9:23 pm
say goodbye to the excuses 93………
February 9th, 2012 at 9:24 pm
For what it is worth I think the Bucs are offering three year contract to assistants. Have no idea about coordinators. But I read earlier today that Lazor turned down a “three” year offer. This was from a UVa web site. Three years isn’t a bad deal.
February 9th, 2012 at 9:24 pm
I’d prefer he was DC but the knowledge and experience are a huge plus!!! Hope he get this Def playing like it should!!!
February 9th, 2012 at 9:27 pm
The love the two veteran hires to oversee offense and defense. I’m hoping a Hue Jackson hire isn’t far off. With the Glazer boys being so sneaky, there’s no telling who’s being looked at.
February 9th, 2012 at 9:28 pm
Butch brings in Vilma and convinces us to somehow get Zach Brown, and guess who has a linebacking corps?
February 9th, 2012 at 9:29 pm
@sensiblebuc i wasnt sure if he was or not. I was just assuming but he would be a another great hire for the bucs.
February 9th, 2012 at 9:32 pm
This is a good hire. Davis is qualified and capable of running this defense
It’s their first qualified hire. Hope we find some one as qualified for the offense.
Then at least Schiano will have a punchers chance.
But this hiring gives me a small glimmer of hope
IF Davis is the DC
February 9th, 2012 at 9:36 pm
Really starting to hate this spam filter, Joe. 2 posts spammed and neither had htnl.
Please stop complaining. You’re getting tossed into “moderation” for using a new name. Joe
February 9th, 2012 at 9:38 pm
MARTY?
February 9th, 2012 at 9:42 pm
joe any word on the footballscoop twitter site saying he is our new d cordinator?
February 9th, 2012 at 9:43 pm
W620 keeps claiming the Bucs hired 8 new coaches- is it True?
Who are they, and what do they coach?
Anybody know?
February 9th, 2012 at 9:52 pm
As usual, I’m not reading this at all like you guys are. Schiano has hired two consiglieres, counselors if you will. They wil have no line responsibility. If Schiano is the “Don”, sitting at his right hand is Davis, Senior Defensive Assistant to counsel him in all things defense. Sitting at his left hand is Jimmy Raye II, Senior Offensive Assistant, to co duties. Makes sense to meunsel him in all things offense. There will be a DC that will have line responsibility in the typical sense and will be over all defensive position coaches. And likewise there wil be an OC with corresponding duties.
February 9th, 2012 at 9:54 pm
@ Capt.Tim 2.2
PR reports all the names but says they are all not confirmed yet.
They say we also started signing FA to future contracts. Most from our practice squad. But did also sign LB Curran.
February 9th, 2012 at 9:55 pm
My post got garbled in the middle there but you get my opinion.
February 9th, 2012 at 10:03 pm
Great Hire…
Raiders just cut Stanford Routt as a salary cap casualty. For the right price this could be a GREAT FA pick up for the bucs. He ranked 19th by Football Outsiders out of all NFL CBs this last year. Instant upgrade to worst CB in league history EJ BIGGERS
February 9th, 2012 at 10:10 pm
Dont knowif it means anything but theTexans refer to Ray Rhodes as their “Senior Defensive Assistant” and Wade Phillips as their Defensive Coordinator.
Could mean a defensive coordinator may also be on the horizon.
February 9th, 2012 at 10:16 pm
Good hire. Def brings legit experience that is desperately needed.
February 9th, 2012 at 10:19 pm
@matthew,
Dom and Glazers I believe would have to pick up his 54 million dollar contract, that’s not happening. If they do, that will be the only FA signing.
February 9th, 2012 at 10:28 pm
@ Rrsrq
After he passes through waivers they can pick him up for free. No worries.
February 9th, 2012 at 10:31 pm
Captain Tim.. Go to the 620 website and it lists their positions they’ve coached and where they come from. I tried copy and pasting it yesterday but it didn’t go thru.
February 9th, 2012 at 10:37 pm
@sensible,
Thx, well lets go get him, upgrade and still draft claiborne
February 9th, 2012 at 10:39 pm
This makes me feel alot better,SHEW…
Now if they will spend some money on free agents!!!
February 9th, 2012 at 10:39 pm
Great!! Now lets go get Marc Trestman outta Montreal for OC
February 9th, 2012 at 10:41 pm
Thank you SensibleBuc for actually understanding the NFL. No one is projected to pick up his 54mil contract so once he clears waivers he’s a UFA. If the bucs could get him in the 7 to 8mil a yr range for 4 years, and draft Claiborne. We’d fill a major hole on our defense instantly.
February 9th, 2012 at 10:42 pm
Wow…I haven’t heard Testman’s name mentioned since this all started. I wonder if he is even on the radar. He’d be a great hire…IMO.
February 9th, 2012 at 10:43 pm
What about special teams coach, with upcoming combine, it would be nice to fill that position also. Bring back Dwayne stukes and give him something to work with
February 9th, 2012 at 10:44 pm
No waivers for Routt part of the new CBA a player released before the official start date of Free Agency this year March 13th. Routt already has visits setup with Buffalo and Tennessee.
February 9th, 2012 at 11:10 pm
Butch Davis did not win a national championship @ Miami. left the year before. Mr Peanuts won it
February 9th, 2012 at 11:44 pm
Grimes, Finnegan, Carr > Routt
Hard to overlook Routt’s 17 penalties in 2011 and 11 penalties in 2010.
February 9th, 2012 at 11:52 pm
senior defensive assistant” coach sound like DC. I’m thrilled to hear about this!!
February 9th, 2012 at 11:56 pm
Profootball outsiders ranked him 19th, but they had EJ Biggers as a top 10 CB last year!!!! Yet another credible resource to add to the interwebs
February 10th, 2012 at 12:13 am
Bucfan20 and Brad- thanks guys!
February 10th, 2012 at 12:15 am
@ Matthew…
Talk about “actually understanding the NFL” and still get It wrong….smh.
HolyBuc is right, no waivers for Routt. His agent said he has those visits lined up, which he wouldn’t be able to do if he had to wait for a waiver claim.
If ur going to try to put other people down, it might help to actually know what you’re talking about first.
February 10th, 2012 at 12:31 am
Big Marion know before you mouth off and try to sound smart. I was referring to the fact that Sensible understood no one would be on the hook for for the 56mil the raiders extended his contract for. No one was mentioned by named or being ripped, you just decided to stick your nose in it. So pot meet kettle with your “know what you are talking about comment before putting people down”.
Big Picture Biggers was not in the top of Football Outsiders rankings this
He was ranked in the BOTTOM 12 of CBs (rightfully so) as of week 12 this year, google it since Joe doesn’t like Links in the comments
February 10th, 2012 at 12:35 am
The first sign of legitimacy for the Bucs. Now lets get the OC/DC and sign some FA’s to come in and help these quitters. First thing first, make people earn their positions.
February 10th, 2012 at 1:04 am
Hold the phone…
Stephen Holder says apparently Butch Davis hasnt signed yet. There is a sticking point with his contract at UNC. And Holder says two sources say this isnt a done deal yet.
February 10th, 2012 at 2:10 am
Holder’s saying that Butch’s contract and monies he’s receiving from UNC is contingent on him not getting a “coaching” contract. Thus, the “Senior Defensive Assistant” tag. If this actually goes through…
*crosses fingers
February 10th, 2012 at 2:33 am
Remember when we were certain Chip Kelley was coming here?
Don’t set yourself up for disappointment. I won’t believe it until it’s a done deal!
Get er’ done!
February 10th, 2012 at 6:22 am
Vilma? Really? Im curious as to why Joe and some others are gung ho on this guy. Explain please.
February 10th, 2012 at 7:15 am
If Butch isn’t the official DC, that could be a very good reason why Quinn didn’t want to leave UF. Why go from the #1 guy when comes to Defense to the #3 guy (Schiano is 1 for the Bucs given his background).
February 10th, 2012 at 7:53 am
Routts Ints & Pass Defended were excellent as was what is called his “burn rate” per rotoworld. He is a very solid fa and would be a huge upgrade to what we have.Not elite but very solid
February 10th, 2012 at 8:50 am
great hire…..maybe Sileo will shut his fat pie hole…not possible!
February 10th, 2012 at 8:52 am
Great move
February 11th, 2012 at 1:43 pm
We can only hope Vilma signs here. We should’ve signed him a couple years ago, but that didn’t happen. He is the Peyton Manning on Defense!! He would allow us to play Foster at Sam, which I think fits him better anyways.