Age Not A Factor With Martyball

January 15th, 2012

Of the known candidates to fill the void left by the Bucs jettisoning Raheem Morris, it seems the fan favorite is Marty Schottenheimer.

Though he has a stellar if not pristine record of turning around teams and having a dynamite regular season record, the noose around Schottenheimer’s neck has often been his pathetic postseason record.

But it seems there is another stone being wrapped around his neck, and that is his age. Schottenheimer is 68 and some believe that is too old to coach in the NFL.

This issue was also invoked in a recent NFC South chat with ESPN’s Pat Yasinskas.

Gerald (Wyoming)

I think Marty is what the Bucs need. They have a rb to pound it for Marty ball and the guy wins, what do you think?

Pat Yasinskas

He has a track record of winning in regular season. My only question is if, at 68, he might be too old to coach?

Let’s dispel the age nonsense right now. Steelers defensive coordinator Dick Lebeau is 74 and just had his contract extended. His players worship him and there are few if any better coordinators in the game.

Monte Kiffin was pushing 70 when he left the Bucs. Joe didn’t remember anyone bringing up age then.

Marv Levy was in his 70s when he was coaching the Bills.

Shoot, it took a sex scandal and lung cancer to take Joe Paterno out of the game and he was still winning games. Bobby Bowden was still getting to bowl games in his late 70’s and his successor (thus far) hasn’t done all that much better than Foghorn Leghorn (remember when people screamed for Bowden’s head for playing in the lowly Chumps Bowl?).

After all, how did youth do for the Bucs’ coaching staff recently?

46 Responses to “Age Not A Factor With Martyball”

  1. BucsfaninMi Says:

    MARTY!! Damn it!!!

  2. RastaMon Says:

    Not my idea of football…but the game has been shaped by NFL/TV/revenue$$$$….it is offense folks….yeah I know all about stopping offenses…but the house odds are on offense…..
    so I must say we need an offensive minded HC

  3. Paul W. Says:

    @rasta
    Tell that to the 49ers and you’ll get popped in the mouth

  4. Thomas 2.2 Says:

    Joe,

    I agree with you, excellent commentary. And you didn’t ruin it by injecting “rock star” into it. Very enjoyable.

  5. Thomas 2.2 Says:

    Did Rah Rah leave a void?

  6. NickinMelbourne Says:

    At this point anythings better than Rah ball. I think marty would be a great fit. Blount is a true talent and draft Blackmon and we may have a rejuvenated offense. Bring on marty ball!!!!!!!

  7. Garv Says:

    It’s not Marty’s age that is a concern. 68 is hardly old these days.
    But he has been away from the game a few years and I wonder why he has not had any other serious offers to coach.

    Got to like him though the glazers have got to make up their minds soon.

  8. eric Says:

    His last team led nfl in scoring.

    30.8 points per game.

    What more do you want?

  9. eric Says:

    Nobody has offered Sherman didley squat either except coordinator and college.

  10. chargedcbh13 Says:

    They said the exact same thing about Dick Vermeil, he is too old, he’s been away from the game too long. Marty has NOT been away from the game, get real…

  11. Brent Says:

    Marty’s been in the game UFL and a NFL analyst. I’m sure there’s some cheap talent in the minor leagues he’s been eyeballing and I think this is the right situation he wants…. He’s not thrown his hat into any NFL coach opening the past few years cause I don’t think something was there to excite him….. UNTIL NOW!!!! Marty Ball GO BUCS!!!!

  12. raphael Says:

    HIRE MARTY DAMMIT !

  13. NJBucsFan Says:

    Perry Fewell

  14. Jason Says:

    Shotty has been out of the NFL for a few years but not out of football. He was coaching UFL….and his team just won the championship. Just sayin

  15. MTM Says:

    Like Marty but don’t if I’m ready for tearful press conferences.

  16. JT Says:

    After a few years fans would be glad we brought in Marty! If we don’t… the fans will be kicking their own ass because we didn’t…

  17. chargedcbh13 Says:

    Perry Fewell, lol I wonder why that name popped up? Maybe b/c the Giants are playing as you type….

  18. 2goodbucs Says:

    It’s Marty or bust. I hope Dom & the Glazers do take the fans demands at heart cause this will be the deciding factor of selling tickets or not.

  19. NJBucsFan Says:

    Maybe because I’ve been saying it for 13 days. Go back and check the posts.

  20. HFXBUC Says:

    so Pack are out (soon to be) which opens up their coordinators…I wonder if that will impact the coaching search…

  21. destinedbuc32 Says:

    @HFXBUC I hope you’re right because im looking at Clements or Philbin

  22. mbaby Says:

    They said coaches will be brought n for a second interview meaning the end is near

  23. Matthew Says:

    And winning as I type

  24. CC Says:

    NFC defense wins. NY vs San Fran. Green Bay and New Orleans top ranked offenses are scheduling tee times.

  25. Brad Says:

    It has to be Marty. Coughlin who deserves more credit than he gets is from the same mold as Marty. An old school coach that takes no BS. Come on Glazers make a move. Cause if is Marty or isn’t all the good coordinators to fill the staff will be gone. What are you waiting for? They should have interviews set up the entire weekend. Even if the pop star doesn’t work weekends you guys can.

  26. White Tiger Says:

    Just wndering if there isn’t a discussion waiting to happen with Perry Fewell…once he’s able? Certainly has earned it, and I know I’d love to see it!

    Wow, absolutely DOMINANT against Green Bay in a winner-takes-all game against Aarron Rogers!

  27. Brad Says:

    @Rasta…wrong you are. The two topped ranked offenses are out because of good defenses. It just proves you can’t have a crap D and get thru the playoffs.

  28. Sensiblebuc Says:

    Zimmer to Miami?

    http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/01/15/zimmer-to-miami-picking-up-steam/

  29. A REAL Bucs Fan Says:

    Let’s dispel the age nonsense right now. Steelers defensive coordinator Dick Lebeau is 74 and just had his contract extended. His players worship him and there are few if any better coordinators in the game.

    Monte Kiffin was pushing 70 when he left the Bucs. Joe didn’t remember anyone bringing up age then.

    Marv Levy was in his 70s when he was coaching the Bills.

    I disagree.
    Dick Vermeil is the oldest coach to win a Super Bowl (age 63 when the Rams edged the Titans in Super Bowl XLII).

    If we don’t want a superbowl…sure, give Marty the shot. If we are just looking for a “good” coach…sure, give Marty a shot.

    But if we want a superbowl…FORGET IT.

  30. Brad Says:

    @realbuc. I want to win and get the playoffs. It’s stupid to say you only want a Superbowl. There are tons of young coaches that haven’t won a Superbowl as well. One thing for sure we are way away from getting there. Marty would get us tons closer than we are. Assuming the Glazers spend money as well.

  31. eric Says:

    Exactly the kind of mentality that led to the firing of tony for not winning a super bowl and jon for not winning two.

    Would have thought folks would have learned their lesson.

    How do these current candidates measure up to tony and jon?

    Thought so.

  32. Tom Says:

    LOL, such a tool. Yup Penn State fans and FSU fans really appreciate the final years of their elderly head coaches tenure. Go ask them, or better yet, just spout your bull at all costs. Jimbo Fisher had a 10 and 9 win season is 4-0 against in-state rivals (1-0 against Meyer) whereas Bobby lost to USF at home, got obliterated by UF yearly, was fighting to get above .500 for most of his last four seasons and had an academic cheating scandal vacate 2 seasons worth of wins (wait, you mean both old men had major scandals in their final years? But how could that be?!?!). Yup, I can hear the FSU fans calling for Bobby to return right now….

    The only saving grace is that Bobby and Paterno were “coaching” into their mid 80’s. While only an idiot (Joe) would want to repeat such an experiment again, there is a fairly distinct difference cognitively and physically between someone in their late 60’s and one in their 80’s.

  33. Brown Bag Replaced by Marty and the Bucs? Says:

    If you’re not going to promote someone like Green Bay’s OC into the head coach, then hire Marty and get Green Bay’s QB coach as OC. Give him some time while Marty ressurects us, then MArty reitres and experienced OC takes over. plenty of candidates available.

    But don’t bring Sherman and Chilly here. We need young blood under MArty

  34. gotbbucs Says:

    Brown Bag, that is exactly right. The staff that Schotty could assemble would do more to fixing this team I think than he himself. Being a Coordinator under Marty Schottenheimer opens up alot of doors for people down the road.
    Green Bay being out of the playoffs now should set some things in motion on the coaching front. Seems like a good time for a guy like Clements to move on up to a Coordinator position.

  35. Joe Says:

    Hey idiot Tom, you might want to do some research before you call Joe out.

    Since 2005, Penn State won/shared three Big Ten titles and played in an Orange Bowl and two Rose Bowls. My god, how horrible that Paterno was!

    Joe vividly remembers FSU fans howling about Bowden playing in the Chumps Bowl. Yet the great savior Jimbo Fisher hasn’t yet guided FSU to a New Year’s Day game, and found his team playing in that awful Chumps Bowl!

    My, that Bowden was sure senile, wasn’t he?

    Now who’s the idiot, asshole?

  36. 941-Bucs Says:

    Marty is still winning. He just took his team in UFL to the champsionship game and won.
    Bring him in. Get Hue Jackson and Mike Zimmer. Make Zimmer DC and Asst HC to take over in a few years for Marty.

  37. NJBucsFan Says:

    If Zimmer comes over to be a DC we would have to compensate Cincy. Doesn’t make sense.

  38. A REAL Bucs Fan Says:

    @Brad
    It didn’t work out for skins when they brought back Gibbs.

    Just settle for winning???? We’ve won 3 of the last 5 seasons!!!

    We are not to the point that we should just settle for winning. If a SB is not the goal there is something seriously wrong. That is the kind of thinking that led to 22 losing seasons.

    An SB should always be the goal. That’s what makes dynasties.

  39. A REAL Bucs Fan Says:

    @Brown
    Teams must allow assistants to interview for HC positions but they can block interviews for equal positions or for lessor than HC promotions.

    So Clements as OC is not going to happen. Not to mention Clements is next in line to become OC inGB if Philbin takes anHC offer. Which team would you take theOC position at? He stays in GB he’ll beoffered aHC spot NEXT year. We should offer HIM HC now and get him while we can.

    He’s the smart choice.

  40. A REAL Bucs Fan Says:

    @NJBucsFan
    I think there are tougher rules on team compensation since the trade for Gruden as well.

  41. Name Required Says:

    The way the Niners played this weekend… How about offering Vic Fangio the position?

    He’s been a D-coordinator since the 80s, and he obviously knows how to motivate.

    I think the Bucs could give him an interview.

  42. PCA Says:

    IF COLLEGES COACHES CAN WORK INTO THEIR 80’S THEN WHAT IS WRONG WITH 68…THERE ARE 70 YEAR OLDS OUT THERE THAT CAN LAP PEOPLE IN THEIR 30’S…GIVE MARTY A BREAK…WE JUST WANT TO WIN IN TAMPA!!

  43. A REAL Bucs Fan Says:

    Good lord, common sense is wasted here.

    Joe Gibbs had a winning record. What makes you so sure Marty Would not fail like he did?

    He MIGHT succeed, but don’t lie to yourselves and assume he’s not as big a risk as anyone else.

  44. eric Says:

    Gibbs came into Tampa and beat a pretty good buc team in the 2005 playoffs.

  45. BigMacAttack Says:

    Wow, I don’t quite think I’ve seen Joe own anyone quite so candidly. That was great.

    Dick LeBeau is 74 but he spends in the offseason training in a much better climate. The summer heat for those not accustomed to it can be rendered almost useless. The Bucs really should build an indoor practice facility anyway. Chucky had the one finally in Orlando, but the geniuses decided not to use it Tampa when they deserted Orlando. I think moving from Orlando for training camp was a bonehead move that alienated many of those local fans, and a young team should be somewhere other than home for camp. If you get an old coach, get him some A/C to keep cool when they practice. It may allow them more field time which they really need.

  46. A REAL Bucs Fan Says:

    BigMacAttack
    I think Morris took the players over to the Rays place for some practices as well.