Bucs’ Coordinator Search Hits Bumps
January 8th, 2015
There’s uncertainty and hesitancy on the market
Behind the scenes, Joe is pounding the streets and phones trying to learn everything possible about the Bucs’ search for an offensive coordinator.
That’s how Joe was able to chat with Falcons’ OC Dirk Koetter in Tampa on Friday night before his Bucs interview Saturday.
Last night and this morning, Joe’s sources cast a dark cloud on candidates’ interest in the Bucs job.
Joe was told by multiple sources that recently ousted Bears head coach Marc Trestman, who interviewed for the Tampa Bay OC job, does not have the Bucs high on his wish list.
Joe also was told there is skepticism on the market, rooted in the Bucs’ poor offensive line, questionable quarterback situation and Lovie Smith’s long term job security.
Joe rarely goes the anonymous sources route, but the sharing was warranted in this case.
Of course, further fueling the uncertainty is the large amount of offensive coordinator openings and potential openings.
Brian Schottenheimer, who spent the last three seasons as offensive coordinator in St. Louis, bolted yesterday for the University of Georgia. That leaves offensive coordinator jobs open with the Rams, 49ers, Bills, Jets, Falcons, Bears, Jaguars and Bucs, plus likely openings in Oakland and San Diego, if their OC, Frank Reich, is hired to be Buffalo’s head coach. (Update 10:54 a.m. – Browns, per FOX, let go OC Kyle Shanahan)
Maybe this is all good, giving the Bucs more time to interview and study candidates, and further investigate and scout their next quarterback. That’s a guy they’ll want to marry with the right coordinator.
January 8th, 2015 at 9:32 am
Of course the longer they wait, the less likely viable candidates will be available. Patience is not a virtue in this case. They need to move on this with purpose. They’ve already had 4 months to figure out what/who they want after all.
January 8th, 2015 at 9:33 am
And regarding the Bucs not being an attractive job – every job is attractive with the right incentive = $$$$$$.
January 8th, 2015 at 9:33 am
Hate it but we might have to go to the college ranks….or a retread….maybe an Oline coach upgrading to OC and give him some keys….
January 8th, 2015 at 9:36 am
This is bad news. This is key for us. I really wanted Trestman or Koetter. Open those wallet$$$$$$$$$$$ Glaziers
January 8th, 2015 at 9:38 am
Scott Frost.
January 8th, 2015 at 9:42 am
On Trestman it works both ways. Does anybody else have him high on their list?
January 8th, 2015 at 9:45 am
Just hire Mike Tice Lovie….you know you want to.
January 8th, 2015 at 9:46 am
Tom Edrington for he win.
Lovie the “OC Killah”.
We need to get a strong offensive mind in here. If we get a crap OC hire, expect the crap seasons to keep coming.
January 8th, 2015 at 9:48 am
Is anyone REALLY SURPRISED by this????
Lovie equals a dose of hemlock for a coordinator…..
Lovie isn’t about to change, he’s stubborn and the new NFL rules that let receivers run wild haven’t sunk in with him yet…..
In today’s NFL, Lovie is a Nehru Jacket……totally out of style!
January 8th, 2015 at 9:48 am
SCOTT FROST its not that hard, heard George Whitfield compare Can Newton to Lebrun James on His and Hers well TAMPA its time to get Kevin Durant. Mariota is the hardest worker and will dive into whatever playbook he gets. Even Joe can’t say 100% for sure that Nameis will be because nobody knows he has BUST written on all over him regardless of how well he plays.
Hire Scott Frost, one of the best up and coming coaching talents that has been in a coaching organization who has some of the longest tenured coaches in the NCAA 20+ years!
Isn’t that exactly what we’ve been missing? Any sort of continuity? GO BUCS !
January 8th, 2015 at 9:50 am
Joe, why is Chud not getting many (any?) interviews? He is not my favorite bc I felt that when he was with the Panthers his play calling was showcasing himself instead of the team. But he is certainly capable.
January 8th, 2015 at 9:51 am
This just has Mike Tice, Marty Mornhinweg, or Marcus Arroyo written all over it.
I will be very surprised if we are not ticked off about who gets hired.
The last Lovie confidence poll, I voted no confidence for the first time all year, mainly because I have ZERO confidence he will get this right. Just when I thought Lovie finally got it right, Tedford went cookoo for coco puffs, and flaked out on us!
January 8th, 2015 at 9:53 am
#itsabucslife
January 8th, 2015 at 9:54 am
@Harry
Chud can’t be interviewed until after the Colts season is finished.
January 8th, 2015 at 9:55 am
This is is not even remotely a surprise. Other than the few people on here who unconditionally support Lovie the facts and history are undeniable. He is a complete and total failure when it comes to the offensive side of the ball. I have been saying for weeks no offensive coordinator would come here. No state taxes is the only draw and that’s just not big enough to overcome the idiot in charge known as Lovie Smith. This team was just as dysfunctional as the Schiano era but Lovie gets the benefit of the doubt because he is a good guy versus evil Schiano LOL.. 2-14 you are what your record says you are.
Bribe Trestman and Draft Winston
January 8th, 2015 at 9:56 am
The “Optimist” would say…..at the very least we have an NFL experienced Marcus Arroyo with a new QB and a re-tooled Oline…..wow!!!
January 8th, 2015 at 10:00 am
I agree with the others who’ve mentioned Scott Frost. I think they are waiting, so they can speak with him.
January 8th, 2015 at 10:02 am
Lovie is the common denominator in all things BAD with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers….it has been perfectly clear since the Carolina home opener….this franchise is in worse shape today than a year ago…..
Lovie is an EMPTY suit !!!!
January 8th, 2015 at 10:02 am
Maybe now the glazers will do the right thing and send Lovie packing and hire a new head coach that will not run offensive coordinators to Canada. The glazers have to be embarrassed that their franchise is not desirable for coaching candidates. That’s a direct reflection on them as well. It’s better for the glazer boys just to swallow the 15 plus million and find a respectable coach that has the credibility to hire a staff that is not living in the past.
January 8th, 2015 at 10:07 am
Ok I have heard it all now. The giants are interviewing Raheem for their vacant defensive coordinator position.
Wonder why nobody is ringing Schiano’s phone with all these vacancies?
January 8th, 2015 at 10:09 am
Lovie’s not interested in a high powered offense or high powered offensive coordinator. That’s why he likes a college OC, someone he can mold into what he wants. Tedford had a vision of a explosive offense, Lovie shot that down real quick. #IMO
January 8th, 2015 at 10:12 am
@Chef Paul, exactly how I feel…
Thanks Louis Friend, but if there is interest in interviewing him, no one seems to be saying anything, unlike all the talk about some of Seattle’s assistants, etc.
January 8th, 2015 at 10:12 am
The Bucs are waiting for Sparano. The Raiders are not going to hire him but the Bucs will. That is from my sources…
January 8th, 2015 at 10:13 am
Having the number one pick has to help. Nobody is lining up to coach the offensive mess thats the Jets given they have no quarterback. I think OC’s will shy away from coaching Cutler and the Rams really do not have a great QB situation either. Regardless of how poorly our staff picked an O-Line its much easier to assemble one of those than to go find a franchise QB such as Winston. I think in the end the Bucs will find a quality guy and if we are not high on Trestmans list than let him walk I wasn’t that high on how he revamped Cutler (NOT).
January 8th, 2015 at 10:23 am
Tom Edrington Says:
In today’s NFL, Lovie is a Nehru Jacket……totally out of style!
_____________________________________________________
lol. Or a powder blue leisure suit.
January 8th, 2015 at 10:26 am
let’s see….
horrible O line – one that goes down in history…that bad
Horrible QB – same as above
HC who does not want to score
HC who sold a bill of goods to the last OC who, even as a college coach, did not want to work for lovie
Job security- there is none
did I miss anything? We’ll be lucky to get a scrub. We’ll end up with a lovie yes man, a new QB, and another year of lovie because the QB and offense has not had time to gel. welcome to hell.
January 8th, 2015 at 10:35 am
Bump in the road? You mean for the Bucs? Huh…that’s surprising. I am beginning to believe no one thinks Lovie is the answer. Where is all the clout and tremendous respect around the league for a coach of his stature?
January 8th, 2015 at 10:36 am
It is Really funny to me when I remember those of you that were Totally Stoked that Lovie was going to be our new HC last yr and see you bashing him now.
January 8th, 2015 at 10:38 am
Robert 9
nice list. could not agree with you more. Until the main bleeding is stopped this team is a scene from ER. Moving from one bleeding patient to the next.
The way I see it the Glazers have 2 options; They can strip him of power and sack up or hire a president of football operations that will oversee the coach and gm. Let licht be a gm and let lovie coach. The other option is fire lovie. I’d keep licht. I like him for some reason and it’s unfair to judge him in his current lapdog role. My preference is just cut bait with Lovie as soon as possible its gonna happen anyway. no point in it getting any more messy.
Bribe Trestman – Draft Winston
January 8th, 2015 at 10:41 am
gatrbuc17 – you exactly right. I was one of those fired up over Lovie but it did not take long to see his stubborn ways were going to back fire. The entire BS with Jenkins as a starter was the first sign for me. Blowing up the o-line without a plan sealed the deal for me. But I admit, I drank the kool-aid at the beginning but now the patience are gone. Too much BS flows from his mouth. I feel sorry for him; he is delusional.
January 8th, 2015 at 10:47 am
It is not too late to FIRE LOVIE !!!!
cut the the gangrene
I have had the Glazers back through all…..until now
January 8th, 2015 at 10:48 am
Nobody wants to work for Lovie…..but if they’ll just come in, do their job and document when Lovie wants to override them, then maybe they’ll take his job or at least still be around after Lovie is gone.
January 8th, 2015 at 10:52 am
Harry said” “This is bad news. This is key for us. I really wanted Trestman or Koetter. Open those wallet$$$$$$$$$$$ Glaziers
Where in the article does it even hint at money being a issue. Why is the first reaction to blame it on the Glaziers. This is Lovies and Lichts gig all the way.
January 8th, 2015 at 10:53 am
Even if i was not a bucs fan I would still come to JBF to see all the buc fans at each other throat all the time and all the other soap opera crap we go through, I would just be LMAO at the whole bucs soap opera show year after year..Funny stuff unless you are a buc fan..
January 8th, 2015 at 10:58 am
I agree with Scott Frost. Go all in on the Oregon OC and QB
January 8th, 2015 at 11:03 am
Wow, these are all points that I have been saying since the season ended. Lovie and Licht have heard thanks but no thanks and the old we will call you back so many times already.
The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; The Realist adjusts the sails.
January 8th, 2015 at 11:11 am
Robert 9 where do you get terrible QB??? We have the number one pick and I don’t think anyone is going to call Winston or Mariota a terrible QB. Thats the key piece an OC wants in place and we will have that.
January 8th, 2015 at 11:14 am
Tmax
You know how much I enjoy your posts but if I may nitpick a bit this morning.
No state taxes is the only draw
Whoa…I’m looking out the window at another day in paradise! I’m watching the news last night and the majority of the US including all those other markets are freezing their butts off, scraping, digging, thawing.
Another draw is a complacent media. This is not a dog eat dog town like NYC or Philly or other major markets where it’s 24/7 looking for an excuse to create controversy and biitching. Read ratings!
There is a lot to love about Tampa Bay besides the lack of income taxes.
They can always take their kids to Weekie Wachee for the mermaid show!
BTW seriously…I once did a kayak trip down the Weekie Watchee and it was awesome. And so that is another draw here. We have tons of things to do outdoors. If the person likes to fish or hunt or kayak or backpack or paddle board or……….Tampa is the place to be!
January 8th, 2015 at 11:17 am
And an additional thought Tmax although this will get laughter and derision on a football blog.
IF the new OC has any love of the Arts then Tampa is definitely the place to be.
St. Petersburg has been named the #1 medium sized city for the Arts in the US beating out places like New Orleans and Charlotte. And that’s just St. Pete.
Toss in Tampa’s offerings and Sarasota and while football fans might not appreciate it Tampa Bay has quietly become a leader in the Arts.
January 8th, 2015 at 11:17 am
Just the opposite, Joe. A weak HC is a plus for an incoming OC. Gets the OC in perfect position to be the next HC. Quicker.
January 8th, 2015 at 11:19 am
Why is anyone surprised?
Lovie’s OC is probably the worst job in football. Really. Maybe there is more to the Tedford story?
On a side note, best of luck to Rah in getting the G Men DC position.
January 8th, 2015 at 11:20 am
How can anyone, ANYONE defend Lovie yet here-we-go-again with him costing us something. This time a good OC?
January 8th, 2015 at 11:23 am
Some people thought I was nuts for saying they need to release Lovie now and keep Licht – but Lovie WILL NOT attract a quality OC.
This is going to be a long road and I feel for the qb because Lovie is offensively illiterate.
His philosophy is dated and people know it’s only a matter of time.
Go Bucs – Yuck
January 8th, 2015 at 11:24 am
StPeteBucsFan – Thanks for reminding me of home while I am freezing my arse off out of state at the moment.
The black cloud that is Lovie’s offensive philosophy is flying over potential candidates heads blinding them from the beautiful day outside.
My biggest fear is one of the bottom of barrel candidates or retreads comes in and does a mediocore job and that it’s. They we are stuck withe perpetual cycle of mediocore teams year in and year that sniff the playoffs but are no real threat. that’s my fear with always accepting the next candidate or the third or fourth choice guy.
I think they poster who mentioned Sparano is on to something. Seems like a perfect fit for Lovie and he is used to moving every couple of years.
January 8th, 2015 at 11:25 am
ok Nick2
terrible QB
or rookie QB
pick your poison. The number one pick is great, but not if lovie stifles you and you have a losing season and no job next year.
January 8th, 2015 at 11:27 am
StPeteBucsFan – are you doing volunteer work at the chamber this morning? LOL… Don’t forget the Dali museum which is always a trip.
There are a lot of reasons to draw quality coaches and players to the bay area unfortunately Lovie is not one of them.
January 8th, 2015 at 11:30 am
The Buc Realist Said:
“The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; The Realist adjusts the sails.”
I like it, but I just use a ‘motor’ boat, and ignore the wind all together.
January 8th, 2015 at 11:31 am
Lol you can tell lovie haters anything and they believe how pathetic. My anonymous sources say it’s an attractive job unless your picking the quarterback who did one specific scheme. What offensive coordinator in the NFL has a best on the job security of a 1st year coach like lovie Smith… Damn unnamed sources really people? Joe I gotta give it to you for being the ultimate online skip bayless because they love it in Tampa
January 8th, 2015 at 11:38 am
Wrong answer!!! Lovie is not a first year coach. Unlike his predecessor, he has had NFL HC experience and a year in his basement doing odd things with Tedford! Lovie was canned in Chicago because they were smarter than Team Glazer and knew a 10 win season only mean’t that Lovie would never take them to a win in the Super Bowl!
The first pick in the draft does not matter….the OC does not matter until Team Glazer eventually picks a capable head coach. Until then, all we have are wasted seasons watching the Lovie Loser network. Blah blah blah….it is all the same crap. Kind of like listening to the Big Poodle played backwards.
Team Glazer needs to fire this loser and his entire staff and start over. Lovie can go beg for a job on Friday Night Tykes…..although I don’t think he would be hired there either.
January 8th, 2015 at 11:39 am
This was both foreseeable and expected…. Out of all the teams that are looking for OC, the Bucs are the last team on my list if I were an OC…
It is the greatest risk for failure and possibly career suicide…. The only way to make that OC job more appealing right away is to fire Lovie… He is part of the problem NOT the solution!
January 8th, 2015 at 11:40 am
It is NOT TOO late to FIRE LOVIE !!!!
January 8th, 2015 at 11:47 am
Kyle Shanahan fired by the Browns; guess he took the blame for the Johnny Football/Hoyer fallout…. So there is another name out there that might land an interview unless he ends up coaching with his Dad Mike if he lands one of these head coaching vacancies….
January 8th, 2015 at 11:55 am
@Greg Schiano
First year with the bucs as head coach you dinglehopper!!! Did I really have to clarify? No nevermind don’t answer I’m pretty sure it hurts you to think
January 8th, 2015 at 11:57 am
Fort Myers Dave
Re: Kyle Shanahan… Unfortunately, it also opens up another OC position that needs to be filled and drives up the competition among the candidates. “So, Coach [INSERT NAME HERE]. tell us what you think YOU can do with Johnny Football and Josh Gordon.”
January 8th, 2015 at 12:04 pm
fire the entire staff and start over? pay 3 head coaches at once? yea damn you sound like a broke ass fan that doesn’t understand the value of money and how paying 3 coaches at one time would affect your reputation around the league as an owner….does that sound like anyone you would want to go work for? nevermind I wouldn’t want to strain your brain…we’re already a laughing stock but to go fire proven coach to hire someone unknown or someone that has just been fired is just downright stupid. not to mention you’d have to pay the gm and the rest of the coaches salary. kinda dumb to keep saying it even though lovie is fully involved in an offensive coaching search so obviously it’s not going to happen so can you please focus on reality of what could actually happen
January 8th, 2015 at 12:17 pm
I get it. Why would an established OC want to come to a team that will view 7-9 as a good season?
January 8th, 2015 at 12:25 pm
Architek Says:
Some people thought I was nuts for saying they need to release Lovie now and keep Licht – but Lovie WILL NOT attract a quality OC.
—————————
Nuts? The 40% clueless and confident maybe.
You were right back then…. and still are.
January 8th, 2015 at 12:29 pm
whether lovie loses his job or not next season I would not get rid of Jason licht I think with limited picks last year we did a good job and only drafted all offensive players and with no second round pick I think we got talent so im interested to see what he does in this years draft beyond the first overall pick because those are going to be the picks that helps whatever quarterback in his development
January 8th, 2015 at 12:32 pm
@bucs4lyfe
so your plan is to pay 2 coaches and stay at the bottom of the division???
nice plan, lol
The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; The Realist adjusts the sails.
January 8th, 2015 at 12:37 pm
I warned against this. People always calling for firings create unstable environments,
5, 3, 2. The number of years coaches last here.
That said, I don’t buy it.
January 8th, 2015 at 12:39 pm
So Lovie’s hand picked OC didnt want to work for him and now it appears nobody else does either…. only 12 more months til we can try again. It’s tough being a Bucs fan.
January 8th, 2015 at 12:40 pm
You people are idiots. It’s the constant firings that re scaring off OCs, not Lovie himself.
Learn to read.
January 8th, 2015 at 12:41 pm
Not often a new OC gets to build with a #1. Doesn’t sound like this #1 is enough of a lure to take the job. What’s that tell us about the pick?
January 8th, 2015 at 12:45 pm
Pull your head out of your ass Bonzai. Lovie is a Joke. And your idiotic posts defending him are a punch line waiting to happen. In the end he will hire a mediocre OC because nobody of any real value will want to work with a HC that will be fired very shortly for incompetence.
January 8th, 2015 at 12:52 pm
Couch Fan Says:
January 8th, 2015 at 12:45 pm
Pull your head out of your ass Bonzai. Lovie is a Joke.
so was your mike glennon theory…..no sense hiring an OC that’s going to be gone in a couple years for a head coaching job, If I was lovie yes i’d be looking for someone to commit to my team for atleast 3 years so my new qb can develop, if your hiring someone who has head coaching aspirations right out of the gate….any kind of improvement by this team is going to have them immediately up for consideration as early as next season especially if our offense finally wakes up so yea I would be selective about who I hire, think it’s as easy as see a guy hire a guy? lol whatever happened to wanting mcnulty as an offensive coordinator hahaha
January 8th, 2015 at 2:20 pm
Wasn’t it just a week ago all these sources were saying this was an attractive job? Now all of a sudden it really isn’t that attractive at all? That is a bummer. I don’t see why it wouldn’t be, the OC will have full rein over the offense, and that they will have a freshly out of school elite QB prospect to work with. All that needs to be fixed is the O-line and to groom a QB, oh and of course implement a system that works in the NFL. If a coordinator finds that too much then do we really want that guy anyway?
January 8th, 2015 at 2:22 pm
The thing that makes it attractive is that if said coordinator were to have any sort of success they would immediately by candidates for head coaching jobs down the road.
January 8th, 2015 at 2:51 pm
I would expect nothing less than bumps in the road for the Bucs quest to fill the OC position. This is the Bucs we are talking about after all. As a potential OC candidate, I find it very odd that there would be not a large amount of interest. Lovie Smith’s coaching stronghold will depend on improvement. With the choice of QB, Mike Evans, and V Jax and a competent running game, an OC should be confident he can reshape the O Line and do some big things. I disagree that OC’s wouldn’t be interested in the gig. Trestman may not have the Bucs number 1 on his wish list but he interviewed and there are other candidates available. I think it may be fruitful to move to a forward thinking pass heavy O.C.
January 8th, 2015 at 2:57 pm
lion Says:
January 8th, 2015 at 2:22 pm
The thing that makes it attractive is that if said coordinator were to have any sort of success they would immediately by candidates for head coaching jobs down the road.
_________________________________________________________________
The thing that makes it extremely unattractive is the Bucs are an 0-3 start next year from that OC not having a job in 2016. The shaky job security is the biggest factor scaring people away. Most of the other oppenings are guaranteeing at least 2 years of security.
January 8th, 2015 at 5:07 pm
I really wish Tresman would come here.
January 8th, 2015 at 5:38 pm
@Architek
“Some people thought I was nuts for saying they need to release Lovie now and keep Licht – but Lovie WILL NOT attract a quality OC.”
I don’t think we thought you were nuts… Just stupid..
Simple as that.
January 8th, 2015 at 6:40 pm
Lovie smiths job security is one of the reasons I posited that this was a good time to dump him and go with an offensive specialist. What OC worth anything is going to come here withh the knowledge that Lovie Smith is on a hot seat? If Lovie does a terrible job this year (likely), the new guy is going to be looking for another new job soon.
January 9th, 2015 at 8:27 am
Bucc nation,we welcome you Dirk Koetter…