George Warhop Stays?
January 17th, 2015
It appears Bucs OL coach George Warhop won’t be looking for work.
To the swing-and-a-miss of Anthony Collins, to the left-his-heart-in-New England Logan Mankins, to the underwhelming Evan Dietrich-Smith, to the mistake that was Oniel Cousins, to the small glimmer of light that is Demar Dotson, the Bucs offensive line was nothing short of a trainwreck last season.
One reason turnover-prone Josh McCown struggled in 2014 (other than, well, McCown was what his career record said he was: a journeyman) was the sieve of a front line. As a result, Bucs fans wanted to toss offensive line coach George Warhop into Tampa Bay without a life preserver.
For those fans, Joe passes on bad news, via a throwaway paragraph by Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune.
In the last paragraph of his story on the ousting of ill-suited acting offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Marcus Arroyo, Cummings offers that Warhop is among the many Bucs assistants returning for the 2015 season.
Licht, Smith and Koetter are expected to interview quarterback coach candidates during the Senior Bowl next week in Mobile, Ala. All other Bucs assistant coaches were signed in 2014 to two-year contracts when Smith put his staff together, and are expected to be retained for 2015.
Some excuse Warhop for the sins of Lovie Smith and his notorious football-watching basement. Joe can’t go there. When you are a position coach for perhaps the NFL’s most miserable unit, you bear at least partial responsibility for the pathetic results.
Look, at least three of the five starters on the offensive line (Mankins, EDS and Dotson) were thought to be, at worst, adequate entering 2014. Can the fact all three bottomed out in the same year — in addition to Collins hitting rock bottom — be waved off as a mere coincidence?
Joe doesn’t believe in coincidences, sorry.
January 17th, 2015 at 10:09 am
Unfortunately, we don’t know the inside scoop on exactly WHY the Buc’s offensive line was so horrendously bad.
Was it Coaching?
Was it lack of talent?
Was it poor scheme?
Whatever the reason, you gotta believe that L & L fully realize the OL was pitiful. Changes need to be made, but we have to trust that they have the knowledge to recognize what went wrong and fix it.
January 17th, 2015 at 10:12 am
Hopefully when Koetter watches tape he can see how inept our O line was and bring in some changes because I know he won’t want to put up with that BS.
January 17th, 2015 at 10:16 am
But L&L made the line pitiful in the first place lest we forget. They can’t pin this one of Schiano or his guys, it’s their line that they built and did an exceptionally poor job doing so, particular when two of the guys they jettisoned (Penn and Zuttah) badly outplayed anyone on the current line. Zuttah in particular is absolutely unforgivable, he wasn’t just a center he has the ability to play all over the line, and he has given away while EDS and Collins were hilariously overpaid.
One of the major hallmarks of Lovie’s time in Chicago was extremely poor offensive line play. Year one did little to nothing to alleviate concerns that it won’t be an issue again here in Tampa. If they do draft a QB and he has to play behind that kind of OLine quality, the QB is 95% likely to bust. Every QB, even Aaron Rodgers, needs an effective line. Every QB ever would look bad behind that kind of line play.
January 17th, 2015 at 10:19 am
If Warhop is allowed to retain his job, I will flip my sh*t. This man did an absolutely horrendous job, if he isn’t fired that will speak volumes about Lovie the football coach. Sure, I hate to be actively petitioning for a man to lose his job, but this is the NFL. Production is king, his unit did not produce, and he should be held accountable.
January 17th, 2015 at 10:21 am
Uggghhhh what a joke.
January 17th, 2015 at 10:23 am
Doesn’t matter why the OL was so bad, Koetter’s job is to fix it and that includes the coaches so we shall see.
By the way Joe, I wish the OL was a train wreck, it would have blocked all passages, maybe a broken dam that caused a flood of tackles behind the line.
January 17th, 2015 at 10:26 am
I thought warhop was a white guy?
January 17th, 2015 at 10:27 am
Lovie always has historically bad O-lines. Looks like that wont be changing anytime soon.
January 17th, 2015 at 10:27 am
We just simply don’t know all the facts…..we can only assume the poor Oline play was in part the responsiblity of Warhop….I think Warhop & Koetter worked together before and Warhop had some prior success…..Maybe, it’s just striking out on a couple of players and the inexperience of the OC.
It would be quite easy to make a change and we didn’t….so….what’s a fan to do?
January 17th, 2015 at 10:27 am
Interesting. If Schiano would have fired two African American coaches and kept the white coach…..Just saying.
January 17th, 2015 at 10:31 am
Keep him, Lovie, that’s ok. When the Oline sucks again next year and your ass if fired because of it, we’ll be rid of him then!
January 17th, 2015 at 10:34 am
I think the line was bad because their hearts were not in it. They were just going through the motions and collecting a check. Specifically Collins, Mankins, EDS. Cousins has no talent, so at least he has an excuse. Dotson is a good player, but he needs to be in a scheme were he can succeed.
January 17th, 2015 at 10:37 am
I hope to god Lovie has ZERO input on the offensive scheme and playcalling. Same with the offensive position coaches- let Dirk hire his guys and do his thing. Lovie is a 1990’s mind like our entire congress- stuck in the past!
January 17th, 2015 at 10:40 am
BIG, HUGE, GINORMOUS
MISTAKE.
January 17th, 2015 at 10:42 am
There is no way Koetter would keep or permit Lovie to keep Warhop if he didn’t want that……This would have been part of the interview process…..Koetter had other options and it was early in the process…so Koetter got his way!!!
January 17th, 2015 at 10:57 am
Do a Wiki….and read the rollings stones Bio…..
January 17th, 2015 at 10:59 am
Maybe Warhop is OK teaching techniques? Better game planning would certainly help. And no doubt better play calling will help. Hard for any OL to look great when the defense knows what’s coming…run-run-desperate pass-punt.
Whatever…people keep mentioning how all the playoff teams have good QB’s.
From the very first round on I saw some other common denominator…they all have solid OL’s as well. Certainly the final four protect their QB.
I don’t care if Jameis walks on water like half the poster here claim, he’ll never even reach the shoreline if it’s up to this OL to provide protection.
January 17th, 2015 at 11:02 am
Have ANY of the players come out in support of Warhop?
January 17th, 2015 at 11:08 am
Yikes, well I guess Lovie might as well run the team how he thinks is best. He’s got probably one more year to f@ck things up and get booted along with Warhop and the other coaches or (hopefully) prove he’s capable of building a winner in Tampa. Making moves that turn a 4-12 team into a 2-14 one, like retaining a position coach who’s unit was one of the worst in the NFL last year, doesn’t inspire much confidence though.
January 17th, 2015 at 11:12 am
In Lovie we bust! As long as he calls the shots we are going nowhere.
January 17th, 2015 at 11:18 am
Warhop has been fired multiple times before for incompetence. Not just fired when a head coach has been fired (which is normal), but for just flat out being a terrible coach.
If he survives, just another chunk of evidence that Lovie Smith has no clue.
January 17th, 2015 at 11:18 am
Its very possible that we don’t know the full story as to why the Bucs OL was so pitiful last year. Lack of talent would be the obvious answer – and yet logic and history would suggest that Dotson, EDS and Mankins are all at least decent and serviceable linemen. The only measuring stick we really have is Dotson. And since he regressed last year – especially in terms of penalties – then one would have to assume that the coaching was not good enough. All I know is that our pass protection was very bad and our run blocking was horrible. If the guy overseeing that farce of an Oline last year keeps his job – then I’m not sure what to say.
January 17th, 2015 at 11:24 am
Barry nailed it. It’s the only reason he could still be here. The guy failed in epic fashion but hey I’m sure he says yes sir real well to lovie. Reverse discrimination at its finest
January 17th, 2015 at 11:26 am
Lack of talent lol
While other teams stud OL with scrubs, late round picks and our cast offs. There is no rational excuse for keeping him
January 17th, 2015 at 11:41 am
And the insanity continues! Not only is Warhop responsible for coaching them up, but is it wrong of me to assume he also had a hand in selecting the new “talent” (*major sarcasm*)?
Lovie’s management style is like a friggin Twilight Zone rerun!
January 17th, 2015 at 11:45 am
George Warhop
• 1996–1997 St. Louis Rams (Offensive Line Coach) not re-signed.
• 1998–2002 Arizona Cardinals (Offensive Line Coach) not re-signed.
• 2003–2004 Dallas Cowboys (Offensive Line Coach) was fired.
• 2005–2008 San Francisco 49ers (Offensive Line Coach) was fired.
• 2009–2013 Cleveland Browns (Offensive Line Coach) not re-signed.
Jan 18, 2014 Buccaneers hire George Warhop as offensive line coach.
Mar 16, 2014 Bucs bring in Oniel Cousins from Cleveland
Aug 26, 2014 Patriots trade G Logan Mankins to Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jason Licht (Concerning Logan Mankins
January 17th, 2015 at 11:46 am
Another lovie idiotic move. I’m going to laugh when we have no pass rush again bc Michael bust Johnson is here dancing with the stars. He needs to sign a true pass rusher and rotate Johnson in. Make him earn it or sit. We will sign 2 guards and Draft a tackle. I’m hoping we sign Doug free. Right tackle and Draft a guard
January 17th, 2015 at 11:49 am
Is it a coincidence that the only 2 coaches fired were of the lighter skin variety? Hmmmmm. Makes me wonder?
January 17th, 2015 at 11:53 am
Per: Steve White (Former Bucs DE)
May 16th, 2014
Joebucsfan-“I’m Turning The TV Off “
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=113238
January 17th, 2015 at 11:56 am
It does seem a little strange that the assistant OL coach (white) gets fired for the OL’s bad play & Warhop (black) stays. Doesw make you wonder.
January 17th, 2015 at 11:57 am
LUVMYBUCS Says:
March 16th, 2014 at 1:05 pm
Head scratcher: Bucs signed G Oniel Cousins to a one-year deal. Experienced camp body-So its understandable I guess
January 17th, 2015 at 12:11 pm
Cut it out with the race comments. And just because Warhop has not yet been fired and Joe took one little sliver of a sentence from a Trib writer as the final word on the matter doesn’t mean that Warhop is definitely staying. If the Bucs are looking to replace him – then it makes sense that they would have someone better lined up 1st before they let him go – which obviously hasn’t happened yet. Let’s see how it plays out before we break out the torches and pitchforks…
January 17th, 2015 at 12:13 pm
Kind of like a microcosm of society where mediocrity and failure is not only rewarded but celebrated.
January 17th, 2015 at 12:21 pm
Feel sorry for whichever QB we get.
January 17th, 2015 at 12:29 pm
Before Lovie hired the black coach (warhop) he went after the white coach (soprano), yeah he really is keeping and firing coaches based on color, love when the people show their true colors…#pathetic
January 17th, 2015 at 12:36 pm
Would love to see them get Sparano locked up, maybe that’s what’s they’re trying to do before cutting Warhop loose? One can hope.
January 17th, 2015 at 12:41 pm
Of course agree with rest of you, Warhop, should’ve been the first one shown the door along with his two Cleveland brown castoffs, Cousins and Gilkey. I think it does speak to his talent evaluation incompetencies
January 17th, 2015 at 1:30 pm
I’ve always maintained that the odds were astronomical that players that were either good or at worst average, could all go bad at the same time if it didn’t have something to do with the scheme.
Since then fwe have seen Atlanta’s OL was rated below the Bucs last season but were able to move the ball much more effectively and score more points than the Bucs.
I do know the play calling was extremely unimaginative and led to turnovers and mistakes.
I believe it was in the Cleveland game when the Bucs were near their end zone and near the Dawg Pound when they ran a play with the WR coming in motion in between the QB and center in a shotgun formation.
Sure enough Smith snapped the ball into the WR on a silent count that resulted in a TO.
Everyone wanted to blame Smith but what imbecile would call a play like that under those conditions.
Still, I’d like to see Warhop go.
January 17th, 2015 at 1:35 pm
I think it’s totally unfair to dump all the blame on Warhop. And the idea that Cousins was his guy and that they expected big things from him is hogwash. Cousins was brought in as competition for backup snaps. He’s terrible, granted, but that’s not on Warhop. The OL coach doesn’t sign players. Also, the Gilkey blame is ridiculous too. Another guy who was signed not because he was good, but because that’s who was out there and that’s just how desperate they were for bodies. Is that on Warhop? I don’t think so. I’m willing to forgive a guy for a bad year with his position group under the terrible conditions and questionable personnel he had to work with. Warhop has just become another punching bag for frustrated fans. I would welcome Sparano as a replacement, but that doesn’t appear to be happening, so we move on and hope for the best with the guy we have. And at least be reasonable with your criticisms… The bashing is out of control here.
January 17th, 2015 at 2:16 pm
Cousins and Gilkey were brought in BECAUSE of Warhop. There is a near 0% chance those guys are on the roster if their former O-line coach from Cleveland isn’t here. You cannot possibly try to defend Warhop for their acquisitions. If they are awful the should not have been on the roster in the first place, and other street free agents would have been taking their places.
It’s nice that some people want to say that results should not be indicative of a coach’s performance but when the HEAD COACH says “You are what your record says you are” what should that tell you about Warhop?
January 17th, 2015 at 2:27 pm
Do you think there are decent O-lineman just walking the street?
And by the way, I didn’t say that criticism isn’t warranted, I just mean to say that blaming the entire situation on one coach who was given crap to work with isn’t entirely fair, and I also don’t think it makes sense to call for a guy’s head as a knee-jerk reflex. There are variables that enter the equation that we as fans can’t see as well as the HC and GM. Like it or not, we have to rely on L&L’s judgment on this one. I’m willing to give the guy a chance if the HC and GM think he’s worth keeping around.
January 17th, 2015 at 3:01 pm
“Kind of like a microcosm of society where mediocrity and failure is not only rewarded but celebrated.”
sorta like how dubbya got the presidency, and to college.
January 17th, 2015 at 3:43 pm
The Derek Shelton of the Bucs
January 17th, 2015 at 8:44 pm
Go back and read every post by Barry’s (many by Robert9) post and almost everyone of them have some type of racial slur to them. People like these are just embarrassing o the mostly good people in Tampa and the South in general.
January 17th, 2015 at 9:11 pm
George let me know the drawer in which you keep the pictured that allow you to keep your job!
January 17th, 2015 at 9:46 pm
So we let his right hand man go, but not him. I hope that sends a clear message to him,…usually does. Lovie must like the guy even if he sucks. Along with OL Cousins and Gilkey. We can give him another year just to say we told you so.
January 17th, 2015 at 10:01 pm
Just read LUVMYBUCS’ comment.
In business the director of a unit performing this badly would have already been gone.
When Lovie hires his own son – well, you just have to wonder.
January 18th, 2015 at 2:51 am
Mike10 Says:
“The Derek Shelton of the Bucs”
Greta analogy Mike10. Hitting coach Shelton has seen our Tampa Rays get no hit, one hit, shut out and scored only one run more than any other MLB franchise with the possible exception of San Diego since his arrival to be hitting coach under Joe Maddon. Surprisingly he still has his job even after Joe M skipped town. The parallels between these 2 bad coaches are amazing; only in Tampa bay sports could this happen.