Sullivan’s Return

November 5th, 2015

mike sullivan 1126Given the crap show across 25 percent of the NFL at the starting quarterback position, it’s easy to make the case that New York Giants quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan did a hell of a job in two seasons as Bucs offensive coordinator.

Joe talked to Mike Glennon about this yesterday.

First, Sullivan got a Bucs-record-setting year out of mentally challenged Josh Freeman in 2012. Freeman put up big numbers as the Bucs had the NFL’s ninth-ranked offense.

Sully’s quarterbacks coach Ron Turner bolted, and the next year Sullivan was stuck with Schiano confidante Josh McNulty to help him mold Glennon. Keep in mind, McNulty never played quarterback, bombed as a QB coach in Arizona, didn’t believe in teaching mechanics in Tampa, and is now bombing again as the hand-picked QB coach for Marcus Mariota under ousted Ken Whisenhunt.

But through all the obstacles, including meddling Schiano, Sullivan got Glennon ready to play as a rookie on short notice. And today, Glennon is better than 20 percent of NFL starters.

“I learned a lot from him. He really helped me,” Glennon said of Sullivan. “He had a unique package that he liked to run. I would have liked to have gotten more time in it, just more time to get used to it, especially since it was my first year and got a late start the way I did. He has a system that’s really good. I just think you need more time in it. But it’s hard to pinpoint key things I learned most from him. There was an awful lot. I definitely miss having him around. He was a really great guy.”

Sullivan, the former U.S. Army Ranger and West Point grad, is in his second stint as quarterbacks coach for Eli Manning. He was re-hired early this year.

Manning will tell you he thrived under Sullivan in a totally different offense years ago. Now, Manning comes to Tampa on Sunday with 17 touchdowns and four interceptions and completing two-thirds of his passes in a radically different west coast offense.

Sullivan, aka “Sully,” might have been the classiest guy to walk through One Buc Palace this century. Joe wishes him well.

28 Responses to “Sullivan’s Return”

  1. OneLove Says:

    I liked “Sully”. Too bad he had to work with such a SH!TTY STAFF and 2 SH!TTY QB’s!

    “It’s as simple as that” – Lovie Smith

    “Changing coaches about halfway through a rebuilding effort is a recipe for perpetual failure.” – Johnny “America’s Commenter” Dejay

    “If Lovie don’t no how to coach so be it… Hard to believe he would get a job offer and you wouldn’t…. Wonder why??? Your idiots that’s why…” – JAB83

    “So my advice would be, yes, it’s okay to throw things at your TV when your team has a monumental collapse like the Bucs did on Sunday in Washington. But take a deep breath and understand that it is only going to get worse if you continue to jump from one coach to the next.” – Peter King

  2. mac Says:

    The poor guy had Josh Freeman at QB… You can’t make chicken soup out of chicken poop…

  3. Buccfan37 Says:

    I’m still thinking Glennon will see the field as QB this season at some point. Hopefully it’s a mop up role.

  4. cmurda Says:

    Nothing but love for Sully. I wish the guy the best except for this Sunday in Tampa.

  5. Buc1987 Says:

    If Eli and the Giants did THAT to the Saints last week. Bring on Lovie Smith’s lovely defense. I was wrong for saying Matty Ice would torch the Bucs. They made too many mistakes in that game and Atlanta beat themselves. Most Falcons fans will tell you that. If the Giants O plays a near turnover-free game against the Bucs. This one will be over by halftime.

    I bought tickets for this one. Just to listen to the chorus of boos rained down upon Lovie’s head.

  6. Jack Burton Mercer Says:

    He was an excellent coach. Should have kept him last year. Our weak pass defense will easily be exploited this weekend. Hopefully the Giants defense is as porous for us as for the Saints.

  7. D-Rome Says:

    Glennon is better than 20 percent of NFL starters.

    32 starting QBs x .20 = 6.4

    Well, I can name six QBs but that still leaves me with .4 remaining. Perhaps the .4 is Brandon Weedon or Matt Cassel in Dallas. Regardless, Glennon is better than both of them too.

  8. Dusthty Rhothdes Says:

    Schiano should have been given one more year because the team was competitive, the downside to that maybe the bucs go 8-8 and dont get jameis, so not sure if keeping schiano would have worked for the future because then we got loser lovie and now the defense is a mess but we have jameis and some OL parts and one good WR….fire lovie now please

    keep lovie one more year why? for a 2-14, 5-11, 4-12 who cares fire him let a new coach or even koetter be the new HC and hire a great DC

  9. Buccfan37 Says:

    87… so the Bucs get rolled by Eli and the pipsqueaks. I trust they won’t so you can’t say they did.

  10. D-Rome Says:

    keep lovie one more year why? for a 2-14, 5-11, 4-12 who cares fire him let a new coach or even koetter be the new HC and hire a great DC

    Yeah yeah yeah man….you know it would be AWESOME if we had a defensive coordinator who’s been to a couple of Super Bowls! I mean, those guys are all over the place right? Maybe we’ll get Matt Patricia to leave New England and coach the Bucs! Yeeeeaaaaaaahhhhhh….

    If the Giants O plays a near turnover-free game against the Bucs. This one will be over by halftime.

    Buc1987, the Giants aren’t a spectacular football team. Not only that, their defense is arguably the worst in the NFL. Have a little optimism, 87! I could also say that if the Bucs play a turnover-free game this one will be over by half time in the Bucs favor. The Bucs are better than the Giants this year in terms of Total Offense. The Giants have one of the worst rushing teams in the NFL and they are one of the worst teams in the NFL generating pressure on the QB. It’s amazing that they’re even 4-4 right now. This is a very good opportunity for the Bucs to get another home win.

  11. The Buc Realist Says:

    @D-Rome

    Atlanta seemed to find one, And He actually was on the winning side of the superbowl.

    Unlike Lovie who is a 2-time superbowl loser!!

  12. bucrightoff Says:

    I don’t know how every team doesn’t simply throw 60 times a game against the Bucs. With no pass rush, not great covering LBs and possibly the worst secondary in NFL history, I would think teams realize you can easily get 450 yards just throwing the ball.

  13. tmaxcon Says:

    D-Rome

    please explain your unwavering faith in a coach who has a lifetime 3-3 playoff record and 2 of those wins came a decade ago… You act like Lovie is a winner or this accomplished coach. He’s done nothing. He’s super bowl loss came against one of the biggest big game choke artist of all time in Peyton Manning and against a couch who blew the opportunity to win at least 2 other super bowls with the talent he had. Your optimism is admirable that being said the facts do not support said optimism. Lovie is a joke simple as that. He can’t beat teams over .500 and his time in tampa is one of the worst coaching jobs in league history and let’s not even get started on his horrendous personnel moves. Lovie has never WON anything!!!!!

  14. OneLove Says:

    tmaxcon Says:
    November 5th, 2015 at 1:06 pm
    D-Rome

    please explain your unwavering faith in a coach who has a lifetime 3-3 playoff record and 2 of those wins came a decade ago… You act like Lovie is a winner or this accomplished coach. He’s done nothing. He’s super bowl loss came against one of the biggest big game choke artist of all time in Peyton Manning and against a couch who blew the opportunity to win at least 2 other super bowls with the talent he had.
    ———————————————————————————–

    Ladies and Gentlemen. This is a perfect example of a “non-sensical radical”. A person who writes “the facts do not support said optimism” AFTER HE MENTIONS that the guy has lead a team to a SuperBowl and is 3-3 in the playoffs! Lovie has had more winning seasons than losing seasons and just 5 years ago(Yes in 2010 if you can’t subtract) he won the division and lost in the NFC Championship game because Jay Cutler is a B!TCH! Has he made mistakes? Sure he has!! Who hasn’t!?!?

    The next question is WHO OUT THERE HAS ACCOMPLISHED more that is a “REALISTIC”.. I’M GOING TO SAY THIS AGAIN!!! “REEAAALIISSTTIIC!!!!”(Please look up the definition) candidate to replace him if he’s fired??

    Jimmy Johnson was 4-28 in his first 2 seasons with the Cowboys and the rest is rock and roll history!

    Another attempt SHUTDOWN!
    “Another one bites the dust”
    “It’s as simple as that” – Lovie Smith

    “Changing coaches about halfway through a rebuilding effort is a recipe for perpetual failure.” – Johnny “America’s Commenter” Dejay

    “If Lovie don’t no how to coach so be it… Hard to believe he would get a job offer and you wouldn’t…. Wonder why??? Your idiots that’s why…” – JAB83

    “So my advice would be, yes, it’s okay to throw things at your TV when your team has a monumental collapse like the Bucs did on Sunday in Washington. But take a deep breath and understand that it is only going to get worse if you continue to jump from one coach to the next.” – Peter King

  15. bucrightoff Says:

    OneLove Says:
    November 5th, 2015 at 1:33 pm
    Ladies and Gentlemen. This is a perfect example of a “non-sensical radical”. A person who writes “the facts do not support said optimism” AFTER HE MENTIONS that the guy has lead a team to a SuperBowl and is 3-3 in the playoffs! Lovie has had more winning seasons than losing seasons and just 5 years ago(Yes in 2010 if you can’t subtract) he won the division and lost in the NFC Championship game because Jay Cutler is a B!TCH! Has he made mistakes? Sure he has!! Who hasn’t!?!?
    ———————————————————————————–

    He is also closing in on missing the playoffs three times as often as making it, and he actually needed Jay Cutler because once Cutler got hurt, Lovie got fired. But hey go ahead and leave that out, and get to slurping those Lovie nuts. Mmmm tasty!

  16. Buccfan37 Says:

    This is not about Lovie. This is about beating the Giants on your home field.

  17. OneLove Says:

    “He is also closing in on missing the playoffs three times as often as making it, and he actually needed Jay Cutler because once Cutler got hurt, Lovie got fired. But hey go ahead and leave that out, and get to slurping those Lovie nuts. Mmmm tasty!”

    ————————————————————————————

    What’s really SAD is you(along with the other “non-sensical radicals”) actually think this is a good point… Just in case you didnt know, there are A LOT OF NFL coaches that WISH they played in ONE PLAYOFF GAME throughout their careers! There are A LOT OF NFL coaches that DREAM about coaching in a Super Bowl game at LEAST ONCE in their careers! You know who doesn’t wish and dream about that kind of thing???? Yours truly…. BEEN THERE, DONE THAT!!!

    Another attempt shut down!!
    “And another bites, another bites the dust!!”

    I’m here all week!! THANK YOU!!!!

    “It’s as simple as that” – Lovie Smith

    “Changing coaches about halfway through a rebuilding effort is a recipe for perpetual failure.” – Johnny “America’s Commenter” Dejay

    “If Lovie don’t no how to coach so be it… Hard to believe he would get a job offer and you wouldn’t…. Wonder why??? Your idiots that’s why…” – JAB83

    “So my advice would be, yes, it’s okay to throw things at your TV when your team has a monumental collapse like the Bucs did on Sunday in Washington. But take a deep breath and understand that it is only going to get worse if you continue to jump from one coach to the next.” – Peter King

  18. bucrightoff Says:

    OneLove Says:
    November 5th, 2015 at 2:58 pm

    ————————————————————————————

    What’s really SAD is you(along with the other “non-sensical radicals”) actually think this is a good point… Just in case you didnt know, there are A LOT OF NFL coaches that WISH they played in ONE PLAYOFF GAME throughout their careers! There are A LOT OF NFL coaches that DREAM about coaching in a Super Bowl game at LEAST ONCE in their careers! You know who doesn’t wish and dream about that kind of thing???? Yours truly…. BEEN THERE, DONE THAT!!!
    _____________________________________________________________

    What’s sad is based on your logic Jim Caldwell and Ken Whisenhunt have to be considered better coaches than Bruce Arians. Obviously guzzling so much of Lovie’s jism has fried your fragile, weak mind. Oh well, I’m bored at work and you’re keeping me entertained, and your under Lovie’s desk getting served. But we’re both happy, and that’s what matters right?

  19. Dusthty Rhothdes Says:

    Jim Caldwell is another dungy disciple that will be fired any day now…dungy can be a great man and same with Lovie but lovie, caldwell, marinelli are horrible head coaches….fire lovie he has DONE NOTHING positive for this team….6-10 is such a success….

  20. D-Rome Says:

    Jim Caldwell is another dungy disciple that will be fired any day now…dungy can be a great man and same with Lovie but lovie, caldwell, marinelli are horrible head coaches….fire lovie he has DONE NOTHING positive for this team….6-10 is such a success….

    Mike Tomlin comes from the Dungy coaching tree….

  21. miguel mateo Says:

    Sully was excellent – so many franchise records in 2012. Too bad he was handcuffed and stifled by that micro-managing, self proclaimed know-it-all, bully Schiano. Pretty awesome what he’s doing with Eli this year in a different offense. Wonder how fired up he’s going to be to come back to Tampa and pay them back for firing him?

  22. Dusthty Rhothdes Says:

    D ROME wouldnt tomlin be more of a gruden/kiffin guy? one thing tomlin has the others dont is that fire

  23. JAB83 Says:

    @Bucripoff,

    As a Fan of Depression who has been infected by Trolls desease from the likes of Tmax… Do you find yourself long awake at night wackoff thinking of how you can spew your”non-sensical” perspective the faces of people who actually could careless what your uneducated and I’ll informed opinion is…

    Seriously, do you like 87 get off on the idea of being right about such Depressing ideas or about something so non-sinsical that your ego literally makes you feel validated as people that other people like to listen to and agree with???

    Your tactics of saying something loud enough and long enough until it is accepted as the only way and truth there is… Well frankly is just poor tactics… Although it does work if not for REALIST stepping in and shutting you down…

    I would explain further but balls pee brains and egos probly having you typing some sofa king we taught it reply already…

    It really IS……

  24. JAB83 Says:

    Again sorry about my phone… They call it smart but it sure is stupid when it comes to this… Plus I go so fast and don’t reread before posting…. My apologies folks I will try to be more aware of the errors and adjust as I move forward… But please try to understand the direction of my meaning and purpose… The more of you that get it the less some us will have to post to keep these Trolls and Fans of Depression at bay…

    Be the 12th man not a loser fan…

    Inspire your team don’t just cast your negative dream…

    As the 12th man on the team in the field or in the locker room…. Your part is not to complain to loudly BUT TO

    RAYS UP, BE THE THUNDER AND SIEGE THE DAY!!!!

  25. OneLove Says:

    @bucrightoff

    “What’s sad is based on your logic Jim Caldwell and Ken Whisenhunt have to be considered better coaches than Bruce Arians.”

    —————————————————————————

    Here we go again, trying to put words into my mouth after I put my WANG in yours and I get it…. Your getting shut down so you have to resort to these child-like tactics, but CHILD PLEASE!

    BTW, I think Bruce Arians is a Great Head Coach! He almost accomplished what Lovie did by taking a “Rex Grossman” type QB to the Super Bowl! Keyword = ALMOST!

    “It’s as simple as that” – Lovie Smith

    “Changing coaches about halfway through a rebuilding effort is a recipe for perpetual failure.” – Johnny “America’s Commenter” Dejay

    “If Lovie don’t no how to coach so be it… Hard to believe he would get a job offer and you wouldn’t…. Wonder why??? Your idiots that’s why…” – JAB83

    “So my advice would be, yes, it’s okay to throw things at your TV when your team has a monumental collapse like the Bucs did on Sunday in Washington. But take a deep breath and understand that it is only going to get worse if you continue to jump from one coach to the next.” – Peter King

  26. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    D@$! ,nice to see it’s still a battle zone here at jbf.

  27. Buc1987 Says:

    bucrightoff…it’s gotta be a color thing…for if Lovie was white. Well you get the drift. Notice how they never back anything up with facts? Yet we’re the dumb ones.

    Rrrrright!

  28. Wesley Says:

    He was one hire they should have stuck with.