Serving The Head Coach
March 9th, 2017
Bucs GM Jason Licht
It’s the time of year when a lot of fans ask who is driving the bus at One Buc Palace.
It’s a fair question. And a difficult one.
General manager Jason Licht plays a challenging middle-man role. Team Glazer wields the biggest stick. Even if they give Licht a green light to do anything, what they actually think and desire plays a role with the GM’s decision-making.
And there’s candid Dirk Koetter. He wants what he wants. And if he doesn’t get it, then he’ll get in Licht’s face and respectfully demand an answer. That’s the Koetter way. Nothing wrong with that.
So Licht must balance all those politics and rely on his personnel team and his own finely-honed instincts and experience.
Licht has said previously, though not in more than a year, that it’s his role to “serve” the head coach. That’s what every good GM does. Why? Because why sign a player your coach doesn’t like? What’s the point? The coach might not use him properly — or at all.
Joe is going here this morning because of how Koetter talked about adding explosive plays to his offense just minutes after last season ended, specifically a player(s) with speed and game-changing ability on offense.
And look at the Bucs’ first signing, the most explosive deep-threat receiver on the market: DeSean Jackson. He’s also a guy that Koetter’s great friend Andy Reid knows intimately.
It’s a group effort at One Buc Palace, a real team operation, but please don’t ask Joe who really drives specific decisions.
March 9th, 2017 at 11:12 am
Joe
Do you know who really drives specific decisions?
Joe is wise enough to not believe everything he is told. … So Joe will have to say, No.–Joe
March 9th, 2017 at 11:12 am
I don’t really care about who is driving as long as we get to our destination… a Super Bowl win!!!
March 9th, 2017 at 11:12 am
Nice, now sign Poe
March 9th, 2017 at 11:17 am
I think Licht is the real boss here, of all mentioned.
I think the Glazer kids stay out of everyday things, and you can be sure that either Koetter or Mike Smith wanted Calais Campbell, but Licht said no.
I see Koetter as kind of like a friendly old cook, who asks for prime sirloin, but will make a tasty dish out of even round steak.
March 9th, 2017 at 11:21 am
According to Jenna Laine we are very much in the race for Chris Baker
March 9th, 2017 at 11:21 am
I wonder who we are gonna draft !?
March 9th, 2017 at 11:24 am
@Strider should we grab Baker from Washington, it is very much BPA. Though could def see us making a play for Dalvin Cook. Dark horse pick could be Cam Robinson, OT from Alabama
March 9th, 2017 at 11:27 am
You have to work backwards in this situation. If it is a decision that works out then you know it is 100% Licht who deserves the credit. However, any and all decisions that poop the bed are either incompetent Lovie Smith’s fault or maybe now Koetter’s maybe even the Glazer’s fault but definitely not Jason Licht’s responsibility. He was fetching La Teresita and doughnuts at the time!
March 9th, 2017 at 11:41 am
DallasBuc right on….as a GM I would hope you have your finger on the pulse of the team and know the ins and outs of the offense and defense to be a capable evaluator of the talent the team wants at the positions that will make the offense and defense and whole team better…the drafting of that guy who kicks the ball is a prime example that licht has no clue of the team needs and deficiencies last year
March 9th, 2017 at 11:46 am
I’d rather sign Nick Fairley if we are going to pick up a DT. Take him from New Orleans and dude can play. He was all in Jameis’ grill when we played against him.
March 9th, 2017 at 11:46 am
Need Pass Rushers now please!
March 9th, 2017 at 11:49 am
mmm… La Teresita!
March 9th, 2017 at 11:49 am
@nate
I like the way you think. I wanted him the last time he was available
March 9th, 2017 at 11:52 am
What’s going on in NO…they want Cooks out for Ginn?
March 9th, 2017 at 11:54 am
Joe, sounds from your next to last paragraph that Jackson signing is a done deal. Any reports yet that he or his agent are in Tampa to put pen to paper?
March 9th, 2017 at 12:08 pm
Combo of Koetter & Light just like it was a combo of Lovie & light earlier.
The difference is Koetter doesn’t have a set scheme that has to have specific types of players in every spot. He schemes around the talent we have; as does Mike Smith.
The problem with Lovie is he touted his scheme over all else; which dictated personnel decisions that weren’t likely based on talent as much as a fit for what Lovie specifically wanted & needed for his type of defense. The results spoke for themselves
I blame Light for Anthony Collins or any offensive FAs that were busts in terms of FA blunders but not as much for letting some of the O-line walk; and definitely do not blame him for all the defensive personnel decisions that were obviously linked to Lovie and his defensive scheming philosophies (i.e. swapping Revis for Ghost Johnson & Verner). Right after Lovie got hired he talked mad sh1t about the O-line; i think before we’d even hired Light.
March 9th, 2017 at 12:11 pm
NJ Cooks was the team darling when he was drafted by them. These Millennials man. He’s clearly a little envious of the attention Michael Thomas recieved after being drafted and performing well for them. I said all this to myself looking at the situation from a distance before I read an article articulating the exact same thing.
March 9th, 2017 at 12:17 pm
There’s a rumored trade between the Pats and Saints. It would be Malcolm Butler for Brandin Cooks. This would be a great trade…for the Bucs. We weaken a division opponent and Pats players are seldom as successful when they go to a new team so likely Butler is just ok but not a superstar.
March 9th, 2017 at 12:19 pm
You guys with the La Teresita talk have me jonesing for some Trucha la Russa with back beans and yellow rice. And for dessert, cafe con leche and warm buttered Cuban bread. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!
March 9th, 2017 at 12:21 pm
Posted this before seeing the other Cooks chatter. I guess we’ll see what happens.
March 9th, 2017 at 12:35 pm
Please, just stop all this LaTeresita talk already. I live in Brandon, almost to Valrico, but I can almost taste that Ropa Viejo, since you guys brought that place up.
March 9th, 2017 at 12:45 pm
I prefer the Puerco Asado con arroz amarillo, frijoles negra, y platanos fritos. (Roast Pork with yellow rice, black beans, and fried plantains.)
March 9th, 2017 at 1:01 pm
Lovie’s gone and we are trending upward. Nuff said!
March 9th, 2017 at 1:17 pm
Good choice America!
If you want to go for a “light” lunch, a media noche sandwich with garbanzo bean soup and a deviled crab (lots of hot sauce!) can’t be beat!
Nothing needs to be said for a traditional Cuban sandwich (pork, ham, swiss cheese, and mustard with pickles!)……….drop mic!
March 9th, 2017 at 1:24 pm
Chris@apple
I suggest checking out LaBarios on causeway between 301 and 78th st. You won’t be disappointed. Personally, I prefer labarios and braceros over la terresita.
March 9th, 2017 at 1:51 pm
Glazers have given total control of this this team to Jason Licht. Licht hires and fires the coaches and has the final say on all personnel decisions.
But Licht’s management style is very inclusive. He trusts in the talents and skills of all he has hired and JL gives great weight to the opinions of his scouts and coaches when making decisions about bringing players in or letting them go.
I’m sure the Glazers still chime in with their opinions/desires from time to time when it comes to major decisions like drafting JW #1 or giving a huge deal to GMC, etc. – and of course Licht keeps the Glazers fully informed of what his intentions and plans are and probably is asked to explain why in certain instances. But ultimately – this is Jason Licht’s franchise to run as he sees fit.
As of last year – the fortunes or woes of the Buccaneer franchise are solely Jason Licht’s responsibility. That’s a good thing if you ask me.
March 9th, 2017 at 2:07 pm
TYVM DB55, I have not been to Liborio’s since they moved.
Pipo’s in West Tampa also used to have pretty good Cuban food. Their roast pork was off the chain!
March 9th, 2017 at 2:13 pm
Guys, I’m in St. Pete where “authentic” Cuban food goes to die! I was served a Cuban from an “authentic” joint off of 49th St. served on a hoagie roll. A MFing HOAGIE ROLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That said, The Caribbean Cafe on Central has good Cubans but don’t have much else.
March 9th, 2017 at 2:36 pm
Chris
If you like the pipos on Hillsborough and Hanley try mi bandera across the street. Excellent roasted chicken and Spanish food.