Bucs Reach Out To Lions’ Running Back Coach
February 14th, 2023
Lions RB coach Scottie Montgomery.
The combine begins two weeks from today. And Joe is beginning to wonder if the Bucs will have an offensive coordinator in place.
(For those who will want to correct Joe on the date of the combine, Joe is not referring to the TV show on NFL Network. That is a complete and total waste of Joe’s time. The real combine begins when all the NFL suits and coaches show up at the Indiana Convention Center in chilly downtown Indianapolis on Feb. 28.)
The Bucs conducted an interview last night with Detroit’s running backs coach Scottie Montgomery, per Buccaneers.com reporter Brianna Dix, to fill the offensive coordinator vacancy.
The only thing that jumps out to Joe about Montgomery is that for two seasons he was Bucco Bruce Arians’ wide receivers coach in Pittsburgh when Arians ran the Steelers’ offense.
Joe thought Bucs coach Todd Bowles didn’t want to run the no-risk-it; no-biscuit offense?
Montgomery has two stints as an offensive coordinator and once as a head coach, all in the Mid-Atlantic states, all on the college level. At Duke, the Blue Devils finished 40th, 42nd and 48th in offense in the nation. Given the lack of talent he had to work with, that’s not awful.
Montgomery spent three years as East Carolina head coach and was downright lousy. He then went to Maryland as offensive coordinator where he worked under Mike Locksley from 2019-2020. Locksley is an offensive guy so Joe isn’t sure if Montgomery was just along for the ride or if he was fully responsible for the offense.
Given that this Bucs job is currently unattractive (Who will be the quarterback? How many starters will be cap casualties? Who will coach next year if the Bucs lose?) Joe is beginning to get the feeling the new Bucs offensive coordinator will be someone’s running backs or tight ends coach.
Montgomery is the 10th known person to interview for Bucs offensive coordinator.
February 14th, 2023 at 12:03 am
Desperation in FULL swing!
The LIONS, running backs coach…. Pathetic and embarrassing!
February 14th, 2023 at 12:08 am
Is there a need for a OC at the combine? Licht may get their input but he does his own thing when it comes to building the team.
February 14th, 2023 at 12:10 am
It sure helps. For example, how would you know what offensive players to focus on if you don’t know what offense you will be running?
Joe will have a story about this later this morning. Already written and scheduled. 🙂
February 14th, 2023 at 12:10 am
Gruden will do it right now!
LOL…can’t believe a brilliant guy like Gruden is cancelled by a bunch of incredibly butthurt and over-sensitive billionaires
Although I could be wrong, Gruden might want no part of Bowles team
February 14th, 2023 at 12:11 am
Meh.
Should have kept Leftwich another year.
February 14th, 2023 at 12:12 am
We need to have an offensive staff and a philosophy in place when the combine rolls around. We need the O-coordinator to have input into the type of players he wants.
February 14th, 2023 at 12:13 am
No seriously… in NFL history, has any NFL team interviewed more than 10 candidates on record for OC, not HC!?! It is now the situation the more prolonged the process, the more unlikely OC will be determine via this process. This bad rep will spread around the league like Corona virus, everyone will try to stay away from it… more like Mr. Irrelevant in the draft. Ugh.
Go Bucs!
February 14th, 2023 at 12:15 am
Blow it up already. I don’t care how bad the division is. This is pathetic. I have a feeling we’re just gonna tread water this year.
February 14th, 2023 at 12:16 am
Looks like the Bucs will just have to take what they can get
February 14th, 2023 at 12:17 am
I strongly suggest the Glazers consider my offer:
* Leader and mentor of underlings
* freelance bodyguard
* office building owner and former assistant to the regional manager
* Able to raise and lower cholesterol at will
* Expert in martial arts
* 13 time winner of salesman of the month.
* Resistance to germs and fungal
* I never smile (it shows weakness)
The ideal candidate!!
February 14th, 2023 at 12:19 am
Would almost seem like Bowles didn’t have a replacement plan thought out when releasing the offensive staff BA won a SB with…Unless that plan was reminding everyone daily why he’s not HC material & likely replaced in 2024.
It’s also a schit show for Licht’s FO & scouting department…As who knows what system prototypes they’re looking for & which guys to focus on in the draft/FA.
It has to be embarrassing for the Glazers to see how toxic the Bucs organization has become with Bowles at the helm.
February 14th, 2023 at 12:28 am
probably trying to bring someone in, like jimmy g (ugh) first, so an OC can know what they are dealing with.
i still hope we go with Trask but i doubt it, Bucs can never keep things tight, reports are they are looking for a vet, so they aren’t going with him. doesn’t say much for “tom’s backup” either while people keep hating on Trask.
February 14th, 2023 at 12:41 am
Ha ha. Nobody wants the gig.
February 14th, 2023 at 12:44 am
Oh lordy what a mess this is turning into 🤦♂️
February 14th, 2023 at 12:45 am
If it’s Thomas Brown, I’ll support it. If it’s this guy, I’ll support it. Really hoping for Brown though. But for kreissake, let’s tie it up this week!
February 14th, 2023 at 12:47 am
Just have open tryouts at RJS
LOL
We are a joke
February 14th, 2023 at 12:49 am
Wow who’s next the equipment manager for the Falcons??? This is discouraging to say the least!
February 14th, 2023 at 12:55 am
I’m hoping the next head coach (probably 2024) makes a point of hiring the best available coaches, so we can have our own pipeline of coaches stepping up when another leaves for promotion. Unfortunately, Arians hired only guys he was familiar with. I don’t feel like Bowles is super well connected in the coaching community and doesn’t have a great rep to make people wanna join him. That’s another factor in this OC search. I guess even other coaches see the handwriting on the wall for Bowles. I’ve been trying to remain open minded to whatever happens and give him a chance in 2023, but this sad search for an OC does not speak well for what people think of Todd or for our prospects next season.
February 14th, 2023 at 1:01 am
Where in the h3ll is the GM at in this? ULTIMATELY it’s HIS responsibility! Isn’t it? Who is stopping this and WHY? To many have crossed the threshold at Advent for this to not have happened by now. If nobody was willing, why would they come to interview at all?
Joe, can you get any kind of info on those couple questions? Somebody knows and I’d bet it’s quite a few somebody’s by now. You must have some idea Joe.
February 14th, 2023 at 1:07 am
Bowles doesn’t need an O coordinator-
Let him call his own plays run three times and punt
Run run run punt
Run run run punt
Repeat
Repeat etc.
February 14th, 2023 at 1:30 am
Leftwich should have remained. There was no need to fire him. He had 2 great winning seasons. Brady was terrible this past season..period. Karma always has a funny way of coming back on you…..Be caredul what you wish for Buc fans. You wanted Byron L fired. And you got that. Now what?
February 14th, 2023 at 1:44 am
People will go where the money is, even if it’s the Bucs OC. I thinK Licht is waiting for the combine. I think a hiring will be 2 days before or 2 days after. LFG BUCS!!!
February 14th, 2023 at 1:44 am
About right, fill the OC position with a warm body. On the job training. Ugh.
Bucs are in full meltdown mode as nobody wants to work with Bowles.
February 14th, 2023 at 3:31 am
Utter, total desperation.
It’s so obvious what the problem is. smh
I call upon Bowles to do the honorable thing and resign for the sake of the franchise.
February 14th, 2023 at 3:57 am
I believe the Bucs had a plan for OC, but the individuals(s) they wanted didn’t want them and went elsewhere/stayed in place. This led to scramble mode = just keep interviewing until you find someone.
Why isn’t this an attractive position? Everyone is realizing where the OC position is in relation to the team:
QB: unknown, probably pick up a tier 2 to pair with an uncertain Trask
RB: no superstars, mid-round draft best case, need speed
TE: no #1, most likely day 3 draft
Oline: uncertain and coming off a down year, may draft a rookie tackle to start
WR: two dominant, little depth, need speed
Draft: Most likely to focus on D
Salary cap: significantly over spent, so only depth FAs
Longevity: one year guaranteed
Record Outlook: Most would be happy to repeat an 8-9 record in 2023
February 14th, 2023 at 4:02 am
On offense, the Bucs need a speedy WR, quick RB and dominant TE along with a premier OLine pick in this year’s draft. That’s picks on days 1 and 2. They must hit on all of them. The Bucs only have 3 picks and I expect at least 2 of them to be used on D.
Not much to entice an OC.
February 14th, 2023 at 4:03 am
I miss Monte.
February 14th, 2023 at 4:23 am
So what do you do to help get an OC? Promise him some picks and FAs (within reason) and re-sign your own Defeneive FAs.
1) Trade D White for day 2 picks. So now you have 5 picks in the first 2 days hopefully and can use 3 on O and 2 on D. You can’t afford White’s contract and he’s not the dominant LB you thought he would be. Use one D pick for his replacement (who can cover RBs or TEs in pass coverage), one on CB or S and the other on O. Keep LVD for 2 more years.
2) Draft a starting tackle in the 1st, dominant TE in the 2nd (young QBs best friend) and a speedy RB in the 3rd. Number 3 and 4 WRs may be late picks or through FA.
3) Promise him a QB next year (draft or FA). I’m a firm believer in having a good team around a young QB before you draft him instead of building around the QB while he gets beat up for 1-2 years.
4) I know this pushes the DLine upgrades down the road, but without any ability to score you will be a top 5 pick next year and the fans will be calling for the OC’s head next year — again. Unless the plan is to be a top 5 pick next year. Then just stack the D with this year’s draft.
February 14th, 2023 at 4:25 am
Use the other 3 picks from days 1 and 2 on O
February 14th, 2023 at 6:38 am
Detroit was an offensive juggernaut this year compared to anything Lions have looked like in years. Lions also had attitude , and good attitude at that. Lions Top 3 WR’s averaged almost 16 yards a catch combined and Swift had 70 catches out of the backfield. So give this guy a shot as EVERYONE at 1 Buc Place is on a one year PROVE it or LOSE it deal , meaning their jobs.
February 14th, 2023 at 6:59 am
I thought deuce Staley was lions rb coach until recently so is this guy the new rb for last 2 weeks
February 14th, 2023 at 7:29 am
LOL…2 weeks? This guy has been with Detroit for one week.
February 14th, 2023 at 7:52 am
There must be a guy holding a clipboard somewhere that would like a change of scenery.
February 14th, 2023 at 8:11 am
You know, we’re all assuming they are turning down the Bucs…but the truth may be different. Everyone in the league knows the situation here…so why even interview?
Maybe Licht is just making sure he gets the right hire?
February 14th, 2023 at 8:19 am
So this team, led by a dead man walking, is swilling from the bottom of a barrel with rotten fruit.
February 14th, 2023 at 8:21 am
I volunteer for the job as long as the clipboard and headset isn’t too heavy.
I can master a Surface quickly.
February 14th, 2023 at 8:36 am
It’s easy to mock the lions and their coaching staff, but their offense was far beyond anything we put on the field last year. They were also the hottest team in the NFL at the end of the regular season. They’ll be a playoff team next year.
February 14th, 2023 at 11:14 am
The Bucs look like clowns. They can’t even find an OC that wants the job. Everyone turning down the OC job because you have Bowles as HC. Even Dan pitcher said he’ll na .. Great job GM and Bowles!! SMH !!