Posted by  Roland Woltman, Plant City on 01/08  at  12:34 AM

Monte USED to be good, but then any coach who ran a zone D with Sapp should have been.
The Bucs have been horrid at getting the ball back for our offense for years now. We were in the bottom 10 once again in giving up 3rd/4th down conversions. And we force far to few interceptions for the talent we have in the secondary. Less then one a game is just sorry. And, Monte still can’t put together any kind of a blitz package. We look horrible if we even attempt it.
It’s time for a new more aggressive approach on D. It’s time for a change on that side of the ball. Let’s see a proactive aggressive D before we’ve let the other team drive 20yd line to 20 yd line. I for one want a change from our ever more bending defensive approach.

Posted by  John Valenti, Tampa Florida on 12/30  at  11:55 AM

Monte Kiffin is single-handidly, the best thing to come out of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Making McKay a genuis, Dungy a winner, and Gruden a Superbowl coach- Monte Kiffin is STILL underappreciated. We love Monte, don’t get me wrong, but his presence won’t truly be felt and understood till he’s gone. THEN we will know what we lost. Immortalize the man with his own 20 foot bronze statue. Name the next stadium after him.

Posted by  Wade Less, clermont on 12/09  at  01:22 AM

Plus Monte’s got to be in the record books for having the most pronounced comb over in history. Go Bucs!

Posted by  Wayne Voss, Northern IL on 12/08  at  12:12 PM

Ira, Roy,

Regarding Kiffin, has there ever been a pure defensive coordinator that has been elected into the Hall of Fame?  (I can’t thinkg of a better candidate!)  Think of how many assistant coaches (not to mention his mentor and friend - Dungy), Monte has lost, and yet the Buc’s defense continues to excel.  I’m glad the Buc’s realized this and got him under lock an key all these years after Dungy was let go.  Hopefully he will continue to do his thing for many more years in Tampa?  Not to mention he is just a great guy!  Go Buc’s!

Posted by  Chet,  on 12/07  at  11:39 PM

Ira, isn’t this the last year on Kiffen’s contract?  The Bucs don’t seem to be making overtures to sign him for more years.  Letting Kiffen walk would be a huge mistake.

Posted by  victor barney, 2504 9th Street West, Lehigh Acres, Florida 33971 on 12/07  at  06:10 PM

I hope that you guys are right because I know that Monte Kiffin is a defensive genius, undoubtedly the best in the NFL! After his first draft picks since 1996 (7), he has put them right back to dominance! He’s had one draft since Jon Gruden has had four drafts, although I do not doubt that Tampa Bay needed a lot more work on offense, it is just unbelievable how quick Monte can be back to having another amazing defense! So far, it’s unproven if the offensive side of the ball can ever match his record, so we better keep him at all costs! PS: The only reason that the defense did not need as much work is because of his draft last time, ten years earlier!