Bucs blocked again in search for staff assistant

Posted Feb 11, 2012 by Roy Cummings

Updated Feb 11, 2012 at 12:42 PM

BY ROY CUMMINGS
The Tampa Tribune

TAMPA – Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano has run into yet another roadblock in his quest to build a staff of assistants.

The San Francisco 49ers have denied the Bucs an opportunity to speak to defensive backs coach Ed Donatell about their vacant defensive coordinator’s position, according to an NFL.com report.

The denial marks at least the third time since Schiano took over as Bucs coach that he has been denied the opportunity to speak to a potential coordinator candidate.

  The Bucs were previously denied opportunities to speak to Arizona Cardinals receivers coach John McNulty and Green Bay Packers tight ends coach Ben McAdoo about their offensive coordinator’s job.

  News of the latest refusal comes less than a day after the Bucs named former New York Giants quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan their offensive coordinator. It may also be an indication of the team’s plans for former University of Miami coach Butch Davis.
 
Davis has agreed in principle on a contract with the Bucs that calls for him to join Schiano’s staff as a special assistant to Schiano, and the team’s interest in Donatell is a sign Davis may only serve the Bucs in an advisory role.

Davis was most recently the head coach at the University of North Carolina, which fired him last July during an NCAA investigation into claims of academic misconduct and illicit player-agent relations.

Because Davis was fired “without cause,” he immediately became entitled to a $2,703,500 buyout package that he would forfeit were he to accept another college or pro coaching job.

The buyout calls for Davis to receive payments of $590,000 on Jan. 15 in 2013, 2014 and 2015, UNC officials said.

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Report: Fleck to coach Bucs wideouts

Posted Feb 4, 2012 by Roy Cummings

Updated Feb 4, 2012 at 06:08 PM

  BY ROY CUMMINGS
The Tampa Tribune

TAMPA – New Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano appears to be making good on his plan to bring some of his former Rutgers assistants to Tampa Bay.

P.J. Fleck, who coached Rutgers wide receivers each of the last two years under Schiano, has agreed to join the Bucs in the same capacity, according to an ESPN report.

Fleck left Rutgers earlier in the week to take a job as the offensive coordinator at Northern Illinois, his alama mater, but resigned a day later to join forces with Schiano, the report said.

Schiano was named the ninth head coach in Bucs history on Jan. 26. He is in the process of hiring his staff, but no official announcements regarding staff hires have been made.

Fleck was a receiver for the Huskies from 1999-2003 and with the San Francisco 49ers from 2004 to 2006. Following his playing career, he returned to NIU as a receivers coach in 2007 and stayed until 2009.
 
Several reports have also suggested that Rutgers offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti and Rutgers defensive coordinator Bob Fraser will eventually join the Bucs staff under Schiano.

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Bucs, McNabb might be a good fit

Posted Feb 2, 2012 by Roy Cummings

Updated Feb 2, 2012 at 11:31 AM

 
  BY ROY CUMMINGS
The Tampa Tribune

TAMPA – Free agent quarterback Donovan McNabb says there are three teams he believes he could “add a little flavor to’’ and would be interested in playing for next season.

The Bucs should be hoping they’re one of them.

Though McNabb no doubt has his eyes fixed on teams without an established starter, he is just the kind of quarterback the Bucs need behind their designated starter, Josh Freeman.

With 13 years of experience and a build and style of play that is a virtual match with Freeman’s, McNabb could be an ideal mentor for the Bucs franchise cornerstone.

As long as he’s willing to mentor.

That’s what the Bucs would have to find out. If McNabb is only interested in starting and has no interest in putting on a coach’s hat and passing on his wealth of knowledge, then he’s probably not what the Bucs need.

If he is, though, then McNabb is a worth considering.

Freeman struggled in part last year because he had no one with regular game-day experience to turn to when his game went off the rails. McNabb would certainly give him that.

He also might discover some as yet undetected weapons in Freeman’s game. After all, like Freeman, McNabb is, or at least was, a big, mobile, strong-armed quarterback with a penchant for making plays with his legs.

And it’s not like McNabb is done. His 60-plus completion percentage and 82.9 passer rating with the Vikings last year is a sign he can still play at a winning level.

That’s another thing the Bucs need in their backup. They went without Freeman in one game last year and the results were not good. Someone who can keep them competitive should Freeman go down is a must.

So, if it’s really all about No. 5 - and there’s no reason to believe that hasn’t changed - it’s worth a call to see if another No. 5 has the Bucs on his list of target teams or would consider adding them to the list.

 

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Schiano big on discipline

Posted Jan 30, 2012 by Ira Kaufman

Updated Jan 30, 2012 at 03:00 PM

BY IRA KAUFMAN

TAMPA—Greg Schiano believes in truth and consequences.

The new head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers takes over a very young club that has been beset by a series of troubling off-field incidents in recent years. At his opening news conference in Tampa, Schiano stressed accountability and trust between both players and coaches.

In a subsequent meeting with print media, Schiano was asked how tolerant he would be in dealing with off-field transgressions.

“We’ll have one unified message as an organization,’’ he said. “Accountability doesn’t work unless it’s consistent. You give a very clear vision and a clear expectation. Most anger and frustration comes out of unmet expectations. If you can give clear vision and expectations, it’s up to the players and coaches. It doesn’t work unless there’s consequences ... that’s human nature.’‘

Schiano said he expects the franchise’s code of conduct to be honored.

“As a kid, I was always best when I knew where the boundaries were,’’ said Schiano. “When you don’t know where the boundaries are, you just start drifting and all of a sudden, you’re in a bad place and you don’t know how you got there. When they hit the boundaries, there’s a consequence. Sometimes that consequence can drive someone away. That’s the unfortunate part of it.’‘

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Greg Schiano arrives at One Buc Place

Posted Jan 27, 2012 by Roy Cummings

Updated Jan 27, 2012 at 12:47 PM

 
BY ROY CUMMINGS
The Tampa Tribune

TAMPA – Greg Schiano has entered the building.

  Schiano, the former Rutgers coach who was named the new head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday, arrived at One Buc Place with his family around 12:30 p.m. Friday.

Schiano did not speak to reporters, but shouted back “Feels great’’ when he was asked how it feels to be in Tampa.

Schiano entered One Buc Place at the main front entrance. When he walked into the main lobby of the building he was greeted by a thunderous round of appalause from the Bucs staff.

The Bucs had scheduled a 1 p.m. news to introduce Schiano but moved the news conference to 2 p.m. to accommodate Schiano, who’s flight from New Jersey was delayed by bad weather in the New York-New Jersey area.

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Bucs can’t seal deal with Kelly

Posted Jan 23, 2012 by Ira Kaufman

Updated Jan 23, 2012 at 10:45 AM

By IRA KAUFMAN

TAMPA—When you’re jilted by a Bill Parcells, it hurts, but it’s understandable.

Parcells, who is up for Hall of Fame consideration in a few weeks, has played mind games with several NFL franchises, leading them to believe a deal was in place before he walked away.

But Chip Kelly?

When Oregon’s head football coach spurned the Bucs in the early hours of Monday morning, he sent a clear message that he didn’t regard Tampa Bay’s vacancy as a plum job. And that can’t sit well with the Glazers or GM Mark Dominik.

There are only 32 head coaches in the NFL and Kelly had an opportunity to join their ranks. Instead, he preferred to return to Oregon, where the Ducks are facing possible NCAA sanctions and several of Kelly’s key offensive players are leaving early to enter the NFL draft.

Perhaps Kelly truly loves the college game more than the pros, but his decision to stay also reflects how he views the Bucs as an organization. Since that 2002 championship season, Tampa Bay is 20 games under .500 (62-82) and the Bucs and Lions are the only NFC clubs that haven’t won a playoff game in the last nine years.

Don’t expect Kelly to rip the Bucs in explaining his change of heart, but it’s clear he wasn’t overwhelmed by a chance to walk the sidelines at Raymond James Stadium.

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Phillips pulls out of Bucs coaching race

Posted Jan 12, 2012 by Roy Cummings

Updated Jan 12, 2012 at 09:47 PM

  BY ROY CUMMINGS
The Tampa Tribune

TAMPA – A day before he was scheduled to interview for the Buccaneers head coach’s job, Houston Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips pulled himself out of contention Thursday.

Phillips, 64, was scheduled to interview for the Bucs job following the Texans practice in Houston on Friday, but he called Bucs general manager Mark Dominik early Thursday evening and told him he was pulling out.

The notification from Phillips, who told Dominik he feared the interview would be a distraction to the Texans, came shortly after Phillips said during an afternoon press conference that he preferred to stay in Houston anyway.

“My first priority is to be here, “Phillips said. “I like it here. I love it here. We’ve had such a magical year and we’re going to keep it going so that’s my first choice.’’
Phillips was one of several veteran head coaches being considered for the job that opened up Jan. 2 when the Bucs fired Raheem Morris following a 4-12 finish that included 10 straight losses to end the season.

The Bucs have already interviewed Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Jerry Gray and former NFL coaches Mike Shermman, Marty Schottenheimer and Brad Childress for the job.

  The Bucs sought permission to speak to Phillips two weeks ago, Phillips said, and scheduled the interview for late Friday in Houston so that it would not interfere with Phillips preparations for Sunday’s playoff game at Baltimore.

Texans head coach Gary Kubiak said earlier in the week that the timing of the interview would keep it from being a distraction for his team and Phillips echoed those same sentiments following the Texans practice Thursday.

  “We (have known about the interview) for two weeks,’’ Phillips said Thursday afternoon. “We didn’t let it be a distraction the week before so it won’t be a distraction this week either.”

Phillips said during the news conference that he intended to go through with the interview and that he planned to “take it from there’’ with the Bucs. After meeting again with Texans officials, however, he called Dominik and bowed out.

An interview with Phillips for a later date has not been scheduled and a source with knowledge of the Bucs search strategy said late Thursday no subsequent interview with Phillips is planned.

Phillips was the last known candidate scheduled for an interview, but the source said the search for a replacement for Morris will likely continue with further interviews of other candidates.

Phillips name first surfaced as a candidate last Sunday. He has an 82-59 regular-season record as a head coach but has won just one of six playoff games. Had Phillips joined the Bucs, he might have sparked a change in defensive philosophies.

Phillips has traditionally run a three-lineman, four-linebacker alignment. The Bucs have traditionally employed a 4-3 alignment, though the Bucs did incorporate some 3-4 principles into their defensive scheme under Morris.

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Zimmer could be intriguing for Bucs

Posted Jan 9, 2012 by Ira Kaufman

Updated Jan 9, 2012 at 11:18 AM

BY IRA KAUFMAN

TAMPA—In the early days of their ownership tenure, the Glazers reached out to a defensive assistant who lacked experience as an NFL head coach.

And even though Tony Dungy couldn’t win a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers in his six seasons, he forged a winning culture before going on to Indianapolis and eventually hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Dungy wasn’t the first choice of the Glazers in 1996, but he turned out to be a savvy choice. And now, with the Bucs seeking a successor to Raheem Morris, there’s another long-time defensive assistant waiting for his opportunity on the sidelines.

Mike Zimmer, 55, has a similar pedigree to Dungy. Cincinnati’s defensive coordinator has experience working with a 4-3 or 3-4 alignment and he helped the Bengals reach the playoffs this season, despite fielding six new opening-day starters on defense.

The Bengals ranked No. 7 defensively, despite losing their best cornerback, Johnathan Joseph, to Houston in free agency. In his four years in Cincinnati, Zimmer’s defensive units have ranked 12th, fourth, 15th and seventh.

In 2003, Zimmer guided the league’s top-ranked defense in Dallas and he has also served as defensive coordinator of the Falcons.

Zimmer is well respected throughout the league and his mental toughness can’t be questioned. In 2009, Zimmer won the George S. Halas Award for an individual who has overcome the most adversity.

That October, Zimmer accompanied the Bengals to Baltimore only a few days after discovering the lifeless body of his 50-year-old wife, Vikki, at their home.

After Cincinnati’s 17-14 triumph, head coach Marvin Lewis presented Zimmer with the game ball and he delivered a brief, emotional message that brought players and fellow coaches to tears.

If the Bucs are looking only for candidates with previous head coaching experience in the NFL, Zimmer doesn’t fit the profile. Right now, with the Bengals eliminated, Zimmer is waiting for the opportunity of a lifetime.

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Faine talks about Bucs youth

Posted Jan 4, 2012 by Ira Kaufman

Updated Jan 4, 2012 at 10:18 AM

By IRA KAUFMAN

TAMPA—You can’t stay young forever.

That’s the message veteran center Jeff Faine has for teammates after the Buccaneers finished off a 4-12 season with 10 consecutive losses, leading to the dismissal of head coach Raheem Morris and his entire staff.

Tampa Bay has fielded the NFL’s youngest roster the past few seasons. The Bucs began the year with only three players 30 or older—Faine, running back Earnest Graham and cornerback Ronde Barber, who just completed his 15th NFL season.

“A lot of these young guys have to realize they’re not so young anymore,’’ Faine said. “We’re going into our third year with a lot of these guys, and that’s almost the length of the average NFL career. It’s not a young team anymore. That excuse is over from now on and a lot of people around here have to grow up.’‘

The Bucs led the league with 40 giveaways and Faine singled out turnovers as a major culprit in Tampa Bay’s last-place finish in the NFC South. But he also pointed to another area of lingering concern.

“There’s a lot of individual talent on this team, but we’re not where we need to be on big-picture concepts,’’ he said. “That’s guys realizing what makes the whole play go, not just their individual job. In terms of the big picture, the play has to be executed in a certain way. It’s very easy to look at it on paper, but you’ve got to be able to execute it on the field. That comes with repetition, and there’s got to be 100 percent commitment to get this thing right.’‘

Faine spent the 2011 season crouched in front of 23-year-old quarterback Josh Freeman, who struggled through a disappointing year. Freeman’s interception total soared from six to 22 and his passer rating plunged to a pedestrian 74.6 mark in his second full year as a starter.

“Getting Josh back on track is paramount for this franchise,’’ Faine said, “but it’s the people around him as well. You only go as far as your quarterback, but at the same time, you’ve got to put a good product around Josh Freeman.’‘

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Brooks looks at the Bucs

Posted Jan 3, 2012 by Ira Kaufman

Updated Jan 3, 2012 at 11:45 AM

By IRA KAUFMAN

TAMPA—With the Buccaneers looking for a new head coach, Derrick Brooks says expect the unexpected.

Tampa Bay’s perennial Pro Bowl linebacker still follows the organization closely, three years removed from his final NFL game, and he is curious to see how the coaching search unfolds after Monday’s dismissal of Raheem Morris and his staff.

“You look at the recent history of ownership and you see that the Glazers take their time to do what they feel is best for the Buccaneers,’’ Brooks said. “Nobody expected them to hire Tony Dungy after Sam Wyche was let go. Jon Gruden came out of nowhere in 2002 after Tony left. Raheem was the only guy they even considered to replace Jon Gruden, so it’s always been something of a surprise. When the Glazers make a change, it’s never been someone who was expected.’‘

Brooks, the president of the Arena League’s Tampa Bay Storm, was shocked how far the Bucs fell in 2011, closing with a 10-game losing streak that left them at 4-12, just one year removed from a 10-6 mark.

“In 2010, the Bucs were a young team that did simple things and did them well,’’ Brooks said. “They ran the ball and protected the ball well on offense and when they got to the red zone, they scored touchdowns. Obviously, they did not know how to follow up on that success. Was the lockout part of the problem? Yes, it was, but there also was a lack of veteran leaders that showed up on the field and off the field. Having veteran guys and having veteran leaders are two different things. I can only imagine the friustration a Ronde Barber went through this season.’‘

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