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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Bucs Fire Morris

Posted Jan 2, 2012 by Roy Cummings

Updated Jan 2, 2012 at 11:56 AM

BY ROY CUMMINGS
The Tampa Tribune

TAMPA – The Bucs have fired head coach Raheem Morris.

“We want to thank Coach Morris for all his hard work and dedication asd head coach of the Buccaneers,’’ Bucs co-chairman Joel Glazer said in a statement.

“I have a lot of respect for the passion Coach Morris gave to our football team, but this change is one we felt was necessary,’ Bucs GM Mark Dominik said.

The team has scheduled a 3 p.m. news conference at One Buc Place

 

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Looking like worst Bucs defense ever

Posted Dec 26, 2011 by Ira Kaufman

Updated Dec 26, 2011 at 11:31 AM

By IRA KAUFMAN

TAMPA—Former Bucs quarterback Brad Johnson once told me that Tampa will always be an NFL city with a special appreciation for stingy defense.

Buc fans still remember an era when a swarming defense provided the winning edge for the franchise’s glory days.

In 2002, new head coach Jon Gruden challenged a defense stocked with Pro Bowl players. A veteran unit responded with a championship season, registering 38 takeaways before forcing 13 more turnovers in three postseason wins.

In 1979, a defense led by Lee Roy Selmon keyed a march to the NFC title game in the fourth year of the franchise.

As Saturday’s 48-16 debacle at Carolina painfully illustrated for Buc fans, those days of stout defense are long gone in Tampa.

Tampa Bay has allowed the most points (449) in the league and perhaps even more telling, the Bucs head into Sunday’s finale at Atlanta on track to set a franchise mark for the most yards allowed per snap. That dubious record was set by the 1986 club that went 2-14 and yielded an average of 6.0 yards per play.

The current edition of the Bucs is yielding 6.2 yards per snap and the rush defense, in particular, was atrocious in Charlotte. Through three quarters, while the Panthers were building a 41-10 advantage, Carolina averaged a stunning 11.5 yards per carry.

Routine off-tackle plays saw Panther backs running untouched until they were 15 yards downfield as Tampa Bay linebackers continually took poor angles and failed to shed blockers.

“We’re just trying to get it fixed before it’s over,’’ said Bucs rookie DE Da’Quan Bowers.

While the Panthers were breaking off eight runs that gained at least 13 yards, the Bucs averaged only 3.1 yards per carry.

“I wish we would have finished better,’’ said T Jeremy Trueblood. “Same old stuff, just a different day. There’s no excuses. Hopefully we have a better team next year because right now, we’re not very good.’‘

Trueblood was asked what message coach Raheem Morris offered after Tampa Bay’s ninth consecutive setback.

“Go to work next week, give it your best shot and quit playing like we’re playing,’’ Trueblood said.

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Haynesworth, Price to miss Panthers game for Bucs

Posted Dec 24, 2011 by Roy Cummings

Updated Dec 24, 2011 at 11:43 AM

BY ROY CUMMINGS
The Tampa Tribune

CHARLOTTE – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have a harder time than usual stopping Carolina Panthers running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart today.

The Bucs, who have are already missing defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, will also be without Albert Haynesworth and Brian Price, who will miss the game with kneem and ankle injuries, respectively.

The Bucs also scratched quarterback Rudy Carpenter, safety Larry Asante, defensive end Daniel Te’O-Hesheim and tackles Derek Hardman and James Lee.

The absence of Haynesworth and Price could prove devastating for the Bucs, a team that has lost eight straight and ranks 30th in the NFL in rush defense, allowing an average of 141 yards per game.

The Panthers, who also have a running threat in quarterback Cam Newton, have averaged 171 yards per game on the ground while compiling a 3-1 record in their last four games.

With Haynesworth and Price out the Bucs will work Frank Okam and Roy Miller at the defensive tackle spot. Meanwhile, E.J. Biggers will start at cornerback for Aqib Talib, who was placed on injured reserve earlier in the week.

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Injuries plaguing Bucs defensive front

Posted Dec 23, 2011 by Roy Cummings

Updated Dec 23, 2011 at 03:22 PM

BY ROY CUMMINGS
The Tampa Tribune

CHARLOTTE – With several key players in the middle of their defensive front fighting nagging injuries the Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have a harder time than usual stopping Carolina Panthers running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.

The Bucs listed defensive tackles Brian Price (ankle), Albert Haynesworth (knee), defensive end Michael Bennett (toe) and linebackers Geno Hayes (knee) and Adam Hayward (foot) as questionable for Saturday’s game at Bank of Americs Stadium.

The Bucs also listed defensive tackle Roy Miller as probable for game with a sore back. The good news is that each of those Bucs regulars was full-go in practice on Friday.

The Bucs also listed quarterback Josh Freeman as probable for the game with a bruised right throwing shoulder, but wide receiver Sammie Stroughter is listed as questionable with a sore knee.

The Bucs expect to have fellow wideout Arrelious Benn back in the lineup for this week’s game. Benn, who is listed as probable, missed last week’s game against Dallas because of a concussion.

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