The Reasons Behind Greg Schiano and What He Brings To the Buccaneers

January 26th, 2012 Chris Bach Posted in News


Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano will be the next head coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

This is why he was selected:

1. The Buccaneers needed order and discipline. Davin Joseph recently spoke out concerning this, that some players were allowed to do what they want under Raheem Morris. Schiano’s strong leadership style has brought praise from Bill Belichick.

2. The Buccaneers are rebuilding. Schiano had to face an uphill battle going to a Rutgers football team in 2001 that had not had a winning season since 2002 and had never won a bowl game (appearing only once in 1978, defeated by Arizona State in the Garden State Bowl). Schiano’s Scarlet Knights went 5-1 in bowl games, including winning all of their last five. It makes more sense to bring in 45 year-old Schiano, than to bring in Marty Schottenheimer, who will probably hit 70 and want to retire by the time the team has turned around (he turns 70 next year). It’s good to have a coach make his pro debut and grow along with the players.

3. The time was right for Greg Schiano. Realistically, he had accomplished everything you could at a school in the Big East, when West Virginia still has the upper hand with recruiting. He was unlikely to ever win a BCS title, so he took on a bigger challenge with Tampa Bay.

What he brings:

1. Old-school, lunch pail mentality. Hard tackling will be instituted. Diva mentality and personal fouls will not be accepted. Rutgers was first in the Big East in points allowed in 2011 (18.8), was first in 2009 (17.4), and second in 2008 (18.5). They will run the ball (Ray Rice ran 910 times in three seasons).

2. The need for an offensive coordinator. While Schiano is born to be a head coach, and has a more than adequate defensive IQ (he was defensive backs coach with the Chicago Bears in the 90′s), he doesn’t know offense. The Rutgers Scarlet Knights set an NCAA record by allowing 61 sacks in 2010. They brought in a Mike McCarthy assistant to be offensive coordinator last year, Frank Cignetti. The offense he brought to the squad had elements of Bill Walsh and Don Coryell. In fact, if he could bring Frank Cignetti, that would be great. Rutgers threw for 2940 yards in 2011, up from 2328 in 2010.

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Buccaneers Wrapping Up a Deal with Greg Schiano to be New Head Coach

January 26th, 2012 Matt Loede Posted in News

The Buccaneers are close to finally getting a head coach, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting the team is trying to wrap up a deal with Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano.

Schiano’s hiring would be a surprise, as his name hasn’t been mentioned at all with any other openings, and the last time he was mentioned for a job was after the 2006 season when Rutgers went 11-2 and Michigan was believed to be interested.

The 45-year-old Schiano has spent the 11 seasons at Rutgers, compiling a 68-67 record that includes a 5-1 mark in bowl games. Over the last seven seasons, the Scarlet Knights are an impressive 56-33 and have gone to all six of their bowl games under Schiano.

Schiano has three years of NFL coaching experience, all as a defensive assistant/position coach with the Bears from 1996-98 before spending two seasons as the defensive coordinator at the University of Miami.

In 2001, Schiano took over a Rutgers program that was an absolute doormat and put them in six bowl games over the last seven years.

According to the ESPN report, the Buccaneers have done extensive research on Schiano, who they have been in contact with throughout their search for a new head coach. One of the current NFL head coaches who spoke highly of Schiano was New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.

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Panthers OC Rob Chudzinski To Get Second Interview With Team

January 25th, 2012 Russ Loede Posted in Main, News

According to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer, the “buzz” around Mobile, Alabama at the Senior Bowl is that Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski will receive a second interview for the Tampa Bay Bucs’ head coaching job.  Mike Sherman has already been identified as a finalist for the job but the Bucs’ braintrust seems to be in no hurry since being turned down by Oregon head coach Chip Kelly.

Chudzinski is in Mobile, Alabama this week for the Senior Bowl with the rest of the Panthers’ coaching staff.  Panthers head coach Ron Rivera is getting impatient with the Bucs, stating, ” he would like some resolution”  on the status of Chudzinski, who also interviewed for the St. Louis and Jacksonville head coaching jobs.

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Bucs To Interview Mike Sherman Again For HC Job

January 24th, 2012 Russ Loede Posted in Main, News

After being spurned by Oregon head coach Chip Kelly, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have a second interview with former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike Sherman, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Including a 2-4 record in the post-season, the 57-year-old Sherman was 59-43 in his six seasons (2000-05) as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers. Sherman spent two seasons as an assistant with the Houston Texans before taking over the Texas A&M program in 2008. Sherman has also coached tight ends with the Packers (1997-98) and was the Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator in 1999.

In addition to Sherman, the Buccaneers have interviewed longtime NFL assistants/coordinators such as Jerry Gray (Tennessee Titans), Mike Zimmer (Cincinnati Bengals), Rob Chudzinkski (Carolina Panthers), Joe Philbin and Tom Clements of the Packers, as well as fellow former NFL head coaches Marty Schottenheimer and Brad Childress.

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Oregon’s Chip Kelly Turns Down Buccaneers Head Coaching Position

January 23rd, 2012 Russ Loede Posted in Main, News

After being offered the Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coaching job, and working on a contract to finalize the deal, University of Oregon head coach Chip Kelly has had a change of heart and will remain in his current position, Adam Jude of The Register-Guard reports.

“His heart is with college football and Oregon and he’s no longer being considered,” Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik told theTampa Bay Times on Monday.

The 48-year-old Manchester, New Hampshire native has spent the last five seasons with the Ducks, two as offensive coordinator before taking over as head coach in 2009. Under Kelly, the Ducks are 34-6, including a 1-2 mark in BCS bowl games. Earlier this month, the Ducks won the Rose Bowl for the first time in 95 years.

Kelly signed a six-year, $20.5 million contract extension in 2010 that included a $3.5 million buyout.

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Packers OC Philbin Interviews with the Bucs

January 20th, 2012 Matt Loede Posted in News

Reports indicate that Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin spoke Thursday with Tampa Bay about their head coaching vacancy. Philbin interviewed for the Dolphins’ head coaching job for a second time Wednesday, and his name has also been mentioned with openings for the Raiders and Colts.

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Bucs to Talk to Packers QB Coach Tom Clements

January 17th, 2012 Matt Loede Posted in News

The Buccaneers have another name on their list for possible coaches, as the team has received permission to interview Packers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements.

The interview with Clements will likely happen later this week.

Clements has coached quarterbacks for the Saints, Chiefs and Steelers and spent two seasons as the Bills offensive coordinator before joining the Packers in 2006.

Clements was also a candidate for the Penn State coaching job and is reportedly among the list of Packers assistant coaches who may be brought in by former Packers personnel executive Reggie McKenzie to interview for the Oakland Raiders head coaching position.

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Buccaneers to Talk to Panthers OC Rob Chudzinski Tuesday

January 17th, 2012 Matt Loede Posted in News

The Bucs will talk to Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski on Tuesday about their head coaching job. Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer spoke with the team Monday, but he’s currently the favorite to be the new head coach for the Dolphins coaching job.

Chudzinski has been a popular man this offseason, as he was also a candidate for coaching openings with the Jags and Rams.

The Panthers offense had a solid season in 2011, as they set a franchise record with 6,237 yards of total offense in 2011, which ranked seventh in the NFL just one season removed from a 32nd ranking in 2010.

Another reason why Chudzinski is high on the list of teams is his work with rookie and first overall pick Cam Newton. He had a record-setting performance with 4,051 passing yards, 706 yards rushing and 35 total touchdowns, including 14 on the ground.

It would be an interesting choice for the Bucs to go with Chud, as it could open the door for the offense, which was pretty bad in 2011, to take a huge step forward. It also could help the game of Josh Freeman, who took some steps backwards in 2011.

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