Bucs OC Fired, Thrown Under Bus
By Adam Conn
Last week, Kansas City HC Todd Haley dismissed OC Chan Gailey after what appeared to be a bit of a power struggle – read, Haley wanted to have more control and Gailey’s philosophies didn’t mesh well with Haley’s ambitions. Gailey will remain with the team in some capacity as the two coaches respectfully parted ways as co-workers on the field.
That’s one way to go about it.
Then there’s Buccaneers HC Raheem Morris, who not only fired OC Jeff Jagodzinski today – on the eve of the team’s final preseason game and just over one week until the regular season starts – but also felt comfortable enough to lightly launch Jagodzinski in front of the express bus lane with nary an intersection in sight.
According to Roy Cummings’ story in the Tampa Tribune,
Morris cited Jagodzinski’s inadequate attention to detail and lack of “direction” as the reasons for the sudden move just 10 days before the Bucs’ regular season opener.
“We’re at the point now where we need to be more precise, more detailed,” Morris said. “We need to have more direction to where we’re going to go and we just don’t have it right now.
Bucs HC Morris fires OC Jagodzinski citing lack of direction (photo by pewterreport.com)
Apparently Jagodzinski was content to let his position coaches run team drills, install plays, checks, and audibles and finally call the plays…. That’s right, Steve Logan, former OC at Boston College (under then HC Jagodzinkski) was sending in the signals at his discretion during the preseason. The only problem was Logan was the RB coach. Way to delegate, Jeff.
And we thought the Chiefs were in a pickle.
What does this mean for the Bucs? Well, possible a bump for QB Byron Leftwich and the receivers. QB coach Greg Olson is taking over OC duties, with some input from WR coach Richard Mann, and the two will aim to attack more down-field. According to Morris the zone-block running scheme will not change. What will change is the direction of the passing game.
…We’re talking about a different direction with our passing game a little bit…. We’re talking about being more vertical, having vertical balls downfield”
Great news for WR Antonio Bryant who is entering a contract year on the heels of a breakout season. Great news for Leftwich who is trying to resurrect his career as a starter. Great news for Kellen Winslow Jr., who is trying to rebound after an injury riddled 2008 and a roller coaster career thus far.
As mentioned in our soon-to-be-released podcast, the running back situation in Tampa remains a mess. Thanks to Cadillac Williams‘ second comeback from knee surgery, there could be up to three possible options to choose from (Morris recently said he might employ a 2-2-1 rotation). Until either Williams, Derrick Ward or Earnest Graham establishes themselves, it will be a RBBC to the fullest extent. Proceed with caution.
But how much can they accomplish one week prior to the season? On the surface, implementing more deep passes sounds easy – “Hey Antonio, remember the stop and hook play? That’s now the stop and go…” But Morris wants to alter the scheme without changing the playbook, and that may prove more difficult than intended.
The first seven games for Tampa are Dallas, at Buffalo, N.Y. Giants, at Washington, at Philadelphia, Carolina and New England. I see at most three wins, but quite possibly none. Dallas is just 10 days away. Buffalo plays snug at home and the young defense is improving. Washington is a snore, but like Buffalo can certainly grind out a win at home. The rest are washouts. 1-6 for the Bucs is more realistic, and that can be a fantasy nightmare with coaches throwing in the towel by trying out younger talent.
If by some miracle Tampa can adjust on the fly and piece it all together after a few weeks, then the key components of the offense will have some relevant fantasy impact. But all signs point to a rough and rugged start for the Bucs, who like the Chiefs are in limbo offensively with a new coordinator just over a week until Week 1.
