I hope I’m not the only Bucs fan who thought “What-choo talkin bout Ira”?Yesterday on 620 WDAE, Ira Kaufman, who is the Bay Area’s senior most leading newspaper writer for the Bucs, and the sole owner of the Bay areas vote for hall of fame, spoke about Chip Kelly’s change of mind regarding the Bucs coaching vacancy. He reminded us of how Bill Parcells ‘left us at the alter” in 1992 and 2002 a decade later.
“It’s one thing to be turned down by Bill Parcells, who is going in the hall of fame in 10 days, but Chip Kelly? This is another low point for the franchise”
I have to ask Ira what he was doing on Jan 1st, because I was watching the same Atlanta Falcons that got destroyed by the Saints and Giants on the road, put 42 points on the Bucs in the first half alone! THAT Ira, was the lowest of low points for this franchise. Not getting a change of mind from a college football coach who realized that its a diffderent ballgame in the pro’s than it is in college.
Chip Kelly is an offensive mastermind, an innovator. But we dont need another experiment here in Tampa Bay, we need a proven motivator, teacher, and leader. In fact it may have been an even lower point for the franchise HAD Kelly accepted and failed at the task.
So now the Bucs will go back to doing what they planned on doing, reinterviewing the candidates they are serious about, and Mike Sherman is first up. I suspect Schottenheimer and Zimmer will be up too. Both of those guys will be master motivators and teachers. Im not so sure about Sherman, but I suspect he will be able to bring in a group of awesome assistants, which could be just as important as the main guy himself.
Think about Tony Dungy without Monte Kiffin.
After the events of last season, a lot of people are changing their opinion on the Bucs from an overall standpoint. People like Dan Sileo feel the Bucs gig is a less attractive one at ths time. I dont see the Tampa Bay Buccaneers job as a lower level one; in fact, I think its as close to a perfect gig as you can get.
The headquarters are second to none- They are lavish, State of the art, and top of the line. If there is a better HQ somewhere, there is only one or two.
You have a top 5 Draft pick to get an impact player with.
You have a TON of cap room, and the Bucs owners will HAVE TO spend that money in 2013, next season. Even still, the Bucs offered 6 million dollars for Chip Kelly, showing me they are serious about spending some money.
You build a team from the Lines out. The Bucs have the lines invested in properly. The offensive Line is a veteran unit, with everyone having played since at least 2008. Donald Penn 2007, Jeremy Zuttah 2008, Jeff Faine 2008, Davin Joseph 2006, Jeremy Trueblood 2006. Defensive Line has the no.1 and no.2 picks from the last two seasons. DE Da’Quan Bowers 2011 2nd round, DT Brian Price 2010 2nd Round, DT Gerald McCoy 2010 1st round pick, Adrian Clayborn 2011 1st round pick.
A First round pick at QuarterBack who is entering the early stages of his prime while yet only 23 years old. Josh Freeman has 9 come from behind 4th quarter victories, and had a 25 TD and 6 INT season only one year ago, the last time he had a full offseason.
A running back who has the top 10 yards per carry in the NFL over the last 2 seasons combined 4.64 yards per carry. The knock on LeGarrette Blount is he hasnt mastered the playbook. However, this offseason, will be the FIRST Offeseason OTAs Blount will go through as a Buccaneer. Something to think about huh?
Then we have pay again, and Florida has NO state sales tax.
So this Bucs job is not just peanuts, It’s actually quite attractive.
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