Tampa Bay's players seem excited about the direction of the team without Greg Schiano in charge. (USATSI)
More NFL offseason: League minicamp dates | Latest news, notes
When the Buccaneers fired coach Raheem Morris, one explanation for the move was that the team members had gotten too comfortable in their environment. Morris, it was said, was too much of a players' coach and hadn't installed the correct amount of discipline, which partially explained why the team fell to a 4-12 record in 2011 after going 10-6 the previous season.
Thus, Tampa Bay hired Greg Schiano, who was going to take a more disciplined approach. An 11-21 record later and, after the second coaching change since 2012, the Buccaneers' pendulum has swung back the other way with Lovie Smith now in charge.
Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy says that's a good thing.
"It's been a while since you've seen guys smile this much, have this much fun," McCoy said, via the Buccaneers official website (H/T to Bucsnation.com). "We were a tight-knit group last year, that's how we got through all that circus. However, this group is really tight-knit and having a lot of fun really throughout the whole building. I mean, it's just a completely different feel around the building."
One of the major criticisms of the Schiano era was that he was a college coach treating NFL players like college players. Understandably, that approach wasn't so popular among the players who believed they were leaving behind a college mentality after they, you know, left college.
Said McCoy; "We're professional. Trust us to be professionals."
That's what Smith seemingly is doing. Of course, he's had plenty of experience at the pro game, leading the Bears from 2004-12. To be fair, Schiano hadn't ever been a pro football head coach before he was hired before the 2012 season.
And sure, we were a little surprised when the Buccaneers fired Schiano after only two seasons. But if the team wanted a change in the organization's atmosphere, hiring Smith -- at least, to this point -- seems to be the answer that the Buccaneers players have been seeking.
NFL Hot News
Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe is in the best shape of his life
Yep, it's about that time of year when stories such as this one bloom."Right now I'm about 210 (pounds), and I'm moving good, and I feel like I'm in the best shape of my life," Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe told the Kansas City Star on Thursday. "The way [OTAs have] been going, it's only going to get better."Head coach Andy Reid said: "I think Dwayne came back in phenomenal shape, that's one thing. It looks like it out here. He's really moving around well. Look forward to getting to camp where it actually counts, but he's in the right frame of mind."
It's nice to hear after Bowe has shown up to workouts in previous years in some form far away from tip-top. Bowe toned up with the help of a nutritionist and a personal trainer, and he said he's looking forward to being more of a leader on and off the field this year ... it's all very standard fare for mid-June. Bowe frustrated fantasy owners the past couple of seasons after posting some big numbers in 2010 and 2011 and failing to follow up. This year, you can't be frustrated if you draft Bowe. First of all, you're not drafting as anything more than a WR4, and expectations should be tamped down as long as risk-averse Alex Smith is under center. The Chiefs are trying to get him to throw down the field more often, but it's not as if Smith is going to turn into Jay Cutler overnight. I'll be surprised if Bowe reaches 900 yards this season. He turns 30 in August.
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment