GRUDEN LEAVES TB, NEW COACH HIRED
Early this morning it was announced that Jon Gruden has resigned from the head coaching job of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is expected to begin a position as a head analyst at ESPN. The Bucs had been made aware of his plans and were already lining up new coaches.
Today the Bucs have announced the hiring of Jordan Scott, former graduate assistant at Indiana University. Scott is a very surprising hire, as he will become the youngest coach in NFL history at only 25 years old. However, Scott has a mind for the game and plans to incorporate some unique concepts in Tampa.
Scott inherits a roster with no long term plan at quarterback, as veterans Jeff Garcia and Brian Griese are flanked by disappointing young backups Chris Simms, Luke McCown and Bruce Gradkowski. The team's defense is solid but aging with stars like Derrick Brooks and Ronde Barber leading the way, who are flanked by youngsters Gaines Adams and Tanard Jackson. Whoever emerges at QB for the Bucs will be flanked by a solid offensive line, with veteran tackle Luke Petitgout bookended by Jeremy Trueblood, as well as guards Arron Sears and Davin Joseph. However, the team must find a long-term option at center and begin working on finding a viable replacement for the aging Petitgout. The receiving core is also a question mark, as Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard advance in age and the team has not seen production from the likes of Maurice Stovall, Michael Clayton and Paris Warren yet. Running back Earnest Graham and tight end Alex Smith are solid supplemental pieces, but it is unsure if they are viable for the long term.
Scott has already announced a surprising decision; the team plans to use the franchise tag on linebacker Jeremiah Trotter. Barrett Ruud is already established at middle linebacker and the team has Brooks and Cato June to play on the outside, so bringing back Trotter doesn't really make sense. If the plan is to trade him, I'm not sure what team would take on the $8 million franchise tag salary as well as his advanced age.
Scott has also announced that the team will not tender a contract to restricted free agent defensive tackle Jovan Haye, making him an unrestricted free agent. This was expected as the team has no ties to Haye with a new coach coming in, and Haye was stuck behind Chris Hovan as the starting defensive tackle.
Update: GM Ben Allens has announced that the team is tendering Haye with a Level 1 contract, meaning that teams can give up a 6th round pick to sign him to a contract.
Early this morning it was announced that Jon Gruden has resigned from the head coaching job of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is expected to begin a position as a head analyst at ESPN. The Bucs had been made aware of his plans and were already lining up new coaches.
Today the Bucs have announced the hiring of Jordan Scott, former graduate assistant at Indiana University. Scott is a very surprising hire, as he will become the youngest coach in NFL history at only 25 years old. However, Scott has a mind for the game and plans to incorporate some unique concepts in Tampa.
Scott inherits a roster with no long term plan at quarterback, as veterans Jeff Garcia and Brian Griese are flanked by disappointing young backups Chris Simms, Luke McCown and Bruce Gradkowski. The team's defense is solid but aging with stars like Derrick Brooks and Ronde Barber leading the way, who are flanked by youngsters Gaines Adams and Tanard Jackson. Whoever emerges at QB for the Bucs will be flanked by a solid offensive line, with veteran tackle Luke Petitgout bookended by Jeremy Trueblood, as well as guards Arron Sears and Davin Joseph. However, the team must find a long-term option at center and begin working on finding a viable replacement for the aging Petitgout. The receiving core is also a question mark, as Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard advance in age and the team has not seen production from the likes of Maurice Stovall, Michael Clayton and Paris Warren yet. Running back Earnest Graham and tight end Alex Smith are solid supplemental pieces, but it is unsure if they are viable for the long term.
Scott has already announced a surprising decision; the team plans to use the franchise tag on linebacker Jeremiah Trotter. Barrett Ruud is already established at middle linebacker and the team has Brooks and Cato June to play on the outside, so bringing back Trotter doesn't really make sense. If the plan is to trade him, I'm not sure what team would take on the $8 million franchise tag salary as well as his advanced age.
Scott has also announced that the team will not tender a contract to restricted free agent defensive tackle Jovan Haye, making him an unrestricted free agent. This was expected as the team has no ties to Haye with a new coach coming in, and Haye was stuck behind Chris Hovan as the starting defensive tackle.
Update: GM Ben Allens has announced that the team is tendering Haye with a Level 1 contract, meaning that teams can give up a 6th round pick to sign him to a contract.
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