Bucs coaching search winding down with Arians the favorite
With the interview of Dallas Cowboys DB coach Kris Richard today the Bucs are getting close to wrapping up the interview process for their HC position.
There has been a report circulating today that the Bucs have expressed interest in Georgia HC Kirby Smart. No word yet from Smart’s camp if he would be interested.
The front runner Bruce Arians was in town yesterday for an interview and did nothing to eliminate his name from being the favorite
Of the 4 candidates that the Bucs have interviewed, Arians is the only one with HC experience. Arians was 9-3 in Indianapolis filling in for Chuck Pagano when he took a leave for cancer treatment. At Arizona Arians was 49-30-1 with two playoff appearances and one NFC west title.
Here is Arians record year by year in Arizona: 2013 5-11, 2014 10-6, 2015 13-3, 2016 7-8-1, 2017 8-8. I Think Buccaneer fans would take that record in a heartbeat.
Arians has proven that he can come in and turn around a team rather quickly.
Arians has a very creative offense mind and when he was the OC in Cleveland and Pittsburgh, the offenses were in the top 10 every season. One of the biggest mistakes Pittsburgh made was letting Arians go and replacing him with Todd Haley.
The Bucs already have the pieces in place for a great offense as they finished in the top 5 in the league this year in offense and also had the best offense in the history of the Buccaneers.
Arians also has a good history of working with and developing QB’s. Arians has worked with future HOFers Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger, a Veteran QB in Carson Palmer, and an up and coming QB in Andrew Luck.
Arians would be good for Jameis Winston and could take his game to the nest level. Arians and Winston know each other and have worked together as Winston attended Arian’s QB camps in Alabama.
Arians and Jason Licht have a working relationship as Licht was the Player Personal Director when Arians took over as HC in Arizona.
There is a good chance that should Arians be hired as HC in Tampa, Todd Bowles the former NY Jets HC would be coming along as DC. Arians and Bowles relationship go back to the Temple days where Arians was HC and Bowles was a DB. The two again worked together in Arizona where Bowles was DC under Arians.
Brentson Buckner the DL line coach would also probably be retained. Buckner is under contract for 2019 and was the DL coach in Arizona under Arians.
There a couple negatives with the hiring of Arians. He is 66 years old and retired from the Cardinals due to health issues and family concerns.
Arians wife had urged hime to retire due to his high blood pressure issues and being away from home so much. Arians has a home close to the Tampa area and after one year away from coaching seems to have his health issues under control.
Licht has said there is no timetable to name a coach but has the days and weeks go by, the sense of urgency increases to get something done.
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