The Search For THe BUCS’ Next OC is In Full Swing
As names are revealed for the @Buccaneers' OC vacancy, it's funny to see fans' reactions and immediate disdain and confusion. Some were hoping for names that were widely known and popular from some other wildly successful offenses. Many were looking to see a familiar name from an old regime in Tampa. Others were wishing for their own Create-An-OC where he/she were both new and old school with years of experience and a fresh new take that no one has ever seen before.
Well, it turns out a few candidates meet some of those criteria in their own way. Let’s take a look at three candidates, their history in the NFL, and how they may be a fit in Tampa.
Klint Kubiak
Kubiak spent three years in Denver as an Offensive Assistant(2016-2018), Quarterback Coach, and Passing Game Coordinator(2022). Arguably, that's where he got his most significant experience en route to being a candidate as the Buccaneers' next OC.
He's also got experience as an OC in Minnesota, where the Vikings ranked 14th during the 2021 season.
In Denver, the Broncos' offense was below average every year of his tenure, with the best season coming in 2016 when it ranked 22nd in scoring. The team also posted a 9-7 record that season.
But you can't judge an OC just based on record and rankings. Let alone determining the value of an Offensive Assitant. You have to take into consideration who the actual play caller was.
Above Kubiak in his first season was Rick Denison. Denison had spearheaded three Top 10 Offenses in the seven years he spent as OC in Houston and a previous stint in Denver. In Houston, Denison was the OC for Klint's dad, Gary Kubiak.
Overall, Denison showed he could muster up a potent offense when given a decent amount of talent. In Houston, his WR1 was Andre Johnson, and his QB was Matt Schaub. At RB was Arian Foster. For three consecutive seasons, the Texans fielded a Top 10 Offense.
Fast forward to 2016, when Denison, in his 2nd go-around with the Broncos, was fired at the end of the season. Kubiak stays on an Offensive Assistant as Mike McCoy and Bill Musgrave take over as Co-Offensive Coordinators. Musgrave had been a primarily middling OC throughout his career. One Top 10 Offense throughout his ten-year career. His best offense came in 2016 with the Raiders.
Mike McCoy was in the same boat as Musgrave regarding his overall track record as an OC. He had one remarkable year when Peyton Manning was under center in Denver during the 2012 season. That'll come with an asterisk, as it's assumed Manning called plays and adjusted things on the fly. The offense ranked #2 in points that season.
With Kubiak learning from three offensive coordinators in such a short period and the amount of knowledge he could've picked up, it could be a feather in his cap. He's likely seen and heard how a successful offense should be run from the likes of Denison. And, on the flip side, he's seen just how badly Musgrave and McCoy could do it.
Compare that to the likes of the former OC in Tampa, who was mentored primarily by one guy. That one guy’s faults became Leftwich’s faults. That one mentor’s ways became Leftwich’s ways. Leftwich didn’t know differently, so didn’t do anything to stand on his own and correct any mistakes that his mentor didn’t teach.
Keep in mind that for much of Kubiak's time in Denver, Kubiak was relatively limited with offensive weapons. Especially at the QB position. In Minnesota, he had a relatively capable QB and well-above-average WRs and RBs to work with.
Demaryius Thomas (2016-2018)
Emmanuel Sanders (2016-2018)
Courland Sutton (2022)
Jerry Jeudy (2022)
Justin Jefferson
Adam Thielen
Notable RBs
CJ Anderson (2016-2017)
Phillip Lindsey(2018)
Latavius Murray (2022)
Dalvin Cook(2021)
Notable QBs
Trevor Siemian(2016-2018) 24 Games As A Starter
Paxton Lynch(2016-2017) 4 Games As A Starter
Brock Osweiler(2017) 4 Games As A Starter
Case Keenum (2018) 16 Games As A Starter
Russell Wilson (2022) 15 Games As A Starter
Kirk Cousin(2021) 16 Games As A Starter
Jim Bob Cooter
A big point of emphasis for many BUCS fans is experience. Well, here comes Jim Bob.
Like Kubiak, Cooter spent his first few years in the NFL learning as an Offensive Assistant(2009-2011). He went on to become both a QB Coach as well as a RB Coach. Two critical positions the BUCS will most definitely need help rebuilding in the next year or two.
His diversity in skill set and focus between positions should be a sticking point when addressing upgrading an offense as bad as BUCS’.
Cooter has four years of experience as an offensive coordinator in the League. All four with the Detroit Lions.
While some will wince at the mention of the Lions and wonder what their offense has done notable enough to bring in someone from their staff, it’s essential to know that they did have a Top 10 offense(7th) one of the years Cooter was the OC(2017).
For reference, recent Ring Of Honor inductee Bruce Arians only had one Top 10 offense(9th in 2017 w/Steelers) in his nine years as an OC in the NFL.
Since his time in Detroit, Cooter made stops in New York, Philly, and, most recently, Jacksonville working as the passing game coordinator. That experience working with and around a young signal caller may come in handy if he lands the job. With the possibility of both Tom Brady and former Jaguars legend Blaine Gabbert exiting, that just may be the most significant selling point.
Notable WRs/TE
Calvin Johnson(2016)
Golden Tate(2016-2018)
Anquan Boldin(2016)
Eric Ebron(2016-2017)
Kenny Galloday(2018)
Notable RBs
Theo Riddick(2016-2018)
Kerryon Johnson(2016-2018)
Ameer Abdullah(2016-2018)
LeGarrette Blount(2018)
Notable QB
Matthew Stafford(2016-2018) Starter Every Game
Keenan McCardell
To some, Keenan McCardell becoming an OC candidate may be the least conventional and, overall, the most unrealistic of the bunch. However, the former Pro Bowl WR does have the acumen to develop young talent and coach at the NFL level.
McCardell got his first coaching stint in the NFL thirteen years ago. He coached the Wide Receivers in Washington from 2010 to 2012. In 2010, his receivers set a then-franchise record for receptions in a season (349). The WRs led the NFL with nine catches of 50+ yards. In 2011, the receivers gained over 4,000 yards collectively.
After Washington, McCardell took a 1yr detour to the collegiate ranks. He landed in Maryland, where he would coach Stefon Diggs in his final year as a Terrapin.
In 2017, the man they called "Thunder" returned to where he spent the most time in his professional career. Keenan McCarell was welcomed back in Jacksonville as the WR Coach of the Jaguars. He had spent six of his sixteen years in Duval County and made his name known as a big-time player.
While serving as the WR Coach, McCardell helped develop some of the Jaguars' most essential pieces, which helped lead to a Conference Championship game in 2017. He's continued his knack for molding productive WRs for the last five years. His last two years have been with the Vikings, the home of two of the League's most prolific passing attacks over that time.
So, why should the Buccaneers have an interest? Why is he being considered with no NFL play-calling experience??
First, consider the experience factor as a player. Having a history of being on the field, facing live action, and producing at a high level should earn a lot of credit with players. Players love relatability when it comes to coaches. The best coaches and teachers preach and practice being able to always relate to players.
Secondly, his not having a track record of tendencies or bad habits is probably just as good as having a history of good play-calling. Since opponents can't dial in on any pattern or routine, McCardell or any other fresh(-er) face that emerges as the OC holds an advantage over some experienced, old-school, antiquated play-caller that has left breadcrumbs of his offensive strategies all over the NFL.
With so many OCs sticking around the NFL for so long and/or moving back and forth from the pros to the collegiate level and then back to the League, there's so much similarity between playing styles and coaching styles. The play callers that can adapt and innovate new ideas on offense have been the most successful over the last decade or so.
Obviously, talent takes a major role in what an Offensive Coordinator can do. But the idea of a "modern NFL offense" comes with the welcoming of new approaches and different hires. McCardell would come with a specialty in dealing with WRs. That doesn't mean he wouldn't qualify as a potential good OC. Eric Bienemy, OC of the Kansas City Chiefs, specialized in working with RBs. He's been behind one of the scariest offenses in the NFL for the last four seasons. McCardell may not be the next Bienemy. But he may be the first McCardell.
NOTABLE WRs
Keelan Cole(2017-2020)
Dede Westbrook(2017-2020)
DJ Chark(2018-2020)
Chris Conley (2019-2020)
Lavishka Shenault(2020)
Adam Thielen(2021-2022
Justin Jefferson(2021-2022)
