3
Sep
2009
Open season on offensive coordinators
By TheDarkHorse
The Tampa Buccaneers have become the second team in a week to fire their offensive coordinator. Last week, the Kansas City Chiefs dismissed Chan Gailey, who possessed an abundance of experience at the coordinator level (and served as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys for a spell). For the Chiefs, experience wasn’t the issue. For the Bucs, from what we’re told by Bucs beat writer Rick Stroud, experience–and lack of it–was the deciding factor in the firing of first-time NFL offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski.
Tampa Bay Head Coach Raheem Morris has shown no fear in making decisions to transform the Bucs.
Jagodzinski was let go today after team officials came to the conclusion that he wasn’t ready to run an NFL offense. Jagodzinski was hired this past winter by the Bucs following two successful seasons as head coach of the Boston College Eagles. After leading the team to consecutive 11-3 and 9-5 seasons, Jagodzinski was fired by Boston College when the team discovered that “Jag” had interviewed for the vacant New York Jets head coaching position. Soon after, he came to the Bucs with high hopes but, according to Stroud, “Sometime during training camp, it became increasingly apparent to Bucs officials and players, that Jagodzinski was not equipped to install and direct an NFL offense… as the preseason wore on, Bucs officials kept a close eye on Jagodzinski and did not feel he had the attention to detail required to remain as offensive coordinator.”
Now, honestly, I feel pretty rotten posting a story about a guy getting fired. That said, the process around “installing and offense” remains fascinating, and after watching Hard Knocks the past few nights, the coaches meetings–in every possible way–prove intriguing. We don’t frequently get a deep look into what these guys do, week to week. The game preparation, the film study, the meticulous preparation (sleeping three hours per day) is obviously intense.
The good news for Jagodzinski? NFL coaches have a tendency to bounce back. There’s no sense that he disenfranchised his peers, or came equipped with a poor attitude. And, like so many young players who find themselves released from their teams over the next 24 hours, there may be a second chance.
