Mularkey spurns Bucs; Olson up next

The Bucs appear to have lost their first choice for quarterbacks coach, with Mike Mularkey nearing an agreement tonight to become the Falcons' offensive coordinator.

But we've pinpointed the man who appears to be next in line: Rams assistant Greg Olson.

Olson was most recently the Rams' offensive coordinator but was going to be demoted. He confirmed to us tonight that he interviewed with the Bucs for the quarterbacks job and said he was awaiting word on a decision.

Mularkey was thought to have the inside track at the position earlier in the week. But with Mularkey having now made a decision on his future, the path is cleared for Olson to be named.

Reached by phone tonight, Olson said he was offered a chance to stay in St. Louis in a diminished role, but he seemed intent on moving on.

"I don’t know that I want to do that," he said of remaining in St. Louis.

Olson coached quarterback Jeff Garcia during his stints in San Francisco and Detroit and remains close to him. In Olson's one season as quarterbacks coach in San Francisco in 2001, Garcia posted a career-high 32 touchdown passes. Olson mentioned he had spoken with Garcia today. They surely weren't talking about the weather. This could be a done deal real soon.

Comments

[John P]

Olson called a pretty decent game for the Rams, unfortunately what happened there with injuries on the offense was just crazy. I think he's a definite good addition, though.

[Joe]

Nice scoop Stephen.

I like his history with Garcia. Is he "THE ONE" to finally groom a franchise QB out of Simms, McCown, or some young stud from the draft??

This town's definitely due!!

[aaron]

i think we should consider hiring Trent dilfer as a QB coach. he may not have been the most talented quarterback but he had the knowledge. he was and is a very smart qb. he just didnt have the talent to back up the knowledge. but he has been a great mentor to Matt Hasselbeck and Alex Smith in SF. the niners and him have been throwing around the idea of him moving in to that role in SF should he retire.
i think we should offer him the job...

[skp]

aaron, dilfer has been a good mentor for a couple of these guys, but i don't see him wanting to come to tampa to take that position because a) he wasn't really respected for most of his time in tampa, and would take alot of flack and sarcasm if QB play dipped, and b) he was a west coast guy before (and now at the end of) his NFL career...

[ferenczy]

...let's offer the job to Lane Kiffin ;)

[John P]

The last time we took one of their head coaches the next season worked out pretty well. :)

[Brandon]

We should wait to see what happens with Lane Kiffin in Oakland. Lane's groomed more young QB's successfully than anybody else out there: Carson Palmer, Leinart, Josh Booty----even Josh McCown played fairly well this season, though I won't attribute eventual bust JaMarcus Russell to Kiffin, that stupid decision was all Al's.

[James]

Can you explain in further detail on how the Bucs were "spurned" by a guy who took an Offensive Coordinator position over being a QB Coach? Please, we're waiting.