Mystery candidate up for opening; Hackett likely gone

During several conversations with Jon Gruden this morning at the Senior Bowl North team practice, the coach alluded more than once to an assistant-coaching candidate whose identity might "shock" me.

Gruden wouldn't give up the name nor would he indicate what role the person would assume, but it appears this person will be meeting with Gruden in Tampa tomorrow evening.

I threw a couple names at Gruden to no avail, so perhaps we'll just have to wait and see. Or not. I'll continue to ask around and see what comes of it. I don't get the sense it's former Dolphins assistant Mike Mularkey, who Gruden did acknowledge speaking with but did not pinpoint him as the person in question.

On a related topic, Gruden made it pretty clear that quarterbacks coach Paul Hackett is not expected back. Word is Hackett is at his New Hampshire vacation home mulling his options. In the meantime, Gruden indicated the Bucs are moving on.

"We're going to talk to a lot of people," said Gruden, who also must hire a running backs coach. "There's a lot of coaches who want to work for the Buccaneers you know."

Comments

[Matt]

Lane Kiffin ?

[dfl]

need an rb coach...would shock him...how about mike alstott?

[Jay]

I would love nothing more than to see Mike Alstott as the RB coach.

[James]

I think that Alstott would be the "shocker".

And I wonder if Alstott is ready to become a coach.

[ed]

"there are a lot of coaches who want to work for the buccaneers" says gruden-hard to believe with his ego!!

[Matt]

Jon, Bruce & Monte are going to be tapping a keg and celebrating the new contracts at Monte's place and Lane will be coming over.

[TJ]

Mike Alstott as RB coach would be a "shock" in the same way that Derrick Brooks being hired as the Linebackers coach after his playing days would be. It has to be someone else.

[Jay]

I have to admit, that Lane Kiffin would be absolutely hilarious. Maybe it would be the one thing to send old Al over the edge.

He is the Crypt Keeper, ya know.

[Steve]

Gary Shelton...Dr. Rick Stroud. Give them a shot. They seem to like doing it through their articles

[Chris]

What about Keyshawn as a WR coach? That would definitely be shocking.... It was reported that the bucs were considering resigning Key for the playoffs... They said the two had 'put their differences behind them'.

Just a guess.

[aaron]

my guess is that it is Reggie Cobb...

i see Alstott is set to announce his retirement, maybe he will also announce his hiring as the new rb coach...that would be to good to be true though.

[Jerry]

James Lofton- Hall of Fame WR and ex-WR coach in San Diego!

[Ray]

You all got it wrong. It is me and I don't know one end of the football from the other end.

[Mike]

He is talking about replacing Hackett, right? If so, you got to go with Rich Gannon unless there is someone else from Oakland that I can't think of.

[Mike]

Oh, and Charlie Gardner for RB coach!

[Larry]

You Alstott fans are so delusional.

What makes you all think that Mike has the qualities to be a good coach, other than being a "Nice Guy"...?

[go bucs]

what about doug williams?

[Nick]

For Quarterbacks coach perhaps an older Quarterback with west coast exp... Rich G. or Jake P. Steve Y. Very Interesting, cant wait.

[Mike Huntstinks]

Steve Young sounds like a great guess. That would be the best move, and definitely a shocker. Why does everyone keep guessing WR's? Didn't the Bucs re-sign Richard Mann already?

[Dylan]

Steve Young is out as QB or assistant coach. He is living a really good life in Provo, UT and has no desire to go back to working on Sundays now that he has a family. He even tapes his ESPN spots during the week. Steve is out of football as his main income and is doing really well and an investment analysit and attorney.

But it was a good guess. I would say Gannon, Deberg or even Warren Moon IF it is a former QB.

As for Allstot, his career will be in broadcasting and politics, not coaching.

[ValricoRick]

I am pretty sure that it is Mike Alstott, and it could turn out to be a great idea. I think it would be difficult for anyone who sits and reads blogs all day to have the first clue whether or not he would make a good coach, right Larry? What he is like at practice, and on the sidelines, and how much film does he study, how well he understands the game and the running back position, are the things that only an insider would know, right Larry? I love the loyalty of Alstott. Remember Warrick Dunn ran off at the first sign of a fatter paycheck. Alstott is a Buccaneer, and wouldn't play anywhere else, that means something to me. Can he coach, only time will tell for sure, right Larry?

[Simeon Rice]

I can categorically insinuate with preposterous certainty that it will be my good drinking buddy Warren Sapp. Absolutely without reverence.

[Jay]

Don't hate on Sapp. He's a 3 technique DT that will be in Canton. If he can bring some of that to our D-line, all the better. I just don't there's a position open.

[Simeon Rice]

I aint hating on Sapp Daddy, just responding to the "Shocking" candidate and havin some fun @ Simeons expense. I love Sapp, he made watching the bucs alot more fun. I wish he was back in any capacity.

[DR]

2 surprises, Eric Rhett and Alvin Harper

[scooterbucs]

Don't you guys mean Mark Alstott?