Tampa Bay Buccaneers new offensive coordinator Greg Olson will bring 'more dynamic routes' and increase in plays

In just one week, new offensive coordinator Greg Olson has increased the number of plays in the game-plan 'dramatically,' according to coach Raheem Morris.

OIson, who replaced fired offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski just 10 days before Sunday's season opener against the Dallas Cowboys, has made the biggest improvement in the Bucs' passing game.

"He brings some more dynamic routes,'' Morris said. "You'll see different routes, you'll see routes down the field...You see more of the down field, double-move hitches. You'll see things of that nature. You'll see the timing game there as well. But if we're going to be a good team, we're going to have to use our play-action passing. We want to use it as a weapon. You'll get a chance to see some of that stuff from Oly (Olson).

"The number of plays increased dramatically. I didn't actually count them before I came down here, but you'll see a significant amount more than I think you have seen in the preseason.''

Despite wanting to throw the ball down the field more, Bucs' quarterbacks averaged just 5.25 yards per pass attempt.

Olson, the Bucs quarterbacks coach who was denied a chance to interview for the offensive coordinator position last spring, acknowledged that his appointment came at the wrong time. Instead of having time to install his own system, Olson has had to adapt and modify Jagodzinski's plan.

"Certainly, it's a difficult position, but I think opportunity obviously comes in many different ways,'' Olson said. "Really, there was no other answer when it was presented to me. Am I excited about the opportunity? Yes. Did it come at the wrong time? Yes.

"But you've got to put your nose to the grindstone and go to work. I mean, there is no other answer to that. Coach Jagodzinski set a foundation. We'll move forward with the foundation. Did it catch me off guard and catch some people off guard? Certainly it does when something like that happens. But there is no other decision but to just keep working.''

Comments

[Valrico Rick]

Wait a minute! First it was just the play calling, now it's the passing offense. "We aren't installing a new offense", but... Olsen could have called the plays while Jagz oversaw his playbook! At this point it would seem that the offense would be better of if I am right about why Jagz was fired, as this "Perwygrud double and triple speak" is turning the new regime into the National Football League laughing stock of the season! All Hail the Mighty Raheemark!!!

[Brandon]

Ok, here's a question that absolutely needs answering. Who has been hired or brought on board to replace Olsen as the QB Coach? Oftentimes a QB Coach is the most important staff member in a young QB's development... and if I'm not mistaken we now don't have one.

[Henry]

Rick, I don't know whether your theory is right or not, but hypothetically, let's say it is. So If you were the head coach and your offensive coordinator vehemently opposed your selection for starting QB, what would you do?

[dikenya42]

Greg Olsen will still be QB coach. Also, when Jagz moved up to the box to call plays, they were relayed thru Olsen. So, he won't be taking up all that much more time on the field than he was.

[Matt H]

Didn't we get told that Jagz got fired because he didn't know how to stop Miami blitzing? How does running double hitches address that concern again?

If you ask me our receivers were open like you see in college games, Leftwich was just overthrowing them.

[vaw]

Raheem talks way too much.....he should shut his mouth and get prepared to hang his head in shame and answer questions, when his team gets murdered by the boys....looking forward to a "COmedy of Errors" by the bucs and we will see how Raheem's new ghetto ball plays out against professional football teams.

[BucFandango]

I'm still saying the Bucs' defense is going to shut down Romo and da Boys. Sounds like Jagz's 12 play, 2 page playbook wasn't quite enough for the NFL. More plays is good. I think Freeman was happier with the 12 plays though. Josh Johnson was accustomed to Gruden's plethora of plays, which is probably twice as thick now that he has learned the Spread offense. Everybody likes to joke about the Madden Game but the Madden Software could probably call a better game than most coaches. Combine that with the Eye-piece controller from the Apache Helicopter system and the QB can become almost idiot proof. Next, you give all footballs a negative charge and give all receivers gloves with a positive charge, so when the ball hits the glove it will stick and be drop-proof. Then Michael Clayton will finally achieve his goals, provided Leftwich doesn't throw it too far over his head. BTW, I've never played Madden, so this is all BS. Haha, 4 more days and a wake up.

[jerseybuc]

Gruden had too many plays in the playbook, but never used most of them. Jags had too few. Olson has JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT of plays I guess. Sounds like Goldilocks and the 3 bears....Are our starting WRs finally back on the field for practice now? How about the timing for all these new wrinkles? From what I saw, Big Byron wasn't too accurate on the simple plays, this is going to take some time for everyone to get on the same page isn't it?

[blackmagic00]

Off the subject a little. I wanted Gruden to leave only because he became so predictable and I was so sick of the chinese fire drills before every play. That guys playbook took two teams to the superbowl in the same year. What the heck happened. I hope we see some succes soon. Oh I read that Dungy Likes what's happening here, I hope it means something.

[Randy C]

It's amazing how so much can be read into a couple comments. I would suggest thinking before you try to question the reasons Jags was fired. The passing game and pass blocking stunk. What your missing is that Jags couldn't answer the detail questions, and was not able to adapt the blocking schemes when Raheem would give him hypothetical situations. Miami game? In 2 weeks all this preseason Bs will be forgotten and we'll be talking about what the Bucs need to do to improve. To many here are ready to fire Raheem before we even see what the product is. Hope your bosses are more fair to you than you are to Raheem.

[Daisy]

I believe that the Offense can score some points and the D line may be pretty good. The terrible secondary will give away too many points for the Bucs to win many games.

[D Block]

Daisy how is the secondary the problem? When it has been the strength. The problem last yr was Buchanon getting beat every 3rd down. At the end of the yr it was the middle of the D, in there Defense both starting DT's where out or hurt down the stretch. That has been corrected and strengthing in the off season. The almighty DB missing tackles or unable to bring down runners like he use to. That also has been addressed with Hayes being younger & faster at this point. Quincy Black will surprise a lot of people this yr so will Adams hopefully. This team is FASTER then EVER!!That in itself along with Nobody believing in them but them including some of you SO CALLED FANS should be enough to produce a top 10 or even 5 DEFENSE this yr.

[D Block]

BTW- Daisy all of that isn't directed to you by any means. It's a lot of Bull Crap being posted and i'm sure someone is going to have a problem with mine as well. I can't say i agree with everything going on but i'm glad we have a coach that can admit when he is wrong and tries to correct the situation. Others would lie in your face and fire half the staff in the offseason.

[D Block]

GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
F## DEM COWGIRLS! THEY OVERRATED!
Yes they have Ware we stopped his sack streak last yr!
Yes they have Witten Ruud cracked his ribs and put him out last yr.
Yes they have Barber we knocked him silly last yr as well.
And Romo is good for at least 1 pick he 2 is shaky delivering the ball consistently.
P.S. TO is in Buffalo!

The Ravens gave everyone the Blue Print on Dallas just keep hitting them in the mouth on Offense and Defense and they will fold up like LAWN CHAIRS!!

[Randy C]

Top 10, maybe 5? Bold prediction D Block, maybe too bold. I guess thats why they play the games!

[Roland]

Seriously, does anybody else, in their head, hear the theme music to Benny Hill when ever you read a article about the Bucs leadership?

[Roland]

"Yakety Sax" in case you want to play it in the backround as you reread the piece. It is a much better read to "Yakety Sax" imo. ;-)

[Kurt]

D Block; you should stop regurgitating what "they" say and start watching the games because our secondary has gotten burned over the top in every game. The first play of one game. And I love it how "they" say we were in the "Tampa 2" at the time, so it would've happened even under the old regime. BS - We never gave up long TD plays until Barber got old (last year.) Oh yeah, genius boy left him on the squad instead of cutting him with the rest of the "old men." I guess they're butt buddies or something? Just sayin...

[Kurt]

BTW - I guess we should've just kept Gruden since we seem to have no clear direction whatsoever. Gruden just needed a QB with an arm that was halfway intelligent. Unfortunately, the only 2 intelligent QB's we had are the 3rd stringer and McCown, whom we never really gave a chance and then traded so that we are assured a losing season. Has anyone notice that if you put one of those clown noses our "franchise QB" that he looks like Bozo the Clown! I'm not kidding, look at the photo on the main page and imagine him with a clown nose; it's friggin' hilarious, just like our franchise has become in the eyes of EVERYONE in the US!

[Kurt]

D Block, you are way off course. Acting like Raheem is some straight-shooting, honest guy is BS. The QB competition was a sham from the get-go. The Dream is a yes man at best. BTW, how many coordinators did Gruden fire? A couple maybe in 7 years? He held people accountable which is why Clayton didn't like him. You don't hold a candle to my support for this team. I was the ball-boy when I was young, parked cars in the lot for years, have seen and paid for over 100 home games and I have the right to grumble when I think they are doing things based on numbers and not to be the best team they can be. We are $40 million under the cap which equates to better players if spent wisely. We were $40 million under the cap last year which is why we imploded when our starters began being injured. We have a puppet for a coach who apparently isn't complaining about the lack of depth unlike our last coach who got fired because he spoke up against management to IMPROVE THIS TEAM! I hope to God that the old adage, "I'd rather have a lucky team than a good one" comes true for us this year, because it's our only hope. You're the one on the bandwagon moron, you're just too stupid to understand what it means.

[D Block]

Gruden couldn't FIRE the Offensive Coordinator because that was him!
Yes the D gave up a TD the 1st play of the Jax game but if my memory surves me correct the 1st string only gave up that TD the entire preseason. So cry B*** Moan that's what some of you do any way. But a lot of teams would love to have said what i just said about they 1st string only giving up 1 TD in preseason.

[D Block]

serves< typo

[Randy C]

Kurt, kudos for the 100 games. I would never want to stop you from berating the Bucs or Management. Gruden was his own coordinator and had no say over Monte. If you really think Luke didn't have a chance you are right. Lefty was a much better leader and the team responded better by far to him over Luke in the games. I have also heard the same about practice and meetings. Skill wise Luke was better, head wise, not not even close. Having read some of your previous opinions I can't help but notice that you don't seem to get that the results are what Raheem and management will be judged on in the regular season. Any coach worth a damn will not reveal certain facts that could break the sanctity of the locker room, or hurt a players or coaches chance at another opportunity. They will never reveal the actual reasons that many here thought he should tell. Does any business publicize reasons for terminating an employee or promoting one? If they do you get vague responses, like Raheem gave. As for being a national joke, or a league joke, I'd like to know where you got your inside scoop on that one. Other teams are more wrapped up in improving their own teams than participating in league or local gossip. The results you want have no impact on what professional Football people running this team will do. Much like no one else tells parents how to raise their own kids. Why you dislike management so much is a total mystery to me. We haven't even played a game yet. Lighten up with the questioning of decisions until you at least see a result. Wouldn't you want the same courtesy?

[blackmagic00]

So parking cars a few years and running balls when you were a kid makes you a better fan? Give me a break donk. Some of us have been fans through it all, and some through a few regimes, but we all support the team through everything. We have no control what happens but we still love the Bucs. If you're so important to the team then why don't you make some changes to it. I have a feeling you're not going to answer that. Bashing fellow fans is not just wrong, it's uncalled for. We are all Buc fans and that's what matters.

[Randy C]

That is offensive oordinator.

[D Block]

You can call me out my name all you want Kurt but the truth of the matter is this i live in Maryland and could care less. You could have stock in the team i don't care a lot of you all cry and can't honestly think that others care. The facts are the facts Gruden is gone and he hardly ever brought in young talent and played it, he always wanted vets. His best offense was in Oak when he had Gannon throwing to Tim Brown & Rice Hall of Famers will increase your stats. So please with the Bull, i see your post all the time and it's the same.

Raheem is the coach Byron is the starter it's a fact, some of you all act as though this team was a Juggernaut for years. Embrace your team route for them believe in them because around this U.S. the Bucs don't have that many fans.

[Go Long]

DBlock = Idiot. Maryland....figures. You have NO IDEA was goes on down here. "Gruden hardly ever brought in young talent and played it" Really? He STARTED Cadillac, Clayton, Zuttah, Joseph, Trueblood, Alex Smith, Adams, Tanard Jackson, and sent Clifton Smith to the Pro Bowl ALL as ROOKIES. You are an idiot. Seems to me that is the lifeblood of the YOUNG Bucs. So don't write that he hardly ever brought in young talent AND PLAYED IT. Stay on a Ravens site. You are IGNORANT.

[Go Long]

I also forgot about Penn (pretty darn good player) and Gradkowski started what 7 games? Hey Gruden used what he had I give him credit. But to say he never used young talent....completely innaccurate (as usual).

[Vince]

Valrico Rick (aka Mr. Conspiracy), hate to burst your bubble but it has been reported (other outlet) that Jags was a Leftwich supporter. The report I saw mentioned 4 or 5 sources.

[Oldcrank]

DOUBLE-HITCH! (drum-roll) SSSHAZZAAAAMM! We have a QB with concrete feet, needs 60 seconds to windup & throw and couldn't hit the pirate ship with a 12- ga. at 10 ft. The receiver could do the Shimmey-Shimmey and start a Congo Line; it won't matter. This QB has either been planted in the turf, been stripped of the ball or launched it toward Ybor City.
Double-Hitch, yeah right.

[Kurt]

I never said that I didn't hope they did well. H@ll, I'm a season ticket holder to boot on top of all my other Buc experiences dating back to their inception. I "hope" for the best. I "hope" that we win a SB and that I am completely wrong about everything stupid I think they have done since firing Gruden. Chances are that I'm right though. I live between Charlotte/Raleigh NC and I see what people outside the Tampa bubble think about what we've done to dismantle this consistent winner. The consensus around the league (ESPN, NFL Network, etc.) is that the Bucs have taken a major step backwards. No need to rock my cradle as I look for no consolation Randy. I am a fan who believes he is right concerning the upper management's mis-use of community funds to profit greatly without putting back into it what is rightfully ours. Franchises are awarded to communities; not owners. I demand more from these twits. They have fired 2 SB winning coaches and now we have a completely underqualified HC; that's the facts! I will publicly state I am wrong if we do better than 8-8 this year, although I beleive anything less than 9-7 is still a step backward.

[Kurt]

Name those source Vince or shut up.

[Robert]

Guyz lets wait a game or 2 before we bash this decision. If I was a 33 year old first time coach and needed my locker room on board with what I was doing ( which on offense is a run first and vertical play action pass doen the field) and I had an OC that was going against what I was doing I would nip it in the butt right away. This is Rah's chance to be a HC in this league and he is determined to either succeed or fail doing it his way. For heavens sake he called up to Jagz and asked it what play he wwould run if we were in a certain situation and Jagz told him to call the shot!! Rah is a DB's coach not an OC. It wass obvious that Jagz was not capable and it was bettert o change now or the same ppl that are crying now would have been crying even more at the end of the season about how a loaded Offense couldnt score! If u guyz cant understand this then u should go watch that 17 yr. old girl try to wein the US Open and follow tennis!

[Vince]

Kurt: First, you need to learn to read more carfully. What I said was I read a report (from a Times competitor) that cited 4 or 5 sources (players & coaches) who said that Jags was a Leftwich supporter. Second, not sure it helps your cause or your credibility to tell people whom you disagree with to "shut up," but that is your choice. Third, I love people like you that proclaim their opinion to be "fact." Hillarious. How do you know that Morris is a "completely underqualifed HC." What is your source for that "fact?" You may be right, but if we applied your standard Mike Tomlin was unqualifed and Tony Dungy never would have made it to a Super Bowl. In fact, by your standard, Dungy would have got fired before his first win.

Please don't try to add credibility to your comments by citing a ficticious insight due to your geography. There is no "Tampa Bubble," at least not for avid fans. This is not 1950. Most fans read the National press and many even read competitor's blogs.

Just relax. The sky is not falling chicken little. Last time I checked, the Bucs have not even played a regular season game yet.

[OAR]

Vince, while I don't totally agree with Kurt on all things big and small, I do believe Morris is an inexperienced headcoach(does that mean the same as underqualified? Yes) Your comparisons are weak. You give Dungy and Tomlin as examples, but both of those men coached the coordinator position one or more years in the NFL, which is something Morris lacks(24 hours doesn't count as coordinator experience). You would have been better off using someone that has only had position experience that has done something as a headcoach in the NFL. I can't think of any, hence my suspensions of Morris abilities as headcoach.

[Vince]

OAR -- my point was that people said the same thing about Dungy even before he was a DC (and after). (I also referenced Dndy because Kurt said that this season would be proof the Bucs made a mistake. That is unfair) Tomlin is an apt example because Morris is taking the same approach. By the way, I think at least one other team in the league did not think Morris was underqualified.

On paper, Morris is definitely underqualified. That is self-evident. But you have to at least give the guy a chance, don't you?

[Randy C]

Kurt , these "Twits" turned a worthless bunch of losers into SB champions. There is a process to building a champion. Unfortunately GruAllen did not draft well enough and develop depth to maintain a solid core. Of all the 5 players cut by Raheemark, how many are playing elsewhere? None. Throwing money away won't fix what needs to be done here now. Winning 9 games, how any coaches do that their first year?

[Kurt]

You took the words from my mouth OAR. Very weak parallels indeed Vince. It is typical to be placed in an OC or DC position (and succeed) before being given the opportunity to try it at HC. I don't really want to get into a battle of witts with someone so utterly unarmed, so I'll just leave it at that. BTW, you still haven't cited any "actual" sources and therefore leave very little credibility to you claim. "Players and coaches around the league" is just like saying "blah, blah, blah." Our depth will be our demise again this year as it has not been addressed again. This is ownership's responsibility and I don't blame any of the coaches or players for that. I think we have a good starting bunch that Gruden left us, but no depth. Raheem was selected by Gruden to be the DC, so I have faith he has potential and I hope he works out. My beef lies mainly with upper-management for the follies of the past 2 years which seem obviously linked to ManU. We're all fans and I am just frustrated...

[OAR]

Vince, no doubt! Im giving him a chance and hope he succeeds, but do have my doubts! I don't remember people doubting Dungy as defensive coordinator in Pittsburgh or Minnesota(both were 3 or 4 year stints as def coord), but they might have. I'm not a Steelers or a Vikings fan. My point is look at Dungy's progression in coaching positions and look at Raheem's and you will see they are no where similar. Tomlin's progression is more similar, but he did inherit a very good team with a decent franchise qb and was a coordinator for a year not 24 hours.
As for Morris's interviews with Denver(he didnt walk away with the job?) or St Loius(not sure if he actually made that one?), they were probablly more Rooney Rule than anything more.

[OAR]

Randy C, "None" is incorrect. 2 of those 5 are playing somewhere else. I know less than 50%, but "none" is wrong. Galloway is on the Patriots and June would have been playing for Houston, except he got injured in preseason.
Draft picks? Well the roster is still full of them.

[Randy C]

Oar, June is hurt and 2nd team, Galloway is 3rd rec. on the Pats with an 8.6 yards per catch in the preseason. Both are not expected to be around as starters to build around. Are you telling me you'd pay those salaries when they make way less now? Good moves by Raheemark.

[D Block]

Go Long!!!!! Go play some where i guess i should have been clear Gruden didn't bring in young Free Agents. Everyone you named was drafted outside of Penn & Clifton. Don't think for a moment because i live in Md i don't attend Buc games lol. Am i a season ticket holder NO! Those of you who are kudos to you. But i have been a Buc fan for a very long time and i follow a lot more then others.

[OAR]

Randy C, "Are you telling me you'd pay those salaries when they make way less now?" Some of you guys are just fishing for comments to reverse/spin. All I was doing(the a-- that I am) was correcting you about your "None of the players being released had signed with another team' statement. That's untrue is all, not a debate on if I would pay their salaries now or not.
BTW Galloway only played in 2 preseason games, which is about 2 quarters of a game, lol!