Gruden fires defensive coordinator Joe Barry

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

Gruden fired his buddy - that's a good sign. I am hoping the whole Tampa Bay/Allen/Gruden thing is over.

I agree with KI Skins Fan, this is it for Gruden. He stuck with Haslett - probably out the same TBay/B. Allen connections - and kind of got a pass b/c, well, he was giving continuity a chance. So he got a pass for that.

However, for his first "hire," Gruden passes on Phillips, a proven but unexciting DC who wanted to be here, with a history of making defenses better regardless of talent, and who's 3-4 scheme fit the personnel on hand. Instead, Gruden hires Barry a DC who only worked one year in a 3-4 scheme, whose only DC experience was taking a low-talent defense and leading it to a 0-16 season. Why? Bb/c he knew him, because he talked a good game when they interviewed, because he was high-energy, because he's Marinelli's son-in-law, because Barry had compromising pictures, because ... ???

Phillips goes to Denver and, with solid talent, puts together a stifling D that won Peyton Manning a second Super Bowl ring. Barry takes a limited talent D and has it play to its talent level. Who, regardless of his energy or alleged acumen, always seemed to be a step or two behind the opposing offense.

Gruden is entering year four. Scot McC is now running the team and is a no-nonsense guy. I think he basically says to Gruden:

"We are about to invest in your QB, we have solid talent on offense, we have the makings of a very good O-Line, I will be investing in the defense this offseason. You have one year to make sure that this defense improves and get your offense in the end zone. You have been given every opportunity to succeed your way - now, get this hire right or get the hell out."

I don't think firing the coach is McCloughan's call. The organization has never stated such. I think McCloughan and Gruden are peers on the org chart, both reporting to Allen.

Allen would certainly take input from McCloughan on Gruden, and from Gruden on McCloughan. But I think on a hire/fire coaching decision it would be up to Allen and Snyder, not McCloughan.

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

I don't think firing the coach is McCloughan's call. The organization has never stated such. I think McCloughan and Gruden are peers on the org chart, both reporting to Allen.

Allen would certainly take input from McCloughan on Gruden, and from Gruden on McCloughan. But I think on a hire/fire coaching decision it would be up to Allen and Snyder, not McCloughan.

You're probably right. Personally, I think Gruden and Scot McC may be headed for rough waters. Gruden's comments about "drafting a guard and a guy who didn't play" (paraphrasing) aren't a ringing endorsement of McC. We'll see. Regardless, Gruden needs to get this hire right. Not often you see a HC survive three DC's in four years - I think it highly unlikely he will get an opportunity to choose a fourth.

[SirLK26]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

You're probably right. Personally, I think Gruden and Scot McC may be headed for rough waters. Gruden's comments about "drafting a guard and a guy who didn't play" (paraphrasing) aren't a ringing endorsement of McC. We'll see. Regardless, Gruden needs to get this hire right. Not often you see a HC survive three DC's in four years - I think it highly unlikely he will get an opportunity to choose a fourth.

Agree, but imo it's also unlikely Gruden and the new dc only get one year to turn the defense around. Just can't see Gruden getting fired if his team as a whole is a playoff contender again, even if the defense is still bad. And if Gruden returns for 2018 season, that dc will as well

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

You're probably right. Personally, I think Gruden and Scot McC may be headed for rough waters. Gruden's comments about "drafting a guard and a guy who didn't play" (paraphrasing) aren't a ringing endorsement of McC. We'll see. Regardless, Gruden needs to get this hire right. Not often you see a HC survive three DC's in four years - I think it highly unlikely he will get an opportunity to choose a fourth.

Agree - Gruden will go into this 4th year of his 5 year coaching contract with all eyes on him. Allen and Snyder will definitely need to see the defense going in the right direction or he won't get an extension and won't be kept as a lame duck. This is a make or break year for Gruden and he knows it.

If he makes a smart hire then he'll be well thought of.

Every time Wade has taken over a defense it has immediately become a top 10 defense. If I'm Gruden, and I'm looking to save my job, I don't really know why it would be any more complicated than that.

He may go through the process and conclude that Manusky is the best man for the job, given aggressive philosophy or whatever. But man if I'm Gruden I don't know why you wouldn't go for the sure thing.

Like if you hire Wade Phillips and the defense somehow didn't perform better, how can anyone question that decision? The narrative will be well Jay made the smart move but surprisingly it didn't work. He'd still get canned, but at least around the NFL he'd carry a reputation for having made a smart decision. He's in a position where he should be going with the chalk.