The Tampa Bay Buccaneers held a players-only meeting during training camp to discuss the coaching style of Greg Schiano, according to a report from Albert Breer of NFL.com.
Buccaneers players met over Greg Schiano’s approach
The players have reportedly been upset with the unrelenting coaching style of the second-year head coach.
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The meeting was reportedly held as an open forum for players to discuss their displeasure with the nature of the coach’s second training camp with Tampa Bay, with players unhappy with the “unrelenting” nature of the practices. Schiano is known for his hard-nosed style of coaching and the team was frustrated that the approach had not changed since last season, when the Buccaneers went 1-5 to end the season and finish with a disappointing 7-9 record.
Cornerback Dashon Golson took the team’s concerns to Schiano, who addressed the team the next morning and stated he was more than open to feedback from the players especially after a year of getting to know the team.
“When you come into a place and you have to change some things, you’re not looking for a whole lot of suggestions at the beginning, because first you gotta figure out who your guys are,” Schiano said regarding the meeting. “Now, I really know who our guys are because they wouldn’t be here if they weren’t our guys. I really appreciate their feedback. But some of the pictures that have been painted ... it’s not like they’re outside the door with torches, ‘We must change!’
According to the report, some players were upset that not much changed in camp practices after the meeting. The Bucs have been rife with drama regarding Schiano since the start of the season, with the coach's relationship with quarterback Josh Freeman under scrutiny as well as reported issues with cornerback Darrelle Revis.
Schiano says this is how he’s coached his entire career and that the team needs to have faith in coaching methods.
“The first meeting we had, I told them, this is the way we’re gonna do things, this is our DNA, this is what we’re about,” he said. “But I learned a long time ago that I’d learn more from the players than anyone else, because the players are the ones that are doing it. So I strongly encourage the players, the leader to express to me if there are any concerns, if there’s anything that can make us better.”
The Bucs have opened the season 0-2 and face the New England Patriots on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
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