Buccaneers tight end Kellen Winslow isn’t necessarily complaining about the team’s decision to hire former Rutgers coach Greg Schiano. After all, Schiano spent a couple of years as the defensive coordinator at the place where Winslow was once a f–king soldier.
But Winslow would have preferred another coach with connections to the “U” — Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski.
In a Thursday interview with Adam Schein and Rich Gannon of Sirius NFL Radio, Winslow mentioned at least three times that he wanted Chudzinski. “I was really hoping for Coach Chudzinski who I was with at Miami and Cleveland,” Winslow said. “But, you know, we got another guy in Greg Schiano who I know and heard he’s one of the best coaches people have been around. And he’s got a lot of enthusiasm and [is] real energetic so I’m excited, man.”
But Winslow wanted someone who could give the Tampa offense an enema. “Just a guy that could come in and take over and get this offense going,” Winslow said. “And, you know, I mean, he’s been top of the league past seasons, Chud I’m talking about. You got Cam Newton going over there and their offense rolling over there and they’re a much better team for it. Just past connections and I know what offense he runs and love his offense obviously.”
So what does Winslow think about Schiano?
“I’m happy with Greg Schiano,” Winslow said. “You know, I was just kinda hoping that it would be Chud. But Greg Schiano is fine with me, man.”
It sounds like one of Schiano’s first challenges will be to find an offensive coordinator who makes Winslow forget about Chudzinski.