Mike Sherman To Be Interviewed by Tampa Bay Buccaneers per John Clayton

After news about Jerry Gray being interviewed via Rick Stroud, we now have news about another head coaching candidate. Former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike Sherman will be interviewed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers according to ESPN's John Clayton. Jason La Canfora claimed on NFL Network that he's heard Sherman's name tied to the Bucs, and he would fit La Canfora's description of the future head coach as someone with playoff experience at the NFL level.

This is as good a time as any to publish my profile on Mike Sherman, so here it is after looking at Jeff Fisher and Rob Chudzinski over the past week.

Today's Coaching Candidate:

Mike Sherman has a lot of experience as a head coach, having coached the Green Bay Packers for six years and being the head coach of Texas A&M for the past four years. With the Packers he had a career 57-39 record, winning three division titles and going 2-4 in the playoffs. He arguably under-performed with a good team and a Hall of Fame quarterback, but he was a very steady head coach for the Packers. He was fired after going 4-12 in his final season - the first losing season in Green Bay since 1991. Bucs fans may know him best for blowing a gasket at Warren Sapp after the defensive tackle's vicious but legal blindside block broke Chad Clifton's hip in 2002.

Sherman did not have as much success with Texas A&M, going 25-25 over his career, losing his two bowl game appearances before being fired late last season after blowing numerous second half leads.

Previous Experience

Graduate Assistant, Pittsburgh, 1981-1982
Offensive Line Coach, Tulane, 1983-1984
Offensive Line Coach, Holy Cross, 1985-1987
Offensive Coordinator, Holy Cross, 1988
Offensive Line Coach, Texas A&M, 1989-1993
Offensive Line Coach, UCLA, 1994
Offensive Line Coach, Texas A&M, 1995-1996
Tight Ends Coach, Green Bay Packers, 1997-1998
Offensive Coordinator, Seattle Seahawks, 1999
Head Coach, Green Bay Packers, 2000-2005
Assistant Head Coach, Houston Texans, 2006
Offensive Coordinator, Houston Texans, 2007
Head Coach, Texas A&M, 2008-2011

Why Mike Sherman should be the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' head coach:

1. Is an experienced, steady head coach with a reputation as a disciplinarian
   Essentially, Mike Sherman is everything Raheem Morris wasn't. He won't get too emotionally involved, he'll be a steady influence on the sidelines, and he'll be a disciplinarian. Those are all things this young Buccaneers team needs, and Sherman would try to install a culture of accountability and discipline.
   
   While Sherman is experienced, he doesn't have the kind of clout and former success to demand control of personnel - which is a positive in my mind. Sherman isn't exciting, but he will likely do a solid job coaching a young team in need of direction.
2. Is an offensive head coach
   I'm a fan of offensive head coaches. I think they're generally more aggressive than defensive head coaches, and the Bucs desperately need a quality offensive coach to help Josh Freeman get back on track. Of course, Mike Sherman has a reputation as a conservative head coach, so part of that equation may not work.
   
   As a former offensive line coach, Sherman is also a coach who favors a relatively run-heavy offense. That's the kind of offense the Bucs have tried to assemble recently, so he may be a good fit for the personnel already in place.
3. Experience and connections would allow him to assemble a quality coaching staff
   The downside to hiring a young coach is inexperience, and questions about their ability to find quality coordinators for their coaching staff. Mike Sherman has been around the NFL and in the coaching community for a very long time and should have little trouble finding the right coordinators to run his offense and defense.