NFL Coaching Hires: Jon Embree, Dave Borgonzi join Buccaneers coaching staff

In his introductory press conference on Wednesday, new offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford said the team was in the process of "finalizing" who the tight ends coach on his staff would be. Well, it appears the team were indeed close to finalizing the position, as news broke last night that Jon Embree would be joining the Bucs as the TE coach.

Embree, who played tight end in the NFL for two seasons as a member of the Los Angeles Rams, is joining the team from the Browns, where he coached the same position last year. Under his coaching, Jordan Cameron was a revelation for the Browns, putting up productive numbers despite a very shaky quarterback situation. Hopefully he will be able to work wonders with Tim Wright, who, while struggling as a blocker (though he did improve as the season went on), became a very effective weapon in the passing game, along with any other tight ends that the team brings in or retains.

Embree had previously been a tight ends coach in the NFL for the Kansas City Chiefs, under whom Tony Gonzalez made the Pro Bowl each of the seasons Embree was with the team, a period of time that represents the best three-year stretch of the all-time great's career. He also spent a year as tight ends coach for the Redskins in 2010.

In the 2011-2012 seasons, Embree returned to his alma mater, Colorado, as head coach, where he coached against Tedford in the PAC-12. Presumably, he must have left a positive enough of an impression on Tedford for him to be added to the Bucs' staff. Embree joins Lovie Smith, Tedford, Leslie Frazier and Larry Marmie as members of the Bucs' coaching staff to have prior head coaching experience.

Dave Borgonzi will be joining the team as the defensive quality control coach, one of the most junior positions on a coaching staff but one which has been the entry point into NFL coaching for several future head coaches, including Jon Gruden, Todd Haley, Tony Sparano, and Raheem Morris, who held the position during the Bucs' Super Bowl championship season in 2002.

Borgonzi effectively handled the duties of a quality control coach for the Dallas Cowboys the previous two seasons, though under the vaguest of position titles, 'offensive/defensive assistant'. His responsibilities, per the Dallas Morning News' Brandon George, consisted of providing film breakdowns and scouting reports of upcoming opponents to the coaching staff, and assisting with the scout team during practices.

The two hires almost complete the coaching staff; the only positional coaching spot to be filled is the offensive line coach, though Lovie Smith may add assistant special teams or strength & conditioning coaches to the staff at some point, too.