Buccaneers retain Jon Embree, Tim Spencer on offensive coaching staff

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be retaining tight ends coach Jon Embree and running backs coach Tim Spencer, Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Neither coach had a history with newly-appointed head coach Dirk Koetter prior to last year.

That's an interesting decision, given that Spencer has spent his entire NFL career working exclusively under Lovie Smith, since he entered the league in 2004. But Spencer's unit did very well this offseason, producing the number two running back in the NFL Doug Martin and arguably the best third-down back in Charles Sims.

Embree's retention is understandable: he's one of the best tight ends coaches in the NFL, even if production from tight ends has been somewhat lackluster in his two years with the Bucs. The team hopes that'll change in 2016, with Austin Seferian-Jenkins as a potential centerpiece if he can stay healthy. Embree has a long history of success, most notably with Tony Gonzalez in Kansas City from 2006 to 2008, with Jordan Cameron with the Cleveland Browns in 2013 and with Chris Cooley in Washington.

"[Embree] was a genius with his schemes," Tony Gonzalez told Rand Getlin. "And then on the communication front, he's fantastic. [..] He's [eventually going to be] an NFL head coach, no questions asked."

Just spoke to @TonyGonzalez88 (who Embree coached in KC). The way he talks about his former coach speaks volumes. pic.twitter.com/tmXFGx6Jva

— Rand Getlin (@Rand_Getlin) January 15, 2016

In his introductory press conference, Dirk Koetter noted that the "majority" of his offensive staff will remain in place. he also noted that quarterbacks coach Mike Bajakian would get a more prominent role, though he declined to name him or anyone else offensive coordinator. But Koetter also said that there would be some changes on his offensive coaching staff, so we'll have to wait and see what those are. There may just some job description alterations, but we may see some replacements as well.

Wide receivers coach Andrew Hayes-Stoker and offensive line coach George Warhop are the only remaining position coaches whose job status is up in the air, although the Bucs have a number of assistant position coaches who may or may not return as well.