Buccaneers Holding Second Interview for Bengals Quarterbacks Coach

The first candidate to get a second interview for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator position, could Cincinnati Bengals quarterbacks coach Dan Pitcher be the front-runner?

As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers search for a new offensive coordinator continues, one candidate is the first to get a second interview. 

Appearing on Good Morning Football recently, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported the Bucs will host Cincinnati Bengals quarterbacks coach Dan Pitcher for a second interview this week. 

It'll be the first in-person interview, as the first was conducted over video conference because Pitcher was getting quarterback Joe Burrow ready for the AFC Championship Game. 

Unfortunately for Pitcher, Burrow, and the Bengals, they lost that game, freeing up the coach to fly down to Tampa this week. 

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Some will equate this to perhaps a first interview because it's actually being done in person, and Garafolo himself referred to it as being "one and a half" interviews. 

From where we stand, however, it's a second interview, and significant that it's Pitcher getting the first crack at another conversation. 

Pitcher has been Burrow's quarterbacks coach since he arrived in the NFL. 

In fact, the coach was promoted to the position along with Burrow's arrival, something not viewed as a coincidence here. 

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While Tampa Bay has been speculated as a team likely to pursue a veteran addition to the position like Jimmy Garopplo of the San Francisco 49ers or Derek Carr of the Las Vegas Raiders, it's just as likely the team will add a young quarterback to the room as well. 

Even if the Buccaneers don't add a new rookie via the NFL Draft, 2021 second-round pick Kyle Trask is still in his developmental stages, and could certainly benefit from a coach who helped Burrow become part of the next generation of great quarterbacks in the league. 

Whether or not Pitcher eventually gets the job, his second interview - yes, first in person - shouldn't be dismissed as a simple block check by the Bucs. 

It should be viewed as an example that Tampa Bay is at least willing to look into the more modern coaches in the league, and perhaps looking to fold some of those characteristics into its own on-field product.

Find David Harrison on Twitter @DHarrison82

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