It would be a shame for them to let linebackers coach, Hardy Nickerson, go. I believed the linebackers were 100% the backbone of defense last year and did an amazing job. The way Kown Alexander came out and jumped right into the starting position, not only sounds off to how great of a player, he is and will be but is also, indicative of Nickerson’s coaching ability.
“The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are getting started on their defensive coaching staff, and they started by replacing the only two coaches the Bucs retained when they fired Lovie Smith. According to Fox Sports’ Alex Marvez, Mark Duffner will replace linebackers coach Hardy Nickerson, while Jay Hayes will come in as the team’s new defensive line coach to take Joe Cullen’s spot on the coaching staff. Marvez reported earlier that Cullen was interviewing with the Ravens, and that the Chargers requested permission to interview him for a second time, after being rebuffed by the Bucs initially. Presumably both he and Nickerson will be gone.” – Reported by Sander Philipse
More here: Buccaneers hiring Jay Hayes and Mark Duffner to replace Hardy Nickerson and Joe Cullen