The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have fired Mike Smith from being their defensive coordinator, but they got a quality replacement in Mark Duffner. The Buccaneers have dropped three straight games since winning their first two in a stunning fashion. In the past three weeks, the Buccaneers' defense has given up an embarrassing 112 points. They likely fired Smith during their Week 6 to give the defense time to adjust to their new coordinator. Senior Buccaneers beat writer Scott Reynolds predicted this move on Oct. 5, shortly after the teams crushing 48-10 loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 4.

“I would replace Smith with linebackers coach Mark Duffner because I would want (Kwon) Alexander and (Lavonte) David to be featured more on defense and in the pass rush,” Reynolds wrote on PewterReport.com.“As Duffner is the linebackers coach, I’m trusting that would happen. It’s been a long time since Duffner has been a defensive coordinator in the league, but at this point, it might be worth the risk of giving him a shot at calling the plays. At least since he’s on the current staff he would have a sense of what not to do.”

According to Reynolds, Mark Duffner has been coaching in the NFL season. In his two years with the Buccaneers, he's helped make David and Alexander Pro Bowlers. As the defensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals, he helped the team allow the fewest points (309) in a season they had since 1989.

Clearly Duffner can produce results. The Buccaneers have a shaky quarterback situation, but maybe their coaching change can give them the stability to even things out.