Communication
November 8th, 2016
Explaining communication breakdown.
The word “communication” is being thrown around a lot in recent days as the Bucs defense has been lit up like a roman candle on the Fourth of July.
For example, former Bucs tight end and color analyst on the Buccaneers Radio Network, Dave Moore, said on WDAE-AM 620 that defensive players looking at each other when the ball is snapped represents a clear communication issue.
Joe was of the mind Moore suggested the players didn’t understand or know Mike Smith’s defense. But in his Monday sitdown with dangerous Dan Lucas of WFLA-TV Channel 8, Dirk Koetter detailed what coaches mean when using the word “communication.”
“The players know the defense,” Koetter said. What happens is, when an offense breaks the huddle, the players only have seconds to identify their responsibilities and act accordingly. When this doesn’t happen, you often see a blown coverage. For example, Koetter referenced two guys guarding one receiver while a second receiver is wide open.
To help the defenders have enough time to identify their responsibilities (Derrick Brooks used to refer to this as “keys.”) and make sure teammates are on the same page, Koetter said coaches have been trying to streamline the process of calling plays and speed up getting the information to players on the field. That would allow more time to read the offensive formation and be in sync with their comrades.
“It should be basic enough stuff,” Koetter said. “But if we are having trouble with it, it tells us we have to go back to the drawing board and get that right.”
Another interesting thing Koetter offered in the interview was describing a personal tutoring process of sorts. When a free agent is picked up during the season, the Bucs designate a coach to that player to help accelerate the process of learning the playbook and play terminology (which is like a second language to some).
Click the white arrow below for the full interview.
November 8th, 2016 at 8:18 am
Koetter touched on this stuff, to an extent, when he was on Total Access as well. He actually does a good job of giving the fans enough information to know that they have diagnosed what is going wrong and that they are addressing it, which I like a lot about him. The vague coach speak does nothing to give the fans a warm feeling about them righting the ship because it’s hard to feel like anything is being done to stop the losing if we just get canned answers and platitudes.
November 8th, 2016 at 8:33 am
I believe we will go 8-8 this year. I’m an glass-always-half-full type, but I really like DK. He’s learning how to be a Head Coach. He sure picked a whopper of a team to do it with!! Anywho, he will only improve. Glazer Bros. better give him, the team, and us fans 2 more seasons. I’m seeing more and more comments about how the coaching musical chairs has been destructive (to say the least)! Joe even quoted a JBanks’ recent interview in Detroit where JB spelled it out very clearly (and with no rancor) how bad it is from a player’s POV. Glazers have to solve this one. It’s on them.
November 8th, 2016 at 8:33 am
I have noticed that especially on grimes side where he will take the inside guy and leave the outside open.Would think it would be up to him to hold the edge so to speak and cover the outside receiver.
November 8th, 2016 at 10:46 am
@Patrick says, “he actually does a good job of giving the fans enough information to know that they have diagnosed what is going wrong and that they are addressing it, which I like a lot about him…..LOL…WHEN WILL HE ADDRESS THESE ISSUES WEEK13?…..how about giving the fans what they really want…a competent coach that can produce wins…..
@orlbuc says, “I believe we will go 8-8 this year”…with wins against who? Cleveland twice, jax twice and the 49ers one more time….
dirk, smitty and licht are all incompetent….GO BUCS!!!
November 8th, 2016 at 11:00 am
disconcerting that this is an issue on a team with an experienced and successful DC/former NFL HC calling plays on that side of the ball. Seems like there’s a similar issue on offense where we are late getting the play in and getting lined up, under another experienced NFL coordinator and former major conference college coach.
the good news is it appears to be fixable\improvable issue during the season. the bad news is that it is an issue at all
November 8th, 2016 at 1:31 pm
Well said pick6. orlbuc, it always starts at the top. Look at the top franchises. Sure they have issues too, but at this rate? I don’t think so
@813- You’re on a rampage! I get you, I feel you, but you have to at least give them a year before you blow the top off!
November 8th, 2016 at 2:10 pm
I was under the impression Dirk was the fix.
November 8th, 2016 at 5:02 pm
@bucsfanman….JIM TOMSULA???….GO BUCS!!!!