Hester Success Reveals Koetter Versatility
January 23rd, 2015
A former Buccaneer weighs in on new Bucs offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter
For years in Chicago, Lovie Smith tried to turn All-World returner Devin Hester into a premier wide receiver.
The experiment failed.
Bears fans are quick to remember how Lovie tried to force that for too long, and didn’t have a coordinator who could make it happen.
Hester moved on to Atlanta last season, where new Bucs offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter marshalled the Falcons offense. Koetter had a couple of premier receivers in Roddy White and Julio Jones, and was dealing with the loss of future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez, but Koetter found a way to revive Hester’s receiving career.
Hester finished with 38 receptions for 504 yards and two touchdowns. And those catches came on 59 targets, a good ratio by NFL standards. Hester even had six carries for 36 yards and a TD, a score Bucs fans remember well.
Former Bucs QB Shaun King, one of three quarterbacks to lead Tampa Bay to the NFC Championship game, shared his love of the Koetter hire yesterday on WDAE-AM 620.
King noted how Koetter found a way to maximize Hester and the Falcons’ offense didn’t suffer much after losing Gonzalez and his 83 catches in 2013. Atlanta had the NFL’s eighth-ranked offense last season and scored the 12th most points despite a garbage offensive line and the NFL’s worst-ranked defense.
Joe agreed with King there on all fronts. Koetter has proven versatility with long stops at Jacksonville and Atlanta, and he’s a true coaching veteran with various offenses under his belt, plus head coaching stops in college.
Joe sure hope Koetter, a former quarterback himself, has major input into selecting the Bucs’ next QB. Joe still doesn’t believe Josh McCown was quarterback guru Jeff Tedford’s pick.
January 23rd, 2015 at 10:02 am
It also helps to have had Ryan at QB.
January 23rd, 2015 at 10:19 am
Ryan is nothing special without a Great OL
January 23rd, 2015 at 10:20 am
“Shaun King, one of two Buc Quarterbacks that lost a NFC Championship Game when his defense gave up 11 or fewer points.”
With VJax & ME13….we should be able to get great production our of our 3rd WR, TE & RBs…..I look forward to ASJ & Sims having breakout years….and it would hurt to have Murphy added to that list.
January 23rd, 2015 at 10:23 am
“Hester Success Reveals Licht Inability”
January 23rd, 2015 at 10:26 am
Ryan is over hyped. above average yes… elite NO!
I am still trying to get used to the concept of actually setting up your players to succeed and oh my god to coach to your players strengths. wow… i can’t believe no one else has tried that before. these stubborn rigid coaches like Lovie and Schiano are so outdated.
Koetter will get the best out of Jameis.
Pre order you Jameis jersey’s today: Barry, CleanAthletics, Mr. Patrick, Bonzi, StPeteBucsFan. And for gods sake smile today Kevin!
January 23rd, 2015 at 10:26 am
1/3 of Atlanta’s points were scored in the Bucs last year.
January 23rd, 2015 at 10:34 am
1/3 of Atlanta’s points were scored in the Bucs last year.
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I am not sure words can even describe that. I am not doing any math but that probably drops them down a few positions in the rankings.
January 23rd, 2015 at 10:36 am
1/3 of those points were scored by us (defense and special teams)… dayum
January 23rd, 2015 at 10:40 am
gatrbuc17 Says:
January 23rd, 2015 at 10:19 am
Ryan is nothing special without a Great OL
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Ryan has NEVER had a great offensive line.
January 23rd, 2015 at 10:40 am
tmaxcon …I’m getting a Creamsicle Winston.
January 23rd, 2015 at 11:00 am
Hester went on a rage against the Bucs….lol wonder how many of those yards were on us.
They still have to justify that 3rd rd RB last year. I’m sure they’ll force him down Koetters throat. Lets hope he can make him worth the pick.
January 23rd, 2015 at 11:01 am
I didnt know that the Titans had Creamsicle colored unis?
January 23rd, 2015 at 11:01 am
87… that sound way too much like some porn term
January 23rd, 2015 at 11:16 am
“For years in Chicago, Lovie Smith tried to turn All-World returner Devin Hester into a premier wide receiver”
So much for lovie talk of a hands off offence HC..
@Mike10, Hester should have been a Buc I think that falls on Lovie not so much on licht.. Lovie would not have had to drag hester here.. IMO..
January 23rd, 2015 at 11:26 am
Look up Joshua Dobbs from Tennessee.
The Ten OC worked miracles with him.
Now the Ten OC is our QB coach.
Who does Joshua Dobbs remind you most of, Winston or the mobile Marriotta?
January 23rd, 2015 at 11:36 am
I hope that Koetter is the one picking the next QB, Lovie has clearly proven he does not have a clue about offense. If the Glazers have not put out the word to Lovie to stay out of the offense, we are in deep doo doo.
January 23rd, 2015 at 12:06 pm
OB, Koetter’s input yes though it’s the Glazers who are faced with calling this decision correctly.
They now own the worst team in football and it’s largely because of their personnel decisions.
January 23rd, 2015 at 12:32 pm
The Titans don’t have creamsicle colored uni’s gatrbuc. But much like UF football being relevant anytime soon, it’s not something you or Jameis has to worry about 😉
January 23rd, 2015 at 2:53 pm
It does mean a lot if a coach can devise plays and game plans that maximize the talents of the players he has to work with. I hope he can do that here, we really need that to happen.
January 23rd, 2015 at 3:25 pm
With Winston at QB – if we can find a way to get a decent OLine – Koetter is going to have a field day working with the talent we have at skill positions. I am really looking forward to seeing a competent offense with smart, balanced play calling and big plays to the skilled receivers, backs and TEs.
Draft Winston and then someway-somehow find 3 talented Olinemen – and the future will be so bright you will have to wear shades. (Credit to Chucky for the quote).
And Doug Martin is not washed up. I can promise you that. We have a VERY good stable of Running Backs and I am so looking forward to seeing them have some lanes and holes to run through if L &L can just fix the OLine.
OlIne-OLIne-OLine. Repeat that mantra 50 times as you get up each morning L&L.
Draft Winston and find 3 good offensive lineman – 1 at each position. If you can accomplish that and nothing else L & L – you will truly have that chance to “win now”.
January 23rd, 2015 at 9:02 pm
Does Joe really believe King “lead” the Bucs to the NFC championship game? If so the Joe’s opinion means a little less to me. Now if they are doing it to validate King’s opinion I get that.
January 23rd, 2015 at 9:41 pm
Koetter made adjustments to the depth of pass routes in ATL, so Ryan could actually complete passes with a bad offensive line. This coach will get the best out of the personnel provided here.
January 23rd, 2015 at 11:42 pm
Quarterbacks lead. Always have. Always will … unless it’s a wishbone offense with coaches calling plays.