“It’s Hard. That’s What It Is.”
January 15th, 2015
New Bucs offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter
Joe’s always eager to spread sunshine and happiness to a Bucs fan base that has endured 70 losses in Tampa Bay’s last 100 games.
So Joe decided to lob a softball at new Bucs offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter on Tuesday.
Joe asked Koetter to describe what it’s like to be an offensive coordinator preparing to face Gerald McCoy, as Koetter did several times with the Falcons.
Koetter seemed to enjoy Joe’s question.
“Haha, that’s the easiest question I’ve had all day: What it’s like to prepare for Gerald McCoy? It’s hard, that’s what it is. It’s hard,” Koetter said. “When you prepare to face Gerald McCoy, you always are aware of how you can get an extra guy over there because you never want to have one of your guards or center one-on-one with Gerald McCoy.”
Nothing too surprising there, but it further illustrates how the Bucs are aching for a consistent edge rusher to take advantage of the attention given McCoy.
The Bucs got a combine eight sacks up the gut from Clinton McDonald (five) and Akeem Spence (three) last season. It’s the ghostly and ghastly softness on the edge that hurt the team immensely. And Joe’s not talking bout Jacquies Smith on the left side.
January 15th, 2015 at 11:07 am
So who are they going to draft in the second round?
On the free agent side, Pierre-Paul would look good in Pewter, if he actually makes it to FA. Jerry Hughes as well, if they can afford him.
January 15th, 2015 at 11:09 am
We need to get some help for McCoy in this draft, and I think we will.
January 15th, 2015 at 11:10 am
@Joe
Sometimes softball questions get better responses than the so called difficult probing questions. The hard questions tend to make the interview subject tighten up and maybe clam up. Softballs OTOH get them to open up.
I enjoy some softballs keep em coming.
As far as our rush. I think the interior of our DL is pretty well set. GMC and McDonald are fine and Akeem and maybe even Bowers make a good rotation.
The edge is indeed the problem. Jacqueis Smith showed real promise! Clayborn should they keep him could get back to his rookie year performance, Johnson who if totally healthy COULD regain his Bengal performance.. And maybe Larry English blossoms like Smith did and of course there is still Gholston.
Bottom line for me is that yes we need to improve our rush but we REALLY NEED to improve our OL. I want one of the 3 franchise LT’s in the draft.
If I have to give them up to get a QB OK but I’d prefer a franchise LT over adding a top DL.
January 15th, 2015 at 11:13 am
Leonard Williams and McCoy are going to make a nasty combination.
January 15th, 2015 at 11:29 am
I think outside of a franchise QB, the Bucs greatest need is a monster DE. For those of you who own the Bucs Super bowl DVD, watch the post game break down portion and they illustrate how Simeon Rice impacted the game with pressuring Gannon and led to the #1 offense playing so poorly. Yes I do realize that Gruden’s familiarity with Oakland’s offense also gave us a huge advantage, but none the less, without the players to execute the game plan, that knowledge would not have helped much.
January 15th, 2015 at 11:31 am
“It’s Hard. That’s What It Is” That’s what SHE SAID!!
January 15th, 2015 at 11:37 am
@OneLove
“It’s Hard. That’s What It Is” That’s what SHE SAID!!
instantrimshot.com
January 15th, 2015 at 11:41 am
Fire michael johnson!
January 15th, 2015 at 12:07 pm
It was so hard that he racked up a total of 83 points against the Bucs!!!
January 15th, 2015 at 12:09 pm
We need to develop a LT so Seattle has someone to sign in a few years to replace Michael Bennett.
January 15th, 2015 at 12:10 pm
oops, DE. Need to practice my material more.
January 15th, 2015 at 12:10 pm
Shots fired – hahahahahahahaha
January 15th, 2015 at 12:19 pm
What’s the priority between DE and OL? Almost everyone can agree that our #1 pick needs to be a franchise QB, but any coach will tell you that games are won and lost in the trenches, and outside of GMC our trenches are awful.
Drafting a DE is more of a crap shoot than drafting an OL, IMO. I’d prefer to draft heavily on the O-line and take a shot at a FA DE that has more than 3 sacks from the previous season. JPP may be a pipe dream, but man, he would be worth the investment.
January 15th, 2015 at 12:19 pm
Letting Bennett go has haunted us since, damn shame. Thanks Rock Star. Go back to your guest star injects
January 15th, 2015 at 12:29 pm
@ the realist aka the most real
Ha! Lol
January 15th, 2015 at 1:03 pm
We could draft Winstom with the 1st and then trade our 2nd and next 2 years of 1st rnd picks to move up to 5 and get Randy Gregory. Jus a thought
January 15th, 2015 at 1:47 pm
Love GMC but concerned about his health. 3 years in the pros and can’t finish out the season.
January 15th, 2015 at 1:51 pm
You can tell Lovie really wants Michael Johnson to succeed, given all the chances he got. I expect they’ll chock up the bad year to injury, and it may really be the case.
I don’t see them drafting Williams or Gregory for that reason. Look for a DE in rd. 2 or 3, whom they’d hope to develop into a starter should Johnson continue to fail.
January 15th, 2015 at 2:28 pm
I think your right Zam. At one point in the season it was reported Johnson had broken his hand. They have the solution on the roster right now. Clayborn as a rookie had 7.5 sacks playing from his natural right DE position.
Also, for all you of whiners still sniffling about Michael Bennett, I believe Jacques Smith had just as many sacks as Bennett did in half the games played.
Get over it and move on.
January 15th, 2015 at 2:39 pm
Zam Says:
“You can tell Lovie really wants Michael Johnson to succeed, given all the chances he got. I expect they’ll chock up the bad year to injury, and it may really be the case.”
Hell, we all want MJ to succeed. Maybe it was injuries. maybe not.
The 3 sacks total he put up in 2013 is damning.
Regardless, we aren’t going to eat his fat contract this season.
January 15th, 2015 at 2:49 pm
So…GMC gets no pro bowl. Replaced due to injury 🙁
Actually, I’m fine with that. I don’t think any member of last years team should go.
January 15th, 2015 at 2:53 pm
biff barker Says
“Hell, we all want MJ to succeed. Maybe it was injuries. maybe not.
The 3 sacks total he put up in 2013 is damning.
Regardless, we aren’t going to eat his fat contract this season.”
What makes you say that? Has something happened?
Assuming he hasn’t been cut, traded (can’t trade right now) or has retired, yes the Bucs WILL eat his contract. Unless you mean they won’t cut him and waste the money. Maybe I’m reading you wrong.
Personally, I think he’ll be better this coming year. I don’t think we should replace him, but finding someone for the other side would be wise.
I forget, what side did Simeon play on? Was it the same side?
January 15th, 2015 at 2:55 pm
I think resigning Clayborn is a good idea…for depth. Make him earn the starting role by staying healthy and playing well. He’ll certainly come cheap.
January 15th, 2015 at 4:04 pm
@buccaneerBonzai
That is just crazy talk. Why would you when someone like Jacquies Smith comes in and plays in 7 games and almost has the same numbers as clayborns best year????
why do you want to keep bringing the same guys around expecting better results. Last year was the “prove it year”!
And I don’t want Jacquies Smith handed the job either. Find Great talent and hopefully Smith is depth or is part of rotation of a much more talented D-line then we have had in some time. GO Bucs!!!
The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; The Realist adjusts the sails.
January 15th, 2015 at 6:37 pm
@joe
Nice stat on McDonald and Akeem.
I liked them both this year.
Even Akeem can lose more baby fat in his hips and legs, he can be special.
8 sacks between them is not bac for a NG.
If we can sign Jason Pierre Paul, i say pull the trigger!
Who wants JPP in Tampa Bay??
January 15th, 2015 at 10:55 pm
If the Bucs are smart they Trade Doug Martin and Mike Glennon for some mid round draft picks, use those as ammunition going into the draft. Get their QB with the first pick. Utilize those 2 extra picks from Glennon and Martin and Jump back into the first round and snag a falling DE. There are no superstar *Cough Clowney Laughs* coming out this year but there is a bunch of quality pass rushers that will end up falling to mid/late 1st round. JJ Watt was a mid 1st rounder.
Knock out your 2 biggest needs using very little to get them. Then spend the rest of the picks and fill the remaining holes.
January 15th, 2015 at 10:58 pm
Actually I like the idea of JPP but I fear we may end up with another Michael Johnson. IF we would have gotten Rod Marenilli I would have paid good money to bring him here because I feel Rod could have gotten the most out of his super talent. I feel we can land a really good one with that top 2nd round pick whether via trade up to snag one or not.