Lovie Giddy Over Koetter
November 13th, 2015
Gets mad props from Lovie.
Yes, if one wanted to argue Lovie Smith should not return next year, one could easily sit down and make out a long list and the arguments would be valid.
From the terrible defense to the penalties to the massive swings and misses in free agency to clock management and habitual reflex, to going turtle late in the first halves of games, it’s hard to argue Lovie has woefully struggled as leader of the Bucs.
Except for one major element: How he has overseen the transformation of the Bucs’ offense. Say what you want about Lovie, but he signed off on drafting America’s Quarterback, Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston. Lovie very easily could have passed on him and taken the easy road of not having to answer questions about Jameis’ off-field issues.
Lovie didn’t do that.
Lovie could have easily have forced Jameis to quash his robust personality and tried to make him a robot, squeezing a round peg in a square hole.
Lovie didn’t do that.
In fact, Lovie went out and hired arguably the best offensive coordinator this team has ever had whose name wasn’t “Chucky.” Lovie easily could have hired a ground-and-pound coach who never worked with a decent quarterback.
Lovie didn’t do that.
In fact, Lovie has handled the drafting and molding, directly and indirectly, of Jameis, just about perfectly. And right now, that is the most important thing to this franchise: developing the franchise’s meal ticket.
So far, so good.
Lovie could sit and beat his chest that he developed Jameis into the stud rookie he is today. Lovie’s not doing that. Instead, this afternoon, when given a chance in his last presser before the Cowboys game Sunday, he heaped lavish praise on Dirk Koetter for molding the offense.
“[He is doing] an awesome job,” Lovie said of Koetter. “I love the guy. He is very hands on. He is very detailed oriented and he wants us all to be detailed-oriented. He’s just a great coach, a great coach to have and we’re lucky to have him.”
One could make a better argument that Jameis and Koetter will save Lovie’s job the way the offense, including the previously maligned offensive line, has come along.
At this point, the biggest hire the Bucs have made since 2002 Team Glazer plucked Chucky from the Raiders is Koetter. And that’s thanks to Lovie.
November 13th, 2015 at 4:08 pm
I agree 100% Joe. Good call.
November 13th, 2015 at 4:12 pm
Got a feeling he’s going to be in demand for a head coaching job at the end of the season.
November 13th, 2015 at 4:21 pm
Just imagine if you went 4 & 12 last year. We would still be dealing with McClown as our quarterback thanks to Lovie. Let’s not go heaping praise on Lovie for the offense. He Stinks! #FireLovie
November 13th, 2015 at 4:35 pm
If he wants to leave for a HC position. Give him The Bucs!!!!!!
November 13th, 2015 at 4:39 pm
the way Lovie burns through offensive and defensive coordinators I hope Koetter is keeping that resume updated.
November 13th, 2015 at 4:41 pm
Like everything else……Koetter & Jameis are Lovie’s fault…..
November 13th, 2015 at 4:54 pm
Koetter is America’s Offensive Coordinator. No argument here, he has done a fantastic job. He and lovie will bring a super bowl here within 3 years. You heard it first right here.
November 13th, 2015 at 4:55 pm
This stinks….Lovie will keep his job becasue of Dirk. Dirk will get a head coaching job in either college or the pro’s and we’ll be stuck with only our bad head coach and a new OC. Bad for Jameis, and Bad for the Bucs. If the Glazers had a clue, they would fire Love and promote Dirk to head coach so they can keep the momentum going. If JW has to have a new system next year we can forget about him ever developing.
November 13th, 2015 at 5:04 pm
Lovies not the only one giddy!
You make some good points about Lovie, Joe.
Lovie is especially right about one thing. With Lovie running the show we are lucky to have Koetter. Very lucky
November 13th, 2015 at 5:21 pm
Koeter & Winston are the only positive things Lovie has brought to Tampa. But there is still time for Lovie to mess those 2 up also.
November 13th, 2015 at 5:22 pm
So that would be a totally confident in the confidence poll.
November 13th, 2015 at 5:24 pm
Let’s be realistic, Dirk came hear for the 1st overall draft pick. He gets to coach a QB of his choice. It’ll be hard for Dirk to think of leaving anytime soon.
Lovie, if he doesn’t bring in teh rest of the defensive talent this offseason, will be stocking shelves after next season.
November 13th, 2015 at 5:29 pm
This is why I wanted a Lovie Confidence Poll before the season started…..Hiring of Koetter & drafting Jameis & 2 Oline…..believe that Lovie’s confidence would have been much higher…even after 2-14…..
Now we see that after 3-5…it is low again.
Sorry, Joe…..I think you missed on that opportunity….and frankly am puzzled why you didn’t do one.
November 13th, 2015 at 5:43 pm
Win many games so far this year…..
Lovie didn’t do that
November 13th, 2015 at 5:58 pm
Wasn’t Koetter lovie’s second choice???
November 13th, 2015 at 5:58 pm
Koetter’s not America’s OC because not that many national news and media folks talk about Koetter. Jameis on the other hand they do. Koetter is Tampa’s OC.
BTW Joe I still have no idea why you’re so negative about Lovie all the time. (sarcasm)
November 13th, 2015 at 6:06 pm
Double-edged sword. As Hawaiian said, Koetter’s doing such a great job that it is highly possible that Dirk will be in demand as a head coach. There’s nothing that the Bucs could do to stop it unless, of course they are in need of a head coach. Sorry Lovie. Just sayin.
November 13th, 2015 at 6:34 pm
Cough cough…. Thanks Joe for the acknowledgement…….
Oh of Lovie that is…. Did we ask him the fun question yet??? You the one about what he REALLY was up too…. You know the one were he changed up his game plan of coaching and decided to build it and they will come…. The one question that gets him to open up about how he schemed his way to get JW by pulling of the most difficult of long term strategies… IE Tanking a season to get your guy… You know the question I am referring to right Joe???
Just ask him point blank… So coach, is it now fair to say the old dog learned a new trip k and you consider yourself an offensive minded coach first ??? And when laughs at you just assume that’s Lovie playing with us again with that old high school gamesmanship 😉
If we all would have been expecting him to trick out our O first we would be in Love with Lovie right now… But he realized this much… D wins the grind but O puts you in the money all the time…He knew, if I build the O the D will come…
Thanks for the article Joe… This is Inspirational Stuff for sure!!!!
November 13th, 2015 at 6:44 pm
But if Koetter gets a HC job….
November 13th, 2015 at 7:04 pm
Head coaches are only as good as their assistant coaches and players. Tony Dungy built a great defense here, but look at who he had for assistant coaches … Kiffin, Marinelli, Edwards, Lovie, Tomlin, etc. And for players … Sapp, Brooks, Lynch, etc. On the offensive side of the ball? Not so lucky … until he went to Indy and teamed up with an incredible OC named Tom Moore and some QB named Peyton Manning. the rest is history.
Lovie’s still building his team of coaches and players. It takes time, and patience. He’s made mistakes, lots of them, but so did Tony Dungy, so has Bill Belicheck and all other HCs. Just keep an eye on the big picture … is the team improving steadily. If not then Lovie should be replaced. But when I compare the quality of play I see today with what I saw a couple years ago, we are improving. Rome wasn’t built in a day, but it sure was burnt down overnight.
November 13th, 2015 at 7:09 pm
Agree. Owners should demand Lovie hire a real defensive coordinator or hit the road. Offense has outperformed themselves. People on this site have said the offensive line may be deepest in league. I think the line is pretty much the same but got guys playing hard. Good rookies getting better. But I . Think koetter plays to strengths and hides weaknesses well. Heck last year when he was offensive coordinator for Falcons they lost five starting lineman and made a tight end play tackle and were still successful in keeping Matty ice jersey clean. We got a keeper. Just think if all guys get healthy on what they could do
November 13th, 2015 at 7:36 pm
Koetter will get some interest. I just hope he stays and decides that he has unfinished business with THE MESSIAH.
November 13th, 2015 at 7:58 pm
@Defenserules I would say that Dungy was a very good coach but it was Kiffin who is the Father of the cover 2, not Father Dungy. However Dungy tweaked it a bit and voila, the Tampa 2. Nothin but love for Tony and Monte. Ahhhh, the good ole days.
November 13th, 2015 at 8:07 pm
Realist
Wasn’t Koetter lovie’s second choice???
Last night you posted that Lovies is losing the locker room according to ???? your connections???
I’m not so much as disputing your assertions as simply asking to stop throwing poop against the wall hoping it will stick. I don’t have sources to confirm or deny your “insintuations”.
And I confess after 20 years in journalism I have expectations that perhaps are unfair to assume about bloggers.
Unnamed sources…pundits just speculating…are what is really wrong with our media today LEFT and RIGHT.
I know we’re just having fun but it would be helpful if you could provide some source or attribution for serious charges or insinuations.
E.G. Last night a guy asked who else was interested in Lovie after getting fired in Chicago when I posted other teams wanted him. In response I simply went to google and pulled any number of articles but used the NBC sports report of the three other teams they felt would be interested.
I’m genuinely curious if Lovie has lost the locker room because as you suggest that would be the end of Lovie. I’m also not sure where you got Koetter as Lovie’s second choice and I’d be curious as to who was number one.
Realist you are clearly bright and a good poster. I have no sources or attribution to dispute your “insinuations”. Because I do realize how smart you are I’m asking you to pick up your game to journalistic standards.
Having said that we are just having fun blogging here and so feel free to tell me to eff off. Just sayin’.
November 13th, 2015 at 8:08 pm
Yeah, I don’t see Koetter getting an HC job yet—has he even ever interviewed for one?
There’s no doubt Lovie should be fired, but how do you do that and keep Koetter. And spare me the “Koetter should be our HC” crap, because if he’s the HC it will more than likely diminish his ability to work with Jameis and the offense—too risky for a first time HC.
November 13th, 2015 at 8:49 pm
Best offensive mind since Gruden.
Heck, ONLY offensive mind since Gruden.
He comes up with effective ways to use what he has.
November 13th, 2015 at 9:12 pm
I loved the hire then, and I love it even more now.
Lovie is coming back. Embrace it.
November 14th, 2015 at 1:43 am
Didn’t Dirk Koetter say recently that he is not interested in being a HC?
November 14th, 2015 at 10:43 am
Those of you who think DK will be getting a HC job are just wearing pewter colored glasses
Think about it – when is a coordinator of a 6-10 team EVER considered for a HC position? Maybe in a year or two….but not next year
November 14th, 2015 at 10:52 am
Everyone is on the Fire Lovie bandwagon because the offense is there but the defense isn’t and Lovie is a Defensive coach. Had L/L drafted all defense and our D was a top 5 unit but our offense couldn’t score we would all be here screaming fire Lovie because he never has put out an actual offense. Folks our bucaroos suck. The poor drafting of the past has come home to roost. This team is void of talent. Schiano eluded to that a while back preaching you can’t overturn a roster in just two years. Schiano was right about the talent level (i.e. Freeman) here. Schiano lost the PR battle and L/L came in to save the day with free agents and the “we aren’t rebuilding” mantra. As we all know that simply wasn’t accurate. The Buccaneers ARE rebuilding.
L/L have drafted beautifully so far. Next year it’s the defenses turn and the draft will enfuse some talent that’s badly needed there. By this time next year we should start seeing a much improved defense with more wins. And in the 2017 season we should all be talking about contending for superbowls. I’m excited about the Bucs’ future. As long as Winston makes the strides, this team with Lovie as HC, should be contenders in 2017. Go Bucs!!
November 14th, 2015 at 5:03 pm
Yeah, we had two straight 100% offensive drafts with very high picks.
Lovie has had 1 defensive pick in two years and that guy was a 4th round steal.
Good job L&L.