Ditching Koetter Is On The Table
January 7th, 2016
Jason Licht says there is no Dirk Koetter litmus test
Former Bucs quarterback Shaun King was at One Buc Palace today and fired a question at general manager Jason Licht as he addressed a huge throng of media in the wake of Lovie Smith getting fired.
King demanded to know whether interviewing a potential head coach will include the Bucs demanding that Dirk Koetter be retained as offensive coordinator.
It was a good question, and Licht didn’t waver.
“When we zero in on the candidate, whether it’s Dirk or whoever it is, we’re going to have conversations with him. Usually, you let the coach pick his staff. There’s not going to be any stipulations on this coach,” Licht said.
Hey, Licht easily could have said that it was important to keep Koetter. He could have said keeping Koetter is the organization’s preference. But he didn’t.
Joe still believes Koetter is the leading head coach candidate, and today Licht called him a “very strong” candidate. But when you’re talking about Koetter being an under-consideration candidate in Philly, San Francisco and Miami, then anything can happen in the coming hours.
There’s a lot of potential money on the table here, the biggest paycheck of Koetter’s career.
January 7th, 2016 at 3:38 pm
“Shaun King”
Lost me there.
January 7th, 2016 at 3:42 pm
As we all sit here debating the importance of “continuity” on JW and the organization, I’m reminded of a great point made by Gruden on MNF a few weeks ago
He brought up that this was the reason he always called his own plays. He didn’t have to worry about an OC leaving for another job ruining the “system.” I thought it was a great point and if Koetter does happen to be the best coach, I hope that he will retain play-calling duties
January 7th, 2016 at 3:43 pm
@BuccaneerBonzai…that is the name of a QB that used to play for the Bucs. I hope that helps you comprehension next time.
January 7th, 2016 at 3:43 pm
Its Koetter’s job to lose.
January 7th, 2016 at 3:45 pm
No GM is going to declare stipulations in a press conference. That would be stupid. But if Koetter isn’t hired as HC and doesn’t get another HC gig, you can bet Licht will have conversations with candidates about continuity on offense and with Jameis. I would think that’s especially true if the new HC is a defense oriented guy.
January 7th, 2016 at 3:46 pm
I would be satisfied with Koetter. The guy is honest. His pressers are good to watch, not boring and beating around the bush. His craft shows up in the stats category. Shoot top 5 offense.
Jameis- 4000 yards passing
Martin- 1400 rushing
Sims- 1000 all purpose yards
Cry baby Evans- 1000 yards receiving
Developing the O-Line
Definitely a strong candidate for the Bucs,..and other teams. Get em.
January 7th, 2016 at 3:50 pm
Personally I feel it is a fait acompli that Dirk is hired. Rooney Rule is preventing it from being announced now.
January 7th, 2016 at 3:52 pm
Fire Lovie to keep Koetter?! Freaking brilliant! I hear people talking about how no coach would want to come here after this. I disagree! Coach 2 years, get fired, get paid to sit at home, what a gig!
January 7th, 2016 at 3:55 pm
He’s not going to say it because he knows there is a process that he must go through. Not really interesting especially knowing Shaun King is the source. I’ll wait patiently for the next article because I can’t stay away from this website for more than 20 minutes.
January 7th, 2016 at 3:57 pm
“Bucsfanman Says:
January 7th, 2016 at 3:52 pm
Fire Lovie to keep Koetter?! Freaking brilliant! I hear people talking about how no coach would want to come here after this. I disagree! Coach 2 years, get fired, get paid to sit at home, what a gig!”
HAHA!! I didn’t look at that way at first, BUT DAD GUMMIT YOU’RE RIGHT!! That’s why were ranked #1 of the top coaching vacancies!! LOL
January 7th, 2016 at 3:58 pm
It is the only way to answer that question….and it’s an easy question to answer, in particular if your intention is to hire Koetter anyway……I find it interesting that some assistants were fired and others not…..none on the offense.
My question to all JBF posters is “Why not Koetter?”……
The only answer is that the poster simply may like another candidate better….but, if you do go with someone else, you could be blowing up the entire staff again….and that, is not good.
“Shaun King, one of two Buc Quarterbacks that lost a NFC Championship Game when his defense gave up 9 points.”
January 7th, 2016 at 3:58 pm
So, more importantly, who do the Bucs hire as DC? It’s a fair question considering Lovie had “everything” to do with D and “nothing” to do with the offense! (in case you couldn’t tell, that was tongue-in-cheek!)
January 7th, 2016 at 3:58 pm
From the PC i didnt get the feeling that koetter was a leading candidate. You would think if licht was really into koetter, he would have sweet talked him a little more. He addressed koeeter and spoke highly of him, but i didnt get the feeling that they really wanted him.
January 7th, 2016 at 4:01 pm
Shaun King?????
Lolooolooololol.
My dog has a higher IQ than that simpleton.
Joebucs should never base any future articles based on the thoughts of that dufus.
January 7th, 2016 at 4:01 pm
@trubucfan22
Not if you want to keep the price tag down!!! Now he has to deal with Keotter agent! and then rooney rule interview,,,,
January 7th, 2016 at 4:05 pm
It’s starting to look like Koetter may be the fall-back plan if they can’t get somebody flashier. Any new head coach would be crazy to replace Koetter as OC for 2016, but stranger things have happened.
January 7th, 2016 at 4:09 pm
please no more Shaun King comments………
January 7th, 2016 at 4:17 pm
Koetter can stay or go. It won’t be as devastating as many will have you believe if he goes. Believe it or not, there are alot of guys out there who know how to call plays, and Jameis isn’t a Blake Bortles type that needs to be coddled along delicately.
I would be fine with him if I knew the defensive direction that they would take with him as HC, but they need to go through the full process. Jameis makes this an attractive job for candidates beyond just Dirk Koetter, and Jameis will pick up a new system without much trouble if a new staff comes in.
If Licht has final say over the 53 man roster it limits the big juicy names that average fans will get all wet about being candidates.
January 7th, 2016 at 4:21 pm
“Ditch Dirk”
Wanted to beat the crowd….
January 7th, 2016 at 4:23 pm
i love dirk, i really do, but phily, and sf, nor miami is going to hire him this year. Just like the broncos were going to hire rah morris. Now dirk is much more prepared and more experienced but dirk isn’t ready. Theres a lot of OCs that would have done well here this year.
January 7th, 2016 at 4:55 pm
Mike is right, Dirk has no HC experience at this level either. With someone like Tom Coughlin possibly a candidate, who would you choose? There are simply more qualified people available. If it was going to be Dirk Koetter it would have been announced by now. It appears that they don’t have any idea who the new HC is going to be and Koetter will go through the interviewing process like everyone else.
January 7th, 2016 at 5:23 pm
The Rooney rule is the only reason Dirk hasn’t been named HC yet. They are obligated to interview at least 1 minority candidate before making a final decision.
January 7th, 2016 at 6:05 pm
Ok so no good coach options would willwillingly come here. Remember Gruden, he didn’t just decide to sign with us, we traded for him. Im still thinking we are trading for Payton, but we are trying to work out something other than a 2 for him that includes Glennon and maybe a 4th.
January 7th, 2016 at 6:27 pm
Destro, if you think the Taints will trade their head coach to an interconference rival, you might be slower then King Cobra.
January 7th, 2016 at 6:27 pm
Sorry Cobra Commander!!!
January 7th, 2016 at 6:37 pm
Bucfanman: On target, I remember when the phrase was players go to Arizona to retire. The new phrase: Coaches come to Tampa to get paid.
January 7th, 2016 at 8:03 pm
It won’t be a stipulation but I’m sure it would be strongly suggested that the new coach retains Koetter.
However, I’d be shocked if they were able to keep Koetter from leaving if he doesn’t get the job. There are enough open HC jobs that at least one team will offer him the job. Outside of the dumpster fire that is the Browns, I can’t see him turning down an opportunity to be a head coach.
January 8th, 2016 at 2:13 am
The press conference seemed obvious to me, it’s Dirks job.