Dominik: Signs Point To Koetter
January 9th, 2016
Former Bucs GM Mark Dominik still certain Dirk Koetter will be the next head coach.
Readers can mock and laugh at Joe, and hurl insults and foul names. But Joe trusts former Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik.
The past leader of the Bucs knows Team Glazer like few do. He worked for Team Glazer for damn near 20 years. He has gone through multiple drafts and coaching changes with Team Glazer.
So exactly who else would you seek out that will talk intelligently about Team Glazer’s ways? (Sorry, Bruce Almighty, Chucky and Richie McKay won’t talk about Team Glazer, and Joe’s sick of hearing Father Dungy spout off about the Bucs.)
After listening to Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht’s press conference Thursday, Dominik is even more certain that, barring a home-run type of candidate becoming available that is currently off the radar, your next Bucs head coach will be offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter.
That’s what Dominik said on BSPN radio.
“I think what you are hearing from Jason Licht is what you are supposed to hear from a public relations standpoint,” Dominik said. “Because you are going to have to open the job up and you are going to have to go through some interviews. And they will have to sell this as an opening because they obviously have to comply with the Rooney Rule, and I am sure from a smart standpoint, they are kind of looking to see who else could actually have interest in the job.
“I think this was Dirk Koetter’s job from the beginning. I think it will end up being Dirk Koetter’s job because I think they were very scared that there were a lot of teams asking and requesting for permission [to interview Koetter for a head coaching gig].
“They had to make a tough decision to let Lovie Smith go but I think they were really afraid of losing Dirk.”
Dominik also had something interesting to say about going after another team’s assistant.
In public knowledge, there were three teams that expressed interest in interviewing Koetter, but Dominik thought there possibly could have been more. To request an interview, Dominik said, NFL teams have to fill out an official form and ship it to the team that employs a prospective candidate.
Dominik suspected that the Bucs may have received more requests than what is publicly known, and Team Glazer got spooked, convinced Koetter was gone for greener pastures if they didn’t act right away.
Dominik also noted that teams also have to request second interviews. He believed perhaps Team Glazer jumped the gun, and had he been in Licht’s shoes, he would have “rolled the dice” and waited to see if any second requests from another team showed up in the mailroom at One Buc Palace before pulling the trigger on Lovie Smith.
January 9th, 2016 at 7:16 am
They did the same thing to Chucky after a 9-7 season so why is everyone so surprised? plus he won us a Super Bowl !!!!! you can’t Lose your last 4 games three of them two sucky teams! and expect to keep your job! if this is true then I want to know who are defensive coordinators going to be.
January 9th, 2016 at 7:20 am
I was also thinking that they should’ve waited until they were sure a team was seriously interested in hiring Koetter before making that move. Anyone can be interviewed for a job but getting a second interview and an offer is a whole different story. I’d love to play poker with the Glazers I’d bluff them the whole game.
January 9th, 2016 at 7:23 am
Reminds me a lot of how Raheem came into being. I like Mr. Koetter, I just hope he is head coaching material. Norv Turner is an awesome OC, but has been proven to suck as a HC. Hiring Koetter gives us a little continuity – Jamies will stay in the same offense, but Koetter won’t be able to spend the same quality time with him.
I love Tom Coughlin, but is he burned out? I don’t know. Kelly is a brilliant coach, maybe too much so – one of those who outsmarts himself and is too smart to use common sense. Licht has his work cut out for him in finding the right guy. With all the misfires we have had, maybe its the Bucs turn to get it right. Lets hope so for Jameis’ sake.
January 9th, 2016 at 7:31 am
To bad dominik did not do the meeting. While look very comfortable up there he would have had every reporter nodding their heads in agreement with what ever he would have been spinning!!!! who knows, Joe might have even left there with a used refrigerator!!!!!
January 9th, 2016 at 7:36 am
I hope it is Dirk. The guy is honest and has a passion in him. When I watch his pressers they have been informative and not boring. Like lets just say Shiano and Lovie. He has a good presence and would be an ideal face of the franchise. If he’s hired we need a really good DC. Im tired of seeing what has been happening on defense the last couple of years.
January 9th, 2016 at 7:41 am
“…Joe’s sick of hearing Father Dungy spout off about the Bucs.”
Whoa! That’s some unusual candor you don’t here thrown Dungy’s way very often. I’d like to know more about what’s got Joe so sick of Dungy?
January 9th, 2016 at 7:43 am
so koetter as headcoach, cullen as dc, and bajakian as oc?
don’t know about that.
January 9th, 2016 at 7:46 am
My vote is for Koetter to take HC position and Mike Smith to be DC and asst HC. This would be more streamlined since they worked together so much in Atlanta and Jax. Smith could also take on more HC duties allowing Koetter to spend enough time with Winston and the offense. Baajakian could be promoted to OC and Koetter could still call plays on game day.
January 9th, 2016 at 7:52 am
Dominik, for all his mistakes and there were many, he did draft several cornerstones like McCoy, David and Martin. McCoy was a no brainer but trading back into the first for Martin and then following up with David in round 2 was awesome. Much respect for that move. The whiff on Barron over Kuechely was awful and in part what cost him and Piano their jobs.
January 9th, 2016 at 8:12 am
Hey Dom, are these the same signs that pointed to the Bucs drafting Mariota?
January 9th, 2016 at 8:18 am
From from a journalistic standpoint speaking to Dominik to gain insight on the Glazers makes the most sense by far. Dominik’s opinion on how to play the game, however, is far less meaningful. Lovie had to go.
January 9th, 2016 at 8:20 am
It seems clear to me that the choice is Koetter…primarily because the owners, for the first time, will allow the GM to make the choice. That means they have already signed off.
What has happened is that Licht has been promoted to the true position of GM…he, obviously has impressed the Glazers and now has the power…..no longer a “lapdog”.
January 9th, 2016 at 8:20 am
I am with some of the other fans here….even if Koetter do end up winning how long can we be excited as soon as he have 1 losing season he will probably be fired. .what I mean by a losing season is 9-7 both Dungey and Gruden was fired after 9-7 seasons. My question for all the announcers and buc fans where are the Glazers trying to take this team .
January 9th, 2016 at 8:22 am
I think the Mike Smith suggestion could be a good marriage and work well….but only if Smith could handle working for his former underling.
A strong DC with Bajakian as OC with Koetter calling the plays would work…
Also….(and some will think I’m crazy)…..let Winston call some plays and see how that works out….he’s the smartest guy in the room….
January 9th, 2016 at 8:24 am
If they really are just satisfying the Rooney Rule and plan to give the job to Koetter, then all of Jason Licht’s talk about being total control is a lie to the fans.
Of course, I doubt anyone here will acknowledge a simple thing like the truth.
January 9th, 2016 at 8:25 am
@Tampabaybucfan
You ARE crazy.
But there are worse things to be.
January 9th, 2016 at 8:39 am
TBBF- if Winston eventually becomes elite and he is comfortable with calling some of his own plays then I’m sure it will happen. Who knows if he doesn’t already have the ability to call his own plays on audibles?
January 9th, 2016 at 8:44 am
Still waiting on Doms inside info to pan out about the Bucs taking Mariota…
Local media favorites Dominik amd Lovie are both likely to never work in the NFL again
January 9th, 2016 at 8:45 am
I hope the Bucs are really thinking through this. Not sure Koetter is the right guy to fix us. You can even make the case that Koetter helped get Lovie fired. Koetter deserves some blame for the massive amount of drive killing penalties and failure to get Mike Evans under control. The offensive penalties and Evan’s behavior were both under Koetter’s area of responsibility. If fact if Koetter would have addressed those issues, we proabably would have won a few more games and Lovie might still be employed. We need a coach capable of running a disciplined ship. Is Koetter that guy?
January 9th, 2016 at 8:52 am
@ Bonzai
I am crazy…at least that’s what my wife claims…..I just
January 9th, 2016 at 8:53 am
I just threw that Winsont calling plays out there to see if anyone was awake.
January 9th, 2016 at 8:57 am
I wonder if the Browns will take Lovie like they did McCown. lol
January 9th, 2016 at 8:57 am
As far as changing coaches every two years…..I agree, that’s a terrible thing…
But in this case we are really only changing half a coach….and the defense would have been totally blown up anyway….the remaining good defensive players like GMC, LVD…Kwon…can handle new coaches….Both GMC & Kwon have experience.
If Koetter fails….the we would be in the same position at the end of 16 that we would have been with Lovie….and the Glazers would be looking for a new coach ahd GM…..I think Schiano comes off the coaches payroll next year…..and they have probably budgeted for three coaches…so they can hire a new one.
January 9th, 2016 at 8:59 am
As far as changing coaches every two years…..I agree, that’s a terrible thing…
But in this case we are really only changing half a coach….and the defense would have been totally blown up anyway….the remaining good defensive players like GMC, LVD…Kwon…can handle new coaches….Both GMC & LVD have experience.
If Koetter fails….the we would be in the same position at the end of 16 that we would have been with Lovie….and the Glazers would be looking for a new coach ahd GM…..I think Schiano comes off the coaches payroll next year…..and they have probably budgeted for three coaches…so they can hire a new one.
January 9th, 2016 at 9:04 am
Dreambig- you can’t be serious blaming Koetter for incompetent Lovie Smith getting axed! Maybe Mr Incompetent could have fielded a competitive defense, not overpaid so many lousy FAs and kicked so many good football players off this team when he got here.
People are still making excuses for this guy. Remember he was the experienced hire that wasn’t supposed to make rookie mistakes? He made Morris and Schiano look like Walsh and Siefert!!
January 9th, 2016 at 9:22 am
Koetter did a great job with sometimes five rookies on the field. If he is the head coach it will get better. We had Jackson, SFJ, and Murphy injured for a lot of the season. Need a great defensive coordinator and a good special teams coach.
January 9th, 2016 at 9:55 am
@Bonzai
If they really are just satisfying the Rooney Rule and plan to give the job to Koetter, then all of Jason Licht’s talk about being total control is a lie to the fans.
???? Because the NFL has a Rooney rule that means “Licht” is not really in control? I do not understand that logic.
As for the coaches every two years I get that concern bigtime…it is indeed reflective of a badly run franchise. I also respect the opinion of those who think it was Malcolm…”the good Glazer” who made all the right moves to get us to an SB…
Let’s look at it all again…the first two hires the Bucs made were EXCELLENT!
Dungy may yet end up in the HOF and the Glazers hit a freaking home run.
Tony got run because he was boring and the fans grew restless with not getting to the big game…
Chucky was an EXCELLENT HIRE who got us the SB…they had 6-7 years each not two!
The downfall and the start of the coaches every two years was the purchase/huge leverage on the Bucs of Man U. That’s when it all went downhill…not with Malcolm’s death.
The Glazer are now set with ManU and they have more money than ever. They’ve started spending again and if LIcht is as good as well all hope and the rest of the league seems to believe…we’ll get a good coach.
Again though I believe we already have that coach on staff.
January 9th, 2016 at 10:13 am
Pure speculation by Mark Dominik. I do not believe Lovie was fired because the Glazer’s were afraid of losing Koetter. If that were the case why not interview Frazier the next day and announce Koetter the new HC? Koetter had plenty of shortcomings during the season with the offense. I thought he could do better with the dropped passes, Evans bickering with referee’s and Winston’s tantrum in St Louis. Every coach including Koetter should be accountable for the lack of discipline and the inability to control penalties. Lets not forget the Washington game on the third-and-one toss to running back Charles Sims on the one-yard line. Koetter said “Okay, everybody get this straight, alright? I screwed it up, nobody else. I screwed it up, plain and simple. I liked that he owned it but what a terrible call. This is our chance to start new. I just hope the next coach is the last one for a decade so get it right Jason.
January 9th, 2016 at 10:18 am
In order for them to be scared they were going to lose Koeter, they first must of come to the realization that Lovie just wasnt the guy going forward. So all this “scared” garbage is just that, garbage excuses.
January 9th, 2016 at 10:45 am
Dallasbuc – Not blaiming Koetter for Lovie getting axed. Lovie had to go for all the things you mentioned and more. I am just pointing out, why is Koetter getting a completely free pass when some significant issues this year were under his area of responsibility. How frustrating was it this year watching the oline false start, over and over and over. All I am saying is I hope Licht is cautious and does his due diligence and make sure Koetter is the right guy.
January 9th, 2016 at 11:17 am
for the record, Dominik said the pick was Mariotta.
January 9th, 2016 at 11:50 am
I do not think that they were afraid of losing him,they have him under contract.if someone else tried to hire him as a head coach,then they still would have the option of promoting him,and or just give him a promotion to assitant head coach.which then they could hire him,or what ever they decide to do after interviewing other candidates,maybe even someone like Mike Smith could be hired and Koeter would be o k with?
January 9th, 2016 at 11:57 am
If Koetter is hired, you’ll know Licht is just doing what he’s told, which is what I suspect. No way anyone in their right mind looks at Koetter and his resume and says, yeah this is the guy to lead us to a Super Bowl. He frankly was cracking up at the end of his time at Arizona State. Now, imagine that pressure times a million as an NFL head coach. Buc fans are acting like they have the next Bill Walsh on staff that no one knew anything about, lol.
January 9th, 2016 at 1:24 pm
Just hire a coach who instills confidence and has a plan that seems likely to reverse the trend of losing. It’s not freaking rocket science, how about some fireworks, not another dud bottle rocket.
January 9th, 2016 at 4:00 pm
Lets hope Peyton Manning retires and we can hire him as the QB coach