Going Defense
January 16th, 2016
Manpower on defense coming.
One thing Joe loves about Dirk Koetter is his candor. Ask him a question, you get an answer.
He’s not worried about BS or PC or hiding something. He’s a straight shooter.
Of course, Koetter admitted Friday that he may have to tone that down a little now that he is the Bucs head coach. If there is one element about his new job that seems to already irk him, he confessed, it’s that he might have to be a bit more PC and somewhat less candid.
So likely because he is not yet comfortable muzzling himself, Koetter may have made Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht squirm a little bit yesterday. Koetter went on BSPN and all but promised what the Bucs were going to do in the offseason to bolster their roster.
“It’s no mistake, we need to add guys on the defensive side of the football,” Koetter said. “We have to add to the talent on our defensive side of the ball. But we need smart and tough football players across the board.”
This is no state secret or act of sedition. If the Bucs didn’t need to upgrade on defense, then Lovie Smith might still be the coach. It surely isn’t the offense desperate for an infusion of talent.
Joe has a hunch Mike Smith may not have agreed to come to the Bucs to run the defense without assurances the Bucs were going to beef up the talent.
To watch more of Koetter, click the BSPN video below.
January 16th, 2016 at 8:15 am
It’s all very exciting. With Koetter and Smith we’ll see something that in Tampa we’ve seen very rarely, and that would be, wait for it… players development *gasps*
I still think that the number one priority should be building around Winston, and I’m sure everybody at the Palace realize it. I’m not expecting a draft dominated by defensive players, bur rather a “best available” approach. As for free agency, sensible acquisitions to bolster all phases of the game would be ideal. Whether that mean trying to grab a big name or not, well… I’ll leave such decisions to those in charge. Go Bucs!
January 16th, 2016 at 8:15 am
The list of free agents is weak this year. Weddle makes sense as a short term safety fix. Some corners maybe. No pass rushers in site, ugh…draft,draft,draft…Glennon trade?
January 16th, 2016 at 8:17 am
The Bucs need to draft defensive players?!? What an unbelievable revelation.
January 16th, 2016 at 8:17 am
Please fix your typo Joe, Jon Hayes was the TR coach for the Bengles and Jay Hayes was the D-Line coach.
January 16th, 2016 at 8:17 am
One day on the job and he’s already setting smoke screens…
January 16th, 2016 at 8:20 am
I don’t think he tipped his hand. Lovie didn’t get fired because he coached the 2000 Ravens last year.
January 16th, 2016 at 8:22 am
Yes…there will definitely be questions from the media that Koetter simply can’t answer….that is always the case….but there are many like this one that are obvious so…why be coy?
Lovie had an irritating manner when it came to these type questions…..you would think the injury reports/questions were top secret….or the fact that Cherilus would start at RT vs Dotson would somehow give the opponent a planning advantage….give me a break!!!
January 16th, 2016 at 8:22 am
I like that Koetter is straight forward this will keep him as H.C…..I think this is what maybe done in both Lovie and Frazier as H.Cs …my point is if a coach is not doing a great job let him know friend or not….some players you can sit and they come back strong others you have to cut and I think Koetter is that guy I truly think with Koetter if a player don’t proform he want be around long…I know that sometimes you need warm bodies but if they’re not doing a good job show them the door this included coaches too
January 16th, 2016 at 8:33 am
Speaking for Pablo
“Pablo is very depressed……Dirk, Mike, Nate, Jay & Mark….the coaches hired so far…..no names like Miguel, Julio, Roberto…Pablo was excited when he first looked at the article to see Alvarez……then Pablo realized that was the reporter. Pablo wants some brown on the Bucs….some kind of way….Maybe the landscaper for One Buc Place”
January 16th, 2016 at 8:34 am
A good thing but you can be as honest as Mother Teresa but if you don’t win you’re finished.
January 16th, 2016 at 8:35 am
Marves…Alvarez…same to Pablo..
January 16th, 2016 at 8:48 am
Joe: key words here smart and tough (sticks out like a sore thumb) man I thing this was a great move by the Glazers and Licht.
January 16th, 2016 at 9:09 am
Luv it. Need defense. Hope with new staff that we can get some guys to come here. Hey. “The Kevin “. Make a stmt about bucs doing the wrong thing.
January 16th, 2016 at 9:48 am
So, do we think Mike Smith has already talked to GMC, LVD, and Kwon?
January 16th, 2016 at 1:29 pm
I’m sure Mike Smith has already round house kick the energy drink out of Kwons hand, head butted LVD, and smaked the taste out of GMC mouth by now.
Time to tighten up boyz!
January 16th, 2016 at 1:55 pm
@Elle
I share your excitement for all the reasons you listed. Go Bucs!
January 16th, 2016 at 3:26 pm
Atlanta Falcons retreads. Not good. None of’em won a superbowl for the falcons. And they won’t with the Bucs. We are now the..Tampa Bay Falconeers.
My poor Bucs. Always at the..bottom of the pile
January 16th, 2016 at 5:31 pm
@Mike
Have you given up already? Remember IRA’s point that the last time these two guys worked together in JAX they reached the playoffs with an 11 win season..in freaking JAX.
Smith Falcons were eliminated in the first round two years in a row by teams that eventually won the SB…
I’m not sure where all the negativity is coming from.
January 16th, 2016 at 9:31 pm
Tampabaybucfan… eh Pablo.. Yeah, where are all the spanish players?
January 17th, 2016 at 4:52 pm
Possible cap savings – Bruce Carter 4.25M, Evan Smith 2.5M, George Johnson 2M, Brandon Myers 2M, Alterraun Verner 6.75M, Major Wright 1.75M, Garrett Gilkey .75M. Verner should be cut because we should draft a CB in the first or second round and bring in another in FA. Leave Johnthan Banks, Jude Adjei-Barimahand and resign Sterling Moore. The list of Buccaneer FA this year is a long one. UFA – Tony McDaniel, Mike Jenkins, Larry English, Henry Melton, Bobby Rainey, Doug Martin, Chris Conte, Keith Tandy, Da’Quan Bowers and Sterling Moore. RFA -Bradley McDougald, Russell Shepard, Danny Lansanah and Jorvorskie Lane. Re-sign Martin, Conte, Melton, Tandy, Moore, Sheppard and Lansanah. If under the cap is 50M, +20M from cuts = $70M under the cap. Minus 15M to re-sign FA leaves $55M. This years draft and the FA market can make or break this team next year. Possible FA to sign – CB Sean Smith (29) Chiefs, CB Trumaine Johnson (26) Rams, S Walter Thurmond (29) Eagles, S Rodney McLeod (26) Rams, TE Dwayne Allen (26) Colts, DE Olivier Vernon (25) Dolphins, DE Jason Pierre-Paul (27) Giants, DE Mario Williams Bills, WR Travis Benjamin (26) Browns. Brandon Marshall and Von Miller are both going to be FA and the Broncos can’t keep them both. Forget the scheme and line one up at DE?