How Will Koetter Change The Offense?
January 15th, 2016
Koetter’s way won’t be Lovie’s way.
You better believe new Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter will be asked today just how much influence Lovie Smith had on the Buccaneers’ offense last season.
Don’t think Lovie did?
Consider that Koetter made it clear multiple times that he was serving Lovie and the head coach wants to run the ball.
That doesn’t mean Lovie was playing puppeteer with the offense, but there was a clear direction set by Lovie from Day 1. The big question now is whether Koetter shares Lovie’s vision.
Koetter no longer has a rookie quarterback needing protection and coddling. He also likely will have an additional receiving weapons added in free agency (Joe is kneeling in prayer). And Koetter will get to pick his gameday personnel. Anyone want to bet against Austin Seferian-Jenkins remaining a third stringer, as he did to end the season?
It’s naïve to think Koetter doesn’t have change in store for what was a very balanced Bucs offense. Joe knows some fans will read this and scream, “defense, defense.” Joe would encourage these folks to remember it’s a beautiful thing to possess an offense that can punish opponents and bury them early. Don’t be afraid of putting up points, like Lovie was multiple times
Anyone remember Philadelphia?
January 15th, 2016 at 11:13 am
Koetter has a history of utilizing the running game when he’s had the talent at the position to do so. Throwing the ball 40 times or more in a game vs. running it 30 times results in far more losses. So I’d expect to see balance. The keys to scoring more next season are 1) Jameis must improve his accuracy, particularly on the deep ball; 2) VJax must remain healthy; 3) Evans most reduce the number of drops; and 4) We must sign Dougie.
January 15th, 2016 at 11:13 am
The aggressiveness and execution in Philly was amazing. A great game to watch. I got spoiled watching that game. If they can play like that one game, then they should be able to do it more games. Hopefully we see more play like that years to come.
January 15th, 2016 at 11:14 am
There are always a lot of ifs…but IF all of our receivers simply became healthy in mind, spirit and body, if they all simply played to their proven abilities we’re already set.
But I get that ME has ??? as does ASJ ??? as does a veteran like Murphy coming off major surgery, as does another veteran like VJAX coming back from a knee injury and do we think Cameron Brate will continue to improve? Humphries?
Can Bell become a deep threat. Can Brandon Myers once again be incorporated into the offense.
Those were all players who are ALREADY here but have???.
Lots and lots of decisions to be made.
January 15th, 2016 at 11:14 am
Hopefully by attacking a defense’s weakness…not getting conservative (going for it on fourth down with the odds favor it)….and trying eliminate third downs…
January 15th, 2016 at 11:15 am
Perhaps if there is 1:30 left in the second quarter and we have the ball at the 30 yard line with 3 timeouts, just maybe we would try to score. That would be a welcomed change.
January 15th, 2016 at 11:15 am
err, trying to avoid going to third downs…to move the sticks..also utlizing our receivers heights in the redzone.
January 15th, 2016 at 11:26 am
With three recievers/te’s all 6’4″ and above our redzone efficiency was awful. Between the 20’s we were fine.
I would like to see the screen pass game improve and more plays to get the ball out of Winstons hands fast. Bring in a reciever that can actually get some YAC.
January 15th, 2016 at 11:32 am
winston’s growth (as well as his other young offensive teammates) will have as much to do with possible offensive changes as lovie’s departure. i think heavy reliance on the RBs and screen game is what any smart OC would have done with a young QB, unproven OL, and injuries at WR even if it’s not what the head coach demanded
January 15th, 2016 at 11:36 am
Well luckily the entire playbook was thrown at Jameis early. I’d think he’ll continue trying to play to the strengths of the talent we have. When both ME and Vjax were available the pass game was less predictable and more varied. When down on certain players he got creative in loaded protections for running or passing with ME relied on to get open.
I think any big new wrinkles in the offense will be based on any new talent we aquire or the breakout of existing talent ( I still believe in you ASJ! Wear body armor!)
I also think we will be more aggressive in various game situations. I doubt Koetter kicks a FG against the Redskins to only go up 6 while on their 2 yard line towards final minutes of the 4th after seeing the D shredded on multiple scoring drives that same quarter for example.
And I doubt we just run the ball and clock 3 times in a row with 3 timeouts and 1:30 left in 1st half.
January 15th, 2016 at 11:40 am
You cant “bury” a team if they can match you point for point. Defense needs as much attention as the offense. Sure this is an offensive pass happy league. But what do all the remaining playoff teams have? Good to great to dominanting defenses. No remaining playoff team has a bad defense. If you want to settle for a decent team then sure go all in with the offense. But you saw how that workd out for the Giants this season. Top 10 in points scored+ Terrible defense = 6-10. Ok yep, thats just 1 example. Well how about the 2015 Bucs. Decent offense + terrible defense = 6-10.
But that’s all fine. Lets just worry about the offense. Who needs a defense when you have the 20th ranked scoring offense.
January 15th, 2016 at 11:41 am
Sorry Joe, but knowing for sure now that Dirk will be the head coach makes me more concerned about what he will do on the defensive side of the ball because we know the offense will be handled properly.
Who will be the next Defensive Coordinator, what will his defensive phylosophy be, how will the personnel change to fit it, etc.?
We know the offense will be very capable but not if they are always playing catch-up
January 15th, 2016 at 11:44 am
You’d better get a great DC coordinator Mr. Koetter. Scoring means absolutely nothing when the opposition can easily outscore You! You got 2 years sir. If not successful..you can join that great Tampa Bay fishing trio with Schiano and Lovie. I’m only cautiously neutral. There were much better experienced coaches out there to select. But then again..we are the Bucs!
January 15th, 2016 at 11:46 am
Hopefully WR Treadwell will drop to us in the draft. Otherwise you take VH3, Ramsey, Ogbah or Nkemdiche. I don’t think Bosa will drop unless he takes up smoking pot this spring. With a QB and OT definitely coming off the board one of these guys has to be there at 9.
January 15th, 2016 at 11:48 am
For those of the X’s and O’s junkies, there was a great write up this past offseason of Koetter’s 4 vertical offense concepts!!! I know joe does not like to link to other sites, but if you google “koetter’s 4 vert offense” you should be able to find it easily!!!
The future is bright indeed!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!
January 15th, 2016 at 11:49 am
Does anyone like Mel Tucker over Mike Smith and Schwartz?
January 15th, 2016 at 11:49 am
In the back of my mind i keep having this thought about the bucs switching to a 3-4 defense. Our d line can make that transition easily. GMC would make a good 3-4 DE. The only question is where kwon and LVD would fit in that type of defense. They are both undersized speed guys. Middle linebacker in a 3-4 get blocked by lineman all the time. They would see a lot more traffic in front of them. And on the outside, im not sure either have the size or ability to take on and beat OTs one on one. I could be wrong though. They are both excellent players and could probably adjust and succeed in any position.
January 15th, 2016 at 11:52 am
Kwan and LVD would be safties in a strictly 3-4 Def. Mike Smith runs a hybrid that may work with our players. I can see that working otherwise it’s a total overhaul IMO.
January 15th, 2016 at 12:20 pm
I thought about maybe they could switch to a safety type position. But i think they should play closer to the LOS. They are great at making plays behind the LOS. Don’t take that away by moving them back 10 yards.
And maybe that is why we couldn’t successfully make that transition. 2 of our best players on the team would be in limbo in a 3-4 defense. Gotta play to the strength of the players you have.
January 15th, 2016 at 12:29 pm
I bet Dye wont be in the picture..Practice squad
January 15th, 2016 at 12:32 pm
They should have RUN more last year! Martin wasn’t used near enough in my opinion. It was the strength of the offense and they continually abandoned Martin for the “dancing poodle” Sims. Don’t give me the wear down crap about RB carries. Most great backs get better as the game progresses with more attempts. There were many games where sticking to Martin could have led to more wins…RUN and DEFENSE still wins titles. DONT FORGET KOETTER 🙂
January 15th, 2016 at 12:41 pm
Bingo Joe – it’s an assumption that the draft will be all defense early on. If you can grab a promising WR or a premium OL in the first or second I wouldn’t be mad because the NFL is a scoring league now; not a defensive stalemate league.
January 15th, 2016 at 1:02 pm
@ Bucfan since 76
I agree with all your points about an improved offense….I would add two more.
1. We need added speed at WR….
2. We need more production out of our FB position….we need to either use Lane more or we need to find someone who we trust to catch & carry….
January 15th, 2016 at 1:07 pm
The dancing poodle lead the league in yards per touch at 16. I don’t disagree with you that Martin could have been used more in certain games but Simms and Martin are a pretty good tandem. To add to your point MJD under Koetter adj about 300 attempts per season when he was rollin 2009-11 where Martin only had 208 this season.
January 15th, 2016 at 1:21 pm
Lovie: I Didn’t Want To Put Points On The Board
September 14th, 2014
Just that alone deserves a firing.
January 15th, 2016 at 1:22 pm
The running game as a whole was awesome. Whether he used sims or martin we should have used them both more. I was very disappointed we didnt run more screens. We have 2 RBs that are both great in space, and we run maybe 1 per game. If was frustrating watching jameis getting tons of pressure on him, and koetter would keep calling deep passes instead of using screens and short rb passes to get the defense off his back.
I love seeing winston throwing down field, but it works better when he has time and the defense isnt allowed to pin it’s ears back.
January 15th, 2016 at 1:23 pm
Im going to laugh if we still take a knee with 1min to go and 2 TOs before half time. Lol
January 15th, 2016 at 1:25 pm
Agreed TBBF.
January 15th, 2016 at 1:37 pm
You take what the defense gives you and exploiting their weaknesses. (slant passes anyone?) A running attack can’t help if you are consistently 14 points down in at halftime.
January 15th, 2016 at 1:41 pm
@1987
When I heard that I thought maybe I was having a stroke, but then I realized it was Lovie
January 15th, 2016 at 1:52 pm
Maybe Koetter will use his timeouts to score at the end of the half?
Maybe he will be more aggressive?
Who knows he’s an unknown at this point
January 15th, 2016 at 2:04 pm
TBBF…I’m going to keep banging the drum for a burner at WR. With that I mean someone young with atleast 4.4. At the least..
January 15th, 2016 at 2:36 pm
I hear that ball boy on the side lines with the big fro & clipboard is pretty fast.