“I Don’t Have My Head In The Sand”
January 20th, 2016
Dirk Koetter
Imagine Lovie Smith or Greg Schiano ever remotely acknowledging publicly they were under pressure and unemployment might be around the corner.
New Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter is a different animal. He’s a walking reality show. Heck, the guy did a fine job on Hard Knocks when he got his shot with the Falcons.
During his media tour last week, Koetter joined local icon Dave Wirth of WTSP-TV, Ch. 10. The subject of Team Glazer blowing out head coaches was raised, and Koetter assured Wirth that he knows the game.
“The NFL is a very competitive business. I have my eyes wide open. I don’t have my head in the sand on any of this,” Koetter said. “I know what’s expected. And we’re going to be judged on wins and losses. If we don’t win enough games, then I’m sure another change will be made.”
Koetter described his interview with Team Glazer as “lengthy and thorough.” The latter word came up again. “They were very thorough, I can assure you,” Koetter said.
Joe’s glad Koetter isn’t living in a fantasy world. If he can’t make the Bucs a winner after two seasons, then he’ll likely be out the door like the two head coaches before him.
As Koetter eloquently said last month, “All that anyone gives a sh*t about in this league is Ws.”
January 20th, 2016 at 11:37 am
I think the fans will be behind Koetter regardless of how well he does in year 1. He has ahold personality and I think the fans will relate much more with Koetter than any other buc HC.
January 20th, 2016 at 11:45 am
Every time I read the Glazers are involved in such decisions I feel my skin burning. But anyway, I like Koetter more and more. He gets it, that’s for sure. It’s about the almighty W column. He doesn’t lack a sense of urgency, as far as I can tell. Now instill this sense of urgency in the players and we’ll be relevant again, rather than “on the verge”.
January 20th, 2016 at 11:55 am
@Elle
Do you really get the sense that all of this offseason orchestration is all Glazer. While it is the official call of the Glazers, does it not fell different this time around. Like they are running with the “strong” recommendations of Licht when it came to the firing and hiring of coaches??
January 20th, 2016 at 11:56 am
Lovie had a bad history before he even got here….just wasnt worth the 3rd year. I think with the success Kotter has had on the offensive side of the ball, he’ll probably be given a 3rd year or more. Unless we see total failure and more lack of discipline from the players, I dont predict it’ll be a problem.
I think we’re in the first year of many to come with Koetter. This isnt Rah or Schiano or someone trying to sham and scam the Glazers out of money like I think Lovie was doing. Coach Koetter is the real deal.
January 20th, 2016 at 12:05 pm
@Realist,
Of course, I’m sure they fired Lovie after hearing/reading what Licht had to say on the matter, and I’m equally sure they approved Koetter because Licht believes him to be our best shot. Does that mean that Licht stabbed Lovie in the back, as someone here has suggested? No, Licht is just doing his job, as he should. I’m pleased that the Glazers are listening to the GM and allowing people who actually know football to steer this franchise, hopefully in the right direction.
January 20th, 2016 at 12:07 pm
Wow how refreshing is this guy! Atleast now we won’t have to listen to Lovie say how the team is getting better after every blowout loss and how real football doesn’t start till November and how you shouldn’t group losses together you should only judge from week to week! Get outta here Lovie! It sure as hell looked like to me Tennessee was playing “real football” when they can in here week one and whipped your butt!
January 20th, 2016 at 12:15 pm
Lovie would have gotten anither year if he was not so stubborn. We all know he was his own worst enemy.
January 20th, 2016 at 12:31 pm
Even if Lovie was given another year, say he fired his kid and the rest of the defensive coaches, do you think anything would be different? He would hire more guys that think like him and by August would strip the DC of play calling duties cause no one would call the defense like him (ego, same reason he didn’t renew Rivera in Chi) and we’d have wasted another year. It was the correct move, weather Lovie agreed to fire his offspring or not, the problem was not them it was Lovie, nothing more, nothing less. With each column I read the more I see these terms “outdated” or “antiquated” or something similar in relation to the defense and how he ran it…
January 20th, 2016 at 12:34 pm
I think I’m taking a break until the draft. Joe is trying to keep things interesting, and I appreciate his efforts, but there just isn’t much to do right now except argue over who is right and who is wrong.
So unless something big happens, I think I’m taking a vacation. Got a novel to finish anyway.
January 20th, 2016 at 12:46 pm
The only thing that stressed me out, as far as football is concerned, is the apologetic attitude towards Lovie Smith that many share, even here. The man is no longer a football coach and that’s that. I wish him luck and the best of things. I’m quite sure he’s gonna be just fine.
January 20th, 2016 at 12:47 pm
The story of Lovie interrupting Sheppard (I believe) as Sheppard was firing up the team before that crucial Saints game because Sheppard cursed – that was the beginning of the end of Lovie. Several players admitted that it deflated the team and that’s why they played flat. Respect from players is what was deflated. Bye Lovie – you’re a great guy, but bored the living piss out of me. Oh – and learn to OWN IT! I never once heard Lovie take ownership for anything bad.
January 20th, 2016 at 1:02 pm
Right on Kevin. Lovie did it to himself. What I would like to know from the fam is, is there any senario in which coach Koetter seat get at least a little warm after his first year?
January 20th, 2016 at 1:25 pm
I am quite convinced that if Lovie was proactive about his plans for the defensive changes he could have saved his job.
He needed to put forward a plan with coaching changes that, of course included his sons…..If the bring in a consultant idea was what he put forward….that was a death knell.
January 20th, 2016 at 1:40 pm
I hear you. I’ll also be taking a break and trying to finish a short story.
January 20th, 2016 at 1:49 pm
“I Don’t Have My Head In The Sand
That’s great. Lovie probably has his toes in the sand somewhere in Tahiti right now sipping on a rumrunner with his 20 million dollars laughing at the Glazers.
January 20th, 2016 at 2:08 pm
@Buc since 74 – Lovie is gone. Now lets clean house with those players that got their feelings hurt. They forgot they are millionaires not college kids. David was one to show this behavior in the first game against the Titans. They are in their DREAM job!!!!!
Millions of reasons to keep their chin up no matter what! Thank God we got JAMEIS!!!
Coaching was not the only problem….
January 20th, 2016 at 2:28 pm
I’ve been following this team for like forever. The Bucs are such a trip that they don’t let fans keep their heads in the sand (or in other places) unless said fans are brain dead! I still can’t get over the new brain trust: Licht + the playoff caliber former coaches of the Atlanta Falcons in reverse. Whatever…..Go Bucs!!
January 20th, 2016 at 2:37 pm
Koetter is the best coach we ever had
January 20th, 2016 at 2:51 pm
Buc since ’74 Says:
January 20th, 2016 at 12:47 pm
The story of Lovie interrupting Sheppard (I believe) as Sheppard was firing up the team before that crucial Saints game because Sheppard cursed – that was the beginning of the end of Lovie. Several players admitted that it deflated the team and that’s why they played flat. Respect from players is what was deflated. Bye Lovie – you’re a great guy, but bored the living piss out of me. Oh – and learn to OWN IT! I never once heard Lovie take ownership for anything bad.
Agree…even if they millionaires and should be playing..doesn’t matter, if your coach is not giving you a speech a la Arians…your moral will suffer..
I remember all those questionable plays..and just seeing Lovie with absolutely no energy..players had to fend for themselves..
On a good note..Love everything I am seeing from all the pressers!
January 20th, 2016 at 3:18 pm
“Koetter is the best coach we ever had” Is this some type of joke? Let’s see if the guy can do an average job first….then well go from there………literally laughing out loud. That had to be a joke.
January 20th, 2016 at 3:21 pm
@Bonzai. Agreed. Now, that the Head Coach “search” is over, there really is nothing more to do than debate the validity of Koetter and Smith. I, for one, am excited about the reunification but I’ve said that about all our previous head coaches as well, sans Raheem. I never understood that one.
January 20th, 2016 at 5:16 pm
cmurda
I believe the RAH hire was simply a symptom of the ManU money crunch.
The Glazers were sending boatloads of money to England…they had leveraged to the max…basically mortgaging the Bucs. Gruden’s salary was still on the books and they weren’t about to pay any coach with an actual resume the going rate for NFL coaches. In addition no coach with any options..read decent coach..would have accepted the job knowing the Glazers were deep in hock and there would be budget restrictions.
This is not as complicated as we make it. Lovie got run because he couldn’t win ONE out of four games…two of them at home…three of them against losing teams. The team actually regressed the last quarter of the season negating any early progress they had shown through the middle half of the season.
No progress…no job…it’s as simple as that.
January 21st, 2016 at 3:47 pm
Dungy was the best coach we ever had… If not for the Bert Emanuel incomplete pass call against the Rams we would have had a dynasty under Dungy.
January 21st, 2016 at 8:37 pm
Dirk is a realistic coach. He’s not a rah rag guy but he’s not the quite type either. He can be serious and joke. He’s more diverse then coaches of the past and I think that’s one of his best qualities. I believe everything happens for a reason. We went 2-14 and got jameis. We lost our last 4 games and get rid of stubborn lovie smith and Koetter becomes coach. U got to go thru the bad to get something good. Both Koetter and dc Smith said as a coach you need to be constantly learning and when you stop learning is when your in big trouble. That’s lovie he thought he knew everything and his way was right. But he was wrong. The Patriots are so good cus no matter how many injuries or who their playing they make adjustments for what they have to work with. Put your players in the best position possible. I’m so glad he’s gone.
January 22nd, 2016 at 11:29 am
NICE. I approve of having a head coach that’s not afraid of a little swearing. Lovie was such a bible-thumper, it made him weak. After reading about how Lovie deflated the whole team right before the big home game against the Saints because he didn’t like Russel Shepard’s profanity, I now 100% agree with his termination. Lovie is a simple man, simply not smart enough for today’s NFL. I think Lovie chose his defensive players based on their knowledge of bible verses, because he sure didn’t make any of those decisions based on talent.
January 27th, 2016 at 4:18 pm
God what a breathe of fresh air compared to that loser lovie dovie smith…Lovie had it comming to him from the start when he came in here and got rid of above average starters with no one to replace them ….No doubt in my mind love dove deserved to be FIRED