Jason Licht Happy Dirk Koetter Will “Attack” Defensive Prospects
February 25th, 2016
Jason Licht has a new pre-draft weapon
The Buccaneers’ grilling of college prospects this week at the NFL Scouting Combine will take a different tone.
General manager Jason Licht is looking forward to it.
For a change, the Bucs are a sure bet to draft multiple defensive players, after selecting just one in the past two years.
Enter offensive guru head coach Dirk Koetter. One might think Koetter would be out of his element interviewing college defensive players.
Not the case, Licht told Joe in the bowels of Lucas Oil Stadium yesterday in Indianapolis. Offensive coaches like Koetter know how to grill a defensive player to the extreme.
“They seem to know how to attack defensive players better than, sometimes, a defensive coach and know the skill sets a little better than a defensive coach,” Licht said. “It’s nice to have an offensive-minded person that’s been as successful as he has talking to defensive players to see what makes them tick.”
Years of studying defenses and seeking weaknesses in players gives Koetter a special edge, Licht explained.
Koetter said in all his years in the NFL, he never sat in on pre-draft sessions with defensive players. It’ll be interesting to see how much, if at all, Koetter’s influence will have on the defensive picks.
The Bucs haven’t had an offensive minded head coach since Chucky, and he had little interest in defense. So this is almost feels like virgin territory.
February 25th, 2016 at 7:01 am
Im so excited for this season and the future. I was haply to here licht say despite team needs they will stay the coarse of drafting bpa from now on
February 25th, 2016 at 7:40 am
DE, DE, CB, WR, Kicker, RB, WR/PR
February 25th, 2016 at 7:42 am
That means we are getting an offensive tackle, lol
February 25th, 2016 at 8:02 am
Defensive coach will look for the positive and Offensive coach will look for the negative!!!
I also think that NFL GM Licht was trying to say that it is nice not to have to look at defensive players that had to be square pegs to fight in lovie’s square peg defense!! And they had to be a pro-bowler or hall-of-famer to make lovie’s defense look average!!!
February 25th, 2016 at 8:43 am
Heard bosa might be falling that could be awesome for us.
February 25th, 2016 at 8:58 am
I’m very excited to see what Licht and Co. Will do this year after having such a successful draft last year. I think we will end up with at least 3 more starter this yr.because Licht doesn’t draft for need he takes the BPA wich is the best approach. It’s gonna be interesting to see who the bucs nab in the mid rds cause it’s said to be loaded with DL talent. Jason knows what he doing so who ever we draft I’m confident he will help the bucs. Our draft needs will be more clear after FA. -GO BUCS
February 25th, 2016 at 8:59 am
We haven’t done too bad with draftees of late so I am confident that these guys are being properly vetted.
@Realist- They didn’t do too bad with Kwon!
February 25th, 2016 at 9:25 am
good to be able to break down defensive players with the mindset of a defensive coach, but koetter and licht aren’t just scouting for ability, they seem to have hinted at scouting for makeup in a purposeful way too. both licht and koetter have been around guys who aren’t the strongest or the fastest but still manage to be among the best at what they do because of their mindset
February 25th, 2016 at 9:27 am
@Joe
We’ve seen reports with Koetter and Licht I’m curious if those are the only two Buc reps at the combine? Is Smitty there?
February 25th, 2016 at 10:24 am
I think this is the first time I agree with the realist, good post.
February 25th, 2016 at 10:49 am
That’s just THE BACK-STABBER setting Coach K up if things don’t go well on this draft!! Good luck Coach K!!!
February 25th, 2016 at 11:08 am
So stoked the combine is here. That means FA is not far behind. And the draft isn’t too far away after that. Love this time of year. Guess if we had a perennial great team I prob wouldn’t. But as it stands, this is usually about as exciting as it gets for a Bucs fan. Hopefully this trend starts to change now. I think it is personally but we shall see.
February 25th, 2016 at 11:41 am
@al121976
I have to ask, what have i said that you do not agree with??? I know that a few do not like the way I say things, A few just see the screen name and flip out. But most end up agreeing, even if it takes them a lot longer to understand what I said!!!
February 25th, 2016 at 1:04 pm
Hey pawel, that kicker aguayo is prolly gonna be a 3rd round pick or better. I’m hearing he is the second coming.
February 25th, 2016 at 1:14 pm
Maybe Koetter will have some beginners luck and draft a few HOFers in his first draft.
February 25th, 2016 at 2:52 pm
Realist is one of my favorite posters…
February 26th, 2016 at 10:13 pm
You draft best player available, outside of QB of course. It really is that simple. Set the board, and take the guy on top. Drafting for need is only what video game pros do.