Koetter Will Do It His Way
February 27th, 2016
Dirk Koetter is channeling Frank Sinatra.
Koetter told Joe and other assembled media this week in Indianapolis that the best advice he’s gotten from other head coaches is about being true to yourself. “Be yourself. Do it your way. And don’t forget what got you here,” Koetter said.
This is one of the more intriguing elements of the Koetter regime. At 57 years old, Koetter knows he’s got one shot at the head coaching job he’s coveted for years.
Koetter has close friends coaching alongside him, offensive coordinator Todd Monken and defensive coordinator Mike Smith. And general manager Jason Licht knows and respects Koetter. Licht even hired Koetter knowing that he won’t hesitate to blast any of the GM’s opinions.
Joe hopes Koetter can stay on his current path and doesn’t bend to pressure, which is almost inevitable for every head coach.
In Dirk we trust.
February 27th, 2016 at 5:40 am
Looking forward to seeing some quality leadership finally from the top down. About damn time
February 27th, 2016 at 5:59 am
How about something that resembles professional competence from that HC position? And yes I do mean winning football games (plural), specifically meaningful playoff games.
I’m a fan and I expect to compete every game, every season.
We have known for too many years what professional incompetence looks like. It’s time we see pro ball played in Tampa. Make it happen Coach K!
February 27th, 2016 at 7:24 am
I can no longer argue wit you DallasBuc. All I can do now is respectfully agree.
February 27th, 2016 at 7:37 am
I can remember when Lovie Smith was hired…..there was enthusiasm with the hire and optimism….we were coming from experiences with two disappointing coaches.
The Koetter hire has a different feel to it and I think it’s because of Jameis and our past two drafts….I believe when he was hired he was already part of a Buc turnaround on offense and the logical move is to translate that to the entire team.
This is truly an exciting time to be a Buc fan.
February 27th, 2016 at 7:43 am
I was not enthusiastic. I was hopeful but not a fan of hiring Lovie. I wanted an offensive guy as head coach.
February 27th, 2016 at 8:29 am
If you think about a it being stubborn was what got Dungy, Gruden and Smith in trouble. Yes you have to be true to your game plan but you have to adapt when necessary. Hope Koetter has that quality.
February 27th, 2016 at 8:57 am
“I can remember when Lovie Smith was hired…..there was enthusiasm with the hire and optimism….”
I remember it too. And then Week 1 came against the Panthers and Derek Anderson and they looked TERRIBLE. I walked out of the stadium so unbelievably pissed off. THAT was a Lovie Smith team. I knew from Week 1, season, 1 we were in deep deep trouble as a fan base.
February 27th, 2016 at 8:59 am
Totally agree with your bottom line Joe … “In Dirk we trust”.
February 27th, 2016 at 10:07 am
BucTrooper…I left that game at the start of the 4th quarter in disgust. I turned around in my section and shouted to anyone that would listen.
“This team is going to suck for atleast the next 3 years!!!”
That was week 1 season 1.
February 27th, 2016 at 11:26 am
@ Tampabaybucfan
“I can remember when Lovie Smith was hired…..there was enthusiasm with the hire and optimism….”
From who, Joe? When a trusted born & breed friend who breathes, lives and dies with every Bears game told me immediately after the news broke the Bucs had hired Lovie “Good riddance, you can have him!” I knew we were in trouble. His next comment was “He forces round pegs in to square holes”, he proved himself a prophet.
Now if an avid Bears fan can see that, just as Bucs fans have over the last 2 years, how the hell did the Glazers and all of these so called “experts” miss it?
February 27th, 2016 at 11:43 am
“I can remember when Lovie Smith was hired…..there was enthusiasm with the hire and optimism….”
I didn’t say it was unanimous…..but at least it did exist to some extent……many try to rewrite history…..but the facts speak…..there were at least many fans extremely upset with Schiano that any coach would have been acceptable.
February 27th, 2016 at 12:15 pm
Koetter will do it his any aye? He’d better hope his way includes a much improved Defense. So far his way is just trying to score points. And without Martin doing a lot of the hole poppin and grunt work, he’s even gonna be in trouble there. Martin’s value to the offense is understated. As we shall see if..he leaves. Welcome to problem city there coach Koetter. Your honeymoon is over and the real headaches are just getting warmed up. I do wish you luck sir. You’re gonna need every single drop of it.
February 27th, 2016 at 12:21 pm
@Tampabaybucfan
It was excitement for the past, But the majority was for it and approved! at least in the comments around here!!! That is why I love these JBF comments!!! they are written in stone, (unless the admin deletes it)
They were excited for lovie, they were saying thing like top 10 defense no problem, That they could not wait to see the D-line turned loose because Coach Schiano’s systems held them back!!!
February 27th, 2016 at 2:31 pm
I think Realist has nailed it. It was respect and excitement for the past. And of course there was the connection to those glory years at the end of the Dungy regime…Lovie’s success as a DC…in retrospect I think I now have more respect for Brian Urlacher. Urlacher is the kind of impact player that can make a defensive coach look smart.
I think the reason the optimism feels better this time, it’s because it’s not just a fantasy hoping for an illusory past. This excitement is built on the obvious professionalism of the teams young up and coming GM.
It’s magnified by the comfort of having #3. He is going to make Koetter look like a great coach. Koetter is smart enough to realize that and he’ll make sure the OL is always up to protecting him and that he provides #3 with adequate playmakers to target.
Then we look at the assistant coach hires and it’s just one true professional after another…Mike Smith…Jay Hayes…Moncken and Duffner…all of these guys have great resumes. It’s almost like good coaches were attracted to this team. What a refreshing change!!! There’s our optimism.
If professional coaches with solid resumes are willing to put their careers on the line for what they see in Tampa….why shouldn’t we be optimistic?
February 27th, 2016 at 5:57 pm
This guy will be our head coach for the next decade….mark my words!!!
February 27th, 2016 at 6:02 pm
When it’s all said and done and this team is a playoff contender for years to come…much of the credit will be due to Jason Licht. He really get’s it and the Glaziers found a gem as a GM. I am very excited for the future for us Bucs fans going forward. The dark clouds are parting and the sun is shining down on Ray Jay!!!
February 28th, 2016 at 2:42 pm
Such optimism!! Koetter will be our coach for the next decade aye? Hmmnnn..I seem to faintly remember a lot of people sayin this about Gruden, Morris, Schiano..Lovie, they all lasts 2 or 3 yrs at the most. Hell, even Stevie Wonder can see a pattern!! If Mr. Koetter does not win fast, You fickle impatient Buc rooters are gonna turn on him quicker than a western Diamonback rattler! You always do. Its the..Buccanneer way.