Dirk Koetter Throws Cold Water On Kenny Bell
March 31st, 2016
Great hair doesn’t equal great receiver
Joe realizes legions of Bucs observers and fans have blown up wide receiver Kenny Bell to nearly a savior status.
Sorry, Joe doesn’t live in the land of lollipops and rainbows, Bell has yet to catch a preseason pass.
On top of that, Bell was a fifth-round draft pick last year, a long shot for any team’s roster.
But Bell has speed and is a very nice guy, so some people are wowed and misdirected. Joe gets it. Speed receivers are about as common in Tampa as a cool August night.
Head coach Dirk Koetter is grounded in reality, thankfully. Koetter put Bell on an extreme roster bubble while speaking at the NFL Owners Meetings last week at the posh Boca Raton Golf and Club.
Reporter: Your thoughts on Kenny Bell?
Dirk Koetter: I just think it’s too early on Kenny. You know, he got off to a fast start last year before the [hamstring] injury in [the spring]. I know he’s hungry. You know, he was around all the time last year because of the IR thing. He was in the meetings. He’s a sharp guy. But, you know, he’s starting off behind Adam [Humphries] and Didi [Donteea Dye] right now, because those guys, just by being able to hang in there, they got valuable playing time. I think Kenny’s definitely got a shot.
Joe can attest that there was no hint of excitement in Koetter’s voice, and keep in mind he uttered this about Bell moments after saying how ideally the Bucs would have five receivers active on game day. Russell Shepard is expected to be the No. 5, Koetter said, serving as a special teams ace and a last-resort pass catcher.
Bell is a long shot for the 53-man roster, especially if Louis Murphy heals, and/or if the Bucs wise up and sign add more depth.
March 31st, 2016 at 10:05 am
It’s the hair. The fellas dig the hair for some reason.
I’m with Joe in this one. Catch a pass or two when the game clock is ticking and maybe score some points then I can take notice.
March 31st, 2016 at 10:21 am
Dye didn’t do crap either, he’s got a nickname funny
March 31st, 2016 at 10:23 am
No lollipops and rainbows here….. so, what the &%$@ is a Kenny Bell. “Its a rhetorical question, Farley. It doesnt require an answer.”
March 31st, 2016 at 10:26 am
This is..do or die time for Bell as it is for a lot of Bucs receivers in this years camp. I like the kid. But..smiling up and down the sidelines with a clipboard is not very productive. You can only carry an injured guy so far. We shall see what he can do this year. If not, I’m sure he’ll find a nice little office job somewhere.
March 31st, 2016 at 10:27 am
Kenny needs to cut that hair, it might fly in cold weather Nebraska, but that helmet in the Florida heat has got to be baking his brain, how can catch passes when his brain is boiling like an egg
March 31st, 2016 at 10:32 am
This is a BIG ouch to the KBM (Kenny Bell Mob).
March 31st, 2016 at 10:36 am
Put up or shut up, simple as that. We’ve yet to see anything from the kid so, who knows?!
March 31st, 2016 at 10:59 am
Since Joey Galloway retired we have all lusted for a player who can take the top off the defense and keep the safeties out of the box.
We’re all desperate which is why Bell looks good as does any other speed burner.
But I’m kind of optimistic about all of this. We may not end up with a Galloway clone but Koetter has clearly revealed in those interviews with Joe that he too misses the deep ball!!! He has specifically pointed that flaw out as something he has ME and #3 working on…pushing the ball downfield better.
We’re obviously still a work in progress but I like where we are right now!!!
March 31st, 2016 at 11:01 am
I like Humphreys and Dye’s ok although I remember him dropping some key passes but what Koetter isn’t saying here is that Kenny Bell runs a 4.4 and if you look at his highlight reel the guy can catch the deep ball. We don’t have a deep threat that can get behind coverage with speed and anyone that thinks Koetter and Winston don’t want that are smoking something. Forget the cold water barring injury Kenny Bell makes the team and makes a huge impact that’s my two cents!!!!!!!
March 31st, 2016 at 11:02 am
Kenny Bell without injury will make a huge impact in 2016. That’s if we don’t draft a receiver with speed who can catch the damn ball!!!!
March 31st, 2016 at 11:08 am
Joe-
We have been screaming since week 17 that the Bucs WR depth behind the starters are just pedestrian.
I completely understand and can’t blame Mr Licht for not overlaying marginal WRs in FA. But, the Bucs absolutely MUST draft more weapons for Winston in the passing game.
I’m not a Tavon Austin fan but I like the thought of having a weapon that can create scoring opportunities in his own.
I’m not saying you have to spend a 1st but there’s some sleepers at WR in the 3rd and 4th that will add instant juice to the position.
March 31st, 2016 at 11:24 am
Im behind Architek Winston had so many drops by Evans last year that you can only wonder what could have been perhaps an epic rookie season. For that fact we have to get another impact receiver with speed if Bell is not the guy. Winston can throw the deep ball we need to get him someone who can get behind the defense and catch it!!!
March 31st, 2016 at 11:25 am
I just hope Bell gets a shot.
I think he had the potential to be their 3rd best WR and a good slot guy.
I like Humphries in the slot too.
I think both are better the DD and it seems Murphy could be done.
With the comments about shepherd it doesn’t seem they are going to draft another WR this year.
March 31st, 2016 at 11:34 am
I never wanna hear the name Adam Humphries or “DIDI” again in my life. Kenny Bell ran zero terrible routes, never got blanketed in coverage and dropped zero passes last year. That, to me, is hope. DIDI dropped a potential game saving pass and Humphries dropped Jaboo’s NFL record 6th TD pass. Off to the plank with them!
March 31st, 2016 at 11:48 am
The dude is too small… 170 pound receivers don’t have long shelf lives… If he can’t hit the gym and add at least 10-15 pounds or forget about it… He will never stay healthy… Twiggie…
March 31st, 2016 at 11:53 am
As earlier this week…watch out for Andre Davis….GO BUCS!!!
March 31st, 2016 at 11:55 am
*I said
March 31st, 2016 at 12:00 pm
I don’t see what the big deal is. If he makes it he makes it, if not, then not.
Shrugs.
March 31st, 2016 at 12:14 pm
I believe the problem is that we sometimes equate speed with instant offensive success. Dirk Koetter stated very clearly a few days ago that he doesn’t just want speed but he first wants good football players. Speed is a luxury and believe it or not we have some speedy receivers in Kenny Bell, Dye, Evan Spencer (4.43) Humphries, and Andre Davis who is a local kid that grew up in my old neighborhood. We just need to find out if they are good, hard working football players.
March 31st, 2016 at 12:29 pm
Kenny Bell was chosen head Humphries and Dye for a reason if Koetter is pouring water on a player that got hurt last year before the start of training camp it has to be all about getting him motivated I can’t see Licht letting Bell walk.
March 31st, 2016 at 12:35 pm
Dye is fast but he is allergic to catching the football.
I played with a guy named Jubilee Dunbar in ’75. This guy was world-class fast, like a 4.3 40 or so. There wasn’t a DB who could keep up with him. But he dropped numerous bombs where there wasn’t a guy within 5 yards of him.
Speed for a WR is meaningless of you can’t catch the ball.
Dye was like the last man standing last season. I’d say he’s the guy on the bubble. But Koetter is correct: Bell showed just a little before getting hurt…then nothing. So, really, he’s an unknown factor.
Who knows? Maybe he’ll turn heads and be the speed guy stretching the field to open up the under routes. Maybe he’s an injury-prone bust.
Time will tell. I’m happy he’s still around and *hope* for the best with no expectations…
March 31st, 2016 at 12:35 pm
@alan…you from “the city”?
March 31st, 2016 at 12:41 pm
@813bucboi
Yes sir. Grew up off of MLK in Tampa. Remember when Andre Davis was a little kid in the neighborhood.
March 31st, 2016 at 12:46 pm
Bellis the message board favorite who won’t make the team
March 31st, 2016 at 12:56 pm
“He’s a sharp guy. But, you know, he’s starting off behind Adam [Humphries] and Didi [Donteea Dye] right now.” I always thought Kenny Bell just came across as being a lanky, fragile WR who would have a difficult time surviving in the NFL. Then you look at his measurements (601 197) and you wonder why he isn’t living in the weight room eating potato chips? I just hope Koetter is not satisfied with Humphries and Dial (yes, soap). Draft a playmaker and sign a veteran.
March 31st, 2016 at 1:12 pm
Lol, CrustyCrab they put him on IR last year even though he didn’t have a season ending injury. Licht is not that worried about making sure a 5th round draft choice from last year works out. He is very much on the bubble.
March 31st, 2016 at 1:12 pm
Godzilla
I just hope Koetter is not satisfied
Agree 100% and that’s what gives me optimism. We are moving from a level of satisfaction…to a newer place of hunger…#3 and Koetter are driving this bus but players like LVD and Marpet and others will help continue the transition.
We have a good locker room right now! I think Licht will consider that carefully in the draft and anymore FA’s.
I’m not talking about major head cases like Hardy et al…I’m talking about the number of “satisfied” players we’ve seen lately on a very unsatisfactory team.
It did all the Buc’s fans hearts good when #3 went off on some of his teammates at the end saying they didn’t want to win enough! He’s right of course and it took him a year to clear his name, prove his talent, and eventually assert the leadership which he EARNED after a year of hard work.
#3 is in an entirely different position this year. He is clearly the accepted leader and the future of the franchise. He’s also clearly peoed at the mentality of the Bucs the past years. I think he and Koetter and Smitty are going to change that big time this year!!!
GO BUCS!
March 31st, 2016 at 1:14 pm
What good is a player if he cannot stay healthy guys? I mean is this our excuse every year. Injuries? Bell..ASJ.. gotta produce man. The best ABILITY is..AVAILABILITY!!!
March 31st, 2016 at 1:23 pm
Bell was not “injured” last year Mike Johnson. He was nicked in pre-season. The problem with Bell was that he did not show enough – he was not good enough to make the final cut. The Bucs didn’t want to expose him to waivers because his College tape is well respected around the league. GMs were calling and congratulating Licht for snagging him in the 5th round from what I heard.
They feel he has “potential” and wanted to give him another shot this year – so he was placed on IR and they paid him $500k to hang on to his “potential”. Hope he kicks butt this year and makes the team. We could use his skills if he can find them that is.
March 31st, 2016 at 2:00 pm
Talking up these fringe players is a smoke screen before the draft.
The number one priority is to give Winston every chance to push his game to the next level as fast as possible. Undrafted free agent WRs isn’t how you do that. You better believe that they’ll use this draft to add juice to both sides of the ball.
Coughcough….Corey Coleman….coughcough.
If Kenny Bell works out, so be it, if he doesnt work out, so be it. He’s just another fringe player right now.
March 31st, 2016 at 2:12 pm
I think we’re reading too much into it. It’s coach speak for….no one is going to hand you a job because you were injured. Doesn’t diminish KB’s potential.
March 31st, 2016 at 2:49 pm
would love Tyler Boyd in round 2. Vice grip hands and precise routes = 3rd down slot receiver.
March 31st, 2016 at 3:11 pm
@alan…that’s cool…Im a little older than dre but we grew up together in caver city…he’s the same age as my brother and their still very close to this day…they played little league baseball and football together…I saw him about a week and a half ago…I know he will succeed in the nfl if given the right opportunity but I joked with him and said,” if the bucs release you, you can always try your hand with the rays”…do you remember him on the diamond?…kid is just a super athlete…GO BUCS!!!
March 31st, 2016 at 3:54 pm
Humphies stays…..dye goes
March 31st, 2016 at 4:19 pm
Jesus some of you guys don’t pay attention. Read the posts right above you feelthepower, he wasn’t injured. They simply hid him on IR in the hopes that next year he may actually show enough to make the team. He was unable to do that last year!
March 31st, 2016 at 4:41 pm
To be fair i have never really seen much of bell, even in college. But i am putting no faith in a 5th round wr that missed his entire rookie season due to a hang nail. The bucs need to go shopping. Im kinda upset they havent gotten any additions to wr yet.
March 31st, 2016 at 5:26 pm
I said Bell was a bust last year and was told I was an idiot. Its amazing what time can do. He just is not NFL caliber. We could have had La’el Collins, who is now starting at LG for the Cowboys. No, we pick Kenny Bell and then the FB from Hawaii Iosofa, who is now playing in NE. ugh!
The BIGGEST mistake so far by Licht. Licht has also found a few diamonds…Kwon & Marpet comes to mind. Winston was a no-brainer. Imagine this OL with Collins…..we would be top 5 in NFL.
March 31st, 2016 at 7:38 pm
I kind of think Bell can be a good receiver if given a shot. Don’t count hin out yet. I think he will be one of those players we will give up on and he’ll go some where else and shine like a diamond. We have a horrible history of that.
March 31st, 2016 at 8:22 pm
They IR’d him just to make sure they kept him for this season . They see something clearly. Humphries DEF deserves some playing time IMO.
April 1st, 2016 at 12:29 am
I will add this- I was on board for Roddy White are first. No more really.
VJax is the vet mentor of the group.
I’d rather have Evans, bell, Humphries, a rookie (and sheppard) grow with JW.
Of course if they decide to sign a vet like Roddy, I’d be fine with it. I just think the 4th WR (because that’s mainly what he’d be) should be a young guy developing with the QB and playing special teams.
April 1st, 2016 at 7:32 am
I hear ya 813!
Ive been screaming Andre Davis ever since V Jax went down last season and we had Dodo (dontae dye) starting opposite of evans. Watch a joke that was. Davis is much better than Humphries and Dye, that 4 sure. He still owns all the records for a WR at USF. Dudes a beast, would be a definate upgrade.