Koetter: No Need To Know Defense Thoroughly
March 30th, 2016
Joe talks to Dirk Koetter about the Bucs’ defense
There’s no micromanager in Dirk Koetter.
At the NFL Owners Meetings last week, Joe asked Koetter about the learning the Bucs’ defense.
JoeBucsFan.com: Coach, how much time do you invest, or will you invest, in actually learning the defense, all the calls and all the intricacies? How much time does that take? And when was the last time you learned a defense outside of college?
Dirk Koetter: That takes time because the language is different, the terminology is different. They’re speaking a totally different language. I was actually looking at the defensive playbook. They were just kind of putting the finishing touches on it. And I was looking through it [two weeks ago]. That’s something that I’ll work at, but I don’t have to know it all. It’s not important that I know what it all means. It’s important that I can communicate with the coaches and communicate with the players. I don’t know if I will ever be able to know the defensive playbook like the offense. I mean, it’s taking me 30-something years to be able to know our offensive playbook like I do. You know, that’ll just be difficult, but football’s football. Sometimes I’ll have to say, ‘Smitty (aka Mike Smith), what do you guys call that again? What do you call this?’ That’s the benefit of working with guys before. There’s some common language there and we can cut through some it, but there’s a lot of volume.
That’s some pretty candid stuff right there from the head coach. Koetter will be focused on offense and leading. The defense will be in the hands of his hired guns.
But Koetter isn’t passing off all ownership of the D. After Joe’s question, Koetter was asked how much input he’ll have into who starts on defense on game days. Koetter replied, “I’ll have as much as I want — 51 percent of the vote.”
March 30th, 2016 at 12:04 pm
Love his candor and approach.
It appears the players do too
March 30th, 2016 at 12:13 pm
I just hope we at least be in position to defend simple slants and hitch routes and while were at it pop the opposing qb harder than hard.
March 30th, 2016 at 12:14 pm
We go to playoffs it’s because of this mans vision hard work and dedication oh and a fantastic young QB Jameis Winston !!! Jameis is going to have a better year this year. More TDs more Yards Less Turnovers.
March 30th, 2016 at 12:17 pm
Great leaders surround themselves with other great people and let them do their jobs. Control freaks like Lovie and Schiano rarely succeed at the highest level.
March 30th, 2016 at 12:56 pm
Gotta love a HC who is straightforward. Koetter is the anti-BSer. He’s actually going to have to work on not being so straightforward in some instances so as not to give away too much info to opponents.
How refreshing.
March 30th, 2016 at 1:14 pm
I do hope though Koetter learns something about his Defense. You can’t win a championship or even get to the playoffs with just having a good offense. Everybody is so elated with jameis potential in having a good year. That’s just fine and Jim Dandy. I Don’t want Jameis to end up like another Dan Marino…. Excellent stats and no rings. Better get him a good defense to stop somebody.
Just having a great..one side of the ball will not get it done folks.
March 30th, 2016 at 1:22 pm
Ditto ditto…
March 30th, 2016 at 1:42 pm
@mike. I would think he understands he needs a good defense. He probably also understands he hired someone to put that good defense on the field, instead of trying to do it himself. Who would you rather run the d, letter or Mike Smith? How well do you think Gruden understood kiffen’s Tampa 2? The quality of a good coach is to see his limitations and put someone better than him in charge of it and let them do what they do best. Delegation at its finest.
March 30th, 2016 at 1:57 pm
We have a very good offensive minded head coach who will leave the defense to his extremely qualified defensive coaches.
hmmmm…. reminds me of something…
March 30th, 2016 at 2:00 pm
Note to Mojiska..Delegation is fine. Its done at every company in America. I’m merely pointing out a head coach should learn something about the discipline he is not known for. WHY? Because IF….things go wrong. (and they may not) .He will be blamed for the Defense’s failure, The HC always takes the overall blame. At least they do here in Tampa Bay. And many other NFL teams as well.
March 30th, 2016 at 2:08 pm
Fans just need to be patient while we search for guys who exactly fit the old-school Tampa-2 defense. We’re close to turning the corner.
.
.
BWAA HAHAHA HA HA … snortle…
March 30th, 2016 at 2:18 pm
Great answer at the end. Accountability starts with the head coach. None of them lovie answers. “We’ll have to wait and see how practice goes”
March 30th, 2016 at 2:30 pm
I’m good with it as long as Smitty can hold up his end of the deal. Delegating like that only works when your assistants can deliver the goods.
March 30th, 2016 at 5:50 pm
Its gonna suck when mike smith leaves and we need to reboot the defense.
March 30th, 2016 at 5:58 pm
In other words. Koetter is more of an Overpowered OC.
March 30th, 2016 at 5:59 pm
In other words…. “MF I’m a boss.” LMFAO
March 30th, 2016 at 7:23 pm
Try not to read too much into this guys. He’s just an offensive minded HC. He did an amazing job his 1st year with the Bucs. He knows defense, but will leave it up to Smith to run the D. He must be really intuned to the offense. I’m sure will try to score more, now that he’s calling the shots. Gamble a little bit more than if Lovie was here.
March 30th, 2016 at 7:52 pm
This guy.is smart. If you want to be successful you must be able to delegate . Stay in your lane and do.your job thats how everything gets done!!!
Love this dude. He WILL.bring the bucs back to the superbowl!!!
March 30th, 2016 at 7:58 pm
Tru@Trubucfan22
Why do you think Hayes came to Tampa after being in cinci for 13 seasons….opportunity. He knows Mike Smith will get another hc gig….and he knows the better his line plays the faster he gets his promotion.
SIMPLE AS THAT….
March 30th, 2016 at 9:41 pm
Yeah I’m diggin some coach Koetter. I like his philosophies, and his win or shut up mentality. All that’s left is to see him in crunch time. At half time and in the fourth quarter. Then we’ll be able to see what we really have. Is it August yet?