“Everybody Knows That We Need One”
May 30th, 2016
Joe will never tire of the candid ways of Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter.
If Lovie Smith were still in charge, about now he’d be lauding five-sack rookie Howard Jones and the bright futures of T.J. Fatinikun and sackless George Johnson.
Koetter? He doesn’t peddle in lollipops, sunflowers and lemon pastries. After last month’s draft, WFLA-TV, Channel 8 sports chief Dan Lucas asked Koetter about the selection of defensive end Noah Spence.
In talking about the move for a pass rusher, Koetter said, “Everybody knows that we need one.”
How refreshing is that kind of straight talk.
Maybe Will Gholston and Jacquies Smith can develop from solid NFL players into something more, but the reality is undeniable. The Bucs need a pass rusher, the kind offensive coordinators fear.
As for another thing the Bucs need, depth at wide receiver, Koetter won’t yet take his real-talk style to that department. Perhaps Koetter really believes he has gold in the questionable crew that follows Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson.
May 30th, 2016 at 10:06 am
If our pass rush is as inept as last season, at least our coaches will blitz more to compensate. I’m thinking well go to a 3-4 look more often on 3rd down and rush both OLBs to create pressure. That might be our most dangerous pass rush look.
May 30th, 2016 at 10:09 am
It’s so FN refreshing.
I actually enjoy listening to our coaches press conferences again!!!
So much REAL passion & intelligence.
May 30th, 2016 at 10:14 am
I would love for Gholston to devolop into more of a pass rusher, he just seems too heavy on his feet, maybe he should just run more sprints. He’s already a good DE as it is and was big part of the Bucs stout run defense last year.
May 30th, 2016 at 10:16 am
Erik, I have to agree. I’ve never seen a coach just not give a F what he says! Some accountability for the players too. They might get called out at any time, but he makes it not personal at the same time. Strange dichotomy, indeed.
May 30th, 2016 at 10:56 am
I agree Joe. Koetter has yet to be real about the WR position. Outside of VJax & Evans we have no receivers that can win one-on-one against good DB’s
May 30th, 2016 at 11:07 am
I am praying the receiving core imitates the 2015/16 O line and Koetter proves us wrong. Otherwise thank God the Fullback room is so crowded.
May 30th, 2016 at 11:09 am
S$&#% wrong article!!
Still recovering from last night I guess!!
May 30th, 2016 at 11:13 am
Joe, I honestly disagree with you on Adam Humphries. The kid is more than “a number 5 WR at best”.
He came in undrafted, worked his tail off, and caught everything. The kid doesn’t drop the ball. Now with a whole season and off season under his belt, he’s our answer at #3. Jameis likes him. He even said last season, “Adam is going to be my Wes Welker”. I know we need our burner, which is for now Kenny Bell as your #4, but when you need a sure handed guy on 3rd down, Humphries is the guy.
May 30th, 2016 at 11:37 am
I thought it was “Houseplant Johnson” from now on.
May 30th, 2016 at 11:37 am
@The Real Malloy
Humphries dropped a would be record setting touchdown pass against the Eagles. How does nobody remember that? It wasn’t the only one he dropped either. It seems that his hands are the only thing positive that anyone has to say about his ability and they aren’t even good. I will never question his work ethic but we need talent on this team, not try hards
May 30th, 2016 at 12:01 pm
We should be ok there if vjax and evans do not get hurt, with our new weapon [the superback] and also I think bell and others know it’s time to step it up and with good coaching I think everybody will be on top of there game, I also think this team will get some depth a receiver when they find the guy they want, The coaches know we need depth there and will address that when the time is right.. If it is our week spot we will get it fixed because this coaching staff is not afraid to do what needs to be done.. It really is a new day Tampa and we are going to kick a$$.. Go get em Bucs..
May 30th, 2016 at 2:04 pm
What NJ said about the Pats,Hawks and cats recieving core the other day.
May 30th, 2016 at 2:25 pm
as i have repeatedly stated, we should sign free agent ANQUAN BOLDIN, the toughest WR in the league, the best locker room guy, an intense guy who leads by example, an FSU guy who’s from this area, or from not too far away. Yes he’s near the end of his career. But if we had him on this year’s team, i would say there’s no limit to what we might achieve.
May 30th, 2016 at 2:26 pm
Confuses me. I don’t blame gm for going heavy on defense in the offseason, but the biggest weapon on the team is Winston. Don’t you want to make sure he has plenty of bullets?
May 30th, 2016 at 2:49 pm
you people are on Bathsalts,Hump was dropping ALOT of passes,mostly critical ones on third down..I dont question his determination but sure hands he is not..#5 receiver is what he is
May 30th, 2016 at 2:57 pm
I love a certain number of guys up here always talk about ” Oooh he’s a straight shooter or he keeps it real! The same ones who pine for Humphries like he’s some great thing. You guys always looking for your Rudy that you can root for. Just like this Vitale who has not played one down in the NFL but so many people talk like he’s some kind of secret weapon. I want to know if you guys are gonna be so whoop whoop about them if things go south the next two years and it becomes time to get a new coach.
May 30th, 2016 at 3:28 pm
We’ve been needing a DE for at the minimum last two years, but the GM GOD SIR LICTH just saw fit to draft one…….ummmm SMMFDH!!!
May 30th, 2016 at 3:28 pm
Humphries showed ability, flashed potential, and worked his tail off. What more can you ask from a rookie UDFA? Let’s see how he looks this season before throwing him out with the bath water. Aren’t we supposed to judge a draft pick after 3 years, not 1? (Yes I know he was Undrafted, same concept applies).
My guess is the offense as a whole will look markedly better from another year in the system, plus 4 starting rookies who are no longer rookies.
Is Humphries the speed savior? No. But maybe Kenny bell can step up. We also have Sims and Brate who were very sure handed, plus possibly ASJ and Vitale. I also suspect we’ll sign a veteran WR before the end of training camp too.
Only so many holes to fill in 1 offseason.
May 30th, 2016 at 3:37 pm
D@$! who was Dree Brees throwing to last season. Who else besides the MONSTER😨 Julio Jones has Matt Ryan been throwing to. Same question apply’s to Tony Romo when it comes to Dez Bryant. Teams out here wit no bonafide all star caliber WRs and folks complaining like our corp is lacking. Funny how folks forget they both caught for a 1000 yards two season’s ago. Only one football to go around people.
May 30th, 2016 at 3:42 pm
Dirk Koetter, sounds like a good fit as Captain of a dagger equipped Buccaneer sailing vessel.
May 30th, 2016 at 4:03 pm
I believe Anquan wants to be in a SB caliber team to retire in…I still think getting Roddy White would be the best thing..
But I am team Andre Davis!!!!!!!
May 30th, 2016 at 4:45 pm
We need a slot receiver who can run sharp routes and pick up first downs on third and short. We once had a short slot receiver who played for the Gators and was a good receiver for the Giants until he lost a step with age and they let him go and the Bucs signed him and for years he got open for us on third downs from the slot with short routes. Humphries showed flashes of that for us last year. He needs to be tried in the same job this year. Bell and Murphy should be playing there on first and second down to provide a deep threat.
May 30th, 2016 at 6:43 pm
Humphries made a couple of mistakes so he sucks. lol. Jameis likes him, so do many others, his contributions did not hurt his chances to return, the depth of the potential receiver pool may have.
May 30th, 2016 at 7:55 pm
You can’t do it all in one draft. Next year you get your wr
May 30th, 2016 at 8:05 pm
The man is a realist. You really can’t ask for more in an NFL coach seeing how many do not have the “sack” to be one. Go Bucs!!
May 30th, 2016 at 8:18 pm
JBF is where young players are not given a break for being young, where making mistakes gets you in the doghouse, where an outburst of immaturity gets you labelled permanently, where a small school player never develops into a quality pro, where practice squad players are invisible. Joe is wrong about players about 90% of the time, most notably with his mancrush Johnny Speedball.
May 30th, 2016 at 8:25 pm
LOL
Off the top of Joe’s head, he was right about bust-in-waiting Josh Freeman (though Joe thought he may have been wrong at one point), right about Jameis, right about Lavonte David, right about Michael Bennett and right about Toast Jenkins.
But please do continue. 🙂
Joe has no shame in being wrong about the same guy Bill Polian and Gil Brandt were both wrong about (Johnny).
May 30th, 2016 at 8:30 pm
Okay, 90% may be a bit of an exaggeration, Joe… but I don’t think I’m wrong about the rest.
May 30th, 2016 at 8:32 pm
BTW, it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out Toast Jenkins was a waste. Everyone but Losie Smith seemed to know that.
May 30th, 2016 at 8:54 pm
Humphries was dropping alot of passes.
Are you people smoking crack. Go ahead a list all the drops humphries had. And make sure before you count them they were even catchable. Humphries had the best hamds on the team last year and people still bash him???? Blows my mind.
You idots wouldnt know a good player if he smacked you.in the face….what are you.looking at fantasy stats???
I sure am.glad you morons are not our gm. Humphries will have a place on this team come the final 53 bet on it mfers. Smdh
May 30th, 2016 at 11:09 pm
A rehash of something already reported here a month ago.
May 30th, 2016 at 11:11 pm
Joe was right about Winston.
I give him props for that.
May 30th, 2016 at 11:41 pm
I think Evans is overrated, personally. Above average WR with some length and range, but concentration and consistency is lacking. V-Jax is still a good WR, but injuries and time are catching up with him rapidly. Everybody after that is below average for the NFL.
May 31st, 2016 at 8:40 am
Humphries is a solid but not spectacular plsyer. Yes he has decent Hans but what else does he hace? He isnt fast, he isn’t tall or big, he isn’t explosive. I like Adam but there a ton of guys like him out there. It’s not hard to find a receiver that can just catch, (altho it does seem rare here in Tampa lately) you gotta bring something else to the table. He’s a reliable target but he’s no no. 3. I thinks hes a solid no. 4, or 5 at worst. I want to see what Andre Davis can do this season. He’s my sleeper pic this year at WR. Hopefully he gets his shot like Humphries & Dye did.
May 31st, 2016 at 8:44 am
Jarvis Moss
Did you not watch his rookie season? There’s nothing average about that. Especially when your the only weapon on offense with a poor QB and teams still can’t stop u. he will return to his rookie form this year after working hard building chemistry with JW. Watch.