Dirk Koetter Talks Spring Speed Challenges
June 18th, 2016
The Buccaneers had game officials at minicamp this week doing their best to referee the action, even though it was glorified touch football without pads.
So what were they really doing there, if it’s not real football?
Dirk Koetter explained to the dean of Tampa Bay sports radio, Steve Duemig of WDAE-AM 620, that the practice zebras are just a “small part” of the massive effort to take the Bucs from the most penalized NFL team to one that doesn’t shoot itself repeatedly.
Duemig asked Koetter a great question, “Do officials help the players realize what they’re doing wrong?”
Koetter danced around a direct answer and said penalties are expected and understandable during underwear football, so officials at practice are more valuable during training camp.
“Especially in underwear football, I mean, you’re going to have guys grabbing and holding,” Koetter said. “These guys are highly conditioned to go full speed, and when you’re not going full speed, if just a couple of guys are going at different speeds, of course a guy is going to grab him.”
Joe’s glad Koetter referenced this important nuance. Players aren’t allowed to go full speed against each other in the spring, so it’s brutally difficult to effectively evaluate players — or be disturbed by most infractions. Hell, linemen are coached to hold each other up so they don’t fall down and get trampled.
Koetter went on to say the Bucs will use referees three times during training camp, “two or three days” during traditional camp, and on all days when the Bucs practice against the Jaguars and Browns.
Officials at practice daily, Koetter said, would kind of get in the way of some things the team wants to accomplish.
Of course, Lovie Smith was against having officials at practice. That didn’t work out too well.
June 18th, 2016 at 1:25 pm
Refreshing Changes with Koetter I tell ya.
June 18th, 2016 at 1:28 pm
SB
Definitely a nice change.
June 18th, 2016 at 1:47 pm
“Of course, Lovie Smith was against having officials at practice. That didn’t work out too well.”
Why on earth would Lovie want those foul-mouthed bastards anywhere near his choirboy players……after all, his Sons could referee….they needed something to do.
June 18th, 2016 at 2:03 pm
These “officials” are missing calls in underwear football, what good are they? These players has to learn to play “smart” football and quit playing stupid football. It don’t matter who the coach is, you can’t coach common sense.
June 18th, 2016 at 2:41 pm
He should assign a ref solely to ME13 who doesn’t give him any calls and constantly calls stuff against him like opi. Just get Mike accustomed to getting screwed by the refs so he doesn’t spaz out on Sunday’s.
June 18th, 2016 at 3:43 pm
@DB55
That’s just crazy enough to work haha
He might drop the ref like he did to Pacman though
June 18th, 2016 at 3:52 pm
Lol DB! 🙂
June 18th, 2016 at 4:27 pm
DB55, I definitely agree. Get used to it in practice and he won’t be surprised on Sunday.
June 18th, 2016 at 5:29 pm
Lovie had officials at training camp last year from what I recall…don’t know what Joe is talking about…
June 18th, 2016 at 5:36 pm
A ref a OTA practice is not going to win single solitary game!!
June 18th, 2016 at 8:10 pm
You’re right Hog, but it might just keep us from losing one.