“Believing We’re Going To Win Games And Finishing Them”
July 5th, 2016
Can Dirk Koetter channel whatever got the Bucs off to fast starts in 2011 and 2012, under two different head coaches?
Believe it or not, several Buccaneers players have experience winning, even guys who spent their last five seasons in Tampa.
Tight end Luke Stocker is one of those men. He’s never been on a winning Bucs team, but Tampa Bay’s 2011 fourth-round pick opened his rookie season with a 4-2 record, even beating strong Saints and Falcons teams as part of that great opening. Stocker enjoyed another strong start the following season. Rookie head coach Greg Schiano had the Bucs stunning the NFL with a 6-4 record.
Joe talked to Stocker about those fast starts last month, seeking to find out what common thread was present and how it might apply to getting off to a fast start with a new head coach in 2016.
Stocker said the ties between those winning starts exist but are tough to express in words.
“So many variables and factors go into being a winning team,” Stocker said. “It’s hard to say, ‘this, this, and this is what it’s going to take.’ You can break it down many different ways, through stats and or through things happening off the field. Whatever. It comes to just finding ways to win games, believing we’re going to win games and finishing them. Not beating ourselves. That’s the easiest way to put it in words.”
No, Joe doesn’t consider the Bucs a powerful playoff contender this season, or the favorite in the NFC South. But Joe knows the Bucs have enough talent to get out to solid start. Find a way to avoid the dreaded 0-2 record, and scratch their way to a 5-4 start. Whether Dirk Koetter and Mike Smith can have them ready to do that is another matter.
July 5th, 2016 at 1:19 pm
We are a young team that doesn’t know how to win. But when they figures it out it is on! If they can just get to 2-3 at the bye…
July 5th, 2016 at 1:51 pm
We have enough young player who know how to win to make it happen. Plus koetter and Smith know how to win. They may need to trim some fat but they will win.
“I want a bunch of guys that are going to play hard-nosed, emotional football.” – Dirk Koetter
July 5th, 2016 at 1:57 pm
Teams surprise every year, why not us, why not now. Getting off to a fast start especially with our schedule, could build confidence and momentum. If the issue truly was Lovie and not talent, no reason we can’t compete, even with the Panthers.
July 5th, 2016 at 5:42 pm
Rrsrq…I say they split with the Panthers.
July 5th, 2016 at 7:27 pm
I had a dream last night that we started the season 8-4. And when I have a dream about something it usually happens. Just saying. This defence will look really GOOD next year. We finally have a real coach and some pass rush, this team will be the supprise of the NFL this year.
GO BUCS
IN LICHT I TRUST
July 6th, 2016 at 8:21 pm
the key word in these quotes:believing we can win games and finish them.If
the coaches and key players have that mentality then it will trickle down to the rest of the players. Chuckie spread that enthusiasm in 2002 and look where it took us.