When Koetter Became A Believer
July 10th, 2016
The moment Dirk Koetter became Jameis’ biggest fan.
The Bucs are Jameis Winston’s team.
It’s rare for a second-year quarterback to throw so much weight around, even if he’s America’s Quarterback. But that’s what makes Jameis so special.
Woody Cummings of SportsTalkFlorida.com notes how Dirk Koetter is planning on piling more responsibilities on Jameis’ plate. And while he didn’t really do that last year serving as offensive coordinator, Cummings revisits the moment Koetter realized he was working with a very, very, very special quarterback.
The Bucs were down 7-0 and facing second and goal at the Philadelphia Eagles’ 4-yard line late in the first quarter of that game, when a glitch in the headsets linking Winston to Koetter caused a breakdown in the coach-to-player communication system. The breakdown came just as Koetter was sending a new personnel package onto the field and a new play into Winston’s ear. You wouldn’t have known it from watching the results.
Displaying some of the football smarts that helped prompt the Bucs to draft him first overall last year, Winston knew he had two plays to choose from with that group on the field in that situation. He chose the one he liked best and delivered on it.
“Leave it to the quarterback to pick the pass play over the run play,” Koetter joked of Winston’s decision to throw a fade pass into the corner of the end zone for Mike Evans.
Joe vividly remembers Koetter initially being skeptical of Jameis during draft research prior to the Bucs selecting Jameis. Koetter talked about how Jimbo Fisher raved about Jameis, and Koetter thought to himself, “Yeah, yeah, yeah, right.” After a few months with Jameis, Koetter later admitted, “Jimbo was right.”
Another example of Koetter’s appreciation of Jameis came when Koetter was once talking about top quarterbacks and said, “Jameis always says he’s nobody in this league. Well, he’s going to be somebody.”
July 10th, 2016 at 8:08 am
Say it aint so Joe,Koetter has replaced you as Jameis’s biggest fan.Glad the shackles are off and Koetter can call the plays he wants to.
July 10th, 2016 at 8:30 am
If Koetter was not a Jameis fan pre-draft, that just means he didn’t watch enough FSU games from 2013 and 2014. Anyone who saw what Jameis put on tape in College should have known he was going to be a special NFL QB.
July 10th, 2016 at 8:44 am
Pick grin you are dead on. Diehard noles fan. Brooks and Dunn were the reason when I was young I became a bucs fan! The ones that didn’t see it with Jameis let the media and prejudice get in the way of the kids talent. He truly is a special qb and Tampa is quite lucky to have him!
July 10th, 2016 at 9:04 am
I remember that. It was also very similar to another play he had down by the goal line. I don’t remember who we played though. The play was broken. Someone fudged up. But he run it up the middle into the endzone so smooth, it looked like it was designed to be a QB keeper.
Two perfect examples of a cool quick mind in the midst of chaos.
Thank you, Stewart McCown
July 10th, 2016 at 9:12 am
Are you feeling ok Joe? You just mentioned Mike Evans by name rather than than insulting him again!
July 10th, 2016 at 9:14 am
The potential is definitely there. It’s nice to have someone on the team who could become one of the league’s stars.
July 10th, 2016 at 9:19 am
Remember how Freeman reacted to losing the helmet radio?… Lol. What a show that was.
July 10th, 2016 at 9:23 am
Jameis is already a star. He’s on the verge of becoming a superstar.
July 10th, 2016 at 9:57 am
Not what Koetter was talking about. Of course he watched all the tape there was on Jameis. It was the behind-the-scenes stuff that no NFL coach had access to, which is the focus of this story.
July 10th, 2016 at 9:59 am
“The Bucs are Jameis Winston’s team.”
Where have I heard this before? Oh yah that’s right it was from me 3/4 of the way through last season.
July 10th, 2016 at 9:59 am
1. Joe didn’t reference him, Cummings did.
2. Joe finds Evans’ drops and his nonsense with officials equally if not more insulting. Of course, Joe can’t change that; but Evans very much can.
July 10th, 2016 at 10:01 am
Jameis will continue to grow . It’s early but he will go down as the greatest buc of all time with multiple super bowl wins. Thank God the glazers did not listen to that fool dungy… Living in the past cost them dearly by hiring the incompetent one but it woils have been even more disastrous if they followed that has beens advice.. Dungy cost Brooks, barber, lynch and Sapp a chance at multiple super bowls let’s hope the organization doesn’t do the same to jameis
July 10th, 2016 at 10:35 am
I get that our record since the Super Bowl has been abysmal. That we have not only been losers but we have lost so many games in truly ugly fashion.
OK we have a bad taste in our mouth. Here’s a deal. I invite all of you to join me metaphorically. Ready…rinse..swirl..then spit it out!!! Give it up.
It’s all good right now for Buc’s fans as the 80’s hit went…”The future’s so bright I gotta wear shades.”
Do any of us suppose #3 is wasting a single second thinking about how bad the Bucs USED TO BE! Nope he’s thinking about how to win the game in Atlanta!
We getting close to the start of the season. Forget the past and embrace the present and cheer for the future. It’s a great Sunday morning to be a Buc’s fan!!! Perhaps because my son is a lifelong Cleveland Browns fan I appreciate the Buc’s current position to the max.
July 10th, 2016 at 10:45 am
When Koetter became a believer? give me a break! This team and its new coaches has yet to do..didly squat! Yet you guys heap praises on all of’em like they were the 2nd coming. I’ll believe in Jameis, Koetter and his band of gypsy’s once..they do something like..win a division, win the conf championship, win a playof game or bring home the ultimate. Only then will I believe..I believe we are close to being a 500 team right now. That’s all I believe.And I believe I will wakeup tmw. Have not done so yet though. You guys and your false beliefs!
July 10th, 2016 at 10:50 am
@Stpetebucsfan
I am not hopping on the that train just yet!!! We still have all training camp to bash the Incompetent one!!!!! Once preseason starts, as I have stated a couple of times, I will then put the ‘lovie Piñata” away for only special occasions!!!! Besides we all know that all kinds of truth and bashing are about to come out of the players mouths about coach my scheme and how bad it was!!! No need to get ahead of ourselves, real games will be here before we know it!!!! For now just enjoy yourselves and find a good Piñata stick!!!!!!!
July 10th, 2016 at 11:22 am
What a stark contrast to when Freewee had a headset malfunction a few years ago and… well I’m sure you all remember how that went.
July 10th, 2016 at 11:35 am
@Realist
Whatever floats your boat. I was afraid you or TMAX might feel that post was directed at you two but there are many here (Mike Johnson you perhaps) who can’t seem to accept that this is a team that has improved greatly and is about to show it on the field.
I get that injuries can change this immediately…and the football does take funny bounces…but there have been enough positive moves…starting with the coaching as I’m sure you’ll agree to join the Buc Optimists. And if you need another three weeks to flush Lovie from your system rock on.
Bottom line is I’ve always been a forward looking guy and not one to spend too much time on the past. Here is what I’ve learned in my 68 years. The time is flying. The past is over, we are not guaranteed a future..ALL WE HAVE is this moment. That is one of life’s immutable facts.
And so all I am saying is let’s savor this moment!!
July 10th, 2016 at 11:47 am
I became a believer when Winston made that incredible scramble for a first down on 3rd & like 13 against the Atlanta Sky Chickens…
I’ve not seen that kind of “want to” since that unbelievable Alstott goal line TD against the Vikes…
July 10th, 2016 at 11:47 am
Coaches have always gotten in the way. Jaboo will be calling his own offense shortly ala Peyton Manning.
He’s going to re-write the record books.
July 10th, 2016 at 11:49 am
I love all of you..Nostradeamus’s..predicting..knowing whats in that..crystal ball..One thing is certain, there is nowhere to hide or fake in this league. You are what your record says you are. can’t wait to see our product on the field.
The proof will surely be..in the pudding.
July 10th, 2016 at 12:20 pm
Anybody can predict anything, that doesn’t mean they are dumb, more than likely just optimistic. What Bucs fan doesn’t approach each new season with optimism? Show me, we’re gonna suck, woe are the Bucs and their fans. Hey, don’t pop the hot air balloon before it gets off the ground. Besides this one is pumped full of helium. Fast rising.
July 10th, 2016 at 1:05 pm
Wow That was a cool story…..Doesn’t surprise me at all. Winston had a few and far between moments of rookie timidness but mostly had complete control of the offense and was able to drive the ball under some pressure filled moments……..even if the players surrounding him couldn’t yield off he yellow flags or catch he ball reliably or make the easy 3’s……………Gonna need his teammates to do more around Winston!!!!!!
Winston shown me he was the real deal from his first TD drive, in his first preseason game last year………unlike the 87 guy who took 3/4 of the whole season to figure that out.
July 10th, 2016 at 4:35 pm
Not even close to a Nole fan, me and Lovie watched enough games to know that JW was the QB the Bucs needed
July 10th, 2016 at 4:42 pm
Here is what I do not get about the Dungy haters, first you say he cost Brooks, Sapp and Lynch several SBs (I believe he was the coach that made the, competitive. These guys were still great players after the first SB win, maybe Gruden coat them multiple super bowls Finally, Dungy had his opinion about Jameis, a lot of us did, a lot of us admit, he made us a believer and I do believe Dungy also became a believer
Tony Dungy
Tony Dungy – Verified account @TonyDungy
Jameis is going to be just fine. He has the “it” factor. Once he learns to protect the ball better he’ll be special.
July 10th, 2016 at 5:41 pm
The coolest part of that play? Just before his final lunge, he looks at the sticks to see how far he needs for a first down.
July 10th, 2016 at 6:36 pm
Rrsrq
Malcom Glazer turned the Bucs around not Tony dungy… you choose to revere Dungy and Convienrtly forget how bad his offenses were and how poor his game day management was. Dungy was a gois defebsive coach but a below average head coach. Dungy had 4 good years hardly enough to give him a lifetime free pass for his failures. Dungy just like lovie were stubborn fools who could not finish or in Lovie’s could not do anything right. The legend of dungy have far surpassed his actual accomplished.
July 10th, 2016 at 7:23 pm
Cobraboy,
That was an awesome play! It was even more impressive since I think it was 3rd and 18 and he picked up 19.
That is the “it” factor at it’s finest. He is not the best or fastest runner but damn, he is elusive!
July 10th, 2016 at 10:56 pm
The Bucs never would have won that superbowl w/o Dungy. Dungy built it. Gruden was the shot of adrenaline that team needed. They both had a hand in that team’s success.
July 11th, 2016 at 6:09 am
Don’t forget that Sapp, Brooks, Lynch and Nickerson were Sam Wyche’s gifts to Dungy. Not a bad start .
July 11th, 2016 at 10:36 am
Here’s the thing about those guys being Sam Wyche’s guys, they were drafted by Wyche’s, but TD put the system in place for them to become HOF’s, would Sam have done that, I dunno, maybe, but he wasn’t given the chance. TD’s definitely had his failures, but my point was that everybody blames TD for not winning multiple superbowls with this team, but nobody sees that Gruden could’ve won multiple SB’s as well. I’m thankful,for Chucky, he did get us across that threshold.