Koetter Names Two Defensive Standouts
September 20th, 2016
Names given
During his radio show last night, the Buccaneers’ head coach was asked to name up to two standout players not named Adam Humphries from Sunday’s seal-clubbing by the Arizona Cardinals.
Very interesting choices by Dirk Koetter.
“I would just say on the defensive side of the ball, Vernon Hargreaves, our first-round draft pick,” Koetter said. “There’s a kid that played every snap, I think, except two in the game. Played both outside at corner when they were in base personnel; when we were in our nickel package, he played inside. We blitzed Vernon off the slot. I thought Vernon showed improvement from Game 1. I mean, he still’s got some things he can do better. But there’s a guy that I think stepped up and played.
“DaVonte Lambert, a rookie defensive lineman, he got his first action of the season when Robert Ayers got dinged. Lambert was going to play a little bit anyway but he ended up playing, I think, 29 or 30 plays. And for getting his first action of the season, another young guy that we’re excited about.”
For a coach who really love veterans and what they bring his football team, Koetter is very dialed in to developing young players.
Joe is glad to hear the praise for Hargreaves’ improvement. Add that to the small list of positives that came from the desert beatdown.
September 20th, 2016 at 11:19 am
Does anyone else think the field condition cost us a few plays? I swear I saw some Bucs slipping more than normal.
September 20th, 2016 at 11:22 am
@976
Florid tweeted that before the game started
September 20th, 2016 at 11:22 am
*Florio
September 20th, 2016 at 11:24 am
That’s just like the Colts and deflate gate a Lil bit but they both got there tails whipped……so it doesn’t explain losing by 33
September 20th, 2016 at 11:27 am
I’m withholding judgement on what that “beatdown in the desert” has done to or for our team.
The ONLY absolute FACT is that it added an L to our record. Outside of that it’s all speculation.
If it somehow broke our spirit or disrupted our confidence that would be obviously horrible and we’d all be waiting for the sky to fall again…as it has done so frequently the past decade for Buc’s fans.
If it was a wakeup call…a sobering experience that is put to good use for motivation and learning…I’m cool with it.
Some of the talk of #3 is pretty ludicrous. No doubt he had a bad game. There are no excuses because his line gave him more than enough time. But I ask all of you. Have you ever had a bad day at the office? Or are you perfect?
He’s 20 games into his career. He only had two real years at FSU and he’s still a KID!!! His stats are well above many great QB’s at this point in their careers.
Anybody who thought #3 was anywhere near a finished much less polished NFL QB are the people who messed up…not #3
AGAIN…this experience will be great for #3. He is going to face the TOP THREE defenses from last year in his first five games this year, two of them on the freaking road!!!
Give the kid a break for gawd’s sake. We’ll enter the bye with 11 games left and #3 having a heavy dose of NFL education. If we beat LA we’ll be at 2-3 and still very much in the playoff picture given the strength of schedule after the brutal first five game stretch.
IMHO…#3 will be a great QB. He’s still a kid however and he’s NOT a great QB yet…nor should we expect him to be one. Monitor his progress and see how he’s doing with his NFL education. It’s been said that NFL QB is the most difficult position in all of sports…not just the NFL! Think about it!!!!
September 20th, 2016 at 11:31 am
Oops…18 games not even 20 into his career.
September 20th, 2016 at 11:45 am
Good point Stpete. Our expectations are other-worldly for this kid. I’ve stated it before, he is a work in progress. He had a baaaad day! Oh well! It’s football. Rub some dirt on it and get back in the game!
September 20th, 2016 at 11:51 am
Part 1
@St Pete
What you saw was a small group of people who have never liked Jameis, and didn’t want him drafted. They would much rather be right, then to be wrong and for the Bucs to be successful. You can tell, because they’re not objective, and are quiet as a lamb when he plays well, and excels in the community. They call him things like “Porky”, (I’m looking at you Greg Schiano), even after he obviously worked on his body and stamina this off-season.
September 20th, 2016 at 11:55 am
Part 2
Did he have a bad game? Sure. Is he fair game for reasonable criticism? Of course.
But, what we are seeing are the bitter people who just will never accept him.
September 20th, 2016 at 12:01 pm
I think it’s better that the beat down happened early in the season. Not by much, though. I’m hoping that our guys still have a lot of enthusiasm for the rest of the season.
September 20th, 2016 at 12:01 pm
Part 3 (split up because my post never showed up when I submitted as one)
Best part?
He’s going to be here for at least a decade, and hopefully they will be miserable the whole time.
September 20th, 2016 at 12:04 pm
Verner had a very good game. He broke up a few plays early and the Cards seemed to stay away after that. I didn’t see his man make a catch all game.
September 20th, 2016 at 12:31 pm
Put me in the group who were not sure JW was the right pick. But when you do that also put me in the group who is 100% + behind him after he got drafted and will stay that way. If he is on my team then I am rooting for him all the way.
Same with our kicker, thought it was early to select him but once he became a Buc then I will back him completely. And to be sure I am NOT an FSU hater.
September 20th, 2016 at 12:31 pm
Jameis had a bad game for sure. Not just the interceptions, but a number of bad throws. Nevertheless, it’s really, really hard to throw to guys that aren’t open.
September 20th, 2016 at 12:32 pm
St Pete you have some good insights.
September 20th, 2016 at 12:32 pm
Well said Stpete
September 20th, 2016 at 12:33 pm
Really hope this team learns from this loss. I have faith that Koetter, Jameis and some of the vets will not let the “here we go again” loser mentality seep back in to this season.
Mental toughness is so important in the NFL and this franchise has been lacking it for a long time. It’s got to change and hopefully it’s started this week.
My main concern for the defense going forward is this:
+++Defensive Line depth +++
– With Ayers going out, we are very thin at DE.
– We were already very thin at DT.
– Our starting caliber DTs have all show to be injury prone.
– DEs Jones and Gholston are more role players then every down players.
If the Rams can establish the run, they will absolutley wear out our front four as we can’t rotate effectively.
I worry about the defense going forward if we have to deal with any more injuries and Ayers can’t get back to 100%. Maybe someone can step up and become a quality starter, but it’s not likely.
Mike Smith has his work cut out for him.
Go Bucs!
September 20th, 2016 at 1:03 pm
I don’t think anyone has worked harder than Jameis to this point. He won’t quit. Sunday was an experience he won’t soon forget or want to repeat. He will learn from it and get better. So will Koetter. I’ve been a fan of this team for 40 years. I’m not going anywhere.
September 20th, 2016 at 1:10 pm
Ok I’m a Jamies DO NOT Draft Guy….
However I was wrong…
He had one bad game.. It happens with new QB’s
Are you telling me no other new QB’s have had bad games…Please…
Two games in and the Fans are all over this team. When they win Fans are screaming Super Bowl. Then they lose one and everyone is horrible and this is how it should be done.
There are more NFL caliber unemployed coaches on this site.. If you know exactly what to do then become and NFL coach I bet it pays more than your current job.
Fan criticism is part of it and I get it. But to jump on and off the band wagon so fast JUST STAY OFF,,,,
The FINS needs some fans to kneel with them….
GO BUCS!!!
Jamies is a Winner NO DOUBT….
September 20th, 2016 at 5:31 pm
Tim Tebow is also a winner
September 20th, 2016 at 11:46 pm
VHIII is a beast!!! Love that kid. And we just need to move on from this game and focus on Sunday. We will be fine. Arizona wasn’t going to let any team come into their house 2 straight weeks n beat them. We will be fine
September 21st, 2016 at 7:03 am
Definitely thought Verner deserved some praise after his standout performance. He was the only corner making plays out there while Grimes was being picked on throught the whole game. Very encouraging to see 21 flash because he can still potentially be a part of this defense in the future if he continues that kind of play, because u can prob bet that Grimes will not be back after the season, it’s time for him to hang them up.