Conservative Koetter
November 5th, 2016
Dirk Koetter is building quite an NFL head coaching resumé. Joe might have to start calling him the Ted Cruz of coaching, the Rush Limbaugh of shotcallers.
Think about it for a moment.
On special teams, are the Bucs using Roberto Aguayo for the mortar kickoffs he specialized in at Florida State? Have the Bucs used any kind of trickery on special teams or gone all out to block any kicks or punts? Seeing anything different in the return game?
Let’s go to the offense. Joe doesn’t recall seeing any gadget plays coming out of Koetter’s bag of tricks. Please correct Joe, if needed. Joe doesn’t recall anything, other than a Charles Sims pass in training camp against the Jaguars.
Joe supposes throwing deep to Antone Smith against the Raiders might qualify, but that’s a stretch.
At the halfway point of the season, Joe’s simply noting a pattern.
Yes, Koetter took gutsy shots late in the first half of games early in the season, but he’s gone turtle more often than not since then.
On defense, Mike Smith and Koetter keep letting his starting cornerbacks play every single snap — tired or not. Is it that much of a gamble to see what Josh Robinson can do, for example?
Koetter has been pretty darn conservative. Heck, on Thursday he was just scared to give the Falcons a 3rd-and-22 in the first half. So Koetter declined a 15-yard penalty so Atlanta could attempt an easy field goal.
Joe’s not against conservative football, but it feels a little extreme through eight games.
November 5th, 2016 at 9:55 am
MF right. He needs to let his nuts hang and say F it!
November 5th, 2016 at 9:58 am
Biggest shock to my system this year, aside from the injuries, is how ULTRA conservative he has been. He even spoke in the press season on how he now had free reign to take more chances now that he was HC. I really figured we would see an aggressive style of play on both sides of the ball – at least more aggressive than what we have seen in the past. Frankly, we have seen the opposite. No aggression on either side of the ball, in game decisions designed to eliminate risk rather than attacking the opponent. Heck, even the roster moves in season have been nothing more than brining back guys that were not good enough to make the team at the start of the year, or signing former Falcons familiar with the scheme.
This team doesn’t have the talent and depth to compete against the average to good NFL teams – especially when decimated by injuries. You have to beat the other team with scheme and guts. As of now, our coaching staff is short on both.
November 5th, 2016 at 10:02 am
Maybe it has something to do with all the players coming off the street that barely know the playbook, that just learn the simpliest of run/pass blocking assignments, and even less know the audibles calls and even less are talented enough to be on the field!!!!!
November 5th, 2016 at 10:05 am
Koetter just needs to focus on how to consistently score 50 points per game with Peyton Barber, Cecil Short and Brandon Myers. It’s the only way he MIGHT get a win. Unless his def decides to give up 60 points that day, which would not surprise me.
Koetter is playing scared, can you blame him?
0 punts, that’s the most beautiful stat of all. Forget everything else you think you know, 0 punts. Say it with me 0 punts.
November 5th, 2016 at 10:07 am
When you have one legitimate weapon it’s nearly impossible to be aggressive. Licht relied on too many gambles on often injured soft players at way too many key positions. 83, 22,93, 98 all highly paid highly unreliable players in key roles… It’s been the perfect storm with injuries. The sad part is none of this should surprise anyone it’s the same unreliable players hurt over and over again…
November 5th, 2016 at 10:09 am
Another reason can’t be aggressive is the hot garbage RT and the out of position LT can’t block anyone and they take turns ruining drives with penalties
November 5th, 2016 at 10:26 am
Why be aggressive when
Your QB might turn it over?
LT might get blown up by a former Buc
RT might commit a penalty
Passes might be overthrown
Passes might bounce off a receivers hands and go to the DB
With this collection of losers the chance of success is not good by being aggressive
November 5th, 2016 at 10:27 am
you see the best playcallers and offensive coordinators at 3rd down
Over and over again , Koetter the clown forces us to punt when he cant convert 3rd and short…
run up the middle and punt
“Hey joes
Which 1 of you guys wrote the article about our dominating offensive line and great defensive backs last week
November 5th, 2016 at 10:38 am
Not enough talent. Simple as that. I don’t care if Don Shula is calling the plays. It won’t make a rats ass difference until this team gets some freaking talent on both sides of the ball.
November 5th, 2016 at 10:43 am
Well you can afford to be conservative when you have a top Defense and a stud RB, at this point with all the injuries the playoffs are out of reach. Why not experiment with jamies, let him sling it around , at least he’s gaining some experience for next year. Heck even bring Kenny Bell back and hope Jameis can build some chemistry with receivers and maybe improve on the deep ball. Maybe Bell Would shine in a real game lol.
November 5th, 2016 at 10:44 am
Lol ooook being aggressive and running Jeff fisher type gimmick plays are two entirely different things. I’d prefer my team just having better players like almost all the teams we play. Koetter has never been known for trickery and if a team can run basic plays we as a fan base already know what happens when this team tries to do something out of character. Mike Evans was able to get 150 yards because he’s a stud not trick plays, we need better players stop blaming every coach who comes in and has zero success with the same core players
November 5th, 2016 at 11:26 am
DK….The Rich Kotite of modern day NFL coaching.
November 5th, 2016 at 11:31 am
This is what I expected from him.
November 5th, 2016 at 12:55 pm
Use RUSSEL SHEPHERD in the wildcat
November 5th, 2016 at 1:34 pm
Did everyone see atl shanahan design plays to fit the strenghs of his players. Design plays to create mismatches with our weakness…koetter yhe clown should try some of that
He designed sweeps to the outside because we cant contain the edge with swifty gabriel. Did you see the designed screens to isolate freeman with lvd in open space
The game was blown wide open after halftime. Vh3 and grimes were playing way off julio jones. 3 step slants and crossing patterns to jones 4 straight times
They could have done anything they wanted…shanahan is very good…
Koetter the clown is waiting for sims to get back to run into the wall 9 straight times
Koetter is not a guru…he wants to recreate jaboo garrard and the jacksonville system
November 5th, 2016 at 2:43 pm
Kobe, give it rest. We all know how to ou feel. The play book is shortened due to all he injuries. Koeter has had success as an NFL coach, have you?
November 5th, 2016 at 2:58 pm
Licht best move last season was to resign Doug Martin, this offense is not the same without him in all areas.
November 5th, 2016 at 4:05 pm
I’m not concerned with gadget plays. Don’t care. The defense is the problem. And while we’re on the subject of offense vs. defense, I really don’t want to hear any bellyaching about drafting a receiver this year when our defense is this bad. We need to spend as many picks as possible on defensive players.
November 5th, 2016 at 9:13 pm
Id say talent level and lack of coordination as we have had a bunch of injuries. I think squeezing 3 wins so for not bad by dk. Not long ago jw had 10 tds and 9 picks. Now he’s like 17 tds and 9 picks. I totally believe the organization have to teach your young star how to protect the ball. Once he gets it is give him more. I’m not going to defend dk on every play call but like people are saying Rogers shorts hump as your frontline starters make you more conservative. Like those guys but their limited. If jw just chucks it around well lead the league in turnovers and jw will lose confidence. Not our time to win playoffs yet..
November 5th, 2016 at 10:51 pm
Defense is the problem, that is becoming evident every week. This is Lovie’s defense on steroids! Who’s brilliant idea was it to put our best pass rusher on special teams? That is what I want to know. I know he is not JJ Watt, but he is the best the Bucs have. Humphries will soon get hurt on a punt return and we have no WRs. Put Dye back there and make him fare catch it every time.
November 6th, 2016 at 2:39 am
No one else to get the ball to that can make plays aside from Evans. Humphries is a slot/move the chains kind of guy. Russell Shephard is a special teams ace. Donteeya Dye sucks. Peyton barber=ok. You can’t be aggressive with no playmakers. As far as the penalty, would you rather he accept it and Ryan throws another TD? The defense couldn’t hit water if they fell out of a boat. Not with Jelly doughnut McCoy leading them along with the invisible man Lavonte David. And the Dud himself, Chris Conte. The only thing I wish we would do is some press coverage.
November 7th, 2016 at 12:26 am
If you will remember our former CB, Rhonde Barber, played on special teams sometimes but could also be an all pro for us as a CB too. Ryan Smith has become a new ST Ace too. We need Shepard right now as our number two WR to take heat off Evans. That is much more important than his playing Special Teams if he has to choose one, but he should do ST some of the time too like Rhonde used to do. One reason we did so poorly against Atlanta was Shepard was not played period in that game which is unforgivable.
November 7th, 2016 at 10:40 am
It’s “Ronde”. I think after all he did for this team he at least deserves to have his name spelled correctly!