(Starting) Corners Play
November 1st, 2016
Players play (but not always).
Interesting information from Bucs coach Dirk Koetter yesterday in his day-after presser.
Joe has noticed a few things about Koetter. He likes to say “players play and coaches coach,” and when it comes to cornerbacks, he really means it.
On the defensive line, Koetter always talks about a rotation. Even starters on the front line have scheduled snaps off if not full series.
But when it comes to cornerbacks, they’ve got to suck it up. Vernon Hargreaves and Brent Grimes played 93 of the 94 defensive snaps Sunday. There is no such thing as a cornerback rotation and it doesn’t sound like there ever will be.
“No, there’s no thought about that,” Koetter said about a potential cornerback rotation. “They play. Because they play. They’re your best players, your best players play.”
But Koetter’s best players do not always play. He has a rotation of sorts for running backs; he certainly did for Doug Martin and Charles Sims last year. Koetter obviously has a rotation for defensive linemen because he speaks about it often.
But none for cornerbacks. It’s an interesting angle. Would Hey Jude or Alterraun Verner playing more Sunday with fresh(er) legs have saved the Bucs? Remember, Raiders quarterbacks Derek Carr dropped back 59 times Sunday and that’s not counting the pass plays nullified by the Raiders’ obscene amount of penalties, 23 in all.
November 1st, 2016 at 10:08 am
59 drop backs and the All World, All Pro BEAST of a DT only had 1 tackle…. Laughable…
November 1st, 2016 at 10:11 am
The defense was on the field for 86 plays. no wonder they were torn up; in the 4th Q and overtime.
November 1st, 2016 at 10:20 am
We give up 513 passing yards, and they cut the guy in street clothes. Only the Bucs, that’s why they call us the YUCS.
November 1st, 2016 at 10:36 am
Our 3 wins are against 3 one win teams (Carolina minus Cam barely counts) our 4 losses are against 3 division leaders, and a should be 1 win LA team, no telling how good or bad we are, I’m leaning bad based on how bad the coaching, QB play, pass rush, and secondary play, and I’m sure everyone in Tampa is wondering what happened to our grand slam GM, ever since that kicker trade, it’s been all down hill, can’t even blame the Illini dumb coach for that one
November 1st, 2016 at 11:02 am
banks and verner could’ve gave them a little breather….at least 5plays….GO BUCS!!!!
November 1st, 2016 at 11:25 am
We all knew vh3 was going to get challenged at some point. He struggled vs Coop in college and they exploited that. Kudos to them. When we had the opp to do the same in the first when their fb went out with a hurt shoulder we didn’t exploit that.
Almost seemed like we went on cruise control after posting a 10 point lead.
November 1st, 2016 at 12:07 pm
It’s a short week for recovery, and Matt Ryan will be throwing the ball every damn where out there, so if their legs are sore now just wait until game day. They’ll be trying to run on jello sticks and getting used and abused like a bunch of rented mules.
November 1st, 2016 at 1:22 pm
This is not difficult to figure out. The fall off to Verner and Josh Robinson is significant enough that they can’t afford it. No mystery here.
November 1st, 2016 at 6:25 pm
@DB it’s been a pattern. We’ve been going turtle as soon as we get a 7+ lead.
Sound familiar?