Koetter Nearing Milestone
December 5th, 2016
Cleansing the stench.
Lost in the euphoria of this playoff run is something that should be obvious to any sober person and was obvious to Joe months ago.
Anyone in the national media or diehard Bucs fan who thinks Lovie Smith was somehow wronged by being run out of Tampa Bay is either a blind dumbass or is being paid off in some form or fashion by Lovie Smith’s (talented) agent.
The Bucs are on the cusp of their eighth win in 13 games. If Koetter is able to pull that off next week, then it will have taken him less than half the time to get to eight wins than it did his predecessor, Lovie Smith, who needed 28 games.
In fact, in the two-year Lovie reign of terror, that’s all he won: eight games.
Oh, and Joe thought you would enjoy this nugget from Bob Asmussen of the Champaign News-Gazette about Lovie’s first season with the Fighting Illini.
In 2015, Illinois was outscored by seven points [for the season]. The margin was 147 this season.
Koetter is doing a fantastic job with the Bucs. Joe doesn’t think it is outrageous to suggest he is in the running for “Coach of the Year.”
December 5th, 2016 at 12:38 pm
You really trying to make me throw up today huh?
December 5th, 2016 at 12:38 pm
#notmycoach
December 5th, 2016 at 12:45 pm
So I was listening to a nationally syndicated radio host whose name rhymes with “Shmolin Shmowherd” this past week talking about how the B1G had better coaches than the SEC and included Lovie Smith as one of those coaches that were better than anyone in the SEC and then had the audacity to say he should not have been fired in Tampa because he wins everywhere he goes.
What?!?!?!?!?!!?
Seriously. What ?!?!?!?!?!?!
Some people are idiots. Commish had a fantastic podcast this morning and all I have to say is Speak softly and carry A BIG M—–F—ing STICK!
December 5th, 2016 at 12:46 pm
@Buc1987
How does it feel??? I will tell you!!!!!
The sun has just set!!! and all the sheep have been shaved and put into the pen!!! they are all accounted for and the work is all done!!! I just sit back on the porch, sipping my finest drink!!!! and with a smile on my face, thinking that all that hard work was worth it!!!!!!
I say soak up every second of it buc fan!!!!! Because we told you it was coming!!!!!
Go America!!!!!!
And Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 5th, 2016 at 12:55 pm
I was all for giving lovie one more season but I WAS WRONG.
It has become blatantly obvious he is washed up.
It is also very clear that Dirk is real good. He’s had a couple times where he got way too conservative, probably because the buck stops with him now and because the WRs have been decimated and lacked to start with.
Regardless, he’s growing with JW and they are only going to get better and better.
December 5th, 2016 at 12:58 pm
Yesterday when we went it for it on 4th down and converted, they guy in front of me turned around and said “Lovie would have just kicked it on 4th down”
I replied “he would have kicked it on 3rd down if possible”!
December 5th, 2016 at 1:04 pm
Your dead ass wrong Joey, what about the crap team LOVIE came to, I’ve said all along that it takes time to build a team that was mentally weak from the likes of Coach Toes on the Line, there is no way in hell any of you can tell me that COACH K could have done any better than LOVIE with that 2014 team, to date I will agree Coach K has done a great job but as far as this team goes, it took what LOVIE went thru to get us here, if any of you have any questions about that give me a shout out…..I’m ready with mine !!!
December 5th, 2016 at 1:08 pm
Same here.
My desire to see Lovie stay was because of concerns I had with the lack of consistency in this organization and not for any belief that Lovie was something special. The Bucs had a rough go of it the first four games but things are getting better for sure. The Bucs went 6-10 last year but I always felt they could have easily been 8-8. This year, the Bucs are 7-5 and I feel they were close to being 9-3 with lost opportunities against the Rams and Raiders.
December 5th, 2016 at 1:10 pm
That’s right too. No one should forget the Bucs deliberately tanked that year.
No matter what you think of Lovie, if he leads that team to one more win that season then Mike Glennon is likely your starting QB right now.
December 5th, 2016 at 1:13 pm
And he only won two without Koetter.
December 5th, 2016 at 1:28 pm
if the incompetent one had been given 1 more year……….
Can you imagine!!!!! it would have been no more than 4 wins and we would be discussing are arguing who the new head coach would be and who out top 10 draft pick could be while the team would be at the bottom of the division!!!!!!!!
My, My how times have changed!!!!!
On the flipside of that, if this Team and coaching staff had been given last year’s schedule, they would have 12 wins!!!!!!
Go America!!!!!!!!!!!
And Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 5th, 2016 at 1:29 pm
Biggest slight on Lovie was all his roster moves, he won 8 games in 2 years with full roster control. Just showed us how bad he was at evaluating talent. Glad that loser is not my coach
December 5th, 2016 at 1:30 pm
Thank you coach my scheme for being so terrible and holding the team back and bringing in your terrible players that knew your system or he was comfortable with!!!!! Because of all that, we got some very high draft picks!!!!
Smell you later incompetent one!!!!!!!
December 5th, 2016 at 1:31 pm
BigHog – have you heard anyone in the locker room complain or state that Kirk shut them down in a pre game speech to fire up the team? 54 said they came out “flat” after that. Does that sound like good coaching? How about making half time adjustments – did Lovie ever do that? Pay attention because you’re missing many, many points. Oh and…
In 2015, Illinois was outscored by seven points [for the season]. The margin was 147 this season.
Does that sound like an inspiring coach who knows what he’s doing – and can make adjustments to HIS D? Pay attention, because you’re just dead wrong. Sorry.
December 5th, 2016 at 1:34 pm
Bring back Ray Perkins !
December 5th, 2016 at 1:41 pm
Koetter’s just winning with Lovie’s Team! J/K
December 5th, 2016 at 1:43 pm
Great job Coach K! Keep winning!
December 5th, 2016 at 1:45 pm
On another note, I just read that Cecil Shorts tore his ACL. MCL and PCL.
I wish the guy well. I doubt many football players anywhere come back from that extensive an injury…
December 5th, 2016 at 1:49 pm
To Big Hog:
Lovie didn’t inherit a crap team, his player personnel moves took a mediocre team (talent wise) and turned it into a crap team. What talent he inherited he and his coaching staff then totally mismanaged. In the list of bad Buc coaches Lovie rank near or at the bottom.
December 5th, 2016 at 1:55 pm
Lovie mismanaged the personnel moves so horribly starting with getting rid of 3 starting OL then letting mark baron and revis walk because you needed them to fit your scheme i never though lovie should have ever been hired and I also felt that schiano should have been given one more year but thankfully koetter and jameis are here and the future is looking brighter for once
December 5th, 2016 at 1:55 pm
Buc since”74: you can’t make adjustments with defensive backs that can’t back pedal, we have brangin more talent since LOVIE left or got kicked out or fired or whatever term you wanna use, but without LOVIE being here …..it just took time! MARRY CHRISTMAS!
December 5th, 2016 at 1:58 pm
I know some of you don’t want to hear this, but, THIS team IS more talented than any of Lovie’s. Say what you want about scheme but you still have to have talent. BigHog is not that far off the mark though I don’t 100% agree with everything he said.
The talent is better, the product is better, and the defensive coaching is improving. Good job Koetter and Smitty!
December 5th, 2016 at 2:02 pm
Lovie was not fired soon enough for me. I never wanted him here in Tampa.
Koetter cusses like a Trooper, a good thing!
December 5th, 2016 at 2:04 pm
Upthegut-thanks for taking Lovie’s son to task
December 5th, 2016 at 2:05 pm
Can’t believe you’re debating LS’s losses. Who cares… if he won even 1 more game in ’14 we’re still stuck in QB hell… did you want Goff this year? Paxton Lynch? Move on.. who cares.
December 5th, 2016 at 2:12 pm
This team is being held together by bubble gum and duct tape right now and you’re talking about Lovie not having the pieces he needed to make it work?
Koetter is doing what everyone said that Lovie should’ve done the whole time he was here: he’s coaching the players that he has and getting the best out of them.
It took Koetter 13 weeks to get the Bucs to gel and work together and perform. Lovie had two full years and he was going the opposite direction when he got canned.
If you want to carry the water for Love still then go for it, but don’t try to act like it’s actually rooted in anything other than blind allegiance.
December 5th, 2016 at 2:17 pm
Made some good coin this year betting against Lovie and the U.Illinois
December 5th, 2016 at 2:19 pm
R.O. I’m with you. I can’t believe that with so much good stuff happening, media and fans are still thinking about Lovie Smith at this point in the season. Especially you Realist … I would’ve hoped that you’d moved on by now. Bucs are relevant in December! That’s the real story, not Lovie Smith. Why spend your time looking backwards instead of forward?
Folks applaud the players, and rightfully so (since the game is played on the field and not in the locker room), but you all should be absolutely applauding the work being done by ALL of our position coaches, not just Dirk Koetter & Mike Smith. You can go right down the line and EVERY position group is playing infinitely better than it did last year, despite being hammered by injuries. And guess what: the majority of the starters are the same. This coaching staff has done an incredible job, and it promises to get even better in the future.
December 5th, 2016 at 2:21 pm
@BigDog
Are you saying that no matter what happens in the future, that there’s absolutely zero chance that you could be wrong about this situation?
No matter how Lovie fares at Illinois, and how coach Koetter fares here, regardless, you are 100% sure that you are right about him and his abilities to both coach and adjust his roster of players?
Not even a shred of doubt in your assessment?
December 5th, 2016 at 2:25 pm
@joe….move on from lovie please….we have such a good thing going on, why ruin it with the past…..GO BUCS!!!
December 5th, 2016 at 2:26 pm
Actually, The point of this who article was to flush out Bighogheinous!!!!! With all of the success of the Bucs lately, there was a report of a broken down 1987 ford LTD near the skyway!!!! Everyone had feared the worst for Bighogheinous!!!!
But there is stuff worth living for BHH!!!!! Glad to see you are OK!!!!!
December 5th, 2016 at 2:27 pm
I said during the off-season that this is probably the most talented coaching staff we’ve had since the Dungy / Gruden days.
We are seeing why. So many injuries at key positions throughout the season and we’ve been finding ways to get it done. The players have bought into each other and the coaches, and it shows.
I have a lot of respect for Lovie and his career, but the simple truth is the game has passed him by now. He was terrible in Tampa, and not doing too well in college. Let’s just be thankful that we are past those days, and the Bucs future looks bright!
December 5th, 2016 at 2:27 pm
lol Realist.
December 5th, 2016 at 2:32 pm
Kwon Alexander was a love pick and he was a must grab that season looking at his college highlights I thought he was gonna be average at best but I’m glad he evaluated that one correctly Ali Marpet as well so let’s be thankful lovie gave us developmental studs.
December 5th, 2016 at 2:45 pm
BHH, thanks for not repeating your inane math.
December 5th, 2016 at 2:55 pm
Maybe this team has more talent because the coach alone does not control the roster.
December 5th, 2016 at 3:35 pm
That was what it was I guess……but it damn sure wasn’t funny, but I can say this the last car I drove (don’t drive any more) was a 2005 Lincoln LS 8-cylinder five years ago! BucinJax: 4 games to play with 2 games to win to show improvement over last year’s team!! MARRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL BUC FANS!!
December 5th, 2016 at 3:42 pm
@bighogheinous
I don’t care who you chauffeured for!!!!!!!
There were to many clues!!!! commie kaepernick was exposed!!! The Bucs having soooo much success!!!! bighogheinous mia!!!!!! a 1985 ford ltd broken down near the skyway that was still playing a cassette tape of “Cameo”
Its like candy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sn8KYD1Vco0
December 5th, 2016 at 3:49 pm
An enjoyable football movie is “All The Right Moves” starring Tom Cruise. One could make a movie called “All The Wrong Moves”…the Lovie Smith Story. Free agency, running off talent, changing the culture to a somber one, reluctance to adjust anything…on and on. I was happy when he was hired but things went sideways quickly. At least he got Jamies…so there is that.
December 5th, 2016 at 3:53 pm
The next thing you know people will start talking about how Coach Koetter won with Lovie Smith’s players. Does that statement sound familiar?
December 5th, 2016 at 4:31 pm
@Bucs all the way
Lovie was sleeping during the combine, do you really believe he cared to scout college players? I think it’s been made very clear that Lovie brought in the FAs that he studied in his basement on his year off and Licht and his team did the college scouting.
December 5th, 2016 at 4:45 pm
The next thing you know people will start talking about how Coach Koetter won with Lovie Smith’s players. Does that statement sound familiar
everybody knows dungy built that super bowl winning team do not play stupid
how many people on the 2016 team where on the 2015 team? nfl folks knew this team was on the way.that is why they were shocked he got fired. Lovie would not be at Illinois if they had talent there because the guy they fired had would have been winning. i suspect a lot of the fan base did not want a black coach. the hate is too strong
December 5th, 2016 at 4:56 pm
Big hog you’re such a dumb arse. First and foremost it’s spelled “MERRY CHRISTMAS”
lemme guess, all the girls in high school said you was ugly and couldn’t read good.
Second, you’re telling me lovie had no corners who could back peddle? I mean really. Really dawg. Revis clearly couldn’t do the most basic thing ever corner in the NFL can do. That’s you’re reasoning as to why dirk is winning. Bc he now has a corner than can move backwards
I honestly thought mike Johnson was one of the dumbest most uneducated posters, but, you my friend, are clearly the the biggest idiot I know. I’m ashamed to be a Bucs fan for this millisecond bc you say you are a Bucs fan as well. It hurts. It hurts to call you my brother.
December 5th, 2016 at 5:05 pm
Can we enjoy the present without the negativity of an old coach from last year Joe. I mean damn you just keep beating a dead horse…….
December 5th, 2016 at 5:23 pm
@D-Rome
Those were mostly my reasons too.
Except I would add one other factor. I didn’t care for how Licht got credit for all the good things that happened…even though people swore Lovie was the one in charge.
To me, it should have been shared credit and shared accountability.
However…I also recognized the need to fire him as a smart move, simply because of Koetter.
December 5th, 2016 at 5:24 pm
Lovie got the blame for all of free agency, but, as we’ve all learned…Licht still cannot do well in FA.
December 5th, 2016 at 5:33 pm
@Buc Bonzai
Maybe it has something to do with at the end of the 2014 season, NFL GM Licht stood up at a press conference and said that Anthony Collins was on him!!!
And I like the free-agents signings this year, and the fact that they pointed out that most were “bridge” players so that they set correct expectations!!!!! Even though we have got nothing from J.R.Sweezy, all the free agents rounded out the roster!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!
December 5th, 2016 at 8:00 pm
But he doing it with alot of Lovie picks!
December 5th, 2016 at 9:20 pm
Coach Of the Year and Playoff run? Are we desperate or What? We still got 4 games to go. New Orleans is not fish bait. Nor is Dallas or Carolina. How about…one game at a time? Then letting the chips fall where they may.
December 5th, 2016 at 9:51 pm
Lovie Smith could be the worst head coach in Buccaneers history.
They should put a statue of him up at One Buc.
No, not in the lobby.
In the urinal. So all passing fans and employees can give him what he truly deserves.
December 6th, 2016 at 7:25 am
Actually DefenseRules you got that wrong. The the far right Joe and his cronies are always the ones bringing up Lovie Smiths name. Greg Schiano was almost as worst but don’t bring up his name. Look at who wrote this article.I almost never see any stories on the other websites about him. Even those like me who wanted to see what he could do with a 2nd year with Fameis don’t talk about him unless these clowns bring him up as if they’re the only ones that see what he was doing wrong. They just can’t leave well enough alone. At first I wanted him to get one more year but was happy when he got fired. Koetter was the obvious and right choice.
So conservative Joe why do you and your kind always live in the past when the going is good but when your detractors bring up the past when things aren’t going good you all get upset? Like when thing were looking bad before the 4 game winning streak some talked bad about Koetter and Smith and the likes of y’all got upset. So ridiculous it’s not even funny. I know you co own this site but why don’t you leave Lovie Smith in the past where he belongs? He buried, and stinkinn!
Bighog I don’t understand you. The proof is in the pudding with this coaching staff and what Lovie is doing in Illinois. He’s just not head coach material. He’s as stubborn as a mule and would’ve kept the Bucs going in the same direction they were going…….no where. He got everything he asked for even was allowed to tank a season to get the #1 pick but after all the mistakes in coaching and personel and then to lose the last four games in the fashion they did when they should’ve went a minimum 8-8 he deserved to get canned. It’s looking like the sole reason you hold on to Lovie is because he’s black. That makes you no better than the ones who hated him as our coach because he was black. Just like these guys up here you need to let it go.This site will be so much better when you all do!
December 6th, 2016 at 8:03 am
@DavidBigBucsFan99
Coach Schaino still gets slammed (wrongly) in the local media!!! Joe even slammed him in the JFro-6pak article!!!!!
I will say one huge move, That when we all look back 10 years from, changed and saved this Franchise from the bottom of the league!!!!!
And that was lovie understanding that mark dominik was the worst gm in the NFL and Hand Picked NFL GM Licht!!!!!! I can not tell you what a huge change of destiny that one move caused!!!!!!!!
December 6th, 2016 at 8:23 am
Warthog Says:
December 5th, 2016 at 9:51 pm
Lovie Smith could be the worst head coach in Buccaneers history.
———————————————-
Nope, not even close. Shows how long you’ve been a Bucs fan.
Happy Holidays Bucs Brethren–We are Relevant in December!!!! Yee-Haw!!!!
December 6th, 2016 at 9:21 am
BigHog said “I’ve said all along that it takes time to build a team that was mentally weak from the likes of Coach Toes on the Line…”
Schiano’s team was far stronger mentally (and produced more/played harder) than Lovie’s squads. Coach “Toes on the Line” as you call him also has the Buckeyes secondary playing great football unlike the product that is being fielded at Illinois. One coach is climbing back up the ranks and will likely get another HC opportunity while another who’s lived off a Super Bowl butt-whoopin a decade ago is floundering and will probably end up as an assistant coach of out of football in a few more years.
December 6th, 2016 at 11:55 am
satchseven Says:
December 5th, 2016 at 4:45 pm
The next thing you know people will start talking about how Coach Koetter won with Lovie Smith’s players. Does that statement sound familiar
everybody knows dungy built that super bowl winning team do not play stupid
————
Actually the smart fans know that the Bucs won the Super Bowl with Sam Wyche’s team. Sapp, Brooks, Lynch, Wyche also landed us Nickerson which set us on the right path.
December 6th, 2016 at 12:20 pm
Lovie’s players weren’t the problem, he was.
December 7th, 2016 at 11:38 pm
Lovie is working on his early exit package $$$$$$ from Illinois right now
December 8th, 2016 at 10:40 am
Lmfao