Philosophy Change?
August 17th, 2017
Remember the Bucs’ 40-7 loss in Arizona last year, when Dirk Koetter left America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, on the field late in the game?
And Jameis wasn’t handing off. He was getting severely punished physically.
Koetter was criticized for it and he didn’t like it.
That scenario played out later in the season, too. Koetter’s reaction was the same as in September: Jameis stays on the field because that’s how it is and Jameis isn’t about to come off.
Ok. Joe got it. Koetter was fearless when it came to QB injuries and, apparently, Jameis being on the field taking meaningless hits is somehow good for the franchise.
Jump ahead to Tuesday’s episode of Hard Knocks on HBO. Third-string QB Ryan Griffin injured his shoulder and No. 2 quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is rushed into the game. Koetter is then heard on his headset telling somebody that the fourth-string QB has to go in immediately because the Bucs can’t afford to get Fitzpatrick injured.
That surprised Joe. Is Koetter now thinking more about preserving the health of his quarterbacks, including Jameis? Joe’s not going to assume Fitzpatrick is more important than Jameis, so there has to be a reason Koetter all of a sudden was focused in on preserving a backup.
Koetter is a smart guy, and it’s likely leaving Jameis in lost games last year was part of Koetter working to change the team culture and showcase the never-say-die drive of the franchise QB. It’s the only thing that makes sense.
Hopefully, Koetter won’t find that necessary in 2017.
August 17th, 2017 at 8:51 am
Winning attitude. Checked!
Playoff Attitude… in progress. Please standby…
August 17th, 2017 at 8:57 am
Saving your vet backup in the preseason that has been around and seen a lot is very different then the second year QB who needed game reps!!!!!!!
JW3 needed the reps to learn the offense, it is as simple as that!!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 17th, 2017 at 8:59 am
Maybe that’s one of his regrets last year but I believe he just wanted Winston to get more reps because the offense played that bad
August 17th, 2017 at 9:12 am
It might be more along the lines of when, in a real football game, is it acceptable to quit? Maybe quitting is not in Koetters blood or Jameis’s. At what point do you look at the scoreboard and say, ok, we lost, I quit. Lets burn through the clock and get out of here.
August 17th, 2017 at 9:15 am
@Joe … “It’s the only thing that makes sense.” Realist has an excellent point about wanting to save your experienced backup QB because he doesn’t necessarily need the reps. Another possibility? Coach Koetter saw that the backup OLinemen were playing like hot garbage & thus the possibility of getting a backup QB injured rose somewhat. I like Sefo, but he’s probably considered to be more ‘expendable’ than Fitz or Griff.
August 17th, 2017 at 9:19 am
Fitz played for quite a while before Sefo was asked to go in for what the last series of the game. Thought the HK sound bite by Koetter didn’t match up with what went on in the game.
August 17th, 2017 at 9:23 am
Yo realist! Let me get another one of your narcissistic realist reposts!
August 17th, 2017 at 9:48 am
“Poster “The Buc Realist” is Scott Smith”
Kobe 1Buc Mole Faker
August 17th, 2017 at 9:59 am
I agree with most comments on here. Jameis needed the reps last year, but more importantly Fitz is an aging (usually more fragile) QB playing behind a 2nd or 3rd string line. The chances of getting blown up on a play increase that much more playing behind soon-to-be grocery store cashiers.
August 17th, 2017 at 10:06 am
@Bucsfan951
You want it!!!!! You got it!!!!!!!!!!!!
This was in response when “Ira” was slaying Koetter for leaving JW3 in, when clearly he was still learning the offense!!!
OMG……… Its another “Realist Repost”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Buc Realist Says:
September 19th, 2016 at 8:12 pm
@Ira
Were was all this outrage when JW3 was in at the end of last year blowouts????
Just admit that the media did not like the way Head Coach Koetter answered the question and perceived his answer as a challenge and now the local media is all up in arms!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 17th, 2017 at 10:18 am
Joe, are you comparing the second half of a preseason game to a regular season game?
Bit of a stretch
August 17th, 2017 at 10:22 am
Realist
Again we agree! Context is everything. It’s one thing to leave #3 in games last year…as you suggest he was still learning and as Joe pointed out he was trying to change the culture…and I think #3 would have been livid if they pulled him…he wanted to go down fighting with his brothers.
But freaking pre season? After that first drive in Cincinnati I’m good. Clearly #3 and ME13 picked up right where they left off last year..they are ready…I think DJAX and #3 have hooked up enough in practice to believe they are also on the same page.
August 17th, 2017 at 10:26 am
@Stpetebucsfan
You and I said the same things a year ago!!!!!!
OMG Its a “StpeteBucsfan and Realist Repost”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Buc Realist Says:
September 20th, 2016 at 10:06 am
I voted totally confident!!!! While a better showing would have been nice, and if the Bucs had hung with the Cardinals would have told us that they are ahead of schedule!!!! But they did not, which just means that they are on schedule!!!! Word on the street right now is that there is some serious coaching going on at 1 Buc this week!!!! and Make no mistake about it, this week will tell which players want to be here and fight for this team to make some playoffs!!!!! This is a huge coachable moment!!! And that is one of the reasons why players were still in late in the game as if they were down by 1 score!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!
Stpetebucsfan Says:
September 20th, 2016 at 11:59 am
@Realist. I’m totally with you on this one.
August 17th, 2017 at 10:31 am
after attending a few practices and watching the 1st preseason game, combined with @joes practice notes, fitz needs all the reps he can get….he’s looked like trash from the minute he got here and hasn’t changed….if we need fitz for more than a few series we’re screwed…..if we need him for a few weeks you can kiss this season good bye…..
with griffin out and fitz playing like trash, it would be smart to bring in competition for fitz…..
LICHT BE PROACTIVE…..BRING IN KAEP!!!!….RELYING ON FITZ IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY WILL COST YOU YOUR JOB!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!
August 17th, 2017 at 11:16 am
It would be interesting if Cinn keeps 3 QBs , If Jeff Drickel doesnt make the 53, we should bring him here. we can use him in 3rd and short and gadget plays
August 17th, 2017 at 11:33 am
813Bucboi
I agree about Kaepernik but there are plenty here who would go nucking futs including the Joe’s if we did it. He is clearly better than our current backups and if he signed a pledge to stand for the National Anthem I think that should do it.
@Joe
Perhaps it’s time for one of your world famous polls.
If the Bucs sign Kaepernik
A. I believe this is a good move!
B. I do not support this move.
C. I would be so upset I may not cheer for the Bucs.
August 17th, 2017 at 11:46 am
@Stpetebucsfan
You forgot
D. Pass because he does not understand a playbook and does not go thru progressions!!!!!!
August 17th, 2017 at 12:18 pm
stpete
the only thing that should matter is if he can help us win….and he gives us a better chance than fitz….plain and simple….and your smart enough to realize that just like a few others….
the sad part is that he has already stated he wont be a distraction from his team by sitting or kneeling and teams still wont give him a chance….black ball at it finest….
his mission was/is to bring awareness….mission accomplished….now other players are following his actions….now his mission is to create a plan and execute it….still a work in progress….
@realist says…
You forgot
D. Pass because he does not understand a playbook and does not go thru progressions!!!!!!…..LOL…AND YOU THINK FITZ CAN?….have you seen him play lately?….GO BUCS!!!!
August 17th, 2017 at 1:00 pm
Yup, realist nailed with his first post.
It’s pretty simple Joe: you risk more in a real game than in pre-season. Additionally, Jameis is young and needed the reps, Fitz is old and fragile.
Simple as that.
August 17th, 2017 at 1:56 pm
It’s preseason. You are reading from a page of a book that isn’t there
August 17th, 2017 at 3:33 pm
I’m pretty sure last year was for learning and to change the culture of the team – to keep your head in the game and keep trying. This year and the next several should be different. They should be a playoff team now so keeping JW healthy during a large lead, or a bad loss, should be a priority.
August 17th, 2017 at 3:46 pm
Realist
Take your point but that was what I had in mind with choice B
There are two issues here….
First political…some can get past that some can’t
2nd Football…some like you believe Kap is not as talented as Fitz…he did get to a SB…he did have a great coach at the time…most of his sucking has occured for a horrible coach with a bad team. I think DK might be able to clean up his game.
But I truly understand all the points of view on this subject…both political and football.