“It Is The Creativity Of Plays That Makes An Impression”
October 13th, 2017
“Diabolical,” explains a four-time Pro Bowler.
Earlier this week, local Bucs media heard Arizona head coach Bruce Arians glow about the pure brilliance of Dirk Koetter’s playcalling.
Koetter’s friend Arians isn’t the only guy not named Jameis saying this.
Retired four-time Pro Bowl fullback Ron Wolfley is smitten with Koetter’s offense. Wolfley works full-time now on sports radio in Phoenix, and he did a full, dramatic audio Xs and Os breakdown of the Bucs’ offense with a Game of Thrones spin.
It might be the most bizarre yet interesting analysis Joe has heard in a long time (linked here).
At the 1:40 mark, things pick up.
“Creative, coordinated and impressive … They love 11 personnel, one back, one tight end, three wide receivers. And in run down, that’s the personnel group you’re going to most likely see. They run a myriad of plays out of many formations, but it is the creativity of plays that makes an impression, my friends. They’ll run the tackle zone, the inside zone, toss, crack, they’ll get in the eye and run Iso on a pair of personnel, two backs, two tight ends. They’ll run a version of the zone-read with trips formation to a side; they execute the read and then fake the wide receiver screen to the trips, or fake the zone-read and throw the bubble screen. The creativity, my friends, cannot be measured.”
Wolfley goes on and on from there — in the same style — about Mike Evans, tackle-zone fakes, the Bucs’ screens, “diabolical” use of the tight ends, linemen usage and much more. Heavenly stuff for the Xs and Os crowd.
Koetter got the head coaching job because he was known as a masterful and flexible offensive guru with extensive college head coaching experience. Koetter is one of the few offensive coordinators in NFL history that has had a Top-10 offense with three different franchises, including with the Bucs in 2015.
Now Joe can’t embrace all of Koetter’s playcalling, but the big picture is excellent. And it sure would help a lot if kickers could make kicks, there weren’t six-to-eight drops in a game, and America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, wasn’t so out of sync with DeSean Jackson.
October 13th, 2017 at 10:04 am
I think he has been a good play caller but unfortunately he has had some issues with clock management and a few questionable calls at important times of games this year.
Nobody is perfect(except that Jesus guy) but I have confidence he will hopefully get those things corrected going forward.
October 13th, 2017 at 10:27 am
Bruce Arians has always had a knack for gloating over oppositional coaches and players just before he kicks their A’s!! Th..Lull before the storm. Bucs had better be ready. The Cardinals are going to try to jump on us hard with everything they got. Arians did the identical same thing before he walloped us last year…talking about how good we were. Be ready Bucs!!
October 13th, 2017 at 10:31 am
This is interesting to me because I find our offense to be predictable of late. If the play-calling is as “creative” as Arians alludes to, then the execution is for spit!
October 13th, 2017 at 10:32 am
Well even the most creative play calling won’t work if you have a QB that can’t execute it…….and that’s why I think the issue is squarely on Jameis shoulders and not Koetter.
Coaches coach and players play…..but most of all, players need to execute.
…..and it’s not like the NYG or NE had light’s our defenses either and that’s why it’s so frustrating to see Jameis not executing Koetter’s offense.
If you focus in on Jameis and especially his facial expressions, there are many times when he looks LOST…….
Koetter is giving him more choices and more flexibility and I think that it is over-whelming Jameis.
Jameis cannot simply rely on 50/50 balls to mike evans on every play…….that’s just not cutting it anymore.
October 13th, 2017 at 10:33 am
I don’t see what he sees….play calling has been questionable at best and the play designs are predictable…we saw a little bit of creativity vs the giants with oj’s big TD but for the most part its pretty predictable….GO BUCS!!!
October 13th, 2017 at 10:33 am
Clock management a HUGE ISSUE in Atlanta with both Smith and Koetter.
I thought they had hired someone to manage the clock or at least tell them what to do?
2014
“If the Browns were looking to give a game ball to anyone, they should probably have headed down the hallway to the home locker room at the Georgia Dome and bequeathed one on Falcons head coach Mike Smith.
With Cleveland leading 23-21 with 2:51 left in the fourth quarter, the Falcons intercepted Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer on the second consecutive drive, giving Matt Ryan and the Atlanta offense the opportunity the opportunity to begin a potential game-winning drive from their own 45 with 2:42 remaining.
The Falcons drove the ball down to the Cleveland 35, just inside kicker Matt Bryant’s field goal range. With the Falcons facing a 3rd and 2 with less than a minute to play and the clock ticking, Smith inexplicably called a timeout.
It made no sense.
Stopping the clock had no benefit for the Falcons, as running it down before attempting another play would have limited Cleveland’s ability to have time on the clock for an offensive drive if Bryant’s inevitable field goal succeeded. If anything, it would have forced the Browns to burn at least one of their remaining three timeouts on defense rather than during an ensuing offensive drive.
October 13th, 2017 at 10:41 am
He is a brilliant offensive coach. The problem to me seems to be, he is making things too difficult for the offense. Lets get some quick easy throws to get jameis locked in and receivers a chance to make plays. Nothing wrong with some “long hand offs”. N if we are gona drop back so often run a draw play more than once a month dirk. Few more screen passes. N definitely get me some slants to djax. It has been hard for dirk to get in a rhythm since they cant pick up a 3rd down conversion, but alot of that falls on him. 10 days to prepare I like the chances this week is gona be a good one. Run that hurry up early. Go Bucs
October 13th, 2017 at 10:47 am
I would say the issue with DK’s play calling isnt actually the specifics of the offense, its his Head Coach decisions that tend to be troubling.
i.e. Games with poor clock management, ect…
October 13th, 2017 at 10:51 am
Dude sucks at play calling. Plain and simple!
October 13th, 2017 at 10:57 am
Dirk Koetter offense has always gained a lot of yards. But they have always struggled to score points.
October 13th, 2017 at 11:06 am
Jameis sucks at getting the ball in the end zone.
October 13th, 2017 at 11:10 am
TheBucsAnthem if you think Jameis has thrown for over 8,000 yards in two seasons due just to 50/50 balls you have 0 creditability to talk about QB’s. Just last week the throw the Brate that he caught was perfection, the thrown to Brate that he dropped was perfection. The two throws on 3rd and long to DJax on the sideline were perfection. The throw to over the middle to Brate that he dropped in the 3rd quarter on 3rd and long was perfection and about 18 yards to boot. So if you want to rip him fine, but please focus on things like the deep ball to D-Jax or him forcing it deep and into coverage when he has people underneath that are wide open. People keep saying he has a accuracy issue, but they are wrong he is very accurate, his main issue is begin too aggressive and not taking what they give him. So again if you are going to rip please be ACCURATE with your ripping.
October 13th, 2017 at 11:11 am
Seen so many posters here of late criticizing Koetters play calling…
FYI – execution has been the offense’s primary problem. Not so much play calling.
Every play caller makes mistakes from time to time – just like every player makes mistakes on the field sometimes.
Koetter is still trying to get a feel for what works well and what doesn’t with this offense and all these receiving weapons. Its a work in progress just like our Defense.
I believe that Coach K and (the good) coach Smith will get things figured out as the season progresses and the Bucs will be playing their best ball the 2nd half of the season. Hopefully we won’t rack up so many L’s the 1st 6-8 weeks this year.
We need this win Sunday. Cmon Bucs – Get-r-done!
October 13th, 2017 at 11:13 am
Arians is stroking us.
Ronde Barber commented that our offense is w/o any hot reads, and Steve Smith Sr commented that we were seriously out coached.
October 13th, 2017 at 11:17 am
Neither one has seen the playbook so how wold they know? Because Jameis did not check into one?
October 13th, 2017 at 11:17 am
Tony Romo as color analyst dubbed the offense very simplistic and not very original on the Thursday night game before it even got started. So who is right? Polar opposite analysis of the offense.
October 13th, 2017 at 11:22 am
So I guess everyone wants to fire the coach cause that has worked so well for us for the past 12 years. SMH! Listen guys he is not prefect and I have my gripes as well, BUT if the players make the plays that are there we are 3-1 right now. Missed FG’s, dropped passes, missed wide open bombs are all player issues but guess what coaching staff got us into position for all of those plays to be made. Everything looks bad when the players blow the plays but the coaching staffs job is to put them in position to succeed and they did that. Bottom line, we catch the ball, make the kicks and make the throws we win that game going away and everyone is pumped at how we just beat the champs.
October 13th, 2017 at 11:23 am
“ndog Says:
October 13th, 2017 at 11:10 am
TheBucsAnthem if you think Jameis has thrown for over 8,000 yards in two seasons due just to 50/50 balls you have 0 creditability to talk about QB’s.”
===============================================
Ah yes, another fan pulling out “STATS” to justify Jameis inadequate QB play.
And no, I never implied all he threw was 50/50 balls, but you gotta admit, alot of those “chunk plays” come from 50/50 balls.
October 13th, 2017 at 11:35 am
If truth be told the main problems are lack of consistent strong run game and the QB being inaccurate at times!!!!! People complain about play calling, yet we see receiving options running free and open!!!!!!! Its going to get better folks!!!!!!
Just last game, JW3 was 8 for 9 passing from running play-action with DM22!!!!
If Head Coach Koetter simplified the offense a little it was to protect JW3 protecting the football in passing situations until he becomes more comfortable!!!!!!
It is just funny that Joe is looking for any crutch and any excuse not to say that JW3 has been inaccurate at times!!!!!!
Don’t be angry sheep because you mistaked potential for production!!!!! The offense will come together!!! AM74 is just starting to snap it better and is getting better at line calls!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!
October 13th, 2017 at 11:35 am
Tony Romo didn’t seem to give him the same props when I was listening in last Thursday. His conclusion was pretty much, well they motion a guy here and want to play smash mouth football, to then open up the downfield game. Bada bing bada boom.
I like this Wolfley guy a lot, Joes. Nice find.
October 13th, 2017 at 11:36 am
Just listened and I found this podcast(lette) more bizarre than interesting Joe.
The monotone quick pace delivery is hard to listen to. Its almost like he’s throwing around a bunch of fancy football terms that sort of apply to sound smart – but his descriptions are making it sound like the BUCS offense is humming like the Patriots on a good day – when in fact we are struggling to execute consistently.
Odd presentation.
October 13th, 2017 at 11:42 am
DK was a better playcaller before he became the head coach. Took a big step backwards last year. Please prove me wrong this Sunday.
October 13th, 2017 at 11:42 am
How do you see stats when I gave you prime examples of pinpoint accurate throws? Sounds like someone with an agenda to me. And trust me I rip Jameis when needed but everyone, not just you, ripping him for last week I just cant get behind. Did he struggle some early yes BUT he did more than enough to win the game if Brate catches the ball and if Folk makes his kicks. News flash is not going to throw every ball perfectly so if that is what you are expecting then get ready for disappointment. Correct me if I’m wrong but didn’t the GOAT throw a horrible pick and fumble the ball in the same game but was praised as having a great game? The difference is his kicker made kicks Jameis’s didn’t, period!
October 13th, 2017 at 11:49 am
DK and offense will get on the same page. Bruce Arians won’t know what b/h/it him. Bucs win Sunday!
October 13th, 2017 at 11:57 am
Coder01 Says
“Tony Romo as color analyst dubbed the offense very simplistic and not very original on the Thursday night game before it even got started. So who is right?”
Tony Romo was going by personal assumption and broadcast games, which does not show him everything. He doesn’t know the offense, he just goes by what he saw and assumed it was the same old things…but what he doesn’t know are the other things Koetter puts in there.
October 13th, 2017 at 11:58 am
TheBucsAnthem Says
“Ah yes, another fan pulling out “STATS”…”
As opposed to the pure opinion you offered? At least stats are some measure of evidence. You simply put your wrong opinion out there and consider it fact, regardless of evidence to the contrary.
October 13th, 2017 at 12:00 pm
@ndog
Well said, buddy!
October 13th, 2017 at 12:28 pm
#FREEOJSTOCKER
“EOM”
Kobe “fully clothed” Faker
October 13th, 2017 at 12:38 pm
Very creative yet they struggle to exceed 20pts
October 13th, 2017 at 1:09 pm
Ndog is correct in his assessment.Anyone can see Jameis has great arm strength ,however he tends to throw the ball on a flatter trajectory when throwing deep.His accuracy while able to throw a flat ball is good ,However gotta get some air under some deep throws and improve the accuracy .Time and reps will tell whether he and djax can become formidable.I hope sooner than later.
Nothing wrong with Koetters play calling in the pats game.Dropped balls by brate certainly altered their chances of coming back to win that game.
October 13th, 2017 at 2:14 pm
Jamies in consistently rated as a top 10 QB in Fantasy and is 3rd in YPG.
The deep ball to Jackson is simply in his head. When he realized Jackson beat his coverage with out must resistance (Hand Checking, Bump and Run), he knew he had under-thrown Jackson previously and really tried to put zip on it to hit him in stride. Way too fast of a ball!! Needs more arc and land gently. Jamies can make this throw but it looks awkward right now IE. Pass to Brate in New York game.
He needs to just let LOOSE and it’s gonna come. Way too much talent for it not to.
When he starts to see patterns of who is open on certain formations, then Koetter’s real genius will come to light with this team.
100% execution to this point and unfortunatley a few missed or gained plays make the difference.
I mean even the BLOWOUT (as some would call it) in Minnesota could be traced to the single (underthrown again) wide open Jackson in the endzone that was intercepted. Instead of 14-10 ballgame, they go score and it’s 21-3.
Freakin HAVE to execute the plays of any distance and although some may say that Koetter goes for the intermediate passes to much, if they are open and just dropped or slightly high passes, dropped, then you can’t blame Koetter. I would rather hit an OPEN receiver 15 yards down field rather than 5 too.
LET”S DO IT BUCS!!!!!
WE are ALL dying here.
October 13th, 2017 at 3:31 pm
jameis needs to stop aiming his deep balls….just let if rip!!!….GO BUCS!!!
October 13th, 2017 at 3:32 pm
*it
October 13th, 2017 at 3:39 pm
Pistol Pete-
Yes his name is Andrew Weidinger- Asst. wide receiver and game management
October 13th, 2017 at 3:54 pm
*** For the love of all that is holy, LET JAMEIS GO this week! You see what happens when he has a little more freedom to improvise (Chicago last year, jump balls to ME13 in the end zone)!!
I feel like the offense is sputtering due to Dirk trying to control every aspect of JW’s game. Let the leash out and let’s live a die a little more by JW’s arm and natural ability. ***
October 13th, 2017 at 5:07 pm
Sorry, but DK’s play-calling to this point in the season has been rather unspectacular at best. It’s the OC’s job to create a game-plan that helps get the offense into a rhythm fairly early in the game, and that hasn’t been happening. Too little emphasis on the run game & short passing game, and too much emphasis on the intermediate & deep passes.
That will change Sunday IMO. Guess is that we’ll see Martin & the other RBs running the ball 30-35 times in the game. We’ll see a lot more quick short passes, as well as more Jameis rolling out more. Still a good smattering of intermediate & deep passes though. We’ll also see this offense put up 30-35 pts. That’s what you asked for earlier today Joe … Dirk is paying attention. Just wait.
October 13th, 2017 at 9:02 pm
Interesting… once again the opinions expressed by the expert fans on JBF are diametrically opposed to those of the people who are actual experts and get paid to evaluate NFL personnel and such.
October 13th, 2017 at 9:24 pm
Bucco… We all have opinions, that’s why we have a comments section. I enjoy reading everyone’s insights and if I disagree…I just move on and continue reading. Go Bucs! We’re all fans!