“Hot Seat?”
October 19th, 2017
Former NFL exec explains why Dirk Koetter could get fired
People are going way freaking overboard now!
Yes, the Bucs have disappointed this season, no question. They had two kickers who went mental. The offense has sputtered. The defense has looked like the German shepherd that sulks in shame knowing it was a bad boy for wetting the carpet.
But suggesting winning Bucs coach Dirk Koetter is entering murky waters for job security? Joe thinks that’s a big time stretch if not an overreacting reach. But that is what a former NFL general manager believes.
After watching the Cardinals boat-race the Bucs last Sunday, long-time NFL executive and former Browns general manager Michael Lombardi believes Koetter is about to step on thin ice. The Al Davis and Bill Belicheat protege suggested if Koetter can’t find a way to turn the Bucs around quickly, he better have his mortgage paid off.
Lombardi, also a former NFL Network analyst, speaking on his podcast with “The Ringer,” had a long take about the State of the Bucs.
“I think people are starting to look at Dirk,” Lombardi said. “I think Dirk is on the hot seat. I really do. I think Dirk is on the hot seat. The one thing that will get you fired in the NFL is potential. And [the Bucs] are a potential team. Everyone sees them [with] a blue chip player at quarterback, they have all of these skill players, they [were] really good on defense [last season]. But the lesson here more than anything is you just can’t duplicate last year’s team.
“Dirk Koetter should have been the biggest asshole known to mankind starting the season. He tried to make everyone happy. You know what happens when you try to make everyone happy? No one’s happy. He works for a company — the Glazers fired Greg Schiano after two years, they fired Jon Gruden after he took them to a Super Bowl. They are not going to be happy with this. And, one thing about coaches’ contracts in the NFL, with offset language, it is easy to fire coaches in the NFL. [Koetter] will get paid and [Team Glazer] instead of paying him $4 million a year will pay him $3 million a year. To me, there are too many inconsistencies within this team.”
While the foundation of what Lombardi is discussing makes sense, it seems ludicrous to Joe that Team Glazer would launch Koetter. First off, the Bucs are 2-3. Last year the Bucs started 1-3 and came within a cat’s whisker of the playoffs.
Sure, Team Glazer ran Schiano after two seasons because the place had turned into a MRSA-infected circus, led by leaky, sleepy Josh Freeman going mental. Yeah, Team Glazer ran Chucky after two winning seasons (which in retrospect not only seems mind-blowing, it was a move the franchise has yet to recover from) but it is well-established the genesis of that transaction was Team Glazer was tired of begging Chucky to draft and develop a first round quarterback, and Chucky repeatedly refused.
(Joe’s old man had a saying, “You know what the Golden Rule is? Those who have the gold, rule.” Translation: Don’t make the guy who signs your checks beg.)
Joe thinks it is irresponsible to suggest Koetter is on thin ice. Has he done a decent job this year? His record says no, but the calendar also reads Oct. 19, not Jan. 19.
Joe understands the puke job in Arizona not just freaked out Bucs fans but made the entire NFL take notice and cover their mouths and noses with a handkerchief. But let’s not get carried away here.
October 19th, 2017 at 6:16 am
What has Koetter ever done?? He has ZERO history of winning anything. Its obvious why he was a coordinator for so long. Good at that type of job. He isn’t made out to be a HC. I don’t think it unrealistic to think he is on a “hot seat” HE SHOULD BE!! The Glazers have given him everything he has needed from signing players that he obviously signed off on with him & Licht together making the decisions. His own admission of not having a team ready to play is alarming.
October 19th, 2017 at 6:21 am
Maybe the Glazers r not happy with how he is handling Jameis this year. I don’t know but I don’t think he does his Qb any favors with this years playcalling. I really like Koetter and hope this report has no bases. I just want the offense to reaemble last years or even Koetter first year/ Jameis rookie year. Quit having the bomb a staple play unless Djax is as open as OJ Howard was against the Giants. Where r the 10 plus play drives of the past. The Glazers fired Lovie because they saw that He had absolutely NO PLaN to fix the defense, which is part of the resin Lovie was hired. Lovie had no clue, wanted to bring in a defensive consultant. Last year Koetter did a great job mixing up the offense, focusing on play action. On 3rd and 2 from the 50 against the Cards u empty the backfield? I guess play action is out the window. If Dirk gets fired it will be 100 % on him!! Not the Glazers. Either Dirk fixes the offense and puts Jameis in the best situation, not DJAX, JAMEIS! Or he will get fired because the offense failed.
October 19th, 2017 at 6:30 am
The coaches and GM will be fired ..too talented of an offense that’s not scoring points!!The GM has done some good things but there are a lot of things he’s not doing!!
October 19th, 2017 at 6:31 am
And if he gets fired Dirk would have blown the best opportunity ever given. Your QB is the franchise, not DJAX. Quit trying to be so cute and let your ego overtake common sense. Quit trying to force feed DJAX down our throat. If we win with solid offense and Jameis throws a couple TD passes w no picks and he happens to miss DJAX again deep WHO CARES but that play should not be in the playbook on 3rd & 2 from the 50 UNLESS u plan on going for it on 4Th down. All of a sudden your franchise QB is being judge on his touch on 50 yard in the air passes? He is still only 23 and I’m sure he wants to make DJAX happy but to me Dirk has ALLOWED this to affect the offense
October 19th, 2017 at 6:39 am
rams are immediately succesful with a new hc installing a qb friendly short passing game for Goff
koetters scheme will never succeed in the nfl and this stalled development of jameis is the highest it will ever go …
but with more injuries
October 19th, 2017 at 6:41 am
No words, no sight of GM Jason Licht. The silence is deafening. Not a good sign. Telling!
October 19th, 2017 at 6:49 am
Koetter and Licht have been so focused on getting weapons for Jameis, they have neglected the defense.
Honestly- thats probably what they had to do. The offense will be fine. Jameis has great timing with Evans,Brate, Humphries. They just have to quit forcing it to Jackson, 30 yards downfield. Throw him the short stuff, work your way up.
Its early. Every year, it takes offense a while to get on track.
They have neglected one thing, that cant be overlooked.
You cant win, if you cant rush the QB.
We did not draft Simeon Rice. We traded for him.
We have 3 great LBers. We only play two 65% of the time.
Trade Lavonte for a young DE.
When they drafted VH3, I knew he would never be a great CB. To slow and short. Posted that here on draft day.
But neither I, Nor Koetter/Licht thought he would suck this bad.
He was bad last year, but you expected him to improve some.
He didnt.
And now, every team we play is targeting him. And they have completed every pass they have thrown at him the last two games.
Thats mind boggling!! I dont know if thats ever happened before- in NFL history!!!
They need to see if there is anyone walking the street, or can be had cheap- as a one year fix. Let Smith a Javon Elliot man the spot. After starting his very first NFL game, and getting pushed around- Smith has shown some talent.
Either way VH3 has to go. His horrible lack of skill is demoralizing the entire defense
Fix those issues- and we can still have a winning record
October 19th, 2017 at 6:54 am
If Koetter can’t turn this season around I think he will be fired. I think they will bring Jon Gruden back. Can you tell me Gruden wouldn’t want to have the weapons the Bucs have on offense. He would jump at the chance and this team would get turned around in a hurry.
October 19th, 2017 at 6:56 am
He absolutely should NOT get fired now or after the season. That being said, Ira said in his podcast that Jameis, VH3, and Spence are not progressing. Koetter isnt progressing either. He is not getting better at head coach. He’s actually getting worse. He is the one that needs to unfunk his head.
I agree with Lee, that complaining about playcalling is a fools errand, but he does seem to call plays like he has Payton Manning and Marvin Harrison out there playing catch.
He shouldn’t get fired but the Glazers and Licht should make it known he has to improve game management today. Get better, Koetter.
It’s starting to feel like Koetter might be one of those guys that’s just better at coordinator and not HC like Wade Phillips and Norv Turner. But that does not mean he should not be allowed to improve.
October 19th, 2017 at 6:56 am
Gotta try and trade for a db cause Hargreaves is garbanzo
No team is gonna give up a defensive end that can get to the passer but they could trade a db that maybe doesn’t fit their skeam or contract is a little high
Hargreaves is so bad that guys are wide open all day long
October 19th, 2017 at 6:57 am
Koetter’s gameplanning has been poor this season and the offence, despite having the most talent he’s had to work with here, is churning out 3 and outs like there’s no tomorrow.
Add in that Winston’s development appears to have stalled, despite him being surrounded by talent, and it doesn’t become a stretch to say that he should be under pressure.
There can be no excuses for what happened in Arizona last Sunday. If you fail to prepare a team for a game that badly, you should prepare for the invitation to pack your bags.
October 19th, 2017 at 6:57 am
december 18 vs atl halftime
“this is my house!”
chucky the don
October 19th, 2017 at 6:58 am
Gruden will make return at some point.
Just think next year to soon.
October 19th, 2017 at 7:00 am
We have Ryan Smith,Javien Elliot, and Josh Robinson.
We have David Rivers on the Practice Squad.
Gotta get VH3 outta there.
The ONLY reason hes playing, is because the Coach/GM dont want to have a first round bust. Especially after the heat they caught over cutting our 2nd round pick.
That doesnt bother me. The draft is a crap shoot. It only bothers me- if they refuse to bench/cut him, until hes cost us another game or two.
Get him outta there!!
October 19th, 2017 at 7:03 am
If he is not on the hot seat now he will be if he ever quits on his team again. N i totally agree about trying to make everyone happy. I thought it was risky when he was doing it, but trusted him it would work. It hasnt. For example giving players off practice, starting early and stopping early to avoid the heat. Wanting to practice indoors all the time to avoid heat. Sounds like he wants everyone to be comfortable. Then he goes out n quits before halftime after not being ready in arz again!! Inexcusable. If somethings inexcusable you almost havs to be on the hot seat. Unless of course he is the smartest guy in the building and has this playoff run all mapped out. The coaches were more worried about people getting comfortable and not getting injured in camp. It sounded good at the time. Looks now like they arent gona be ready for a while. Hope its not too late for a playoff run by then. Go Bucs
October 19th, 2017 at 7:05 am
I bet Gruden will never coach again
He has the perfect gig for him, doing the broadcast.
Suits his Rockstar personality. More Money, less Stress. Much more high profile than Coaching the Bucs
Also, the League had figured out his motion offense. They know how to defense it.
He wouldnt risk coming here to coach, and having losing records. Would hurt his credibility as a commentator.
October 19th, 2017 at 7:18 am
Capt Tim good analysis throughout but I would not agree with getting rid of hargreaves. He may have been targetted alot last year but he made plays. Coach him up hard. Do it now and I think he’ll perform. The David trade would need to be monumental IMO to pull the trigger, which is rare in this part of the seaso (got it, not impossible). Rather, work the scheme to apply pressure from other positions, run some games (zone blitz between the tackles, fake A gap pressure, etc). These are things I know the coaches know, but I’ve only seen small instances executed in the games (maybe due to injuries to our lbs and ward).
October 19th, 2017 at 7:40 am
Maybe Dirk should just be an offensive coordinator and Let Monken worry about the whole team (secretly of course). Or like Joe suggested earlier, a consultant.
October 19th, 2017 at 7:48 am
We have only played 5 games. Its a bit early for the fire Dirk talk. The offense has had its struggles but the big mystery is why is the defense so bad. I have never seen defense as bad as last week. WHen you hire old players with a year or two left, like Ayers and Grimes, you better have contingency plans in place for when Father Time catches them. If you think you are going to rely on a very undersized DE and expect him to be your 10 sack guy, if that doesn’t work, you better have a contingency when he proves to be too small to be effective. As for Hargraves … not sure what to say there. When your #1 draft pick from the year before turns out to be a bust (or at least is playing that way), well not sure what to say about that one. Smithy needs to be on the hot seat more than Koetter.
October 19th, 2017 at 7:50 am
Dirk is fine for this season, but come this time next year and it’s still the same????
THEN…..he’ll be on the hot seat
October 19th, 2017 at 7:57 am
The sputtering offense is exposing our weaknesses on defense. The three and outs help to get us behind the eightball from the getgo. Funnel the deep routes toward the middle of the field where receivers can adjust to them. Also wonder about the Marpet move. My biggest knock on EDS is his bad snaps, but Marpet
is far more inconsistant with his snaps. We spent premium draft picks on
O.J. and Godwin. We need to use them more.Not sure if this is on Koetter or Jameis favoringg other receivers more.
October 19th, 2017 at 8:05 am
The problem is that Dirk doesn’t have a winning history as a HC. It wouldn’t be the first time we had a new HC come out hot one year and then nose dive the second and be replaced. And that is the problem. It isn’t as if we don’t have a track record of doing exactly that. I think it all depends on how we continue to play the rest of the year….5-11 or worse…yeah he is gone. We are 7-9…I think he is OK. 6-10 thin ice.
October 19th, 2017 at 8:10 am
You can’t have prison sex inflicted on your team twice in four weeks and expect people not to start thinking in drastic terms.
October 19th, 2017 at 8:13 am
Based on this ownerships recent history, I completely agree. Dirk better get it turned around.
October 19th, 2017 at 8:19 am
Do not agree with firing Koetter! This is why we are a crappy organization, we keep firing people after 2 years!. If he continues down this path, then yes, there needs to be change. But not firing the HC. I would argue for an OC that calls plays, and/or if Smitty doesn’t turn this defense around, a new DC too.
October 19th, 2017 at 8:24 am
The seat is warming but he can turn it around if the players start playing with some heart. To me when I hear multiple players say “we came out flat”, no that is hidden terminology for “we had some players that didn’t want to play hard because their hearts weren’t in the game”.
These games are watched all around the world and fans like all of us are (or we wouldn’t be on this site) can see a lack of effort and a lack of hustle.
Thats on the players but they have to be motivated by their jobs and its up to coaching to help them do their jobs. Not happening right now in Tampa.
We are in the middle of the second quarter of the season and as an overall evaluation of how the Bucs have looked on the field, except for 1 game against Chicago, they havn’t looked like a prepared team week to week.
Just saying, it has to turn around otherwise some coaches and players will be leaving after this season. 3 years is enough to show improvement. So far this season, no improvement at all by the team over last year.
October 19th, 2017 at 8:25 am
Dirk should be on notice- he seemingly quit on his team last week and threw in the towel. Not kicking the FG before the half was moronic. So too was chasing 2 pt. conversions before really needing to. The whole things reeked of Lovie’s capitulation in not pursuing points during the Rams game during his first season. How the locker room/team responds this week will be telling, maybe damning. If they come out “flat” again, then we all know something is rotten in the organization.
October 19th, 2017 at 8:31 am
If they fire Dirk I am done. This team will NEVER get out of the mire if they keep firing coaches. With our luck they would make Mike Smith the new head coach.
I love my Bucs, but this is getting stupid.
October 19th, 2017 at 8:35 am
Frank Pillow Says
“Dirk should be on notice- he seemingly quit on his team last week and threw in the towel. Not kicking the FG before the half was moronic.”
No he did not. You know, it amazes me how people rode him the week before for trying to nail a field goal before the half, and then this week people hate on him for not trying.
The simple truth is this…no matter what he would have tried, fans would say it was the wrong choice if it did not succeed.
Do you think he purposely avoided using the kicker for the heck of it? Maybe the new kicker was not ready for some reason. Did anyone think of that?
October 19th, 2017 at 8:37 am
If the Glazers fire yet another coach before he has a chance to do anything, this whole team will quit on the owners and no free agents will want to come to Tampa. Period.
Use your brains, people.
October 19th, 2017 at 8:41 am
Phil Says
“If Koetter can’t turn this season around I think he will be fired. I think they will bring Jon Gruden back. Can you tell me Gruden wouldn’t want to have the weapons the Bucs have on offense. He would jump at the chance and this team would get turned around in a hurry.”
I said it yesterday:
https://www.joebucsfan.com/2017/10/make-the-call-6/#comment-3869026
“People who want him gone are the people who foolishly believe The Glazers can get Jon Gruden to come back because he dropped ‘hints’ this year. Guess what? They offered him the job before they went after Koetter. He is all talk, nothing more.”
Jon Gruden wants to stay in the spotlight, so he is always dropping hints that he ‘might’ eventually return to coaching. But he won’t because he has the dream job now…he took over for John Madden!
Just as when he was in Tampa, Jon is nothing but talk and bluster, and you people with short term memory loss seem to have forgotten that.
October 19th, 2017 at 8:42 am
Clodhopper, Dreambig & BucsAnthem, I agree with all of you … Dirk Koetter won’t be fired this season. Glazers know full well that the coaching merry-go-round can’t continue. But that being said, he has to get this team out of its funk THIS season … it’s far too talented at many positions to end up as a cellar-dweller. We’ve got an excellent coaching staff that simply isn’t getting the expected results. But ‘Fire them all’ isn’t the answer as we’ve found out since Chucky.
After a game like Arizona everyone wants to find ‘The Fix’ as if it’s one problem or weakness that caused that debacle. Not that simple (VHIII really didn’t lose the game for us … the T-E-A-M lost it). LOTS of ‘blame’ to go around, but assigning blame doesn’t fix the problems. But doing the same thing game after game doesn’t fix them either. Going to more of a ball-control offense (less intermediate & deep passing and more run & short stuff) MIGHT help, depending upon who we’re playing. Using more 3-4 (to get more LBs on the field) MIGHT also help, as might more press coverage. Switching VHIII out of the outside CB spot to nickel & replacing him with ‘whoever’ MIGHT help (results couldn’t get much worse in the short term).
I don’t expect a playoff season any longer … this team IMO isn’t playoff material for a number of reasons. But what I do hope to see is (1) NO QUIT; and (2) PROGRESS. Licht will need to make a LOT of personnel changes after this season to make the Bucs competitive in the NFC South. He truly has a daunting task ahead of him.
October 19th, 2017 at 8:43 am
Here’s an idea…compare this year’s team to the team we had 5 years ago, then tell me there has not been progression.
October 19th, 2017 at 8:44 am
Also think that Jameis struggling to complete deep passes more consistantly outside the hashmarks is hogtying Koetter’s ability to mix up plays. Koetter may have to go back to dunkaneer style offense.especially on third down where
Jameis has not been as consistant as last year.
October 19th, 2017 at 8:45 am
@Defense Rules
Well said.
Also, zone doesn’t seem to be working in the secondary at all.
October 19th, 2017 at 8:47 am
The problem with everyone is comparing the reasons why past coaches were fired and what Dirk did last year. This is a new year and this is a seriously improved roster. Everyone wire about the excitement in the building and how things feel different and even writing about how the Glazer’s felt about the pulse of the team. He wouldn’t be fired because of what? What national media would think? Because of how many other coaches were fired in a short time? Well what do you think national media is saying right now… Dirk is soft and he’s here because of his play calling ability so if he’s not doing a good job of that and he’s not getting his players to produce…. Oh I guess we’re back to that continuity word again, other way to put it is at least we’ll lose consistently
October 19th, 2017 at 8:47 am
So we are to believe an EX-GM of the Browns? I would ask him name from memory who plays behind Demar Dotson, and if he can’t name the player than shut your dog-breath pie hole.
October 19th, 2017 at 8:50 am
the glazers were 100% correct on All there firings
which coach did well anywhere else after they were fired here
no one. glazers were 100% right all the time…
the problem is they should have never hired them in the first place
kobe believes gruden has learned alot since he left the game
of all people, he knows you need the franchise qb
grudens offenses will be unstoppable. when he left the nfl allowed defenses to play physical….now its a passing offense protecting the qbs.
October 19th, 2017 at 8:59 am
The only way Koetter gets fired at the end of this season is if there is 0 improvement all season long and the Bucs lose all the rest of their games and go 2-14.
Short of that – coach K will be here next year. Glazers know that stability is important after going through 4 coaches in 8 years and will give Koetter every opportunity and then some to right this ship.
October 19th, 2017 at 9:00 am
You have to look closely at what Lombardi is saying, and what he means by hot seat. If the Bucs have a bunch of spotty games this year and overall don’t show significant improvement from last, Koetter IS on the hot seat. What save him is Jameis, and not wanting to lose his development. That said, what happens if Jameis looks like he is not developing? I’m not saying here and now–if the season ended today, do Koetter and Licht get the axe. Think of this type of play continuing all season. Think of Spence and Ayers doing nothing; they already cut Smith. Think of Jameis in his slow start style fund with the rest of the offense. Think of his lack of accuracy to hit a pricey guy the coach/GM wanted Glazer to go get and pay for. So what is the Bucs continue with no pass rush, slow starts, Jameis picks, bad pass D, and regress in run D all year, and end 8-8 or WORSE? You can see it being a “warm” December and January at One Buc.
October 19th, 2017 at 9:01 am
Wow, good job Joe, I don’t want to know how much time you spent to find someone that was in the league to say what “Joe on the ledge” is thinking!!!!!!!!! And look at all the panicking sheep lapping it up!!!!!! 5 games into the season, after a successful season last year, might be jumping the gun!!!!!!!! Head Coach Dirk Koetter is not leaving his position anytime soon!!!! Sorry sheep!!!!!!
And the only thing more moronic then calling for Head Coach Koetter to be fired is pining over a coach that has been out of the league for almost 10 seasons!!!!!! Sit back and watch the rest of the season first!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 19th, 2017 at 9:02 am
@defense rules
Agree completely on the VH3 move. And moving to more of a ball control
offense won’t expose some of the weaknesses on defense as much.Let Jameis keep working the middle of the field on the deep and intermediate plays,But at some point in Jameis’s young career I hope Jameis can complete these deep sideline passes more consistantly. Until then let see how he does on post routes now and then.
October 19th, 2017 at 9:02 am
^^ So premature to actually fire? Yes. Is it looming? No. If this keeps up all year long is it possible? Yes.
October 19th, 2017 at 9:02 am
Joe …. Don’t be naive….the glazers spend alot of money to koetter for resources…they are not getting what they paid for…this team should be trending up not down..gruden came in and the glazer s spent money for the final peices for a super bowl run and we lost the first game but the team finished 12-4 that was a trending team..
this is not ..glazers will can this dude if we finish with a 9-7 record and miss the playoffs in a heartbeat
October 19th, 2017 at 9:03 am
^^^ And I’m not calling on Koetter to be fired if things continue this year. I’d prefer he gets at least another year if they don’t win again this year. But I do see how the business works, how the speculation works.
October 19th, 2017 at 9:13 am
Get rid of the career losers posing as defensive captains and problem solved.
October 19th, 2017 at 9:14 am
I completely agree with Lombardi. Vernon Hargreaves play is coaching…period. a first round pick should not be playing like Jonathan Banks. Jameis continues to make the same mistakes of his first two years in his decision making and his down field throws……this is coaching. Our defense shows up when Mike Smith wants it to…………coaching and finally if you read T. J Ward’s comments and LaVonte David’s comments about practices and sluff in Arizona before the game……that is coaching. Dirk is a good guy, but there is a good reason he and Mike smith are not in Atlanta
October 19th, 2017 at 9:17 am
While I dont think Koetter is on the hot seat… I also dont think one of the reasons you gave (“but the calendar also reads Oct. 19, not Jan. 19”) is a good one.
The NFL season is only 17 weeks, and we are in week 7, which is very close to the half way point.
Realistically, the Bucs have to go 8-3 down the stretch to have a chance at a wild card or winning the division.
They havent shown whatsoever they have that in them this year. They are 2-3 against mostly average or garbage teams, and the tough part of the schedule is ahead of them….
Again, I dont think Koetter is in the hot seat… but I can also totally see us drafting around #15 come April, which is a HUGE disappointment.
October 19th, 2017 at 9:24 am
Vh3 problem is not coaching. it is his piss poor measurables and his pathetic immature clown antics after being toasted all day… vh3 sucks and is NOT a NFL player…just another local failure the bucs tried to dress up…. talented football playeers driven to win are what bucs neef not local feel good stories and clowns
October 19th, 2017 at 9:25 am
Get rid of djx we will be OK.
October 19th, 2017 at 9:29 am
How much “talent” did they really add to the O?
OJ’s a rookie TE. Jackson’s in his first season with the Bucs and I don’t see him blowing by DB’s. I see them staying with him step for step. Who else did they add? Another rookie in Godwin?
Still say these new guys need just a little more time on the team. OJ specifically. Yes he’s a beast, but TE’s don’t usually take the league by storm as rookies.
Too many weapons? Yes perhaps.
Bonzai I am with you. Fire him after only 2 seasons and one of them or possibly both them being winning ones, then I am done with this team.
October 19th, 2017 at 9:39 am
I love Koetter personally. His offense’s always seem to produce(we are quietly ranked 4rth in the NFL for offense. Even with BYE week) and I like the way he carries himself. That being said I really wouldn’t be shocked if he was let go if they don’t finish 9-7. Team Glazer has shown ZERO patients to let things develop.
I am out in jersey so I see a lot of Jets and Giants football. Our team reminds me a lot of the Giants prior to the super bowl runs they made. Many wanted Eli cut or traded and Tom Couglin fired. Then they just got hot and ran with it to two super bowls. I hope we can all have a little patients and just let things develop. This is still only Winstons 3rd year and Koetters 2nd as HC…
October 19th, 2017 at 9:40 am
Bob in Valrico, there’s something very strange going on with this offense, and it’s hard to pinpoint what. There doesn’t seem to be any ‘rhythm’ to it for some reason. Whether that’s game-planning, or play-calling, or lack of player talent at critical positions, or just plain excellent defense on the part of our opponents I’m not sure. We’ve gained 1,910 yds in 5 games … that’s well over 6,000 yds/season at that rate. And yet, our average time-of-possession is barely 27.5 mins/game. In only 1 game did we exceed a break-even TOP (Chicago) … and we won that one handily. (And no, we won’t mention that this defense is on-track to give up almost 6,500 yds this season & close to 400 pts).
I’m starting to wonder if the problem IS Jameis, whether it’s WHAT Jameis is being asked to do, or whether it’s others not stepping up at critical times. Aw heck, maybe all three. IMO Jameis has got the talent & skills to be outstanding, but that’s still just potential until we start putting more points on the board. Something’s not right with this offense, and my gut tells me it’s more than just 1 or 2 things.
October 19th, 2017 at 9:47 am
Fake news.
October 19th, 2017 at 9:54 am
for those of you that think dirk doesn’t have a chance to get fired better wake up and smell the roses!!!!!….
everything mentioned in this article makes sense as @joe stated…..this team has too much talent to be in this position….dirk has made too many simple mistakes that has cost this team….
he was brought here to develop Winston and get him to that next level….WHERE’S THE DEVELOPMENT?….Winston is still struggling with thing that should’ve been corrected with proper coaching…..instead of improving Winston has regressed….
with this much talent, if we don’t make the playoffs, dirk will get fired….
the thing you dirk fans are missing is that if we get a coach in here that knows how to get the most out of players, it will be a easy fix…..playoffs the very next year….we have all the talent, we just don’t have a competent coaching staff…..
rams, eagles, raiders, chiefs, Vikings, lions, falcons, hell even the dolphins made the playoffs in gase’s first year and we have more talent than them….all those teams brought in smart coaches that play to their players strength, get the most out of their young franchise QB and most importantly, develop their own players…..
enough with get rid of VHG and get rid of GMC…how about develop them!!!!…coach them!!!!….get rid of the coaches that cant develop players!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
October 19th, 2017 at 10:08 am
Late to the party as usual…
Koetter should be feeling heat, they had golden opportunities last year to make the playoffs and blew it in Dallas and then in New Orleans.
Going back to 12.18.16, our record is 4-8 (I know I am including pre-season). But losing is like a cancer even if the games don’t “count”.
This is the wrong trajectory, we’ve lost 2X as many as we have won in the last 12 contests.
He needs to coach like his job is on the line.
This is a repeat of what he and Smith did in Atlanta.
Awful defense, offense loaded with “potential”, lose games.
As the season shakes out, see if the Glazers opt out of traveling with the team to Green Bay and Carolina.
October 19th, 2017 at 10:13 am
My cocky friend predicted total implosion this year for us, followed by a total front office upheaval. That includes Licht, who’s contract is up at the end of this year anyway.
So far, the Bucs are proving him to be correct.
He insists that the new coach in Tampa will want his own GM.
He feels we have way too much talent, to have the record we do.
October 19th, 2017 at 10:21 am
Mike is the only reason koetter gets fired
October 19th, 2017 at 10:29 am
No way Koetter should get fired this year.
Buuuutt
If they dont get a DE in here, and a Couple cornerbacks.
Then Koetter and Licht should both get canned next year.
Im sure they will find the defensive pieces.
They HAD to stock the offense for Jameis.
Hes set
A couple pieces- and our Defense would be tremendous!!
We may not make the playoffs this year.
But Next year, we should be one of the best teams in Football.
I know noone wants to hear that.
Has everyone forgotten how good Jameis was, at yhe end of last year?
Hes a franchise QB
The Desean thing is just screwing up the offensive chemistry.
I hope it works its self out, but Jackson needs to stay out of Jameis ear
Any of you remember how Kellen Winslow Jr drove Josh Freeman psycho, always in his ear, demanding the ball
October 19th, 2017 at 10:34 am
@defense
I have to think Jameis is in a bit of a funk. He hasn’t been money on third down like much of last year. But I am all for the Dunkaneer style until both Jameis and Koetter get in sync.Remember last year when Kortter groused that he thought we
had moved past the INT’s. He may be a little shell shocked by two things:
First,
one goes to your good defense point. In my estimation Jameis losing spurts have come at the hands of the better defenses so far.
Second,
Koetter may have by Jameis surprised by the accuracy of deep balls down the sideline. Only one I can remember is the one to OJ. Should we adjust these
pattern to angle toward the open field. I vote , YES.
But at the end of the day we need more touchdowns from this offense. I would sooner see three touchdowns a game than 6000 yards.
October 19th, 2017 at 10:36 am
Keotter and licht needs to tell us it was a mistake getting a cry baby washed wr with limited route tree impatient and bitches about the ball. He don’t care about wins and it’s holding our offense hostage. Keotter u can please him by trading to 49ers and get him away from winston immediately. As far away from him as possible
October 19th, 2017 at 10:40 am
Compare his demeanor at press conferences before the season started to now. He clearly didn’t think he’d be having to address all these issues And You don’t keep your job as a GM by hitting on all your draft picks that’s impossible but you do keep your job by updating where you see fit regardless of the attachment to said players or coaches. If there’s a tumor you cut it out you don’t keep feeding it. If Dirk got fired I’d be fine only if they hired one person but to fire him and keep the cancers eating at this roster is foolish. Dirk and licht were not here for all the losing this fan base had endured but there sure are quite a few holdovers mainly on defense that were
Continuity is not the issue because tj Ward didn’t seem to have an issue picking up the defense at all…. I feel like we pick players to fit the scheme just like lovie Smith instead of picking good players
There’s no scheme on the planet that works without a pass rush there has to be a logical reason they didn’t address it, I have to think the front office has more common sense than us fans because if not they are all doomed and should update their resumes asap
Just win no matter how it’s done (no more peds please), there are so many examples of upgrading front office or coaching staff see Jacksonville as yet another example. Like realist said we keep during because we’re hiring the wrong people
October 19th, 2017 at 10:51 am
If Koetter doesn’t turn the play calling over to someone else, anyone else, and the offense continues to struggle-he will absolutely be fired and so will Licht. I like both of these guys and want them to succeed. However, while Licht has hit on a few gems, there has also been some gross miscalculations both in FA and the draft. If Koetter doesn’t change his ways on offense, he will have to answer for doing the same thing over and over that hasn’t worked. As I have said before, I am beginning to wonder if the actual play designs are just to vanilla or antiquated. Defensive guys generally pick up that that spit pretty quickly, I mean my 16 year old and I usually call plays from the formations before the snap. He doesn’t fool us many times and we are just idiot fans, not D coordinators that study film and trends. JMO. I hope something changes quickly.
October 19th, 2017 at 10:52 am
I was all in on the Koetter hire, but allot of errors are being made by this coaching staff.
Bad play calling, not prepared, not enough in game adjustments, poor clock management, questionable decisions.
If the Bucs go 5-11 or 6-10 I would think it makes plenty of sense to make a coaching change(Jon Gruden).
October 19th, 2017 at 10:52 am
Nothing like comparing two garish losses to penitentiary rape.
ROTFLMAO!!! 🙂
October 19th, 2017 at 10:52 am
I don’t think Dirk is on the hot seat nor should he be unless he continues to make coaching blunders. A coach’s career can last much longer than a player’s career and the Bucs can’t let these players best years get squandered over bad coaching.
October 19th, 2017 at 11:23 am
Last year we had one of the easiest schedules, now we have one of the toughest. So it’s gonna be a lot harder getting a cat’s whisker to the playoffs.
October 19th, 2017 at 12:04 pm
I like Koetter … I love Chucky … that said, I wouldn’t fire Koetter now and I’d let Jameis have a ton of input on who he wants as coach … however if after Jameis’ 5th year we haven’t made it to the conference title game at least, Koetter would most likely be gone.
People need to take the long-term view of things … Rome wasn’t built in a day as they say, but fans expect everything to happen immediately.
Tell me again how many times Fouts, Marino, Moon and Rivers got to the SuperBowl? That’s right, those four QBs COMBINED to go to just ONE SB in their nearly SEVENTY combined years in the NFL …
October 19th, 2017 at 12:56 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
October 19th, 2017 at 8:37 am
If the Glazers fire yet another coach before he has a chance to do anything, this whole team will quit on the owners and no free agents will want to come to Tampa. Period.
I think they fired the previous 2 coaches way too early as you’ve pointed out…but those 2 coaches didn’t have half the talent dirk currently has….
FA’s want to come here because of Winston, mike, kwon…we have talented young pieces that can attract some good FA’s….the reason they wont come is not because of the owners firing coaches after 2 years…it will be because they want to play for a coach that knows what he’s doing…knows how to develop players….knows how to prepare a team….
dirk is lost right now…people talk about VHG confidence, look at dirks confidence…his aint much better…maybe even worse….
keeping coaches that don’t know what their doing will keep FA’s from coming to Tampa….GO BUCS!!!!
October 19th, 2017 at 1:43 pm
Who knows maybe this injury fixes jameis deep passes
October 19th, 2017 at 1:52 pm
“coaches that don’t know what their doing ”
You don’t really believe that. or maybe you do.
Man – it just amazes me how fickle and schitzophrenic this fanbase is.
6 weeks ago – Dirk Koetter’s “approval rating” was above 80% (well above I believe)
2 weeks ago it was probably still at least 75% sitting at 2-1 prior to the Pats game.
Now if JBF comments are any indication – Koetter’s approval rating is about 25%. LOL He and Smith are both idiots and have no idea what they are doing or how to fix the TWO game losing “streak” – to hear so many of you tell it.
This despite having approximately 60 years of coaching experience between them including 30ish years at the NFL level.
I think that speaks more to the commenting segment of this site than it does to reality because according to Joe’s poll yesterday – over 65% of those who voted are somewhere between confident and totally confident in Dirk Koetter’s ability to do his job as a HC and turn this franchise into a winner.
October 19th, 2017 at 1:56 pm
“813bucboi Says:
October 19th, 2017 at 9:54 am
for those of you that think dirk doesn’t have a chance to get fired better wake up and smell the roses!!!!!….”
Smell the roses? That means you’re actually happy about this lol. You’re weird dude. Really weird obsession you have with wanting Koetter to fail.
I never wanted Lovie to fail for example. You won’t find me acting happy when Lovie was doing bad. That’s just weird.
October 19th, 2017 at 2:13 pm
calling it like it is, this guy’s got it. Joe wake up.
October 19th, 2017 at 3:53 pm
Word is..Somebody witnessed Schiano and Lovie Dubbie buying a bew fishing chair and pole with the initials DK carved on them. That will make 3 down at the ole fishing hole in st Pete. DC Smith will probably be joining them as well. Meanwhile back at the ranch..The Gruden express gears up for action….stay tuned…
October 19th, 2017 at 9:47 pm
Koetter and Smith will get it figured out. Patience is what’s in order here. The Bucs have basically two head coaches with a wealth of experience. The last thing the Bucs need is another coaching change. It may take a couple more years but they’ll get there. Now maybe a position coach here or there (secondary) might want to watch closely.