“Everyone’s Acting Like There’s Some Big Secret To That”
December 28th, 2017
Candid Dirk Koetter continued his unwavering, refreshing communication style on national radio yesterday.
The Bucs’ head man was on SiriusXM NFL Radio and was asked gently about his coaching future and about getting evaluated at the end of this season.
Koetter came out swinging a big stick.
“Everyone’s acting like there’s some big secret to that. I mean, every person in the NFL, coach, player, GM, is evaluated at the end of the year,” Koetter said. “You know, so you’ve got players that their contracts are up, guys that are going to be going to new teams, guys that are looking for extensions. The same for coaches. And what makes the NFL great is there are so many media outlets talking about the NFL. The fans are passionate about the NFL. So, you know one thing I’ve just found over 35 years of coaching, speculation is all fun and games when you’re talking about somebody else. But when they’re talking about you … you don’t control what everybody says about you. So you try to focus on the job at hand and you move full speed ahead. That’s why you’re called a professional.”
Hot-seat talk takes a toll on a coach’s family, Koetter noted, but it’s really not any kind of issue for him. “Part of doing your job is being able to focus every week. So in that respect, this week is no different than every other,” Koetter said.
Later in the day, Joe asked Koetter about the logistics of his evaluation last year, but Koetter wasn’t interested.
JoeBucsFan.com: Coach, you said earlier today on the radio that you, like everybody else, would be evaluated at the end of the season.
Dirk Koetter: Sure.
Joe: Can you say what that process was like for you last year?
Koetter: I’m not going to go into that. That doesn’t concern anybody except the people being evaluated. This is something that’s done by the people above me.
Joe: Is it like a couple of days after the season you sit down?
Koetter: I’m not sure exactly what their timeline is.
Joe’s not sure what the “big secret” is about last year’s evaluation, to use Koetter’s phrase, but ok. Koetter wasn’t annoyed with Joe, he simply didn’t want to go there in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, there’s a lot of chirping about Koetter’s job, including on league-owned NFL Network, and there’s still complete silence on the issue from the people above Koetter.
December 28th, 2017 at 9:14 am
…and there’s still complete silence on the issue from the people above Koetter.
And that’s what troubles me most. I’m in the ‘Keep Koetter’ camp, but the absence of any sort of vote of confidence from the Glazers is troubling.
December 28th, 2017 at 9:23 am
Anything the Glazers say about the coaching situation would be general PR speak and or second guessed to death….creating even more distraction….
December 28th, 2017 at 9:28 am
I hope it is an honest eval with the plusses and minuses. There have been both. Expose the minuses clearly and develop a plan to deal with them. IMO if its mostly about football, he’ll be back next year and we’ll be better. Go Bucs!
December 28th, 2017 at 9:29 am
Given that the fans and much of the media have already “fired” Koetter I’d suggest when it concerns the Glazers no news is good news.
There are some thing that are lining up that should steer the Glazers if they think it through.
1st Football. There is no savior out there…just more smoke to be blown up our butts. There is no guarantee that Mike Tomlin or Bill Belicheat would take the Bucs to the playoffs next year. Firing Koetter is probably NOT going to really advance the franchise unless he’s so truly bad…Lovie bad…they need to dump him.
Unlike Schiano Koetter does not have people paying for signs. And in the most important court of opinion next to the Glazers…the players have certainly not quit on Koetter. Really pretty amazing at this point and says something about Koetter.
So 4-12 is not acceptable. The franchise QB had a shaky overall year but still showed plenty of promise. Chucky is perhaps ready to make a last coaching hurrah.
But look at how the timing works out. First the Glazers keep Koetter for next year. They dampen their trigger happy reputation…they do what appears to be a steady move instead of just more desperation.
Koetter either works out or he doesn’t. The relationship with #3 will work or it doesn’t. If Koetter doesn’t work out…then it’s perfect timing for Chucky.
His last son is a senior in HS he’ll be off to college. If Koetter fails and gets fired for performance Chucky gets to come in to a clean slate.
This also gives Chucky more time to get his dream staff and tie up personal loose strings before a return to coaching.
December 28th, 2017 at 9:31 am
Polite way of saying not of your freaking business vultures. Here’s an honest candid coach that had a great personality and is well liked but that crap doesn’t mean a thing because at the end of the day he’s a professional and he’s just not good at his job
December 28th, 2017 at 9:32 am
One more year…
December 28th, 2017 at 9:39 am
last year was obvious…..
this year is obvious as well…..he’ll be sent packing!!!!!….
yall got to connect the dots…..
bad season….gruden rumors swirl…..glazers stay silent….its as simple as that!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
December 28th, 2017 at 9:43 am
Hopefully the Glazers will see the real reasons behind Gruden’s sudden interest in a return to coaching. Here’s a hint – it’s not because he wants to return to coaching.
December 28th, 2017 at 9:46 am
One more year of what Altered, playing Doug Martin when there is a better back on the roster, playing C Baker when C McDonald is better, rotating left guards every other series, rotating safeties every other series, not fitting the offense to its QB and WR’s/TE’s thus its strengths, horrible time management, and lastly running toss sweeps in the red zone that have not worked all year. You want one more year of that? You would with your comments on the QB !!!!
December 28th, 2017 at 9:47 am
Two FIVE game losing streaks in one season…..gets you fired when you have a “franchise” QB in his 3rd yr in your system and you avg 7.5 pts in the first half of games. Hand picking the defensive coordinator that leads the worst defense in the league, hasn’t helped the cause. The entire rationale for keeping Koetter and firing Lovie was the development of Winston and that doesn’t change. Winston is in his 3rd yr in this offense, yet seems to have hit a ceiling and in odd ways, taken a step back. The focus remains on what keeps Winston moving forward and there’s good reason to believe a guy like Gruden can help him continue to evolve. Personally i dont think its so much about X’s and O’s….I think Koetter is extremely knowledgeable in that regard….I think its personality and IMO Winston needs the message delivered differently. Koetter gets on Winston’s rear….but more like a dad would then a professional coach. Gruden will bring the “juice” to Winston and I believe Winston will trust him because Gruden has a ring. For Winston to keep fumbling, it tells me he’s not getting the message that Koetter is delivering so you have to try a new approach.
December 28th, 2017 at 9:48 am
my thing is, what if dirk is retained….gruden picks the raiders…and we go 6-10 next year….is he retained for another year?….do we clean house then?….you guys talking bout 1 more year, what if next year is exactly the same as this year?…..do we give him one more year just because he improved by 2 games?…..
besides him going 9-7 last year, there’s absolutely no reason why he should be given another shot with clock management issues…poor personnel….poor play calling….lack of adjustments…..lack of creativity….offense defense ST regressing….players not developing…..the list goes on and on….
send him packing!!!!!…..GO BUCS!!!!
December 28th, 2017 at 9:51 am
@NDOG
@BOBBY
I AGREE 100%
GO BUCS!!!!!
December 28th, 2017 at 9:53 am
All I would like to say is…I hope the Glazers don’t go grab some tangent and grab a R. Morris which I think was a financial move or a Schiano. I am hoping they stick with Koetter and get rid of the entire defensive staff which I am starting to see some of what happened to the bucs this year ( Baker as they say a cancer on the team and even D Ajax although I like D Ajax a lot it seems if Jameis tried to hard to get the ball to him just see the last 3 games that D Jax haven’t been in the line up Jameis over 300 yards each game and alsothis is only Koetter 2nd year as a head coach)
December 28th, 2017 at 9:58 am
Really hope that if the Glazers do let Koetter go they do go after someone like Harbaugh at Michigan…O’Brian from the Texans or Gruden
December 28th, 2017 at 10:06 am
Agree with 813bucboi……if this were Koetters 2nd year with Winston….then maybe i see one more. If we went to the playoffs last year….then yes, you give him the benefit of the doubt. However this is yr 3….and when things should begin to click, they simply aren’t. Koetter wasn’t picked for any other reason but stability for Winston to develop.
I dont blame Koetter for all our issues, I personally think Licht has handicapped this team with terrible lines on both sides of the ball but the way the NFL works, Koetter takes the fall.
The other way to analyze this is within the division…..We’ve lost all our games in the division this year and sit 4-7 in two years in the division under Koetter. I’ll keep saying, the 5 game winning streak was a freak incident that grossly inflates the stats. Take that one streak out and remove ONE of the 5 game losing streaks and you have a team that basically wins 1… loses 2 on a consistent basis. Simply put, he’s not getting the job done and there’s nothing to really build off of that says next year will be better.
December 28th, 2017 at 10:07 am
people say get rid of the entire defensive staff like they are the only ones F’ing up….lol….
dirk has run this offense for 3 years now and we still cant score in the red zone or score more than 21 points per game with all these #weaponsforwinston……defense is worse than ever…offense cant score and now the ST sucks…..players aren’t listening to his message…..his time is up….GO BUCS!!!!
December 28th, 2017 at 10:10 am
Stevbobucsfan Says:
December 28th, 2017 at 9:58 am
Really hope that if the Glazers do let Koetter go they do go after someone like Harbaugh at Michigan…O’Brian from the Texans or Gruden
^^BINGO^^
GO BUCS!!!!
December 28th, 2017 at 10:11 am
Hey does anybody know where I go to get autographs pre game ? I always see videos of fans getting them but not sure where. Coming from Canada so want to make sure I get some special moments before the game or after . Just not sure where everybody always goes.
December 28th, 2017 at 10:12 am
“Joe’s not sure what the “big secret” is about last year’s evaluation…”
What secret? The Bucs NEVER talk about what happens behind closed doors. That’s no secret.
December 28th, 2017 at 10:15 am
Bobby M. Says
“…if this were Koetters 2nd year with Winston….then maybe i see one more…”
813bucboi Says
“…dirk has run this offense for 3 years now and we still cant score in the red zone or score more than 21 points per game.”
Not really fair to hold the first year against Koetter…which, by the way, was not a bad year. Koetter was hampered by Lovie Smith’s policies in that year.
And really, last year wasn’t bad either.
So far as scoring?
You people seem to forget that before him we were lucky to score 14 points per game.
December 28th, 2017 at 10:18 am
Koetter seems to have problems making in game adjustments and pushing thru the red zone. And he does not seem to be getting better. However we have scored enough points to win games. And everybody here has witnessed at least 4 game winning drives by our oppoments. Koetter sings Smitty’s praises. But Smitty just sucks. We simply cannot stop anybody when it counts. And don’t give me that Player BS. I want our DC gone! Koetter get another year under that condition. firing his DC and replacing him. IF Koetter refuses then Kick his A.. out too!!
December 28th, 2017 at 10:41 am
I can’t recall the Glazer’s ever making any kind of declaration of confidence during the season.
In this situation, if both the Glazers and Chucky are serious, which is doubtful, they would want to have a deal in place before axing Koetter.
Otherwise, they would be scrambling like when they fired Dungy thinking they had Parcells. Ended up costing two number ones and two number two draft choices.
If this is real then I expect it to drag out a bit after the season.
December 28th, 2017 at 10:42 am
If Koetter is kept the offseason will have *zero* juice and season ticket renewals plummet.
December 28th, 2017 at 10:42 am
Bucs need to keep Adam Humphries, Cam Brate, Angerer, Conte, Ali Marpet, Hawley and Fitzpatrick… Everyone else needs to get cut
December 28th, 2017 at 10:42 am
The media is so dumb. why would the Glazers say anything until after the season? Makes zero sense. How many times have we seen owners give the dreaded “vote of confidence” in season and then do a 180 at season’s end?
Anything the Glazer’s say before it’s time to say it merely backs them into a corner and ties their hands. Let’s say they come out and say “We love the fight of the team and think Koetter deserves to return” – then the team goes out Sunday and gets blown out 45-0 with players arguing on the sideline. What then?
And if the Glazers say they’re going to look at replacing Koetter? A full blown mutiny would happen.
While I don’t like the Glazersons’ hiring prowess thus far – I can appreciate their sense to not blab their mouths until they have to.
December 28th, 2017 at 10:49 am
Remember when Chucky was fired it was after the bucs end of the year meeting, and Raheem had been promoted to Defensive Coordinator. Thus the speculation (well founded IMO) that Gruden’s formula going forward included some major Glazer cash.
That’s when the Glazer’s grabbed Raheem and came to Jesus on “building through the draft” and free agents were “fools Gold”.
We all know what happened after that. They got the gold and we have been the fools.
December 28th, 2017 at 10:57 am
harbaugh will never coach in Tampa move on folks. There are high school jobs in Ohio and Texas with far more prestige than working for the glazer clowns. Tampa is NOT a desirable location for many reasons but most importantly it’s a franchise that has never won consistently and is ran by owners with NO clue. Gruden will play the glazers like a piano and take a job with a real franchise like dallas or oakland. Coaches, players and front office personal alike understand the glazers are not about winning or putting a quality product on the field therefore you will only be able to attract the career losers with no heart or desire to be great like baker, mccoy etc…
December 28th, 2017 at 10:58 am
So Winston has a five years deal…Next year is year four….Time to get this thing figured out guys. I personally don’t want Jameis having to learn a new system in the last year of his contract, and if we have a year anything similar to this year next year with Koetter’s contract renewed, that is exactly where we will be.
That being said, no time for a “shot in the dark” HC. If we can’t get Gruden, or someone with a comparable pedigree, we might as well stand pat. And that means with Smith as well…you can’t get a quality guy in for a “last ditch season”.
December 28th, 2017 at 10:58 am
Ndog
Exactly. No idea how anyone could want one more year. You listed alot and i could go on with another long list of his eff ups. Some people would still want one more year tho. It takes all types
December 28th, 2017 at 11:01 am
Dang good point Mark2001.
December 28th, 2017 at 11:01 am
So tmax…you are meaning to move the franchise? Great…so we Buc fans just better “move on” to other pastures, if what you are saying is correct, as we have no hope of being more than what we are today. Welcome to Cleveland South…and oh yeah…they lost their team didn’t they, before they were given a “fresh start”…and that has sure worked out well, hasn’t it. But then, have to consider that “Johnny Football” set them back a few years.
December 28th, 2017 at 11:08 am
mark2001
it’s been 16 years since a single meaningful win sir this should not be a surprise to anyone that the bucs have ZERO hope moving forward with glazers calling the shots. they have embarrassed the city, the league and the sport of football with the piss poor product on the field year in and year out and their horrendous decision making.
they have not figured it out since the superbowl what makes you think they will magically get it now…. being an optimist is one thing but thinking or hoping the glazers figure it out this off season is pure stupidity. glazers have given the fans NO REASON to believe they will ever get it
December 28th, 2017 at 11:15 am
how many failed players (free agents / draft picks), front office personal and coaching staffs will it take to finally accept the glazers are all about the glazers and have no desire to field a respectable product or compete consistently…. they are universally hated throughout the EU for the same lack of leadership with man u that they demonstrate in tampa. hell manchester police have to provide enhanced security when a glazer even visits the city much less attempt to attend a game.
December 28th, 2017 at 11:18 am
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
December 28th, 2017 at 10:15 am
Not really fair to hold the first year against Koetter…which, by the way, was not a bad year. Koetter was hampered by Lovie Smith’s policies in that year.
ok…so it isn’t fair to hold lovies first year against him because he had to role with marcus arroyo as an OC….but we wont go there….
and how did lovie handcuff dirk?….we ran the ball better that year but someway still averaged only 21 points per game……
GO BUCS!!!!
December 28th, 2017 at 11:26 am
Koetter’s eval will likely hinge on how he delivered on whatever expectations he and the Glazers agreed to last year. If he promised 10 wins as Lovie did or a playoff team if you’ll get me the missing piece(s) as Gruden did then he’ll have a lot of ‘splaining to do to keep his job. If he cautioned patience in a continued rebuilding process and has a good explanation for this season’s results and a good plan for how to fix it he’s probably here next year instead of being paid to watch somebody else coach his team. Ira and others have often pointed out the Glazers evaluate their staff on how they managed the plan they all agreed to. Koetter knows what he and the Glazers agreed to, we don’t. That’s what his eval will depend on.
December 28th, 2017 at 11:35 am
For all you people saying one more year ! One more year of what ? Bad clock management ? One more year of predictable play calling ? One more year of playing Doug Martin & also throwing balls behind the line of scrimmage on 3rd and friggen 9 ! No thanks ! I hate to drop coaches every 2 years but that’s on ownership not getting their hires right or the right guys in place to get the coaching that will excel.. At least w/ gruden , no one will have no friggen idea what UN predictable offence our team will have & let’s hope we get a running back that can pound the rock..gruden is not afraid of drafting one high alas caddy at 5 and would been a great pick if the man’s wheels didn’t fall off. With gruden you get a guy that will coach em up , get the most out of the guys and will have a good draft to work with..now , get rid of everyone on d except linebackers and turn em loose !
December 28th, 2017 at 11:41 am
I only say One More Year because of the obvious lack of talent need to meet fans expectations….if it is like this next year this time I’ll be first in line..
Patience Coach Hoppers…
team has played hard these past 3 games
December 28th, 2017 at 11:51 am
Talent is a given . it’s atrocious on defence but I’m talking about coach should a learned from his bad decisions & clock management from 2016 & there he goes in 2017 doing the same thing . nice guy , not worth wasting one more year on him or Mike Smith .
December 28th, 2017 at 12:07 pm
I defer to Ed Kerber’s wife. We watched game together. She said “when Gruden was coaching . he knew how to get everybody in the offense involved!” This offense has good parts but the aren’t coordinated well.
He had three years for the offense. He needs to replace most of coaching staff. Who wants to come in for only a year. Gruden’s heart is in Tampa. They will pay 12 million a year. He’ll bring in good free agents. He’ll get the most out of what we have. Licht can do the drafting. Gruden controls the 53. He’ll attract great assistants. I am a Dungy fan but he doesn’t want to coach. In just a few days—Chucky’s Back!
December 28th, 2017 at 12:17 pm
AlteredEgo Says:
December 28th, 2017 at 11:41 am
I only say One More Year because of the obvious lack of talent need to meet fans expectations….if it is like this next year this time I’ll be first in line..
Patience Coach Hoppers…
team has played hard these past 3 games
ENOUGH WITH THE EXCUSES!!!!!…..
no one was screaming talent at the beginning of the season…..enough with the excuses….if he’s given one more year, then you same people will be saying give him time to develop the rookies…..you say the team played hard the last 3 games, well what about the first 12 games?…..playing hard and losing doesn’t mean a thing…..Cleveland has played hard the past 2 years….what has that gotten them….the #1 pick 2 years in a row…..
dirks time is up….GO BUCS!!!!
December 28th, 2017 at 1:55 pm
They have to make a run at Gruden… as Ira said, if they don’t and Koetter flops again, there will be no place to run, no place to hide. It will be all on the Glazers.
If Gruden chooses to go elsewhere, I don’t think we can jump to another unproven. Another mistaken change, Jameis would likely be out the door at the end of his five year contract, and we have lost this decade. Of course, Koetter and Smith could be nothing more than they have shown this year, and the decade could be lost if we don’t make a change.
Choose your poison….
December 28th, 2017 at 2:09 pm
See , my posts have been more about Dirk and his lack of changing during games & bad overall game management not so much about getting gruden . if gruden wants to come back to the bucs this year and the owners make him our next coach I’m all for that . but you still have to get rid of this coaching staff ! Ya see , you can carry a big motha f__King stick but if ya don’t know how to use it upside someone’s head and ya trip over it time and time again then what good is it ? Even if we get a guy like McDaniels & a halfway decent d coordinator that’s down on the field of play instead of hiding up in the press box that could be pretty potent
December 28th, 2017 at 2:14 pm
Canadabucsfan Says:
December 28th, 2017 at 10:11 am
Hey does anybody know where I go to get autographs pre game ? I always see videos of fans getting them but not sure where. Coming from Canada so want to make sure I get some special moments before the game or after . Just not sure where everybody always goes.
Team entrance is on the west side of the stadium, right about the middle. Players start arriving in 2-3 hours before kickoff.
December 28th, 2017 at 2:19 pm
A # of good comments here…
Koetter deserves a 3rd year if he can convince the Glazers that he knows why this team under-performed so badly this season and articulates a specific plan to fix the “problems” that led to double digit losses in 2017.
But that might all be out the window and/or a moot point if the Glazers have already gotten assurance from Gruden that he wants to come back to Tampa Bay to coach again.
If Chucky wants to come back – then he is likely your new head coach. If the Glazers don’t already have some solid commitment in that regard from Jon – then Koetter will likely get his 3rd year.
I believe its either Gruden or Koetter next year. The Harbough, Arians, New England coordinator(s), etc. noise is just that.
December 28th, 2017 at 2:46 pm
JOE, knowing how the glazers roll do you think koetter is gonna talk about GLAZER TIMELINES
especially since they haven’t came out and did a jerry jones to certify the head coach coming back???
there is your answer ……
December 28th, 2017 at 2:48 pm
koetter has to know and explain why the offense hasn’t scored over 20 in the past 3 years …..including under lovie
then he can be considered coming back not before
and not bring up a 9-7 year that the offense had little to do with
December 28th, 2017 at 2:49 pm
averaged over 20* typo
December 28th, 2017 at 2:57 pm
I seem to recall last year at this time a lot of people saying Dirk needs a real offensive coordinator since Dirk was ultra conservative and just not the same coach he was when he was just the OC. They decided not to get one and while Dirk isn’t as ultra conservative as he was last year, he still doesn’t see/coach the offense well from the sidelines. He’s ultra predictable and abandons the run in the first quarter, then just throws screens to Sims on every 3rd down. If Dirk is going to stick around he needs a real offensive coordinator to run his offense. I’m not saying you scrap Dirk’s offense, I think it can be effective if games were just called better, but clearly Dirk is overwhelmed as head coach and needs someone else calling most of the plays, someone who can see the field and make adjustments and know they’re completely predictable and mix it up.
December 28th, 2017 at 3:46 pm
Good post Rod Munch…….I heard elsewhere that Andy Reid gave up his playcalling duties and their offense took off in KC this season. Not out of the realm of possibilities the same could happen here(with arguably more pieces) if Dirk make the same decision.
And why doesn’t Dirk want to comment on his 2017 evaluation? My guess is their were certain promises with the offense if he could get the right players involved…….MARtin,DJax,Dalvin Cook……which turned out to be O.J. when he unexpectedly fell……..Nobody likes to admit failure
December 28th, 2017 at 4:20 pm
Andy Reid is a good head coach &_thought he should give up play calling to focus on the other things . Dirk is an OK coordinator & a bad head coach . big difference there. The proof is in the pudding and I am not eating that pudding anymore . b.t.w whoever posted that about the 99 team is wrong , the final was 6 to 11 not 9 …. Get your game right ! We were beating the rams 6-5 until Kurt Warner threw that perfect ball rite over bk ‘s hand for a late touchdown with imma say 4 min left in game..we had that effin game with that catch by Bert that they call no catch then apologize after saying they got it wrong…I still cannot get over that one !
December 28th, 2017 at 6:00 pm
Jarod – Not only did they refs blow that Bert call, they didn’t bother to tell Dungy the play was even under review. After the catch, and it was a catch, the Bucs used a TO and TV went to a break. Then after coming back from the TV break the refs say the call is overturned, and it wasn’t until that point the Bucs even knew there was a review going on, more or less that it would get overturned. The Bucs did not get back their TO and had to change the play they had setup – from what I’ve read over the years half the players on the offense had no idea what was going on since they didn’t year the BS ruling.
It was a massive cluster-F and the NFL created up the Bert Emanuel rule the next offseason to cover for their F up. That rule is what eventually turned into the now current cluster-F where no one knows what a catch is. It all came from the NFL trying to cover-up for putting the Rams in the SB, a place they had no business being.
December 28th, 2017 at 6:12 pm
You got it rod…that’s dead on what went down ! But is it to much of me to still hate bk for giving up that TD ? I know Kelly was pretty good but I always felt if Donnie was still covering that side , he would of found a way..friggen finger tips just under ! Damn good coverage..man F ! I want my D back..id give up jameis in a heart heartbeat for a great d again
December 28th, 2017 at 8:57 pm
Thanks gobucyourself!i appreciate that help! Thanks again man!
December 28th, 2017 at 9:16 pm
Jarod – The Bucs defense held a historic offense to 11points – and the pass on Kelly was a perfect as it could be. Brain Kelly is way underrated in what he brought to the Bucs over the years – himgetting hurt in that MNF game in 2003 against Indy is what ruined the season. The Bucs had zero depth at corner after moving Dwight Smith to S and when Kelly went down it brought down the entire defense. For me, I have a hard time hating on BK as the guy gets very little credit. However, in 1999, I think it’s safe to say Donnie Abraham was still the better player, but 11 points, on the road, against that offense – it was an amazing defensive performance ruined by the refs.