Is Koetter (Are Players?) Feeling The Presssure
December 25th, 2017
As Joe wrote last night, the primary reason Joe went to the Bucs game in Charlotte yesterday was to dig up as much as possible on the Bucs’ uncertain coaching situation.
It certainly wasn’t for the second-rate press box food. (Nobody lays out a feeding frenzy like Team Glazer in Tampa).
Some of that is on the record; most was off the record. Sorry, but that’s just the reality of getting information. Joe’s not going to get unvarnished truth, in most cases, for publication here.
Joe also set out to find out whether Dirk Koetter is crumbling/changing/panicking in the face of all this losing.
And are Bucs players getting distracted by the steady whispers?
It was yet another Sunday with NFL Network dropping chatter about Chucky coaching the Buccaneers in a handful of days. This time it was Chucky reaching out to potential assistant coaches and wanting his return to be in Tampa.
Joe talked to several players about whether they picked up on that Sunday morning noise and whether it was circulating around the locker room.
Most said, No. Some said yes, but it’s routinely ignored. On the latter, Cameron Brate said he and players hear the noise but the offense is so confident and so locked in with Koetter that they just follow his lead on tuning out any kind of chatter from the outside.
Others in the postgame locker told Joe it was the first they heard of any new speculation on coaching change in Tampa. (Joe thought it was cool when Clinton McDonald said he’s old school and just has a very simple routine on game day: wake up, pray, eat and focus on the game.)
Center Joe Hawley, who also played several years under Koetter in Atlanta, said Koetter is holding up under the noise and losing as well as could be expected.
“We’re the best 4-11 team I’ve been around, but that’s not anything you want to be. Coach has been very consistent through all this. Very consistent [in his approach]. But nobody’s good with this,” Hawley said. “This is very competitive group and that includes the coaches.”
December 25th, 2017 at 4:04 pm
Sing-a-long everyone..”Here comes Gruden to save the day!”
December 25th, 2017 at 4:13 pm
Klueless 3 minute after game pr….
Im sure he isnt feeling the pressure
“I heard the players are practicing grudens impersonation in the showers”
Son of kobe faker
December 25th, 2017 at 4:15 pm
If the Bucs keep Licht around and fire Koetter then this team needs new ownership.
December 25th, 2017 at 4:18 pm
“We’re the best 4-11 team ive ever been around” you are what your record says. Just because you’ve lost 3 close games in a row it doesn’t mean you’re a good team, can’t forget about some of the early in the season games where they got dominated. There has to be a change at defensive coaching, I’m not sure if Koetter will take it well if Mike Smith is fired.
If koetter was to remain HC for another year they have to find 2 solid coordinators on both sides and koetter be strictly a HC, he’s been putting yards but no TD’s in the red zone and as a result no points.
You can’t keep the same coaches and expect different results next year, that’s the definition of insanity. I understand that games in this past moth were lost because of defense but early in the year defense played some decent games and offense was non existent. Oh yeah, special teams have been just as bad year round.
December 25th, 2017 at 4:35 pm
2 new coordinators? Why not just replace koetter. What HC skills has he shown thats any good? Passion? Game management? Half time adjustments? Time out situations?
The guy sucks as HC and OC.
koetter will be out of the nfl forever in 2 weeks.
No will hire him in the nfl…
And the sheep wants him for another year?
Omfg!
December 25th, 2017 at 4:46 pm
No new coaching staff will have season ticket holders not returning their renewal notices.
December 25th, 2017 at 4:58 pm
The Bucs fired Lovie Smith after going 6-10 and starting 6 rookies. Dirk Koetter has been hesitant to play the young guys.
December 25th, 2017 at 6:27 pm
tuning out the noise and locking in hasn’t worked ….OBVIOUSLY
FOR 3 YRS AVERAGING UNDER 20 POINTS….
which cost us the game ……AGAIN!!!!!!
December 25th, 2017 at 6:28 pm
Dirk is definitely feeling the pressure. He has switched up his offense a bit the last few weeks, trying to save his job. Too bad his bone headed head coaching time management blunders are still killing him. What a joke. When half the people watching the game, alot of the women, know when to call a timeout but your head coach doesnt…ummmm no thanks. As much as i think dirk needs to go yesterday this falls on the owners too. They have to either ask the right questions in the interview process or find someone who will. We need a head coach to be head coach. Not a coordinator.
And lakeland
The young guys, 2nd string and below, are actually the ones playing better. Dirk decided to give his starters training camp off. They just started getting it in week 14 or so, also around the time he stopped going deep and running the ball. His offense is too predictable. Tb and tennessee both need to trash that offense to have success. Hard to succeed when the other team knows whats coming.
December 25th, 2017 at 6:46 pm
@ darin: in fairness to the owners they wanted Winston developed so Koetter was kept for continuity purposes.
That was the smart play two years ago. Winston has developed more, but maybe it’s time to bring in a guy who can take Winston to the next level, because it’s clear Winston is better than the offense he’s in right now.
Let’s face it: most thought the Bucs would be a feared point machine this season with “Weapons for Winston.”
Obviously, that didn’t work as planned.
December 25th, 2017 at 6:50 pm
I think Koetter realizes that this is his last hurrah…he’ll be hosting local celebrity golf tournaments in Idaho next spring and summer.
December 25th, 2017 at 7:09 pm
Dont blow it for us and win this week Dirk! Youll be gone, we will always be fans. We should be picming 4th or 5th in the draft. Not only does that put us in position for a great pass rusher but also in prime position to trade the pick to a qb needy team. Could be a huge draft next year, dont mess it up dirk!
December 25th, 2017 at 7:27 pm
I can’t imagine that a motivated Saints team shows up at Ray Jay flat or unprepared. Dirk and Smitty know how to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in case the game is close. Murray the Munchkin can shove a kick right if all else fails.
December 25th, 2017 at 8:12 pm
@ JonBuc: I can’t imagine a Koetter team showing up at any stadium ~prepared~.
December 25th, 2017 at 8:31 pm
Koetter had been an assistant for a long time for a reason but maybe this 2 years he helped jameis prepare before an actual winner comes back to town
December 25th, 2017 at 10:02 pm
Everybody is under pressure in football.
December 25th, 2017 at 10:42 pm
The Glazers are the ones that should be feeling the most pressure. They continue to fail miserably finding the best qualified HC to lead this team. Raheem Morris was just too young and inexperienced. Schiano was just plain crazy. Lovie was washed up. Dirk was hired mainly as continuity for Jameis. If they truly believed that any of these coaches were the best option to coach and prepare an entire professional football team then we may still be in trouble.
December 26th, 2017 at 9:35 am
@REALIST
COME SAVE YOUR COACH!!!!!!!!….HE NEEDS EXCUSES!!!!!!!
better yet, he needs a professional mover and I hear your up to the task!!!!!!….good luck!!!!….I hear he has a lot of sh!t to pack and move!!!!!……GO BUCS!!!!
December 26th, 2017 at 10:26 am
Koetter will secure hinself a very nice OC job in the NFL or a very good College coaching job he can handle. And he will be happy. Smitty will retire to his farm and create a..Pressbox in his backyard to look down on his property. And the Bucs will move on to better things..I pray.
Look at the bright side, we might have a shot this week if the Saints rest Brees!
December 26th, 2017 at 12:11 pm
“Pressbox in his backyard”?!!! LOL, classic!
December 26th, 2017 at 2:35 pm
Is it dirk fault when we do get in the red zone there is a false start, a holding penalty, or a sack ? All I’m saying is you don’t marry your ex wife.
#staywoke