Could Marvin Lewis Be A Koetter Lifeline?
December 18th, 2017
Marvin Lewis
Remember as this lost Bucs season comes to a close that what you think means nothing and what Joe thinks is trivial.
What only matters is what the cooperative known as Team Glazer thinks.
And good luck predicting those guys through the past nine years. Most professed Team Glazer experts are as off the mark as a Mike Smith blitz package.
So with that in mind, Joe presents Marvin Lewis, who is about to walk out on the Bengals head coaching gig he’s held since 2003, if you believe insider Adam Schefter of ESPN. Lewis allegedly is interested in becoming a senior coaching advisor, a front office executive, or grabbing another head coaching job.
What makes this intriguing is Lewis and Dirk Koetter are close friends. Koetter met his wife because of Lewis, and their friendship dates back to their college days. At the March NFL Owners Meetings gala bash hosted by the league in Arizona, Koetter and Lewis shared a table. Two summers ago, they hung out together at an Idaho State alumni event.
In the late 1990s, when Lewis was coordinator of the Ravens’ legendary defense, Koetter’s close friend and Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith was on his staff.
If Koetter doesn’t finish this season on a six-game losing streak and lose the ear of Team Glazer, perhaps Lewis is part of a greater solution Koetter proposes to ownership to fix the Bucs in 2018.
December 18th, 2017 at 10:21 am
Tampa Bay Bengals?! No thanks!
December 18th, 2017 at 10:25 am
Hey, at least those Bengal defenses played with an edge.
I’m not 100% on Lewis though. I’d like to see some younger blood in here.
December 18th, 2017 at 10:27 am
OMG, What a stupid idea. He’s worse than Koetter.
December 18th, 2017 at 10:28 am
Team Glazer is OUT OF THEIR MIND if they think brining Marvin Lewis in as a asst or HC!!!!!! The fans won’t stand for that & I can guarantee that their will be a backlash of upset fans not supporting any decision like that. They will show it by NOT buying tickets or merchandise. #KluelessKoetter
December 18th, 2017 at 10:30 am
It seems that Marvin Lewis is done coaching prolly burnt out dealing with some of these knickleheads
December 18th, 2017 at 10:31 am
Pretty certain the owners have their plan already in place….Lewis isn’t saving Koetter. He’s either already done or he’s staying regardless of how he finishes.
December 18th, 2017 at 10:36 am
no chance….dirks a goner!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
December 18th, 2017 at 10:38 am
His Bengals are full of dirty players. Marvin Lewis is very far from being a lifeline of any kind.
December 18th, 2017 at 10:38 am
I see nothing wrong with Lewis being a coaching advisor or in the front office somewhere. I think he is done coaching.
December 18th, 2017 at 10:46 am
Bobby M. Says:
December 18th, 2017 at 10:31 am
Pretty certain the owners have their plan already in place….Lewis isn’t saving Koetter.
^^BINGO^^
GO BUCS!!!!
December 18th, 2017 at 10:55 am
I suspect the die was cast before Lewis looked toward the exit.
December 18th, 2017 at 11:06 am
Koetter should ask him how his Jedi mind tricks convinced the Bengals to keep him so long…talk about overrated NFL coaches! This guy takes first prize…
December 18th, 2017 at 11:08 am
Doesn’t fix the offense and our predictable playcalling. Handoff and run up the middle on 1st down 9 out of 10 times.
Zzzzzzzzzzz
December 18th, 2017 at 11:22 am
I get the sense that Koetter & Smith are a package deal. Return to sender please.
December 18th, 2017 at 11:37 am
Jaboo would fit in perfectly with Lewis’ Animal House environment.
December 18th, 2017 at 11:44 am
Are we forgetting that Marvin Lewis was almost Dungy’s replacement? And that the Glazers rejected him for Jon Gruden?
Marvin will not agree to be a DC. Front office? Maybe. But I think he wants to retire at the ripe age of 59.
December 18th, 2017 at 11:46 am
Another possibility:
Perhaps Jon Gruden has something in the works with Lewis. I doubt it, but it’s possible.
December 18th, 2017 at 11:54 am
Run like hell from this clown! Lovie Smith 2.0! We need coaches that can adapt to the modern NFL. This guy has been doing it the same sh-itty way for 14 years.
After the Bucs get DESTROYED tonight and the Glazers are once again humiliated, as they should be, we’ll have the ammo we need to dump Dirk.
December 18th, 2017 at 11:59 am
2018 Bucs:
HC Gruden
DC Lewis
OC Koetter
QB Eli
If I’m right, everybody buys me a beer.
Oh and it will be two beers if this forecast is correct:
Dixie Chix 30
Bucs 10 (Garbage time TD)
Followed by more losses to end in 4-12
The BuckAnEar Clairvoyant has spoken. 🙂
December 18th, 2017 at 12:01 pm
You never know what the Glazers are gonna do!!!!!!
December 18th, 2017 at 12:05 pm
LOL …..Bucsanth…..best one liner of the year
December 18th, 2017 at 12:07 pm
Koetter and Jameis need one more year to assess.
The only way I jump on a new coach is if the Texans are stupid enough to fire Bill O’Brien.
December 18th, 2017 at 12:12 pm
That sounds f*cking terrible honestly.
My #1 offseason wishlist:
New. Offensiive Coordinator.
I think objectively – you have to say that this was the biggest coaching failure by far of this team and it isn’t even close.
We have way too many good players on offense; and a good enough QB/O-line; that we easily should be a top 10 scoring offense.
Let’s break it down.
#1 obvious failure – We did not utilize OJ Howard well. He should have gotten more TE screens / flat routes for easy 10 yard pickups to make Winston / O-lines life easier. Why the F8ck aren’t you using more play action plays to Howard where he fakes a block and drops into space? That should be the best wrinkle you could throw at a defense to keep them off balance since Howard is blocking so much. Why are you going play action and then deep low % bombs? Instead of a high % throw to Howard where he can get huge YAC? Look at what Eric Ebron – another athletic TE – did to us with underneath routes.
#2 – terrible red zone play calling. 1st and goal at the 5? That should be a TD 90% of the time. For us it’s like 50/50 at best. Let’s call a stupid sweep run that loses 5 yards. Let’s not utilize Howard as a target at all. Let’s call a deep drop and make Djax a primary target. Let’s stop using roll out play action plays since that’s Winston’s best play. It’s insanity.
#3 – sticking with Doug Martin as the starter. Doug martin f*cking sucks. Period. He has sucked for years. Peyton Barber is likely a 1000+ yard rusher on this team if he was starting all year . Peyton Barber is a 3 down back while Martin is a 2 down back. That opens up the offense more. I don’t care what Koetter says Barber’s pass pro has looked good enough to say bye to Martin.
#4 – failing to see that the plan with Djax needed major revision midseason. Djax is no longer the deep threat he used to be. He isn’t tracking and moving to the ball. He isn’t getting any big separation similar to what you see on other teams with deep threats. This isn’t just Winston. He did the same sh1t when Fitz was starting. There were 2 deep balls Fitz threw – similar to Winston – that I thought looked very catchable and Djax gave no effort to get to the ball and just kept running straight. He’s also been around a few interceptions where he was not coming back to the ball or giving effort. I think we should move on honestly… It’s just frustrating to see sh1t like that.
Now the defense was a disappointment; but the D-line basically retired this year. I don’t know what a coordinator could do with this team when your DE is a f*cking MLB many weeks. I actually think Smith did a better job this year than Koetter given the hand he was dealt; but I still hate the lack of press coverage/ aggressive play at times.
Regardless of anything – I will be a super sad person if Koetter is somehow back and calling the plays again next year. If that’s the case I hope he goes on some kind of soul searching retreat and completely reinvents himself because his plan and philosophy for this season has been really ugly sh1t to watch.
December 18th, 2017 at 12:15 pm
Marvin Lewis……….HELL M*THER F@#KING NO!!!!!!! I didn’t want him when Rich McCay wanted him and I sure as hell don’t want him now! He’s a coach that should have been fired long ago and I don’t want him in any capacity with the Bucs. We’re already a laughing stock, do we really want to be a bigger one by bringing in the leader of the Bungles?? HELL NO!!! As dumb and clueless as the Three Stooges ( the Glazers ) are, I don’t see them being dumb enough to commit franchise suicide.
December 18th, 2017 at 12:21 pm
All we can do is hope not.
December 18th, 2017 at 12:22 pm
Dirk Koetter won’t be here to propose anything to the Glazers. Security will be escorting him out of 1 Buc Place on New Years day.
December 18th, 2017 at 12:23 pm
Well if I remember right when the bucs fired Dungy Rich wanted to hire Lewis.
I can’t see this soothing the masses.
This is what happens when you make short sighted hires based on Dirk having worked with Jameis one year with Lovie. Same thing happened with Raheem.
These folks have made horrific decisions on head coaches since 2009. Only the Browns could claim worse and that is a close call.
They better do something other than trot our Marvin Lewis or the stadium is going to be a ghost town next year.
December 18th, 2017 at 12:29 pm
Lord Cornelius Says:
December 18th, 2017 at 12:12 pm
“We have way too many good players on offense; and a good enough QB/O-line; that we easily should be a top 10 scoring offense.”
I don’t see/understand where you guys out there really think that this is a “good enough o-line”. They are mediocre at best and that IS NOT good enough! You all have been spoon fed mediocrity for so long that you’re willing to except it and think it’s good enough. You tell me how many of these so called “good enough” players on the o-line would be starters on any other team? The only guy on this o-line that I keep is Ali Marpet, everybody else needs to be replaced. My friends and I are running a pool to see which line will be the most putrid by the end of the season, o-line or d-line. I think it will be the d-line, but the o-line will be inching along right behind it. And I could care less how many of you out there disagree with me.
December 18th, 2017 at 12:37 pm
Lord Corn,
Thanks for the post and sharing your thoughts. I respectfully disagree with your coaching beef.
Why can’t Jameis hit an open receiver down field? Why can’t he put the ball in a window that is conducive to YAC?
Why can’t the #1 overall pick hit DeSean Jackson, and his $11 million Jets, on a deep ball?
Koetter can’t execute the throws for Jameis. I see plays that are there, but a QB whole isn’t executing. It doesn’t help that Jameis has no run game, a defense worth their salt, or an offensive line that is better than average.
It would be very short sighted to fire Koetter bc Jameis can’t make the throws. Maybe if he spent less time Ubering in Phoenix and more time working on deep balls….
December 18th, 2017 at 12:39 pm
D Jax is not the problem, Lord Corn, please take your FSU glasses off.
D Jax was tracked as the second fastest dude in the NFL last year, second to tyreek Hill.
The truth of the matter is our QB is not making the throws. Why can’t Jameis hot D Jax? cousins had no problem at all the past few years….
December 18th, 2017 at 12:41 pm
Lewis has been to the playoffs 7 time in 15 years. Don’t dismiss him out of hand.
December 18th, 2017 at 12:44 pm
Negative Jeff Says
“Run like hell from this clown! Lovie Smith 2.0! We need coaches that can adapt to the modern NFL. This guy has been doing it the same sh-itty way for 14 years.”
Same way? It must work, because he wins a lot of games…just not this year.
I think people (including me) are opposed to him because of the trouble players the Bengals have had over the years.
But that doesn’t mean they would follow him. Ohio, after all, is a crappy state.
December 18th, 2017 at 12:45 pm
“I don’t see/understand where you guys out there really think that this is a “good enough o-line”. They are mediocre at best and that IS NOT good enough! You all have been spoon fed mediocrity for so long that you’re willing to except it and think it’s good enough.”
That’s just based on PFF grades / etc. They are ranked as average in pass pro. That should be good enough given the rest of the roster.
I watch a lot of other teams. There are definitely much worse O-lines out there. That’s just the reality. O-line play in general is down and bad league-wide – there’s a lot of stories on it. The lineman coming out of college haven’t been good the last couple years; but this class should be better.
December 18th, 2017 at 12:47 pm
The offensive line is not good enough…yet. Just as last year, right tackle is the weak spot. Left Tackle has actually been playing better, regardless of what the ignorant haters claim.
The offensive line just needed more time to gel. It was mostly new, you know, people.
The big issues are on defense, and with our QB, who I love. He just needs to grow up.
December 18th, 2017 at 12:56 pm
Do yourself a favor and be the smarter guy in the room. Never, ever cite the PFF tribe for offensive line grades. Joe has yet to meet or hear of any NFL type remotely suggest those things are even close to accurate.
December 18th, 2017 at 1:14 pm
Pretty, pretty big reach there. Lewis brings nothing to the table.
RE: The o-line, it is almost average in pass protection (despite 2 of our 3 QBs being taken out of games and missing significant time from hits), and very poor in the run game. Of course some around here would like you to think the o-line is solid and the least of our worries. I call them delusional.
December 18th, 2017 at 1:26 pm
“Joe Says:
December 18th, 2017 at 12:56 pm
That’s just based on PFF grades / etc.
Do yourself a favor and be the smarter guy in the room. Never, ever cite the PFF tribe for offensive line grades. Joe has yet to meet or hear of any NFL type remotely suggest those things are even close to accurate.”
Completely agree – I’ve trashed PFF plenty – but the only data I can cite then is the “eye test” or other random people’s opinions. Do you have any reference you’d recommend for O-line play other than “eye test” or random ex player opinions?
Regardless – the primary reason I don’t think our line is THAT bad; is because I’ve seen these lines this year; which are MUCH worse:
Seahawks
Giants
Broncos
Texans
Colts
Dolphins (yeah even with Tunsil)
Bengals
49ers
Browns
That’s just off the top of my head. I don’t even know how I’d rank them; or the Bucs; but those top 6 teams I listed – they are literally like twice as bad as our O-line. Absolutely terrible pass protection. Seattle’s line is one of the worst I’ve ever seen.
There are a handful of elite O-lines; and then there is a category I’d put the Bucs into – which is about average and at worst below average.
Regardless – if you’ve seen my past offseason posts; all I want is upgrades on both lines next year lol.
My main point tho is – this O-line was good enough imo; to result in a top 10 scoring offense with a better coordinator / system. The team certainly moved the ball enough to score that many points this year.
December 18th, 2017 at 1:40 pm
@SteveK –
I wrote a long post and then the site froze on me – typical of JBF honestly lol.
Anyway the main points were
1. In regards to Djax I’d love to see what he’s clocking this year. Go look up his Redskins highlights. There were multiple plays he had 5+ yards of separation for easy bombs. I’ve seen that just once this entire year – the Vikings game – and Winston sh1t the bed with a terrible interception.
I also do not see him tracking any balls with any sort of effort deep. He doesn’t even make a play on many balls that he could. I’ve seen multiple posters seeing this as well; along with his quit-on-play moments where he won’t come back or fight for a ball that ends up being an interception. Again – in the Redskins highlights – he caught plenty of terrible deep balls from Cousins that he had to make big adjustments on. He hasn’t made those plays at all this year or even attempted them. If you disagree then I’ll just agree to disagree; but to me it’s visually obvious. It’s why I also brought up Fitzpatrick – because I saw 2 plays of the same no effort and no adjustment on play-able balls.
2. Winston is not perfect. Winston misses throws. But in general his accuracy is up and his YPA is very solid. I don’t see why anyone would focus on things he actually improved on to say this is all mostly his fault. You’d basically had to have already had an opinion that Winston was a pretty terrible QB and you needed to see MASSIVE improvement or you were ready to write him off. Objectively his stats have been pretty damn solid for a young QB in his first few years; relative to realistic expectations and projections. That’s my bottom line with him as QB. I’m not in here saying he’s elite. I’m saying I’m fine with him as QB going forward (as long as the Uber sh1t checks out lol)
3. The bottom line for me is this. Which way do you lean:
A) Koetter is an awesome HC/OC; who is being held back by Winston. With just an average QB and all these weapons we’d have a top 10 scoring offense easy.
B) Winston is a solid young QB with potential for much more; and his / other offensive players’ talent is not being maximized by Koetter.
I lean B and it isn’t close for me really; even though it’s a mix of both.
If Koetter had a history of prolific scoring offenses it’d be one thing; but in 11 years as an OC/HC between the Jags/Falcons/Bucs he’s only posted 3 top 10 scoring offenses; and never been in the top 5 in the league.
On the other hand; he’s had plenty of top yardage offenses in that time. To me that says he’s an OC who can move the ball between the 20s but is terrible once he gets into the red zone.
Scoring points >>>>> gaining yards. That’s my bottom line really. He’s never figured out the red zone.
December 18th, 2017 at 2:12 pm
LOL.. Koetter is a goner
December 18th, 2017 at 2:21 pm
Lewis? Hell no
December 18th, 2017 at 2:29 pm
Corn,
I think Winston is playing hurt and he’s frustated. Koetter may very well end up being replaced and if he is it better be fore one of: Brothers Gruden. Bill O’Brien, or Josh mcDaniels.
December 18th, 2017 at 2:45 pm
SteveK
Yeah that is one thing we can’t measure – the impact of Winston’s injury.
For example it seemed like he was fine @ Buffalo – probably one of his best games in his career – but then he had the terrible stinker vs Carolina. That doesn’t make sense if we’re blaming the injury; unless he re-aggravated it against Carolina. Which is possible considering how bad he played in that game and then against the Saints before going out
December 18th, 2017 at 3:11 pm
Maybe Winston is the problem!
December 18th, 2017 at 3:14 pm
Marvin Lewis don’t want to come to this bad smelling Dumpster. Fans here are treating the Bucs like they are the Pittsburgh Steelers. A Head Coach dream job, the Bucs Head Coach job is the WORST in all of sports. It’s even worst than the Cleveland Browns. The Browns didn’t become a franchise until 1999, the Bucs has stunk since 1976.
December 18th, 2017 at 4:17 pm
Lakeland
I get your point but the late Paul Brown and virtually all Clevelanders would point out the Browns came into existence long before their “2nd time around”.
Just because Modell hosed Cleveland doesn’t change things. Modell was a cancer.
Some of you older guys remember before expansion folk had different locals teams every Sunday. For awhile before the Bucs that would have been Miami.
In Cincinnati before the Bengals the Cleveland Browns were our local team. I grew up as a big Paul Brown fan and then after he founded the Bengals…loved him.
December 18th, 2017 at 4:30 pm
Of course they don’t want Marvin Lewis to come here. He’s black. The man turned around the laughing stock of the NFL and made the playoffs 7 times as a head coach. With Andy Dalton as the QB for majority of them. Look at his draft record. His defenses have how many top 10 picks? Zero. Geno and Dunlap are not 1st rounders. Burfict was undrafted. The man knows defense and we need defensive personnel. We can tweak our offensive scheme to quicker drop backs to help our O-line. No scheme is going to help our Defensive line. We need talent on our defense.
December 18th, 2017 at 4:35 pm
What was the problem before Winston, arrived.
December 18th, 2017 at 4:41 pm
When I saw marvin was leaving thats the first thing that popped in my head. Dirk was going to try to convince the glazers smitty should go amd marvin should run defense. Hell no dirk. Smiths only half the problem. You and marvin should both have free time to spend together the monday after the season. I hope the glazers dont fall for that garbage. We need a real head coach. PLEASE do your research this time glazers. Im not big on this gruden back thing but Id take him over dirk anyday, and definitely sundays.
December 18th, 2017 at 4:59 pm
Marvin “I think I’m gonna cry” Lewis?????
GOD NO!!!!!!
What is it Joe loves so much about mediocrity? SMH
December 18th, 2017 at 5:01 pm
Im voting for jon gruden and rex ryan as d coordinator….in a perfect world
December 18th, 2017 at 5:18 pm
Lets bring back Mike Alstott too! He was AWESOME!
December 18th, 2017 at 5:42 pm
3rd and 2 we look for the deep ball usually ends up in a sack bad coaching jamis needs a coach that will get in his ass . we do not have that my thinking is he will be fine with a structured coach that’s not afraid to tell him do it my way or the highway . we have the qb he just needs to grow up he acts like a 17 year old kid
December 18th, 2017 at 5:44 pm
Marvin Lewis is a bum joe what are you thinking
If you read this, you’ll see this isn’t about what Joe is thinking.–Joe
December 18th, 2017 at 8:02 pm
We hired him after Dungy, then rescinded the offer… I doubt he’d come aboard
December 18th, 2017 at 8:10 pm
Unless Dirk want’s to be Lewis’ OC then who cares? Dirk isn’t head coaching material, this is a guy that quits on his team’s, throws temper tantrums, has the personality of a baked potato and from the sidelines wouldn’t direct his offense out of an open paper bag.