Status Woe
December 30th, 2017
A lot of fans are hurting without their pound of flesh
An awful lot of Bucs fans are shaking their heads this morning.
They can’t believe head coach Dirk Koetter and general manager Jason Licht earned another season.
It appears Licht will get a fifth year to build a pass rush, which was better the year before he arrived than it is now. Anyone confident Licht and his personnel team can figure that out in 2018?
It’s also a third season for Licht and Koetter to realize that Doug Martin is a bad running back. What in heaven’s name blinded these guys on Martin for so long?
Licht’s also staring at an offensive line that’s broken, the one that he built. Right tackle Demar Dotson will have missed 18 games through the past three seasons and he turns 33 next season. Right guard J.R. Sweezy was a whiff in free agency and has no business returning to this team. Ali Marpet played center, got hurt, and he’s better at guard and should move back there to replace Sweezy. Left guard Kevin Pamphile will be an unrestricted free agent and might not be worth bidding on. Thank goodness for Donovan Smith, and a lot of fans (not Joe) think he sucks.
The cornerbacks situation? It’s downright scary. Ancient Brent Grimes appears to have more leverage than the only guy on the block with air conditioning after a hurricane.
Koetter’s losing ways were epic this season. His team found more ways to lose than what was imaginable. It’s not like there’s just one thing to correct. Special teams was worse this year; the defense nosedived, and Koetter’s offense continues to score less than the NFL average — again.
Joe’s flash poll late Friday revealed that 30 percent of Bucs fans are either angry or disappointed that Koetter will return for next season. Twenty-four percent don’t know how they feel.
Yes, accountability will be delivered soon, but where and how much? Will it matter?
Lotta frustration out there among a healthy percentage of Bucs fans, and it’s understandable. A four- or five-win season featuring two five-game losing streaks lets everyone paying attention know there are serious problems — hand delivered by the guys in charge of eliminating them.
December 30th, 2017 at 12:09 am
Firing the coach every two years is part of why this team never puts it together. This is absolutely the right move.
December 30th, 2017 at 12:10 am
Regardless of however I feel, they are my coach and GM. But smitty has to go. That’s not debatable
December 30th, 2017 at 12:10 am
F#$k you Glazers!
December 30th, 2017 at 12:13 am
Thanks for the well penned piece, Joe. These two have been promoted well beyond there abilities. Licht’s Out is a solid scout and Koetter was a very serviceable OC for a few teams…including the Bucs. There is no shame in not being GM/NFL Head Coach material. It just sucks that 2018 is basically a throw away season already. The stinky seasons are piling up…
December 30th, 2017 at 12:16 am
Well put Greg!
F#$k you Glazers!
December 30th, 2017 at 12:18 am
We are a joke. I’m embarrassed by these two.
December 30th, 2017 at 12:20 am
At the very least Dirk should be forced to bring in an Actual offensive coordinator, and Mike Smith should be exiled from the greater Tampa bay area.
December 30th, 2017 at 12:20 am
Oh, and bring in a proven QB coach.
December 30th, 2017 at 12:21 am
Joe- I think its HILARIOUS that Team Glazer has given Klueless Koetter a vote of confidence by bringing him back. Next year at this very time of the year the Bucs will be looking for a new head coach. MARK MY WORDS. Koetter will fail and Licht wont be around after the draft. Koetter and Licht have been stabbing each other in the back for over a month privately around One Buc Place, they can’t coexist at this point. The big winner in todays announcement is JON GRUDEN. He made nice with Team Glazer and had been talking with them for over 8 months that he got them to put his name forever on the stadium while all the time he was getting his name and interest in him taken to unprecedented heights. The Raiders will make him the highest paid football coach in all the land. Think he didn’t see the 75 mil that Jimbo signed with Texas A&M?? He will be getting a 100 mil deal–count on it!!!!!!!
December 30th, 2017 at 12:23 am
I was rooting for Koetter to get another shot. I’m pleased with this decision. Go Bucs!!
December 30th, 2017 at 12:23 am
No money or time will be spent on Buc’s games next season, likely much longer.
I don’t put this all on Koetter, to me the recent debacle the last few years lands on the shoulders of …
#1 Malcolm Glazer’s sperm. They picked Licht, they picked Lovie, They picked Jameis
#2 Jason Licht He picked Jameis and hired Koetter
It really does come down to that.
December 30th, 2017 at 12:30 am
I don’t see smith going anywhere,what are they going to do bring a
new Dc in hear and install a whole new defense. I don’t see it happening. I see the glazes keep smith for the money he’s making & I see another bad defense next year. Maybe next year GMC shows up the first day of camp in a Purple Barney suit .
December 30th, 2017 at 12:30 am
I can remember what was said about Lovie on this website. There are people without a conscious posting on this site. I will not expect much in the way of wins next season. In Jameis I trust. Jameis has played this season without the help of an offensive line or a coach.
December 30th, 2017 at 12:41 am
I’m good with this. Just need anew DC and a play caller other then DK
December 30th, 2017 at 12:48 am
It will turn around this year…mora defeats or not the Bucks were one play away on the majority of their games. I believe the HC has had some growing pains too. He will put more stock in his franchise QB…they just were to close to winning to disrupt the offense. And in actuality the defense was missing some prime beef. And we need to keep Monken ‘the receiver whispered I like that guy!
December 30th, 2017 at 12:49 am
the receiver whisperer
December 30th, 2017 at 12:49 am
I hope they complete the trifecta and keep Smith. Each year we hold it together is another year closer to a championship. I hope all this coaching crap goes away and they begin to focus on improving the talent they have on defense and adding a much needed pass rush. I would also try to improve the running game. There is plenty of talent out there and with our draft status we should land some improvement/winners
December 30th, 2017 at 1:03 am
The Peter principle in action. Less sold on Licht than Koetter but DC Smith should definitely go. Lots of holes on this team thanks to GM.
December 30th, 2017 at 1:13 am
Right move and remember folks how Ron Rivera was in this position several years ago. Maybe…..maybe it works out that way for us. C0ck$ in da @$re Bucs fans.
December 30th, 2017 at 1:13 am
Any hope for next season now is gone for me. Another average to less than average season coming up. No playoffs. Only question for me is will we get swept by the entire division again? Being a Bucs fan sucks. If only I had been born anywhere else(other than Cleveland).
December 30th, 2017 at 1:23 am
I don’t know what the right move was. I do believe that Koetter, for all his faults noted by the “expert” fans and media, deserved another chance. But it would have been intriguing if Gruden had returned.
Now, if you get a new defensive coordinator and next season is another disaster in which Koetter is let go, does that mean that the DC is also let go and those players will then be on their way to a third DC in three years? Would it make sense just to keep Mike Smith?
December 30th, 2017 at 1:50 am
I can’t help but wonder just how much a part of the problem the position coaches are. When you’re a first-year head coach you can only hire the people that are available to be hired that particular year. It can take more than five seasons to put together the staff you really want. It wouldn’t surprise me to learn that Licht, Koetter, and Smith have some sort of five-year plan. But if they did, I’m sure they figured that Year 2 would look a whole lot better than this.
I’m not completely sold on Smith, but if the Glazers and Licht believe that the primary problem was position coaches and/or player talent rather than scheme, I could accept that. I am, however, sold on Licht; and I still believe that Koetter is the right guy to lead the offense. I would like to see him improve on gameday decision-making, but I think he’ll get there. I can be patient.
December 30th, 2017 at 1:59 am
Hey Joes. How about a poll on what type of blogger is opining on this blog. It could go something like this, pick one:
1. I’m just a complainer who will bitch about anything the Bucs do
2. Walk the plank Koetter, I’m a die-hard Chucky fan
3. If they keep repeating the past the Bucs are bound to become a winner sooner or later, aren’t they?
4. I’m a vacillation, let Koetter coach the East and Gruden the West at the Shriner’s Game and the winner is next year’s Head Coach
5. It all starts at the top, sell the team to Trump, Cuban or Jeter
6. It starts in the middle, Trade GM Licht to 49er’s for GM John Lynch
7. I am and will always be a die-hard Bucs fan, win or lose
December 30th, 2017 at 2:21 am
we had a chance to lift the curse of chucky and we blew it. oh well I hope this works out I guess although its very unlikely foe all the reasons well stated in this article!!
December 30th, 2017 at 3:00 am
Should have payed Gruden whatever it took
December 30th, 2017 at 3:22 am
I think a majority of this decision may be to protect the reputation of the Glazers from being a difficult group to work for. Had the team not played competitively the last few games, it would have forced the Glazers to make a change.
Maybe some more off-season changes may help turn things around, but we need some new players to make it work in spite of the play calling.
December 30th, 2017 at 4:52 am
Wow! I can’t believe what I just read Joe. This is the most direct, hard-hitting article y’all have ever written about the woeful state of the Bucs. The only things you DIDN’T write were “Jason Licht Must Go … NOW” and “Mike Smith Deserves Another Year Because of the Dreadful Talent Jason Licht Forced Him to Work With”.
Jason Licht has had FOUR YEARS to build a winning team, and by your own admission he’s failed. OLine? Two keepers (Donovan Smith & Ali Marpet), and BOTH of those are playing out of position. DLine? It has to be the joke of the NFL. Cornerbacks? By your own admission, “It’s downright scary.” Could’ve added Safeties also, because we need significant help there too. Smitty did a pretty good job IMO … given the dearth of talent he had to work with. Hopefully the Glazer Boys now recognize that, and point the finger at the man who’s REALLY responsible for this debacle … JASON LICHT, THE ARCHITECT OF THIS TRAIN WRECK.
December 30th, 2017 at 4:52 am
If the Glazers decision does not change their bottom line, they have no reason to change anything. The NFL is a business, not a sport. The Glazers look at ROI and if keeping the current staff has no negative effect on the ROI, why rock the boat.
The players are not much different. I’ll bust my ass to prove my worth and after that big contract, I’ll relax for a few years. No sense risking life and limb. Unless there is an organization that emphasizes’s pride, the result is just mediocrity.
And the Buc’s are as mediocre as they get.
December 30th, 2017 at 5:03 am
If the dc stays…pretty much count on a major overhaul of that anemic defensive line…..by-by mr yeasting and swaggy2dope, hello ziggy Sheldon and Bradley chubb
December 30th, 2017 at 5:19 am
Defense Rules: Licht has missed on the chances he’s taken so far on the D Line but I don’t think you’re giving him enough credit. For one, if that Aguayo pick would’ve panned out, Licht would be a genius. He’s gotten us Jameis, Ali, Godwin, OJ, Brate, Kwon, Beckwith, J. Evans, Spence, those are ALL players that could legitamely be pro-bowlers within a couple seasons and a Helluva young nucleus to build around!
Sure, his FA signings haven’t been that good. If he can get another draft of 3+ players that can make an immediate impact, then we’ll be in even better shape for the years to come. At the VERY worst, we have a great nucleus of young very talented players. Licht earned another season and it won’t surprise me at all If gets an extension.
Only one thing will determine that and that’s Tampa winning games and getting to the playoffs. Last year at this time Bucs fans talked about how we weren’t that far off. I think an off-season focused on adding to the defense, and another year with Jameis getting better.will help tremendously.
December 30th, 2017 at 5:56 am
Good morning, long time Bucs fan from Scotland here. I would like to point out the disparity in funding between Man U and the Bucs. Yes there is no pay cap in Manchester but the Glazers have Jose M and are rumoured to be spending loads more this year. The Glazers are in direct competition with Man City’s petro dollars who are funded by the Qatary royal family’s. The Glazers have to invest in Man U as it’s a volatile market, the could not afford a couple of poor seasons as revenue would plummet but the Bucs are in a revenue consistent league so losing seasons do not impact income
December 30th, 2017 at 6:05 am
The Glazers did announce that Koetter will be returning but did not edorse Licht publicly. What are the chances that Licht gets the boot?
December 30th, 2017 at 6:08 am
Justin, I don’t dispute that the Bucs have a good nucleus of young players to build around. I’ve maintained for years that 1st & 2nd round picks should be ‘givens’ … you simply can’t build a winning T-E-A-M if you don’t do well on the high draft picks. We’ve had 10 of those picks in Licht’s 4 years here, so that should be our nucleus right there. How many of those 10 top picks went to the defense in those 4 years? TWO (Spence & Evans). Don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t build my defense around either of them. They’re both decent players, but not in the same talent level as say John Lynch or Simeon Rice.
My bigger frustration with Licht relates to his abysmal FA record over 4 years from a defense perspective. Our best pickups IMO have been Brent Grimes & Clinton McDonald. Beyond that? Meh. And both of those are getting long in the tooth as they say. Smitty’s taken the blame, but he & our defensive coaching staff have actually done a decent job IMO given what they had to work with. Bucs probably need 5-6 new starters on defense, PLUS several more key rotational players. Given his 4-year track record, I don’t see any reason to trust Jason Licht to provide top-tier defensive talent to fill those holes. And if this defense isn’t fixed, Bucs will be mired in the NFC South cellar for years to come.
December 30th, 2017 at 6:18 am
As a fan of The Bucs, it gets harder and harder to watch this team each year. I don’t know if the coaches are the reason to blame or the players are to blame or if bringing in Gruden would have improved things. I do know that getting my hopes up year after year thinking this team will be competitive and then watching yet another lost season is getting really old though. I still support the Bucs but truthfully I wish Gruden would have been brought back only because I think it would have been just the spark this team needed to get back to winning more consistently. I guess we will see what happens next year. Hopefully we as fans are all watching this team as it prepares for the post season and applauding this decision by the Glazers.
December 30th, 2017 at 6:26 am
@Passthebuc…. well said my fellow Buc fan WELL said!
December 30th, 2017 at 6:27 am
They have 4 wins what more has to be said? I guess a lot of fans are ok with losing. The team is not better in year two it’s not the same it went backwards three steps.
December 30th, 2017 at 6:33 am
Hard to get excited as a Bucs fan. What are we suppose to be excited about? We almost beat some teams? Another year another slap in the face to there fans.
December 30th, 2017 at 6:36 am
@defense rules
The FA faults are the faults of expectations!!!!!! FA are for filling holes and role players for good Franchises!!!! How many Stars and team captains for those teams come from FA!!!!!! There is a talent holes on the roster and the sheep expect FA to not only fill that hole but lead the team!!!!!!!!! The roster that was wrecked by dominik is just now being covered up!!!!!! And many mistake the draft of potential and talent with mature, consistently productive!!!!!!!!!
Now here is the pitfall, because of the non tolerance of a team growing, this team has to win and win quick!!!!!! Will the team have to dig deep in FA to find enough so that they can come back next year??????? Will they in trying to get a pass rush this year avoid making moves to ensure that we have a pass rush for the next 3-4 years?????????
because mistakes are not tolerated by the sheep!!!!!!!! They will claim “commitment to excellence”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yet they do not practice nor know the meaning of “COMMITMENT” that leads to excellence!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!
December 30th, 2017 at 6:39 am
essentially eric said this is a malcolm glazer sperm issue…lol
mg rip
December 30th, 2017 at 6:45 am
stick carriers live on for one more year…watch “Big Paw” revive the stick carriers gang gang
#StickCarrierGangGang
#GangGangGang
#SwingYourD*ckDirk
December 30th, 2017 at 6:59 am
Agree that Licht has not a good job in free agency. Hire another GM type to
straighten this out,if Licht stays. All players on the roster have to be evaluated,which ultimately will be grade on the current GM. In hindsight,
one of the biggest failures is when and if a player will return to form after
injuries. Koetter may take a share of blame for wanting Martin back but,
if Bucs were aware of his issues with substance abuse,then he shouldnt
have been given such a big contract and a successor should have been planned for. long before now. The inability to put quality,durable DE’s on the field
is on Jason Licht. The Sweezy rehab was disastrous,and I don’t think moving Marpet from his natural position made the team better.
December 30th, 2017 at 7:04 am
Out of everything this year, the “Stick quitters” might be the most disappointing!!!!! Even for Bucs fans they turned on the coaches quick!!!!!!!! And I see next year even being worse!!!!!!!!
Maybe they should rebrand to the “pink-slippers” !!!!!!! And you can use that, I am looking for no royalties!!!!!!!!!
If the self claimed “hardcore fans” turn on the coaching staff before the half point of the season, what does that say???? With fans like the stick quitters, who needs detractors and local media!!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!! And Go Head Coach Koetter!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 30th, 2017 at 7:14 am
As far as the lines,on both offense and defense.
We seem to be getting O lineman that can either pass block or run block well,but not both. Same for D line we need more players that can play the run and rush the passer equally well.
December 30th, 2017 at 7:44 am
@Realist … “The FA faults are the faults of expectations!!!!!!” Not sure I understand what you’re getting at there Realist. When the Bucs have major $$$ available for FAs and sign Baker instead of Campbell, what’s that tell you? There were a number of relatively good Safeties available in FA, but we signed JJ Wilcox out of the bunch … THEN traded him so we could sign TJ Ward. What does THAT tell you about Licht’s commitment to strengthening this defense? Several decent CBs were available, but we pass on them & sign Robert McClain instead. Nice guy, but not really what needed to beef up our secondary (as in ‘adding some height & speed to stick with some of the bigger WRs/TEs in our division’).
My expectations were simple: Build a defense that plays great defense and helps this T-E-A-M make the playoffs. That’s ALWAYS been the Bucs identity and that’s how we’ll win championships. Even in our SB year, Bucs’ D was #1 while the Bucs’ O was #18 in the league. Going ‘whole hog’ offense is a prescription for disaster, as the Saints & Falcons both found out. They’ve both improved their defensive posture it looks like … Bucs better do the same or we’ll be in serious trouble for years to come.
December 30th, 2017 at 7:57 am
Why Shouldn’t this be expected? What has led us to believe that the Glazer boys had the ability to ever make a smart decision? It isn’t the decisions that should be a surprise…It is the expectations that they could ever get anything right.
December 30th, 2017 at 8:29 am
@Defense Rules
Go and look what Jacksonville did the last 4-5 years!!!! Look at the resources they have put into building that defense!!!! Those were years the Bucs were “building offense” !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!While Baker was not the right move, neither would have been bringing in a 31 year old Campbell for 34 million guaranteed who would not have been half the player on this Bucs line because he would have been isolated and neutralized even more than his time in Arizona!!!!!!
While its fun to take his sacks this year, and say “look what the Bucs missed” it is more “realistic” of all the other players on that line of Jax!!!!!!!!
But we both agree that it is time to “build” the line!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 30th, 2017 at 8:50 am
This year was pretty humorous, if you can look at it objectively. If I may share an “off the field example”. And before I do, I need to give a disclaimer… not the kind of thing to happen to me or Joe.
A homely guy named Buc is out with his buddies at a bar. A group of beautiful ladies walk in, all playoff and SB quality ladies. The guys all say things like…”man, it is our time… someone is really going to get a playoff or SB this year”.
And next, who can believe it, but they all start winking at Buc and turning towards him. All the buddies say… “this is your time, man…lucky guy… playoff…maybe SB..go for it man.”
You walk over to them, and figure you have it made. You say, “ladies, may I join you? I love you all, but can only date one”. They all start laughing at Buc, some so hard they almost roll on the floor. And everyone in the bar, including your buddy, start laughing at you. You can’t believe it. The shame and all the years of shame start returning in the back of your mind,
Then one of the ladies has pity on you and explains that they weren’t serious about you or that they winked at you. It was just a matter of some smoke rising behind the bar and they were all winking at you because of the smoke in their eyes….the same smoke blown up your backside for all but one year in the last four decade. And it stinks.
The moral of the story… really Buc…why would you ever think you really had a chance with Playoffs or SB’s. Back to the bar stool, hoping for another great brew (draft).
December 30th, 2017 at 8:55 am
Cal…part 7 continued…just another lovable loser, like Browns fan and Buffalo fan.
December 30th, 2017 at 8:57 am
i dont understand how these guys still have a job. If I didn’t perform at my job for a year than I would be fired. Along with an unbelievable amount of money to build a team, these guys have all year to prepare for like 16 games and they sucked. Some now they will return to make millions of dollars and i don’t make sh!t.
December 30th, 2017 at 9:13 am
goose…it is pretty straight forward…they still have jobs because the boys are only shadows of Malcolm, the great man. And they are calling the shots.
December 30th, 2017 at 9:31 am
Tune in next year, same station, same Bay Channel where you will, all of you disappointed fans will..be saying, My God, How could we have been so dumb!
And Pressbox Smitty will still be sittin in the Pressbox with his binoculars goin, We got to get better on Defense. Atlanta falcons owner Arthur Blanks is Laughin his A.. off right now Sayin, Better the Bucs get spent..than me!
December 30th, 2017 at 9:40 am
Looks like we have to wait another year for Gruden. Word on the street is that he wanted nothing to do with the leagues number one turnover machine since 2016-JWinston. He leads with 39 turnovers and second place is not even close.
December 30th, 2017 at 9:59 am
Bad organizations continually put losing teams on the field, give or take a few games every year. Sound like Bucs bingo, doesn’t it?
December 30th, 2017 at 10:03 am
We forget that it was Malcolm Glazer that hired Tony Dungy and Jon Gruden not the 3 amigos (his sons). The 3 amigos fired Gruden (MISTAKE) and hired Raheem Morris (BIG MISTAKE), fired him and hired Greg Schiano, fired him and hired Lovie Smith and fired him giving us Koetter. The 3 amigos don’t have the skill their father had and constantly make mistakes. They should have brought back Jon Gruden and hired Rex Ryan to run the defense. But since we are keeping Koetter no decent defensive coordinator will want to come here with Koetter on a 1 year make it or break it deal. So I guess we are stuck with another year of Mike Smith loose coverage, 70% completion rate and giving up last minute scores to lose a game. BIG MISTAKE BY THE 3 AMIGOS. SELL THE TEAM ALREADY AND LET US HAVE REAL OWNERS (EDDIE DEBARTOLO PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE)
December 30th, 2017 at 10:09 am
What a bunch of crybabies.
I bet 90% of you will root for the Bucs to have a bad season next year just so you can say you were right!
Tampa fans suck, the Stick Carriers were frauds, and maybe now the bandwagon fans will take a hike.
This was the right move. You wanted us to mortgage the future of the team by bringing in Jon Gruden, who wants total control. You all have horrible memories. He tore this team apart while he was here last time…and you want him to have full control to do it again?
10+ years of suckage because of the way he and Allen broke the team up and having GMs after that who could not draft worth spit.
We finally get a GM who excels in drafting (and don’t write VHIII off just yet) more than most GMs do, and a coach who the players want to play hard for, and you want him gone?
You people are a joke.
December 30th, 2017 at 10:14 am
I suggest you all do an inventory of the players on this team…you might be surprised at how close we are.
Oh, and Joe, I don’t think Sweezy is gone at all. The Offensive line wasn’t as bad as people make it out to have been. It improved as the year went on until injuries took their toll.
Marpet even improved at Center.
People are up in arms but no one even considered that it would take time for the offensive line to gel. They’ll be better next year, outside of Dotson.
December 30th, 2017 at 10:15 am
@The Buc Realist
You nailed it. 100%.
December 30th, 2017 at 10:17 am
It took years to build the right offensive players on this team. Heck, it isn’t completely done because RB and RT still need addressing.
The expectation come in when people expected the defense to be built in one season.
That’s just unRealistic.
December 30th, 2017 at 10:43 am
Bonzai…you don’t seem to get it. It isn’t just about a list of players… it is about putting it all together from the top to the bottom of the organization. And we aren’t “building”…we are foundering. Five games below the next team in our division. Pathetic. But a dream goes on forever.
December 30th, 2017 at 11:05 am
All the things you listed in this article are the exact reason why I won’t be watching next year
December 30th, 2017 at 11:50 am
Glazers will get everything they deserve with this move because it shows the decision making process is broken and they have no clue what the hell they are doing. No chance of this every being a playoff franchise. For those who thought all we needed was a franchise quarterback now you know it doesn’t matter how you upgrade we will still be losers. Apparently the glazers think coaching is overrated and you can be outcoached and absolutely horrible on gameday management but keep your job because they like your personality lol pathetic. Well good luck you may be rich but this is one business you know nothing about. Hope you don’t 1-4 to open the season next year
December 30th, 2017 at 12:09 pm
Andrew Norwell and a good second round OT and this Oline is lookin fresh.
December 30th, 2017 at 1:32 pm
SOE fresh… but that is only a small “part of the problem”.
December 30th, 2017 at 1:44 pm
umm @buccaneer bonsai
you don’t think giving all those draft picks hurt the team although it got us the offense needed for the superbowl???
in your verbal diarrhea passage you failed to mention THAT
OR the fact that we made the playoffs with less….so far its 3 years with a failing offense with enough talent to make the playoffs at LEAST
simms made it and got a spleen injury that ended his career….Garcia made it and choked against the giants
but that’s grudens fault right….where did Garcia go after that
you people and your blinded hate sometimes is a Fing joke
AND THATS WHY GRUDEN HAS THE BEST RECORD AS COACH TO GET THERE KOETTER HAS TO PROBABLY BE HERE FOR 15 YEARS
PSSSSHHH…..
December 30th, 2017 at 2:17 pm
More of the same?!?! BRILLIANT!!!
December 30th, 2017 at 3:22 pm
They haven’t won one divisional game they are nowhere close to winning the division. Another wasted year! There isn’t enough time to list all the needs and problems of this team.Who ever the DC is will be head coach by week 8.
December 30th, 2017 at 4:02 pm
The issue is the lack of hope. We already know Dirk can’t coach from the sidelines – he just can’t. We also know Dirk is outwitted by other coaches as he fails to make adjustments in games. The guy is going on 60, he is what he is at this point, nearly 60 years old isn’t when you start realizing the error of your ways and mix it up. So long as Dirk is the OC and calling the plays from the sideline the Bucs are going to continue to be an ultra predictable team without a running game. Dirk gets into play calling ruts and just does the same thing over and over and over again in the same situations – there is little to variety – that isn’t going to chance unless you get a real OC – and if you get a real OC then the only reason you’d keep Dirk around is eliminated since that’s the only value he has.
On defense it’s a disaster, but that is what happens when you have zero depth, no defensive ends and you’re starting Ryan Smith and Chris Conte. Firing Mike Smith might help, at least the corners wouldn’t be playing 15 yards off the line of scrimmage on every play, but unless there is a lot of money spent fixing the D-line and the corner position and getting another S who is NFL caliber, it won’t make a huge difference.
So anywho it’s the lack of hope that is the issue with Dirk. I have no doubt the Bucs can be a solid 7-9 team next year, plus or minus a win, heck maybe if everything breaks their way like it did in 2016 they can get back to 9-7 – but this is a team that has a real QB for once, Mike Evans, D-Jax, Brate, OJ, McCoy, David, Alexander and Grimes – all pro-bowl level talents, and we’re saying maybe if everything breaks right they can get to 9-7, maybe. The Bucs are wasting years on the clock of all these players.
December 30th, 2017 at 6:30 pm
Bring in Derrick Brooks as President of Operations, or some other BE title, but put him over Light and Koetter and make them get his ok on personnel and draft moves.
December 30th, 2017 at 8:38 pm
Well when ownership accepts loosing and holds no one accountable they really don’t not care about the fans. Another loosing season.