Another Top-10 Offense For Dirk Koetter
January 1st, 2018
Only three teams threw for more yards
Few in NFL history have racked up yardage as a playcaller like Dirk Koetter has.
First, Koetter has led three offenses — with three different teams — to top-10 offenses. But that’s old news. Koetter accomplished that very rare feat with the Bucs in 2015, when he was Lovie Smith’s offensive coordinator.
After Sunday’s 31-24 beating of the NFC South champion Saints, Koetter did it again.
The Bucs racked up 455 yards of total offense against a solid New Orleans defense and finished with the ninth-ranked offense in the NFL. (The NFL official stat represents total yards in a season.)
Tampa Bay also put up the fourth most yards through the air this season behind the Chargers, Patriots and Steelers, three teams featuring premier quarterbacks, two of them eventual Hall of Famers.
Damn, if only Koetter knew how to call plays! (sarcasm)
Of course, the biggest stat, the most important stat, is points. And Koetter’s Bucs teams have been too weak in that area, but moving the ball is a great start.
Now if Koetter can just get his quarterback to settle down and mature, and stop playing the wrong running back, the Bucs could really light up scoreboards next year.
January 1st, 2018 at 12:12 am
The Buffalo Bills are 29th in offense and is a playoff team.
January 1st, 2018 at 12:16 am
Buffalo has a defense. Def wins championships. Cancer93 ruins everything.
January 1st, 2018 at 12:17 am
Points is the only stat that matters.
January 1st, 2018 at 12:18 am
Chubb will be gone by 7 so Barkley is looking like a good pick. Get a DE like Thomas from Miami in the 2nd and fire Smith.
Vic Fangio would be a great replacement imo. Just my thoughts
January 1st, 2018 at 12:21 am
Buffalo was 25th in defense last week.
January 1st, 2018 at 12:22 am
ummm Detroits offense had over 4,000 yards every year since 2011 *26 tds 10 ints this year
detroits OC is who…ill wait..who???????
Maybe koetter can call plays or its Jameis’s ineptitude to score on offense
its one or other joe….one or the other LOL
January 1st, 2018 at 12:22 am
Barkley will be gone too.
January 1st, 2018 at 12:23 am
Wait, when I point out Lovie Smith had a defense, with much less talent than Mike Smith has, and he made them a top 10 defense in the NFL I get lambasted.
Anywho in addition to the yards the Bucs punted the least of any team in the NFL, and they also went for on 4th down the least number of times in the NFL, and the Bucs weren’t that bad turning it over as they were middle of the pack.
So how does all that make sense? You move the ball between the 20s, you don’t punt a lot overall, you don’t turn it over and you’re middle of the pack on FGs as well. Oh right, that means when you do punt, you make it count, like punting from the opponents 40, which Dirk certainly lead the NFL in.
Anywho having a franchise QB can make any coach look pretty good. But Dirk actually is a good offensive coach, in the way Lovie was a good defensive coach. It’s how the Bucs had the 5th best offense in 2015, and the 10th best defense, and finished 6-10.
January 1st, 2018 at 12:24 am
If only yards won games. Imagine if the NFL got rid of scoring and simply went by yards gained. That would be very interesting. It might be a more entertaining game and a very high scoring one. And I think I’d like the fact that a sack or loss would show on the scoreboard! Every team starts every drive at the 1 yard line and the most yards wins. At least that would satisfy the people who want to take kicking out of the game. You could even award bonus points for getting to the 50, 20 and the End Zone. Would be interesting indeed.
January 1st, 2018 at 12:28 am
Buffalo offense averages 18.5 points a game. Their defense gave up 22.5 points a game. But they are in the playoffs for the first time in 17 years. Stats don’t mean nothing, just numbers.
January 1st, 2018 at 12:31 am
One of the best passing offenses in pro football. Time to run Jameis out of town.
January 1st, 2018 at 12:32 am
Looking at the updated stats and Mike Smith did it! Bucs were 32nd in defense, nearly 5 yards worse than the 31st place Giants. Also the Bucs were dead last in yards per play against as, easily being out a number of teams for the next to last spot!
Where are the stats for corners that show what a QB did against a particular corner? I’m going to guess Ryan Smith easily lead the league as the worst corner in football – and probably Chris Conte will rate out as one of the worst safeties as well.
January 1st, 2018 at 12:33 am
Plus Barkley….CANT STAY OFF THE WEEEEEEEED….in a Stephen A smith voice
do you really want to risk a doug martin type situation that high….no pun intended
man between chucky taking vegas to the playoffs next year this is all screwed up LOL
good thing we all have personal goals to fall back on….these players got their money …right now I don’t see us as a 10 win team next year
which is what it will take in this division nevermind the NFC….
no wonder chuck chose there….its not like the glazers made it a hard decision
January 1st, 2018 at 12:40 am
at LEAST when the defense was playing good not great ….they got you your 9-7 season koetter gets all the credit for
holding 8 teams to under 20 points and MULTIPLE SINGLE DIGIT GAMES
WHO DOES THAT….THE 2002 DEFENSE….it probably would have been if the
OFFENSE AVERAGED OVER 20 FOR ONE YEAR AT LEAST
BUT ALL WHO BASH THE DEFENSE HAVE NO ARGUMENT AS FAR AS WIN LOSS
IT GOT YOU THE ONLY WINNING SEASON IN 3 YEARS…WANNA MAKE IT 4
HAHAHAHA
January 1st, 2018 at 12:40 am
This is why stats are misleading
Saints 47- Bills 10
Chargers 54- Bills 24
Patriots 37-Bills 16
Patriots 23-Bills 3
Jets 34-Bills 21
The Bills gave up 195 points in those 5 losses
They gave up 359 points in 16 games
In the other 11 games, they gave up 164 points
And they won 9 of those 11 games
January 1st, 2018 at 12:42 am
More fun with stats, the 2017 Bucs were WORSE than the 1999 expansion Cleveland Browns when it comes to defensive yards! Wow, what an accomplishment to beat out a 2-14 expansion team! Although in fairness the 2017 Bucs were BETTER than the Jersey Trash(TM) lead 2012 Bucs defense – so Smith has that going for him.
It was a different era but the hapless undefeated 1976 Bucs also had a better defense that gave up nearly an entire less yard per play than the 2017 Bucs.
Finally the 2002 all-time great Bucs defense gave up 126 LESS yards per game than this Bucs team! That’s a 2000+ yard difference for the season! Amazing!
January 1st, 2018 at 12:42 am
Congrats on a pointless win that knocked us all the way down to the 7th draft pick.
January 1st, 2018 at 12:45 am
*************************
JOE,
Phillip Rivers is a lock for the HALL OF FAME … he may not be a 1st ballot HOF’er due to a lack of “TEAM success” but if former ringless Charger QB Dan Fouts and other ringless QBs can make it into the HOF, I’d be shocked if Rivers doesn’t get in.
*************************
January 1st, 2018 at 12:45 am
A stud, 12 sack, defensive end, a 1,500 yard running back, 2 lock down corners, a side to side free safety, a 95% field goal kicker, and this team might just get into the playoffs in 2018. These 6 players can be had in the draft and in free agency next year. Without these players, it will be a long 2018. The Bucs have the basic building blocks in place to be a good (not great) team, but need a few more players in place.
January 1st, 2018 at 12:47 am
PRBUCSFAN,
It knocked us ALL THE WAY DOWN from #5 to #7 and the teams that jumped us and are in the #5 and #6 slots both needs QBs, so in reality, it didn’t cost us anything at all, other than maybe the opportunity to TRADE DOWN …
January 1st, 2018 at 12:49 am
How many offensive points scored in the first half when the game was tight? Like I said, pick and choose tp defend your guy, this entire team including Jameis , wr,rb, defense, and gm/coaching are responsible for this whole crapshow, hold all or none accountable, be fair, don’t look like a moron like a couple of posters we know well.
January 1st, 2018 at 12:51 am
Howard can tell the Glazers exactly how to make this team a winner and he won’t even charge a fee:
Bring in intelligent, experienced, proven football operations Czar to work with Koetter. That way Koetter spends more time as OC.
Fix the goddamn defense. Not a big fan of Smith.
Stop making your kickers neurotic.
Hire Derrick Brooks to be JW’s personal handler and self-development guru.
January 1st, 2018 at 12:53 am
NFLNut
Actually it hurts quite a bit if the Bucs had any idea of trading down since two QB needy teams jumped in front of us. At #5 the Bucs most likely could have easily traded down and got a couple of 1st and probably a 2nd and 3rd as well to go into the middle of the first. That’s perhaps 4 starters as opposed to one. Then again if some DE hits it out of the park teams will be wanting to trade up to #4 with the Browns to get them before the Bucs do, assuming Indy doesn’t take a DE.
Anywho it was a meaningless win and it really does hurt the team IF they had eyes on trading down. If the Bucs stay put it probably won’t hurt them too much unless the run on QBs doesn’t end up happening.
We won’t know anything until after the combine as I don’t think any players truly stand out as locks, but then again I haven’t been paying super close attention to college so what do I know?
January 1st, 2018 at 12:55 am
Koetter’s red zone offense is mediocre to putrid. He needs to evaluate that and get some external input to improve it
January 1st, 2018 at 12:58 am
^ RodMunch,
You are spot on and I admitted as much in other posts.
However … they could still trade down with the Dolphins, Cardinals or Bills, all of whom may be desperate to get a QB …
January 1st, 2018 at 12:59 am
Players to Send Packing tonight:
Doug Martin
Chris Baker
Desean Jackson
January 1st, 2018 at 1:00 am
Tampa Bay has 4365 passing yards
Buffalo has 2825 passing yards
The Bucs are home
The Bills are in the playoffs
January 1st, 2018 at 1:04 am
NFL nut.
He pees the best wver
2nd down. He peed best ever
January 1st, 2018 at 1:05 am
Pholtp river s yah
January 1st, 2018 at 1:06 am
NFLNut
Right, they could still trade down, but they’re not going to get that huge package they’d get at 5 I don’t think since two more QBs will have most likely gone by that point. It still might happen, but at #5 I think it was almost a no brainer to trade down and to get a huge haul and still have a good pick.
Also the Dolphins have Tannehill so I doubt they do anything at QB since he did look pretty good in that offense, assuming he’s back healthy anyways. But the Cardinals might really be desperate, but if they are I think they go to #4 to get the guy they want. But if the Browns trade back at #4 then you’d have probably 6 QBs going before Tampa picks, and at that point you take the best player on the board since you’re getting a ton of value – unless this is a really weak class anyways.
January 1st, 2018 at 1:11 am
I said this in a different post but D-Jax isn’t going anywhere, he basically signed a 2-year deal with the Bucs and there is literally no reason to cut him. Lets say you got your way, well then you’re back to last year and one injury away from Humphries starting again – that would be insanely dumb. There’s a reason why the Bucs did have those yards passing and yet Evans and Brate both had down years, in part it’s because defenses still have to account for D-Jax – and someone who really benefited from that? Humphries since he played underneath and often was running open or against LB or 2nd rate S’s since the defense had to put its resources into covering D-Jax.
January 1st, 2018 at 1:14 am
and keep a solid kicker, beef up the defense and get somebody to get through to Jameis to stop throwing to Mike Evans in quadruple coverage. Just planning a quiet sunday watching Bucs play some ball ends up in spiking the remote on the floor and screaming and hollering, omg this kid takes you on rollercoaster ride every sunday.
January 1st, 2018 at 1:27 am
Ok no reason to worry Adrian Peterson lasted to pick 7, best player available if Barkley lasts that long otherwise, please draft an explosive 2nd round RB, this offense needs a playmaker in the backfield to become elite, plus some linemen
January 1st, 2018 at 1:28 am
Here’s a fun fact for the Winston haters….
Winston, who has all these fumbling issues, has 15 lost fumbles in 3 years. Mariota has 12 lost fumbles in that same time, but if you account for the additional games Mariota has been on IR, he actually would have 13 over the same number of games.
To put that in additional perspective, Aaron Rodgers has 9 in that time, but missed 9 games, if you prorate it out is about 11.5.
So Winston has to work on it, but he only had one more fumble lost this year than last year, and that was with a new starting center, who got injured and was replaced multiple times. Also in Winston’s rookie year, when he had one center who played with him, he had 2 fumbles lost all year. What was the other big difference in 2015? He had a healthy offensive line that played really well and a running game – something that he hasn’t had the last 2 years.
January 1st, 2018 at 1:34 am
firethecannons – So did Brett Favre, he’d go against those great Bucs defenses and turn the ball over like 5 times, then somehow at the end of the game he’d have the Packers in a position to win. He would rarely win those games since it was an all-time great Bucs defense, but certain players have the ability to dig holes for themselves and, when given the opportunity, to dig themselves out of it and make games that shouldn’t be close, close. When I watch Winston play I see Favre, I see the same guy, who is exactly who the Bucs knew they were getting. You didn’t watch Favre to be bored to death on Sundays – if the Bucs wanted that they could just hire Mike Shula again and make him head coach.
In another post I looked at the first 3 years of starting between the two and wow, they’re nearly the same player.
January 1st, 2018 at 1:38 am
If they draft Saquon, we riot!
January 1st, 2018 at 1:51 am
Rod Munch, you are correct. DJax has 2018 guaranteed at, what, 11 Million? Barring a trade for probably a 4th rounder at best, DJax will be a Buc next season. Winston and DJax need to work out this offseason, but I doubt that will happen. We need to stop signing players that don’t like to practice. Baker was a waste of Anthony Collins proportions and DJax only works in the offseason when it’s mandatory. Not the type of players we want.
January 1st, 2018 at 2:10 am
According to Overthecap, D-Jax is a guarantee for $7.5-mil and a total cap hit of $11-mil. They already paid him $12.5-mil. In 2019 he has a cap hit of $10mil, but no guarantee.
As for him practicing it’s hit and miss. When he was signed I wasn’t really for it since the guy doesn’t have a history staying healthy and would be limited in practice in any case because of his health history – I thought for the money you get a true #2 like Pierre Garcon and draft a speed guy – but the Bucs did the opposite, they got the speed guy in FA and drafted a future true #2 in Godwin. I think it worked out OK in any case – so long as the Bucs don’t put themselves back into a position of having to start Humphries. The timing with Jackson wasn’t there, but his role was strech the field for guys underneath and Hump, plus both TEs benefited from corners a lot of time needing safety help over the top. The problem with that is when the field is short, that stretching the field doesn’t work as well and Dirk didn’t have much of an answer on how to use D-Jax, or really anyone else. D-Jax next year should be returning some punts here and there, should be running a few more slants, and hopefully on the long ball him and Jameis get on the same page as they were just slightly off.
January 1st, 2018 at 2:12 am
I wouldnt be happy with Mariotta either, damn, set your sights higher
January 1st, 2018 at 2:26 am
Bucs need to load up in the trenches there is alot of talent in this draft
January 1st, 2018 at 2:40 am
Baker is for sure gone and I believe DJax should be as well. With Evans and Godwin on the outside and Hump in the slot with our 2 TEs we are a much better team. Jax has been the Baker of our offense. Draft a RB and DE 1st and 2nd and sign real players this time in free agency
January 1st, 2018 at 2:44 am
i’D Have rather lost today but. oh well. I remember another “turnover mchine” named Brett Farve that did pretty well, and Jameis isn’t even 25 yet (hello Dan Marino) If Chubb is gone look at Sony Michel-as good or better. I have been a fan since there were bucs (chs 69) and 5-11 is so much better than 2-14 with no hope. we have evans. godwin. brate, humphries. maybe a decent edge rusher in the draft and Jameis can entertain us for years GO BUCS
January 1st, 2018 at 3:39 am
gabuc sony too small
January 1st, 2018 at 3:49 am
We rack up a sh!tload of air yardage but lock up in the red zone, even though Jameis only has 1 or 2 career picks in the redzone. That points to either playcalling or not deploying players properly, which is correctable. I don’t think Bill Walsh was a master game manager and playcaller in 79′ or 80′ (in fact they won 8 games total), and he turned that franchise into maybe the greatest ever. Just goes to show what time can do for a coach and how saturated the modern game is. I have seen Dirk make small strides in adjusting his approach and think he can mature. We just need to place more emphasis on the running attack and stop phasing out the hot hand like he does Barber every week.
While we’re on the subject of performance btw, i’d like to point out defending league MVP Matt Ryan’s impeccable 2017 stat line of:
64.7% 20td/12int 4,095yds and a rating of 91.4, 7.7 ypa and 255.8 ypg on an 11-5 playoff team
as compared to
Jameis Winston:
63.8% 19td/11int 3,504yds and a rating of 92.2, 7.9 ypa and 265.5ypg on a 5-11 team with a top ten draft pick.
Ryan played all 16 games and was sacked less. …funny how that worked out. It’s almost like the context of the situation and the players/staff around a young qb actually matters for some strange reason…
*frog sips tea*
January 1st, 2018 at 4:03 am
Coach koetter, I really wanted Chucky, that was my heart wanting him, but I know you deserved another year, 14-18 isn’t bad after 2 years, I believe you can make us great again, I don’t know why but I think next year we will win 10-12 games, I got your back Coach! GO BUCS!
January 1st, 2018 at 4:15 am
Are you saying Big Ben isn’t going to the HOF?
January 1st, 2018 at 4:46 am
I’m so happy they are bringing Koerter back. I wanted change but look at the games. Four games lost by 3 points. Ten take into account the Patriots game were the kicker missed what seemed like 30 field goals and the Green Bay it game. They are 11-5! They were still in every game! A few tweaks here and there and also maybe a little bit of humbling. This team will be good. I feel like they had big heads coming into the season with all the hype. My biggest concern this off season is Grimes. We need him back get one more solid cb and the secondary isn’t horrible. As much as I hate conte he was solid. Nezt and equally important at least 2 solid d-linemen. Get pressure upfront and actually drop the an with the ball the d would be fine. Keep the oline healthy with a little more depth and there we go. I hate to say it but martins gone. Grab a hb later in the draft and maybe in FA to compliment barber and offense is done. This team isn’t far off.
January 1st, 2018 at 7:16 am
Playing from behind on every game is the best formula to a top 10 offense
January 1st, 2018 at 7:19 am
You can’t put a bandaid on a bullet wound…Skill players are nice and all but, in my imo we must get better in the trenches on both sides on the ball if we sincerely what to become playoff regulars…
Assuming Chubb is gone by 7, this is the perfect year to trade back a few times and stock pile draft picks…Our primary focus should be adding some quality beef to our Oline and Dline…we lost a lot of games this year simply because we lost the battle in the trenches…9 times out of 10, the team that owns the line of scrimmage wins the game…
January 1st, 2018 at 7:27 am
Dirk is the man….thusus what we all expected all season. The guy is a great offensive mind and always has been. Djax was a wasted signing should have signed Kenny stills but either way Godwin will be the starter next season along with humph I think that is clear.
I’m afraid Mike Smith will still be here though which is bad with the schedule they will have as well
January 1st, 2018 at 7:52 am
DB55 Says:
January 1st, 2018 at 12:16 am
Buffalo has a defense. Def wins championships. Cancer93 ruins everything.
——————————————-
Didn’t seem like they had a defense when we played them.
January 1st, 2018 at 8:04 am
Isrbuc
The fact that the bucs were in every game besides 2 kills your stupid comment.
January 1st, 2018 at 8:21 am
webster my comment is about ranking offenses by yards and the possible reason we are a “top 10” offense by nfl ranknig (pass heavy, time pressured). How does your smart comment kill it? It has nothing to do with what i said.
Btw, apparently most games are decided by one possetion or something close to that. That’s the nfl nowdays. There is nothing special by being “in there” anymore, especially when you climb a hole on each and every game
January 1st, 2018 at 8:25 am
Playing from behind equals lots of yardage. The bucs will be good when the offense is balanced and the defense is good. Dirk abandoned the run yesterday for some reason and it almost bit him. Id love to see dirk somehow become a competent hc by next season. Ask sean payton how his annual top 3 offenses worked over last few years. 7-9 is how. You gota be balanced. Beef up the line and run tbe dam ball dirk. Geeez you tried to throw the game yesterday too! Its not on jameis. The saints were clearly playing the bucs to pass. They knew their routes. Triple teamed at times. Barber was running good, line was blocking, aints werent there cuz they were dropping into coverage. Dirk still had to have jameis drop back. Heres to another season of bone headed coaching mistakes! Heres to another patty cake training camp so no starters get hurt! Patience you guys say right? You have patience when your team is lacking talent but your coach gets you close to the playoffs, not vice versa. I bet the bills and rams and jaguars fans out there are very happy today their owners didnt have patience. Im now sold the glazers are the main problem. They must not know enough football to know elementary coaching mistakes when they see em.
January 1st, 2018 at 8:57 am
The bills are in the playoffs because the AFC sucks this year. 3 teams in the NFC were 9-7 and none of them got in.
January 1st, 2018 at 9:46 am
Joe can SURE reach to get that box of candy on the top shelf can’t he? Another USELESS stat. Instead of JBF maybe the name of this site should become Joe Stat Fan. Bottom line is we SUCK sand the dudes responsible for this garbage are coming back and yes most of us are PISSED about that!!! NO amount of spin is going to make things better. The only cure is 8 months off until training camp then we will be excited again until we get throat punched and chain whipped and then do it all again. Such is the life of a Bucs fan.
January 1st, 2018 at 9:51 am
I’m so happy they are bringing Koetter back also.
Realistically, I think we are a few years away from being a playoff team, but a couple of good drafts, and we ready, we ready, Tampa Bay !
January 1st, 2018 at 10:06 am
Stats are for Losers..Like our Bucs!
January 1st, 2018 at 10:18 am
Season is over, people. What we witnessed this year was a team with no quit in it, no matter how dire things looked for them.
Whether you agree with keeping Koetter and Licht or not, it is done.
So it is time to decide whether the next 12 months will be spent whining like little babies or if you will start looking for positives for a change.
If it ticks you off that I said that? Then you’ve already made your decision, and proven what kind of fan you are.
January 1st, 2018 at 10:21 am
5 wins
11 losses
1 divisional win
January 1st, 2018 at 10:27 am
This off season:
Jameis will mature some more, improve his deep passes and reduce mistakes. Unfortunately, he will probably be suspended to start the season…even if he IS innocent.
Mike Smith might actually be back for another year. Maybe. I don’t totally agree with it, but let’s be honest…his defense played vary hard this year. They just lacked the essential talent to get things done well enough. His assistants, which were NOT chosen by him, failed him. I think he should be permitted to make some staff changes and choose who he has (outside of the LB coach).
Licht will look for a quality RB (obviously), but that doesn’t mean he’ll be drafting one.
Marpet will remain at center. He was actually improving as the season wore on. Sweezy might return as well. I’m not sure what his contract terms are, but even if it ends now, the Bucs might resign him cheaper. He was also improving over the season. Or, if his contract ends, Licht might get a replacement in Free Agency.
Speaking of Licht, expect him to get a DE in FA and one in the draft.
January 1st, 2018 at 10:44 am
Jim Caldwell was Head Coach of the Lions for four seasons
2017—9-7
2016—9-7
2015—7-9
2014—11-5
36-28 with 2 playoffs appearances in 4 seasons
The Lions want more, you can’t blame them
Tampa Bay Bucs Dirk Koetter
14-18 Record as HC
20-28 Record as OC/Playcaller
Jason Licht Record as GM
22-42
One team strives for excellence (Detroit).
The other team strives for mediocrity (Tampa Bay).
January 1st, 2018 at 11:02 am
My point is:
The Detroit Lions owners has high expectations for their team
The Bucs has lost so much
Their owners has low expectations for their team
January 1st, 2018 at 11:23 am
The only thing that matters is wins, and wins come from points.
Forget tho O. This D is what doomed this team.
January 1st, 2018 at 11:38 pm
Bonzai, I hope Jameis isn’t suspended for this crap. If I was Winston I’d learn two words very quickly: body cam!! Never leave home without one.
January 2nd, 2018 at 8:39 am
Passing yards are meaningless.
1-7 on Road games. Great teams win on the road.
QB JW leads the league in Total TOs since the early part of 2016 with either 53 or 54 TOs
If you look at the Heisman QB winners since 1980 there are few that have had MVP seasons, few who have been to the playoffs and none have won a S Bowl. I see the same with not only JW, but Mariota and also the latest B. Mayfield. Probably due to less exposure the better QBs that rise to the top come from lesser known colleges.
S Bowl winning QBs
Brees- Purdue
Favre- Southern Miss
Elway- Stanford
Flacco- Delaware
R. Wilson-Wisconsin
E. Manning- Mississippi
Rodgers- U of Cal-Berkeley
Sure, you can list Brady, Big Ben and Peyton all with Super Big schools but they didn’t win the Heisman. Not saying its a curse but for whatever reasons the best QBs out of college dont seem to be Heisman winners.
The 2 most rising young QBs, Wentz & Goff are neither Heisman winners and also not from the top 20 schools either.