Study Time For Dirk Koetter
January 25th, 2018
Will the institutional knowledge matter?
It was six trips to the red zone against the Panthers for the Bucs.
They came away with one touchdown and a three-point loss. Merry Christmas.
Some might call it the story of the season. Red zone fails hurt Tampa Bay, which had one of the worst red-zone offenses in the league.
All those stalled drives equals major offseason study time for Dirk Koetter, so the head coach told the Buccaneers Radio Network before the season finale.
“That’s definitely something that we’ll spend a lot of time studying,” Koetter said. “I mean, if it was just one thing we could put our finger on and fix it, that would already be done. At times it can be a penalty, at times it can be a turnover, at times it can be a missed assignment. It’s definitely hurt us this year, there’s no question. … It starts with studying it in the offseason. And we will definitely get on that, you know, as soon as possible after the season ends.”
Joe hopes the Bucs also make time to also study their NFL-worst third-down defense this season, which gave up the booty on 48 percent of third downs. Most of the league’s defenses was better than 38 percent. And Tampa Bay was the best in the NFL in 2016, allowing third downs to become first downs on just 34.36 percent of the time.
As for studying the red zone fails in the offseason, couldn’t Koetter’s staff put in the required study during the season? Perhaps they did as much as they could but it still didn’t work.
A hot topic this morning on SiriusXM NFL Radio was the value of institutional knowledge between quarterbacks and coaches. Ex-NFL offensive players Ed McCaffrey and Ross Tucker believe in it. McCaffrey tied it to the success of the Patriots, how they can together recall quickly how something worked years ago against a defensive look and gain confidence and find fixes.
Koetter and America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, now enter their fourth season together. That’s an eternity by NFL standards. The Falcons enter Year 2 with their offensive coordinator, and the Panthers will have a brand new one.
Joe hopes all the institutional knowledge the Bucs have makes a difference. There were no proverbial excuses last year. And this year there certainly aren’t any.
January 25th, 2018 at 11:30 am
the red zone woes do come down to some flaw in execution or playcalling, and is worth poring over. on 3rd down D, they can look at all the film they want but it comes down to a number of players who are simply not good enough no matter the playcall
January 25th, 2018 at 11:33 am
no there were no excuse. But some people managed to find them or make them up!
January 25th, 2018 at 11:34 am
‘At times it can be a penalty, at times it can be a turnover, at times it can be a missed assignment. ‘
_________________________________________________________
Stop that! Problem solved.
January 25th, 2018 at 11:36 am
Its not that hard. actually its very easy
OJ Howard = Touchdowns
“What does 31 teams have that the Bucs dont have?”
“Offensive Coordinator”
Kandy Faker
January 25th, 2018 at 11:36 am
We were 25th in the league in Red Zone %. That’s not going to win you alot of games.
January 25th, 2018 at 11:41 am
Institutional knowledge requires consistency, the retention of key personnel, and time. New England, of course, has that with Brady and Belichick. I’m a glass half-full guy, so I see retaining DK and Winston enetering his fourth season as positives. But the Bucs are still a long way from institutional knowledge.
January 25th, 2018 at 11:45 am
Take Evans off the field in the Red Zone…
January 25th, 2018 at 11:47 am
At times it can be a penalty, at times it can be a turnover, at times it can be a missed assignment. It’s definitely hurt us this year, there’s no question.
and at times it was dumb a$$ play calling….way to throw your players under the bus without holding yourself accountable….you are the “offensive guru”….GO BUCS!!!!
January 25th, 2018 at 11:52 am
The biggest problems imo were:
#1 – lack of a true running game/threat the majority of the year due to sticking with Doug Martin – a RB who would fall down at initial contact and has historically sucked 4ss in the red zone and goal line situations other than his rookie season. Since then; from 2013-2017 Martin has rushed for 1 / 2 / 6 / 3 / 3 total TDs each season. Absolutely pathetic and that includes one of his supposed “elite” years. Dude has never been elite. At his very best he was an inconsistent back still who had just as many bad games as good.
Due to no run threat; the defense could clamp down on the pass; and we would consistently get in situations where we were in 3rd and goal from the 7-10 yard line.
#2 – The actual play designs and personnel used. This plays off the run a bit. Due to our inability to have any run game; jumbo packages / play action were not as effective since the other team knew our run game wasn’t working and would key on passes. Because of this Dirk almost seemed to panic too much and run 3 or 4 WR sets and target Desean Jackson; vs using a heavy package and targeting Howard/Brate/Evans – guys that are built for scoring in short range. He also didn’t run many play action roll outs for Winston – which has been his most succesful red zone play by my count. The lack of effectively running the ball had to play a factor in this as well.
#3 – Mistakes in execution. Way too many offensive penalties and turnovers in these situations. That’s bad discipline by the players; but I’d think they would be coaching that out of them or at least trying to. At least 2-3 of Winston’s fumbles in these situations came on blind side hits in which he didn’t see the guy coming. That also falls on the play design bit; for having that long developing of a play; on top of the offensive line.
This is why I’m ok with going with Nelson then a RB 1-2 this year if the defensive value isn’t there. At least we’d then have the most complete offense we’ve ever had; and could double down on that as a strength. At that point; with the O-line rebuilt / a stud young RB / guys like Evans/Godwin/Hump/Howard; you could draft nothing but defense the next 3-4 years and still roll with that personnel as your loaded offense.
January 25th, 2018 at 11:52 am
Wait, Joe….why complain about one TD in six trips resulting in a 3 point loss to the Panthers….
I expect everyone to applaud that performance because if we won, we might be picking 10th instead of 7th.
Where are all the losers wanting us to fail?
January 25th, 2018 at 12:19 pm
TBBF
Great point. LOL Does make you wonder about the guys who don’t mind losing if it improves our draft stock. Why just tank that final game…we knew with four games or more left in the season we were out of the playoffs…why not tank them all and really move up according to their logic.
On the Kwon thread folks can read why we should not be tanking games. He feels he finally was healthy and got into his rhythm and can now build on that success for 18. I think that is true of the entire team and perhaps most importantly for #3 and Koetter. Those last four games could impact 18.
January 25th, 2018 at 12:23 pm
tampabaybucfan
WRONG!!!!!
jets lost to the chargers 12/24
broncos lost to the redskins 12/24
bucs lost to the panthers 12/24
the following week
Denver lost to the chiefs
jets lost to the pats
we won
saints game killed our chances at chubb…..but yeah….we finished 5-11 instead of 4-12….think that still qualifies as being a loser!!!!….the difference is now between chubb vs davenport….who would you rather have?….GO BUCS!!!!
January 25th, 2018 at 12:34 pm
813
So would you bet your farm on ONE player. Take Barkley for example. He could just as easily be the next KiJana Carter. Chubb could become the next Clayborn or Bowers…50-50.
Meanwhile the team regained a bit of it’s confidence with that performance! The state of mind of the entire team is surely more valuable than LOSING for ONE player who has a 50-50 chance of success.
January 25th, 2018 at 12:47 pm
STPETE SAYS: Meanwhile the team regained a bit of it’s confidence with that performance!
we lost 5 games before that…..you think 1 game erases a 5game losing streak(the second in the season)…..
that win did nothing for their confidence….hell dirk wasn’t even confident….he was playing for the FG….Winston was the one that said screw it, the season is already over let me take a shot….that wasn’t a confidence booster….a confidence booster would’ve been winning 5 out of the last 6 games….not winning 1 of your last 6 games….GO BUCS!!!!
January 25th, 2018 at 12:52 pm
I talk to many stupid people throughout my day and the one thing they all have in common is that they don’t know or believe that they’re stupid. Even after they fail a test it doesn’t dawn on them that they are dumb. Human pride and ego I guess.
I think koetter has breached the realm of unconscious incompetence. Koetter simply doesn’t know that he doesn’t know. Exhibit A your “OC” and QB coach are absolute garbage but you see them as competent but the lie detector determined that was false.
Real talk watching koetter on the sideline he looks eerily similar to my grandma trying to updating her fb status.
January 25th, 2018 at 1:05 pm
@813
Yes…the Jets & Broncos lost & we won week 17….that’s the point…..root for them to win…not for us to lose.
Do you actually think the players go out there to under-perform so the team gets a better draft pick…..you think the coaches coach to lose?
And what if Chubb goes at #3….or what if he’s still there at 7?
And what if he busts?
What if we pick up a developing DE instead in a later round and he becomes an all pro?
There are so many what ifs….
You can continue to root for losses….be my guest….you can never convince me to do that….sorry, just not in my DNA.
January 25th, 2018 at 1:06 pm
Study time for Koetter aye? Is there an NFl school for game Mngtment and how to make in game adjustments? Or how to set up Defensive linemen to make sacks?
Ohh ye Buc fans got lots more cryin and misery comin.
January 25th, 2018 at 1:18 pm
The difference in pick 5 or 7 is really pretty meaningless regarding Chubb. I’m not getting the argument really.
The biggest threats to Chubb going before us; comes down to the Colts at 3 and the Browns at 1 and 4. The Giants are not going to take Chubb when they’ve already invested so much capital in the D-line and have huge needs at QB/RB/O-line.
The Broncos would shock the NFL if they passed on OL/QB/RB to take Chubb at 5. The Jets MAYBE at 6 I guess – but again they have way more pressing needs – basically ANY offensive player would be a help. And the Jets/Broncos run 3-4 schemes; and Chubb is a better fit at 4-3 (even though he can be fine in both).
So really the the only thing the Saints win changed was how much we may have to offer to move up if we wanted to jump the Colts or Browns; and maybe some trade down scenarios; but we still have a good spot. Hell – teams like the Cards/Bills/Redskins potentially/etc picking in the teens may view 7 as a more ideal trade up spot than an early pick – especially based on how the QBs fall.
And 7 is my lucky number lol.
January 25th, 2018 at 1:18 pm
Joe:
You will be writing the same story next year….
January 25th, 2018 at 1:19 pm
TBF
I rooted for them 15weeks straight to win!!!!!!
when we were in this same situation when it came to draft either Winston or MM most fans wanted us to lose for Winston…..I believe you were one of them….GO BUCS!!!!
January 25th, 2018 at 1:23 pm
LC SAYS: So really the the only thing the Saints win changed was how much we may have to offer to move up if we wanted to jump the Colts or Browns;
which is a big deal….it would cost us less to move up 2 spots vs 4 spots….GO BUCS!!!!
January 25th, 2018 at 1:28 pm
Would have helped if we had a legitimate bye week. The loss of the bye work certainly didn’t help the Buccaneers.
January 25th, 2018 at 1:33 pm
“which is a big deal….it would cost us less to move up 2 spots vs 4 spots….GO BUCS!!!!”
If we were to trade up for Chubb I think the spot is at #2 as a way of keeping the Colts from getting him. Maybe #3 I guess with the Colts but if we knew they’re not going to take him then it seems kind of dumb unless we knew for sure that Cleveland was going to take Chubb at #4; and they have bigger needs still.
#2 pick is worth 2600 points
#5 pick is worth 1700 points
#7 pick is worth 1600 points
That difference is really nothing especially in a real-time draft trade; considering most people don’t follow that chart exactly anyway. The big dropoff is from pick #3 down to #4. From #4-8 the incremental value changes are much less
It maybe at worst costs us like an extra 4th rounder than it would have from #5 but I doubt it. It’s not like we’re killing it in the late rounds anyway. So in the end it just is all pretty meaningless to me – especially considering the unpredictable nature of the draft and trades / etc
January 25th, 2018 at 1:36 pm
Yeah… it costs the Bears two thirds and a fourth to move up one spot last year… no thanks… Chubb or trade back for Vea/Payne. Also take at look at DT Andrew Brown out of Virginia. He tore up the combine, for now, he is projected to be a third or fourth rounder. according to Walterfootball.
January 25th, 2018 at 1:43 pm
Lord Cornelius, great post. I agree with you For sure, no run game make you one-dimensional. Without these Defense doing anything against you. The closer you get to the goal line you need the ability/threat of a occasional solid 7 yard run.
January 25th, 2018 at 1:45 pm
Need More TDs!!!
How to achieve that? Fix the Oline problems (Nelson in rd 1 and a solid OG starter in FA) and get a great RB prospect in Rd 2. Boom – DONE! Problem solved.
Spend the rest of the draft on Defense looking for DL and DB help.
January 25th, 2018 at 2:08 pm
@ pickgrin…… YES YES YES…Im with u. Nelson @7. I was thinking draft a true center and move Marpet back to guard. Rb in 2nd at least address the Oline and rb problems. Can’t fix everything in one offseason probably but it would be a huge improvement. But none the less I agree with your thinking
January 25th, 2018 at 2:09 pm
Sure they’ve got needs at RB, CB, safety, etc.
But if we just focus on our trenches (both offense and defense) we’d see a huge turnaround…. and, figure out what we’ve really got with guys like Jameis and McCoy!
Offensive and defensive lines, fix it!
January 25th, 2018 at 2:10 pm
@ Lord Cornelius – The Broncos would shock the NFL if they passed on OL/QB/RB to take Chubb at 5
I see them doing just that, after they jettison one or both of their QB’s for one of the many FA QB’s available when the free agency dinner bell rings.
So many comments above about no running game. I like Peyton Barber, like to see what he can do behind a big, mean, nasty, road paving O-line.
Nelson at 7. Make Bucs Great Again,
January 25th, 2018 at 2:12 pm
Isn’t it a little late in the game or this stage of your career to have that kind of issues when weapons are not the issue? The guy can’t even comprehend why his team is considered soft
January 25th, 2018 at 2:14 pm
To expand on my previous comment….They already talking about it in Denver –
http://broncoswire.usatoday.com/2018/01/01/denver-broncos-2018-free-agent-quarterbacks-john-elway/
January 25th, 2018 at 2:59 pm
It maybe at worst costs us like an extra 4th rounder than it would have from #5 but I doubt it. It’s not like we’re killing it in the late rounds anyway.
not killing it with late round picks?….you mean like kwon…like beckwith….like godwin….
this team is in no position to trade away picks….
@Bryce Weaver said it best: Yeah… it costs the Bears two thirds and a fourth to move up one spot last year… no thanks…
GO BUCS!!!
January 25th, 2018 at 3:07 pm
“I see them doing just that, after they jettison one or both of their QB’s for one of the many FA QB’s available when the free agency dinner bell rings.”
The only way the Broncos guarantee that they avoid going QB is if they get Cousins – which is very possible. I’m not sure Foles / Keenum / Alex Smith would preclude them from taking a QB. Even then – if they landed Cousins – their priority would then shift to RB and O-line. I think they would take Quinton Nelson over Bradley Chubb if both were available actually.
I live in Denver and listen to their sports radio a lot. No one is thinking Defense with that pick right now; although I could see it happening if they were able to address the O-line / QB / and RB adequately in free agency; but signing Cousins would eat up all their cap space basically; so I’m not sure how they could get any premium O-lineman added on top of it – maybe 1 at best and they need like 3 new starters on the line
January 25th, 2018 at 3:42 pm
For everybody getting orgasmic over Chubb…those of you who get a “chubby” just thinking about drafting him.
One name….Gaines Adams!!! We gave him a guaranteed 18 million a decade ago…no telling how much that would be in 2018.
THERE ARE NO SURE THINGS. We are ALL imagining these players as if they turn out to play their very best….and they MAY…then again.
Cool your Chubbies guys. I’d like to get him but I won’t be disappointed with Nelson….or trading down for more picks to help offset that 50-50 crap shoot.
January 25th, 2018 at 4:32 pm
“not killing it with late round picks?….you mean like kwon…like beckwith….like godwin….
this team is in no position to trade away picks….”
Very true my liege. Godwin was a mid 3rd though vs a 4th and Beckwith was a 3rd; but Ryan Smith was a 4th. So that’s 2 defensive players – one who is solid and the other still a question.
And your 2nd sentence is really why I don’t care about 5 vs 7:
I personally don’t want to trade up regardless. Either trade would cost a sh1t load of resources.
From 7 to 2 is 1100 points and from 5 to 2 is 1000 points. Either one is huge.
If we say that a 2019 2nd rounder is worth 410 points (what the 16th pick in the 2nd round is worth this year); then we’d have to give up #7, our 2nd and 3rd this year, plus a 2nd next year. That’d be 1175 points. Either way it’s likely taking 2 2nds and a 3rd regardless of #5 vs #7. At best it’d be 2 2nds and a 4th. It’s just not a big difference and either trade sounds terrible.
If Chubb does happen to fall to pick 5; I don’t see denver or the jets taking him; and he’d fall to 7 in that case; so it’s all just a wash for me. I’ve seen him at 7 in multiple mocks and have never seen him go at 5 or 6 yet.
January 25th, 2018 at 4:53 pm
I’m telling you fix the defense and the offense will soar
January 25th, 2018 at 5:08 pm
I see the bandwagon fans are upsetting the diehard fans again. To clarify those rooting for the Saints in week 17 are the bandwagon fans in reference here. They will always deny they are bandwagoneers but all you have to do is remind them changing alliegences and openly rooting against your team is a textbook definition of a bandwagon fan.
Don’t bother arguing with just call out their bandwagon ness and move along. This really seems to upset them. They don’t understand how us diehards can remain so loyal. They just don’t understand what they don’t posess. We remain loyal, loyal to a fault perhaps, but loyal nonetheless.
But we will never change to please them. And we should never ask them to change to please us. When all is said and done every fanbase needs all types of fans. Our fan status does not mean we cannot coexist and arguing about it will be futile on most occasions. I really believe the bandwagoneers think being a diehard is glamorous and they couldn’t be further then the truth. They are the ones who own the glamour. I should remind them that while they may believe that we took much joy in that Saints victory it was hardly joyous at all. While the final play was a thing of beauty my reaction can best be described as “meh”. While our loyalty gives us pride it also gives us all the bitterness that we must carry with us. That one win did very little to release the bitterness of the 2017 season.
Continue on bandwagoneers we need you. And we love you. And if I must be honest I am jealous of you. I wish sometimes I could find a way to not root for this team but I just can’t never do it. I just don’t know how. I do not have what you have.
January 25th, 2018 at 5:23 pm
A lot of good points about the red zone failures here……All are a part of the reason. I also want to recall how 3(I thin it was 3) of those 6 Carolina stops were partly/mostly due to offensive line failures.
-DJax got way too many looks this year. Has he ever been a red zone guy? I doubt it.
-You need a rush attack and you need to convert third and ones(something we have ignored for countless seasons)
-Let Winston run the f***ing ball this year. Anybody thinking it won’t payoff in the red zone is misguided. Not sure if this coaching staff is hindering him or if it’s Winstons decision but it needs to be corrected.
-Lack of discipline, pentalties
-Lack of preparation…….While this one is just a guess it seems obvious when this team gets into certain situations. Mainly end game/half situations. They might be prepared to run a 2-minute offense from the 25 but they look lost if they have a minute…or if they have 1:15 from the ten……Just go back and look at the end game of the Falcons contest and ask yourself if Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers runs three small gains from scrimmage in that spot and only gives their team a 57 yarder. Their were other examples then this one game………Their not prepping enough in those situations so you have to consider they are probably laying in other areas, like red zone plays.
-Most of these points were repeats but were good points and deserved repeating.
January 25th, 2018 at 5:29 pm
Long developing vertical offenses rendered useless in the red zone. You have to be a complete team to win in this league…….You also need to do do more well to nullify a strong passrush that’s killing you…..Like the Panthers did twice this year.
If this dude were a better coach he would have had a better gameplan when we played them the second time……or in the second half the first time.
Instead we are stuck watching Winston take six sacks cough up two fumbles receive 12 hurried pass attempts and get hit 15 times.
You got another year Dirk will you be able to figure it out playing them a third time? Fourth?……Hey if not maybe their line will get injured.
January 25th, 2018 at 5:49 pm
Could he PLEASE study some film on the flippin QB sneak….JW is 240#…he can’t get a half yard laying forward?
Probably 5 times this year we are in 4th n 1 or less and we are backing up four yards to hand the ball off, or running a toss sweep….ugh
January 25th, 2018 at 6:18 pm
ClwJB…….Dirk just don’t get it……..I don’t understand why he can’t get a different line package in on some of these situations.
Love or hate Gruden on of the first things he would do would be to fix our short yardage playbook. It’s part of what he fixed from that SB year.
I though he was great in the booth and he mentioned short yardage plays many times. It’s about much more then getting one yard. The whole line feeds off of that. When they know they can beat the other side they gain confidence and hunger……..That’s when you lay the hammer down and cram the ball play after play.
Dirk is ignoring this problem an$ when he calls a run sweep(and even if it works) I just see it as him jus5 shrugging his shoulders not knowing what to do.
He wants a badass football team?…..So do I Dirk, so do I.
January 26th, 2018 at 12:27 am
Trade back take Nelson around 15