What Buccaneers Fans Need To Hear From Jason Licht And Dirk Koetter This Week
February 26th, 2018
Powerful Sage wisdom from Ira today
BY IRA KAUFMAN
As prospects and NFL personnel gather in Indianapolis this week for the annual combine, times have certainly changed from a Buccaneer perspective.
A year ago, Tampa Bay was coming off a 9-7 season that offered encouragement for loyal supporters and triggered the Stick Carrier movement. When Jason Licht and Dirk Koetter took to the podium, they had every reason to believe this was a franchise on the rise.
Koetter found himself fending off questions about Jameis Winston’s recent speech to elementary school students in St. Petersburg, a chat that left some in the local media in a tizzy.
“I know Jameis,” Koetter said. “I could tell on his face he got off-track, he said the wrong thing.”
End of story.
Licht was asked about the free agency period that was coming up fast, acknowledging that he and his staff had not paid enough attention to character issues.
“We’ve done a much better job of bringing in the right type of guy and, with the vetting process, using our resources to find out about the guy,” Licht said. “That’s something that the first year I should’ve done a better job with. I’d be the first to admit that.”
Within a few weeks, Licht would target Redskins defensive tackle Chris Baker, proving that “vetting process” still had a way to go.
If Koetter and Licht decide to address the media again this week before the workouts begin, Buc fans will be hanging on every word.
When you finish 5-11, your weaknesses have been exposed.
Your confidence has been shaken.
So here’s what frustrated supporters need to hear from Licht and Koetter before the NFL calendar flips over to a new year:
LICHT: “I can’t tell you the eventual outcome of the Uber investigation with Jameis, but I have been assured by the NFL that this matter will be resolved before the draft.”
KOETTER: “With Todd Monken promoted to full-time offensive coordinator, I will have more time to work very closely with Jameis to make him the best quarterback he can be, the quarterback he needs to be to compete in the league’s toughest division.”
LICHT: “We’re not looking for a mere upgrade along the defensive line — we are planning to overhaul the unit to give Brentson Buckner a relatively clean slate. And we expect Brentson to be a powerful voice in the new guys we bring in up front.”
KOETTER: “We have to get DeSean Jackson more involved, and that’s on me. I have to be more creative to get him the ball in space because we failed to honor our pledge to generate more explosive plays in 2017.”
LICHT: “We talk a lot about being a more physical team, but we haven’t backed it up. We’re losing the battles along the line of scrimmage and until that changes, our long playoff drought will likely continue.”
KOETTER: “I don’t regret giving Doug Martin another chance when his suspension ended, but I stayed with him too long as our feature back. Peyton Barber was more productive and he has earned the right to be part of our backfield mix this fall.”
LICHT: “We are excited about the opportunity to keep our core players intact going forward. We are confident we will sign those key contributors to second contracts, starting with Mike Evans. We expect to announce something with Mike shortly.”
KOETTER: “This franchise has not emerged from the first quarter of the season with a winning record since 2011. That has to end if we are serious about contending for a playoff berth.”
LICHT: “We made a few mistakes last year in free agency that ended up hurting us in the locker room. Chemistry counts, so we have to be more careful about the type of player we being into One Buc Place. The wrong guy can do a lot of damage.”
KOETTER: “I have been in constant contact with Miko Grimes. She assures me that if we cut a big check, Brent will be back in 2018, showing all these young pups how it’s done.”
LICHT: “We raised ticket prices but we haven’t lowered expectations. This is a good football team that will be even better with our offseason additions. Adios, hard knocks.
KOETTER: “As my local media knows, I always enjoy talking to you people. Just don’t ask me about injuries and we’ll get along fine.”
Ira Kaufman is the most revered sports personality and writer in town. He has hung his hat at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters since July 2016. Tampa Bay’s only Pro Football Hall of Fame voter, Ira busts out columns here every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and his award winning podcasts fire Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can also hear Ira on SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio Wednesdays during football season, and see him now on Mondays and Fridays at 10:30 p.m. on Spectrum Sports 360. Ira also is part of the FOX-13 Tailgate Sunday and enjoys beet salads, Riesling, Chiefs victories and needling Joe.
February 26th, 2018 at 9:57 am
Sounds like some want the current regime to confess or too apologize!!!!!! But Head Coach Koetter has already said what the “Real” fans wanted to hear!!!! And that they identified the two biggest issues!!!! Scoring and Pass rush!!!!!!!!!
Nothing needs to be said after that!!!!!!!
Some hang on words to much and not on the actions which is the real truth!!!!! Like when some thought that talk show dominik left a good roster when in “reality” it has been a full roster rebuild since!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Watch the moves, pay attention to the “Truth”!!!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 26th, 2018 at 9:59 am
Tell it like it is Ira!!
Now….what is the likelihood that we hear any of that? 20%?
February 26th, 2018 at 10:03 am
Licht: “We haven’t lowered expectations… much to my chagrin! I’ll be in the corner with a bottle of liquor if you need me.”
February 26th, 2018 at 10:06 am
Realist is caffeinated this morning!
Here’s what I want to hear from them until we start winning:………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….crickets……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
ENOUGH TALK!! Win!
February 26th, 2018 at 10:13 am
fans do not need to hear anything fans need to see a respectable product on the field within the next 100 years or so
February 26th, 2018 at 10:18 am
screw what they want to hear!!!!!!!….what “real fans” DONT want to hear are more EXCUSES!!!!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
February 26th, 2018 at 10:24 am
If the Bucs are not aggressive in free agency to at least partially fill the multitude of holes in this team then the Bucs are in big trouble before the season even starts.
February 26th, 2018 at 10:26 am
And that they identified the two biggest issues!!!! Scoring and Pass rush!!!!!!!!!
funny…..I thought the biggest issues were:
SOS & HK……or
IRMA & INJURIES……or
lack of talent & martin(no run game)…..or
LOVIE & DOM……or
lack of execution & Winston still young…..or
no bye week & dirks second year…….
don’t find a way to make an excuse!!!!!!….find a way to win!!!!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
February 26th, 2018 at 10:27 am
With firing of Jay Hayes, there hasn’t been much turnover on a coaching staff that did not get the job done, we evaluated everyone and for some reason we forgot to fire the the Special Teams coach. Yeah Will Gholston earned that check blocking a couple of FGs, but our kicking game was turrible and our kick coverage, (what kick coverage), left something to be desired. We might of won that game against Carolina if…
February 26th, 2018 at 10:35 am
I would like to hear jason licht say: “Id like to thanks the glaziers for this opportunity, I wish I would have done better, but good luck to the bucs in the future.”
February 26th, 2018 at 10:53 am
Realist keep peddling your excuses but we were dead last in the NFL in defense and you, along with most of us, ran Lovie out of town for the better results. I just find it funny that, while most of us are consistent, you aren’t doing the exact same thing that you did to Lovie, to this regime. Agenda much, maybe you should apply at ESPN as you would seem to fit right in there.
February 26th, 2018 at 11:02 am
Ira – you would have to station a priest in a confessional booth right next to the podium if you expect to hear all those responses…
February 26th, 2018 at 11:08 am
Yea verily on all of those Ira … except one. “KOETTER: “With Todd Monken promoted to full-time offensive coordinator, I will have more time to work very closely with Jameis to make him the best quarterback he can be, the quarterback he needs to be to compete in the league’s toughest division.”
Monken might be getting paid as a full-time OC, but Koetter has really tied his hands. Dirk wants to keep the reins, but have Todd sitting up top on the stage coach yelling ‘Giddy up”. Sorry, but that doesn’t look like a formula for success. Same situation with the QB coach (is Mike Bajakian still here BTW?) and Koetter now having ‘more time to work very closely with Jameis’. So now Koetter wants to wear the HC hat, the OC hat AND the QB Coach’s hat. THAT’S his solution to having too much on his plate last year? Good luck with that. Next January when Dirk’s joining Lovie in his Illinois basement, he’ll hear Dr Phil asking “And how did that work out for you Dirk?”
February 26th, 2018 at 11:16 am
Amen to that Tmax
February 26th, 2018 at 11:21 am
KOETTER: “With Todd Monken promoted to full-time offensive coordinator, I will have more time to work very closely with Jameis to make him the best quarterback he can be, the quarterback he needs to be to compete in the league’s toughest division.”
________________________________________________________________
You’re the HEAD COACH, shouldn’t you be working closely with the 53 players on your team to make them better?
February 26th, 2018 at 11:23 am
Dusthty:
AMEN!
Less then twelve months to go and I predict we will be hearing that from him.
February 26th, 2018 at 11:24 am
Hire a real head coach
Make Dirk Koetter the QB coach
Problems solved
February 26th, 2018 at 11:58 am
Good Luck Koetter and Smitty. You will need it all this upcoming season. I do hope your Defense improves at least by 50%. I am not impressed with you or Smitty Mr Koetter. I’m luvin the fact this is a must win season for the 2 of you. Its crap or get off the pot. Batter up and swing hard! Because Lovie and Schiano have your reel and rods waitin down at the fishing hole IF..you do not produce!
February 26th, 2018 at 11:59 am
Tmax for President!
February 26th, 2018 at 12:07 pm
Ira
You’re almost as bad as the brainless pup from 620. In Ira’s eyes you’re a great player if you stick around and talk to the media after a loss regardless of how you play on the field. #PriorityNumberOne
You continue to push the Uber things HARD! Monken is garbage and so is BJ. The dline and defense will always suck as long as captain ice cream is still here and of course the TB media will worship him bc he gives interviews after losses.
Finally, Mike Evans nor Winston are going to re-sign with this org so you don’t have to worry about that.
Go eat a beet salad Ira it’s the best use of your time says John Lynch and Ronde Barber.
February 26th, 2018 at 12:29 pm
The only thing I want to hear is a press conference discussing our opponent in the first round of the playoffs this year.
Absent that, no amount of BS is going to do it for me.
We have all had a belly full.
February 26th, 2018 at 12:44 pm
?
February 26th, 2018 at 12:45 pm
Just win Jason or you, Koetter and Smith will be run outta Dodge!!!
February 26th, 2018 at 1:31 pm
Interesting read below posted by Gregg Rosenthal (former early columnist from the stud crew over at PFT–now NFL.com).
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000916972/article/nfl-trade-tsunami-this-offseason-could-be-defined-by-deals
Imagine that… it references Vinny Curry from PHI…as THIS loyal Bucs fan had been opining on that we should target. Cut/restructure Ayers, Gholston should be cut outright. Swap Geno Atkins for GMC (indirectly), maybe supplement with a Connor Barwin. Let Spence recover.
February 26th, 2018 at 1:32 pm
I dont think if Lovie was still here that the situation would be any different with the exception of hearing non-answers from a the coach. Here is a reminder:
I’ve always liked him. I think he’ll be a very good player in the league someday.
(Lovie Smith)
February 26th, 2018 at 2:12 pm
I get a lot of grief o this site because my comments are thought to be too repetitive…
That’s the thing about truth, it’s singular in its greatness and doesn’t need to change weekly for the sake of entertainment and variety.
Kudos to Ira for this article because it homes in on the absolute needs of the Bucs this offseason – to fix, overhaul, and restock both the offensive and defensive lines.
I’ve said it a thousand times and will keep on saying it – the Bucs cannot fix everything this offseason, but they sure as hell can fix the most important things…
FIX THE TRENCHES, FIX THE BUCS!!!
February 26th, 2018 at 4:28 pm
Tony I am with you:
If the Bucs do not bring in three new starters on the defensive line and at least one new starter on the offensive line then this team will struggle to be 8-8.
February 26th, 2018 at 4:50 pm
Wausa – I could not agree more. I think you are spot on with the minimum number of new starters the Bucs need.
February 26th, 2018 at 5:31 pm
RE: Uber
Can I post this here for St. Pete and the rest of the UBER posters? Ira might want to take a look too.
Here is the reality and the fact that you guys push so hard for a suspension when you have zero facts and have never even used an Uber (assumption) really grinds my gears. These are the women/people you deal with with Uber. But you guys are so ready to sell-out Jameis. Enjoy!
http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshhaaPMmWP8v2ulF85F
February 26th, 2018 at 8:03 pm
OK Ira, not going to even mention the 5-game win streak prediction, ’cause I’m your friend. But please stop already with the pleas to the NFL to wrap up the Uber thingy. It’s NOT WORKING. Now you remember that you assured all of us before the driver even changed her panties that the NFL insiders had already decided to tank the whole deal. That was like three months ago. How about an update?
February 26th, 2018 at 11:43 pm
Tony,
It’s not just the repetition, it’s the lack of insight, information and style.
You make a extremely obvious observation repeat it over and over. You never offer your own ideas on how to go about fixing the problem. Or offer a critical opinion that is based on another idea. Put some meat between the bread before calling it a sandwich.