“We Didn’t Do A Great Job Of Getting Him The Ball”
February 28th, 2018
“Don’t worry DeSean, we’ll get this figured out.”
One of the biggest gripes of the 2017 season for Bucs fans, and it was very much a justified complaint, was the Bucs simply didn’t do a good job of putting the football into the hands of DeSean Jackson.
The speedy wideout was a huge fish that Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht landed last offseason. Joe honestly cannot remember anyone claiming that was a bad signing, especially since Jackson turned down more cash so he could play with America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston.
However, nothing in 2017 turned out the way anyone believed it would for both Jackson and Jameis. Jackson had one of the worst seasons of his career. And late this morning talking behind closed curtains with Bucs beat reporters, Koetter vowed that one of his top goals this season is to find ways to get Jackson the damned ball.
“We didn’t do a great job of getting him the ball,” Koetter said. “DeSean, when you go back and look at the tape, DeSean was open at times and we didn’t get it to him.
“Sometimes we missed him. Sometimes we overthrew him. Sometimes we underthrew him. sometimes we didn’t see him. Sometimes we were throwing somewhere else. Some of that is by design,” Koetter said. “I’m not putting all of that on the quarterback.
“There are all kinds of different reason but we just didn’t. We didn’t do a good job of it. We didn’t get the ball to him enough. That is something we have to do better at. We are working on that right now.”
From Joe’s perspective, the area where the offense didn’t exploit nearly enough was hitting Jackson on short crossing routes or maybe bubble screens, and let those fantastic wheels of his take over and get massive chunks of yards.
It seemed the Bucs were stuck in a rut having Jackson run 40 yard routes and hoping Jameis’ shoulder was healthy enough to rifle the ball to him.
If somehow Jameis and Jackson can get on the same page, watch this offense really hum.
February 28th, 2018 at 3:03 pm
Because the quarterback can’t hit the broad side of a barn.
Horrible accuracy.
February 28th, 2018 at 3:05 pm
Ya think?
February 28th, 2018 at 3:06 pm
love djax… also love how he irritates the low standard choir boy loving losers on this board. just another great player who comes to tampa and regresses in the glazer organization. bucs and buc fan can not handle players with personalities or winners just toe the line choir boys who remain quiet while losing every week.
February 28th, 2018 at 3:14 pm
Hindsight is 20/20, and talk is cheap. I don’t believe another thing I hear until I see it translate on the field
February 28th, 2018 at 3:17 pm
@ joe
The jets released muhammed wilkerson. Now thats a signing the bucs need to look into.
February 28th, 2018 at 3:20 pm
Trade’em to Cinny for:
• SS – Shawn Williams (Age:26) $4,07,1875
• WR – Tyler Boyd (Age:24) $1,161,537
Cap Saved: $7,615,304
Win-Win
February 28th, 2018 at 3:20 pm
It still boggles my mind that Dirk didnt put in new routes for djax during the season. Could have been any week, 1-17. Never. Wtf was he doing during the week. Thats one of the many reasons i thought dirk should have been canned. He doesnt seem to adjust in game or in season. Sounds like he may be drawing up some crosses and slants etc this offseason. One can only hope. That slant djax took 46 yds or so against NE was one of my favorite plays all year. Why dirk never went back to it is nuts.
February 28th, 2018 at 3:25 pm
Now U can pair
Saftey
Chris Conte | Armani Watts
Justin Evans | Shawn Williams
WR
Mike Williams | Tyler Boyd
Chris Godwin | Freddie Martino
Adam Humphries| Bobo Wilson
February 28th, 2018 at 3:27 pm
Play design was a huge problem this past season. Hopefully, Monken can breathe some fresh air into the game plan.
February 28th, 2018 at 3:37 pm
I don’t know what’s worse between the quarterbacks horrible accuracy and dirk not putting players in the best position to succeed.
Probably a little bit of both.
February 28th, 2018 at 3:38 pm
What I seemed to notice with Winston’s deep ball accuracy is that it just isn’t there on flys down the sideline. He defientaly looks better when the play is in from of him and throwing toward the posts.
If I was better at using computers I would looks the percentages up to try and confirm it. Either way the number don’t really matter hear anyway because almost every time he looked for Jackson deep it was on the sideline. I only remember one play to him down the middle and Jackson looked very lazy in his effort to make a play on a ball he could of gotten his hands on IMO.
February 28th, 2018 at 3:39 pm
The title of this article should be, “We tried too hard to throw DJax the deep ball.”
Once again, this is NOT complicated. Just because he’s fast does not mean to run ‘go’ routes every play. Find him short in open space and, voila!
February 28th, 2018 at 3:39 pm
Typos*
February 28th, 2018 at 3:40 pm
I felt they forced too many balls to Jackson last year. Evans is the #1 WR.
February 28th, 2018 at 3:41 pm
@LUV- “Mike Williams”?!!! You smokin’?!
February 28th, 2018 at 3:43 pm
Not sure why a coach would be overly concerned with getting his #2 WR more balls.
February 28th, 2018 at 3:47 pm
Why not get the ball to O.J Howard and the RBs more?
February 28th, 2018 at 3:49 pm
I’ll never forgive Dirk for calling heaves down the sidelines on Thursday Night when we were picking up chunks on the ground.
You take what the defense gives you in the league idiot. You force them to adjust then you do something different. You played right into Bellichicks hands and embarrassed this city. Everybody took the easy way out and blamed the kicker but I saw how you got outcoached that game Dirk. You were f***img pathetic. One would think you would have saw how the game clock got worked against us in that game too and that you would have learned something but no you went on to mismanage most end game/halves for the remainder of the season……..And for what it’s worth while I’m telling the story how that game wasn’t on the kicker everybody convoently forgets how Brate dropped a gimme TD in that one which cost us a full 7 after the FG miss. I do like Brate a lot but he dropped two very big gamechanging plays for us this season. The dude is a freaking choke artist right now. I don’t care how many stats you put up when you choke in the clutch……..which is one thing I will absolutely agree with the GMC haters about.
**END RANT**
February 28th, 2018 at 3:50 pm
@Bucsfanman — My bad
WR
Mike Evans | Tyler Boyd
Chris Godwin | Freddie Martino
Adam Humphries| Bobo Wilson
February 28th, 2018 at 3:51 pm
That thought process is exactly what will have Koetter halfway out the door by week 10 next season. Who’s driving that ship Desean or the coach?
February 28th, 2018 at 3:51 pm
your not putting that on the qb?…..sure sounds like it…..how about “designing” play for djax…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
February 28th, 2018 at 3:52 pm
Good point Lakeland…….Did Sims lose a step the last two year or something. Either that or his use has made it look that way.
February 28th, 2018 at 3:54 pm
It sounds to me like he was outing a lot of the blame on the quarterback. Then finished with it’s not all the quarterbacks fault. Well the first paragraph says we overthrew, under threw, didn’t see him when he was open, missed him or threw to someone else. That all sounds like qb issues. Stats are nice but jameis is not a great qb. If we had a great qb last year we would have easily scored 7+ more point a game. Just thinking back at every game how many people he missed that were wide open. It’s easy to get a bunch of passing yards when you are losing and abandon the run and just throw all second half. And run hurry up most of the 4th quarter. I keep saying his stat line at halftime is always like 8-17 for 83 yards. Then he ends up with 200 yards in the second half agains t prevent defense to wide open under neath routes. Then we get into the red zone where things tighten up and he goes back to no accuracy. And we attempt a field goal
February 28th, 2018 at 3:56 pm
How much time did this team spend on practicing these deep plays to Jackson? Maybe it was a waste and they should have used there time more appropriately running redzone and goalline sets.
And working on a one minute offense.
We looked like a last place offense in all of those situations IMO. We look more unprepared then the old Dungy offenses
February 28th, 2018 at 3:57 pm
Here’s something interesting…apparently, Johnny Manziel has gotten his head together…and he’s willing to prove it.
Not only did he and his agent say they would take league minimum and no guarantees, but they also said, since he is eligible, he would be willing to sign onto a PRACTICE SQUAD just to prove himself.
I know, I know. Johnny Manziel? I’m kidding, right????
But that sure sounds like he just wants an opportunity, and as a practice squad player, the Bucs would lose nothing in giving him a chance. No, I don’t expect him to become a starter, but if he can become a competent backup, he could gain trade value in a couple years. Maybe. If he really is straightened out.
February 28th, 2018 at 4:00 pm
Bonzai…….That was last weeks news and there is a reason was it hasn’t been mentioned at all.
February 28th, 2018 at 4:01 pm
On topic, the biggest issue with last year’s offense was the forcing of Jameis to get the ball to DeSean Jackson. Because he was told he had to do it, he ignored many, many better options on plays.
Case in point, we all know Mike Evans would have had 1400-1600 yards had he been thrown to enough. Yet he had to settle for just past 1,000. Why? Because Jameis was under pressure to get the ball to DeSean Jackson.
And I’m not just talking about the coaches. Media and fans were applying htat pressure too.
DeSean Jackson should have had to earn his opportunities. He already admitted that he didn’t work with Jameis enough last off season. Had he done that, things probably would have been different.
The only one at fault was DeSean Jackson.
February 28th, 2018 at 4:02 pm
I guarantee no one in the top three would trade their 1st pick and that’s it for jameis this year. And the qb class is questionable at best this year. I don’t agree with tmax on McCoy but I do agree with him that bucs fans celebrate mediocrity to much. We have a middle of the road qb and the media and fans start acting like we have the next Tom Brady. Yeah he is setting records but records in this new age passing league are not hard to break. A 400 yard game is what a 300 yard game used to be. He has been the same qb for the last 3 years with no changes. I see the same exact qb we saw as a rookie. Except for he used to take off and run a little more. So we will be stuck three years from now with the same story this is the year he will be great. And in 7 years we will have Matt Stratford clone. Tons of passing yards and stats but still stuck in mediocrity. I don’t care what people say you can’t teach accuracy. And in three years it has shown. I would draft a qb early see what he can do if he is not better we have a backup. If he is better that is great and we can trade Winston for defensive help. Not 1st round early maybe 3rd or 4th. Rather then bringing back glennon. We already know what he is.
February 28th, 2018 at 4:04 pm
@JimmyJack
I know it is last weeks news…but the thing about it I had not heard was that Johnny could and is willing to go onto a practice squad. That’s practically pennies to give him one opportunity.
I was never a Johnny fan, but I admire that he is willing to do anything to prove himself…and if he does a decent job of it, we are in need of a good backup.
February 28th, 2018 at 4:07 pm
Jeffbuc Says
“I guarantee no one in the top three would trade their 1st pick”
You would lose that guaranty. The Browns would trade both their first rounds to get him.
But let’s face it…the Giants and Colts won’t be taking QBs anyway. Colts have Luck, Giants have Eli. The only reason they are not stepping up and saying so is because they want people to think they will go QB.
We’re officially in the season of lies and misdirection.
February 28th, 2018 at 4:17 pm
First off Bonzai the guy is a jizzbag. Not that I only want good guys on my football team but I didn’t say he’s a bad guy I said he’s a jizzbag. That guy can’t lead a friggen NFL football team and I knew it the second I saw his stupid face.
I honestly think having that guy call plays in practice is one of the stupider suggestions I have heard. Not that I’ve never been wrong but I’m sure I’m certain on this one. That guys was one of the biggest tools I’ve seen play under center in the league. This staff would lose credibility real fast with their players if they bring in that moron to camp. He would do much more harm then good. He doesn’t have the ability to run our offense anyway.
I can’t even envision a team that would bring in that dude for a workout though I’ve seen dumb stuff before and wouldn’t be shocked. You’d have to be pretty dangled desperate at QB though and the Bucs are not. If he want to prove anything his only path may be through the CFL.
February 28th, 2018 at 4:23 pm
@Bonzai…..I wouldn’t think so fast on the Giants there. I could easily see them drafting a QB. I’d say 50/50. Think it boils down to how great they think the QBs are in the draft.
February 28th, 2018 at 4:23 pm
Do you guys feel funny asking Koetter questions? I wonder if you guys wonder what the point is of trying to develop stories around players and coaches that won’t be here in a year. This whole season is futile.
Koetter would get better results if they focused a few drives around DJAX early to get him in the flow. 1 OR 2 deep shots a game doesn’t help JW or DJAX get in sync.
February 28th, 2018 at 4:27 pm
Jeffbuc Says:
February 28th, 2018 at 4:02 pm
^^^You’re so wrong on so many levels dood but I respect what you say. JW last half of the season was lights out top 2 qb in the league. If he had a defense they would have ended the season on a 5 game winning streak. He’s much better than mediocre good sir. He’s elite.
February 28th, 2018 at 4:31 pm
If you watch film you know that coach is full of it. Sadly, he can fool most fans with that garbage response.
If you want proof simply look at everyone’s completion percentage and you’ll see that Djax is significantly lower than everyone else.
So maybe it not the QB but wtfdik?
February 28th, 2018 at 4:38 pm
Jeffbuc,you must not have much knowledge of former bucs quarterbacks.look up Jack “the throwing samoan”thompson,Steve deberg,bunny testaverde, Josh freeman.then tell me how bad jameis Winston is.he will be the best the franchise has ever had if he isn’t already.get out of here!!!3rd round pick,smh.your knowledge of football is obvious,ignorant statement!
February 28th, 2018 at 5:06 pm
DB55 yep the one guy that did not show for voluntary OTAs is not a fault when he is the only one that had issues and lets blame the guy who is first in a first out at every practice session this team has. Our fans our brilliant.
February 28th, 2018 at 5:17 pm
Ndog,well said sir!
February 28th, 2018 at 5:38 pm
Ndog
Brilliant indeed! Smdh
February 28th, 2018 at 5:40 pm
Ok,
You have a 6’6 250 LB TE with 4.5 speed, and you have a sure handed RB ( that rarely get target). But you’re not getting the ball to your #2 WR enough.
2017 Targets
DeSean Jackson | 90 | 14 games
Charles Sims | 47 | 16 games
O.J Howard | 39 | 14 games
February 28th, 2018 at 6:19 pm
I agree with Lakeland why not figure out a plan to get O.J Howard more involved or a running back. The next coach will.
February 28th, 2018 at 6:51 pm
BINGO!!!!
Some of us were screaming about that all season long…
February 28th, 2018 at 9:32 pm
If we think logically about this, Jameis is not inaccurate when throwing to Mike Evans, Adam Humphries, Cameron Brate, or even OJ Howard. It was his first time playing with DJax in real time and it showed. I don’t make it excuses for Jameis but the facts don’t lie. Jameis is not inaccurate. He and the coaching staff have to design high percentage plays with Djax. Be careful what you ask for Bucs fans. Would you like to fire head coach and QB THEN START OVER! Not me.
March 1st, 2018 at 12:09 am
I never liked Jackson fit with this offense. He stretches the field but he doesn’t make the tough grabs plus when he was on Undisputed a few weeks ago he didn’t sound eager to be continuing work with Winston and Mike Evans. I think Jackson as well as Gerald McCoy should be traded to a winning opportunity. Jackson seem he would be a great fit for the Raiders and Gruden. Maybe a trade comes up between the two teams and I think it’s likely to. The Bucs shouldn’t shop him though just casually offer him out there to drive his value up. I think the Raiders would give up a first round pick for him too because they really don’t need the draft whatsoever
March 1st, 2018 at 1:17 pm
And sometimes, all Desean had to do was to make a simple adjustment, but he didn’t. Does he need contacts? Seriously. He looked at times like he lost the ball. I have tape of it, the Bucs surely must.