Dirk Koetter No. 24
March 5th, 2018
Rotoworld.com frowns.
Boy, wonder what Dirk Koetter did to the Rotoworld crowd?
From the fingertips of Patrick Daugherty, it seems Koetter ought to have the moving vans already backed up to his house. Daugherty, citing a number of examples, writes with authority that Team Glazer will be up to their chins in a coaching search in January 2019.
24. Dirk Koetter
Career Record: 14-18 (.438)
With The Bucs Since: 2016
Last Year’s Ranking: 17Firing Lovie Smith didn’t raise too many eyebrows. Firing Lovie Smith to replace him with his 57-year-old offensive coordinator did. In 2016, the Dirk Koetter ploy looked like it might actually pay off. The Bucs finished on a 6-2 tear, posting a winning record for the first time since 2010. The momentum did not carry over. Koetter’s Bucs were one of 2017’s biggest disappointments, complementing a simplistic defense — hello single-covered Julio Jones — with a mistake-prone offense. A disconnect also developed between Koetter and franchise player Jameis Winston, with NFL Network reporting the duo’s relationship was “not in a good place.” You can’t blame Koetter for growing frustrated with Winston, but it was Winston’s supposed progress under Koetter that got him the job in the first place. If Koetter can’t get his 24-year-old quarterback on track in 2018, the Bucs will almost certainly be looking for their fifth head coach in 10 years since firing Jon Gruden.
Well, first, this piece sure looks like it’s from someone who maybe watched 20 minutes of the Bucs total last season, glanced at numbers, and began making sweeping generalizations.
First, Joe is convinced the alleged rift between America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, and Koetter was totally blown out of proportion. Joe had breakfast with a well-plugged-in national NFL writer in Indianapolis who told Joe his information was that Jameis hit the ceiling over Rapoport’s report of alleged friction between he and Koetter. Was completely furious.
Joe also heard from an NFL suit in recent days that it was his impression the origin of Rapoport’s story was agent-driven.
Yes, Koetter got the Bucs job because of how he developed Jameis. And when Jameis was healthy, he showed why he was a first-round pick.
Daugherty does have a solid point about the Bucs defense. Yeah, Mike Smith runs the defense. Still, that ultimately is Koetter’s responsibility at the end of the day. He has the title and salary of “head coach” for a reason.
The Bucs should have an improved running attack in 2018 now that Doug Martin is off the roster. How many wins a decent running game will give the Bucs, that’s anyone’s guess.
March 5th, 2018 at 10:06 am
Sounds mostly fair and on point to me… except for the part about the rift I’m their relationship.. which really could.be right or wrong.. no one knows for sure
March 5th, 2018 at 10:18 am
That is fair and accurate.
March 5th, 2018 at 10:21 am
As someone who watched a heck of a lot more than 20 minutes of Bucs games last year, there’s very little in that column that I disagree with.
March 5th, 2018 at 10:25 am
The Glazers were to lazy to find his, and Lichts replacement this year. Besides they picked up Lichts fifth year, and gave Smith a raise. Since the money keeps coming in even with a poor product on the field the easiest thing to do was keep the status quo. Another losing season they’ll have to get off their butts, and do something. Problem is, if they don’t hire someone like Coughlin to make the right decisions they’ll just screw the pooch yet again. Yo ho, yo ho a pirates life for me!
March 5th, 2018 at 10:34 am
Jameis got Jimbo paid, then got Koetter a job, then saved Koetter’s job … I don’t know that Jimbo or Koetter ever really did anything for Jameis …
March 5th, 2018 at 10:37 am
Column was spot on and I am someone that was in dirks corner, always have thought licht is a buffoon and lovie hire was lazya nd terrible
March 5th, 2018 at 10:38 am
@Joe … “Daugherty does have a solid point about the Bucs defense.” Gotta love it. You are sooo predictable Joe. Our record in these last 3 yrs is 20-28, our offense has treaded water for those 3 years in terms of POINTS SCORED, and Daugherty hit the nail on the head when he called it a “mistake-prone offense”. Unless of course 72 fumbles & 47 INTs in 48 games isn’t considered ‘mistake-prone”. Heck that ONLY averages out to 1.5 fumbles/game & 1 INT/game over a 3-year period.
But noooo … let’s pee on the DEFENSE. And Scapegoat Smitty of course. Considering that we’ve put the lion’s share of our draft picks into the offense (especially the high ones that really count) I’d say we should be expecting this offense to be performing MUCH BETTER than it has.
March 5th, 2018 at 10:48 am
Defense:
So the alternative to being “predictable” is to lie and write things Joe doesn’t believe in so it makes you feel good?
If you don’t think the rotten defense hurt this team, you should return to your bottle of Jim Beam.
March 5th, 2018 at 11:07 am
NFLNUT
ive been saying Winston made dirk look better than he was/is for a very long time…..
@joe….I disagree with the rift between the 2…..
that rift was highlighted in the win vs the saints…..what young QB in his 3rd year ignores his HC and calls his own play…..that showed me Winston doesn’t trust dirks judgment…..their relationship probably isn’t as bad as them about to come to blows but I also don’t think they’re buddy buddy…..I can see a big ben/todd haley situation brewing…..and we all know who won that battle…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
March 5th, 2018 at 11:08 am
Joe, never said the Bucs defense was good. Lying isn’t the only alternative to being ‘predictable’. What’s ‘predictable’ is your response to Daugherty’s criticisms of the Bucs & Jameis: attack Daugherty (20 mins of watching the Bucs last season? Sweeping generalizations?). But when it came to the defense, “Daugherty does have a solid point about the Bucs defense”. And BTW, I don’t drink.
March 5th, 2018 at 11:09 am
No doubt the biggest mistake made by Bucs last season was drafting OJ Howard over Dalvin Cook. Sure, OJ had a decent rookie year and he will likely be a very good TE for years to come. But TE was not the weakest spot in the offense needing a go-to-go to draft, RB was. And for management to put all their trust in Martin was just plain stupid when Cook was still on the board, wanting to play with Jameis and still on the board for the taking.
Yes, the defense still sucked last season, but with a legit running game there would have been more points on the board which would have lead to more wins at the end of the season and there would be no discussions this off-season about who will lead the Bucs RB position this season.
March 5th, 2018 at 11:27 am
Tend to agree with Cal.
Yes, O.J. will be a very good tight end. But it wasn’t like the Bucs needed a tight end. The Bucs had a one-dimensional offense. That dragged the offense down as much as Jameis’ bad shoulder.
March 5th, 2018 at 11:32 am
Winston is a large part of the problem.. He has good receivers and still not accurate in red zone or the long ball. Main job of qb is to be an accurate passer and after 1st pick in draft ,rated no better then average.. Check the nfl listings to see the young qb’s rated ahead of him.
March 5th, 2018 at 11:41 am
Cal is 100% correct…
Licht did not choose to build a team…he went with BPA…you can do that if your roster has depth, ours did not.
March 5th, 2018 at 11:47 am
You guys would be killing the GM if he took a running back that could not last even 4 games right now!!!!!!!! SMDH!!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!
March 5th, 2018 at 11:48 am
^^Yes Jameis accuracy isn’t Tom Brady like, but he has improved every year in the league with the least innovative play designs in the league (IMO). Jameis would have to be pin point precise to fit the ball into the tight windows required by Dirks routes. I can’t understand how people cannot see this. His routes are D Jax go long, Mike Evans go 10 and turn around, Brate/OJ go deep down the middle, Humphries go 5 and turn around, Martin/Barber/Sims stay in and block or Jameis is gonna get killed. Vanilla, Putrid, Pee Wee playbook. And despite what one of the Joes thinks, our O-line was complete garbage both in the run game and in PP overall. Did they have good moments- of course but all it takes is one to end your QB, see Arizona, Minnesota and Buffalo. I would pay Nate Solder, Norwell whatever they wanted, draft a Center in 4th or 5th (keep E Smith or sign Hawley for one more year, move Marpet back to RG and move D Smith to RT where he could become dominant. On Defense, sign Poe/ Joyner if not tagged/Trumaine Johnson.
In the draft-try to trade back if we can find a partner. If we can’t take BPA (unless it is a TE, LOL). If we can trade back, take RB and DE or DT or if D James is still available-take him. Just my thoughts
March 5th, 2018 at 11:50 am
Realist- It is ridiculous to think he would have been injured in our 4th game of the year (or at all)- your logic is flawed. Though behind our O-Line, it may not have taken that long, LOL
March 5th, 2018 at 12:04 pm
Did I miss something?! Coaches coach and players play. I agree that the play-calling was atrocious, but to say that Jameis made Koetter and Jimbo look good is a stretch. I mean, come on guys, how many bone-head plays did Koetter make ON the field? That’s right, none. It was Jameis who made stupid mistakes ON the field.
Don’t bury your heads in the sand by blaming it ALL on coaching. Jameis has ownership in this as well.
March 5th, 2018 at 12:06 pm
Lichts mo over his span of his tenure as alleged GM has been NO VISION or defining this team, you cannot look at the bucs and identify what they are or where they are going as stated by Cal in the drafting of OJ
March 5th, 2018 at 12:09 pm
24th seems more generous than Licht paying Martin full price last season.
March 5th, 2018 at 12:35 pm
Extremely fair and accurate perspective.
I was surprised he was ranked as high as #24.
Put it this way – think back to one time last year where a shrewd coaching move led to a win?
I’ll wait here while we all futilely try to come up with one example. I’m still rooting for him this season, of course.
FIX THE TRENCHES, FIX THE BUCS!!
March 5th, 2018 at 12:48 pm
I agree Bucfanman- We cant give #3 a pass for being #1 in turnovers in December….too many apologists on here at times. He was horrid at times and we have fans who say he played great in December…really? A QB record of 1-4 is not great. He needs to own it, get better, or move on. I wouldnt quit on #3 yet but man he has tons of room to improve.
What team in the Premiere league had the highest payout in player salaries in 2017? Manchester United, owned by team Glazer. In fairness, what team had the highest profit? Man U. If you think there is no financial relationship between the 2 clubs(Bucs-Man u), your not playing close enough attention.
When you combine the above with a poorly run franchise like the Bucs, you get 5-11. You cant have missing high in the draft (hargraves) and misses in FA (baker/ward/sweezy) and expect good results as a team. This team is on life support with the fans IMHO.
March 5th, 2018 at 1:01 pm
Dirk Koetter is ranked 24th among Head Coaches. I had him ranked 26th, I wasn’t off by much.
March 5th, 2018 at 1:51 pm
That’s a helluva point!
The play most folks remember was a total freelance call — Jameis’ touchdown pass to Chris Godwin to beat the Saints.
March 5th, 2018 at 2:13 pm
^^And probably cost us Chubb or Barkley, LOL. But man was it awesome to see. Best part is that there isn’t enough time left for the defense to give up the leas…AGAIN.
March 5th, 2018 at 2:14 pm
*Wasn’t enough time to give up the lead- I think my fingers need coffee
March 5th, 2018 at 2:39 pm
If the tape he watched showed Julio being covered at all, then he saw when Mike Smith was at the top of his game, generally Julio would be wide open by 10 yards as Smith would play his guys 15 yards off the LOS and then have them backpedal from there.
March 5th, 2018 at 2:54 pm
to say that Jameis made Koetter and Jimbo look good is a stretch.
well, jimbo hasn’t won anything since Winston and he’s had top 5 top 10 classes….his biggest threat was only Clemson….
think about the last play of the saints game….dirk played for the FG….Winston played for the win…..before it was known that Winston ignored dirk and called godwin’s number, everyone said great call dirk….but in fact he never made the call…..I doubt that was the first time Winston did that….
it is what it is tho…..2018 will tell fans everything they need to know about this staff and front office…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
March 5th, 2018 at 5:03 pm
Koetter did not make all the right moves by any means especially with Doug
Martin. I will say that benching Jameis while injured was a good move. After
inserting Fitz and going 2-1 with the offense showing a little life, Jameis came back and played much better IMO with the exception of fumbles.
March 6th, 2018 at 2:43 am
they were pretty much right on point… nothing unfair about what they said or where they ranked him
March 6th, 2018 at 1:51 pm
When you are an OC promoted to HC and your offense underperforms and yet that’s the side of the ball where the majority of the talent lies then your job is in serious jeapordy. Throw in a best friend that as Rotoworld states puts single coverage on Julio Jones, wont let your high secondary pick play press coverage and instead have him 20 yards back at the snap and you are certainly setting yourself up for failure. At least Dirk will feel all warm and snuggly with almost all of his coaching staff back to dwell in the cellar with him for one more year.