Koetter Says Defensive Line And Wide Receivers Are Bucs’ Strongest Positions
June 14th, 2018
Medics were called in and Joe was handed a paper bag and a towel.
Joe couldn’t believe what was coming from the mouth of Bucs coach Dirk Koetter this afternoon.
The head coach said the Bucs’ defensive line set the tone through spring practices and that unit and the wide receivers are the strongest position groups on the team.
Defensive line? Thank you, football gods.
“Obviously, the d-line. I mean the d-line set the tempo in practice every day,” Koetter said. “You know, we’re supposed to be in no-contact. You know I don’t know how much you could tell from [the sidelines], if that’s no contact, I wouldn’t want to be in there. So the d-line, and then the wide receiver group. Those two groups are our strongest positions right now.”
Imagine that, the defensive line leading the way. Last year, it was the linebackers, if you want to give a prize to a 5-11 football team.
Goodbye, Jay Hayes. Hello, Brentson Buckner! And all the additions — and subtractions — by general manager Jason Licht are right in line with the energy, juice and right attitude.
It’s been a generation since the Bucs were led by a fierce defensive line, but Joe’s not getting to high yet from the current group.
Right now, Joe primarily hopes Jason Pierre-Paul and Gerald McCoy still have a year in their “prime” remaining, and that Vita Vea is as advertised. That should be enough to stabilize the defense and take it from wretched to average immediately.
June 14th, 2018 at 2:02 pm
Man I sure as f*ck hope so. I want more games like the win over the Seahawks where we had like 5-6 sacks or whatever it was. QB pressure changes everything.
June 14th, 2018 at 2:19 pm
Hmmm…Doesn’t say too much about our currently makeshift O-Line.
June 14th, 2018 at 2:20 pm
Publicity talk. This new defensive line and receivers are what fans want to hear in June.
June 14th, 2018 at 2:22 pm
We finally have legit DE’s, which makes a world of difference, along with a good interior rotation, and not to mention quality coaching at the D-Line position, which we haven’t had since Kiffen/Marinelli probably.
June 14th, 2018 at 2:42 pm
Sorry coach but ill wait til I see the DLine in some real action before I believe something so silly from OTAs.
June 14th, 2018 at 2:53 pm
The only thing better would be if Koetter started saying the oline is the strength of the team.
No excuses for Smith. He has the horses for a great front seven. He said last year right before the season that his system was predicated on getting pressure with four, something he undoubtedly reminded his different levels of bosses of when evaluation time came.
A good reference (on JBF of course) is “Perfect Pocket.” There’s another one showing tight ends stoning our defensive ends, something that “can’t happen to an NFL defense.” I don’t remember the title of that one though.
Also, if anyone is searching the archive and runs across my prediction that we’d go 12-4 last year, please let me know. I’ve been repeatedly challenged to prove that I actually said that.
June 14th, 2018 at 2:59 pm
Easy fella… lets tap the brakes until we can see them with pads on.
What about TEs?
June 14th, 2018 at 3:00 pm
Joe I live in south Tampa and heard one small rumble of thunder and some small gray clouds. Did they take it inside today?
June 14th, 2018 at 3:04 pm
I might be crazy but I think that Gholston is really going to benefit from good coaching and will be the Bucs breakout player on defense. This man is a Beast! I’ve seen him bull-rush TWO o-linemen toward the quarterback, BUT, he didn’t quite get there.
June 14th, 2018 at 3:06 pm
Gholston looks a bit slow to me. But hope I’m wrong and he comes back strong. DL does look deep. Can’t wait to see them in some real pre-season games.
June 14th, 2018 at 3:10 pm
not buying it just yet…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!
June 14th, 2018 at 3:14 pm
The encouraging thing is that Will Gholston is probably our weakest Dlineman….if it weren’t for his huge guaranteed salary….he would likely not even make this team.
June 14th, 2018 at 3:25 pm
It all starts up front.
Bucs fans are understandably hesitant to let themselves believe that the defense can be vastly improved in 2018. Last year was brutal.
But GM Licht brought in FIVE new solid DL players. 4 of whom either will be starting or are competing for a starting spot. PLUS Noah Spence coming back healthy (hopefully).
If the DL is truly one of the strongest position groups on this team – then the Buccaneers have a legit chance to have a special season this year.
June 14th, 2018 at 3:42 pm
, if that’s no contact, I wouldn’t want to be in there.
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Good way to get fined and some practices taken away.
Glad to hear the D-Line is doing its thing in underwear football in the AC. 👍🏽
June 14th, 2018 at 4:05 pm
You’ve got to be fing kidding me!!!
Does Koetter even know whos on this team???
D-Line is Deep?
Oh yeah, map me out a depth chart!!
The D-line is much improved, but paper thin.
If JPP gets hurt- whos our pass rusher?
Vinnie Curry is more of a well rounded DE, than Pass rush specialist
I expect a better year from Curry- but he would still be our only possible option.
Sure wont be Gholsten. Sucks( as a pass rusher). Always has sucked. Always will
Now- what if McCoy gets Hurt? Beau Allen and Vita Vea are Nose tackles, cant play 3 technique.
Mitch Unreins is a decent 3, but nowhere near McCoys level.
So wheres all this Depth, Dirk?
Of course, he thought we had a great D-line last year!
And a blind monkey knew that wasnt true!
June 14th, 2018 at 4:07 pm
Secondary and o line are weakest
June 14th, 2018 at 4:42 pm
Lord Cornelius Says:
Man I sure as f*ck hope so. I want more games like the win over the Seahawks where we had like 5-6 sacks or whatever it was. QB pressure changes everything.
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I attended that game and it is my #2 all time favorite game I have seen live. (#1 was the playoff win against San fran enroute to the Superbowl)
So Jason Licht has more than done his job, additions / subtractions, Buckner….No excuses Koetter, No excuses Smitty….
Hot seat anybody?
June 14th, 2018 at 4:53 pm
I would have guessed the linebackers would be a stronger group than the d-line, but like my boy dB likes to say, wtfdik?
If our d-line really does end up being 1 of our 2 strongest position groups, than we should be winning 9 games at a minimum.
June 14th, 2018 at 5:54 pm
Man. Just read all the hate above
Koetter could care less about appeasing the media and blowing smoke up the fans a$$
He is a Straight shooter and tells you what he sees. So whether it’s underwear football or not. Who cares. I like to hear it considering we haven’t sniffed a qbs jock in years.
June 14th, 2018 at 6:00 pm
Let’s just start with Dirk Koetter’s quotation about Vita Vea lifting 300+ pound offensive linemen off their feet with his one-arm hump move. With a man like that at the heart of your defense (Defensive Tackle). That’s raw strength, something that isn’t coached, doesn’t require much technique, and certainly no experience necessary to have the strength and power to lift a 300+ pound man, who is resisting by the way, off his feet. With guys like that in the lineup this year, things have to get better.
June 14th, 2018 at 6:05 pm
What happened, have our linebackers started slacking? We’re so used to them being the strongest group.
Koetter: “if that’s no contact, I wouldn’t want to be in there.”
Coach better be careful he doesn’t get himself in trouble with the union!
June 14th, 2018 at 8:15 pm
Casual Observer Says:
Gholston looks a bit slow to me. But hope I’m wrong and he comes back strong. DL does look deep. Can’t wait to see them in some real pre-season games.
LOL @ “real pre-season games.”
It will be nice if Gholston can at least keep containment when he’s in there this year. I know he wasn’t the only one on the DL blowing it last year, but man I tired of watching the RB turn the corner on him.
June 15th, 2018 at 3:37 am
I’d like to mention ‘Tight End’ as a strong and deep group, also. Wasn’t OJ’s training yesterday a simple highlight reel?
June 15th, 2018 at 7:32 am
Lucious Selmon.
“Hope he comes back strong”
Sorry Lucious, but he has never been strong.
Years ago- I had high hopes for him. Physically- Hes a Monster
But it never happened.
And if it hasnt happened yet, it isnt going to.
At his best- He was a good run stopper.
Last couple years, as you said, he has been unable to contain the edge.
June 15th, 2018 at 11:01 am
Every time I hear or see the name Jay Hayes, I’m like WTFreak, but it also reminds me that out ST coach Nate is still employed with the team. I’m never for a guy losing his job, but I also know that is how the NFL is, a results oriented business and our STs have been atrocious, whether it’s bad kickers, punter seemed to take a step back last year and then let’s talk about kickoff coverage. No excuses, if ST cost us one game this year, which could be the difference in making the playoffs, Dirk should be on the hot seat for keeping this guy who must be a friend (birds of a feather – Mike Smith, Nate & Dirk)