Crunch Time At The Top
July 23rd, 2018
BY IRA KAUFMAN
In two days, veteran players are slated to report to One Buc Place.
They’ll hit the weight room, hit the field, hit the hydrotherapy pools and hit the chow line.
Soon, they will be competing for playing time and a spot on the final roster.
Just up the stairs, a couple of other veterans will be plotting a battle plan designed to keep their jobs beyond the 2018 season.
The Hard Knocks cameras may be gone, but the hard truth is that Jason Licht and Dirk Koetter are running out of time to convince the Glazers they are the right leaders for this organization.
A 5-11 season leaves both men with much to prove.
Licht, 47, has made some astute draft selections since replacing Mark Dominik in 2014, but his free-agent portfolio is thin and Tampa Bay is 22-42 under his direction.
Koetter, 59, is 14-18 as an NFL head coach and the Buc offense has stagnated since he was promoted from coordinator status. He was Licht’s call in 2016 to replace Lovie Smith.
“We wanted an experienced teacher,” Licht said at Koetter’s introductory press conference. “More importantly, we wanted somebody that would establish a winning culture that eventually would bring world championships to Tampa. In Dirk Koetter were all those things.”
Thirty months later, Koetter and Licht appear tied at the hip pad.
With team success, both men figure to be rewarded with contract extensions. But another last-place finish in the division figures to be their ticket out of town.
Licht says he feeds off adversity.
“I like it because my whole life, I’ve always operated best under pressure, under adverse circumstances,” he says.
Consider yourself under pressure, Jason.
Clear Understanding
Licht insists he’s learned from his early mistakes as a GM. He regrets veering away from his basic philosophy while trying to win the 2014 offseason.
“I was never around an organization that did it that way,” he says of his reliance on free agency. “I accept responsibility for it. It took me back to what my core values and beliefs are regarding free agency — you can’t buy a championship, you’ve got to build one.”
One of Licht’s best friends in the business is Howie Roseman, who just lifted the Vince Lombardi trophy as Executive VP of Football Operations for the Eagles.
“Jason comes from the school that you’re never going to force a player on your coach,” Roseman says of his former co-worker in Philadelphia. “You talk about where Jason’s been, whether it’s Bill Belichick or Andy Reid or Bruce Arians, he’s a coach’s best friend. Jason has learned from the best in the business and he knows how to build teams.”
When the 2017 season ended, Koetter singled out a dismal pass rush as Tampa Bay’s top priority. Licht responded by adding five new defensive linemen through free agency, trade and the draft.
The No. 2 concern was lackluster efficiency in the red zone.
That’s on Koetter’s plate to fix, and he started the repair job by elevating Todd Monken from receivers coach to offensive coordinator. And while Koetter will still call the plays, Monken’s enhanced role should help the Bucs maximize their many weapons.
Embedded Strain
“I love being involved with the quarterback,” Koetter said on the day he was introduced as head coach. “That’s my No. 1 area of expertise, working with the quarterback. Our lead guy, Jameis, wants to be coached and he is eager to be here.”
With Ryan Fitzpatrick under center for at least the first three games, the Koetter-Winston dynamic will be put to the test this fall.
If their relationship wasn’t strained before, it’s strained now. How could it not be?
At this point, it’s all about getting this team ready for New Orleans.
That’s where we’ll see if the Bucs can live up to their new slogan: Wreak Havoc.
“The No. 1 thing I have to do better is I have to help our guys figure out a way to win,” Koetter says.
In playoff-starved Tampa, those are words to live by.
Now in his 40th year covering the NFL , Ira Kaufman is the most revered sports personality and writer in the Tampa Bay area. He scored a full-time seat at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters in July of 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 at 5 p.m. during football season. Also a TV start, see Ira now on Mondays at 10:30 p.m. on Spectrum Sports 360 (aka BayNews 9). Ira also is part of the FOX-13 Tailgate Sunday NFL show and enjoys beet salads, Riesling, Chiefs victories and needling Joe.
July 23rd, 2018 at 11:39 am
The Buccaneers record under Jason Licht is worse than it was under Mark Dominick. That should give everyone pause.
Wow, guess it wasn’t Lovie calling the shots after all…
Great article as usual, Ira!
July 23rd, 2018 at 11:47 am
“but his free-agent portfolio is thin and Tampa Bay is 22-42 under his direction.”
Wow seeing it in print is ugh. How does he not suck at his job?
At least Koetter, who hasn’t shown he has “IT” to be an NFL HC is 14-18.
Ugh!
July 23rd, 2018 at 11:51 am
It really makes you wonder about who’s making the decisions up top.
If this were your company and Licht was your CEO/Manager with this track record, would you retain him?
It’s playoffs or bust for this front office, IMO!
July 23rd, 2018 at 11:58 am
Is there anyone out there that longs for the days of Mark Dominick?
Please come forward and explain yourself…..
July 23rd, 2018 at 12:02 pm
the fact that Dominick sucked does not mean Licht Doesn’t suck. Both weren’t or aren’t good at their jobs. Don’t want either.
July 23rd, 2018 at 12:06 pm
Licht, 47, has made some astute draft selections
Maybe true,but some really bad ones too….
July 23rd, 2018 at 12:11 pm
“If their relationship wasn’t strained before, it’s strained now. How could it not be?”
Well if it is strained it is on JW this time. I do often wonder what the dynamic is with JW and DK tho. I tend to think both cringe at the way things are working. JW prolly hates some of the playcalls and DK hates the carelessness with the football on the field.
“The No. 1 thing I have to do better is I have to help our guys figure out a way to win,” Koetter says.
Well effin duh!!!
and btw Dirk – that is your job to figure out – not the players
July 23rd, 2018 at 12:38 pm
IF DK were to get fired tomorrow or at the beginning, middle, or end of the season, who would give him another shot at Head Coaching a team?
How about Smitty?
This staff up to this point is not NFL caliber. I don’t think they ever will be. The whole staff from DK on down is just a marriage of convenience.
July 23rd, 2018 at 12:46 pm
Another well written piece Ira.
July 23rd, 2018 at 12:46 pm
Like the old saying goes, “shut rolls down hill” this starts with the Glaziers, end of story.
July 23rd, 2018 at 12:46 pm
Great observations Ira. My favorite line: “Consider yourself under pressure, Jason” in response to Licht’s comment that he operates best under pressure. Loved it!
Concur with Licht’s comment that “you can’t buy a championship, you’ve got to build one.” And yet, here we are adding 4 DLine FAs & 1 Ctr in a single year because Jason failed to ‘fix’ the defense & OLine in his first FOUR drafts. We’ve gotten THREE defensive starters in those FOUR drafts (Kwon, Beckwith & Evans) but several others (VHIII, Spence & Bond among them) who haven’t exactly lived up to expectations to this point. Licht’s done well at building select position groups, but insofar as building a well-balanced TEAM through the draft that can WIN consistently? Not so much.
July 23rd, 2018 at 1:19 pm
They are all on the choppin block. Don’t finish least 8-8 and the Glazers are Bringing in..The Grim Reaper! Can’t wait to see these Bucs either deliver or drown. Its all on them..not us. No hidin, no fakin, Fans are fed up with this franchise. In its 40+ yrs of existence We have not had half of that existence in winning seasons. Thats disgraceful Buc fans..Out right sorry and pityful!! Like the Rolling Stones use to say, Talkin bout the midnight Rambler…Everybody got to go! Good luck Bucs. You gonna have to WIN this year ..or else!
July 23rd, 2018 at 3:12 pm
D-ROME
that’s right!!!!!….it came out of the horses mouth!!!!!….licht was responsible for the FA whiffs!!!!!
glad to hear licht set the record straight…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!
July 23rd, 2018 at 3:17 pm
where’s @rhealist…..
that coward never appears when an article is written criticizing “his” staff…..
time to pull your skirt down and hold this staff accountable!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!
July 23rd, 2018 at 9:43 pm
This is the best balance of talent, offense to defense, the Bucs have ever had. Licht and Koetter are largely responsible for that. Successful franchises don’t change the leadership every two or three years. They grind through the adversity chipping away at the weak spots. Quick turnarounds are possible in weak divisions. The NFCS is not a weak division. A new GM and HC could take months, if not years, to learn what works with this roster. Talented players could be lost in the turnover. Stay the course with Licht, Koetter, and Winston too. Adversity bonds a team.
July 23rd, 2018 at 10:30 pm
Licht, Smith, Koetter need to go. I would start rebuilding with my first move being to bring Lynch back home to Tampa. From there hire the Best Head Coach available. I’m hoping for the best really but in all honesty I have lost all faith in Smith and Koetter and in a wait and see mode on what Licht has done!!!! Go Bucs, can’t wait until Wednesday when all are together and competition for spots begin!!!