How Hot?
July 12th, 2018
Crosshairs.
When you just lost your franchise quarterback for the first three games, the toughest opening three of the Super Bowl era, and you are coming off a 5-11 season, things stack up fast on the head coach.
But that is the minefield Dirk Koetter must navigate to return in 2019. With everything seemingly piling up on Koetter, Zach Links (?) of ProFootballRumors.com believes Koetter could be the first coach fired this season.
Links has a poll going for the first coach fired this NFL season and his top five candidates include Koetter.
Koetter was already believed to be on the hot seat but he was placed squarely behind the 8-ball last week when quarterback Jameis Winston was suspended for the first three games of the season. Even if the Bucs come out of September unscathed, they’ll be up against an overall schedule that is the fourth-toughest in the NFL, based on the combined win percentage of opponents in 2017.
It’s not pretty for Koetter. Joe doesn’t envy the guy.
The only question Joe has is if the Bucs start off terribly, will Team Glazer give Koetter a mulligan knowing he lost his franchise quarterback through no fault of his own for the toughest part of the schedule?
Thanks, Jameis.
July 12th, 2018 at 2:11 pm
Winston has been only average so and rated by nfl as same … franchise qb… really??
July 12th, 2018 at 2:15 pm
Nfl is weird, he has 6-10 talent and you are going to fire him because he doesn’t have. winning personnel?
Look, I understand he isn’t parcels or Lombardi but the hot seat needs to be the person in charge of building the team
July 12th, 2018 at 2:22 pm
Its funny how everyone seems to have written the season off before a game is played.
July 12th, 2018 at 2:22 pm
America’s Choir Boy is a franchise of what not to do. Turnovers and touching.
July 12th, 2018 at 2:25 pm
Strength of schedule is NO excuse. You play the team in front of you. 2 years ago when we went 9-7, nobody thought we’d beat KC or Seattle and a host of other “unbeatable” teams, yet we did.
He’s on the hot-seat because he put himself there.
July 12th, 2018 at 2:26 pm
America’s Groper is becoming America’s Coach Killer.
July 12th, 2018 at 2:34 pm
Confessing that I like DK and so am prejudiced and perhaps think too highly of him maybe I’m giving him too much credit.
But Dirk is the son of a football coach…he has been hired and fired…coached at every level from high school to small college to major college to the NFL. IE He’s been around the block more than once.
I think this is something more for media and fan consumption. I get it but we haven’t coached for decades…come from a coaching family.
I think Dirk is too focused on X’s and O’s..how to make up for the loss of Jameis…playing in the toughest division in the league….but most of all he’s too focused on New Orleans. That’s what is in front of him now.
The last thing DK is thinking about is the warmth of his seat. Comes with the territory.
July 12th, 2018 at 2:35 pm
since 2008 any schedule has been too tough for us.
July 12th, 2018 at 2:41 pm
I think a “Koetter is in trouble” article a day is getting a bit old
July 12th, 2018 at 2:45 pm
100% with you, SC Bucs Fan….and annoying also…..
July 12th, 2018 at 2:54 pm
Just looked at the WalterFootball site for their 2018 prediction for the Buccaneers, and well, they project us to go 2-14 this year. Yikes. If that happens, I think we all know what would be happening come January …
July 12th, 2018 at 3:00 pm
In the last couple years we beat KC at KC, Pittsburgh in Pitt, and would have beat New England at home if we had a kicker. Don’t tell me the Bucs (or any solid NFL team for that matter) can’t win 1 or 2 of the first 3 games.
As a financial advisor we see something called contrarian indicators– when everyone else is selling it is usually time to buy. All this negative news and dire predictions have me believing 10+ wins for the Bucs this year…
July 12th, 2018 at 3:01 pm
…oh and slaughtering the Eagles in 2015…
July 12th, 2018 at 3:06 pm
If he goes 7-9 with the talent on this squad… that is a solid accomplishment
July 12th, 2018 at 3:08 pm
mulligan was given in 2017 due to IRMA, SOS, HK, injuries, lack of talent etc…..
how hot is dirk?….as hot as @realist with his shirt down!!!!!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!!…..GO BUCS!!!!
July 12th, 2018 at 3:14 pm
“Koetter Hot Seat”. Episode 12
July 12th, 2018 at 3:29 pm
TBBF how are things in Wilmy? Now I feel bad when storms are coming towards to coast hoping they push into NC!
July 12th, 2018 at 3:30 pm
Will be so glad when season starts. Nothing, short of 0-16 could be more depressing than the daily dose of gloom and doom we deal with now.
July 12th, 2018 at 3:53 pm
My take: I don’t think are any mulligans at all, for anyone. But Koetter will still be rated by the owners for his overall body of work going back two years…and for his growth and progression (or not) as HC. Winston’s progression (or not) will be considered but not the main factor–unless it’s clear Koetter’s not doing what the owners think he needs to develop Winston. I think they may be opent to the possibility that Winston will pretend to listen but do his own thing. I hate to tie a record to it, so suppose Koetter ends up with good games and wins down the final stretch (with or without Winston), but also aren’t out of contention before Halloween, he will be back in 2019, not only with Winston likley here for another year but also with a 1st round draft QB and hopes that Fitz stays on one more year to mentor the new guy. Winston will be staff QB and a bridget. I think the Glazers will evaluate how Kotter handles all of this, how he leads his team, if he still has them at the end of the season. If they start bad and end bad, AND Winston does not show progression either…they are ALL done, Koetter, Jason, Winston. The only way Winston would stay is if a new GM and coach come in and stay “keep him.” Doubt that will happen if Winston has a year that does not progress from the previous three.
July 12th, 2018 at 3:54 pm
What Eric said
July 12th, 2018 at 4:21 pm
What Bucsfanman my man says!!! You play the team in front of you. No more excuses about personnel! We have had an equal opportunity like every other organization to get better. Coach em up Dirk or next man up.
July 12th, 2018 at 4:22 pm
How about a young up-and-coming coach?? With new college-esque offensive system? Our last two coaches have been throwbacks to yester-year, stuck in their ways on playing 1980s football.
July 12th, 2018 at 4:23 pm
America’s Pessimists all over the place, geeeeze. How are we so excited about this new D-line, Rojo, and emergence of Godwin, a month ago, and now it’s like we’re looking forward to picking first in the draft next year? In the words of Irv aka the Sage “Shame on You!”. Of course, history tells us it’ll probably be a playoff-less season, but damn, lets not squash the last ounces of optimism we have, especially in July.
July 12th, 2018 at 4:25 pm
Everyone can blame jameis all they want, but look at the rest of the team last year. If the run game, kicking game, and defense are still at the bottom of the nfl this year after the tooling by licht this off-season, then the entire coaching staff and front office will be gone. And if that happens, this weak minded fan base will blame jameis. The same weak minds believe Carson Wentz is an mvp, even though the eagles didn’t skip a beat with Nick Foles. How is that most valuable? Did Jared Goff turn the rams into the #1 offense? Dirk Koetters seat should be hot. No more excuses blah blah blah
July 12th, 2018 at 4:31 pm
Blue-footed,
2-14 ?!?
Thats crazy talk!
Vegas said we’d win 4 !!!!
July 12th, 2018 at 4:35 pm
Bucs will be fine. Pre-Pre-Season outrage is a waste of energy.
July 12th, 2018 at 4:38 pm
Did you guys hear about how crazy this K2 thing has gotten ? Looks so different now he can’t even be I.D.’d in court. He looks like a white guy now.
July 12th, 2018 at 4:47 pm
@StPete … “The last thing DK is thinking about is the warmth of his seat. Comes with the territory.” Nailed it StPete. There are only 32 NFL HCs … that’s a pretty elite group. They all make millions each year for one & only one reason: team owners expect them to produce WINS. Excuses don’t put fans in the seats (although they do seem to give Bucs’ fans a LOT to talk about).
This 2018 T-E-A-M (on paper) has the potential to be more B-A-L-A-N-C-E-D. And that’s a VERY good thing. Our defense SHOULD BE considerably better than it was last year. Our running game SHOULD BE considerably better than it was last year. Our turnovers BETTER BE far fewer than they were last year.
The three question marks I still have about this team are (1) play-calling; (2) OLine; and (3) Secondary. And oh yes, Jameis … the biggest question mark of all.
July 12th, 2018 at 4:51 pm
No mulligans. No excuses.
No one wanted to discuss mulligans when Lovie Smith lost his offensive coordinator prior to the start of the season due to a heart issue. That is more disastrous to a team than losing your starting QB for three games.
Irk already got his mulligan.
July 12th, 2018 at 5:08 pm
Dirk is not getting fired unless the can get Jim Harbaugh put your money on a baby
July 12th, 2018 at 5:11 pm
D-ROME
and no one wanted to give mulligans when kwon got suspended!!!!….we were 6-6….defense never looked the same without him….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!!…..GO BUCS!!!!
July 12th, 2018 at 5:14 pm
scotty
$250
no playoffs no job…..its out of harbaugh and schwarts….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!!…..GO BUCS!!!!
July 12th, 2018 at 5:53 pm
People get paid to predict,get paid to analyze,get paid to report all the bullish!t they can dig up on a player and/or coach. And by God they have all done a damn Good job of it this off season. Especially you Joe!!! I don’t think you can find a spec a sh!t anywhere on JW that hasn’t already been looked at. We all know DK was on life support anyways. I’m hoping for the best. I don’t want to start over from scratch again. Atleast not for another 8 or 10 seasons
July 12th, 2018 at 5:59 pm
You’re all insane for just throwing I the towel on the first three games. This D-line should be an order of magnitude better which will help out the entire rest of the defense. The O-line and running game WILL be better than last year. We won last year with Fitz and a worse roster. Buc up.
July 12th, 2018 at 6:48 pm
Jeez when the ceiling is 9 wins how can you even call this a franchise?
July 12th, 2018 at 6:55 pm
10-6. That’s what I keep feeling. 1-2 with Fitz, and 9-4 with America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston.
So if you hate Jameis and think he is the scum of the earth, you better get used to watching him on Sundays for a loooooooong time.
I like Koetter the person and I feel like he is going to improve his playcalling and the running game will be improved enough to give us ANOTHER top 5 offense. Defense will be in the top 12, and hopefully kicking game will at least be average.
I honestly am so pumped for this season and I EXPECT playoffs from the people who are fighting for their jobs and maybe careers. If they can’t accomplish playoffs with their backs against the wall then I dont think they have what it takes.
To Bucs!!! 10-6!!!!
July 12th, 2018 at 6:56 pm
Go Bucs*
July 12th, 2018 at 6:59 pm
For all you Die Hard Bucs fans like myself. Mark my words and watch what happens this season. When stuff like this happens to a team it can MAKE or BREAK them! I have a feeling this group is going to come together and show all you haters and naysayers whats the dealio!!! SUPER BOWL 2018 LETS GO!!!!
July 12th, 2018 at 7:03 pm
If the bucs can go 10-6 dirk may be looking at coach of the year
July 12th, 2018 at 7:06 pm
It is a seat that has been hard earned by Dirk. He is as soft as the seat on the chair and as hard headed as the wood that it is made out of. I hope Dirk doesn’t make himself to comfortable.
July 12th, 2018 at 7:30 pm
I could see Schwartz… so if they go 9and 7 no playoffs are they gone?
July 12th, 2018 at 7:57 pm
Alaskan
I think you’re probably correct on your predictions. It won’t bother me because I do not hate Jameis. And I believe Jameis has talent if he learns to harness it.
It will scare me though because I do not trust him.
July 12th, 2018 at 8:00 pm
Scotty I would say no, but I think 8-8 they are probably gone and any worse they are definitely gone.
July 12th, 2018 at 8:52 pm
No one wants to coach in Tampa, Cleveland of the South. This is why we have a QB coach as a head coach. They had a sliver of a chance with Gruden but he wanted nothing to do with JameisNOT. Sure he (Gruden) said all the right things in front of a mic or on camera, but He was just using that as leverage to sweeten the pot at Oakland. The NFL is a very tight group and they all know who the bad seeds are in the NFL and Gruden did not want anything to do with JW.
I speak the truth, I am the truth, and the TRUTH HURTS!!!
July 12th, 2018 at 9:25 pm
I thought it was funny watching Total Access last night. The Bear’s will go to the playoffs and one of the games that will get them there? Yes! They beat the Bucs.
July 12th, 2018 at 9:26 pm
The training camp and preseason should give us an idea if this team has more fight this year, it is kind of early to speculate.
Like ive said before, Dirk doesn’t have what it takes to get these guys prepared mentally, some road games come to mind like Arizona on back to back years, “Guys think they are going on vacation’. Hopefully these new players and the DL coach they acquired bring some leadership because they have been lacking it big time. No Winston is not a leader, sorry.
July 12th, 2018 at 9:42 pm
I am really torn with Dirk..I feel like Jameis really started to crack his potential the second half of the season, and I know Dirk can call a better offense. He did it here in 2015 and with his other coaching jobs. He’s always been a good playcaller. I think he has the potential to be a great hc and Jason Licht has been a terrific gm, but the defense is the worst in the league and the young qb has been inconsistent and now has off the field issues. Then add the schedule. I mean this guy had a winning season his first year as head coach and called a great offense in 2015. I just don’t see them winning any games to start the season with this defensive unit. It’s impossible without a coaching change unless hell freezes over
July 12th, 2018 at 10:11 pm
Coach Smith’s seat is hotter.
July 12th, 2018 at 11:45 pm
For those who don’t like certain articles, no one is forcing anyone to read them. Thousands of articles in the free archives to read.
Should Joe just go dark until training camp starts (not happening)? Or should Joe write about Charles Sims doing chin-ups on a New York subway? That’s about the only fresh thing happening with the Bucs this month.
July 12th, 2018 at 11:46 pm
D-Rome said it best.. No Mulligans for no GD Body!!..Period!!! Did they give Lovie a Mulligan when his OC had that bad heart? Schiano got no Mulligans. If Koetter cannot reach at least 8-8 this season? I say give him and his road-dog..pressbox Smitty the Boot..Kick’em clean past Arizona!! And Just-Tus..for all baby!!
July 13th, 2018 at 5:31 am
Lmao
Someone said 10-6 hahahahahahahahahahahaha now that’s funny.
More like 6-10.
Man some of you are gonna be so disappointed this season expecting 10-6 and playoffs lol.
July 13th, 2018 at 6:17 am
1 word we all know it’s true so let’s admit it Winston is a bust. There now we can move forward.
July 13th, 2018 at 7:55 am
Nonsense. Jason Licht had his eye on Winston for a very long time and that is documented. Just watch the 4th episode of Hard Knocks from last year if you don’t believe that.
July 13th, 2018 at 11:19 am
Its playoffs or pack your bags baby!!
This is the NFL which stands for NOT FOR LONG!!!
Just win dammit