The Change In One Year
August 23rd, 2018
Praise.
Joe has written more than a couple of times that Joe kicks himself in the backside (it’s a nice trick, actually) for not heeding Dirk Koetter’s words.
Last year during training camp, the Bucs coach griped more than once or twice that practices were less than ideal. Joe scoffed, thinking it was coachspeak or Koetter going through a third party in an effort to keep players on their toes.
Of course, Koetter’s words were a harbinger. The Bucs had a lousy season finishing 5-11.
But this year Koetter’s tune has changed. Once or twice he has complimented his team on a good practice and Koetter seems to be implying that Bucs training camp 2018 was much better than last year’s.
“I love working with these guys,” Koetter said. “I don’t want to single guys out. Cuts are coming, we’ve got guys fighting for jobs, guys trying to make those last spots. I love how these guys are working.”
That sure doesn’t sound to Joe like a dissatisfied coach.
Joe will have more later about what offensive coordinator Todd Monken felt about training camp. Unlike last year, Joe’s not getting too many bad vibes from coaches.
Can that also be another sign of things to come?
August 23rd, 2018 at 10:12 am
This is sort of a catch 22 situation. We love seeing such strong competition, but we also know some players will be cut and will play against us someday.
August 23rd, 2018 at 10:38 am
I’ll take the increase in short-term soft tissue injuries over long-term soft belly dispositions of last year.
August 23rd, 2018 at 10:41 am
Everyone including Joe can see it, but as fans and media following the Bucs we are all jaded by what the Bucs have done in the past to say we think this team has a good chance to make the playoffs.
The reality is that this team appears to be more talented and more likely to succeed than the team that went 9-7 two years ago even with its franchise QB out for the first three games.
August 23rd, 2018 at 10:48 am
It will hurt to cut several players and not be able to sign some promising UDFA….but that means our talent level has increased…..it happens to good teams….let’s hope we are a good team….not a team with a bunch of good players. There is a difference.
August 23rd, 2018 at 10:49 am
wait and see mode!!!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
August 23rd, 2018 at 10:52 am
Sounds like our players and staff have great relationships and have a tight knit lockerroom. That’s all fine and dandy until you come to realize that other teams are working harder and preparing better than you are. When you represent Tampa Bay and go out and embarrass us I could care less how close up of a group and good friends they all are.
August 23rd, 2018 at 11:14 am
Just think about all the cuts from all the teams literally hundreds of players going to be cut hope we can snag someone hopefully a Pass rusher we can develop
August 23rd, 2018 at 11:23 am
DK is gonna say everything is going swimmingly. His job is on the line.
Still don’t understand why he didn’t fix problems rather than whine about them.
August 23rd, 2018 at 11:26 am
Vita Vea needs to get his butt on the field and start playing. Rojo needs to quit running scared. This team has a ton of potential but if their confidence gets shaken it could all go sour very quickly.
August 23rd, 2018 at 11:37 am
Amen, TBBF, amen!
August 23rd, 2018 at 11:38 am
that Left Tackle situation though….it’s a season killer 🙁
August 23rd, 2018 at 11:43 am
Why in the world is there no real update from DK and the Bucs on Vita Vea?
First round pick who hasn’t practiced..nobody says a word. Josh Gordon was away from camp for two weeks and every daily and nightly sports show had some mention of ” Where in the world is..Josh Gordon”
I’ve watched the Bucs and the media surrounding the Bucs for forty years, and never seen this kind of dead silence on a high draft pick….
August 23rd, 2018 at 11:49 am
Jmarkbuc Says:
August 23rd, 2018 at 11:43 am
Why in the world is there no real update from DK and the Bucs on Vita Vea?
First round pick who hasn’t practiced..nobody says a word. Josh Gordon was away from camp for two weeks and every daily and nightly sports show had some mention of ” Where in the world is..Josh Gordon”
I’ve watched the Bucs and the media surrounding the Bucs for forty years, and never seen this kind of dead silence on a high draft pick….
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Josh Gordon is a Josh Gordon. A super star receiver. Vea has yet to earn Super Star status…
The goal is to have Vea ready by opening day. Vea also wasn’t a top ten draft pick. There is no rush getting him ready for a preseason game. He will start practicing soon. Still 17 days out from opening kickoff. The kid will be a force when healthy. Not concerned on my end.
August 23rd, 2018 at 11:53 am
Certainly the team added better players on the defensive line however many of these players are in their seventh or eighth years and have already shown a tendency for injuries. I’ll take a mildly injured better than average lineman
Over a healthy below average player. Our defensive line play was very poor in 2017 so it should be very easy to see a Trumatic improvement now.
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The offensive line is in far worse shape than the defensive line. Having a ten-year vet coming off a major injury as your starting right tackle is concerning.
Donovan Smith has to come back at full strength and they need to get a decent back up tackle for depth .
There is more than enough quality as far as receiving but for this team to score more points and touchdowns a running game has to be an important part of their offense and I’m not Sold on these offensive linemen being either healthy or to be able to be exceptional run blockers.
Let’s wait to the real games to start before being foolishly optimistic about the team. Koetter is going to need to find ways to outscore opponents and keep these older defensive lineman fresh.
August 23rd, 2018 at 12:49 pm
@Ed … “Koetter is going to need to find ways to outscore opponents and keep these older defensive lineman fresh.” Love that line Ed (although if Koetter finds ways to outscore opponents we should theoretically be winning every game). For us to have a winning record this year & be competitive for a playoff spot, BOTH the offense AND the defense will need to improve (oh ya, so will our S/Ts). i personally think that field leadership is a major factor in winning, and adding Jensen, JPP, Allen, Curry & Unrein will be HUGE in the leadership area (re-signing Brent Grimes is a biggie too). We’ve got a very young & inexperienced Secondary compared to most teams, but it’s also a very talented Secondary (how well our DLine performs will be huge in determining how effective our Secondary is IMO). Offensively we’ve got the weapons, but I’m not as confident that we’ve got the horses in the trenches. Time will tell there.