Bucs Escape Loser Mentality
October 21st, 2018
Why?
Joe hates to shat on a win, but this has Joe completely mental.
And what Joe is going to write is likely going to hack off a lot of people at One Buc Palace and in particular hack off Bucs coach Dirk Koetter, who Joe likes and supports. But what Koetter pulled late in regulation should never be supported and should never be attempted again. Koetter is lucky as hell he dodged this bullet.
In short, late in the fourth quarter, the Bucs played loser football on their final drive of regulation.
Say what you want about America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, but he has demonstrated a knack for moving the Bucs late in the game when the team needs points. And he was once again marching the Bucs down the field when Koetter tucked his tail between his legs and all but waved a white flag.
James had just thrown an 11-yard pass to Cam Brate for a first down on the Browns-24 with 45 seconds left. The Bucs had two timeouts.
That’s plenty of time to run another series of downs or better. And with the loaded weapons the Bucs have, why would you not want to?
Not Koetter.
He went full-blown turtle. Instead of going for seven, Koetter decided to trust a shaky kicker who already had missed an extra point. To make matters worse, rather than maybe trying to get closer to help kicker Chandler Catanzaro, Koetter instructed Jameis to lose yards for the almighty hash mark!
Additionally, the Bucs let the clock run down, content with setting up a field goal.
Koetter did this last season, and Joe also remembers the Bucs do it at Green Bay in a playoff push when noted offensive guru Father Dungy was calling the shots. A win that Sunday would have given the Bucs a shot at the division title.
Then, like today, the field goal attempt was missed. And Dungy didn’t have a quarterback or receivers or tight ends like the Bucs have now.
Joe is sorry, but that is loser football! Most teams would kill to have the weapons the Bucs have. Five strong receiver and tight end targets and a quarterback who is known to be clutch late in games.
And Koetter pulls a Lucy and yanks the football away.
That is simply unfathomable to Joe. That’s trying to lose a game. That’s trying to give a game away.
And it damned near worked.
Yes, the Bucs won, that’s fantastic, but whatever got into Koetter’s head late in the game, Joe truly hopes he learned his lesson.
October 21st, 2018 at 5:51 pm
Yup, he goes turtle and plays not to lose.
It’s a sad reality.
I was impressed when he went for it on 4th earlier. Need that kind of mentality all game long. Stop playing not to lose.
October 21st, 2018 at 5:52 pm
Monken as OC should have told Koetter to pound sand. He’s the OC and keep being aggressive
October 21st, 2018 at 5:52 pm
Dirk Koetter don’t trust Jameis Winston
One of them has to do, for this team to succeed
October 21st, 2018 at 5:52 pm
There’s a difference between playing to win and playing not to lose.
Take your pick on what Koetter does.
October 21st, 2018 at 5:54 pm
The playcalling isn’t the same when Fitz was the QB
The playcalling is more conservative now
October 21st, 2018 at 5:54 pm
“Speak loudly and carry a big ice cream cone.”
October 21st, 2018 at 5:57 pm
Did Koetter take over play calling? It sure felt like it today.
October 21st, 2018 at 5:58 pm
Thank you Joe for pointing this out! When will we start going for wins and stop playing scared? As I heard the game I knew Kotter was gonna pull that sucker move and wouldn’t you know, he did. Then I tell my friend watch us miss the field goal, that happen as well. This game should’ve never went to overtime, not how it played out today at least. Like Joe said, we dodged a bullet today. Lord Jesus please take the playbook away from Kotter
October 21st, 2018 at 5:58 pm
Lakeland, it’s obvious they can’t trust JW. He is inaccurate at the long ball and can’t hit DJax who was open most of the game.
October 21st, 2018 at 5:58 pm
He yells more at fans who call in than his team.
October 21st, 2018 at 6:00 pm
Kicker Curse < Turnover Machine…What does that tell you?
October 21st, 2018 at 6:01 pm
I was surprised that he threw the “challenge” flag when overtime rules prohibited it, in effect icing his own kicker! Still, does a win erase all of the bad? Yes, it does…until the Bucs lose again.
October 21st, 2018 at 6:04 pm
Good thing is it’s not last year, we have a different team, and have demonstrated the ability to sling it this year. Most importantly we have a new opponent next week. Build on the defense, eliminate the fumbles, picks and drops. Let’s correct and move on to the next WIN. Go Bucs!
October 21st, 2018 at 6:04 pm
He goes turtle because he knows Jay Miss is ready to serve up another turnover if you let him throw it. Look what the hell he did in overtime! Jay Miss is not ready for prime time. On a good day, he’s an average QB.
October 21st, 2018 at 6:06 pm
That decision to set up for the final (short) kick was not “going turtle” –
Its called playing the percentages and it was easily the right call.
October 21st, 2018 at 6:11 pm
Kicker can’t make a 40 yard FG but can make one of 59 yards after he missed two kicks? Sorry Joe, I disagree. Koetter is showing supreme confidence in his kicker even after misses or maybe he was protecting Winston from another mistake? Who knows. Personally I would have punted but Koetter showed his balls and faith in his guy. Props. I guess that’s why we’re watching and not making the big decisions.
October 21st, 2018 at 6:13 pm
You are completely wrong Joe, he did exactly what youMUST do in that situation- that same kicker did make a FG earlier and the other XPs – you don’t go wrecklessy passing the ball when in easy FG range – not a turtle on this one, it’s the right call
How in the heck do you predict he misses from 40 and nails a 60? You don’t, it’s why they play the game
October 21st, 2018 at 6:13 pm
I have never posted before but I was screaming at the tv when they did that for everyone to be fired and for this to be blown up as that was one of the worst decisions I have ever seen. Playing passive and scared when they should have at least got closer. I HATED THAT LAST DRIVE.
October 21st, 2018 at 6:14 pm
Pickgrin that “short” kick was from 40 yards man!!! Catanzaro already missed an extra point (33 yards).
That was boneheaded of Koetter not to get it closer w 2 timeouts left & 45 sec…
October 21st, 2018 at 6:17 pm
Wtf is wrong with Donovan Smith? This guy never finishes a play. Zero effort, just stands there when he’s not killing us with penalties.
October 21st, 2018 at 6:17 pm
Winston needs to do what he did against NO last year and flat out ignore Dirk and his ultra conservative loser mentality of playing for FGs. Sure, if you have Justin Tucker then put the game on him, but we don’t. Last year Winston put the game on his shoulders and threw the game winning TD when stupid Dirk wanted to play for a FG. Winston is a winner, Dirk is a loser with a loser mentality and got bailed out.
October 21st, 2018 at 6:18 pm
3 of the next 4 is on the road
No time to celebrate
They need to work on some things
October 21st, 2018 at 6:19 pm
What Joe leaves out of this article is the possibility of negative plays if you continue to pass. Did he see how tired the offensive line was at that point? There had already been bunch of qb pressures and Jameis had thrown an INT and put the football on the ground twice. The likelihood of errors is pretty high at that point.
Another instance where Joe’s football take is the less traveled take. I am sure if you ask Derrick Brooks, he would disagree with your take.
October 21st, 2018 at 6:21 pm
These losers saying you play for a FG are the same losers that say you punt the ball against the Steelers when you have a defense that can’t stop anything. These losers think it’s still 1979, just like Dirk does.
October 21st, 2018 at 6:25 pm
@Geno
Your takes are spot on and we’re definitely seeing the same things.
October 21st, 2018 at 6:26 pm
I do like the fact our new DC Duff was over there on the sidelines talking with his Defense on the bench. He wan’t upstairs in the pressbox researching NASA’s next planetary expedition! Defense played a lot better today. And I..LIKE THAT!!!!
October 21st, 2018 at 6:26 pm
koetter has more faith in the kicker than the turnover machine we have at qb.
enough said.
October 21st, 2018 at 6:27 pm
rod munch is just a silly, little man
October 21st, 2018 at 6:28 pm
@Geno
Everyone on that offensive line was gassed. Also Jameis was so fatigued his legs were shaking. Its really a tribute to Jameis that we got close enough for the FG.
October 21st, 2018 at 6:29 pm
Forget the win! The game is over! On to Cincinnati!
October 21st, 2018 at 6:33 pm
Why pay the kicker if you don’t trust him with a 40 yarder
October 21st, 2018 at 6:35 pm
Bingo Bucamania. Koetter talks a lot of hot sh!t towards fans and the media. Total putz.
How often have Bucs fans bragged about Koetter calling a great game or making a clutch call to win a game? Exactly.
October 21st, 2018 at 6:40 pm
Hey Lurker, maybe watch some football from the last few years and then watch Dirk time and time again play ultra conservative and lose games. The guy coaches like a coward, and gets the results of a coward. Throw away that coaches handbook from the 1950s and get into the future, then get back to me.
October 21st, 2018 at 6:42 pm
The only defense of Chandler is that his misses were very close. They were not Aguoyo-este, ya know, not even accurate enough to hit the net, after never having a chance!?
October 21st, 2018 at 6:43 pm
“How often have Bucs fans bragged about Koetter calling a great game or making a clutch call to win a game?”
at least today! letting/trusting the kicker on a 59 yard attempt after missing a pat and chip shot fg.
October 21st, 2018 at 6:44 pm
*esqe
October 21st, 2018 at 6:44 pm
HowToSpellRhonde – The best two called games in Dirk’s era was game 1 and game 2 this season, and after game 2 all Dirk talked about was how the offense was unbalanced and that had to be fixed, meaning he put his stamp back on the team, which was obvious against the Steelers when they came out and decided that all that downfield stuff doesn’t work, nope, we need to run it up the gut and show that the Bucs are real men, and real men run it up the gut on 1st down and put the team constantly in 2nd and 9.
Dirk saw the success the team was having and shut it down because the coaches handbook from 1954 says you run the ball to win games, and the Bucs weren’t running the ball up the gut on every first down in weeks 1 and 2. Dirk “fixed” the offense.
October 21st, 2018 at 6:45 pm
hey rod munch, good opinion.
just silly for calling posters losers that disagree with your wrong opinions.
😉
October 21st, 2018 at 6:47 pm
Joe you are correct when you say we have the receiving weapons but not so sure i agree when you say we have the QB to throw to those receivers
October 21st, 2018 at 6:54 pm
He did try and get closer with Rodgers. Only had 9 seconds left when Winston went to the hash mark, not 45
October 21st, 2018 at 7:04 pm
lurker – It’s sports, people should trash talk and not take everything so seriously. We, as men, need to stop this mentality of words hurts fruitery that is ruining the country. Anywho feel free to call me names, I encourage it. I mean I’ll respond in kind obviously, but a good insult, in particular anything that is funny, should be encouraged.
October 21st, 2018 at 7:05 pm
Plus put it down on the wrong hash. He was missing right all game.
October 21st, 2018 at 7:08 pm
Wow, nevermind what I said about Justin Tucker, he’s a loser too who just gave the Saints a W. What a piece of garbage.
October 21st, 2018 at 7:15 pm
just gonna post the missed pat by the ravens kicker. his first miss cost them the tie and possible win.
October 21st, 2018 at 7:19 pm
Hippocrates! If we went for it and Winston forced another throw all you fans would be questioning that decision. Be happy we won against an underrated team!
October 21st, 2018 at 7:25 pm
Agree 100% with the article, knew he would go in to a shell. Funny though, the article’s title would work for a completely different article too Joe.
The Bucs DID escape the loser’s mentality in another way. The losing mentality Bucs should not have won, not with 4 turnovers, not when the kicking curse continues and you leave 4-points on the field, not when your QB keeps throwing interceptions, not when you give up a 35-YARD QB run up the middle at crunch-time, not even when you cant’t push the defensive line back 1-f**ing yard at your own goal line and handoff to your RB for a safety. Yet somehow, the Bucs still win! Isn’t that what they say about good teams, that good teams know how to win even when they shouldn’t?
Go Bucs!
October 21st, 2018 at 7:26 pm
lurker – Even if he makes it the Ravens still lose in OT to Brees, so they should have went for it, getting a 2pt conversion a lot more likely than holding Brees from a TD in OT AND still needing Flaco to get the W. I’d take my chances needing 2 yards.
October 21st, 2018 at 7:32 pm
The Cowboys played for the FG too, and lost.
Teams that play for FG’s instead of TD’s lose.
October 21st, 2018 at 7:34 pm
you do not know the future.
analytics has not yet infiltrated the nfl the way you want.
October 21st, 2018 at 7:34 pm
as they say
any given sunday
October 21st, 2018 at 7:40 pm
We really should fire Koetter and run with Monken as HC let Bajakian become interim OC but Monken keeps calling the plays. Im tired of Koetters ineptitude. Glad we won tho. If we can beat the Panthers we can win this division and you know what that means. Go Bucs
October 21st, 2018 at 7:44 pm
Gruden4President – Which is why the team should have fired Dirk instead of Mike Smith, who they should have promoted to HC, then not allowed him to anything to do with the defense. But on offense it’s a shame Dirk didn’t leave it alone after week 2, instead, like all cowards, the team had a little success and then he shut it down, scared to lose – which in turn of course leads to losing.
The people who think you play for the FG are the people who think you run a prevent defense with 4 mins left in the game. It’s the “safe” thing to do.
October 21st, 2018 at 7:49 pm
lurker – Analytics probably say I’m wrong, I’m not talking stats, I’m talking about having a basic feel for the game and knowing, for example, during the Steelers game, if you punt the ball at the end you’re not getting it back. The analytics crowd say you punt the ball, meanwhile the football IQ people who actually watched the game and have a feel for the game look at the situation and say you’re never getting the ball back. Play your gut and go for it. Dirk doesn’t do that, he plays by the 1950s head coaching manual his high school coach once gave him and he coaches like it’s 1979, in particular since he runs a 1979 deep ball Air Coryell offense (which is not the part I have a problem with – the offensive system is a good fit for the players).
October 21st, 2018 at 7:56 pm
1. When won, Joe. Chill.
2. Koetter WAS playing to win when he decided to do the same thing in OT, trust a shaky kicker to kick from a spot where if he missed (again) it would have given the Browns the ball passed mid-field.
If you’re going to kill the man for us being in that OT situation and just avoiding the “loser mentality,” at least mention his ballsy decision in OT. He did to CLE what ATL did to us just last week.
I’m not saying give him credit for the win with that last kicker decision, but at least mention it, Joe!
October 21st, 2018 at 10:16 pm
Man Joe writes something and you guys agree without even thinking it over. This is the NFL. EVERY coach in this league will happily send out his kicker to make a 40 yard field goal. None of them are going to make some reckless play when the win is staring you in the face. Yeah this kicker sucks but you know he should be able to make that kick and you have to trust he will.
October 21st, 2018 at 11:14 pm
TDT – did you watch the MNF game this past week? With like 8 secs left they were still throwing downfield to get an easier shorter FG, and I believe before the last pass it was like a 39 yarder. So. I, not every team will play coward and not try to get their kicker yards to make it easier.
October 22nd, 2018 at 6:55 am
Koetter played the percentages. You throw again the ball can get picked, (again), the receiver could fumble (again). Going with a 40 yd FG was the right call and the call 99% of coaches would have made. The fact he missed doesn’t mean it was the wrong call it just means it was the wrong outcome.