“It Seems Like We Have To Get Punched In The Face”
November 6th, 2018
The Bucs and motivation.
The way Bucs Bit-O-Honey-snacking coach Dirk Koetter sees it, the Bucs require a violent act to wake up and realize they are in a game.
The defense had an awful game Sunday and the Bucs are back on pace to set an NFL record for most points allowed in a season, which is nothing less than outrageous.
In his weekly sitdown with Dan Lucas of WFLA-TV Channel 8, Koetter tried to make rhyme or reason as to why the Bucs get torched in the first half yet play better defense in the second half, normally.
“It seems like we have to get punched in the face before we take it serious,” Koetter said. “It seems like we just don’t start playing until we get down two scores. I’m not proud of that. That ultimately falls on me.”
And Koetter also said the Bucs offense did the defense few favors in the first half.
“We are too inconsistent, we are playing in streaks,” Koetter said. “We actually started off fairly well on defense [Sunday]. Went in there and got them off the field. Our offense who put our defense in a horrible position. But our defense went thorugh a long stretch where we just didn’t tackle very well and we did have some lack of effort plays.”
The term “lack of effort” should raise an eyebrow with Bucs fans. That’s code right there. That’s just one step from quitting.
Effort should be the very minimum expected from a professional player. And half-@ssing it by a couple of players could very well mushroom. You know, a rotten apple spoils a barrel?
There has sure been a lot of chatter and smoke about a split Bucs locker room or a locker room divided in recent weeks. If guys are loafing on defense, well, it’s starting to smell like Koetter might have a locker room problem on his hands. Joe has no idea how that can be solved in the middle of a season without sending folks packing.
You know, “Keyshawned?”
Below is the full video of Lucas’ sitdown with Koetter courtesy of WFLA-TV Channel 8.
November 6th, 2018 at 5:35 am
That’s ok. We have Geraldini to save the day.
November 6th, 2018 at 5:38 am
When you see what was happening to our Defense you can understand why Koetter called a fake punt from the 25…..in his mind no matter where Carolina got the ball, they were going to score….so why not try to keep the ball?
It also sent a huge message to the Defense that he was desperate to stop the bleeding.
On the surface it looked like a very foolish call….but I actually understand it.
November 6th, 2018 at 5:48 am
This defense is unwatchable. Was there any doubt, any doubt within the Milky Way Galaxy, that the defense wouldn’t fold like a cheap suit against Cincinnati when we tied the score–or give up that insurance score to the Panthers when we made it close? It’s like watching a rerun of Charlie’s Angles over and over again–it stinks!
It was almost fun watching some of last night’s game. Tennessee wins 28-14. Could any Bucs fan imagine giving up only 28 points? If we held a team to 14 we’d all stroke out–wouldn’t be any of us left to complain to the Joe’s.
The defense has six turnovers for the year and one interception. Count em–ONE!!!!!
I like Licht and Koetter but football, correction-winning football, doesn’t seem to be their respective genetic codes. As Frank Messer used to say after a baseball home-run, “A–B–C ya later!” I think it’s time to apply that formula to Licht and Koetter.
November 6th, 2018 at 6:08 am
You know what I love about the NFL? I love how players get paid very good money, squeak by the trade deadline, then are able to show a lack of effort. I wish my job was like this.
November 6th, 2018 at 6:13 am
I forgot to mention my love of guaranteed money in player contracts. “Here Mr Player, I am guaranteeing to pay you even if you don’t show effort”. Ridiculous.
November 6th, 2018 at 6:15 am
Need an example, cut the cancer out ,now.
This team is or has, become a team of wussies or prima donnas
Same crap every year,loaf along, than towards the end of the season they start thinking about next year and who will be let go,than they start playing for their jobs.
Screw those players,get rid of them
Others see it and try the same thing
November 6th, 2018 at 6:17 am
Dirk, you nailed the problem and it is on you, why aren’t your players punching in the face instead of taking the blows. Can the Bucs intimidate anyone? As the head coach, Dirk, its your job to see that your teams come out firing on all cylinders, instead they can’t even get the car started until the opponents have ran 4 or 5 laps ahead of you. Your schemes are outdated, like most coaches you have a system that fits your playbook, not the strengths of your players.
November 6th, 2018 at 6:45 am
Great then punch them all in the mouth in the pregame! Learn how to motivate your team it’s kinda your job?
November 6th, 2018 at 6:50 am
I believe what is happening is that after the opposing team scores 35 points in the first half against the Bucs, they start to coast a bit on offense in the 2nd half because the game is already won.
Why risk injury to your offensive players putting up another 28 second half points against the Bucs?
So they let off the gas and it looks like the Bucs play better defense in the 2nd half. It’s a mirage. Remember when the game was close and Cin. need only 40 seconds to waltz through the Bucs for the winning field goal? If teams want to, they walk right through the Bucs.
There is no “start playing” when down 2 scores. The other team has already mailed it in.
November 6th, 2018 at 6:50 am
Dear Dirk … Getting down 35-7 in the first half alone isn’t being ‘punched in the face’. It’s getting ass-stomped … and it’s embarrassing. I know that your GM certainly didn’t do you any favors when he ‘stocked’ this defense, but NEWSFLASH … Jason Licht isn’t the HEAD COACH; you are. These guys aren’t playing anywhere near their POTENTIAL, and that’s on you because (tada) … YOU’RE THE HEAD COACH.
There’s still 8 games left in this season, and as of right now, you’re still the guy in charge. So FIX IT. If these under-achievers need to be ‘punched in the face’ before they get their act together, then be my guest: Punch them in the face, but do it BEFORE the game, not after we’re behind 35-7. Signed: One embarrassed Bucs’ fan who’s pissed off at what our defense has been vomiting on the field.
November 6th, 2018 at 6:53 am
If Kwon Alexander means that much to our Defense….put him out there (no contact)…..just jawing…..that should at least make a point.
November 6th, 2018 at 7:09 am
At least the “Yucs” of old ( 80’s-mid 90’s ) were lovable and had better uniforms. This has become an unbearable bunch to follow. Yet I do and will…
November 6th, 2018 at 7:14 am
There are plenty out here who would gladly punch you in the face before the game starts Dirk. Sign me up. And yes it does fall on you. Duh. Keep telling us that like we dont know. You are not very smart. Adios
November 6th, 2018 at 7:25 am
I know he said Cleveland only but any chance we could get Arians as HC & Pagano as DC.. please share your thoughts on potential coaches you all would like to see as well as GM of course… they are both dead men walking
November 6th, 2018 at 7:34 am
More like you have to get choke slammed, a pile driver and an F-5 before they get serious….which is usually a little in the third quarter.
November 6th, 2018 at 7:39 am
Secondary has 3 rookies…..who barely understand basic schemes and don’t seem great at tackling…or even basic effort. Teams know how to exploit it over and over. I think the defense as a whole knows this….and its deflating to the other players. Our LBs are collectively below avg….Its a poorly built defense….Licht did this last year….Put out a thin d-line, we got wiped out with injuries….defense was garbage. Koetter is an offensive coordinator/coach….he’s always been hands off on the defense. I don’t expect him to do anything at this point.
November 6th, 2018 at 7:39 am
The entire organization is completely dysfunctional from top to bottom. The losing cycle year after year will not end until there are wholesale changes. The cleansing needs to be everything especially the owners. Multiple efforts replacing GM, coaches, and players has failed each time. This team needs a complete makeover. Period.
November 6th, 2018 at 7:44 am
Why is it we seem to think the defense plays better at some point in the game. When in fact its the opposing offense who slacks off or goes conservative with a big lead. And whenever they need to step on the gas. Then our defense reverts back to its usual self and cant stop anyone when it matters late.
We are kidding ourselves to think this defense isn’t hopeless…
November 6th, 2018 at 7:46 am
The reason the defense sucks to start games is because there’s no accountability by coaching staff.
No fines, no benching, no discipline, no winning attitude-just weak explanations and “I wish I knew” B.S.
November 6th, 2018 at 7:54 am
“It seems like we have to get punched in the face before we take it serious” – Throwing my hat in the ring to become the designated Bucs fan who is allowed to punch the slackers on this team in the face. Heck, after watching last weeks fake punt and the lateral to lose the game performance, I’d PAY to be the designated face puncher.
November 6th, 2018 at 8:00 am
Unless things change drastically The coaching staff will fall on its sword.But they are crippled by a Gm with too much power, a so so judge of talent who is often too enamored with his picks and free agent signings. Some decisions like the
Grimes signing may also rest on the coaches. This expensive one year fix was shortsighted and foolish. Secondary and linebackers are often not in position,.
When they are in perfect position they just don’t execute the the right angle or
wrap up the tackle.
It is Licht’s job to get enough quality players on the roster and he has failed to do it. He had five years and his main claim to fame is he has built a quality receiving corp. Have to say Brate is not giving the effort this year IMO. I was PO’d when I watched him go out of bounds a foot before the first down marker
without making contact with defender or making the extra effort.
Thumbs down on Licht’s ability to addreess and fix the many holes on this team. He had five years and there are not enough improvements to the roster to earn any type of extension.
November 6th, 2018 at 8:18 am
@Bob – I agree wholeheartedly. The coaches will(should) fall on their swords because they share blame but the GM has generally NOT MANAGED in a way that puts his players and coaches in position to succeed. Wasted draft picks will be the first line of Lichts professional tombstone followed closely by his free agency ineptitude. Just this past year, we had 2 high draft pick rookies fail to show that they can play in this league. We’ve got a #1 QB pick who has regressed because he has to score 40 – 50 points to win any game. And the GM didn’t FORCE Mike Smith out last year, when the defense was DEAD LAST. This GM will do well to be a scout after this fiasco and I’d argue he may NEED to go do some scouting because his talent evaluation skills are AWFUL.
November 6th, 2018 at 8:32 am
Thank you. Best description.
November 6th, 2018 at 8:34 am
Joes,
Sometimes you just have to ‘Keyshawn’ some people in order to move onward and upward…
November 6th, 2018 at 8:42 am
The few key injuries on defense (mainly the loss of Kwon, and not having Beckwith back yet to replace him) is killing us.
The offense needs to be more consistent in order to compensate.
November 6th, 2018 at 8:46 am
The more Koetter talks, the more obvious it is he needs to be fired.
November 6th, 2018 at 8:57 am
Told you they shouldn’t have gotten rid of Tandy. 9 & 7 with him starting in 2016. You see where the Bonehead that refused to play him in 2017 is at now!!! And guess who is up next to leave the Yucs……..Yup Mr. Dork Koetter!!!!
November 6th, 2018 at 9:06 am
dirk never has this team prepared…..and to take it a step further, the coaches are never prepared…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
November 6th, 2018 at 9:08 am
Every time this D steps on the field I feel as though I’ve been punched in the face
November 6th, 2018 at 9:19 am
We can all keep going after Dirk all we want… (As we should he is the HC) but whatever coach is here next year better clean house on this roster. We totally lack leadership on the defensive side of the ball. JPP was a fantastic addition and he may be the only one worth anything on that defense. Kwon, LVD, Grimes, McCoy ask yourselves would it really matter if they were all gone? They put up some stat lines big deal we stink and have stunk for a long time. If coaches and the GM are cleaned out I say many of the players go with them.
November 6th, 2018 at 9:28 am
Please asterisk *W4W (#WEAPONS4WINSTON) on all those posters who repeated that in previous seasons but now complain about the defense. How soon we forget…
November 6th, 2018 at 9:48 am
I agree with Tandyman. Huge mistake not paying Tandy what he was worth as Captain of our Special Teams and our best playmaker to get turnovers and I called out that major mistake when it happened. It also was another major mistake not to take Cook in 2017 by moving up at the end of the first round and take him. Now Barber is injured and we have no acceptable RB to replace him. Warhop should have been fired years ago because he obviously is no judge of talent and cannot develop Cappa or any other OLineman and has been a fool trying to develop Benenoch by throwing him to the wolves as a starter and not moving Turnstyle Smith to RG and returning Marpet to LG, and especially failing to play Liedtke when he was available last week. Licht should know better.
November 6th, 2018 at 9:49 am
Speaking for Captain Obvious: Awful franchise. Absolutely awful.
November 6th, 2018 at 9:57 am
Let’s see how they play this week. Make or break. If they’ve quit I want an entirely new strategy.
We already know we’re going to lose more than we win and there’s nothing at this point we can do to stop it. I would never say lose on purpose but trying to win with different players is not losing on purpose.
I saw Joe Dirt a couple of times in that Panther’s game…we need to see more like him. Unload our practice squad and let the quitters watch from the sideline where they belong.
We need to start looking for replacements anyway.
November 6th, 2018 at 10:03 am
What Darin said…
The line forms here.
So much for Dirk’s “Bad Ass Team”…nope just really bad.
Stick carriers..what a joke.
November 6th, 2018 at 10:09 am
SPBF
If I had a dollar for every time I said “let’s see how they play this week”…
I would be the principal owner of the Bucs.
It’s sad to say that even though we are technically in the hunt..we really aren’t.
If the Glazers were smart(?), they’d be way out in front of everybody else and sign a Pres. of Operations now…Then let him fire everyone after the last game.
I still think Tony is the guy. I still think he won’t do it. The Glazers aren’t the Rooney’s.
November 6th, 2018 at 10:10 am
The Defense and the Offense comes out flat
Maybe the defense start playing after the offense start scoring
That’s the way it seems
The team comes out unprepared
Being outscored 139-23 early in those 5 losses
The offense should come out punching teams in the nose
Maybe it will fire up the defense
Who knows, but they have stunk the field as a team
November 6th, 2018 at 10:16 am
Owlykat
” Licht should know better”
Well, there you have it
P.S. Isn’t Ali playing LG?
November 6th, 2018 at 11:04 am
yep! send Dirk packing!!!!
November 6th, 2018 at 1:50 pm
Hey Dirk ya a$$hole. These guys have been loafing since you took over. Never once have I saw you bench somebody, give somebody an earful on the sidelines, make one of them inactive on gameday or outright cut them.
You just leave these scrubs on the field. There is no accountability on your team. This is why we are unable to tackle.
Didn’t your dumbass say once you wanted a badass team? I’ve been waiting for it. What’s the holdup jerkoff?
November 6th, 2018 at 3:21 pm
Dirk is a great offensive coordinator, I really think that, and I think the system he has for Winston is a perfect fit. Yes, it’s a deep ball offense in an era of everyone dinking and dunking it down the field, and yes, it creates more turnovers – but it also is literally the best offense in the history of the team and it’s not even close. I know the fake news Winston haters long for the days of Mike Glennon throwing for 4 yards and 3rd and 13, but outside of you dullards, the rest of us that have a frame of reference from watching this team can appreciate the offensive effort we’ve seen since Dirk took over.
However Dirk is a terrible head coach. He doesn’t have the temperament, on the sidelines he doesn’t see the field well and calls the games terribly, he throws hissy fits, he literally quit on the team in his first year vs Denver, he still doesn’t seem to understand how clock management works, he rarely has the team prepared and he panics.
He’s not head coaching material – and that’s why a guy with his track record of success on offense had never got a shot at HC until he was in his late 50s. It was a huge red flag to me when Licht said that he had only ever talked to Dirk for maybe 5 mins the entire season when he was the OC – a guy who makes a good HC will just be known to everyone, you need that type of personality to me in that position.
It’s a shame that Mike Smith was fired since he should be the HC right now. Yes, he was a disaster as DC, but those are two different jobs and Smith was an extremely good HC very recently. It’s why when Smith was fired I said it was a huge mistake, they should have promoted him to HC and fired Dirk, then put in a new DC and let Monken run the offense.
Actually even before that, for the last 2 years I’ve called for Dirk to be demoted and for Mike Smith to be HC and to get a real DC – I think the Bucs could have won with the guys they had if they had simply been in different roles.
But nope, and now we rebuild yet again…
November 6th, 2018 at 3:21 pm
Jesus, that was long even for me.
My bad.
November 6th, 2018 at 5:16 pm
Total BS ! The game was OVER at halftime! People talk about the defense playing better in second half? Really? When u score 35 do u actually they kept their foot on the gas offensively and defensively? But after garbage time TDS made the game close what happened? Carolina decided to score a TD and play a little D And the game was over! If Jameis had the SAME STATS all we would have heard was “that pick was horrible” “garbage time stats”! When your HC makes excuses for FITZ and throws Jameis under the bus after the browns win DIRK should have been fired! I would Jim Harbaugh any day anytime and give him everything he wants. CHUCK Pagano as a DC maybe! Whatever one thing for sure this entire staff need to go