Barring Injury, Backups Unlikely To Play
December 29th, 2018
No big plans for backups.
For those who want to see Noah Spence (who?) or Ronald Jones get extensive playing time tomorrow in the season finale because there is nothing to play for and key backups should get critical game experience, it is very likely Dirk Koetter will disappoint them.
In possibly his final appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio as an NFL head coach, the Bucs Bit-O-Honey-snacking, Ozark-watching, yams-eating coach, who many believe is hours away from being relieved as Bucs head coach, told “Late Hits” co-hosts Alex Marvez and Adam Caplan that he really has no sense of urgency to get young backups extra playing time tomorrow even if the game is meaningless aside from a draft slot.
Caplan asked Koetter if Ronald Jones or Justin Watson would see more action tomorrow and Koetter, in so many words, said folks should not get their hopes up.
“I don’t look at it that way,” Koetter said of those who believe young backups need snaps. “I can see how people would say that. I mean, we see those guys every day in practice. It’s not like we don’t know what those guys can do or it is not like those guys haven’t improved as the year has gone on.
“I just think you are doing your team, your fans, your organization a disservice if you are not putting your best foot forward out there with your best guys trying to win. Every week when I say put your best guys out there, it starts with who is healthy. Guys are beat up this time of year. Who is healthy to go?
“It is just not fair to the other guys to say, ‘Hey, we are going to play some A-players and we are going to mix in some B-players just because we are out of the playoffs.’ I would have a hard time looking my guys in the [face] if I say we aren’t putting out our best guys out there trying to win.”
Well, if you want to boil things down to the core, for every loss Koetter has on his record, that’s less of a chance he returns as Bucs coach. So he’s not going to purposely give the firing squad more ammunition.
Would it be better for the future of the organization if Jones or Spence or Watson got a lot of snaps (not just on special teams)? Of course.
Koetter and his coaches aren’t worried about next year or five years down the road. They’re a helluva lot more worried about where they will be living and working in a few weeks.
December 29th, 2018 at 10:14 am
He’s a great coordinator but the worst coach I’ve ever seen around these parts , just doesn’t think like a head coach at all. We know Winston will be here whether the new coach draft a quarterback or not and that’s the glazers call but I have to be honest and say I was kind of looking forward to seeing what Ryan Griffin could do finally. Koetter your a horrible head coach
December 29th, 2018 at 10:22 am
Dirk disappoints normally, so what he does or how he coaches is not surprising.
December 29th, 2018 at 10:25 am
This is getting ridiculous, Play Jones, play Watson, play Capa, it’s a meaningless game for god sake. Koetter winning this game means nada for him coming back next year. I feel bad for Jones, he comes in one or two times a game and it’s plain to every one he’s probably getting the ball. So defenses load the box and stuff him behind the line of scrimmage. Let him play the whole game and let’s see what he’s got. Koetter did the same thing to Freeman as a rookie in Atlanta. He played him on special teams for crying out loud. When Koetter left, Freeman turned into one of the best backs in the league. Is that coincidence, I don’t think so. It’s time for new eyes evaluating these guys.That includes Licht too.
December 29th, 2018 at 10:26 am
Typical Bucs
December 29th, 2018 at 10:29 am
“LOL, no pass play to our 199lber Ronald McDonald?
What of the most disheartening low point as a Bucs fan was NOT watching our 199lber drop that easy pass…
But that buffoon trying to catch/grab the ball EVEN though the ball hit the ground and bouncing up and down over again…
YOU DROPPED THE DAMN BALL AND IT BOUNCED OFF THE GROUND FRONT OF YOU…
WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO GRAB THE BOUNCING BALL
YOU MORON!!!
Kick It! Chuck it out of the stadium but to dont try to grab it!
You think nobody seen it? all 40,000 people?
The play was dead and this smuck was trying to grab the ball while everyone was huddling up for the next play
Kobe gives up! Im fed up!
Where are good shopping bags now days? Where can Kobe buy them? Why the hell is everything going plastic these days
Kobe wants a shopping bag to put over his head”
Kobe Faker
December 29th, 2018 at 10:42 am
There is a difference in wanting to win vs developing players…..I am actually in favor of giving some of the developing players more snaps once we miss the playoffs……who is to say we can’t win with Cappa…..with Rojo……with Watson?
The player who made the winning catch last year was Godwin…..not Evans….not Djax.
Give the younger players more snaps…..but win if you can.
December 29th, 2018 at 10:43 am
ChipBuc Says:
“Koetter did the same thing to Freeman as a rookie in Atlanta…. When Koetter left, Freeman turned into one of the best backs”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
No doubt, man. I have thought of that before, with Freeman. I would really like to see Ronald Jones (for better or worse) get a bunch of fricking touches this game just to see what the hell he can do. I hate that we have gone an entire season and still really have no idea.
December 29th, 2018 at 10:45 am
@Kobe
It was an impressive rant, but I am sorry man, I don’t really know what you were referring to.
December 29th, 2018 at 10:47 am
Yes Kobe can you buy me one to
December 29th, 2018 at 11:05 am
You blame Koetter for all the losing and then you get mad because he’s trying to win. good grief
December 29th, 2018 at 11:06 am
The backup player that I would like to see the most is Ryan Griffin
December 29th, 2018 at 11:08 am
All season long, Koetter when asked about RB Jones said, Ohh he’s getting better..much improved. The guy is a BUST. Especially for a 2nd rounder. And Vea is pkayin better, But he’s not given early 1st rd dividends.. I hope Licht has to clean out his desk as well.
December 29th, 2018 at 11:10 am
Question all season has been…… will the starters play ?
December 29th, 2018 at 11:14 am
The Falcons will likely tank and Bucs will give an effort to win the game, that should work out perfectly, we lose trying to win
December 29th, 2018 at 11:22 am
I hope the starters lose 45-0!
December 29th, 2018 at 11:25 am
Guaranteed backups will get more snaps then usual. Especially after half time. I’d put money on Ryan Griffin either being a “surprise” starter if Matt Ryan doesn’t start or starts the 3rd Quarter regardless of the score. Mike Evans should not play at all in the 2nd half.
December 29th, 2018 at 11:44 am
Looks like Koetter got the “Do everything you can Sunday to make Winston look good and try to win and save my job” memo from Jason Licht
December 29th, 2018 at 11:50 am
The backup player that I would like to see the most of is Ryan Griffin
December 29th, 2018 at 11:52 am
Dirk is a buffoon. He is literally too stubborn to play rookies and now he’s just being a scared little biotch. If they actually played well in this meaningless game he would look even worse that he never gave them a shot. Get this piece of crap coach out of this organization ASAP. I wish nothing but further failures to this moron.
December 29th, 2018 at 11:55 am
Dirk Koetter was never a “great” coordinator
If you look at his overall record as a coordinator
He was 2-6-1, 2 winning seasons, 6 losing seasons, one .500 season
2007. Jacksonville-11-5
2008. Jacksonville- 5-11
2009. Jacksonville-7-9
2010. Jacksonville-8-8
2011.Jacksonville- 5-11
2012. Atlanta- 13-3
2013. Atlanta- 4-12
2014. Atlanta- 6-10
2015. Tampa Bay- 6-10
Atlanta and Jacksonville were both playoffs teams the year before Koetter. Then Koetter installed his own offense, and they went downhill
December 29th, 2018 at 11:56 am
You play to win!!!
Win the game!!!
Just because, fans and media have given up doesn’t meant players and coaches should
December 29th, 2018 at 11:57 am
We really need to stop ignoring the fact that Spence and Jones simply aren’t good football players.
Guys off the street were getting more snaps than Spence. Rojo was a bad pick, there I said it.
December 29th, 2018 at 12:07 pm
Jean,
I know we disagree some, but man that line about Dirk was SPOT ON.
December 29th, 2018 at 12:10 pm
Bucsfanman: How can anyone say Rojo is a bust when he hasn’t even played multiple consecutive series in this offense. Dirk keeps saying they see him practice….What can you learn about a RB in a 2 hand touch practice. Just put Rojo in for a few full series of possessions. They bring him in with a 1 play package and the defense keys on him then he goes back to the sideline for the rest of the game. Dirk is a terrible coach.
December 29th, 2018 at 12:21 pm
Aside Djax their is one guy who doesn’t deserve to play and that will be Brent Grimes.
He has quickly turned into one of the most disgraceful Bucs this year. One of the more heartless seasons by any Buc player that I remember.
If you ask me the turning point to this season was when Conte got thrown down from his face in front of his home crowd on Monday Night. If you remember shortly after Grimes made one of his “trademark” feeble tackling efforts giving up another TD.
When your team gets punked like Conte did you better have players with some heart step up and stop the bleeding. Grimes has shown no heart all year and did his share of ruining our season.
Any football team on Earth would have all the confidence in the world playing a Bucs team that has guys like Conte and Grimes getting walked on top of.
Who I thought Grimes was was a lie. IMO he has not earned the right to play tomorrow.
December 29th, 2018 at 12:24 pm
The world screams “Kobe, please use plastic!!!”
December 29th, 2018 at 12:27 pm
Early in the season I had thought Shaun Wilson had earned more opportunity too. Dirk also refused to give him any touches.
A big part of the reason for this is because Dirk want Quiz on the field so he can pick up blocks. Problem is that Quiz has missed a lot of blocks in the 2nd half of this year. Quiz has been doing a very poor job. He no longer warrants the playing time he been getting.
Just like with Doug Martin and Caleb Benechot Dirk refuses to take bad players off the field. And if we have nobody to fall back on it’s Dirk’s fault for pispoor evaluation & developement of his roster.
December 29th, 2018 at 12:29 pm
Kobe just take a trip to the liquor store and get you a brown bag. Don’t worry your head will fit.
December 29th, 2018 at 12:31 pm
I believe Koetter is doing the Bucs & the fans a disservice by not playing the backups. Koetter are you telling us your truly trying to win when you play Bennoch instead of Cappa or D. Smith insteas of Wester or Leidke. The fans for the most part want to see Griffen, Spence , Cappa, Wester, Liedke, Watson & yes even Rojo. Remember its the fans that pay your salary. I always said Licht should be fired first. But now every time Koetter opens his mouth makes me wonder. One more thing that I don’t think anyone has mentioned but I think the kid Adams is doing a pretty good job.
December 29th, 2018 at 12:46 pm
Play to win. Even if you have the number one pick in the draft its a crap shoot. Most of the backups are going to be gone next by year anyway with a new coach.
December 29th, 2018 at 12:48 pm
What difference at this point…does it make?
December 29th, 2018 at 12:49 pm
Hire TONY DUNGY as PRESIDENT of FOOTBALL OPERATIONS with TOTAL CONTROL of everything. Get the GLAZERS OUT of the equation and it will equal wins.
December 29th, 2018 at 1:16 pm
We need to rest our best players to prevent a needless injury. Winning this game means nothing. Look at last season when we beat the Saints on our final play. Did that carry over and lead us to a winning record… of course not.
Not to mention the draft ramifications if we win. We have a chance at a top 5 pick, prob 6th at worst, or could be outside the top 10 with a win. Drafting a top player requires a top draft pick. That pointless win last season cost us Bradley Chubb or Quenton Nelson. 2 guys who have had great seasons and will be potential HOF picks if they stay healthy.
Common sense has to win out
December 29th, 2018 at 1:20 pm
I would just hate to see our 2018 epitaph read “Buc’s sat good players if effort to lose game for better draft pick.” Losing games is one thing but losing the respect of our opponents is something else. This is not practice or tryouts, This is Sunday in the NFL.
December 29th, 2018 at 1:21 pm
Dirk Koetter 2-6-1 as OC
2 winning seasons
6 losing seasons
1 .500 season
1 winning season as HC
2 losing seasons as HC
December 29th, 2018 at 1:21 pm
@ Kpbe
If you wear that bag, make sure it has a large hole in it so you can $hit out of it.
December 29th, 2018 at 1:30 pm
All throughout the yr, when asked by reporters how RB Jones was doing, Koetter
said, he’s comin along just fine. Showing great improvement. Jones has yet to pan out and contribute. And although Vea made some improvement, he has not lived up to 1st rd draft expectations. I hope they send Licht packing with Dirk also!
December 29th, 2018 at 1:57 pm
Koetter’s logic is a little flawed. If you can effectively evaluate each players performance at practice, then no preseason games are necessary. We know this is wrong. If he thinks it is wrong to mix A and B level players, where healthy A players are on the bench, why is is done all throughout preseason. It should be noted that most other teams do this even in the regular season.
December 29th, 2018 at 1:59 pm
This comes down to a GM and Coaches relationship being too good. This is 100% on Light and he has not forced his hand with numerous other personnel situations which is clearly a fault of Koetters. Coaches coach GM’s manage and sometimes The GM must step in and demand certain things happen. If not a GM wouldn’t be a GM he would only be an annual draft guy. However a lot of bad teams truly don’t have a GM that gets involved and effectively they only have a draft guy . Any prudent GM would have a Grimes sitting barber setting and Spence playing 70% of the defense of snaps . Vea would also be playing three technique. There would also be a guard move to tackle. Hell Gruden was great under McKay but terrible with Bruce Allen .Bruce Allen wouldn’t demand anything from Gruden
December 29th, 2018 at 2:05 pm
What TBBF said !
December 29th, 2018 at 2:47 pm
Dirk, Joel Glazer is on line 1
December 29th, 2018 at 2:47 pm
They should have fired the two idiots a long time ago
December 29th, 2018 at 2:48 pm
Dungy has a cake job he ain’t coming here to be president!
December 29th, 2018 at 2:51 pm
How about Ozzie Newsome as President of Football Operations. He has been out of football for about a year now after leaving the Ravens. I like this guy. He is only 62 years old.
I was thinking Mike Holmgren too but he has been out of football for for like 6 years now. He didn’t do THAT great of a job when he was in the Seahags front office. And he is 70 years old.
December 29th, 2018 at 3:03 pm
Anyone watching the SC vs VIR bowl game?
That Applefield kid at RT looks pretty good.
Seems like the type of guy we’d like.
December 29th, 2018 at 4:00 pm
lol
December 29th, 2018 at 4:19 pm
A lot of talk about keeping Dirt and my hope is that doesn’t happen he sticks with bad play from our rb position and wont give anyone else a shot he doesn’t get it until we are where we are now , the losses mount even when Jackson was hurt and on the bench so now who do you blame ,even last year I didn’t want him back but was hoping for the best but this is Dirts best and that’s just sad..
December 29th, 2018 at 4:31 pm
put your best foot forward but trotted out Fitzmuggle for 3 games LOL
December 29th, 2018 at 4:42 pm
Bring back the almost whole gang. This should be fun. Punt the unlucky picker outta here. How he escapes intact as if invisible is the teams biggest mystery.
December 29th, 2018 at 4:49 pm
I miss Ike Hilliard. That is all.
December 29th, 2018 at 5:52 pm
Bring back Freddie Martino, for one last game.
December 29th, 2018 at 6:08 pm
Looks like Koetter got the “Do everything you can to make Winston look good and try to win the game to save my job” memo from Jason Licht
December 29th, 2018 at 6:13 pm
Ryan Griffin is the backup player that I would like to see the most
December 29th, 2018 at 6:18 pm
I think Dirk with a no friend , True GM / President of all football operations may be the best move !!! The Glazers are not innocent in this as they just aren’t football guys and don’t coach up the GM nor the coach . Parcels didn’t become who he is / was by himself !!! Coaches and GM s are by themselves in Tampa and it really becomes a dual support deal which isn’t healthy and there are at least a dozen huge oversights in the last three years that are a result .
December 29th, 2018 at 6:45 pm
Dirk will step in and call offense plays himself if he thinks that needs to be fixed, but he LITERALLY will not lift a finger to fix anything else that’s wrong with this team
That really grinds my gears. He’s not a head coach, he’s an offensive coordinator
Fire him now
December 29th, 2018 at 10:18 pm
Seems the Joe’s have worked this mob up into a frothy lather. Pretty sad from my perspective. Some of you are just pathetic and have the tiny minds of sheep that you are triggered by every article against Koetter. Jameis the coach Killa. The media’s incessant rants and bitches about Fitz and Jameis destroyed the confidence and momentum of this team when JAMEIS finished his THREE game SUSPENSION, and Koetter wanted to stay with the hot hand until after the bye. DJax said that the team should stay with the hot hand and the media went ballistic and called him a Jameis hater. Such BS. They flipped it to make him look like a bad teammate. Not true but who can blame DJax for wanting out now. We will never find consistency as long as the 600lb gorilla is still on the roster. Good luck with Winston’s option year with a whole new playbook. End of rant.
December 30th, 2018 at 12:01 am
Jean
Very Well Said!