Saturday Falcons Interview For Dirk Koetter; Who Might He Bring With Him?
January 3rd, 2019
Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.
“Your guys are your guys,” Dirk Koetter often said during his three-year reign as Buccaneers head coach.
For Koetter, that meant you trust whoever is on your roster because that’s all you can do — unless his name is Ronald Jones.
Joe would have preferred Koetter be less trusting and refuse to play some of the failing players he had along the way. Maybe, just maybe, that would have prompted general manager Jason Licht to get rid of them — or get rid of them sooner.
Koetter is fiercely loyal and that hurt him during his Tampa days. But now that’s making Joe wonder how Koetter’s loyalty could impact the Bucs offense, the one Licht thinks is one of the greatest in history.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting Koetter will interview Saturday for the Falcons’ offensive coordinator job that would reunite him with Matt Ryan, who somewhat quietly threw 35 touchdowns and just 7 interceptions this season. Koetter is considered the early favorite for the gig and if he gets the job, which of his favorite Tampa soldiers would he sell to the Falcons’ front office?
Adam Humphries is a free agent, and one would think Koetter arriving in Atlanta would have the Falcons interested immediately.
Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley had a special rookie season (10 TDs & 821 yards), which could make expendable their current expensive slot guy and versatile threat Mohamed Sanu.
Peyton Barber, a Koetter pet after Doug Martin left, is a restricted free agent. For the Bucs to lock him up they probably have to slap a second-round tender on him. That would pay Barber roughly $3 million next season. Would the Bucs pay Barber that much? Will the new Bucs head coach want him?
The Falcons will need a running back. Leading rusher Tevin Coleman is expected to walk in free agency come March. Atlanta already is paying a fortune to Pro Bowl RB Devonta Freeman, who played in just two games this season because of knee, foot and groin injuries.
Of course, Jacquizz Rodgers is a Koetter favorite. On the Buccaneers Radio Network last month, Koetter said any team would be lucky to have five guys like Rodgers, who will be an unrestricted free agent this year.
Joe just hopes Koetter gets the Atlanta job. It would add to the intrigue of the 2019 season with him in the division, plus there’s good chance the Falcons’ red zone offense would get worse.
Lastly, Joe suspects Koetter would be interested in having Ryan Fitzpatrick or Ryan Griffin as the Falcons’ backup QB. Both will be unrestricted free agents. Current Falcons backup Matt Schaub turns 38 in June as is expected to move on.
January 3rd, 2019 at 7:09 am
Frankly take everyone, including Jameis…oh that’s right the Falcons have a QB.
The Falcon’s don’t really need any of our players, injuries derailed them.
January 3rd, 2019 at 7:12 am
I hope he gets it. He got blamed for everything. Always the coaching. Not the players or player I should say. I want to see what we wasted while he was here in dumpster south.
January 3rd, 2019 at 7:15 am
My best friend is from Atlanta and is a huge Falcons fan…
Saying he despises Dirk Koetter would be an understatement; he hated him and Mike Smith and isn’t to excited about the possibility of DK coming back… Ironically, Matt Ryan like Tampa QBs had issues in the redzone under Dirk…As far as RB is concerned I actually woulnt mind kicking the tires on Tevin Coleman come free-agency…
January 3rd, 2019 at 7:19 am
I hope he takes Warhop with him. Expect Matt Ryan’s interceptions totals to double.
January 3rd, 2019 at 7:21 am
Did injuries really derail them?
I thought they scored in some pretty creative ways against the Bucs last Sunday. Something we never saw, so I am not sure if he will get that job.
January 3rd, 2019 at 7:35 am
Would Atlanta hiring Koetter free the Bucs from the last two years of his contract? Did he not sign a five-year deal?
January 3rd, 2019 at 7:37 am
Take Winston with you!!! Please!!!
January 3rd, 2019 at 7:41 am
Cobra…interesting …I was wondering how that works….and if a coach does not stay in the NFL how are they paid…weekly when the next season starts ?
January 3rd, 2019 at 7:42 am
It would off set so if the Bucs owe him 3 million a year and Atlanta pays him only 1 mill a year the Bucs would only have to shell out the remaining 2
January 3rd, 2019 at 7:59 am
You might regret what you wish for. Karma can be a beotch, maybe not for you because you love to stir controversy but for us non dramatic fans that have endured way to much mediocrity.
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:08 am
Take JOE with you please!!! We need some fresh new blood on this site. Seriously its the same old stuff and people.
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:11 am
I’ve been brutally hard on Koetter, especially on Twitter. But now that we’ve moved on from him I’m silently pulling for him as a person. Hope he does well in Atlanta (except when we play them LOL).
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:11 am
He can take Warhop, Spencer, Rogers, DJax…btw, being Head Coach of the Bucs did not seem to ruin his career.
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:20 am
Why would anyone want Barber for a 2. Why. Why. Why. Why.
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:21 am
@VL98
Nobody’s twisting your arm making you visit Joe’s site; maybe you should start your own blog and see how that works out…Smh the nerve of some people…
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:22 am
“He can take Warhop, Spencer, Rogers, DJax…btw, being Head Coach of the Bucs did not seem to ruin his career.”
Not yet, but Quinn just blew out all 3 coordinators which is generally the last step to the HC getting fired. If Koetters down the field, 7 step drop, you need to pass block for 5 seconds offense craps the bed up there the HC on down is getting axed at the end of next year. Now that might be the end for him.
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:24 am
Weird question considering he didn’t have any personnel decisions as coordinator here but falcons consistently beat so why would they want any loser players infecting the roster
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:31 am
He can take everyone with him he wants, but Hump. We need that underneath threat much more now than we first thought we did. And trade away Brate’s contract too, btw. I just think there might be darkhorse teams that will outbid us on Hump. I mean we have to use DJax’s money once released to resign our own FA’s, plus get a REAL RB!, and CB! Draft can’t solve everything.
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:36 am
Koetter signed a 4-year deal with a team option in year 5. So I think it would only call into question 1 year. Not sure if they are forced to pay him or because he takes a new job it would cross that out.
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:42 am
Is he goes back to Atl I’m pretty sure the NFL will schedule us to play them in the opener.
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:44 am
Some say take Jameis with you. The might not be a bad idea. Not a big Jameis fan but going where he know they are gonna win ain’t a bad idea. So call Buc fans keep bashing Jameis like he’s the reason the franchise is a loser. Tamp been losers for 12 years. What Jameis got to do with it. Please tell me why the Vikings and Broncos are not.in the playoffs, they both have these big name QBs with these multi million dollar contracts Cousins 87 mil. Keenen 30 to 40 mil they both sitting home with Jameis explain that please
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:52 am
Ok as a guy who lives 5 miles from the falcons training facility I can tell you the falcons have no need for Peyton Barber, they are sucked with talented young backs in Hill & Smith assuming Freeman isn’t able to return. Likewise they have plenty of slot depth, but I think they value Sanu more than Joe does. And the biggest issue with this theory, if hired Koetter will be the offensive coordinator, not the head coach, so any roster moves would not fall to Dirk. The falcons, like the Bucs aren’t likely to be investing heavily on offense, when their defense was as bad as ours.
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:52 am
Payton Barber….wgy would you want to retain Payton Barber……less than average RB……Ridiculous!!!
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:53 am
The Quizz Rodgers infatuation by Koetter never ceases to amaze me
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:55 am
For those of you who struggle with reading comprehension. Nowhere did Koetter make a statement that he would take any of Tampa’s free agents. This was Joe’s statement and speculation. ..smh it don’t take much to trigger your audience Joe. Can you say “Baaa”
January 3rd, 2019 at 8:59 am
i hope he gets the ATL job….lol…we wouldnt have to worry about them scoring TD’s in the red zone……
if DQ wants to get fired, hire dirk….
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!….#ADIOSDIRK!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
January 3rd, 2019 at 9:08 am
I love that boneheads on this blog still think Barber and Rodgers are NFL running backs. Only for this team.
January 3rd, 2019 at 9:14 am
Koetter is a good OC.
Makes no sense wishing for him to go to Atlanta and play against us twice a year when he knows our defensive personnel and how to exploit our weaknesses so well now…
January 3rd, 2019 at 9:25 am
VFL98 Says:
“Take JOE with you please!!! We need some fresh new blood on this site. Seriously its the same old stuff and people.”
~~~~~~~~
lol what a dumb@ss post. Like OneBuc55 said, start your own damn site. — But then again, your posts are rarely read, so odds of it being a successful site probably aren’t the best.
January 3rd, 2019 at 9:27 am
Jeff Says:
“I’ve been brutally hard on Koetter, especially on Twitter. But now that we’ve moved on from him I’m silently pulling for him as a person.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
No doubt, man, and well said. Definitely like Koetter and it will be good to see him move forward.
January 3rd, 2019 at 9:43 am
Man if he gets Adam to go with MATT…
Man it sucks knowing that we will be awful for the 5 years minimum
January 3rd, 2019 at 10:09 am
Falcons don’t need Hump- They have Ridley. If they think Ridley can play 16 games on the outside opposite Julio- have at it. Dude is gonna be a great slot receiver in this league. I think everyone may underestimate Humps relationship with Jameis. They have great chemistry and that goes a long way. Look at Amendola and Albert Wilson both great slot receivers with their former teams- Crap for the Dolphins- Grass isn’t always greener. Now it is up to us to pay the man! For those calling for Brate to go, Auclair (the drive killing TE) is next in line…think about that. Brate played hurt all year and OJ Howard is yet to finish a season.
January 3rd, 2019 at 11:20 am
Grass isn’t always greener
No, but the amount of cash gets greener
January 3rd, 2019 at 12:33 pm
Koetter would do an Outstanding job as the OC for the Falcons. All he needs is just..one Job. OC is his lane. No other worries for him. Its what he should have stuck with all the time. Some people in life are meant to go no higher than where they are in life.Their peak has already been reached. Koetter will come back to haunt our Bucs as an NFL OC.
January 3rd, 2019 at 12:50 pm
Falcons will go 12-4 in 2019 under Koetter at OC.
Bucs will go 3-13 under some yahoo of a HC.
Glazers will yawn and count their money
Bucs life
Happy NY MFers
January 3rd, 2019 at 12:52 pm
Fixed it for you Bird
January 3rd, 2019 at 12:57 pm
I was about to type exactly that:
@Pete I
“Frankly take everyone, including Jameis…oh that’s right the Falcons have a QB.
The Falcon’s don’t really need any of our players, injuries derailed them.
”
——————-
He failed miserably here…..let him take what we don’t want, which by the way are a lot. Not Adam Humphries though.
Pay the guy, he is our elite WR.
January 3rd, 2019 at 12:57 pm
Silly, silly Joe. None of those players has allegiance to Koetter. They have allegiance to contracts.
A better question – the only question of merit here – would be which members of the coaching staff he’d want to take along.
January 3rd, 2019 at 3:44 pm
“Grass isn’t always greener”
Sure it is
January 3rd, 2019 at 11:46 pm
As soon as the Falcons canned Sarkasian, that hire made the most sense. Dirk is much better as an OC and given his relationship with Matt Ryan, it’s a job he will likely succeed at. While I could not stand Dirk the HC, I am pulling for Dirk the person to succeed in the NFL.