Koetter: “Nobody’s Very Patient Anymore”
June 22nd, 2016
Dirk Koetter was back at it again doing what he does best: delivering real talk.
Speaking on Yahoo! Sports Radio, Koetter gave a three-pronged answer in response to a question about the declining focus on the running game in the NFL.
- Running backs wear down.
- It’s a QB-driven league with quarterback making big bucks and fans paying to seem them.
- (Joe will quote Koetter directly) “Nobody, fans, coaches, players, nobody’s very patient anymore. I mean, it’s hard to sit there and take four- or five-yard gains when we’ve got the quarterbacks and the receivers in this league that can go for the jugular a little quicker.”
Interesting that Koetter left out a key — perhaps the key — NFL group that’s most impatient of all: ownership. The typical shelf life of an NFL offensive coordinator hovers around two years. Head coaches are marching closer to that quick-hook rate, too.
As for running the football, Koetter’s Bucs are still likely to keep pounding the rock, Joe believes. Using a slice of Koetter’s logic, Doug Martin is getting paid handsomely, too, and he’s not here for show. But Koetter also is talking this offseason about jacking up the tempo of the Bucs’ offense and freeing America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, to do more.
If the Bucs’ key receivers and Jameis stay healthy, then it’s a safe bet the Bucs will be a pass-heavy offense.
June 22nd, 2016 at 12:35 pm
I don’t think the Bucs should change much on offense. Our running game was devastating last year and it was a big part of the reason for Winstons success.
I would like to see Winston put some more air under the ball but that is reliant on VJax staying healthy to draw double teams off Evans. ASJ needs to be healthy and prepared too because Dirk has been able to draw up plays that leave single coverage on the seams.
Kenny Bell is a great NFL receiver and maybe Dirk can find a way to send him free on the sideline.
June 22nd, 2016 at 12:48 pm
Buccaneers
Please explain to me how you can say Kenny Bell is a great NFL WR when he has NEVER caught so much as a single pre season pass… Greatness is earned not some random label because someone has potential.
June 22nd, 2016 at 12:57 pm
” it’s a safe bet the Bucs will be a pass-heavy offense.”
Um – No its not. Martin and Sims were the best running tandem in the NFL last year. A “pocket passer” QB needs a strong running game and play action to freeze the LBers in order to be at his best.
The Bucs will be top 5 in running again this year. Koetter likes a balanced attack.
June 22nd, 2016 at 1:18 pm
it’s hard to sit there and take four- or five-yard gains
————-
The more and more he speak the more it sounds like he hated coach my schemes football philosophy. Dirks always been know to score points, seems like these two were on two different sides of the spectrum.
At least he knows his seat is hot and must perform immediately. No pressure.
June 22nd, 2016 at 1:31 pm
Pickgrin…I say they will air it out a lot more than last season.
June 22nd, 2016 at 1:35 pm
That’s right Mr. Dirk. Nobody is patient anymore. Remember that sir. You’d better win and win now! If not, there is a middle seat waitin for yas right between ole Lovie and Schiano down at the Hillsborough river fishin hole! These Buc fans will turn on yas quicker than a..pregnant rattlesnake. And that’s quick!
June 22nd, 2016 at 1:39 pm
Perhaps 87. When the game is on the line and/or we need to get down the field in a hurry – of course Koetter will put it on Jameis to get-r-done.
But from an overview and general course of playcalling – I believe the Bucs will run quite a bit and rightfully so with the talent at RB and an OLine that run blocks better than they pass protect.
June 22nd, 2016 at 1:40 pm
Pickgrin
do a little research on Koetter before making such firm statements. he will run the ball but i do expect the offense to be more of passing with the incompetent conversation one gone.
Go back 2 years when smith and koetter ran the score up on loser Lovie that game was one of the most embarrassing losses in league history not just bucs history league history. and dirk was passing right up until the end.
June 22nd, 2016 at 1:41 pm
I hope we have more offensive drives than we had last season, last season we were ranked 28th in offensive drives. Poor defense, poor special teams, drive killing penalties, offensive turnovers, dropped passes were mostly responsible for the rankings. We gained over 6,000 yards last season, but a lot of the yardage came on big plays and during garbage time.
June 22nd, 2016 at 1:53 pm
Yea – tmax – and the Bucs had a pretty good run defense but were terrible in pass coverage in 2014 – so of course a team with a decent QB is going to try to exploit that.
I’m not disagreeing that we may pass more this year than last – and I’m pretty sure that Koetter’s play book will be opened up and expanded as Winston gets more and more comfortable. But again – we have the best RB tandem in the league and our Oline is better at run blocking than pass protecting. Have heard Koetter say many times that he likes “balance” – so I’m just saying that the projection of a “pass heavy offense” is overstating.
June 22nd, 2016 at 1:53 pm
4. The wussification and offensive-friendly rules adopted by the NFL have made the run game nearly obsolete, all in thanks to lawsuits by former employees and the financial ramifications of fantasy football.
June 22nd, 2016 at 1:53 pm
Pickgrin I agree, Coach Koetter has shown that he likes a balanced attack, although he did favor the pass somewhat. Last year Bucs attempted 535 passes and ranked 22nd in the NFL in that category (average was 572 passes attempted). In comparison, the Bucs rushed 454 times and ranked 8th in the NFL in that category (average was 421 rushing attempts). So we rushed more than the average and passed less than the average.
What’s interesting to me is that our total plays (1016) ranked 20th in the league yet our total yardage (6011) ranked 5th. And our yards per play ranked right up near the top. In other words, Bucs had a potent attack but we need more plays (cue the defense to get the ball back faster). Panthers led the league with over 100 more plays on the season than the Bucs had … And they did it with rushing and by having a punishing defense that got off the field quickly and gave the ball back to the offense. My guess is that this year’s Bucs will shoot for a similar approach.
June 22nd, 2016 at 2:02 pm
Hahaha tax, I made that comment after just reading the article about Kenny Bell. Just figured to get a rise out of it. Of course he iant great, or even an NFL receiver yet.
But I do think this offense has a third WR spot that could use some more production. if Bell can make the team as their third wideout he will Be given a great chance for success.
June 22nd, 2016 at 2:03 pm
Pickgrin I think their will be enough fireworks to go around this season. I’m ready for the cannons to boom like hell this season. I say they run Dougie wild and Jameis is going to launch it quite often. Both can be accomplished and that’s what I envision. 28 points a game on average. That’s just from the O.
June 22nd, 2016 at 2:09 pm
Defense rules, yes we do need our defense to create more possession for the O. But the offense didn’t help themselves either. They also need to make more plays……I’m talking dropped balls, penalties and missed kicks mostly. You can’t leave points on the field in the NFL. If you do you’ll finish with. A losing record
June 22nd, 2016 at 2:14 pm
We will have a Top-5 passing attack and a Top-5 rushing attack.
If we combine those with a Top-5 scoring offense and a Top-10 D, we may go undefeated.
June 22nd, 2016 at 2:18 pm
Buccaneers
ok cool I was not sure if you overdosed on Kenny Bell Kool-Aid and were hallucinating.
June 22nd, 2016 at 2:21 pm
I look for slight increases in our passing percentage vs run……I also think we will use up-tempo more and the slot.
I like our offense and if we can improve our completion percentage slightly and become more effective in the red zone we will be great.
I think our defense will get us the ball back more times per game than last year which will help us score more.
June 22nd, 2016 at 2:21 pm
Erik-?
June 22nd, 2016 at 2:23 pm
Gumdrop rainbows and sunshine kisses and orgasmic fabric magic carpet rides
June 22nd, 2016 at 3:40 pm
I don’t even remember who were the running backs under Smith/Koetter in ATL. They had Julio, Roddy and Tony, why run at all.
June 22nd, 2016 at 3:57 pm
@DR
Thanks for the stats and great observation on the number of plays and the yardage gained per play.
I think more significant than the ratio of pass to run will be the total speeding up of the game. Your point about the number of plays is spot on.
If Koetter does implement the no huddle and runs it much that just that many more passes and runs.
I do not suspect the Panthers will run 100 more plays than us again this year.
June 22nd, 2016 at 4:15 pm
I have question: Why aren’t any of you “gurus” employed as NFL coordinators or head coaches?
As for what Coach Koetter is going to do this season, why he’ll take what the defenses give him, like any good offensive coordinator or head coach. No defense can cover everything all the time or even most of the time. And, he’ll coach Jameis Winston to look for and find what the defense is giving him and exploit those opportunities be they run or pass. The fly in the ointment is having the right pieces in place to take advantage of those opportunities.
June 22nd, 2016 at 4:28 pm
StPete, I too expect that the Bucs will get significantly more total plays this year. A more experienced offense, a better defense and better total coaching has to yield better results. Just have to keep guys healthy.
June 22nd, 2016 at 4:31 pm
Rqsrq
You don’t remember Michael Turner 2012 then Steve Jackson and Jacques smith in 2013. Turner was a beast.
June 22nd, 2016 at 5:03 pm
DB55…Turner was a beast, then the Falcons got rid of him and went uptempo. And they haven’t made the playoffs since, and Matt Ryan went from All-Pro to an aftermath. And Dirk Koetter and Mike Smith was ran out of town.
June 22nd, 2016 at 6:05 pm
I think he retired after 2012. But you right he had the rushing title in 10+11 then Koetter took over and he fell off then retired.
June 22nd, 2016 at 6:51 pm
Ive been a Bucs fan for 40 years. That exemplifies patience.
June 22nd, 2016 at 7:02 pm
Or masochism one.
June 22nd, 2016 at 7:37 pm
Rick
“I have question: Why aren’t any of you “gurus” employed as NFL coordinators or head coaches?”
Actually Rick I’m 68 otherwise I’d be in the league!!! I simply enjoy retired life. I get offers every other week from various teams and they are huge. The NFL LOVES me. I’ve even heard people in the league say that one team wanted to hire me as GM/HC/OC/DC. That amount of power does tempt me but I’ve won enough….I’m tired of winning. (OK Donald Trump font off now)
June 22nd, 2016 at 8:37 pm
I hope he’s here 20yrs!
June 22nd, 2016 at 8:41 pm
Yet another post that solidifies you as one of my Favs ever since I came here SPBF. Keep up the good work.
June 22nd, 2016 at 8:58 pm
SB….Sucking up to SP……Humm…
June 22nd, 2016 at 9:04 pm
SP & SB
I may not have you beat as a Buc fan….but I certainly have you tied.
How about this……I threw a party for the first ever Buc game….it was an away preseason game against the LA Rams…….Bucs lost 20-3……I flew in 50 programs from LA for the party….I still own one.
June 22nd, 2016 at 9:06 pm
I stand corrected TB….you are the man cause I was only 10 in 76
June 22nd, 2016 at 9:12 pm
Actually it was 26-3…..wasn’t the first time I was drunk when the Bucs lost…..especially that first year….wow….what a bummer….
SB….I was 30…@ working for WTVT…. and a fan of Malios…..
June 22nd, 2016 at 9:29 pm
Holy crap tbbucfan…..you can still remember the score from a preseason game thirty years ago? That is kinda amazing
June 22nd, 2016 at 9:36 pm
@ Buccaneers
I revisit the early years on occasion…..Joe talks about preseason games not meaning anything…..there was one preseason game that meant a lot.
I believe our first win ever was against the Falcons…..in that preseason….but we didn’t win any regular season games…
Those days….we got excited for a completed pass…..a FG or rare TD…..a good defensive play…..
It was a real thrill to watch Leroy Selmon…..unbelievable player….
June 22nd, 2016 at 10:14 pm
Prayers and Best Wishes to you in your retirement TB. As well as SP.
June 23rd, 2016 at 12:00 am
I’m actually more patient than I
Was 2-3 years ago. After 6 years of bad teams you become a little desensitized to losing. I mean 6 wins actually felt pretty good last year.