Hello, My Name Is Dirk
August 9th, 2016
When the Bucs promoted Dirk Koetter to head coach in January, Koetter knew he had one immediate obstacle to overcome.
And it would be as simple, in some respects, as a handshake.
Per Emily Kaplan of theMMQB.com, Koetter barely knew the Bucs’ defensive players. But Bucs defenders sure as hell knew Koetter.
If Dirk Koetter had walked into a defensive meeting room last year, he wouldn’t have known everybody’s name. “There would probably be eight to 10 guys I just didn’t know,” says the Bucs former offensive coordinator turned head coach. Though he needed to get to know the entire team, especially a defense that largely enjoyed playing for Lovie Smith, Koetter assumed the helm on terrible terms. GM Jason Licht says that after Smith was fired, offensive and defensive players texted him: “Please, hire Dirk!”
It is telling that defensive players lobbied Licht to hire Koetter. That speaks volumes to Joe.
Some — definitely not all — may have been filled with chagrin when Team Glazer jettisoned Lovie, but Koetter apparently had built up enough respect that defensive players wanted him to run the show.
August 9th, 2016 at 8:14 am
That tells you all you need to know right there. It was Dirk all along!!!I’m just gonna say it now, this team is playoff bound that’s right I’m saying it. This year, post season berth. Not next year this year baby it’s here!!!
August 9th, 2016 at 8:20 am
“a defense that largely enjoyed playing for Lovie Smith ”
Such lazy inaccurate reporting!!!! Much like the couple of low-information fans ( sheep) around here!!! “a defense that largely enjoyed goofing off for the incompetent one” is more accurate!!!! Just ask some of the “leaders” of the defense that lead to the parties in the locker room after all the losses!!!!! Its so telling the way all the players have been talking in training camp!!! coach my scheme has totally been exposed!!!!!! But do not look for the last few sheep to be enlightened by all this information!!! In fact just yesterday some sheep revealed that they still think JFro-6pak career was sabotaged!!!!
Just like lovie’s reputation, This Class is over!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!
August 9th, 2016 at 8:25 am
Sounds like those players knew that Jameis Winston was the important element on the team, and losing Dirk Koetter would have set him back.
Everyone knows a team goes nowhere without an acceptable QB…players included.
August 9th, 2016 at 8:26 am
@The Buc Realist
Again with this revisionist history of yours. I suppose the Nazi’s won WWII also?
August 9th, 2016 at 8:47 am
Joe knows that part is absolutely true.
August 9th, 2016 at 8:50 am
No the class is not over. You will be sure to keep Lovie history going forever!!!!
August 9th, 2016 at 8:52 am
Listened to Eddie Debartolo Jr’s speech over the weekend. He mentioned hiring Bill Walsh,Walsh ask him how he felt about drafting Joe Money in the 3rd round. Well we all know their isn’t much needed to say after that.
August 9th, 2016 at 8:57 am
History has schooled us,we all know the 9ers suck for many years prior to Walsh and Montana. The Steelers of the 70s sucked prior to Joe Green. He said his first few years were dreadful,he almost quit the team after enduring two 1 and 13 season’s. It takes a team obviously, sometimes one man can arrive and change the misfortune of entire organization.
August 9th, 2016 at 9:02 am
“Joe knows that part is absolutely true.”
That is part of it!!! as well as they saw a coach revive the run game, fixed a woeful O-line!!! Installed a scheme that works!!!! And actually coached and game planned matchups!!!
Needless to say that the Defense was very jealous of what the Offense learned and grew as they regressed and stop believing in the passive, antiquated, fiasco of a defensive scheme that the incompetent one was trying to shoehorn in!!!!!
Their vote for Head Coach Koetter was a vote for progress!!! A vote to be relevant!!! To WIIN!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 9th, 2016 at 9:26 am
@The Buc Realist … “Their vote for Head Coach Koetter was a vote for progress!!! A vote to be relevant!!! To WIIN!!!!!”
Defensive players at the time (when Coach Koetter was hired to be HC) had zero idea who he’d bring on to be the DC. The big point here from the defensive side of the team should be the hiring of Mike Smith, and the subsequent addition of several outstanding, highly-experienced assistants like Hayes, Hoke, Duffner & Maxie. Bucs struck gold when those 5 were hired to coach the defense. I have no doubt that Dirk, with the help of Monken & Warhop especially, will have the offense humming along in no time. May take a bit longer for Smitty to get the defense purring like a well-oiled machine, but it will happen. Hopefully sooner this season than later. Gut feel is that Coach Koetter will be with us for a long time … a long winning time. Not sure I feel the same about Smitty … if our defense does well, that should be his ticket back to the HC ranks. Wonder if that’s what induced Jay Hayes to leave Cincy after 13 yrs and come here … our next DC perhaps?
August 9th, 2016 at 9:50 am
Defense-I don’t know,I look at what Wade Phillips did in one season with his unit so my feeling is that jel will occur fairly quickly. From all accounts it appears that side will be operating with a greater sense of aggression. I just think it makes for an easier transition when you’re play is “see and go get” in contrast to always thinking “let me get to my proper spot now I can freely play ball”. As far Smitty possibly leaving, well we’ll see again doesn’t look like Wade Phillips in too big of rush to leave Miller,Ware,Harris,Talib and company.
August 9th, 2016 at 9:59 am
Lovie did seem kind of asleep, his defense was snoozing too.
August 9th, 2016 at 10:29 am
I think the impact of jameis developing into a leader that players want to follow is bigger than dirk and lovie….as long as players see and feel the presents of a alpha dog leading them on the field they would be motivated to play theirs hearts out….last year jameis was held back from that leadership role until he just couldn’t take it anymore and said f it this is my team….I believe regardless of who was hc whether it be hue Jackson, dirk, lovie or schiano players would’ve been jacked up for this up and coming season because they believe in their leader jameis..not gmc..not lvd…not dirk…not mike smith…but jameis….GO BUCS!!!!
August 9th, 2016 at 10:38 am
813bucboi gets it.
August 9th, 2016 at 10:40 am
Well realist, there were some pn that defense who enjoyed playing under Lovie and some who did not. I’m guessing the secondary was thrilled Lovie was fired, while the d line was a bit more upset especially the ones who played for “stuntin'” Schiano. LVD seemed pretty worked up too, and Kwon refered to Lovie as the “truth”.
So yes, it was a mixed bag.
August 9th, 2016 at 10:43 am
Yes Largo…but something tells me LVD is going to be thrilled Lovie’s gone and in short order.
August 9th, 2016 at 10:46 am
OR……maybe…..just like every other sane person in this world, players realize that you cannot keep rotating HCs every 2 years and expect to be a relevant franchise. It’s called continuity.
August 9th, 2016 at 10:49 am
Bucsfanman…most of us realize that too, BUT Lovie had to go. I also consider Koetter as continuity.
August 9th, 2016 at 11:00 am
@87- I agree on both counts. It would’ve been far worse for this franchise if they had hired any other HC, IMO of course. It is too disruptive for player development.
August 9th, 2016 at 11:09 am
Yes, LVD has stated he loves his role in Mike Smith’s defense, and I know I can not freakin wait to see it in action. If Lovie were still here, we would never see Noah Spence used as kind of that hybrid pass rusher similar to how Khalil Mack is used in Oakland.
August 9th, 2016 at 11:30 am
@LargoBuc
Most at the time were upset that they would have to learn a new defense!!!! Now that they just have had a little taste, Look how excited they are now!!!! If KA58 though coach my scheme was the truth, wait till you hear what he says about Coach Smitty at the end of the year!!!!!!!!
August 9th, 2016 at 11:57 am
Not only do they enjoy it but they seem good at it. I was fine with Lovie’s utilization of the front 7 but the games he played with the secondary were ridiculous. You have Verner who made a living off of man coverage, and Banks is perfect when asked to jam a receiver at the LOS. Neither of which we saw. So he brings in Jenk and Jenn because they’re “fast” but they can’t cover worth a damn. It was just nauseating. Mike Smith has a plan that the players are all in on and as much as I respected LVD’s role in Lovies scheme, it was just too predictable. Nowadays you gotta get in the offense’s head and make them adjust. And had it been almost any other will lb in Lovies defense it would’ve been even worse.
August 9th, 2016 at 12:00 pm
And yes realist. it’s no secret LVD and co. enjoy their new role in this modern defense. And I have a feeling im gping to enjoy watching it on Sundays.