John Clayton Meets With Koetter, Then Talks To Joe
August 19th, 2016
This is a good one for the read-between-the-lines crowd.
The Professor, John Clayton, who has covered the NFL for ESPN and other outlets for just under 1 million years, had extended private time Wednesday after Bucs-Jags practice in Jacksonville. Clayton patrolled the sidelines Wednesday, then again on Thursday. Joe was pretty impressed. Clayton really seemed locked in on the football, wearing a baseball hat looking like an average-Joe kind of fan.
Joe figured Clayton has interviewed in the neighborhood of 100 first-year head coaches in his day, so Joe asked Clayton for his impressions of Koetter as a brand new head coach.
“Pretty open, pretty honest. He has a plan you can see. His vision is very clear. Now it’s a matter of getting the talent practiced up to that vision,” Clayton told Joe.
Clayton added Koetter is making that head coach adjustment to “do the balancing act” as chief/offensive coordinator, saying he believes Koetter has enough experience to pull it off smoothly and quickly.
Then Clayton continued. “Is there enough talent right now to take the offense? You saw him do a great job with Winston. He has a great relationship with Winston. They’re still a little thin at receiver, but I think overall he feels pretty good about it, and you can see he’s got control of it right now.”
So the question is, did Koetter tell Clayton he thinks the Bucs are “a little thin at receiver?” That sure would be interesting. And no, Joe didn’t press Clayton to clarify on the record.
August 19th, 2016 at 12:08 pm
I think we would of signed someone by now if that’s what Koetter thought. They could have an agreement with Roddy White to bring him in after camp.
August 19th, 2016 at 12:44 pm
YES Joe it has to be Roddy White.
LOL
August 19th, 2016 at 1:14 pm
The speculation is really tiresome, I just wish regular season would start already. And btw, Stevie Wonder could see the Bucs are tissue paper thin after VJax, so I’m not at all shocked that Clayton, a veteran NFL reporter, brought it up.
August 19th, 2016 at 1:34 pm
That was the 1st question that popped into my mind when I read that he mentioned they were a little thin at WR. I expect them to make a few FA moves with guys that are cut from other teams before the season starts.
August 19th, 2016 at 1:36 pm
I still don’t like the Roddy White idea. I’d rather see them sign a WR that could stretch the field and keep those safeties from cheating up.
August 19th, 2016 at 1:51 pm
Tend to think that Clayton’s “They’re still a little thin at receiver” was his own analysis, not Coach Koetter’s. Bucs have some excellent pass-catchers IF you include our WRs, TEs and RBs. Most teams would be envious I’d think. Even looking at just the WRs we’ve got VJax, ME13, Hump, Shep and I have a hunch 1 or 2 more will step up before preseason ends. Jameis has got all kinds of excellent targets, and Coach has already shown a great ability to spread the ball around. The ship’s just leaving the dock … time to enjoy the ride. Full speed ahead!
August 19th, 2016 at 2:08 pm
I’ve been a backer of Humphries and the Stampeder. Still am, but I do think it would be nice to have a guy who could step in as a #2 if there was an injury and really threaten a defense, but that will have to wait until next year.
August 19th, 2016 at 2:38 pm
The Bucs will be fine as long as Evans Humphries and VJAx are healthy but the Bucs appear to have the worst depth at WR of all 32 teams
August 19th, 2016 at 2:57 pm
I doubt Koetter relayed this to Clayton. I’m sure Clayton observed this just like anyone else can see, it’s a lot of unknowns and barely-knowns after Vjax and Evans.
August 19th, 2016 at 3:00 pm
Of course we are thin at WR.
Not only thin, but should we lose either of our two big receivers we have no one who can effectively play the same way (physical/ jump ball and catch in traffic guys). Humphries is a slot guy, and I think he will do a good job there. He is also our 2nd team wideout, and isn’t really suited to that role. VJax is the real key, if he misses any extended time we are very one dimensional–Clamp down on 13 and let the other guys beat you.
August 19th, 2016 at 3:20 pm
couple ways to look at it. we are indisputably thin in terms of downfield threats. and if we are designing plays around contested catchest there are only 2 WRs on the roster that can be trusted to win on those, so if one or both get hurt those plays go out the window.
however, we are kinda loaded in terms of short and intermediate targets. we have 2 RBs and 2 TEs who could easily rack up 50 catches and move the chains if they’re targeted enough. we also seem to have a respectable slot WR in the making in humphries.
there’s lots of chatter about deep balls, but we have a pretty solid toolkit for getting first downs in the passing game, which is awfully important and certainly will lead to fewer turnovers than living and dying on throws far downfield
August 19th, 2016 at 3:25 pm
also, i get giddy watching our screen game under koetter. it will play to the strengths of our RBs and help us not be dependent on a stacked WR corps
August 19th, 2016 at 6:35 pm
Helen Keller can see that we’re thin at reciever. You don’t have to be an NFL insider to come to that conclusion.
This is going to be a run first team again which hopefully makes the play action work well.
August 19th, 2016 at 8:58 pm
“Professors” are safe in their philosophical nests, and love to critique about what they read, hear, & see, yet never have the ability or fortitude to experience. Clayton’s opinions hold as much value as counterfeit money. If you can get away with it…
August 20th, 2016 at 2:24 am
We should have signed Terrell Pryor!!!
August 20th, 2016 at 10:54 pm
Agree with other posters. Clayton did his own analysis there. If Koetter wanted more WRs, i think Licht would have listened and at least tried to sign someone. I think the relationship and respect between our GM and HC is good enough that if Koetter said, “we need more talent at WR”. licht would do what he could for his coach. Especially being under the cap the way we are. It’s not like we couldnt afford to bring in a decent WR.
If anything i bet Licht asked Koetter if he wanted more talent at WR and koetter said no.
From an outside perspective anyone would say we are thin at WR. But the only guy that really is effected by that is our HC. If koetter is ok with what he has, then that is all that really matters. he makes and calls the plays. It’s head on the line if the offense fails.