Cowher: “Culture Does Need To Be Changed”
September 29th, 2016
Super Bowl-winning coach sounds off on Dirk Koetter and Bucs.
Early this week, NFL everyman Pat Kirwan and discussed Dirk Koetter’s comments about a losing culture in the Bucs locker room. Kirwan said not all coaches would have gone public with that but lauded Koetter for having the “guts” to do so.
Kirwan said Koetter’s tactic was an old Bill Parcells favorite: Put additional pressure on the bad eggs in the locker room from outside sources.
There is another Super Bowl-winning coach who agrees with Koetter but wouldn’t have let that message leave the walls of One Buc Palace. That would be former Steelers coach Bill Cowher.
Appearing with Kirwan and “Movin’ the Chains co-host Jim Miller exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Cowher specifically talked about team culture, Koetter, the Bucs and how Koetter can turn things around.
Pat Kirwan: How do you fix culture in Week 4 of the season? What can he do?
Bill Cowher: I believe in everything [Koetter] is saying. I don’t know if it needs to be said publicly. To be honest with you, I think that is something you say in the back of the room. I think that is something he needs to say to his staff. And I think that is something you talk about with your football team because you have to expect to win games, not hope you win games. I don’t disagree with him. The culture does need to be changed down there. You look back at that [Rams] game in the fourth quarter, he needs to go back and look at himself in terms of – and I am sure he does; he will – the clock management at the end of that game I think could have been done a little bit better in that situation to give him at least two more plays at the end. But I go back to that. You are a couple of plays away from being a 2-1 football team. So you are not that far away. I don’t want to make generalizations about who you are when you are three weeks into the season. You haven’t created an identity yet. You are trying to form an identity. An identity is something you do week in and week out. And again, I go back to the same thing: Find out what your strengths are, recognize what your weaknesses are and build on your strengths and find ways to hide whatever weaknesses there may be because this is who you are. This is your team. So what you have to do is to create an identity that is built around your strengths and not constantly talking about what you are not doing, talk about what you are doing. The thing they need to do is finish games and expect to win games and make plays in the fourth quarter, not just hope it gets done.
Cowher makes some sense here. The Bucs easily could be 2-1.
The Bucs rang up 472 yards on one of the best defenses in the NFL, with no running game to speak of. The offensive line only allowed two sacks against one of the more ferocious pass rushes in the NFL. The Bucs had a second half lead, blew it, were down two scores, and rallied to put themselves in prime position to win the game at the end.
However, this all reinforces Koetter’s notion: Bad teams with a losing culture always look back and say “Woulda, coulda, shoulda.” As Cowher said, make plays in the fourth quarter and finish games. That’s how a team changes a losing culture.
September 29th, 2016 at 7:11 am
Make plays in the fourth quarter and finish games, yeah great message for the offense.
Cant give that message to the defense though, you see you cant finish something you havent even started, and this defense has absolutley no identity. YAY WE CAN STOP THE RUN, its easier to stack the box than it is to play tight coverage. Its not a losing culture.its a losing defense making the entire team feel they are stuck on the same level as that defense.
Its like pulling a trailer with two flat tires on the trailer. The truck itself is beand new and running great, but you know becasue of the flat tires on that trailer the ride is screwed. Thats the problem with this team. The defense is the trailer and until it gets fixed our offense is riding with theyre emergency lights on (throwing 50 plus times a game). We dont need new tires we need a new defense because this rust bucket is falling apart (smith)
September 29th, 2016 at 7:39 am
The GM seat is getting hotter and hotter…
We are not talking about the 10s of thousands of empty seats at rj stadium
And the local media dogs will beg and serve a new master
September 29th, 2016 at 7:41 am
Well, I guess I am glad that you are at least listening to Pat Kirwan!!! Even though I have been telling you the same thing for a while now!!! This year is about coaching the lovie out of them!!!! Some they will be able to coach up and some will be replaced!!!!! Its time to see who wants to win around here!!!!
The culture is changing!!!!!
September 29th, 2016 at 8:18 am
Each coach has his own individual management style. Koetter is OK to do exactly what he’s doing…..if it works. If not, he’ll be gone too. I think the Glazers plan to be patient with Koetter & Licht. The culture won’t change overnight.
What Buc fan isn’t excited about our offense? I have been a fan from the start and I challenge you to tell me when we’ve ever had a better offense. This offense is even better that the one we had in the Dunn/Alstott days.
If we had half the defense we usually had, we’d be championship bound.
September 29th, 2016 at 8:21 am
Need evidence? The Bucs are 2nd in the league with touchdowns….and that is with only scoring 1 in week two.
September 29th, 2016 at 8:27 am
Kobe you are so full of it. Is Licht perfect no, but he drafted Jameis, Evans, Marpet, Smith, Kwon, Hargraves, Pamphile, who are all starters and promising young players in Augayo and Spence who everyone seems to forget are rookies. In addition he added a top notch punter, a starting de in Ayers and starting corner in Grimes, and a heck of a good slot receiver on Humpries, and let’s not forget bringing in Hawley last year who is our starting center. That is 11 players that are extremely impactful on this team and 2 that could make major contributions in the future. Why exactly would we fire a guy that has done that in just 3 years? You are clueless and you can’t turn over an entire roster in 3 years and expect to be a good team.
September 29th, 2016 at 8:32 am
TBBF…exactly it’s kind of what I noted in the confidence poll when Mike Johnson told me I made a mistake cause Koetter is responsible for the whole team.
I made no mistake and perhaps fans would prefer a Schiano or Dungy type offense. It’s as if the D is so atrocious (they are) that some of the fans don’t even acknowledge what the O is doing. That’s their problem, not mine.
I’m worried about the D just like everyone else, but that hasn’t changed in the last 10 years or so. No matter who’s running the show. My point is I used to worry about both and now it’s just the D.
September 29th, 2016 at 8:34 am
It’s gotten to the point where I feel dumber for just reading the comments on JBF. I’m outta here….
September 29th, 2016 at 8:42 am
Tampabaybucfan
Bucs have NEVER had any offense even with Alstott and Dunn. Dungy’s offenses were as embarrassing as Lovie’s defense. Let’s not try and rewrite history that is how an unqualified 1 dimensional coaches get put in the hall of fame undeserved.
September 29th, 2016 at 9:09 am
The GM seat is not hot at all, three games in…give me a break.
September 29th, 2016 at 9:24 am
@Bill Cowher … “I go back to the same thing: Find out what your strengths are, recognize what your weaknesses are and build on your strengths and find ways to hide whatever weaknesses there may be because this is who you are.”
Coach Cowher hit the nail squarely on the head. Bucs have a lot of strengths that they can build on. Finding ways to hide weaknesses (lack of defensive depth especially on the DLine? Safeties who aren’t getting the job done? Giving up far too many big plays?) is a lot more difficult and will take some time. I don’t see an overabundance of All-Pro defenders waiting in line right now to sign on and bail out the Bucs. We’ve got to improve with who we’ve got onboard. Like Bill Cowher said … “This is who you are.”
September 29th, 2016 at 10:23 am
Denver’s defense is going to be a huge challenge. If they rough up Winston like they roughed up Newton in the Super Bowl and on opening night, it could get really ugly.
September 29th, 2016 at 10:35 am
A win Sunday and the whole picture changes.
I think it can be done.
September 29th, 2016 at 10:50 am
Realist Lovie made a ton of personel mistakes and deserved to get fired. But coaching the Lovie out of them? Really bro? That’s the stupidest thing I think I’ve ever read on here.
September 29th, 2016 at 10:55 am
This culture thing is just too abstract for me. This team is playing hard. If they wern’t then I’d bring up things like culture.
Aguayo, make your kicks
Winston, manage the game and learn to throw the ball away
Defense, stop giving up 3rd and 17
Do those three things and this team can be beastly
September 29th, 2016 at 11:25 am
Agreed BFFL. What the hell does “culture” in the locker room and around the team even mean? I dont think its as big as the media has made it out to be. Is there badness between some players? Is the team vibe down in the dumps because of our last two losses? All the players and coaches seemed very high spirited before the season. I just think it was a bad time for Koetter to say it right after they cut that drunken moron with an attitude ASJ.
September 29th, 2016 at 11:28 am
@realist….your clueless…your “coach the lovie out of them” is an excuse/free pass for your boy dirk this year….the culture isn’t the problem, its the coaching….poor clock management is the reason why we’re 1-2….the defense being dead last in points allowed is the reason why we’re 1-2….abandoning the run game is the reason why we’re 1-2….lack of turnovers and qb pressure is the reason why we’re 1-2….the players fought hard and battled back…if anything them fighting thru adversity after they’re kicker missed 2 kicks and making a big stop after a weather delay is a prime example of how the culture has changed….YOUR COACHES ARENT GETTING IT DONE….OWN IT…GO BUCS!!!!
September 29th, 2016 at 11:36 am
@largobuc
And what do you think all this “change of culture” talk is about!!!!!! Its not about table manners in the cafeteria!!!!!!!
The culture is changing!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!
September 29th, 2016 at 11:37 am
Why couldn’t we ever get Cowher as a coach? He was a big name every time we fired one of these 2-year garbage men over the past decade. If we had him I doubt we would still try to be ending this horrific non-playoff run.
September 29th, 2016 at 11:51 am
Realist, you do realize that the problem with the culture proceeds Lovies tenure with the Bucs don’t you?
September 29th, 2016 at 11:58 am
@largoBuc
and it continue thru coach my scheme’s regime!!! now we have our current coach talking about it and trying to fix it!!!!!
September 29th, 2016 at 12:06 pm
@realist…if the previous coaches couldn’t change the culture, what makes you think dirk will?….dirk is our 3 coach since gruden with zero nfl head coaching experience….he’s currently making coaching 101 mistakes…GO BUCS!!!
September 29th, 2016 at 12:14 pm
They just “need the Lovie coached out of them”. lol smh everytime.
September 29th, 2016 at 12:18 pm
wow realist that no experience coaches stat does hurt. At least we didn’t hire Chip Kelly this year though lol.
September 29th, 2016 at 12:20 pm
Sorry bucboi not realist on that non coaching experience comment
September 29th, 2016 at 12:21 pm
@813bucboi
“what makes you think dirk will?…”
Great Question!!!!! I think that this coaching staff will succeed because, Accountability is more than just a word!!! When they told ASJ that he was cut, he said “But I am a second rounder” and do you know what the answer was “SO”!!!!!!!!
I have seen teachable moment opportunities taken advantage of from this staff!!!! Coach Smitty is telling the defense in meeting rooms and press conferences that it is not good enough and not acceptable!!!!!
What did we hear for 2 years before that!!!! Excuses!!!! and that bleeds onto the players!!!!
I ask you to watch in great detail what happens during the bye-week and that very game coming out of the bye-week!!!! that is a measuring stick for coaching!!!!!
@813bucboi, we want the same thing!!!! we both want the Bucs to be successful!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!
September 29th, 2016 at 12:54 pm
It isn’t rocket science here. Our defense – particularly pass defense- is horrid. We aren’t going to go anywhere with even a great offense if the defense doesn’t improve. Even the famous offensive teams like the Saints, rams and Colts teams that won championships had above average to great defenses the year they won.
September 29th, 2016 at 1:39 pm
I don’t know why people are hyping the offense and knocking the defense. Teams has scored 38 points of turnovers against us ( 1/3 of the points scored against us ), and that includes 2 defense touchdowns. This offense is a turnover machine, there’s not a defense in the NFL, that can overcome our turnovers and poor decisions on offense. Miss FG, Miss PAT, Miss two, 2 point conversions. Game ended with the ball on the Rams 5 yard line, but we still have a timeout left. The defense did their job, when it needed to. Our offense got the ball back with good field position and 2 timeouts and a hour delay to plan their strategy.
September 29th, 2016 at 2:07 pm
Realist you make it sound like the five years prior to Lovie were all good.
September 29th, 2016 at 3:07 pm
Losing these last 2 games has NOTHING to do with the culture around here. We lost both of those games because of turnovers, simple as that. Defense is NOT playing the greatest but they got a stop in the Atlanta and LA games when they needed to. We should be 2-1 right now but we’re not, deal with it. STOP making excuses EVERY game for why we are losing and JUST win. The season is NOT over yet, plenty of football left to be played. Even if we go into the bye week at 1-4, which we probably will, we STILL have a chance to be at least 8-8 by the end of the year. The defense should get better as the year goes on, and Jameis should get more accurate too. This team is NOT as bad as they have looked the last 2 weeks, we are getting VERY close. Go BUCS!
September 29th, 2016 at 5:02 pm
Hold on here a minute, this changing the culture crap is as bogus as the reason the BACKSTABBER gave the Glazer’s that ended up getting LOVIE fired! It sounds like a bid for a third year already, because it ain’t gonna get there this year and not even next year when we will be trying to unlearn all this crap that is supposed to confuse Quarterbacks in this league! Something is wrong at One Buc Place, and untill we get more talent: example Defensive Backfield play and I mean Saftey play this Defensive Scheme will not work! So stop lobbying for a third year, 13 games to play with 8 more wins to show improvement from the last REGIME! Here is a Question, Can we some how defeat DENVER? ha ha ha ha! Ain’t laughing at the Bucs, this ones for Tmaxcon and the Realist, with all that “Coach the LOVIE out of them”!!
September 29th, 2016 at 6:09 pm
Watch our Culture change Sunday against Denver. Koetter will manage the clock even worse and our Bucs will wear different uniforms. Oh yeah, that be culture change baby!