Koetter Says Family Talk Can Be “Corny”
December 4th, 2016
Koetter offers his take on “family” chatter at One Buc Palace
Yes, Bucs players are talking a lot about family. Some are even crying in the shower.
Is it real?
Bucs fans remember the last time “family” was a theme and players all wore F.A.M.I.L.Y. bracelets made of rubber and Greg Schiano preached a “a humble, unselfish attitude of sacrifice” with the backing of Gerald McCoy.
But what about these Bucs? Dirk Koetter addressed the issue in detail on SiriusXM NFL Radio yesterday.
“Every team I’ve been on, and I’ve been on a lot of them, teams always talk a little bit about family,” Koetter said. “Some teams break [down their huddles] with ‘family.’ Sometimes that’s a little bit hollow in my opinion. Teams, some teams are closer than others; that’s human nature. When Jameis [Winston] talks about stuff like that, he is so sincere, so genuine. It almost seems corny at times, but it’s not. After you know Jameis, it’s not. He really means it.”
Koetter explained there’s a “fragile balance” on every team when it comes to players bonding, uniting and getting along, especially when new guys join the roster all year long.
But unlike Schiano, Koetter believes the “family” theme can’t be spearheaded by a coach.
“It has to come from the players,” Koetter said. “I think a coach can try to get involved in that, can help it sometimes, but the bottom line it has to come from the players.”
Joe understands the power of team camaraderie, but talent and work ethic and coaching are far more important.
Joe will say this, as was discussed on the recent Ira Kaufman Podcast, if the Bucs come out “flat” today, then all that escalating family talk is just that: talk.
December 4th, 2016 at 8:32 am
Joe Let me lay something down for you man. “What you are thinking about you are becoming.” -Muhammad Ali
You posted an Article earlier this year about that quote being posted in Jameis’ Locker. It may have been Lee who wrote it, and I can tell that this is a Steve story, but never the less… The point I’m trying to make is that Mindset is EVERYTHING. Call it the law of attraction, the power of positive thinking, mind over matter etc…
There is at least a small correlation between an Athletes mindset and their performance. People usually just reference a person’s confidence and the huge impact it can Have. But I say to you sir, If this team benefits so immensely from having the mindset that they fight side by side with, and for their Brothers, why not just embrace it and quit s(p)itting on it.
December 4th, 2016 at 8:35 am
What happens during F/A and the draft?what is going to happen when a big part of the family gets cut or traded or wants more money to go somewhere else?
December 4th, 2016 at 8:41 am
Blake, you’re right. This is definitely a Steve story.
December 4th, 2016 at 8:42 am
Then you have solace for your brothers departed and embrace your new brothers into the locker room. Like I said I kinda alluded to its more about the mindset than anything.
December 4th, 2016 at 8:46 am
In the military you call your fellow solders your brothers and sisters. They may rotate out or worse but when it’s “Game time” It’s all about family. On this field of combat we are all family! I like the approach and it looks like it’s bringing the best out of the players.
December 4th, 2016 at 8:56 am
^ Precisely. Well said sir, and thank you for your service.
December 4th, 2016 at 9:07 am
I heard the interview on Sirius XM and Koetter sounded very reasonable. Smart but not arrogant, hopeful yet realistic. No tired cliches or complete “coach speak”. I don’t think they’ll come out flat today. Lovie isn’t around to censor Shep’s or Jamies’s pre-game speeches. This team is different without Lovie…in a very good way. I was all for the Lovie hiring until he proved he was an out of touch curmudgeon.
December 4th, 2016 at 9:14 am
Agree 100% with Blake.Comeradiery,chemistry,call it what you will,its all part of teamwork in my book.
December 4th, 2016 at 9:24 am
Ever since the team and the leaders of this team took it upon themselves to be more “family” like, they have gone 3-0. These same players and coaches earlier in the year went 3-5. But please tell me again how comraderie is not important.
You can have a mediocre talent level on your team and still win a lot of games. And you can have a ton of talent and win none. It is the comraderie or lack there of, that does this.
Look no further than the broncos when Tim tebow and John Fox were there. Tim tebow, terrible QB, john Fox, terrible coach. But the team believed in Tim tebow and he was a leader of men. That is how the broncos made to the playoffs that year. It certainly wasn’t Tim tebow’s amazingly talent, or john fox’s (2 wins as the Bears coach this season) coaching prowess.
We’ve had a lot of bucs teams over the years, a lot of talented ones too. Yet we always failed to win games consistently.
Look at the bucs glory years. That defense had a very special bond. Lynch, sap, barber, Brooks, and the boys were brothers on the field. Sure they had great talent, and great coaching. But the comraderie is what pushed them to be world champions.
December 4th, 2016 at 9:41 am
The great and most important thing about the whole ‘family’ concept is that it puts the team first.
That’s why it is a good thing.
And eventually, players begin to jive with one another and trust each other.
December 4th, 2016 at 9:43 am
comradeie is like greasing a wheel.Its that little extra maintenance you do to avoid failure.That said, Koetter convincing the team that they could play as physical as Seattle, was a masterful coaching job.
December 4th, 2016 at 9:44 am
Going against the grain produces more traffic.
Joe may say he doesn’t do it, or have a need to do it.
Yet it seems the negative or controversial articles generate more response than the opposite here in the comments section.
One of the Joe’s told BD on the radio a few years back that the site gets more hits when the team does good rather than bad. To me it hasn’t showed in the comments section though. It’s the other way around. When the team was doing bad earlier this season, the comments section was crowded.
December 4th, 2016 at 9:45 am
“Joe understands the power of team camaraderie, but talent and work ethic and coaching are far more important.”
Why does it have to be either-or?
I believe it is more about a combination of things, and these are just a few of those.
December 4th, 2016 at 9:47 am
@Buc1987
I think that’s because most, not all, of the commenters here are trolls or haters. If the team is doing well, they are left with nothing to whine about.
December 4th, 2016 at 9:54 am
And Joe…not saying that you do it AT All. Just my perception on the comment section and negativity. Writing a negative article is sure to bring out the Nancy’s. Which in turns starts the debate with the positive folk. A positive article and most Nancy’s stay away from the comments section.
Sure overall traffic may look good when they are winning, but to us regs it don’t look that. So I can understand why some would think that you guy’s write a certain way to generate hits.
I of course having been here awhile, knowing that, that’s not the case. What I don’t get is why you get so mad about it when peeps think that’s the case.
Okay I’m going to shut up now before I get into trouble that I didn’t mean to. You guys rock and Go Bucs!
December 4th, 2016 at 10:15 am
Lions just released Johnthan Banks, so it is starting to seem like it wasnt Mike Smith this year, either Johnthan was totally ruined by Lovie, or Lovie was right about Banks?
Either way is there a chance we bring him back for depth considering he knows the Defense and Hey Jude is out?
Good job by licht getting something in return for Banks in the first place
December 4th, 2016 at 10:28 am
No..
December 4th, 2016 at 10:39 am
I share Koetters view. The whole family thing is a load of crap, same with the soldiers going to war bit.
It’s a game.
It’s not like anyone is shooting at them.
December 4th, 2016 at 11:58 am
Well I’ll be out there today to support my Bucs family! Let’s beat these bolts down! Go Bucs!!!
December 4th, 2016 at 12:12 pm
Hey ppl I know I’m off topic while I believe the Bucs will win I think if u get 3 wins (which is not crazy) I believed the Bucs can make the playoffs hear me out NO will crumble they have no defense there no way they making the playoffs i believe we can split but or beat the saints twice Carolina has no prayer of making it the going to get destroyed by the Seahawks I know Washington is ahead but look at it like this the still got to beat the giants and eagles on the road two losses we will get ahead of game them for beat the Seahawks & other north the Vikings gotta beat Detroit who is playing good football and Green Bay I don’t care what they say they are not impressive so ppl all we need is 3 wins that’s all think about that today & go Bucs
December 4th, 2016 at 1:49 pm
WE should be elated Somebody on this team is trying to pull us up. Hell, Jameis is just squeezing the lemons..trying to get as much juice/flavor/action out of them he can. And it appears to be working. Everybody has got to believe in something. If the Bucs believe in Jameis? Then so be it. Let’em rally around him. Just keep winning. Whatever works baby!