“Energy” Quotient
December 6th, 2016
A prominent Bucs player compares Lovie Smith and Dirk Koetter
Since Sunday, Joe has been asked often why the Bucs will be different down the stretch this year than they were last year?
In case you forgot, the Bucs were 6-6 last season and then crapped the bed. They came out “flat” against New Orleans, got humiliated by Case Keenum in St. Louis, fumbled (twice) away a game to Bratty Jay Cutler, and then got pile-driven by Carolina.
There’s your 6-10 finish and Lovie Smith’s job. December crunch time arrived and Lovie’s charges were softer than the bones of Jermaine Phillips.
So back to the question: why will the Bucs be better this year when it counts? Joe’s got a simple answer: Dirk Koetter.
Tight end Cameron Brate was asked to explain the difference between the Lovie Smith regime and the Koetter revolution. It was a common question in the spring, but Brate was asked today on SiriusXM NFL Radio.
“Dirk, he brought kind of a new energy to the team,” Brate said. “You know, he gets really fired up and guys respond to it. You know, he’s a little louder than Lovie, I would say. And he really believes in what he’s coaching us to do.”
Feel free to read between all kinds of lines there, keeping in mind Koetter was offensive coordinator last season.
Joe’s got a lot of faith that whatever happens during these last four games, Koetter’s team will put up a nasty fight.
December 6th, 2016 at 1:50 pm
From football outsider
“the Bucs’ schedule so far as the fourth-toughest in the entire NFL, while they thought Lovie Smith faced the second-easiest schedule in the league in 2015.”
The Qb’s that the bucs won against in 2015 were backups and bad teams, then they face average teams in the last 4 games and got manhandled!!!!!!!!!
In 2016 the Bucs are going against the top teams and are handling them and winning!!!!!
totally different team and it starts with the Coaches!!!!!!
Go America!!!!!!!
And GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 6th, 2016 at 2:10 pm
Exactly Realist.
Last years team would have not come close to a win against Seahawks, Chiefs, or even the Charges.
Oh also Defense?
since week 10 we rank 1st in points allowed… Lovies D was one of the worst at allowing points throughout his entire tenure.
Thank God the Loser is gone!
December 6th, 2016 at 2:16 pm
Wait, so you’re saying that Lovie’s quiet, reserved, half-asleep, monotone, no-cussing, simple-as-that demeanor didn’t get the team all fired up and ready to crush people on game days?
Color me shocked.
December 6th, 2016 at 2:18 pm
I really hope Will Gholston can play this week!! Bucs are gonna have to hound Brees because he’s coming off a bad game and it’s very unlikely to see him have two bad games back to back. Go Bucs!!
December 6th, 2016 at 2:23 pm
“December crunch time arrived and Lovie’s charges were softer than the bones of Jermaine Phillips”
A big and real LOL at reading that line Joe.
Every now and then you guys come out with a true gem of a one-liner. Salute’
December 6th, 2016 at 2:23 pm
I see Lovie had the kids at Illinois so fired up they won two games!
Now that’s fired up…..
December 6th, 2016 at 2:27 pm
Just happy that the “two-year Lovie reign of terror” (as Joe puts it) is OVER! Go Bucs!
December 6th, 2016 at 2:28 pm
We’re already in better shape than last year’s “run” and I definitely like the feel/mentality of this team better.
“The bones of Jermaine Phillips”?! Really Joe?!!! LOL
December 6th, 2016 at 2:29 pm
First time we’re 2 games over .500 since 2010. That’s nuts haha
December 6th, 2016 at 2:30 pm
Lovie joins Jeb Bush in the low energy bucket…
December 6th, 2016 at 2:40 pm
My biggest fear was Dirk/Jameis would have to overcome Lovie Smith to win games. Then at 10pm the news broke that fateful night…lol and we all knew the Dirk/Jameis show was fixin to take off years to come.
December 6th, 2016 at 2:43 pm
screw the past….focus on the future which is drew brees and the saints….you cant forget where you came from but you’ll never go anywhere dwelling on the past….I want info on the saints…..what is rankins doing?….how have teams beat brees and sean this year?….how should we attack their defense?…..we already know what the past regime did….lets focus on us and our opponents….GO BUCS!!!
December 6th, 2016 at 2:45 pm
Dirk is winning with Lovie’s players!
December 6th, 2016 at 2:47 pm
So happy/lucky to have koetter. Lovie smith was a bust
December 6th, 2016 at 2:52 pm
@Ph fan…didn’t know VHG, Ayers, N. Spence and Grimes were on the roster last year….GO BUCS!!!!
December 6th, 2016 at 2:57 pm
All that stuff about the difference between Lovie Smith and Coach Koetter is irrelevant. The players play, We, the Bucs, have to be focus on each game. Not one game third efficient, one game red zone good and another game defensively productive. All have to come together in the next four games and Beyond.
December 6th, 2016 at 3:31 pm
Agree with Pickgrin & Bucsfanman.
Those otherwise obscure references, especially when they’re THAT funny, are great inside jokes for Bucs fans.
Would love it if Joe decided to add these types of comments (complementary or not) about the Bucs’ past more often.
It would be a great way to unite the fanbase.
December 6th, 2016 at 3:31 pm
New year new energy! Guys flying around making plays, reserves stepping up when we haven’t been healthy. I’m not inside the locker room, but it seems Dirk is bringing in a new era in Tampa. Meaningful football in December, gotta love it! The players are responding well too. We drafted well through the years just a few minor hiccups. Glad to see the duo of Fameis and Mike becoming more dominant. If we get this running game rolling, I mean can you say scary? Consitancy is key! Defensively we are making a lot of noise too! I think having the right leader (Dirk) for this group is what has been holding back the Bucs. It’s entirely different atmosphere! The next 4 weeks I feel are gonna be a blast! A lot of good football ahead of us. Some key division games, gotta take two from New Orleans and finish strong against Carolina. Don’t be surprised if we put the pressure on Dallas. I’m just hoping we can fill these minor holes in the receiving core! Joe Hills I feel would be a good fit!
December 6th, 2016 at 3:33 pm
PH FAN, you’re right, Dirk is winning with Lovies players, although that kinda sounds like you’re giving credit to Lovie, Lovie couldn’t win with Lovies players LOL
December 6th, 2016 at 3:37 pm
@Ph Fan, “Dirk is winning with Lovie’s players!”….that whole line of thinking always amuses\annoys me, but isn’t it funny how Lovie Smith came back to be Tony Dungy 2.0 but actually wound up being Sam Wyche 2.0? Was in the draft room for some world class building blocks such as Jameis, Evans, Kwon, Marpet but appeared to have lost his feel for head coaching, so an experienced coordinator with a real vision for the franchise comes in with a nicely stocked cupboard
December 6th, 2016 at 3:46 pm
pick6 Says:
December 6th, 2016 at 3:37 pm
” but actually wound up being Sam Wyche 2.0? Was in the draft room for some world class building blocks.”
We are just glad he was asleep during those crucial moments!!!!!!!!!
Go America!!!!!!!
And Go BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 6th, 2016 at 4:00 pm
@realist: haha, i very specifically tried to avoid implying that Lovie actually scouted and selected those guys. we’ve seen him sleeping in the stands at the combine, in hindsight it looked like he was sleeping\dreaming when he scouted all those players from his basement, so it’s not hard to imagine him snoozing while the bucs were on the clock in 2014 and 2015
December 6th, 2016 at 4:12 pm
This article is spot on.
December 6th, 2016 at 4:25 pm
Coach Koetter is doing a good job coaching so far this year (one might even say he’s a “breath of fresh air”!), and I think that this is especially the case considering that the Bucs lead the league in players on IR.
December 6th, 2016 at 5:06 pm
I have that concern too…but I don’t believe for a second that Dirk Koetter is the main reason it won’t happen. Only part of the reason.
Last year, in the final 4 games, we did not have Kwon. He was one of 3 great defensive players. Losing anyone one of them would have killed us (Kwon, GMC & David).
This year we have all three, and have added Spence and Hargrieves to the mix.
On top of that, the offense is more developed.
So losing the last 4 is possible, but I’m hoping it won’t happen.
December 6th, 2016 at 5:06 pm
Ironically, most of the commenters here were suggesting the Bucs fire Koetter in the first quarter of the season.
December 6th, 2016 at 6:18 pm
The difference between the two is Lovie says ‘simple as that”, Koetter says “speak softly… and carry a big m’effing stick”.
Which one do you think will get the players fired up?
December 6th, 2016 at 7:30 pm
A lot of BLM fans couldn’t and still can’t accept reality and love making excuses for that bum. Lmao
December 6th, 2016 at 7:47 pm
Easy @Maze
C’mon, don’t do that…
Let’s GO BUCS
December 6th, 2016 at 7:59 pm
Yeah, let’s keep it strictly to coaching skills.
December 6th, 2016 at 8:00 pm
Really Maze??? You had to go there? SMH. Let’s all enjoy this rare wave of Bucs prosperity together without divisions.
December 6th, 2016 at 8:03 pm
The Buc Realist Says:
December 6th, 2016 at 1:50 pm
From football outsider
“the Bucs’ schedule so far as the fourth-toughest in the entire NFL, while they thought Lovie Smith faced the second-easiest schedule in the league in 2015.”
The Qb’s that the bucs won against in 2015 were backups and bad teams, then they face average teams in the last 4 games and got manhandled!!!!!!!!!
In 2016 the Bucs are going against the top teams and are handling them and winning!!!!!
totally different team and it starts with the Coaches!!!!!!
Go America!!!!!!!
And GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
…………………….
LOL BigHogHeinous would not want to read that.
December 6th, 2016 at 8:05 pm
Ph Fan Says:
December 6th, 2016 at 2:45 pm
Dirk is winning with Lovie’s players!
……………………………..
Psssst. Something Lovie couldn’t do.
December 6th, 2016 at 8:17 pm
Oh that Dirk Koetter and his….
ALL WORLD STAFF.
December 6th, 2016 at 8:41 pm
^^^^ I second what AfroBucc said.
December 6th, 2016 at 9:25 pm
More gas left in the tank due to softer training camp? These 4 games should prove that theory. Bring on the indoor practice facility!
December 7th, 2016 at 8:22 am
Pretty much everybody was saying this. Unless you’re Bill Belichick, you can keep the strong silent act. Highly emotion hyped up super athletes playing a violent game usually respond to energy and emotion from their coach.