Motivational Times For Dirk Koetter, Mike Smith
January 15th, 2017
Once upon a time last summer, winning head coach Dirk Koetter and defensive coordinator Mike Smith were men with the sweet hunger for competitive revenge.
Koetter didn’t even try to hide it.
Both Bucs coaches were canned by the Falcons after the 2014 season, and they wanted an opening-day victory in Atlanta this season.
They wanted it badly and everyone knew it. And they got it.
Here we are four months later and the Falcons are back in the NFC Championship game, where Smith and Koetter took them during the 2012 season.
Joe believes that’s a bit humbling and motivating for the Bucs’ dynamic duo. Their old team made the right move to dump them for Falcons head coach Dan Quinn, assistant head coach Raheem Morris and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.
Joe’s not taking a shot at Koetter and Smith, just expressing reality.
Falcons fans love their new staff — and how they’ve remolded the team in a hurry. Atlanta is 20-13 under Quinn with a division title and a playoff win.
Joe hopes Koetter and Smith watched the Falcons shred the Seahawks yesterday and walked away a little more inspired, a little more juiced up to bring home playoff glory to Bucs fans next season — a little more eager to have everyone carrying that “big mother f*&^’n stick” at all times.
January 15th, 2017 at 2:11 pm
I watched that game and couldn’t help but think about how our team beat both teams on that field.
If Koetter’s offense hadn’t been shackled with “weapons” like Druggernaut, bum knee VJ, Sweezy, Kenny Bell, Dontae Dye, ASJ, etc for depth, we’d have played in to January too.
I don’t think you can “credit” the Falcons for making the “right move” to dump Smith and Koetter. We’re damn lucky to have the duo here — and to this point Quinn has accomplished exactly what Smith and Koetter did in Atlanta, nothing more.
January 15th, 2017 at 2:17 pm
Quinn’s brought defense to an already good O.
I think they beat Dallas or GB. Especially if they play GB at home.
Then lose to the Pats in the SB.
January 15th, 2017 at 2:18 pm
Good O meaning good offensive players*
January 15th, 2017 at 2:21 pm
“Dumped” they were, but ignorantly so by Bah Bah I’m a sheep Arthur Blank. EVERYBODY knew they pushed all their chips in on the Julio Jones trade which cost them draft consistency for about 2 seasons…it needed to pay off that season and it didn’t (imagine hanging ur entire season’s success on the shoulders of a rookie WR and knowing u were out the door if it didn’t pan out) If Blank had ANY type of long term vision and nerve to stick to it, Smith, Koetter and Co, would already be SB winners in Atlanta I’d bet.
January 15th, 2017 at 2:42 pm
The Falcons, like the Bucs, beat the Seahawks by exploiting their offensive line woes. In the spirit of all the talk about free agency and the draft, I wonder if the Seahawks would want to trade for Sweezy? Who (or what draft picks) could the Bucs get for compensation?
January 15th, 2017 at 2:43 pm
Buc4lyfe
Great points!
We’ve mostly talked about our division in terms of QB’s…we were the odd man out until #3 came along. Now our division has four very good QB’s which makes all four teams competitive next year.
But I think the NFC South has another thing going for it…..4 really good HC’s.
Next year the NFC South is going to be very interesting!!!!!
January 15th, 2017 at 3:14 pm
“Winning head coach Dirk Koetter” … Love reading that each and every time Joe.
January 15th, 2017 at 3:17 pm
Our Bucs will be in the Championship game again next year. Believe that.
January 15th, 2017 at 3:36 pm
Dan Quinn brought offensive and defensive physicality to the bird.
January 15th, 2017 at 3:39 pm
Cannot wait for next year, pick up weapons on offense add playmakers on defense and watch out.
When ray jay is rocking and those flags are waving you all know it’s one of the toughest places to play. Koetter will bring us back to those days.
January 15th, 2017 at 3:53 pm
@Gerald McRuud … “I watched that game and couldn’t help but think about how our team beat both teams on that field.” I’ve seen several folks write that over the past couple of weeks, but … those weren’t REALLY the same 2 teams we beat. (As an example, the second time we played the Falcons, things turned out quite differently of you remember). Falcons grew tremendously since that first game, and the Seahawks were pretty badly beaten up when we played them and have since healed up. For 2016, Falcons ranked #1 in offense and Seattle ranked #3 in defense. I’m as tickled as anyone with the Bucs 9-7 record for 2016, but Bucs have a lot of work to do to make it into the Top 5 in offense and/or defense. Good news though … we may not be there yet, but we’re finally headed in the right direction.
January 15th, 2017 at 4:07 pm
Tevin Coleman is a true X factor . He is what we wish Sims was
January 15th, 2017 at 4:10 pm
Watching those games yesterday reminded me of how far we have to go, and how tough our division is. I’m mean think about this, IfMatt Ryan wins MVP we will have 3 MVP winning quarterbacks in OUR DIVISION!!!! That’s unheard of.
January 15th, 2017 at 4:12 pm
Ok Bree’s never did win an MVP but he sure as hell should have several times.
January 15th, 2017 at 4:22 pm
Hey coaches, how about copying some of the plays from Falcons game yesterday. Don’t see that creativity in our repertoire. Running backs running patterns from the backfield getting open down field. Gees, why would we do something like that?
January 15th, 2017 at 4:37 pm
Jorge
We don’t have any one on our team like their rbs. They do run those same plays and routes we just aren’t capable of mainting the pocket long enough or creating separation on the routes. Simple as that
January 15th, 2017 at 4:57 pm
“Winning head coach Dirk Koetter” What has he won?
January 15th, 2017 at 5:04 pm
Well Jorge, for starters, ATL has speed at WR and RB and we don’t. They have depth at all offensive positions (except maybe TE) and we don’t. I fully expect use to add speed and depth to this offense and you will see us even more deadly come next year. Don’t loose faith
January 15th, 2017 at 5:11 pm
@Ed He won more game than he lost in a season.
January 15th, 2017 at 5:45 pm
Yeehaw…GB is just taking Dallas to the woodshed.
I soooo freaking love this. I just hope they can keep it up..21-3!!!
What’s going to be interesting is how long Garrett can sit on Romo. GB is getting dangerously close to wrecking Dallas offensive plans because the Cowgirls are not set up to come from far behind. Dak and Zeke will be rendered useless.
The ‘Boys might be forced to bring in Romo in the 2nd chance to have a chance and I’d love to see what that does to the organization.
Not enough plastic surgery in the world to keep ole fake faced Jerry Jones frm dropping into a perpetual frown.
January 15th, 2017 at 5:50 pm
Ed
Are you a Buc’s fan? Have you been out of the country?
In that case let us cheer you up. We went 9-7…you know WINNING two more than we lost. That’s called a WINNING RECORD!!!!
January 15th, 2017 at 5:51 pm
Whoever wins this Dallas v GB game, I hope they stomp the dirty birds.
Dallas staging a comeback?
January 15th, 2017 at 5:55 pm
@Jorge Villar
Falcons will suck again next year.
January 15th, 2017 at 6:01 pm
Man I swear sometimes NFL refs are less than competent.
3rd pass and Mo Claiborne has an absolute fistful of jersey, hangs on and no call. Sometimes you wonder if the NFL has favorite teams. I guarantee that would have been called on Grimes or VHG and it should be..it’s a PENALTY
January 15th, 2017 at 6:02 pm
@BucBonzai
Got my novel ready to post at Amazon and Smashwords how is your writing coming along? Do you still have the same email…I’ll take it there if you do so as to not bore the other guys here.
January 15th, 2017 at 6:08 pm
“Falcons fans love their new staff — and how they’ve remolded the team in a hurry. Atlanta is 20-13 under Quinn with a division title and a playoff win.” – J0E
Why would that bother Koetter? Their first year under Quin wasn’t even a winning season.
If you go according to that, we’re actually rebuilding faster.
January 15th, 2017 at 6:09 pm
@Stpetebucsfan
buccaneerbonzai2 at yahoo. com
If you need help getting things up and running, let me know!
January 15th, 2017 at 6:10 pm
@Stpetebucsfan
As far as how my writing is coming along, I’m hoping to finish a first draft sometime in Feb for a new novel.
January 15th, 2017 at 6:14 pm
BucBonzai
I still have your email addy from the last time…I’ll write you there.
January 15th, 2017 at 6:20 pm
I hate Dallas.
January 15th, 2017 at 6:29 pm
The end of them in Atlata has turned in to a great beginning for us Bucs!! Just know Dirk. & Smitty going to take us to the top!! An they know Matty ice better then anyone!!! No worries they got the ship headed the right way!!
January 15th, 2017 at 6:42 pm
Hey 87 we’re in one of those rare states of total agreement…that and #3.
I hate Dallas as well.
I’m sick of Elliott’s feed me motion after every successful run as well. I’m hoping some LB or DB catches on. When GB stuffed him earlier I wanted to see a defender walk towards the Dallas goal line making that feed me motion.
January 15th, 2017 at 6:52 pm
Buc1987 Says
“I hate Dallas.”
I normally do too…but I want the team that can beat the Falcons to win. I REALLY hate the Falcons!
January 15th, 2017 at 7:16 pm
Did anyone find out the details on smith’s deal?
January 15th, 2017 at 7:27 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
January 15th, 2017 at 6:52 pm
Buc1987 Says
“I hate Dallas.”
I normally do too…but I want the team that can beat the Falcons to win. I REALLY hate the Falcons!
————
That’s what I tweeted to TJ Rivas this morning..May the team that can beat Falcons win tonight..and I really do think it’s Dallas..
F*ck the Falcons from here to eternity!
January 15th, 2017 at 7:28 pm
Lol This Greenbay secondary smh…
Gunter and Randal are gonna be the goats of that town come monday morning.
January 15th, 2017 at 7:29 pm
Agreed Dallas makes me sick I can’t stand them. In fact as hard as it would be I would actually root for Atlanta to beat them!
January 15th, 2017 at 7:35 pm
You guys wanting Dallas to win for any reason do understand that all we will hear for the rest of our lives is how great these two rookies ate right? There is no way I can hear about this smug organization espically Elliot forever.
January 15th, 2017 at 7:36 pm
Time for Koetter and Licht to stop picking these “knock-off’s” like Sims and ASJ; passing on legit weapons with pedigree?!!?!?!???
Too many players to count that we passed on….
January 15th, 2017 at 7:40 pm
I REALLY REALLY HATE The fudge packers. So, let’s go cowboys
January 15th, 2017 at 7:42 pm
Wtf is Rodgers doing? He got bailed out on that one.
January 15th, 2017 at 7:42 pm
There goes the fudge packers the luckiest franchise in the league getting EVERY CALL EVER
January 15th, 2017 at 7:43 pm
That ball was uncatchable. Good lawd I hate the Packers
January 15th, 2017 at 7:52 pm
I smell a pick 6
January 15th, 2017 at 8:00 pm
God I REALLY REALLY want Crosby to miss this. Hope Jacob Shum does us a solid and bobbles the snap
January 15th, 2017 at 8:01 pm
Yeaaaaaaaaaaa. Let’s see Jerry’s plastic face!
January 15th, 2017 at 8:01 pm
Now I have to root for ATL.
January 15th, 2017 at 8:02 pm
YES!!!!!!!! GO HOME ELLIOT, DEZ AND ALL YOU LOUD MOUTH COWBOYS FANS!
January 15th, 2017 at 8:03 pm
YEAH! EFFF THE B!*@&BOYS!
January 15th, 2017 at 8:03 pm
How can you hate the Packers more than the cowgirls GOAT?
January 15th, 2017 at 8:04 pm
Yes cowboys tears taste so good
January 15th, 2017 at 8:05 pm
Cmon now MikeEvansGOAT.
I HATE…LOATHE Tom Brady but I concede he’s a great QB and not lucky.
Aaron Rodgers is the greatest QB playing at the moment…not for all time but for these playoffs I’d rather have Rodger than anybody else. Do you watch where he places those throws…that’s not luck.
As for officiating I can see why you’re upset. I saw lots of no calls in the pass defense game. GB had a 3rd down attempt early in the 3rd and MO Claiborne had a handful of the Packer’s shirt for ten freaking yards right in front of the official. But I’m sure they missed calls against the Pack as well. They were clearly determined to let them play tonight.
Hey where’s Zeke….does he want anymore to eat? Bwaaahaaahaaa
January 15th, 2017 at 8:06 pm
Falcons to hose NFC title game. They WILL beat GB; in addition, whoever wins tonight between KC and Pittsburgh WILL beat NE.
January 15th, 2017 at 8:06 pm
Because I currently live in Wisconsin and these fans up here know little to nothing about football, and they can’t appreciate what they have for a football team. Plus A Rod comes off as a spoiled little brat. Plus they LUCKED in to 2 HOF QBs back to back. SMH
January 15th, 2017 at 8:07 pm
ARod is created by the Football gods
January 15th, 2017 at 8:07 pm
My prediction:
Atlanta vs. KC in the SB.
Will be a great game and matchup and also the most “out of nowhere” matchup in years…
January 15th, 2017 at 8:10 pm
I really hate 2 teams I the NFL. The Packers and the Pats. I explained why I hate the Packers above. And we all know that the Pats are proven cheaters. I actually started to like and respect Tom Brady before the whole deflate gate.
January 15th, 2017 at 8:11 pm
@ Mike Evans GOAT: When Favre came on and they started winning again they all said “The Pack is back, the Pack is back!”.
My response: Where were they for the past 20 years ?
Shut them up but good. That franchise wasted 20 years and due to cronyism they kept Bart Starr as coach for like, 10 years. Guy had losing season after losing season and yet they still kept him. Should never of lasted past his second year. I don’t care if he was a legend or not.
That is the problem with GB fans – they love their old school heroes too much while spitting on guys like Rodgers…
January 15th, 2017 at 8:12 pm
I heard a rumor that the colts were behind deflate gate, and it backfired on them.
January 15th, 2017 at 8:12 pm
Super bowl will be GB vs KC. Battle of the 2 qbs from the same draft. Smith was supposed to be the can’t miss prospect but as it turns out A Rod is a HOFer
January 15th, 2017 at 8:19 pm
St pete if Rodgers is not the best of all time who is better? Bro he is winning with a WR playing RB and a defense that can’t cover anybody. I always went with Joe M but dang this dude is sick.
January 15th, 2017 at 8:32 pm
As far as hating the Cowpies, get in line behind lifelong haters of that team. Actually I hate all the other teams that are not the Bucs. Same old teams in the playoffs every year is boring. Conspiracy theory: The refs are paid off by the government to assist the PATRIOTS into another SB win. The Boston marathon fake bombing proves it.
January 15th, 2017 at 8:34 pm
Ndog
You won’t get an argument from me but others here…not just MEGoat might object! LOL
MEGOAT
I have spent the past two summers on Michigan’s UP. Might as well be Northern Wi. These are as rabid and knowledgeable a fan base as I’ve been around.
Remember unlike us they have nothing to do after Thanksgiving the weather sucks…other than the hardy types who love ice fishing, snow mobiling and cross country skiing. They LOVE their Pack.
And remember the Pack are the ONLY professional franchise owned by the fans instead of some 1%er.
Now I would understand getting tired of blind allegiance for a team you do not like. It’s like living in Birmingham and hating the Tide…Columbus and hating the Buckeyes…fans can get on your nerves.
For some reason in our division I dislike Charlotte and I hate the Saints but the Falcons are only rivals to me…for some reason I haven’t worked up the hate for them. I’m sure Buc Bonzai and some others can get me worked up by next weekend. 🙂
January 15th, 2017 at 8:43 pm
I hate 31 teams in the NFL. I have been following the Bucs since ’76. I don’t know what else to say.
January 15th, 2017 at 8:44 pm
Mike Evans GOAT Says
“…I actually started to like and respect Tom Brady before the whole deflate gate.”
That whole thing was stupid. The Media blew it out of proportion so the NFL had to move on it. Honestly, do you REALLY think slightly less air made any difference at all?
January 15th, 2017 at 8:45 pm
JUST Freakin’ AMAZING that 21 WRs were chosen before Antonio Brown.
January 15th, 2017 at 8:49 pm
@Stpetebucsfan
There is good reason that I hate the Falcons, and it dates back all the way to when the Bucs forums were active.
Falcons had Michael Vick back then, and their fans were obnoxiously stupid. They used to troll the forums, trying to talk smack, but were incredibly bad at it. Vick was never as good as the media felt, but the Falcons got all the attention because of him.
January 15th, 2017 at 8:51 pm
Man, I don’t know if I can make it thru this football game. I’m tired.
January 15th, 2017 at 8:52 pm
Honestly, do you REALLY think slightly less air made any difference at all?
…………….
Really? Brad Johnson has come forward and said that he regularly paid people to decrease the pressure in his footballs and said that it is a common practice back in the day. Brady cheated just like BJ did. Nowadays getting caught is easier tho
January 15th, 2017 at 9:07 pm
Watching Pittsburgh constantly handing the ball to Bell with 2 yards or less and him always making it jerks my chain. Jeeeeez
January 15th, 2017 at 9:12 pm
@BucBonzai
I wasn’t participating then but now that you explain it makes sense.
I felt like DB55 tormented Vick so I wasn’t that upset by them.
Cam is easy to hate…Brees can be obnoxious but the Falcons seem to have some class in Matty Ice and Julio is not a showoff…Freeman…none of that feed me crap like Elliott does..Quinn seems to be a decent man…But I’ll work on it.
Because of my UP connections I’m a fan of the Pack and I simply admire Rodgers more than any other QB right now…except for #3 of course! So I should be able to root against the Falcons by gametime.
January 15th, 2017 at 9:16 pm
I think my prediction of Atlanta vs NE is going to come true.
January 15th, 2017 at 9:35 pm
With a Top 16 Defense on his side, Tom Brady can NOT be beat. Dude is that good. I see another Pats SB.
January 15th, 2017 at 9:40 pm
SB Brady looked like crap last night.
January 15th, 2017 at 9:50 pm
I Concur Ndog………….can you name be a QB that could come back better though?
January 15th, 2017 at 9:52 pm
Brady threw more INTs last night than he did All Year. Pats still won. That says something about a TEAM I think. Color me uneducated though.
January 15th, 2017 at 10:01 pm
Well Rodgers for one but he has never looked that bad. Hey Brady is great and all but last night he was brutal. Also after watching both NFC playoff games we really are not as close as I thought when the season ended. These teams are playing at a level this weekend that our team has not shown they are even close to performing at. And keep in mind I am someone who is very positive.
January 15th, 2017 at 10:04 pm
Plus the Patriots have played in one of the worst divisions in football during their ENTIRE run. It’s unreal how lucky they are and that helps lead to playoff games at home which leads to Super bowls. Again they are great but ridiculously luckly.
January 15th, 2017 at 10:40 pm
Still waiting for an Ndog response.
Horrible of me I understand.
January 15th, 2017 at 11:01 pm
@Ed-“Winning head coach Dirk Koetter” What has he won?
More games than lost, 5 games in a row which included shutting down Seattle and Drew Bress, beating KC in Arrowhead, and a win on the west coast. Could’ve possibly had some more if it weren’t for a few rookie HC mistakes and a bunch of lightning (Rams, Raiders).
January 15th, 2017 at 11:04 pm
^^^^^^^^^^
This?………………………LOL
January 15th, 2017 at 11:12 pm
Ndog Says:
January 15th, 2017 at 10:01 pm
Well Rodgers for one but he has never looked that bad.
January 15th, 2017 at 11:31 pm
Atlanta Vs Patriots in the Super bowl. SPOILER ALERT: patriots win
January 16th, 2017 at 1:10 am
I already called it. Falcons-Patriots in SB and Falcons win it. Bucs – Steelers in the next SB. Damn it goes to show how tough the South is. Go Bucs!!