Dirk Koetter Talks About Cutting Aggressive Playcalling In 2016
March 10th, 2017
Dirk Koetter talks about being Bucs Commander-In-Chief.
Dirk Koetter the playcaller wasn’t the Dirk Koetter you might have expected last season.
The head coach talked about that on Nashville sports radio recently.
Joe shares this today because now the Bucs have an A-list weapon of mass destruction in receiver DeSean Jackson to pair with Mike Evans.
With more to work with, and hopefully ditching Doug Martin in favor of a consistent running game, Joe assumes Koetter will be much more creative and aggressive this season.
But it’s not just about better talent on offense, Koetter explained on WGFX-FM. It’s about managing the game, including feeling the power of his stud punter.
“Everyone assumed that it would be that way,” Koetter said about the notion he would be an extra aggressive playcaller as a head coach.
“But one thing I definitely felt [in 2016], is that when you’re the head coach, you have a lot more chances to affect the game — if you’re ahead in the score, your defense is playing well, our punt team did a great job this year. I mean, Brian Anger, our punter, he was on fire at pinning teams down inside the 20. So when you’re the head coach, you’re thinking about all those things. ‘How good’s your punter? Can he pin them back? How’s your defense playing? How’s your quarterback playing that day? Are we running the ball successfully?’
“So I would say I was probably less aggressive this year than most people would have thought. I would like to think by nature I’m an aggressive playcaller. The bottom line in all of this, all this stuff we’re doing here today, the only thing people remember, ‘Did you win or lose the game?’ That’s really all that matters. None of this other stuff matters. Getting good players and did you win or lose.”
It will be very interesting to see how Koetter handles a full complement of weapons like he had for most of 2015. That season translated into the NFL’s fifth-ranked offense, but the Bucs struggled a bit in the red zone.
If this is the season Koetter’s offense fully comes together, Bucs fans will be buying playoff tickets.
March 10th, 2017 at 8:56 am
with a decent RB from the draft, the Bucs will be very tough on O. Now if we can find a very good DE with the #19 pick, and have Spence explode his 2nd year, look out NFC South!!!!
March 10th, 2017 at 8:58 am
Big difference between 2015 & this year will be Jameis … 2 yrs of experience under his belt now & (hopefully) better weapons now. Still concerned about our OLine … Center & RT in particular … but I’m confident that Jason Licht will address both of those in FA and/or the draft.
March 10th, 2017 at 9:00 am
Rally want DE with the first pick but wouldn’t be that mad if we grab Howard. Need redzone threats, big targets for #3.
Yea the play calling was meh. No run game will do that. RT, C are still needs. Mixon in the 3rd
March 10th, 2017 at 9:02 am
Finally a coach who gets it….
Win are all that matter everything is meaningless BS
March 10th, 2017 at 9:09 am
Mixon. I’ve given this some thought. Not a chance the Glazers will sign off on that. Remember when Jameis first came in, all the scrutiny he got from the Glazers personally? Yes, that situation was different as it was the #1 overall pick we were investing. But I remember the comments by the Glazer sister(?). Domestic violence is a BIG issue with the Glazers – I would bet Mixon is NOT on the Bucs draft board at all, not even with a 7th rd pick.
March 10th, 2017 at 9:21 am
Forget Mixon and start focusing on Perine. When you think of Perine, think Maurice Jones-Drew.
March 10th, 2017 at 9:26 am
Please crank it up to 11 this year Cooter! Kid gloves are off for Winston, fire the f#$%king cannons!
March 10th, 2017 at 9:28 am
Melifionwoo first …we need a safety
Nujoku the Miami second
Pocic center LSU third
Speedy wr fourth
March 10th, 2017 at 9:41 am
Gotbucs……MJD ran a 4.38 coming out of college and had moves for days, Perine ran a 4.66 and he won’t be able to break tackles like he did in the no defense Big 12, Mixon is being compared to David Johnson and Leveon Bell, not my opinion, that’s coming from GMs and scouts, ever hear of those guys, the top 2 RBs in the league, and Harry from Costa Rica, what he did 3 years ago isn’t domestic violence, that wasn’t his girlfriend or family which is what domestic means, and he didn’t initiate the physical violence, she attacked Mixon first, she wasn’t a small woman either, he reacted wrongly for sure, and with him continuing counseling voluntarily, and no incidents or breaking any laws for 3 years, the Bucs can become instant Super Bowl contenders with a back of Mixons caliber, he’s worth a 2nd chance, and someone is going to draft him, that trio of Winston Evans and Mixon would win us multiple championships
March 10th, 2017 at 9:47 am
And all you Buc fans who hated on Winston when he came out, Im positive you are Winston fans now otherwise you aren’t really Buc fans, go ahead and hate Mixon, but I’m sure when he’s scoring 15 TDs a year and hoisting that Lombardi trophy a few times the next decade, you’re going to forget about the time he punched a woman that attacked him, and say he turned his life around
March 10th, 2017 at 9:55 am
@Guzzie thanks big homie. How many times must this be brought up… IF THE SHIELD allows him to gain employment. Then we should hire him. Period. Damn if not Mixon then get us a big back. We’ve got enough midgets lol running back there. Mixon would take the play action to another level. He’s a 3 down back for crying out loud.
#no1ispefect
March 10th, 2017 at 9:57 am
If the choice is the OT from Wisconsin or Mccaffrey? Who would you take?
March 10th, 2017 at 10:00 am
Also, had this never happened most all scouts and GMs admit he’s the best RB this year. If take him with the second pick! DE with the first or Howard if he’s there
Quit being crybabies
Evans
Jackson
Brate
Howard?
Mixon
That people would be Winston’s weapons
D coordinators WILL lose sleep throng to defend that
Get a grip our get out… We trying to win over here
March 10th, 2017 at 10:01 am
@Jameis… The OT
March 10th, 2017 at 10:03 am
^^^^lose sleep trying to defend^^^^^^
Lmao
Edit button JOE
March 10th, 2017 at 10:15 am
I would take Ryan Ramczyk over any running back besides Cook and Fournette. Ramczyk has a quick step to meet the pass rusher at the edge on passing downs.
March 10th, 2017 at 10:21 am
@JameisDungy
McCaffrey
March 10th, 2017 at 10:27 am
I say McCaffrey because #1 Cook is the guy Im hoping for but McCaffrey would be a great consolation prize. But most importantly this offense is now an explosive do it all Running Back away from being an elite offense.
Trust me I understand the argument for a OT but I feel Dotson is decent and we can afford to address that with a later pick.
March 10th, 2017 at 10:39 am
Questions, what are the chances of Martin & JRodgers remaining on the team?
March 10th, 2017 at 10:40 am
Mixon is on par with McCaffery and Cook as far as a recieving, and is faster than both, 4.43>4.48, and is the better between the tackles and pass protector, he’s 6’1 226, I know the Bucs probably won’t draft him, not because the assault, just because as a long time Bucs fan, the Bucs always seem to take a Gaines Adams over an Adrian Peterson, yeah that really happened F My Buc Life
March 10th, 2017 at 10:47 am
Honestly GoBucs, I don’t think its far fetched that Licht brings Doug back. He wont come back under the same contract that’s for sure. But we could be set at RB for sure if we bring Doug back and still draft Cook or McCaffrey. And if Cook or McCaffrey come in and immediately take off as expected, we have trade bait in Doug Martin. Especially if he cleans up. Its inevitable that some teams will struggle at RB throughout the year. Plus, there is always injury and that bug always seem to hit the Bucs.
March 10th, 2017 at 10:57 am
Is Rodgers still in play? The reason I ask is if he is? McCaffery could be a RB/slot WR to add to a rotation with Humphries? Plus it would move Humphries to a prominent role on special teams.
March 10th, 2017 at 11:09 am
Jacquiz Rogers has already resigned bro
March 10th, 2017 at 11:19 am
Dont forget about VJax…
March 10th, 2017 at 11:22 am
Go BUCS… Are you trolling… Go read!!!
March 10th, 2017 at 1:20 pm
DE at #19? The defensive line is set with:
DE: Spence/Gholston
DT: Baker/McDonald
DT: McCoy/Sil
DE: Ayers/Jacquies
I think they may take a DE later in the draft but not at #19 … the first 4 picks should seemingly be used on, in no particular order: RB, TE, CB … and maybe safety unless Bucs sign Wilcox AND bring back McDougald.
I think Dalvin will be gone by at latest the Eagles pick … so to me it’s either Christian Mac, David Njoku, Jabril Peppers or an OT like Ramcyzk at #19 … or a trade down.
Personally, I want to see Mixon in like the 4th or 5th as that represents so much more “value” than any of the other RB’s in the 1st round!
March 10th, 2017 at 1:41 pm
Guzzie where are you getting all this Mixon love?
He’s the TENTH pick on Walter Football’s list of RB’s…
I’m not sure why all the Mixon love here. He played in a crapola conference in terms of defense…if you look at his game by game stats he was pretty inconsistent. I realize he shared the load with Perrine and that holds his stats back some but they’re simply not that awesome which is why Walter and others have him as only a top ten back….I want a lot higher than the 10th!!!
In Okla’s opener a LOSS against Houston Mixon rushed 6X for 40 yards a decent 6.7 average until you realize he had a run of 32 yards which means he ran five times for just 8 yards!!! Hardly unstoppable. He did catch five balls for more than 70 so that’s a bonus for sure.
Do we even care about Louisiana Monroe…the 2nd game?
He had a decent game against the Buckeyes…9 carries for 78 in another Sooner loss..played well against TCU…over 100 yards..
But how about arch rival Texas. While Foreman was rushing for 159 yards and a 6.4 average Mixon rushed for 48 yards and a 3.0 average. Somebody posted to me though that Foreman has a broken foot? He’s clearly better than Mixon and not just on one game…he rushed for over 100 yards EVERY game Texas played.
In the blowout against Kansas he averaged 8.2 and an impressive 9 yards per carry against Okla St…but against Auburn he dropped back to 4.8.
Bottom line for me is that Mixon is a very good…but not great RB. I want the best…give me Dalvin…or at least McCaffery…even Curtis Samuels before Mixon.
Now if you guys think he’s going to drop all the way to the 4th round I would concede that would be excellent “value” but do we gamble waiting around until the 4th round to fill what is now our major need?
BTW I do not figure his off field activities in any of this…just that he seem like a good RB…not great…he doesn’t possess blinding speed…although he did have a significant number of long runs…he’s not a giant but he does have good size at 220+…I just like at least a half dozen backs better and I do not wish to wait until the 4th round in the HOPE of finding a stud RB.
March 10th, 2017 at 1:58 pm
Dirk was awful calling games in 2016 – he was completely predictable and got ultra conservative as the defense got better. I think moving from the box to the sidelines hurt the way he viewed the field – but whatever it was I hope he figures it out because the he was a huge part of the problem last year. Once the Bucs got any sort of lead at all he would call the same plays in the same order and it always started with a run up the middle on 1st down – where Doug would be met by 7 people in the backfield and then fans would wonder what’s wrong with Martin.
March 10th, 2017 at 2:41 pm
Dirk did what he needed to do in 2016 to give the team the best chance of winning. Yes his playcalling was “conservative” last year – but I would have done exactly the same thing in his shoes.
Koetter was very aware of the limitations of his offense in 2016. No consistency in the running game – and down to 4th and 5th string RBs at points during the season, Oline not run blocking well and pass blocking left quite a bit to be desired. Mike Evans was Winston’s only legitimate threat to make big plays with some degree of assistance from overachievers Humphries and Brate – but the rest of the WR roster aside from Shep was a bunch of guys who will not be playing in the NFL 3 years from now if even next year.
I believe if JL is able to pick up a better Center somewhere and add a talented RB, WR and a more athletic TE in the draft – the Bucs offense will have the necessary ingredients to be VERY successful moving forward and Koetter will quickly start looking like a genius offensive playcaller again in short order.
March 12th, 2017 at 12:44 pm
Dirk koetter is a true footbal coach. No excuses, no sugar coating, no b.s. All that matters is winning. Bottom line.