Steady Koetter Pulls Bucs From Rock Bottom
November 19th, 2017
Formerly winning head coach Dirk Koetter (he’s now 13-13 as the Bucs chieftain) was looking like dead man walking — figuratively and literally — after his team was embarrassed and annihilated two Sundays ago in New Orleans.
His quarterback was injured and drawing NFL fines.
His star wide receiver lost his mind on the field.
His team looked like it was defining the word “quit” after being non-competitive in four of their eight games.
Throw in the Chucky hiring rumors and chatter that Koetter had “lost” the locker room, plus the court of public opinion burying Jamies Winston the human being, and Koetter seemed headed toward becoming a full-time fisherman off his South Tampa dock.
Not so fast. Koetter has now officially stomped on that noise.
The Bucs have won two in a row with their backup quarterback, upped their record to 4-6, and shown everyone that there is zero quit in this talented team.
Granted, the Bucs only beat up two bad but not brutal teams in a row, the Jets and Dolphins, but Tampa Bay has looked calm and in control, in addition to executing in many phases of the game. These wins were no fluke.
Joe hopes this stops the Fire Koetter frenzy. But Joe knows that won’t die until Koetter pulls off impressive wins in the Bucs’ final six games, all against teams that have winning or .500 records.
The Bucs are a decent, early-season field goal kicker away from a 5-5 record, despite their franchise QB missing a lot of time. That should be enough to get the Koetter haters to let off the gas for at least a couple of weeks.
November 19th, 2017 at 4:24 pm
Koetter did this>>> I think not this does nothing but ensure us we have a very good defense…..
November 19th, 2017 at 4:24 pm
Koetter is lucky af we won that game.
We won despite his best efforts to lose in the 2nd half.
November 19th, 2017 at 4:25 pm
Dirk ‘We were done by Halloween’ Koetter deserves this victory. Playoffs!
November 19th, 2017 at 4:27 pm
A win is a win but didn’t like this coaching job in the second half
November 19th, 2017 at 4:27 pm
Head Coach Koetter leading the Bucs to a blowout with a backup QB!!!!!! 2 game win streak and no quit ( as the sheep tried to accuse this team of)!!!!!!!!
love how he closed out this game!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!
November 19th, 2017 at 4:28 pm
That blunder by the Dolphins at the end made this win look a lot better than what it really was! lol
November 19th, 2017 at 4:29 pm
Oh so now the Bucs are back? What a joke they beat the crappy dolphins & Jets. Go ahead give DK a extension why don’t ya. LOLOLOL. All the Superfans will act like all’s well in Buc land. Quit acting like this team is “right there” or if this happened or that happened. Facts are facts DK IS NOT Head Coach material. I’m assuming all “BIG STICK” carriers will be back from under their rocks they’ve been hiding under. Even that clown Justin. Still a clown show happening at One Buc. Don’t kid yourselves.
November 19th, 2017 at 4:29 pm
Amazing what a qb that spreads the ball around instead of locking on one receiver can do…que Jameis defenders in…..
November 19th, 2017 at 4:30 pm
Koetter is now out of the woods yet. His team is 4-6. Not great at Math but thats way below 500. Our Defense is playing better. Despite not having a good rush in the 2nd half. Koetter can smile this week. But Next?
November 19th, 2017 at 4:31 pm
But the team has given up on Koetter….
November 19th, 2017 at 4:33 pm
He’s a really inconsistent play-caller, and I’ve seen nothing from him as far as being able to bring a team together. Some games he looks well-prepared & others not at all.
This team just does not have a killer instinct or show the level of focus & methodical execution & attention to detail that the truly great coaches instill in their teams.
November 19th, 2017 at 4:33 pm
Hey where is SYDNEY?
I’m still waiting for the Miami blowout he was yelling about since 4 minutes into the 1st quarter….
November 19th, 2017 at 4:34 pm
I’m not for firing koetter but I’m for him giving up play calling. If he denies giving up play calling, well…
November 19th, 2017 at 4:34 pm
Koetter did nothing to squash the Chucky rumors. Somewhere along the line we realized he can either be offensive coordinator or head coach but he can’t be both, this offense sucks, all the turnovers against a horrible offensive and defensive team and he barely pulled it out. Dirk sucks and his win loss shouldn’t be the only consideration for keeping his job so he’s still on the hot seat until 2018 seasons officially begins and he’s the coach
November 19th, 2017 at 4:36 pm
Only five behind Saints with six to go. Dirk ‘We were done before Halloween’ Koetter should get extension.
November 19th, 2017 at 4:37 pm
Excuse me Joe, but did you watch the 2nd half of this game?
It was absolutely horrendous Coaching from Koetter.
November 19th, 2017 at 4:38 pm
This team still doesn’t pass the eye ball tests! I’ve been really positive but the play calling and the scheme on both sides is a bad team
November 19th, 2017 at 4:39 pm
People yelled that Jameis did not get the ball to DJax.
How many catches has he had the last two weeks? The reason Jameis zeroed in on him was because there was pressure to get him the ball.
Before that, Jameis WAS spreading the ball around.
November 19th, 2017 at 4:40 pm
Blake_Bucsfan Says:
“Excuse me Joe, but did you watch the 2nd half of this game?
It was absolutely horrendous Coaching from Koetter.”
You mean Mike Smith.
November 19th, 2017 at 4:41 pm
The big question is who would we hire in his place? This team cannot afford to rebuild again as is typically the course with a new coach these days. Gruden is a definite NO!
November 19th, 2017 at 4:43 pm
Get it straight, naysayers.
Koetter calls the offense.
Mike Smith calls the defense.
Mike Smith allowed the Dolphins to come back.
Koetter called a good game, but there were drops and poor execution all over the place! Heck, Martin COULD have gotten plenty more yards, but he rarely ran the plan right and he had no eyes for holes.
I’m just glad Fitz is squeaking by with wins. I mean, come on…does anyone NOT expect it to be close games with him in there?
November 19th, 2017 at 4:43 pm
D-Jax is not physical and has really bad hands. He should be used mostly as a deep threat decoy, but we keep trying to force the ball to him which is asinine.
November 19th, 2017 at 4:45 pm
I do not believe Koetter has lost his team….but he’s rapidly losing what is left of his fanbase. Today was the last straw for me.
I’ve been reading all the posters complaining about DK’s play calling. I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt but I see it now.
Koetter coaches to not lose and never to simply go out and win a game. He calls play like a complete coward!!! It’s not like he has the 04 Buc D with 2 maybe 3 HOFERS….no he’s got a sucko defense that cannot get off the field with 3rd and ten and longer!!! I just hate the cowardly way he’s been calling these games.
What’s he got to lose for gawd’s sake? His job? What about his pride…is he a winner or a mediocrity?
November 19th, 2017 at 4:49 pm
Nay Sayers????????????
Did we miss something 10 weeks into a 17 week season????
What’s off here????
November 19th, 2017 at 4:51 pm
Bonzai is an idiot. The guy threw for 275, had Evans, Godwin, Howard all majorly involved. Another FSU honk that will stand by their Noles no marrer what, just like you fought for Aguayo untill the end. Go hang out at JimboNolefan.com. I dont care whos playing for the Buvs, as long as they provide wins. Better get use to Fitz, I dont think your guy Jameis play again this year.
November 19th, 2017 at 4:53 pm
Youre right StPete, the offense had 20 points at half, weapons galore, and we go turtle in the second half. Played not to lose, he’s coaching scared.
November 19th, 2017 at 4:54 pm
@Bonzai
No dude, don’t get me wrong, Smith was awful too.
But Dirk Koetter was just as bad. As soon as we had a lead, we busted out his patented run, run, pass, punt offense. Because he coaches scared out of his wits.
We are never going to win a damn thing with a Coach who calls the game with more fear of losing inside of him than desire to win.
November 19th, 2017 at 4:56 pm
@Chris
I am really lost by (Bonzai’s) post becuase I think the fan base has fully supported Koetter and this team as best possible.
This offense has been average at best and the playcalling is atrocious, the slow developing deep routes and 5-7 step drops are just terrible.
The defense is predictable and soft and lack playmakers.
Tell me we are naysayers when the product is just average but we are supposed to fill up the stadium and be loud for this?? Good win but like I said the eye ball test is just looks as feel like something is missing from this team.
November 19th, 2017 at 4:57 pm
Dirk Koetter is at .500
But some delusional fans
Want the Bucs to replace him with someone
Who has a career .509
November 19th, 2017 at 5:04 pm
Seriously, Dirk went predictable in the second, every real Buc fan knew what was going to be called each play, just as the other teams knew. Doesn’t matter who was running the ball, that line and a lil bad reffing…
November 19th, 2017 at 5:14 pm
Now he is formerly losing coach Dirk Koetter..
Placalling really still lacking….OK between the 20s in the first half….but red zone stuffed runs every time.
November 19th, 2017 at 5:49 pm
I’m waiting for the GMC haters to show up. He played one heckuva game with help from LVD and Kwonster. I hope Koetter is beginning to realize how good his offense is even with Fitzpatrick. He has got to let them loose. Fitz was scrambling and throwing the ball all over the place–Howard, Godwin, Evans, Sims. There were the usual bad calls, but the Dolphins……completely fell apart. How do they have a winning record? When they tied the game, I knew they would win. But I was wrong and I’m glad!!!! 🙂 Next week is Atlanta. Falcons better not take the Bucs lightly.
November 19th, 2017 at 7:01 pm
Dont wanna replace Koetter
Need a new offensive playcaller.
But, not counting his current off field problems,
Im starting to believe that Jameis may never develop the decision making skills needed to succeed at this level
With far less natural talent, Fitz makes this Offense hum.
Naturally, now that we are probably out of the playoffs- we go onna winning streak, to ruin our draft spot
November 19th, 2017 at 7:46 pm
“Not so fast. Koetter has now officially stomped on that noise.”
Haha. I hope not, Joe. Yeah it’s soo incredible how we beat two of the other worst teams in the league by a small amount of points. The defense is looking better, but Koetter’s magical book of plays including those constant obvious runs up the middle and pitches to the outside with loss of yardage are for sure gonna keep him in the high chair at OBP.
November 19th, 2017 at 8:31 pm
The Bucs beat 2 teams with more wins than them. Might not say much but most “experts” didn’t think the Bucs would win either game. They are small steps against crappy teams, but a win is a win. It’s better than losing to crappy teams.
November 19th, 2017 at 9:02 pm
Blowout????….fins choked but I’ll take it….Dirk can get off the hot seat with a win vs the falcons….GO BUCS!!!
November 20th, 2017 at 8:49 am
Koetter is not a head coach. That was obvious yesterday and every game this year. He was a great coordinator, too late to go back now. 5 miami turnovers and 17 penalties and they barely won. The referees also gave the bucs points. Im sure we will hear later how the refs screwed the dolphins out of a safety. Terrible call. That was the butt safety. Anyway wins are wins but…..Im still as ready for dirk to go as i was 2 weeks ago. I havnt seen an improvement in the coaching. Smitty is terrible too. They tried to lose the game, but with the officials and miamis own bad play they pulled it out. The rest of the season will show us about this coaching staff. Some good teams coming up. I dont expect it to look pretty. N whoever said the defense is good is nuts. 300 second half yds from a backup qb. Wow.