Only Two Options At Head Coach
December 27th, 2017
BY IRA KAUFMAN
The walls of One Buc Place are closing in on Dirk Koetter.
The steady drip, drip, drip of reports that Jon Gruden is returning for a second stint in Tampa is taking its toll on a proud second-year head coach.
So how has Koetter responded? With class. With dignity.
What he doesn’t do is make excuses. Unlike some of his peers, he doesn’t blame officials or carp about injuries. And he never calls out his players.
That’s kind of refreshing.
With each Gruden tidbit generated by NFL Network, Koetter’s relationship with his players erodes a little more. If Koetter is seen as a short-timer, how is he supposed to motivate his players?
Yet the Bucs sure don’t have the look of a team that has quit on its head coach. We know what that looks like around these parts.
After a 4-2 start, the 2011 Bucs simply were not competitive. They didn’t hustle and they didn’t exhibit any passion during a 10-game losing streak, leaving the Glazers with no choice but to jettison Raheem Morris, one year removed from a 10-6 mark.
If these players want Koetter fired, they have a funny way of showing it. Tampa Bay has suffered three consecutive 3-point setbacks, preceded by an overtime loss at Lambeau.
These Bucs know how to compete, they just don’t know how to win.
Crickets & Buzzards
Koetter has to take his fair share of the blame for a 4-11 record. He’s the head coach and he’s the man in charge.
Overall, the Bucs haven’t been a well-coached team in 2017. They stuck with Doug Martin too long, they haven’t thrown enough deep balls and clock management has been an issue at times.
But Dirk Koetter doesn’t have the horses up front to rush the passer.
That’s a personnel issue, not scheme.
On the other side, Tampa Bay’s run-blocking wasn’t nearly good enough for most of the season. The move of Ali Marpet to center remains a work in progress and the Bucs get pushed around all too often.
Unless Gruden guarantees ownership that he is coming back, firing Koetter would be a mistake.
“When I started this search for a new head coach, the focus was on finding someone that could be a strong leader as well as a consummate teacher, and Dirk is both,” GM Jason Licht once said. “He brings the passion and drive that will re-energize our organization and help us establish the winning culture that will help us become the championship-caliber team that our fans deserve.”
Two years later, Koetter can’t find any assurances his key card will still work in a couple of weeks. Crickets from the Glazers and buzzards circling above.
Only Two Options
Koetter had a bad year, but it’s only ONE bad year. Have we forgotten the Bucs went 9-7 in his first season as an NFL head coach?
If Koetter no longer has the confidence of Jameis Winston, he’s got to go. He’s not going to win that battle, just like Rich McKay had no chance of surviving a showdown with Gruden in 2003.
And although Winston hasn’t taken a step forward this season, he hasn’t been lousy, either. He’s in the process of finishing strong.
If Koetter returns, he’d have to make changes. At the age of 58, he understands that. Andy Reid just gave up the play-calling duties in Kansas City and the Chiefs are surging into the postseason.
“His success with our offense last season, along with his familiarity with our players and our organization makes Dirk the right man to lead our team moving forward,” co-chairman Joel Glazer said in promoting Koetter to replace Lovie Smith.
After one bad season, is he now the wrong man?
If Gruden is serious about a comeback, the Glazers have to look at him, although that would be a public acknowledgement they made a colossal mistake in letting him go.
But short of a Chucky return, Koetter deserves another year to prove himself. This team is fighting hard. This team is showing heart. These players are exhibiting toughness.
So is this head coach.
Ira Kaufman is the most revered sports personality and writer in town. He has hung his hat at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters since July 2016. Tampa Bay’s only Pro Football Hall of Fame voter, Ira busts out columns here every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and his award winning podcasts fire Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can also see Ira every football Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on FOX-13, Scott Smith’s Tailgate Sunday.
December 27th, 2017 at 9:39 am
Not for nothing but, “Koetter deserves another year” but Lovie did not?! Interesting take! Especially for a coach who has twice the talent on his roster.
December 27th, 2017 at 9:40 am
Ira
Hasn’t a major problem been forcing too many deep balls. Seems like we’ve heard that all year, trying to force to Djax, etc..
Koetter is a nice guy and a good coordinator, who backed into a job that is too much for him. Re watch Arizona, and New Orleans game, just to name two. He was Klueless….
December 27th, 2017 at 9:40 am
Keep Koetter.
December 27th, 2017 at 9:40 am
A lot can be forgiven in my opinion except how he handled Martin. Peyton Barber earned the right to start against Detroit based on performance and he started Martin instead. Then Martin gets benched against Atlanta and should have been shown the door but again he is back in the line up last week splitting carries with Barber against Carolina. As a fan that tells me he doesn’t want to put the best players on the field and he wont punish certain players who are benched multiple times.
December 27th, 2017 at 9:43 am
I agree with most of your article with the exception of the deep throw comment. I thought the Bucs made enough deep throw attempts this year. They simply didn’t execute.
I would love to see Doug Martin and Chris Baker with a DNP-CD next to their name for the last game of the season. That would show ownership and the fan base that despite a bad season that he didn’t mail it in as a coach. It would show ownership and the fan base how tough he really is.
December 27th, 2017 at 9:43 am
of course Koetter is going to be classy this IS an organizational problem. This team has sucked for over a decade with no hope in site. These failures are not on Smith and Koetter they are on the Glazers and their inability to manage a winning franchise. Tampa is and has always been a losing town and organization and will continue to be so… 4 good years in 42 can not be defended by anyone. pathetic franchise simple as that.
December 27th, 2017 at 9:48 am
Yeah, this team hasn’t given up and been in every meaningless game in November and December unlike the last 2 months of the Lovie, Schiano and Morris run where the games were over by the end of the 1st quarter bc the team had given up and or were totaly non competitive. The Tampa job isn’t going to be the most attractive so if you can’t get Gruden you may be better off giving Dirk another year … i can’t believe I’m saying this
December 27th, 2017 at 9:48 am
FIRE DC PRESSBOX SMITTY!!!!
December 27th, 2017 at 9:53 am
Tmax,
Are you even a fan of the buccaneers cuz all you do is talk about how much of a loser organization this franchise is. Everything you say is negative and when the Bucs were actually good with dungy and Gruden you don’t even want to acknowledge it. Honestly want do you even like about this franchise that makes you watch games.
December 27th, 2017 at 9:56 am
I cant disagree with that analysis. And it was a colossal blunder.
If you can’t get Gru, who else is out there? Not a whole lot it appears.
Might as well let Dirk have one more year to turn it around.
December 27th, 2017 at 9:57 am
I like Koetter and I know he didnt want Hard Knocks, a hurricane, or lack of a bye week. in normal circumstances I believe he deserves another year. However, if you don’t think Jon Gruden is a gigantic step up over Dirk Cutter then you simply haven’t been watching football. He makes better in game adjustments and there’s very few times a Gruden coach team looked completely unprepared for a game. He would help James Winston get to the next level as well as get rid of a lot of the players currently on the roster getting paid a ton of money to underachieve.
December 27th, 2017 at 10:08 am
Atrain4047. Good point Some posters merely spew negativity and even “stretch” the truth a bit concerning success. One should expect criticism from “fans” but rela fans express hope for the future while JBF has several posters who are simply trolls who seem happy with the losing!
December 27th, 2017 at 10:14 am
Koetter deserves one more year
#KeepKoetter
December 27th, 2017 at 10:17 am
Keep Koetter on the condition he gives up play calling to the OC and he focuses on game day management. Fire Mike Smith and bring in a new DC to rebuild the defense. Focus the draft on rebuilding the D-Line, get a stud, duel threat RB to help the offense and use FA to fill in the remaining holes.
December 27th, 2017 at 10:21 am
I love the bucs and have supported them for 40 years and have EARNED the right to be critical. I will not accept the excuses and feel good BS you optimists seem to thrive on…. It’s TIME TO FIX this not ignore or sugarcoat the failures that have been a constant throughout the history of this failed franchise.
there are not many POSITIVES outside of the super bowl year. the failed dungy years were adorable but failures. McKay won with a true expansion team. Dungy was gifted a great defense and 2 hall of famers and the one dimensional retard and his sidekick mckay could not field an offense. Gurden gets the job done then destroys the roster for the next 6 years winning NOTHING else. so yeah, let’s bring back the fool who started this drought.
this franchise is a joke and the only franchise that can make the browns look competent. you guys keep living in your fruity little bubble of optimism and BS and I’ll deal with reality and the reality is the franchise and ownership have NO CLUE how to win.
December 27th, 2017 at 10:24 am
Looking at the body of work there’s a deep disconnect between Licht and Koetter. Licht doesn’t have the pulse of the team. Brings in djax knowing JW deep ball accuracy is bad. Drafting OJ in the first round when they could have traded down and still got him early in the 2nd. Choosing a kicker in the 2nd round. Drafting Noah Spence who doesn’t have a second move and is way too light for DE in today’s NFL. Not bringing in any DE in FA. Bringing in Baker a known locker room cancer. 2016 draft is looking like a complete bust now. That being said they were still in almost every game this year. Even a bad defense would have won them 4 games. JW did take a step forward this year Ira, started in Buffalo. JW is a keeper.
December 27th, 2017 at 10:25 am
Agree with what Greg said..
December 27th, 2017 at 10:26 am
I respect Koetter as a professional and as a man. I really don’t think he’s the leader that can take us to a Super Bowl and that should be the end all.
I’m tired of losing and tired of being embarrassed and shamed as a fan. I am also tired of being happy when the Bucs don’t play.
That’s pretty significant I’d say for the quality of the product. I’m just one opinion but I’m willing to bet I’m not the only one that feels like that.
Koetter had the perfect g opportunity to keep things cool under him if he would’ve given up playcalling to Monken and focus on managing the game and shoring up the defense and STs. But who knows what’s really happened behind close doors.
What I do know is the players they brought in as FAs are not good fits.
December 27th, 2017 at 10:27 am
they haven’t thrown enough deep balls? what games have you’ve been watching? if anything they throw too many deep balls
December 27th, 2017 at 10:27 am
No chance you get a good to great DC if koetter stays because koetter could be canned the next year, unforunately jason licht didnt give koetter the proper pieces to be a winner
December 27th, 2017 at 10:31 am
Ira, I agree with most but the quitting thing ….whats different is the talent
those teams that quit didn’t have half the talent that this does
this squad couldn’t quit if they went out and half arsed it ……
the drought in scoring inconsistency after 3 years not 2….in control of the offense is his downfall
other teams even say we are predictable …that’s a HUGE problem
December 27th, 2017 at 10:34 am
Completely agree. I like koetter but think he is a dead man walking. He is getting blamed for everything. And I understand he is head coach but I degress. Guys are still fighting for him where they didn’t for Raheem , lovie or
Schiano.
In regards to the deep ball comment, Jameis deep ball is que terrible… not koetter s fault.
December 27th, 2017 at 10:36 am
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again… I feel bad for tmaxi’s ex wife and kids. Dude is a true definition of a troll.
December 27th, 2017 at 10:37 am
even sapp used to say give us more than 20 we will win
well the D did that last year hence your 9 and 7 year
but the scoring hasn’t improved (*to score over 21) to come close to balancing out the defense’s down year
and that’s why its 4-12 instead of say 7-9 with a regressed D
December 27th, 2017 at 10:40 am
Bucsfan951
once again you have NO clue what you are speaking off…. Just another blind optimist who supports failures and losers. that’s why you punch a time clock and i am retired under 50… driven winners succeed… losers make excuses
December 27th, 2017 at 10:40 am
we will never be the browns cause we have the hardware (superbowl) and that counts
but we need to start being a playoff team ….consistently
December 27th, 2017 at 10:47 am
Ira. greatly respect your wisdom but I cant give Koetter the full credit for that 9-7 year in terms of keeping him
I get he is the head coach but its also his offense as the REAL OC
and last year
your #1 defense on 3rd down held 8 teams to 20 or less points….ok one was 21…
but 8 games!!!!! while koetter’s offense has failed to put up points for 3 years with the keys to the offense
we all know lovie didn’t interfere
December 27th, 2017 at 10:50 am
dirk doesn’t deserve 1 more year…..he has more talent than the man he replaced and somehow has managed to regress…..offense defense and ST has regressed…..
McAdoo got canned after he went 10-6…..who knew winning 9 games get you a bust outside rayjay….SMDH!!!
don’t want to hear the “players still playing hard” excuse…..of course they’re playing hard….they’re playing for INCENTIVES!!!!!….
sitting baker and doug wont prove anything….we all know they are unproductive….sitting them is obvious…..
the most telling thing about this situation is that the glazers have been dead silent about this situation….they haven’t come to bat for dirk which says a ton….he’s as good as gone….GO BUCS!!!!
December 27th, 2017 at 10:54 am
Fan poll? …Koetter or Gruden? 100% Koetter here…a Gruden hire would be beyond miserable…he was fired for a reason…
December 27th, 2017 at 10:55 am
oh and I love joe set you up for the ally-oop dunk on the Dungy offense scored more than Grudens …haha
smart and savy
but two reasons for that….les steckel the best scoring OC in bucs history that they got rid of and
and sad to say but Difer was better than all the qbs gruden was stuck with and dungy had the all time scoring backfield of dunn and alstott
December 27th, 2017 at 10:58 am
tmaxcon Says: I’ll deal with reality and the reality is the franchise and ownership have NO CLUE how to win.
That is one thing I really like about you Tmaxcon, you never sugar coat it.
You did not mention any ideas on how to fix things. care to elaborate?
I am going to go out on a limb here, cutting #93 is your first step?
December 27th, 2017 at 11:01 am
Latest mock drafts have us taking a CB from Ohio State…..
Don’t we need help along our D-line more? Did we not have the least amount of sacks / QB hits / QB pressures this year?
I know Grimes may be gone but we really need some linemen
December 27th, 2017 at 11:02 am
What a mess. Kirk has soiled himself ( with no help from BFF Smitty)and undone any goodwill from a fortuitous 9-7 season. My gut is telling me that Gruden is playing the Bucs a bit. I just can’t see him as the Bucs next head coach despite all the reports & rumors.
December 27th, 2017 at 11:03 am
The first throat Chucky will slit is that of Jason Licht.
December 27th, 2017 at 11:05 am
Does Doug Martin have a little dirt on ya Ira? Koetter is trash
December 27th, 2017 at 11:06 am
Kaufman key word, “integrity”. A lost and forgotten measure of a man in this owners’ monopoly of an ancient NFL.
December 27th, 2017 at 11:06 am
Instead asking why fire someone how about asking why do they deserve to be coach? That is the question and I don’t know there is a good answer as to why. The Doug Martin, Chris Baker, and punt/ kick return situations are clear reasons why this coaching staff cannot be trusted to put this team in the best position to win. In each of those situations there was a clearly better option on the roster but this staffeta refused to adapt, which in coaching is death.
December 27th, 2017 at 11:11 am
Is it me. I think Winston has taken a huge step forward. I think the fumbling and his temperament has to be tamped down. But otherwise he is progressing.
December 27th, 2017 at 11:13 am
Tmax, you absolutely have the right to be critical, I just think some us don’t understand why you chose to continue to be a fan if you feel this is an organizational issue starting with the Glazers. They aren’t going any where and if you truly believe the Bucs can’t get anywhere with them as the owners, why put yourself through this?
I am curious what you feel this team should do to correct the issues it has, if change in ownership is off the table (anything else goes though)?
December 27th, 2017 at 11:22 am
Good article Ira. I’ve come to the same conclusion. If the Glazers don’t have some assurance from Gruden that he will take the HC job this year (and be willing to work with Jason Licht and agree the GM would remain in charge of the draft) – then coach Koetter needs to stay.
The main thing to me is that Koetter better have some good answers in his post season owner/coach interview as to how he is going to get more than the 20-21 points per game that his offense has averaged for 3 years straight now. Its not even close to good enough scoring results and 2017 in particular was a bad look for an offensive specialist HC with a plethora of legit high powered skill position weapons in place this year.
December 27th, 2017 at 11:37 am
So Bruce Arians isn’t an option? That’s weird.
December 27th, 2017 at 11:50 am
Pickgrin…agree about 80%. Licht hasn’t drafted as badly as Koetter has coached, but if his replacement had a great draft record and manager of the cap, I wouldn’t have a problem with replacing Licht. But Gruden couldn’t be Coach AND GM. And the GM must be a guy with a good reputation earned from experience as a GM.
December 27th, 2017 at 11:51 am
I have it..
Ira as GM, “Joe” as HC. Now…how long do you think Ira would keep Joe?
December 27th, 2017 at 12:04 pm
The season is 16 weeks. Youre supposed to be ready week 1. Not improving in weeks 14-16 enough to keep your job. He has had 2 years. Enough already. Dirk is a bad head coach
December 27th, 2017 at 12:10 pm
And not like we are on an “up tick”….
Who said “Good teams find a way to win; bad teams find a way to lose”?
Seems pretty appropriate.
December 27th, 2017 at 12:26 pm
Coach Koetter deserves another year.. John Gruden doesn’t even have shotgun plays in his playbook. Does anyone believe he will be an effective head coach in 2018?
December 27th, 2017 at 12:31 pm
Koetter needs to go but i dont know how i feel about Gruden either.
December 27th, 2017 at 12:56 pm
Jon Gruden W-L record in Tampa Bay
12-4 = 2002
7-9 = 2003
5-11 = 2004
11-5 = 2005
4-12 = 2006
9-7 = 2007
9-7 = 2008
According to pro-football-reference Jon Gruden has had as head coach of the Bucs.
7 seasons, 1 super bowl, 4 winning seasons 3 losing seasons, 2 seasons with double-digit wins, 2 seasons with double-digit losses, 3 playoff appearances 2 first round losses, 2 playoff games won leading to the super bowl victory. 2 seasons in the top 10 in wins, 0 top 10 in rushing attempts, 0 top 10 in yards rushing, 1 top 10 #7 in 07 in yards per rush, 2 top 10 in passing attempts( 03 & 08), 1 top 10 in passing yards #6 (03), 1 top 10 in passing TD #5 (03), Defensive stats 6 top 10 in yards allowed, 5 top 10 in points allowed, 4 top 10 in takeaways.
Not saying that Coach Gruden is not a good coach but he had a Great defense when he got here and as long as Coach Kiffin was here that mostly continued. If he becomes our Coach again he will not have that awesome Defense to lean on, after yet another 3 and out… punt. Let us all keep our rose-colored glasses free from dirt making it hard to see the results. Were Gruden years better than how we have seen the past 7 seasons? Some seasons where some, were not? If Coach Gruden has seasons like his 03-04 back to back 7-9, 5-11 or 06-07 seasons of 4-12, 9-7 will he get to experience the two and out coaching carousel we are growing to become way too accustomed to? I for one am not happy about this coaching carousels attempt at capturing the coaching genie in a bottle.
Go Bucs!
December 27th, 2017 at 1:01 pm
Rusty.. any thoughts about the torched draft picks traded for Gruden? Those given for Key? Salary cap hell? No money for big name FA’s because of Man U. ? An aging team where the SB window had closed? Of course not.
December 27th, 2017 at 1:30 pm
All those Gruden wins with no QB to speak of is a miracle by itself. Gets an immediate pass for 2006 with only Bruce Gradkowski as QB. Gets a partial pass for 2004 after the johnson gets benched and Simms gets hurt early and have to finish with Brian Griese.
December 27th, 2017 at 1:39 pm
Mark2001 – Gruden’s draft picks to acquire him, sucked. He did take us to the Super Bowl. The Picks given for Key, I was against that then, as I was about giving up those to acquire Gruden. Salary cap hell. Yes, he inherited it and left it worse off than when he became the coach? Was that not what Mr. Dominic had to clean up, and did a good job of? No money for Big Name FA’s well, a few did get paid, not top dollar but top dollar we were paying. Aging teams happen every season, SB’s happen every season too. In 7 seasons he went to 1 won it, and had two other seasons of one and done in the playoffs. Yes, we did make it but with the following season’s records of 4-12 in 06 and 9-7 in 08. I am not saying Coach Gruden is not a good coach he was. But he is not the everything he is made out to be, here in Tampa. Thank you, Jon Gruden, for a Super Bowl victory.
December 27th, 2017 at 1:48 pm
IRA
Agree completely but I think it shouldn’t be difficult for the Glazers to hedge their bets and for Chucky to figure out things as well.
This should be the year to determine who coaches the 2019 team. If Koetter messes up next year then they can bring in Chucky with no hard feelings or recriminations. If the Bucs mess up next year it will also give Chucky a year to see if he really wants to take this on.
I would make only ONE move this off season. I think Rick Stroud may have already suggested it. But the Bucs should hire Derrick Brooks as the Team President. He would have the Glazer’s ear and oversee the entire operation.
He wouldn’t be limited by any single area…he’d help in all of them and act as the senior sounding board for Licht and Koetter and Smitty. And maybe Derrick could find the right candidate to be in charge of our FA acquisitions. Nobody on the current staff has anything to brag about.
December 27th, 2017 at 1:55 pm
With all respect to Gruden, our Defense out scored Oaklands offense ( as well as our own) in the Super Bowl
December 27th, 2017 at 2:05 pm
“this franchise is a joke and the only franchise that can make the browns look competent. you guys keep living in your fruity little bubble of optimism and BS”
Tmaxcon;
Sure doesn’t sound like a Buc’s fan to me……
P.S. I’ll take Koetter for another year, he deserves it.
December 27th, 2017 at 2:23 pm
Ira,
I agree with some of your points about Dirk. His team hasn’t quit on him from what I’ve seen and he’s a lousy in-game manager. Where we disagree significantly is that the Bucs only have him or Chucky as options. If this team limits its coaching search to just Gruden, that is a terrible mistake. Too often, this team has just handed the keys to someone (see Morris, Lovie and Dirk). Licht, or whoever the GM is when the dust settles, needs to get some serious candidates in the door, including Chucky if he’s interested. It’s simply ridiculous to say he’s the only choice and no one else wants the job. Please see Marrone in Jacksonville and Lynn & McVay in LA. I’m so tired of hearing this crap that no one wants to come to Tampa. It’s just nonsense. There are good coaches who will come to Tampa. I’d start by looking at Patricia and go from there. The definition of insanity is what again???
December 27th, 2017 at 2:27 pm
Martinii…on what basis does he “deserve it”?
December 27th, 2017 at 2:30 pm
StPete… Gruden will be coaching somewhere else in 2019, if we don’t sign him in 2018 and he is really planning to return to coaching somewhere. Frankly, the only reason not fire Koetter is if we are place holding for someone else. We can sleep through 2018. But place holding rarely works out anyway.
December 27th, 2017 at 3:16 pm
Its up to the Glazers, hopefully their decision makes sense to fans and more importantly brings a fun, watchable, winning record to the community.
December 27th, 2017 at 8:01 pm
Yes, Ira. You have it.
I think Jon Gruden is as likely to coach in the NFL next season as Justin Bieber. But the only coach the Glazers would or should make a change for is Gruden. Otherwise, it’s Koetter with some madates from his bosses.
1. Mike Smith has to go and the defense needs all of the General Manager’s attention regarding personnel.
2. New OL coach. Warhop belongs back in Cleveland.
3. Let Monken take over play calling duties. Dirk has some outstanding play designs but his use of his own playbook has gotten predictable. Dirk, go be the Head Coacg and let your OC do his job.
4. Dirk — take accountability for the friggin defense. You are the head coach.
December 27th, 2017 at 8:07 pm
Gotta get a coach that has organizational skills. Game in and game out communication from sidelines is terrible. Delay of game penalties, not enough men on the field, very predictable formations, horrible clock management, not using timeouts. This team comes out of training camp playing like they spent 6 weeks at a spa, where is the toughness? Smiley McCoy looking like a million bucks except he’s nowhere near fumbling-falling towards the goal line Cam Newton. The 12 yard cushions. The missed field goals, stuffed runs on 3rd down, fumbles, it’s all a matter of preparation. Dirk is an honest, good person, a players coach but damn it the Bucs need a staff that prepares for any and all situations. Frankly this team didn’t show any improvement and with the exception of Jameis putting up yardage, everything else went backwards. The downward momentum will continue without a better organizational approach to preparing this team every Sunday.
December 27th, 2017 at 11:36 pm
For the guy who presents the facts at the HOF for the Bucs players, it’d be nice if Ira actually knew them. Winston’s passer rating is 10 points higher than last year. His completion % is up 5%, his INT % almost cut in half (3.2 to 2.0). Cam Newton went through the same parade from his 2nd to 3rd year, everyone thinking he had plateaued or regressed when the actual stats showed just the opposite.
December 27th, 2017 at 11:43 pm
If Gruden does not want the job but BRUCE ARIANS does, the Glazers better consider him and Licht better interview him … Bruce Arians is an awesome coach and has a history with Jameis!
December 27th, 2017 at 11:57 pm
Agreed.
December 28th, 2017 at 10:36 am
Not unlike the QB, IF you HAVE a better replacement, then you replace the HC.
Gruden- probably Better- sorry! (see Greg’s comment above)
Arians (MY 1st choice)- most likely Better (& worked w/ Licht b4, IF he stays)
Patricia- a looong Time Belacheat disciple (but wasn’t McDaniels?)- possibly Better
Also, turning-over play calling duties is not the only requisite to becoming a better “game manager”, is it?
I could handle Koetter on the sidelines next year however, not Smitty!