Dirk Koetter’s “Sixth Man”
August 13th, 2018
Dirk Koetter talks about his sixth man
Joe’ going old school here, with full apologies to Jamal Crawford.
The Buccaneers head coach was talking today about his six-game offensive line starter last season, a guy in the game when the running game began to thrive.
That same guy was a surprise starter against the Dolphins on Thursday night, 32-year-old Evan Smith, who got the call at right guard — and the Bucs’ first-team O-line was strong.
After practice today, Dirk Koetter said Smith is the ideal “sixth-man,” using the basketball analogy for the guy who can come off the bench and play like a quality starter.
Koetter even said he’ll breathe easily if Smith is lining up there to start the season.
“If Evan is starting at any of the three inside we’ll be fine,” Koetter said, answering a question about O-line competition.
At this point, Joe considers Smith the favorite to play there on opening day. Hey, if Koetter trusts him, then he’s got a big leg up over Caleb Benenoch (one career game at guard) and rookie Alex Cappa.
Joe talked to Smith about being a starter last week.
No, Joe is not lobbying for Smith to start at right guard, but the Bucs kick off in 27 days and there’s a darn good chance it happens.
August 13th, 2018 at 12:07 pm
Fantastic content across several articles today. Thanks Joe!
August 13th, 2018 at 12:21 pm
If Evan is starting at any of the three inside we’ll be fine,”
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Idk about all that but he’s better than Caleb. Again let’s see what happens on Saturday.
Would love to see Seaton and Smith go up against the jags but it’s the 4th ps game so prob won’t see any starters. That’s a shame, would have been a great test.
August 13th, 2018 at 12:24 pm
@ D-Rome
Agree….glad we are drifting away from JW….much more relevant items to discuss….we do have 89 others on the roster now.
August 13th, 2018 at 12:25 pm
Kevin McHale…. That Celtics team and the Lakers…wow…THAT was basketball.
Saw Bird play in college when Indiana State U. played Bradley in the old fieldhouse. They build a defensive four man box around him in the paint and still couldn’t stop him from scoring. Best college basketball player I ever saw in person.
Evan started on the Packer O line before he came here, on a good O line. I’m not surprised that he can play.
August 13th, 2018 at 12:35 pm
o line is weak. no rt tackle and that includes the washed up never was dotson… scary starters with no depth. 2-14… hopefully, America’s quarterback gets free from the black hole that is Tampa bay Buccaneers football.
August 13th, 2018 at 12:39 pm
Having grown up in Mass until 1986…THAT was basketball. They only took 2 steps to the basket unlike the 5-6 they take now.
Don’t believe that many? Youtube it.
McHale was naaaasty in the paint.
Trenches. You can never have enough solid depth. Rotation in the Tampa heat is prolly important come to think about it….then again thinking about this team will drive one nuts after awhile.
Don’t believe me? How long have you been reading JBF???
Go Bucs!
August 13th, 2018 at 12:44 pm
D-Rome: Yep.
August 13th, 2018 at 1:18 pm
D-Rome- Ditto! It’s nice to have some varied conversations for a change.
87- Those Celtics vs. Lakers matchups were legendary!
Having Evan gives us depth. I would just like to see us shore up that RT spot. Dotson isn’t going to be around much longer.
If history has taught us anything as Bucs fans, you can never have enough depth.
August 13th, 2018 at 1:20 pm
I’m rooting for Cappa!
Evan Smith is OK – but man does he seem to have a knack for ill timed penalties…
August 13th, 2018 at 3:04 pm
Evan Smith is a back-up that we’ve been trying to unseat – for a reason. If he was a starter, he would have been the starter.
August 13th, 2018 at 3:12 pm
Consistently avg play is valued way more then the volatility that comes with inexperience/higher ceiling…..The entire o-line can’t be pro bowl bound, that’s just reality. I like the savvy vets sprinkled in over an entire youth movement
August 13th, 2018 at 4:04 pm
Likes Dotson before he was a starter; like him as a starter and still like him. If you think he is a never-was, you and I are seeing different things. However, I agree we have to make plans to replace him as she takes away his talent.
August 13th, 2018 at 4:38 pm
lol all these middle aged “well back in my day her derrrrr” people in here espousing luminous thoughts like – “now THAT was basketbawwww.”
Number one, your opinions are more than likely invalid since you more than likely don’t watch a second of the NBA. And if you were a real basketball fan that was…you know…whats the word..OBJECTIVE – then you’d know that Steph Curry, Lebron, Durant, etc span eras. People here must only pay attention to the Lightning, and right fully so – but there is a reason the NBA is plastered over espn, every talk show, every podcast, everyday. The NFL will always be my fave sport, but the NBA is back and it’s wildly popular in the coveted 18-35 group
August 13th, 2018 at 9:07 pm
Too much worry about the right side makes it seem like people have forgotten about Evan Smith. That right side is just fine if Smith is starting. No guarantee Benechot holds him off for that job anyway.
Tackle is an issue but having one position on the line to worry about does not mean it will work out horribly. Licht just needs to get to work finding us some patchwork to hold down that position.It is our weaklink but a lot of times strong mental makeup along the rest of the line will demand a high level of play no matter who is in at RT. For an example of this go see Philly lose an AllPro LT last season then proceed to win a SB because of excellent play upfront.
August 13th, 2018 at 9:22 pm
Look, it’s a small sample size, but I’d like to see #60 Brad Seaton get more time this preseason with the 1’s and 2’s. Miami isn’t going to the Super Bowl, but Seaton did not miss a block or get beat in the passing game even once over about 50 or so snaps.
August 13th, 2018 at 10:20 pm
gofortheface…never said anything bad about the current group of NBA stars. Certainly it is a different era than the one we grew up in. And you want to disrespect Larry, Magic, Kareem, Michael, and such, your business. But they were the keystone of some great teams. And frankly, nobody dominated college basketball more than Chamberlain did during his era. Sorry you have no appreciation for the past, but for the past, there would be no present.
August 13th, 2018 at 10:25 pm
Bill Russell, the man who won more rings than he has fingers, said that Wilt Chamberlain was the best player he ever played against and that it wasn’t even close.