Dirk Koetter Expects A “Big Leap” From One Defensive Player
October 21st, 2018
It’s rare to hear a head coach talk about his expectation for a player to make a big leap midway through a season.
Dirk Koetter went there on Friday.
In what was a telling take on the Buccaneers Radio Network, Koetter answered a question about players who might still could take a big leap from last season.
Koetter talked about how Peyton Barber, Chris Godwin and O.J. Howard have all made that quality jump from a year ago. And then Koetter said he believes second-year safety Justin Evans “still will take a big leap.”
That really got Joe’s attention. It was sort of a validation that Evans hasn’t played well this season, despite being healthy. And it got Joe thinking about how six weeks ago Mike Smith lauded Evans for being an extraordinary talent with “Pro Bowl capability.”
Man, today against the Browns would be one perfect time for Evans to breakout and have the kind of game his coaches expect from him.
If you think about Evans’ ability, and that of Brent Grimes, along with Lavonte David and Kwon Alexander, and throw in the talent of Jason Pierre-Paul and Vita Vea, there’s no reason the Bucs defense should get pushed around yet again.
Grab a sandwich and listen to Bucs legend Derrick Brooks break down the keys to Sunday’s Bucs-Browns game. Brooks and Sage of Tampa Bay sports columnist Ira Kaufman always nail it on TAMPA TWO. Click below and enjoy this great production from The Identity Tampa Bay and JoeBucsFan.com, presented by Caldeco Air Conditioning & Heating.
October 21st, 2018 at 7:33 am
OK Defense preseason is over for you. Petal to the metal!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!
p.s. Winston NO FUMBLES!!!!!!
October 21st, 2018 at 7:35 am
Vita PANCAKE Mayfield…..don’t worry about the flag!!!!!!lol
October 21st, 2018 at 7:37 am
Wow no one whining and crying about McCoy not being in the line up today? That’s awesome!
October 21st, 2018 at 7:38 am
i think jameison is a great quarterback…go bucs
October 21st, 2018 at 7:42 am
I believe in Jameis. Not sure if our secondary is horrible, or if it’s just our Defensive Coordinator
October 21st, 2018 at 7:42 am
On second thought, if Chris Conte was starting that means our secondary is horrible
October 21st, 2018 at 7:50 am
well here it is folks, it comes down to one thing and one thing only, how bad do they want it? on paper the bucs should and do have the better squad, but i’m starting to question their heart, now the anointed one not playing, no surprise seeing we need his game oh well, is the defense really going to be any different under duffner’s watch? we will soon see, is vea going to have a statement day? who knows, is this the day of reckoning for the koetter regime? it could be, over the next few weeks or so, we will all know just how much heart this team has, and the whole picture will be much clearer, as always go bucs
October 21st, 2018 at 7:50 am
Dirk Koetter expects many things that never seem to materialize
October 21st, 2018 at 8:04 am
I hope they play Donna Summer’s “Last Dance” at the stadium today to commemorate Ol’ Softie’s last game (hopefully) as a Buccaneer.
Let’s get it done today D!
21-12 Bucs win baby!!
October 21st, 2018 at 8:27 am
I think we’ll win. Just not sure what the statement would be for any one player. For the team I think it would be that we are not a losing team (back to .500), for the defense it could be we are getting our stuff together and able to make effective adjustments. I just hope we play 4 quarters of basic football;blocking and tackling with no breakdowns (browns will have a few tricks on offense and defense today). I think that will get us the win. Excited! Go Bucs!
October 21st, 2018 at 8:29 am
This is awesome buc fans making positive commen’s about buc players .and the comments that are nagitve are decent and not calling people idiots and stug. GO BUCS
October 21st, 2018 at 8:38 am
Ps. Who is Mr Softee and why specifically would someone call him that? Specifically. How hard he practices? Elaborate. How hard he goes in game and percentage of snaps? Elaborate. Because one training camp he bought ice cream for his teammates? (Like happens on 31 other teams in every training camp every absolutely single year?), because he helped an opponent get up off the ground? Which I personally witnessed happen in 4 games by 5 different teams just last week? Or is it because he is not Sapp (whom no one is or ever will be). Why, specifically is he mr softee? Lame A$$ crying is old. Graduate to something besides 4 th grade drivel and be fan instead of a preteen. Go Bucs!
October 21st, 2018 at 8:46 am
Hope we see Nassib a lot today! 5 sacks 2 picks lets do it!
October 21st, 2018 at 8:50 am
Reach87
Hey moron you cant defend the softest most mentally weakest defensive player in league history just because you can get over your mancrush of a career loser….
Cancer93 has accomplished nothing as a buc…. a few meaningless pro bowls while leading his team to nfc south basement titles is her legacy. The undisputed face of the basement years and biggest fraud in Tampa sports history…. thats reality
October 21st, 2018 at 8:53 am
Dooshlarue
It will be a glorious day when cancer93 has played his final game in a buc uniform. It will be the first time team has hope since that fraud dirtbag was drafted
October 21st, 2018 at 9:43 am
It’ll be a glorious day when a bunch of losers stop ruining these threads with the same old repetitive nonsense. Perhaps they can elaborate on something besides than each other in a circle jerk.
October 21st, 2018 at 9:54 am
Expecting someone in our secondary to take a big leap? Saying after firing Smitty must mean he was to blame. There is just something about this team where they shoot off at the mouth about what they will do before they do it and it’s just really stupid and old.
When you have pro bowl guys like Eric berry and earl thomas step on the scene they just became elite players, there was no stupid talk of taking a step forward it was a big giant leap and they never looked back. No one is game planning for Evans. You just can’t talk like that when the best route to a victory is throwing at your secondary dirk.
Why do we keep hiring amateur coaches
October 21st, 2018 at 11:24 am
Want to see Whitehead or CD3 get a pick today. Pick six would be super sweet.