Koetter: “We’re A Much Deeper Team”
August 30th, 2016
Impressive evaluation
Joe loves how Dirk Koetter calls it straight and has no problem setting team expectations and putting the hopes of Bucs fans on his back.
Koetter absolutely doesn’t like to talk about last year, but he couldn’t help himself when chatting with the Buccaneers Radio Network following the Browns-Bucs preseason game.
The head coach likes what he sees on the roster and says it represents a major upgrade from the Lovie Smith regime.
“We’ve definitely improved our depth,” Koetter said. “I’ve only been in Tampa, this is my second season, but we’re a much deeper team than we were last year. Jason [Licht] and his guys, we brought in better players. We have better players right now. We’re deeper.”
So the Bucs won six games under Lovie and, per Koetter, are now a much deeper ball club. They also are in their second year of an offense, and their franchise quarterback won’t be an overwhelmed rookie to start this season.
Does this means seven wins is the minimum acceptable result for Koetter?
Joe can buy that. Wild and wacky Greg Schiano managed seven wins in his rookie season. Schiano’s 2012 men even had a little less talent and experience than this year’s Bucs.
August 30th, 2016 at 8:54 am
Bucs!
August 30th, 2016 at 9:05 am
The bar should be ten wins! Obviously the wrong collection of injuries could wreck our season. But we are deeper and so unless it’s a season ender for #3 I think we’re still OK.
August 30th, 2016 at 9:08 am
StPete you nailed it … 10 wins. We all saw Friday night what the Bucs are capable of IF they can avoid the injury bug and keep playing disciplined football.
August 30th, 2016 at 9:19 am
Bucs will be 9-7 and just miss out on playoffs. The fragile 3 at DT and complete lack of a competent wr corp will prevent a serios playoff challenge and double digit win season. On the bright side with 9 wins koetter passes the incompetent lovie smith on the bucs all time win list
August 30th, 2016 at 9:27 am
Tmax, clark kent went to the Superbowl with Crotcery(I can’t even remember his first name)ted gin,and dude name philly brown. But I’m suppose to belive we are lacking at WR. Not hardly I’m scratching my head wondering what it is. I’m missing with all this WR need propaganda. When did 4 and 5 WRs become so invaluable in the NFL. And I see 11 and 5 with a playoff birth and lengthy playoff run.
August 30th, 2016 at 9:30 am
Lengthy playoff run lol I wanna be having the kind of day you’re having so far!
August 30th, 2016 at 9:30 am
No, the minimum is eight wins but not for Koetter. Eight is the minimum for Jason Licht. Anthing less and his seat should be really hot. He’s had too many swings and misses in free agency for the length of time he’s been GM. There were a couple of games where kicking cost the Bucs. Then you had the loss of Kwon Alexander which was significant. You also had the loss of Clinton McDonald who was having a nice season before his injury.
I always argued last year the team’s biggest issue was a lack of talent. Major Wright cut, Verner and Banks look to be on the outs, we drafted Spence and signed Robert Ayers. Jac Smith, Akeem Spence, and Will Gholston are a year wiser and more experienced. The Bucs needed upgrades in key positions on defense and they made those changes in the off season. Obviously injuries are part of the game but the Bucs had a relatively average defense last season until Kwon was suspended. They weren’t that far away from 8 wins.
August 30th, 2016 at 9:32 am
By all accounts, especially those on this page, Jameis was anything but an overwhelmed rookie last year.
August 30th, 2016 at 9:35 am
The expectations SHOULD be higher. This team has way more talent than last year’s squad. Maybe now that the HC said it, some of you coach-blamers can settle down and start concentrating on THIS year.
Coaches coach and players play!
Go Bucs!
August 30th, 2016 at 9:35 am
I don’t buy that we have depth. My estimation is the number of wins will be tied directly to the health of key players. Stay healthy and we can win 10. Drop any key player and we are 8-8 at best.
August 30th, 2016 at 9:36 am
You in china so you probably dont know no better. But here’s my reasoning as to why guy. We will again have the league’s top overall rushing attack. Next if the pre season was any indicator of what’s to come we lead the league in sacks as well. Couple those two factors and it equates to a championship team. Do some research,view every team that has won a superbowl over the last 15 years. Running game✔ and rushing the passer✔. What I’m on you ask??? A common sense joint bro.
August 30th, 2016 at 9:43 am
If you notice I’m not talking bout famous throwing another 4,000 yards, I’m not mentioning any WR or CB play why??? It doesn’t matter. When you rush effectively teams must respect that, one on ones on the outside are inevitable. CBs man I can’t recall a single corner from the Giants team that beat the undefeated Pats in the Superbowl. Don’t need to, when your front four get constant pressure your CBs don’t have to be all stars.
August 30th, 2016 at 9:46 am
I’m sure the Bucs have higher goals than just 7 wins……. But it’s understandable for the media to be more conservative with their predictions!
August 30th, 2016 at 10:00 am
I’m just waiting on one you to refute my theory. When one of you do I’ll simply ask you to go back and look at the last thirty years of Superbowl winners. Like I tend to say often”I’ll be waiting”.
August 30th, 2016 at 10:01 am
We are finally starting to crawl out of the miserable Dominick drafts…..another year and we should be cruising….
August 30th, 2016 at 10:21 am
Depth is not the only key ingredient. Coaching has a lot to do with winning. I think coach Mike Smith for the defense and Koetter running his second year at Offense increases the win column a couple games. Anything less than 9-7 would be a disappointment. We can already see the results with less penalties and more play action on both sides of the ball. How many games did we lose last year due to penalties?
August 30th, 2016 at 10:23 am
We lack quality WR and LB depth. Look for licht to upgrade one of those positions if not both.
August 30th, 2016 at 10:24 am
10 wins? No way. Don’t forget Friday night they played the BROWNS!
That is no indication of the bucs capabilities.
It was the BROWNS.
August 30th, 2016 at 10:27 am
Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun, dude I want to hangout with you one weekend. You seem cool as sh*t. I am also a Nole on Saturday and a Buc on Sunday. I love your takes on this team.
August 30th, 2016 at 10:44 am
I’ve been hitting that ‘common sense’ real hard too bro and I’m high as a kite on it.
I see a Superbowl in our immediate future
August 30th, 2016 at 10:58 am
Love the optimism here but don’t drink all the Kool-aid at once. The lack of depth at the slot WR is extremely evident. If anyone watched what I watched last year, they too were pissed every time Dye dropped a ball. Humphries looks to be ok, might need to cut bell. All in all, I expect a 9/10 win season and a wildcard birth in playoffs.
August 30th, 2016 at 11:18 am
I’m in the “O” Dick Butkiss, you ever in town I’m always open to hang bro. I have no problem puttin my # out on this site.
August 30th, 2016 at 11:24 am
I agree wholeheartedly with you brotha – I’ve been saying for years
LUVMYBUCS
February 26th, 2013 at 1:19 pm ←
Eli Manning has been in the league for 8yrs. And half of those years, his passing percentage has been below 60%. Half of those 8yrs; New York Media & Fans have pleading for the organization to move in a different direction without Eli.
The Giants have won Not 1 but 2 Super Bowls with a monster pass rush. You ask the causal Giants fan; name the starting defensive backs on those teams. You will get S*#t I don’t know. Now Ask them about that pass rush(aka Tree Trunks per Brady). They will quickly spit out Osi ,Tuck, JPP, and Kiwi. That’s because, pass rush will neutralize the best of QB’s and yes wins Championships!!!
Defense always has – and always will – win Championships
August 30th, 2016 at 11:34 am
Seeing is believing and I’m believing what I’m seeing. Feeling too.
August 30th, 2016 at 11:42 am
@LUVMYBUCS I love your enthusiasm but Giants were last in the league that year in rushing. Totally agree with you that nullifying the effect and getting in the head of an opposing QB is quick work to getting deep in the playoffs but theres more than one way to skin a cat on offense
August 30th, 2016 at 11:54 am
BucsFanInChina
Your right about the 2011 Giants – For the most part of that season; they were terrible. Then around the 3rd half of the season – the defense & ground game picked it up. But the 2007 team was 4th in the league in rushing.
August 30th, 2016 at 11:58 am
BucsFanInChina
From a defensive minded prospective – true indeed 🙂
August 30th, 2016 at 12:02 pm
TampaBayBucFan, always like reading intelligent fellow female comments. 🙂 Hope you’re not too close to the water w/this rainstorm coming. That goes for the rest of you all in the Tampa Bay area. They don’t normally change NFL games. So, the weather is definitely a worry.
Bucs won the SB with the best Defense in the league, a very good Special Team, and a Offense (just) competent enough to let the Defense win. That’s why I’m getting up for this Offense. Tampa Bay has never had an All-Star Offense in its history. It’s long overdue for that to change. Go Tampa Bay!!
August 30th, 2016 at 12:05 pm
P.S.: BTW, please don’t cut Johnthan Banks.
August 30th, 2016 at 12:14 pm
LUV they about to see it play out right before they’re very eyes. Then they’ll believe.
August 30th, 2016 at 12:24 pm
Deeper team aye Koetter? Prove it. Talk is cheap. Show us how deep this Buc team is. I’m tired of all the..projections. Every year we project how good we are going to be to the tune of..more losses than wins. I’ll believe when I see it.
Until then? I’m hopeful for an..8-8 season.
August 30th, 2016 at 12:50 pm
Still see 8 wins this season and a Super Bowl appearance next season.
August 30th, 2016 at 3:24 pm
I expect at least 9 wins this season, why? The offense will be in the 2nd year, and is still coached by the same guy that lead us to our best offensive year ever. The piss pore pass defense is gone, and a competent DC is in place and not forcing his old outdated def on players that don’t fit into it, Mike Smith will use what ever scheme necessary to put his players in position to do thier jobs. Our pass rush is already light years ahead of last year, and we have corners who can lock down thier side of the field as needed. All of that is why the floor is 9 wins for me, anything less is a huge disappointment imo. The Bucs are going to shock the hell out of the NFL this year.