More Selling Of The One-Score Game Nonsense

June 15th, 2018

Please, Dirk Koetter, enough already.

Stop telling the world that the Bucs somehow, because of their 3-7 record in one-score games last season, are on the cusp of something special. Not only is that record in one-score games irrelevant, it’s not predictive of a darn thing.

Sure, the Jaguars and Chargers had brutal records in one-score games in 2016, and they thrived in 2017. But they also had brand new head coaches last year. So there’s that.

Koetter has been singing the one-score game song all offseason and ended with a rousing chorus of it yesterday as minicamp wrapped up. And no, he wasn’t asked about one-score games.

“I think what we learned is the new additions are going to help us a lot, not only the free agents but the draft picks,” Koetter said. “Jason did an awesome job with the guys he added to our team and I think the guys that are returning are really serious about putting their best foot forward. When you’re 3-7 in one-score games, that really puts everything into perspective as to 3-7 and you’re sitting at home, 5-11 versus Atlanta [who was] 6-4 in one score games and gets in as a wild card and gets a couple of wins. So, everybody likes where they’re at this time of year. The good news is we’re pretty healthy and I’ll be anxious to get back in five weeks and start it up again.”

This whole one-score game record is a real pet peeve of Joe’s.

The Bucs can be great this season if the many talent upgrades in the trenches materialize quickly. They Bucs can be great if America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, plays pitch-and-catch in the red zone. The Bucs can be great because they won’t be dragged down by Doug Martin and Chris Baker, bad and non-committed football players that Koetter chose to play, among others.

The Bucs also can be great if the mentality is right, such as not choosing to suck in the red zone (Todd Monken’s description) and the offensive line gets after it consistently in September rather than November.

The Bucs lost four straight one-score games in December last season. Hey, the Bears were 2-6 in one-score games last season, too, and they finished 5-11 with the NFL’s 10th-ranked defense. Of course, that’s absolutely meaningless right now — just like the Bucs’ mark.

Joe can only conclude Koetter wants players hearing this one-score game song, thinking somehow it will motivate them. Weak mindset.

22 Responses to “More Selling Of The One-Score Game Nonsense”

  1. Wombat Says:

    I think when you miss field goals an extra pts, that is giving the game away at this level. When you can’t win a game because of your kicker, it is a gut buster to those out there busting their butts!!
    That’s all take from that, you are what you record is…..

  2. Lord Cornelius Says:

    I hate that stat.

    We had 11 losses not 7.

    If all our losses were close 1 score games and we only won like 3 of 11 then it’d be a much more interesting stat. Still wouldn’t mean a whole damn lot but 1/4 of the season we lost by double digits. How about competing in every game? Not patting yourself on the back for the 7 out of 11 that you lost close?

    I don’t want to see another game like the Vikings for example.. (17-34)
    or the Saints.. (30-10)

    How about not getting down 27-6 in the 3rd quarter @ the Falcons?

    How about scoring more than 3 points @ the Panthers?

    How about not giving up 24 points by half time to the f*cking Cardinals?

    lmao at the Cardinals game counting in this 1 score game stat. It was flukey as F*ck that we got it to 1 score. That game was over at half time.

    So you take out the Cardinals game and basically 1/2 our games were multiple score losses.

    FIX IT #NOEXCUSESTOGETBLOWNOUTIN25%OFYOURGAMES

  3. jmarkbuc Says:

    Klueless should let that go…

    His desperation is showing.. Will be so glad when this on the job training staff is gone

  4. Lamarcus Says:

    Hey Koetter

    Stop with excuses we are not close. If JW listened to you we would of been 4-12 easy

  5. ndog Says:

    Joe,
    The one score game stat is very important in motivation for his players as it shows them that you never know what play is going to cost you a game. So they better pay attention to details at all times cause when you lose by one score that missed tackle in the second quarter that allows then to extend a drive and make a random FG actually is a big reason for the loss when you end up losing by 2. This is all a good way to drive home that details are vitally important and must be paid attention to at all times. If you want to lose close games practice and study like you did last year. If you want to win those close games and go to the playoffs pay attention to those details and we can win those close games and are in the playoffs. That is why he keeps bringing it up, sometimes you have to look at the big picture Joe.

  6. 813bucboi Says:

    I applaud joe for this article….BRAVO SIR!!!!!!!…well said….

    someone needs to tell dirk that there are no moral victories….and last I check, being 3-7 in anything is lousy…lol….

    and folks wonder why JPP seems a little bummed out…..he’s playing for a DC that likes playing man press CB’s off…..has a HC that thinks its good being 3-7 in anything…..and he playing along side a DT that, “just wants to have fun”….lol…

    joe hit the nail on the head…..that’s a weak mindset and it starts at the top with dirk…..and folks wonder how baker was able to come in and do whatever he wanted….

    licht can add all the tough players he wants but if the HC has a weak mindset, players will follow suit….

    #NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!

  7. pelbuc Says:

    As a Bucs fan since 76′, the one constant is the Bucs will find a way to underachieve (except the super bowl year). Talk is cheap., Let’s see how they start the season. I hope we’re not talking next year’s draft after game 6. This team is a notoriously slow starter. Can’t afford that this year. Also Koetter needs to coach like the eagles coach Pederson and take more chances.

  8. 813bucboi Says:

    If JW listened to you we would of been 4-12 easy….

    LMAO…..you right too!!!!….Winston saved dirks job with that damn pass…..

    #NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!

  9. 813bucboi Says:

    The one score game stat is very important in motivation for his players…..

    nawl bro….doesn’t matter if you lost by 1 point or 1 score….you still lost the game….that’s a horrible tactic…..with us underachieving, dirk should only bring up 5-11….that’s the only thing these players need to motivate them…..

    #NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!

  10. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    He’s right, Joe.

    And just because you get tired of hearing it, it does not matter. We get tired of hearing ‘The Den of Depression’ all the time, but does that matter? Nope.

    Not that it really matters…things will be different this year, assuming Winston doesn’t miss more than a few games on suspension.

  11. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    The more important stats is them losing 4 games after taking the lead, only to have the defense blow the games.

    Flip those 4 into wins and we would have been 9-7. Still not good enough to make the playoffs, but it would have been with an injured QB.

    Which is why it should be different this year.

    As tired as I get of seeing 813bucboi Say
    “#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!”

    I realize that’s just his excitement shining through…he feels it too. With the improvements made to this team, only a lot of injuries could stop them now.

  12. Destinjohnny Says:

    We have 6-10 talent
    Let’s get brooks in the building

  13. stpetebucsfan Says:

    The average scoring differential in NFL games is 11.2 per game…the median is closer at 8 points per game because the median takes away the blowout games.

  14. Defense Rules Says:

    LOTS of ways to spin it Joe, but last year is irrelevent. We added lots of important talent & experience when we added 3 SB studs on our roster: JPP (Giants), Allen & Curry (Eagles). Yet look at the last 3 years:
    o Giants have had losing records in 2 of the 3 years.
    o Eagles have had losing records in 2 of the last 3 years.
    o Bucs have had losing records in 2 of the last 3 years.

    None of that proves anything. Only thing that matters is the year in front of you, not the years behind you. I’m all onboard with 813bucboi’s stance … #NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!

  15. Reality-is-a-Beotch Says:

    Destinjohnny

    Would that be the same has been that just ran a Mickey mouse arena league into the ground… yeah thats a smart choice unqualified fan favorites just what this franchise needs. Stop trying to relive a failed past.

  16. Alaskan Abdominal Snowman Says:

    This sounds like the grumpy (delusional?) Joe that thinks the Bucs can’t develop corners.

    Joe it’s not like after the games they celebrate or take any comfort in only losing by one score.

    But when the season is over and you are reflecting, I do believe it helps tell part of the story and i obviously shows how close we are in the games.

    As coaches they must right the ship by assessing their situation. After assessing Dirk realizes that we aren’t too far off and I would agree with that. Obviously they didn’t think they had all the players or they wouldn’t have gone out and emphasized the trenches so heavily.

  17. Alaskan Abdominal Snowman Says:

    Haha tmax is back!
    He has to sneak the phone out of his moms purse to post on jbf.

  18. Kobe Faker Says:

    You see sheep, this is why Klueless is not HC material and a leader of men

    He doesnt believe in accountability and makes constant excuses. He is passive and has no fire

    “kobe applauds the 2 notJoes for this thread and i accept their apology”

    Kobe Faker

  19. Not there yet Says:

    3-7 record in one-score games meant in a lot of games you let the other team drive right down the field and score with little resistance and unsuccessfully were able to do the same on offense which says if this was by the far most talented team we had in a long time the coaches sucked out loud. That’s an excuse that if he hasn’t corrected will be his downfall because he will take 100% of the blame if it happens again.

  20. John5 Says:

    A loss is a loss. We lost those games fair and square. But, of all those close call games, you can’t help but notice how the Bucs, especially the defense, gave up at the end. It was upsetting to say the least. We didn’t finish. And if they can instill that mentality this time around, it could be a big change in how we execute. It’s still the same coaches for the most part though.

    Remember Schiano’s era? He would have the Bucs destroy in the first half, and then play scared and conservative the second half trying to hold the lead. We coughed up so many games that way. And it was coaching.

    You have to be smart, continue to play the game, make adjustments, and see who isn’t finishing. I don’t want to hear all the excuses at the end of the games (season) from coaching. I want them to own it and recognize when adjustments or improvements need to be made.

  21. jerseybuc Says:

    Im sorry but this is the same weak mentality that Koetter and Mike Smith have brought over from their ATL days.

    Soft practices, soft games, soft mentality.

    It goes with the same as few weeks ago when Mike smith said he wants his players fresh for 4th quarters of games. When it should be like most other alpha players… Lets get up on the other team and keep the pressure on them.

    why wont this staff admit playing with a lead is far more advantageous then trying to play catch up week in and week out.

    I’m sorry Joe, but this IS a weak and BS mentality.

    Its the type of stuff that this fanbase does not care about hearing because it dont mean anything.

    JUST WIN

  22. Darin Says:

    Is Koetter aware the majority of games in the NFL are one score games? The team that usually wins one score games imo has better coaches. Let it go Dirk. Comments like this are getting me worried he hasnt learned enough to improve his decisions.