June Jones And Dirk Koetter

January 26th, 2016
Former NFL coach June Jones remembers facing Dirk Koetter in college.

Former NFL coach June Jones remembers facing Dirk Koetter in college.

Former NFL head coach and noted passing guru June Jones coached the West team in Saturday’s East-West Shrine Game held at The Fruitdome in St. Petersburg.

During his college coaching days, Jones crossed paths with Bucs coach Dirk Koetter twice.

While Koetter is a first-time NFL head coach, he was a college head coach at Boise State and Arizona State.

Jones, while coaching Hawaii (Joe can never figure out how Hawaii doesn’t have powerhouse teams year after year. “Hey kid, you want to play for me and live in Hawaii for a few years? Or you want to live in Norman, Okla. or Auburn, Ala.?”) faced Koetter twice, once each against Boise State and Arizona State.

Jones is 2-0 vs. Koetter.

Joe got Jones to discuss Koetter, and America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowl-bound Jameis Winston.

JoeBucsFan: What are some of your memories facing Dirk Koetter teams?

June Jones: I have been a Dirk Koetter fan for a long time because he is a northwest guy — he is originally from Boise State — and I am a northwest guy, where I am originally from. Plus, he’s a quarterback guy. I am excited for him for this opportunity. I know that he’s worked his rear end off to get this shot. I think the defensive hire [Mike Smith] is a really, really good hire. He’s a good defensive coach and a wonderful guy. So those two guys, I tell you what, you have a quarterback like Jameis, and a quarterback guy who can coach him, I think [Tampa Bay] is headed for good things.

Joe: Are you surprised Jameis had so much success working with Koetter?

Jones: No, it doesn’t. Even though [Jameis] was a rookie, Dirk knows how to move the ball and knows how to take care of the quarterback, and he’s not going to give him too much until he is sure he is sure he can do it. Coaching quarterbacks is really interesting. There are a lot of us that have been around a lot of them. That wisdom [Koetter has] about quarterbacks is going to pay off for Jameis.

So far, Joe really likes what Koetter has done in hiring assistants. Though Joe would have preferred Jim Schwartz as a defensive coordinator, Mike Smith is growing on Joe — loving everything he has said about concepts for the Bucs’ defense.

And this Todd Monken hire? Fantastic.

7 Responses to “June Jones And Dirk Koetter”

  1. Buccfan37 Says:

    You can’t convince me that the Bucs nation is not more upbeat with Koetter and his coaches than the questionable hiring of Lovie and his old school flop.

  2. DB55 Says:

    Joe have you spoken to anyone who does not like Koetter?

  3. StPeteBucsFan Says:

    @DB55

    Are you not reading Mike Johnson’s posts. LMAO

  4. DB55 Says:

    Lol, NOPE!!!

  5. Pick6 Says:

    just for fun, i’d like to see Joe pretending he covers another team with an iffy coach (say, the Titans) and ask some fellow coaches about their take on the hire. i’m curious to see if they are any less emphatic in their praise. it seems to me that most football coaches love 2 things: coaching, and talking up fellow coaches

  6. Buccaneers Says:

    Hopefully Koetter can get this team and fans to play solid football at home. I’m about tired of saying “The game was fun, too bad we lost”. It’s been six years for me, and quite frankly, its not fun anymore.

    The crowd roars in the first quarter then as the games get fumbled away the Browns start to take over.

    I expect lack of fundamentals as I attend my nephews middle school games. I don’t think it’s asking to much to view fundamental football at a professional stadium. Dirk, its your job to straighten this mess out dude!!!!

  7. Buccaneers Says:

    That was weird auto correct changed my line. Meant to say the “groans start to take over” funny that it is still quite fitting.