Koetter Goes To Bat For Sims
September 27th, 2016
Breaks down final drive.
It has been a harrowing handful of hours for Bucs fans in the wake of the gag job of a final drive and nutkick loss the Rams Sunday night.
America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, failed to connect on key passes down the stretch, Roberto Aguayo had the yeps, the pass rush was impotent and, once again, garbage quarterback Case Keenum lit up the Bucs like Drew Brees. It had Bucs fans so irate that pets and strays alike cowered in cover, and phone companies locally did a brisk business Monday replacing damned cell phones.
Perhaps no Bucs player felt the unified wrath of Bucs fans more than running back Charles Sims, who failed to get out of bounds late on a critical pass reception. Sims was raked over the hot, burning coals of sports radio, despite Bucs coach Dirk Koetter saying postgame he encouraged Sims to stay inbounds on that very play if he thought he had an opening.
Last night on WFLA-TV Channel 8, Koetter had his weekly sitdown with dangerous Dan Lucas. And Koetter, among many other interesting subjects, took a deep, detailed dive into the final drive that came up short for the Bucs. It’s a really good interview and Joe strongly suggests watching the video below.
During his breakdown of the final drive, Koetter powerfully went to bat for Sims stating he made the correct move.
“Charles absolutely made the right decision to make that guy miss and go for more yards with two timeouts,” Koetter said.
As for not calling a timeout when Sims failed to get out of bounds? Well, Koetter takes full and complete blame for that.
Koetter said his famed clock management coach was screaming “right in my ear, ‘Timeout, timeout, timeout!'” Koetter said. “I ignored my coach telling me to call a timeout. I went with my gut. I went with the play, we didn’t hit it. … We still ran four more plays.
“I trusted my gut and my gut was wrong.”
The reason Koetter said he didn’t call timeout was that he had a special play the team had worked on and he kept that play in his back pocket in case the Bucs were in a two-minute situation. Koetter had hoped to get the snap off quickly and catch the Rams napping. But a series of events took place in those precious seconds, including the Bucs dawdling on the field to get the play off, which blew up the play. Again, Koetter goes into detail in the video.
In retrospect, Koetter admitted to Lucas he is second-guessing his decision not to call a timeout after the Sims catch.
“I second-guess every call that doesn’t work,” Koetter said.
September 27th, 2016 at 7:10 am
If it worked we would all be celebrating, it didn’t, time to focus on the Broncos need a big upset.
September 27th, 2016 at 7:19 am
I agree with all of that. Sims got a first down, a needed first down. And even though I thought a time out should be called, if Koetter had something special planned, that is good coaching that went awry with reality.
We did not loose the game bc of that. The Bucs lost bc of more atrocious D. How the hell do we trun Case Keenan into Payton Manning every freaking year?!!!!
September 27th, 2016 at 7:25 am
my gawd
dont they have $50 for a table
are they filming this at a highschool lockeroom corner
September 27th, 2016 at 7:30 am
Ya well it is now Tuesday and we got the best defense since our own 2002 Bucs coming to down, time to move forward or get murdered on live television
September 27th, 2016 at 7:30 am
Well here is your glass half full look at the season so far: Carolina is tied with the Bucs at 1-2 and a game in less than two weeks! The Saints are defenseless and as a result winless. Atlanta is the NFC South leading team with a grand total of one more win than the Bucs which equates to a half game lead due to the Bucs beating them at home to open the season. So relax everyone! The Bucs are young and figuring things out as they go. They’re a half game back in the middle of an early season stretch of really tough teams.
September 27th, 2016 at 7:38 am
Well at least Koetter had a reason for not calling the timeout. I’ll give Sims a pass also if he was told to go for it.
Sims is perhaps the only player we have that could have scored a touchdown on that play if he was able to shake a tackler.
September 27th, 2016 at 7:45 am
Just another year rooting for the Bucs. *sigh* 4-12 is very much in play, maybe even worse based on how they’re blowing leads and game management.
September 27th, 2016 at 7:45 am
I am not angry at Sims for that. But for giving up 2 INTs in two weeks cause he can’t hold on to the ball
September 27th, 2016 at 7:52 am
Even Tampabaybucs fan on parole will admit that the Tampa2 mafia have taken this to ridiculous proportions!!! They ran 5 plays from the 15 yard line after the play and decision, to try and win the game!!!! They were 5 yards from winning the game!!!!
Tampa2 mafia’s agenda denied!!!!! LOL!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!
September 27th, 2016 at 8:00 am
Young team rookie coach lets go bucs beat them broncos
September 27th, 2016 at 8:34 am
This is a good interview -not because of Dan Lucas but because Koetter is so damn honest and forthcoming. God its refreshing. Especially after ‘stoic’ Lovie. In fact, he borderline said too much – talking about the “special play” he was trying to hit them with after a quick line up that they have “practiced a lot”. Ok – well now its on tape and you just drew attention to it.
But I will take that very small chance that a competitor might gain some tiny sliver of an advantage in a certain instance because of something that was said in an obscure local interview all day long. Because there’s no “coachspeak” in this guy. This coach is continually speaking to the fans via the media with respect. In this case he’s explaining his reasoning. He knows that not calling the time out was, in retrospect, the wrong decision and he wants us to know why it went down that way. Coach was trying to take a calculated risk – being bold and trying to win the game with a big play he had specially devised for just that situation.
These qualities – the boldness – the willingness to “follow my gut feel” – and the openness and honesty with which coach Koetter talks to everyone – players, coaches and fans alike – is going to endear him to all like no other coach in Bucs history if he and Jason Licht can get this team back to legitimate “relevance” and beyond.
September 27th, 2016 at 8:45 am
I never had a problem with Simms. He made a play that picked up good yards with 2 timeouts. I will take that every time. Hearing that Koetter had a reason for not taking the TO makes a big difference. He took a gamble and it didn’t work. I can live with that. Good to know it wasn’t just a bone headed loss of focus.
September 27th, 2016 at 8:48 am
Valuable learning experience, get over it and move on. It’s not like this was the Super Bowl or a playoff game, 13 more to go. Go Bucs!!
September 27th, 2016 at 8:57 am
I don’t blame Sims at all.