Dirk Koetter Talks Lovie Transition
December 14th, 2016
Candid
It’s been quite a while since Dirk Koetter has talked about Lovie Smith.
Actually, it was last week on SiriusXM NFL Radio and Joe thought this would be a good time to share.
Koetter was chatting with hosts Alex Marvez and Hall of Fame receiver and ex-Buccaneer Tim Brown.
Brown asked what it was like for him to transition from a beloved head coach, yes Lovie, and how difficult that was.
“You just be yourself. That’s all you can do. You can’t be somebody else,” Koetter said.
“And no one has more respect for Lovie Smith than I do. Heck, I came to Tampa Bay last year because of Lovie Smith. You know, no one had any idea the way things would shake out at the end of last season. It became apparent to me that, based on the openings last year, I was gonna become a [head] coach in the NFL someplace. And I was in the hospital having my hip replaced when the thing went down with Lovie.
“I was sick to my stomach because of the respect that I have for him. But at that point, the decision was made and if I was going to be a head coach in the NFL, of course I wanted be your head coach of Tampa Bay because of the guys I’d worked with on offense, starting with Jameis Winston.
“So once the deal is done, then you just have to go about your business. And Tim, you know better than anyone else, the NFL is a business. It’s a very cutthroat business when it comes to personnel and players getting cut, coaches getting fired. That’s just the way it is. Now you just got to go about doing your day-to-day business and coaching the way you coach and being yourself. It starts with assembling a top-flight staff, and I think we’ve been able to do that here.
“From there, now it’s just you’re doing what you do and doing it the way you do it. And don’t look back. Don’t second-guess it. Don’t apologize. And move ahead full-speed.”
Classic candid Koetter right there.
It’s still so silly to Joe that various media and seasoned Bucs observers believe Koetter was part of some sort of palace coup to overthrow Lovie. Just pure silly talk. Lovie buried himself with Team Glazer for capital crimes against defensive football.
December 14th, 2016 at 9:42 am
old news…..GO BUCS!!!!
December 14th, 2016 at 9:43 am
I don’t care if it was a coup to get rid of Lovie, I am just glad he is gone.
December 14th, 2016 at 9:43 am
It’s not in Koetter’s makeup to do anything behind anyone’s back. He’s a solid guy. We’re lucky to have him.
December 14th, 2016 at 9:43 am
Lovie’s defense was offensive!
Great read from Coach K. His statement about top-flight staff really drives the point home. You have to have good personnel at every level of a team; good coaches AND good players.
December 14th, 2016 at 9:53 am
I miss Uncle Lovie and his brand of no foul language, no defense, no heart, no competence and no winning brand of football. Really made for an enjoyable fan experience.
Bring back Lovie!!!
December 14th, 2016 at 9:53 am
Lovie was horrible…simple as that…
December 14th, 2016 at 10:01 am
his brand of no foul language, no defense, no heart, no competence and no winning brand of football.
———–
Still got one or two of those types left on the roster that need to be weeded out. Luckily one of them is already being/has been replaced. Rejoice!
December 14th, 2016 at 10:01 am
Who is this Lovie person you guys talk about?
December 14th, 2016 at 10:04 am
Be careful Joe. You’re going to infuriate the BigHog with that last paragraph.
December 14th, 2016 at 10:05 am
I respect Lovie, but….it was clearly not working out. As hard as it must’ve been for GM Licht to give his honest evaluation, thank goodness he did. Makes you wonder how misinformed (soft?) the Rams front office is to allow Jeff Fisher to slowly kill that product.
I think we can all infer, and be grateful, that our GM has the balls to make a franchise changing move if needed. No risk-it no bis-cuit 😀
December 14th, 2016 at 10:27 am
Lmao. So many simpletons suckered into that Loser still
December 14th, 2016 at 11:04 am
Why is the BigDog such a big deal? I can’t stomach his show ever and turn off 620 every time he comes on
December 14th, 2016 at 11:09 am
One person seems to be missing lately??? Hmmmmmmmmm. Probably creating a new screen name.
No shame in being wrong, homeslice.
December 14th, 2016 at 11:29 am
Coach K’s father was a coach. Coach K comes from a solid fraternity of coaches.
I feel certain he felt as uncomfortable as anybody for Lovie’s demise. As his OC he probably too much of it personally.
Koetter is also a straight up competitor who wants to earn his wins not have them handed to you or engineered with a palace coup.
8 wins..we’re currently in the playoffs..3 games to go. In effect we are in the playoffs if we win the next three and hopefully 2-1 will do we are there.
The switch from Lovie to Koetter was never really controversial. It was freaking obvious. Now we have hindsight to add to that observation. 8-5 and competing for the playoffs with three weeks left in the season says it all!!!!
December 14th, 2016 at 12:26 pm
Where is Big Hog?
This would be the perfect time to expound on your silly ‘Backstabber’ contention.
“3 games to play with 1 game to show improvement over loser Lovies regime” – LOL
December 14th, 2016 at 12:44 pm
Logan, that was BigHog, not Big Dog.
December 14th, 2016 at 12:49 pm
ESPN made this a story. It was the PC thing to do. Black coach wronged by shady owners and thrown out in favor of a White coach. They just Love that stuff. Lovie was total Garbage. Complete garbage with the Bears and then with the Bucs. Ask any Bears fan if they want Lovie back. The answer is “no.” And look how Lovie’s system has worked at Illinois. News-flash – it hasn’t worked out well at all. He’s a dinosaur in the modern age of coaching.
December 14th, 2016 at 1:13 pm
I believe in this NFl..If you are not a consistent winner? You can stay to long. My man Lovie’s best days were with the Bears. He took them to the playoffs. After that, he went downhill. Sort of like Jeff Fisher. For coaches like these who have had more than a couple shots in the NFl, College is there next stop. And If they don’t win there? Its small division football or High School coaching next. Like what Koetter said though. He respects Lovie. That’s all he can say. Meanwhile..HE knows..If he does not win, he to will go the route of Lovie. He also knows this upcoming game for the Bucs is very huge.
December 14th, 2016 at 1:31 pm
No real fans are upset, only Lovies friends and family
December 14th, 2016 at 1:41 pm
^^^^What Mike Johnson said! It’s a “what have you done for me lately” league. The only issue for me is that, in my opinion, 2 years is not enough to exact change in most instances, especially for pitiful franchises like the Bucs have been over the years.
The product is better. It’s actually enjoyable to watch a Buc game these days.
December 14th, 2016 at 2:13 pm
Understand your point Bucsfanman:
“The only issue for me is that, in my opinion, 2 years is not enough to exact change in most instances, especially for pitiful franchises like the Bucs have been over the years.”
But…. 8-5 in year one kind of kills your point.
December 14th, 2016 at 2:24 pm
@’74- It’s the kind of crow that I don’t mind eating all day long!!!!! Just put some hot sauce on it for me will ya?! 🙂