Koetter Talks “Bend-But-Don’t-Break”
December 17th, 2016
Yes, the Cowboys allow opposing passers a 69.7 percent completion rate. Receivers are open, but the Cowboys are playing somewhat textbook bend-but-don’t-break, Tampa-2-like defense.
Not the kind Lovie Smith led with the Bucs.
Dirk Koetter, though, hears folks talking “bend-but-don’t-break” and says he understands the mindset but doesn’t see that on film from Dallas, so he told SiriusXM NFL Radio yesterday.
Koetter said he sees a Dallas defense playing extraordinarily hard. And Koetter sure emphasized “hard.” He praised Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli for the product his defense is delivering consistently.
So that’s what jumps off the film to the Bucs head coach; effort and swarm, plus the leadership and versatility of linebacker Sean Lee.
Lee, a Pro Bowler last year, has 130 combined tackles (assists and solo tackles) this year, per NFL.com. That’s second-best in the NFL. Lee, however, has no sacks and just one official pass defensed. By comparison, Lavonte David and Kwon Alexander each have five.
Joe’s not too scared of Lee, but Joe is concerned about the need for Roberto Aguayo against a “bend-but-don’t-break” team, as well as the Bucs’ second-tier talent at receiver in such a huge game in prime time.
December 17th, 2016 at 10:10 am
Seems like every week the bar gets set a lil higher…lets continue to pole vault over the competition.
GO BUCS!!!
December 17th, 2016 at 10:13 am
If the Bucs really want respect from a national perspective, then they have to win this game. I really don’t see it as being an impossible task though. If we could go into KC and grab a victory then we can do it in Dallas. This is truly in a sense the start of our playoffs. Hopefully we will get some help in the next few weeks by the Packers and Skins losing at least once.
December 17th, 2016 at 10:31 am
Never seen a fanbase that use’s the terms “concerned and scared” so much.
December 17th, 2016 at 10:42 am
Fair point Joe. The best thing we got going for us is that it’s an away game.
December 17th, 2016 at 10:48 am
@Nos-Bos
Its only from the sheep that don’t believe!!!! They are waiting for the shoe to drop!!! They are going to say “same ole buc” if the Bucs finish the final 8 games with a record of 7-1!!!! The same sheep that bought in in rah’s race to 10 against sub .500 teams, But watched this team go on the hottest streak against all the division leaders, Top 5 offenses!!!!! They are weak minded Nos-Bos!!!!! They see good football and have no Idea what they are watching untill it happens 6 times in a row and then some national analyst tell them its good!!!!
Let me be very clear here!!! If the offense can make a big drive in the first quarter and puts up 7 first!!!! THIS GAME IS OVER!!!!!!!
Go AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AND GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 17th, 2016 at 10:58 am
Realist, do you mean big hog and mike j and bucnut and bucgirl and tampatony just to name a few? Still arguing lovie would be better. Or were too conservative even if we get a win.
When jameis was throwing left and right then he was putting the defense in a break position
Dirk needs to be calling the game the same way he has been. Screw conservative bs. Check down to te open man. If jameis throws more than one interception then we lose the game. Stay conservative dirk. If you need to open up the playbook then do it but if not then keep using our defense as a strength. Jameis can lead us on that winning drive in the fourth if he has to
I’m just afraid of so many uneducated comments saying force the ball to evans!! Throw the ball 35 times. I promise you guys that if we are any where nEar this then we lose every game from here on out.
6 weeks ago there so many tards on this here website saying that we will not win 3 games during the entire season and then dirk goes “conservative”. 5..6?..in a row being conservative.
December 17th, 2016 at 11:03 am
Wut BucRealist said
December 17th, 2016 at 11:08 am
They see good football and have no Idea what they are watching untill it happens 6 times in a row and then some national analyst tell them its good!!!!
————-
Preach!
December 17th, 2016 at 11:15 am
The cowboys offense is theyre defense. We must atop the run and get pressure on dak or romo whoever is back there. Play man coverage and blutz his azz all night. Then we have to fight fire with fire, when we get the ball we have to convert and get points, even if its only three. Aguyyo better get some practice in this week. Adam humphries is going to be a key contributer in this game.
December 17th, 2016 at 11:17 am
If Peter Kings sour a$$$ can be convinced then anything is possible.
December 17th, 2016 at 11:33 am
We’re gonna score on Dallas. Offense is due to bust out with a big showing. Our Oline wants to show the world that they deserve respect just like Dallas automatically gets. I expect a strong running game with some big plays downfield mixed in. 24+ points for the Bucs offense Sunday night – and that should be more than enough if our Defense continues to dominate like it has the past few games.
December 17th, 2016 at 11:36 am
Kevin
I understood EVERYTHING you posted, but damn homie… Lol is your spell check off
December 17th, 2016 at 11:39 am
WhatdaBUCisthis Says:
December 17th, 2016 at 11:32 am
Ray Rice
Uh lol who is Shockwave
I love the nickname
Wish JOE would let us post pics in our comments. I’ve got a great screenshot of #3 The Messiah throwing to GODZILLA
December 17th, 2016 at 11:49 am
Winston is fired up but the national spotlight nerves will be tempered by some experience now. Evans is due for a good game. Doug is due, and Luuuuuke is back blocking for him. Hump is back and the D looks good. Yeah, LVD is the wildcard here, as is Goz at RT. But I think LVD is 2/3 media hype and Goz has been good before. We could use a little help with Cowboy injuries like we got from KC and SEA… Aguayo? For every game now I just think through as the game unfolds how to win without putting on the foot of him. Maybe he’ll go better next year…I do think so…but not going to put the game in his hands whenever possible.
December 17th, 2016 at 11:54 am
Remember the thrashing the Koetter-lead Falcons did to Tampa 2 Bucs a few years ago, Koetter knows how to destroy the Tampa 2, the Bucs are going to blow out the Cowboys….book it Danno
December 17th, 2016 at 11:54 am
DB55 Says:
“Preach!”
Oh, I am about to!!!!!!!
Those that have been here long enough, know, I am not positive or negative about the Bucs!!!! I drop the hammer and tell it how it is!!!! I tell the truth, and then it is up to those individuals to handled it or not!!!!
There are sheep, one of the Joe’s and others, that just plain do not understand the new motto of “Carry A Big Mother F*&%’n Stick”!!!!!!!!
Well let me tell you what it means!!!!! IT means walking into Jerry’s drive-in movie theater like you own that place!!!!! It means walking into dude’s home and eating all his food after you slept with his girlfriend!!!!!! It Means BigHogHeinous dropping the deuce at the public pool to SHUT IT DOWN!!!!!! cause that is POWER!!!!!!!
Its not about a play call!!!! Watch the Bucs Playmakers over on the sideline waiting to get in!!!! Nodding their head because they are about go out and “GET IT”!!!!!! About to take the field and TAKE SOMETHING!!!!!!
That is why this team will win Tomorrow night!!!!
Go America!!!!!
AND GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 17th, 2016 at 11:55 am
Aguayo in prime time on a Sunday Night! This should be interesting
December 17th, 2016 at 1:45 pm
Last week there were a couple of Bucs defensive plays that seemed to have Drew Brees confused. I’m very much looking forward to seeing what Mike Smith dials up for Dak.
Go Bucs!!
December 17th, 2016 at 6:14 pm
@The Buc Realist
LOL you’re getting me PUMPED for tomorrows game, but I concur, walk in there and punch the bully in the mouth… lets see how he responds!!!
December 17th, 2016 at 6:37 pm
In terms of reputation a win in this game will be huge for the Bucs. Even if we collapsed against the Saints and Panthers and missed the playoffs the nations last memory of the Bucs would be that young up and coming team that beat Dallas on Sunday night.
We would be one of the real darlings of the off season…for whatever that’s worth.
December 17th, 2016 at 7:54 pm
Looking forward to tomorrow night. I am calm in my belief that the Bucs can beat the Dallas cow dung and if they don’t I’ll be surprised.
December 18th, 2016 at 8:26 am
The Bucs can’t score early and then hibernate for three quarters, and expect to win the game. The D has been magnificent but they will need the offense to step up. Dallas has struggled lately. They’ve not going to go down easily. We can beat them, but everybody has to show up for all sixty minutes. GO BUCS