Hear Dirk Koetter Talk Christian McCaffery

April 9th, 2017

You may have seen excerpts of winning Bucs coach Dirk Koetter talking about Stanford running back prospect Christian McCaffery at the NFL Owners meetings.

But what did Koetter really say?

And how did he say it?

Joe was there and has the full audio for you to enjoy above.

This is the season of reading — and listening — between the lines. And Joe really heard skepticism in Koetter’s voice regarding McCaffery’s 200-pound frame, when it came to considering him as a bellcow running back.

Yes, Joe firmly believes Koetter wants a bellcow running back, a la Doug Martin (2015) or what DeMarco Murray (2016) did with the Titans. Murray pounded the rock last year for 293 carries and 1,287 yards with nine touchdowns.

Why is Joe mentioning the Titans? Because Dirk Koetter says the teams run extremely similar offenses. And Titans coach Mike Mularkey told Joe the irony of that is “eerie.”

A lot of experts think McCaffery could thrive as an every-down, 300-carries-a-year running back, but Joe doesn’t think that would play to his strengths. McCaffery is a great talent but not necessarily the greatest match for the Bucs.

70 Responses to “Hear Dirk Koetter Talk Christian McCaffery”

  1. Blake_bucsfan Says:

    What is your opinion of trading down and selecting D’onta Foreman?

  2. 207bucsfan Says:

    I don’t think we would need to trade down for a back the class is crazy deep

  3. Pepsi Says:

    Curtis Samuel in the 2nd would be better than McCaffery at 19 anyway

  4. Chris@Apple Roof Cleaning Says:

    It is fun to talk about, but a moot point.
    He will be long gone by pick 19, and I don’t see us trading up for him.

  5. Jolly Bucs Fan Says:

    Just say no to Cook.

  6. d-roca Says:

    Anyones guess IF Macs there at 19. Im in on him because he is also the answer to another receiver And a great return man. Kid was taught to run routes from pops. Id def be thrilled if we picked him. Im all for the weapons and exposiveness we keep hearing about. Finally got the deep threat weve needed for years, lets not stop now. Go bucs

  7. JimmyJack Says:

    All I keep hearing is to draft S WE RB WE S RB……….Boys, we need about 2 1/2 sheer tons to keep our front lines strong……..if we come out of this draft with a bunch of 180Lb players we better start storing some extra ice and get new soft mattresses for the rollout cots.

    Keep this team strong please Mr Licht. please draft us some meat and potatoes. Thrown in a few toys for Dirk too.

  8. SB Says:

    I’m pretty sure Mike Smith has been promised some toys as well

  9. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    “Offensive Weapon” code word for gadget guy. They don’t last long in the NFL.

  10. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    SB he was given two to groom last draft. I mean what are we building a dynamic offense or devastating defense. If my QB was jag then I lean to that defensive designation but I have a young stud QB who should be provided with the same type of arsenal Brees and Ryan are provided. But that’s just me.

  11. Blake_bucsfan Says:

    Neither is 3 shoulder surgeries before you even take an NFL snap. To my Knowledge guys that are injury prone don’t last very long either.

    “…An FSU spokesman clarified Cook had surgery to repair a labrum tear near the back of the shoulder

    Cook had surgery to repair the right front labrum during his first months on campus in 2014, and also had left shoulder surgery in high school…”

    http://www.tallahassee.com/story/sports/college/fsu/football/2016/04/06/fsus-dalvin-cook-has-shoulder-surgery-out-spring-game/82723152/

  12. BuccaneEric75 Says:

    The great Nole/Blake debate just keeps on raging. I’ve read most of your guys posts about Cook and I can’t decide witch side to take. You both make good points. I guess we’ll just see how the draft shakes out and hope we made the correct pick. I can’t nail down one guy that I have to have, so I’ll keep an open mind come draft day. The first pick will tell us a lot about where we go in the next few rounds.

  13. SB Says:

    I was on the cook bandwagon until I found out about the shoulder surgeries and the off-field worries. Then I jumped off of it just like I did the John Ross bandwagon.

  14. Ocala Says:

    WHomever gets Dalvin Cook
    Will be getting a guy that is a difference maker from day 1.
    Dalvin was better as a freshman than Devonte Freeman was during his last year at Florida State and I’d say most think Devonte is one of the best backs in the NFL.

  15. Blake_bucsfan Says:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqJ5d2scC7k&t=423s

    Watch this entire video and tell me that Christian McCaffrey can’t be just as good as Lesean McCoy.

  16. Blake_bucsfan Says:

    Kid is quick as a bullet. He is probably the most elusive player in the draft, has silky smooth hands, extremely intelligent, hard worker, and plays with a figurative chip on his shoulder.

    As opposed to Dalvin who plays with literal chips in his shoulders.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcYppAs6ZdI

  17. Mo_Downs Says:

    Joe Mixon + James = First Madden 19 / 2-Man Cover

    Christian McCaffery = Tub Time

    Don’t be stupid, get on the Mixon “Love Train”…

  18. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    Oh that’s what me and that guy been doing??? I wouldn’t call it a debate because I don’t have time to retrieve info the way that kid does. 90% of post come from off the top of my mind. I work for living and jbf acts as means to kill time. It is a obsession good that dude. One that will prove to be challenging for him after we draft Dalvin Cook in a few weeks.

  19. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    And if the highest rated defenses Dalvin had faced while in school were 31st and 28th Dalvin would’ve rushed for 6000 yards.

  20. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    But forget about my opinion you just heard the words of our HC. Maybe that’s who the young man should be attempting to convince. Cause round here most of that falling on deaf ears.

  21. BigMacAttack Says:

    I don’t care who Licht picks and when. He’ll make some good choices, probably surprise us and the team will improve. I’m just ready to get on with it. They really need to move the draft back up to early April.

  22. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    Gaget man 2.5 yard average after contact while at stanford. Still waiting on the highest rank defenses mixon faced and what his yard after contact was while at OU.

  23. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    Offensive Weapon.. 😂Ishh funny man.

  24. Blake_bucsfan Says:

    That’s 2.5 yards after contact per play Nosbos. He had over 300 touches in 2015.

    You do the math.

  25. Blake_bucsfan Says:

    And since when is being called a weapon a bad thing?

    After all didn’t we all enter this off season asking for some #Weapons4Winston?

  26. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    One’s with defined roles. Not gadgets bro.

  27. Broy34 Says:

    Blake you’re right. After watching McCaffrey I gotta say he’s just too versatile to pass up. The kid opens up the whole offense. Cab see him throwing a TD to desean. Can see him doing alot of stuff. He’s a freakish athlete and after watching howard and njoku’s tape I’d say I’d rather go with MC or peppers

  28. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    All this slot noise is nonesince. This team has young developing players like Hump and Brate and y’all are of the mindset just discard them because something that appears to be shinier is entering the draft. Hogwash. Don’t work like that. This team doesn’t need a gadget player it already has people to fill any role he could provide outside of RB. Which is position your HC clearly had reservations about him playing(sure he’s not the only one). But lets say hypothetically we drafted him. Are you really allowing your starting RB return punts??? So drafting mccaffery would free the Bucs up to eliminate two players Hump and Sims. I think Fameis would be a little salty over Hump.

  29. Broy34 Says:

    Btw what fool yesterday said mixon broke one tackle in his highlight reel. Dudes insane. I’m getting all caught up

  30. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    For you I pray mccaffery gose anywhere in the league and get 30 touches a game. He’ll be around maybe two season.

  31. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    But what all will be be doing in the NFL??? 20 carries a game some slot and return duties??? In the NFL. Y’all crazy.

  32. Blake_bucsfan Says:

    I think McCaffrey could easily handle 17-25 touches per game. And would be highly successful as a checkdown target in the passing game out of the back field. Something that is crucial in the 4 verts offense.

  33. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    34 give us mixon’s stiffest competition while at OU.. And who had more carries him or Perrine??? I’m curious.

  34. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    I didn’t watch him. But a certain TV personality states he was often nick up thru out last season. That’s facing young men. How do you expect him to hold up against grown men???

  35. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    I hope he gose some where and get 25 touches.

  36. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    Percy Harvin was better built for the NFL And he couldn’t hold up. Similar style of player.

  37. Buccfan37 Says:

    I don’t think the Bucs will take McCaffrey at all.

  38. briandorry55 Says:

    Marshall Faulk was about the same size as McCaffrey…he played in at least 14 games in 10 out of 12 seasons. Warrick Dunn weighed 180 pounds…he played in less than 13 games once in 12 seasons. There is no correlation between the size of a running back and his health. Doug is very solidly built and has spent half his career hurt. AP can’t get off the operating table. LeVeon Bell gets hurt every year. Marshawn has had injury issues. I’ll actually take the odds of a guy like McCaffrey or Faulk or Dunn staying healthy because they’re elusive and don’t seek out unnecessary contact like some of the bigger guys.

  39. briandorry55 Says:

    Percy Harvin had chronic migraine issues and a wishy washy will to play the game 🤦🏻‍♂️

  40. Blake_bucsfan Says:

    Excuse me, We’re talking about not holding up against grown men, and you’re the one advocating that we take a kid who’s had 3 shoulder surgeries before he steps foot on an NFL practice field.

  41. Doit Bucs Says:

    I love see him here and used in the right way. He could be a lot of fun to watch line up all over the place. He could make it hard on defences when we are in a fast pace offense. Defences would not know if he going be a RB or a WR or just in there to block.

  42. chipbuc Says:

    Blake, Your so right on the money about McCaffrey. The thing about him that people miss the point about is his ability to change the game. Games swing on 5 or 6 big plays a game. He’s consistently in his college carrier had game changing plays, either by running , catching , or return game he’s a big play waiting to happen. Isn’t that what Koetter said his team was lacking? I would love if we pick him at 19,or Cook their both game changers. Just my opinion.

  43. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    And what was that games missed total again. Okay I gotcha.

  44. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    Migraines weren’t good undoing. The hip was. Terrel Davis played with migraines.

  45. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    55 go and look up Faulk and Dunn physical anatomy closely. Study they’re base or lower bodies and tell me you see the same with this kid. He’s built like His daddy was. A WR.

  46. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    And actually he is closer to Jamaal Charles 199lbs Dalvin is closer to Marshall’s 212lbs.

  47. Blake_bucsfan Says:

    Well let me put it down for you like this, If Dalvin gets popped and requires surgery during the season, he’ll go down for several months. And based on his history, it is certainly within the realm of possibility.

    Once is chance, Twice is coincidence, 3 times is a pattern.

  48. Blake_bucsfan Says:

    And just Fyi Ed McCaffrey was 6’5, so they don’t run routes exactly the same. Christian runs routes like Darren Sproles or Julian Edelman. He can run the ball like Curtis Martin or Shady McCoy, and has the fram to support another 10 to 15 pounds of lower body muscle without losing a step.

  49. Broy34 Says:

    Just watched cooks highlights too. He makes more of few openings than the other backs in the draft no doubt. Sheds tackles like crazy and I’d be happy to have him nole so lay off. I’m no Blake. U do have to stop acting like all these other backs have major flaws. It’s a loaded draft

  50. Waterboy Says:

    I agree with you on this one Joe. I like McCaffrey’s talent but don’t see him as a good fit for the Bucs. They need a RB that can handle running between the tackles in a pro-style set (not just shotgun or pistol formation) and force the defense to bring an extra LB on the field to help stop him instead of a nickel CB. That’ll also open up what they’re able to do in the passing game. I don’t see that happening with McCaffrey.

  51. Chris Says:

    Thats because Joes from the mid west and the days of slow, 230 lb running backs who have crappy NFL careers.

  52. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    Blake bro that can be said about any player. Its pro football bro, sometimes people go down man. 34 my bad if it sounds like I’m knocking the kid Its just my opinion that the RB spot is of greater concern to this team than some seem to agree with. Now this notion you can simply wait to get one may apply to other teams but for a team who’s run game was as porous as our’s was last season I don’t feel comfortable rolling the dice on that premise. McCaffery in the right system gone do his thang, just like Mixon Fournette Foreman Kamara Hunt etc. I do rock with the Seminoles so campaigning for any other guy in my mind would be uncivilized.

  53. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    Make sense waterboy. And he not a Dalvin Cook guy.

  54. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    If you forced me to pick between Mixon and McCaffery I would take Mixon. For our team. If I were a Pat or a cheesehead I would rather McCaffery.

  55. Blake_bucsfan Says:

    What I’m saying is that their is physical tangible evidence that there is a higher risk involved with Dalvin Cook. Because he has had surgery 3 times already.

  56. tnew Says:

    So, McCafferey works on perennial playoff teams. He’s good enough for them, but not the Bucs.. hmmm Yeh, we would never want a player that is a fit for the Patriots.

    I wish I could post pictures here. Side by side photos show CMAC much thicker in the lower half than Dalvin, with Dalvin thicker up top. Blake is correct, he compares favorably to McCoy but since we are bringing up ex Eagles, if you really want a comparison, think Brian Westbrook. There is your comparison. CMAC is gonna get his 800 yds on the ground and 600 in the air and return the occasional punt for a TD. Except, CMAC is a much more polished receiver. He needs to split carries, as does every running back in the league.

    Will he last past 28, not as a running back. Nobody will in today’s NFL. Thats why running back in the first is a really tough stretch for me.

    And I know that Koetter said that he likes the Titans offense but he never ran that style. He always had a committee in Atlanta.

  57. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    Well can show us the evidence from a Koetter lead offense that would suggest he would find multiples ways to utilize this kid from week to week. I use those team as examples not because they’re playoff teams more so because of flexibility I’ve seen from they’re offenses inn recent years.

  58. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    Again signing this kid means you more than likely would be dumping Hump an Sims. I can’t see that happening. I’m sure Fameis would speak up on Hump’s behalf.

  59. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    I keep hearing people say “more polished receiver” my disposition is we need a feature back. Not a more polished receiver. Dalvin receiving yardage wasn’t too shabby bro. But again we are not talking gadget when it comes to Dalvin Cook either.

  60. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    Might wanna check 34’s post it read “Dalvin just sheds tacklers” I already knew this I assume 34 might have been checking him out for the first time.

  61. Blake_bucsfan Says:

    I would agree that we would probably release Sims upon drafting Caff, but Hump aint going no where.

  62. Blake_bucsfan Says:

    So were Marshall Faulk and Matt Forte and Roger Craig not feature backs?

  63. ARGH_M8E Says:

    I didn’t know we throw a slant on every passing play “similar offenses” HA!!! I’m still bitter from the Winston/Marriota rookie opener!!!

  64. Ocala Says:

    Yep some of you guys that keep talking about how injury prone Dalvin is have no idea what you’re talking about.

    He is Florida State’s all time leading rusher despite playing there for only three years.

    This guy was the number one running back coming out of high school and he proved he was worthy of the ranking from day one.

    He’s got a very thick build that is perfect for the NFL.

  65. FuNkYxMuNkEy Says:

    McCaffrey needs around 175 to 200 carries and around 65-75 catches. Major productivity. If he wants a bellcow back, which I believe he does, then either RB from Oklahoma would do the job. 2nd to 4th round is the place to get a RB in today’s football.

    I would be stoked if we drafted McCaffrey but I don’t think he will be there at 19. Ton of talent in all the main positions we need filled in all the rounds.

  66. Buc1987 Says:

    Blake….How often do trade downs happen? I say rarely.

  67. Kevinthepainterimagine Says:

    Mccaffrey maybe playing two seasons and being done because of his build if hes a workhorse? Two seasons? Cmon be relaistic. Also if they take mccaffrey that doesnt mean they have to get rid of humphries. Simms yes but Humphries no and Ive seen enough of Simms he is expendable. Mccaffrey is my guy all day IF its a rb, but I think they go another direction with first pick

  68. Blake_bucsfan Says:

    @Buc1987 I wouldn’t say that trade downs are frequent. But they do happen. And I would wager their is probably going to be a Oline needy team (besides us lol) that would be open to trading up a few spots to get a guy they like.

  69. BuccaneEric75 Says:

    Trade back when you can. This draft is loaded. I’d rather have 5 good players than 2 studs and 3 I-hopes. I’d trade later round picks next year to get back in this draft. Teams will be made in this draft.

  70. Trubucfan22 Says:

    I have no problem with Rb by committee. With how often RBs get injured you need to have plan B and C. And having those guy rotating into the lneup and playing to their strengths is a great way to keep your running game fresh. Lessening the work load is a good thing imo.

    But for these reasons i also dont think we should touch any RB in the first round. Having a 3rd round RB to get in work with martin, sims, and jaquizz would give us 4 weapons. 4 guys that could start incase of injury. 4 guys with different strengths and weaknesses. Or even trade one of them if you want to. Give yourself options.