Somewhere, Jack Del Rio Smiles
September 8th, 2017
Stretching advice from Dirk Koetter’s mentor.
Once upon a time, winning Bucs coach Dirk Koetter worked for Jack Del Rio in Jacksonville as the Jags offensive coordinator.
It was there, Del Rio’s words sunk in on Koetter to a degree that it has become one of Koetter’s coaching hallmarks.
When Koetter has his players take off their helmets during both underwear football and training camp walk-throughs, that’s Del Rio. When Koetter has his players practice under a circus tent after training camp, that’s Del Rio. When Koetter has his players out of the sun and practicing under the lights on the backfields of One Buc Palace at night, that’s Del Rio. When Koetter sat out 36 players in the final preseason game, that’s Del Rio.
Koetter mentioned how this all ties together earlier this week.
“When I came in the league, working for Jack Del Rio, former player, his whole deal was, ‘Get the players to the game fresh. Get the players to the game fresh,'” Koetter said. “So we always try to do that.”
And Koetter, not by his own choosing, will stretch Del Rio’s marching orders to the limit.
When the Bucs host the Bears — provided there is a stadium left — a week from Sunday, for at least roughly 30 Bucs players, it will be the first game-like atmosphere they have participated in since the third week of preseason, Aug. 26.
In a bit over a week, we should know if fresh coincides with rust.
September 8th, 2017 at 10:13 am
time will tell!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
September 8th, 2017 at 10:19 am
and a bye week with time off!…this game spells RUSTY all over it…and in “game shape”? Bears will be battle tested and ready
September 8th, 2017 at 10:27 am
Sorry if this has been answered elsewhere, but I have a quick question. With the Bucs getting a bye week to start the season and Doug Martin being suspended for the first 3 weeks, I was curious how this affected his situation. Does Doug Martin now only miss 2 games?
September 8th, 2017 at 10:46 am
3 games not weeks not difficult to comprehend
September 8th, 2017 at 10:51 am
Martin is out for 3 GAMES not 3 WEEKS! The Bears will be Game 1. This has been answered a dozen times already.
September 8th, 2017 at 10:57 am
The Bears battle-tested and ready? Also beaten-on as well, you didn’t mention that……Bucs should be just fine, quit stressing over the Bucs, that’s what THEY get paid to do….just relax and enjoy football no matter what the outcome!!!
September 8th, 2017 at 11:25 am
Perhaps its a blessing to play da Bears 1st. Bucs are clearly the more talented team and nice to start off on home turf.
Trying to look at the bright side – still pissed the NFL didn’t find a way to make the Bucs-Fins game happen week 1. Coulda, woulda shoulda played at a neutral stadium tonight if playing in Miami last night was not possible. They’de have had no choice if the two teams didn’t just (unluckily) happen to have the same same bye week already scheduled. #!*&#*
September 8th, 2017 at 12:35 pm
Hey if the Stadium gets wiped out do you think the NFL has a plan? I know- 2 bye weeks! They handled the first one so well.
September 8th, 2017 at 12:39 pm
the bucs will be totally healthy and will have 60 minutes of tape on the glennon\trubisky bears. no excuses not to win. if they could just start fast they’ll have some margin for error if they’re a little winded at the end. bucs should be the freshest team around for the first 6 weeks of the season.
September 8th, 2017 at 1:44 pm
TampaTown…did you come up with that post on your own. Ignorance behind a keyboard.
September 8th, 2017 at 3:54 pm
How do so many football fans not understand how suspensions work? LOL.
3 games = 3 games. Simple as that
September 8th, 2017 at 7:25 pm
The Bears will have their hands full with the Falcons this Sunday then travel to Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers will be healthy and with two weeks to prepare will be ready to face Mike Glennon and the Bears. No excuses for a home opener win.
September 8th, 2017 at 7:28 pm
Jesus it was a simple question that someone didn’t know. What a bunch of a$$holes.