Koetter: “He’s Become One Of The Locker Room Favorites”
November 10th, 2017
Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht and formerly winning head coach Dirk Koetter can score more than a victory on Sunday against the Jets.
They can put a “W” in their bank of personnel moves.
Joe’s not expecting miracles from Ryan Fitzpatrick, who will start in place of injured America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston. But Fitzpatrick has been solid, and he was very strong off the bench against a shower of blitzes thrown at him by Cardinals, when he rallied the Bucs back from a 31-0 deficit completing 22-of-32 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns. Fitzpatrick also threw two picks in that game.
Overall, Fitzpatrick has looked like a good backup signing this offseason. But now he’ll get some starts, and puts the spotlight on him, Licht and Koetter to see if he was the right call.
Fitzpatrick really shouldn’t crap the bed at home against a Jets defense he practiced against last season, and with plenty of offensive weapons to tap.
Dirk Koetter told Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com that Fitzpatrick has played his role just right to date.
“His whole demeanor in general. Ryan’s a little calm. He’s become one of the locker room favorites,” Koetter said. “I mean he understands this is Jameis’ team to lead and Ryan has fit in well. That’s what a backup quarterback should do, waiting in the wings, preparing, helping wherever he can, offering his experience, but when his time steps up, you know, Ryan’s competitive fire kicks in. He’s going to do his best to lead us to victory.”
Interesting to hear Koetter say Fitzpatrick is a locker room favorite. Hopefully that translates to fresh energy by the offensive line.
Unlike the Bucs, the Jets (4-5) have been extremely competitive this season. They’ve only been embarrassed once, by Oakland, whereas the Bucs have been slapped around four times.
But the Jets are still a bad team with a defense that’s allowed 21 or more points in each of the last four games. If Fitzpatrick is the real deal, then we should know it by Sunday afternoon.
November 10th, 2017 at 11:50 am
Well, he’s white, white privileged, doesnt kneel…there (beat you to it bighog)
November 10th, 2017 at 11:56 am
If Fitzpatrick is the real deal, then we should know it by Sunday afternoon.
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Lmao, you guys are hilarious. For real!
Pinning your hopes on a guy who lost his job to Geno Smith who lost his job to josh mcclown. You can’t make this up folks. Pure comedy.
November 10th, 2017 at 11:56 am
Reverse racism much?
November 10th, 2017 at 11:58 am
Sarcasm JM
November 10th, 2017 at 12:07 pm
I think Fitz is coming in at a good time, and I think it can do the team a lot of good to just slow things down a bit.
It’s going to be good for Jameis too, a “bye week” where he can get a break from playing and the pre-game speech (hopefully)
November 10th, 2017 at 12:07 pm
Well Joe, you always said if our backup QB is starting for us then our season is over.
I just don’t think you meant for it to happen the way it has this ridiculously ugly season.
Come on Draft!
November 10th, 2017 at 12:08 pm
From Inside the NFL’s Boomer Essiason: JamesisNOT has imploded and most likely had some type of nervous breakdown. Joe may need to stop labeling him as America’s QB. You can’t throw a football in a straight jacket.
November 10th, 2017 at 12:08 pm
we’ll see soon enough….GO BUCS!!!!
November 10th, 2017 at 12:09 pm
Being the favorite in that looker room is like being the tallest midget!
November 10th, 2017 at 12:17 pm
Starting him in my $150 fantasy league out of desperation lol. On top of the Bucs sucking I have had the worst luck I’ve ever had in this league (have made playoffs 4 of last 6 years; which isn’t bad for 14 teams; and won twice).
-1st pick – David Johnson – IR week 1
-2nd pick – Dalvin Cook – IR week 4
-3rd pick – Carlos Hyde – traded him and Garcon for Jordy Nelson – Aaron Rodgers goes down week 6 and Jordy goes from top 3-5 fantasy WR to borderline flex play
-4th pick – Devante Parker – misses weeks 5-8
-early waiver wire Gem – Chris Carson – goes to IR early as well.
oh and I have Jameis Winston lol…
Parker seems like a reach but in 14 teams the 4th round is like the 6th/7th round of 10-12 team league and there was a huge run on WRs
Somehow I’m 6-3 despite all this.. mostly because my team dominated the first weeks when healthy. I may have a chance if I make the playoffs and David Johnson comes back
November 10th, 2017 at 12:17 pm
Compared to jW , DB, who has had more NFL follies bonehead type plays in a three year career than any qb I’ve ever seen. Don’t be suprised if he can actually hit a 50 yrd play to Desan Sunday.
November 10th, 2017 at 12:17 pm
I just heard a rumor that the Bucs may be the first team based out of London. 3-5 years out. Makes sense from an ownership perspective.
[Funny how this “WewantGruden” character who is such a Jameis hater is posting from an IP address in Coral Gables. — Joe]
November 10th, 2017 at 12:20 pm
I think if the Bucs lose Sunday that they should give Griffen a start the following week & see what he’s got.
November 10th, 2017 at 12:23 pm
Cue the FSU homers fury. I root for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers guys, not for my college on this site. Could care less who wins games for my NFL team. L out friggin loud at you homers that think Jimbo can do great here, any of you actually watch the Seminoles this year? They look worse than the Bucs and the Browns.
November 10th, 2017 at 12:26 pm
This may as well be titled “Koetter Benches Jameis to Save Job”
November 10th, 2017 at 12:54 pm
Fitz just might surprise us against his former team. You never know….. But he’ll have to definitely score about 3 TD’s plus some. The Jets will score against our Defense and often. You can be sure of that. Old Mac knows our Defense well from his Lovie days. Our Defense plays well and we win. Course now, I would not bet in Vegas on this.
November 10th, 2017 at 12:54 pm
“any of you actually watch the Seminoles this year? They look worse than the Bucs and the Browns.”
Yeah this year has sucked in general.
His average record before this season has been 11.2 W; and 2.4 L; with a 5-2 record in bowl games with a national title and playoff appearance.
Safe to say I’m fine with him being the head coach next year lol and calling this year an outlier.
November 10th, 2017 at 12:57 pm
Chris Says:
November 10th, 2017 at 12:23 pm
Cue the FSU homers fury. I root for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers guys, not for my college on this site
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AMEN X 100 and I ‘ll be listening Sunday as always!! Go Bucs!!
November 10th, 2017 at 1:36 pm
I find this post hilarious thinking the bucs have any chance to win this game. Gonna watch though as usual cause I love this damn team. Want to see if Koetter puts #22 back out there and see if how he game plans for Fitz which will be very telling how good Koetter really as an HC.
November 10th, 2017 at 2:45 pm
if Fitz has massive offensive production with all of these first rounders on offense then what?
Winston is in his 3rd year with the same offense and tons of weapons (RB aside) and he can’t seem to be consistent when it matters most
I’d be very ok with moving on from Winston and going for a free agent qb or going back to rebuild
November 10th, 2017 at 2:48 pm
JMarkBuc Says:
Reverse racism much?
I’ve always hated that term. Reverse racism? What does that mean anyway? You are either racist or not.
I am definitely racist, but I’m an equal opportunity racist. I hate everybody coaching the Bucs.
November 10th, 2017 at 3:24 pm
wewantgruden-
That rumor has been floating around for 5 years at least.
What username did you used to post under? Inquiring minds want to know.
November 10th, 2017 at 4:12 pm
I have mixed feelings about the Jets game this week. The Bucs season is clearly over and the focus should be on next year, however, if Ryan Fitzpatrick plays well, and I think he will, and the Bucs win….then what kind of pressure does that put on Winston and Koetter? Fitzpatrick is at the end of his career and clearly not the Bucs future but he can definately show how much of the Bucs problems belong to Winston and Koetter. A good offense can keep a poor defense off the field and the combination of Winston and Koetter have failed to do that. Again, I have mixed feelings about the Jets game this week.
November 10th, 2017 at 4:24 pm
Fitz behind this O line, and this crap defense will be lucky to survive the first half. He ain’t going to light up the Jets, get real. He’s going to get bitch slapped with the rest of his sorry ass team mates. Soon you’ll see where the real blame lies. Bad G.M., losing H.C., gutless leaders like McCoy.
November 10th, 2017 at 4:34 pm
“They can put a “W” in their bank of personnel moves.”
Stop it, Joe. You’re making me hungry!!
November 10th, 2017 at 5:00 pm
Slapped around, Don’t you mean pistol whipped.
November 10th, 2017 at 5:04 pm
As far as the first team to London, I think it will be a Florida team, but my call is Jacksonville.
I look for the Buc’s to become the Paris Croissants
November 10th, 2017 at 5:04 pm
You know, Croissants=Flakey
November 10th, 2017 at 5:13 pm
Comments like that and Dirk’s “separation” from a team led by Jameis, plus comments made during hard knocks, Winton’s actual play, and childish pre-gram demeanor (don’t see Matt Ryan “eating some Ws”) makes me wonder if there is not a Schiano-Freeman type of gig brewing. At best Fitz hangs on as backup for one more year. When will Griffin be ready to start? Are the Bucs just trying to rack up a couple wins at this point in hope that 4-12 or 5-11 doesn’t look so bad? Get Griffin in, first chance. Period.
November 10th, 2017 at 5:14 pm
When I think of France, I think of rifle dropping and surrendering. Still a good metaphor for the Bucs!!
November 10th, 2017 at 11:31 pm
France supported the American Revolution.
Only a low information Moron would mock them.
November 11th, 2017 at 12:06 am
We want Gruden said:
“You can’t throw a football in a straight jacket.”
LOL
If we have to keep watching this mess, we’ll all be in straight jackets. We can fight over front row seats in the Chattahoochee TV room.
November 11th, 2017 at 12:14 am
Mo_Downs Said:
“France supported the American Revolution.
Only a low information Moron would mock them.”
Thank God for that. We love all of the non-Vichy French.
C’est la Bucs vie.
November 11th, 2017 at 2:55 am
Mo_Downs dropping knowledge, despite some trying to live in a post-fact world. 😜
November 11th, 2017 at 6:49 am
That’s like saying, Jameis hit a guy in stride one time, so saying he over throws people means you live in a post fact world.
He still over throws people and the French still dropped rifles. Sorry that hurts your feelings.
November 11th, 2017 at 11:47 am
Yeah, how many Bucs fans thought they would win the Super Bowl this year, despite the reality of attrition?????
It’s a crapshoot people..!!!
Anyone read about the Hernandez brain autopsy..??
Did I really just mix metaphors..??
Why is James Harrison still allowed to play in the NFL..??