“Dirk’s Gone The Next Day”
July 5th, 2018
Nightmare scenario
Lifelong Bucs observer Todd Wright, the longtime ESPN Radio personality who currently hosts the can’t-miss fantasy football podcast here at JoeBucsFan.com and directs the Todd Wright Tour, has weighed in with a firm and reasoned take on the Buccaneers.
Specifically, it’s a take on the job security of Dirk Koetter.
During an interview on Spectrum Sports 360 this week, Wright was asked what it would take for Koetter to get fired during the 2018 season. Wright said a Week 7 home loss to the Browns could flush Koetter instantly, if the Bucs start like many analysts expect them to.
“An 0-3 or 1-2 start without Jameis, Jameis comes back, people are all over this team and they lose at home to the Browns, Dirk’s gone the next day,” Wright said.
It’s a fair take. If the Bucs somehow, say, lose to Cleveland at home and fall to 2-4 or 1-5, then that could trigger an unprecedented response from Team Glazer. After all, it is the Browns. A loss to Cleveland in that scenario would not only be horrific, it would be symbolic, as well as symptomatic of deep issues on the Bucs.
You just can’t lose to Cleveland at home.
Team Glazer, however, has never fired a coach during a season despite having worthy candidates.
Enjoy Wright’s Bucs chat on Spectrum video below. On the positive side, Wright does believe the Bucs will win one of their first three games with Ryan Fitzpatrick as the starting QB.
July 5th, 2018 at 10:09 am
What if we win the first three games close…
Fitz makes enough mistakes to warrant Jameis starting…
And Jameis losses big time at home against a winless browns team???
July 5th, 2018 at 10:10 am
Around here the Bucs get called Cleveland South a lot. I think that may be an insult to the Browns at this point. I realize it’s July, but for some reason I think the Browns might actually be much improved this year. Looks to me like they are doing it the right way. Defense First.
DK and his staff better show something.
July 5th, 2018 at 10:14 am
If Baker Mayfield and Nick Chubb work out for the Browns they are going to be a significantly improved team this season. Not only would a loss to the Browns be symbolic, a close game with the Browns would also be symbolic. Jameis has to have a 3 TD game against the Browns. If Baker Mayfield has a similar kind of game you really have to question what the coaches are doing out there.
Yet some are “totally confident… ” What a crock!
July 5th, 2018 at 10:17 am
Disagree….the Glazers don’t dump coaches mid-season. However, I could see them starting a search for a new HC, and likely a GM for the next season.
July 5th, 2018 at 10:25 am
I seriously doubt they fire any coach mid-season.
Dirk was hitched to JW for good or bad. It’s done now.
4 years of not making the playoffs is more than enough. Not sure how you start over and give JW a huge extension.
July 5th, 2018 at 10:27 am
The Glazer clowns are the ones bucfan needs to drop. Complete and total embarrassment the franchise has been under thier watch from mrsa, to trying to relive a failed past, to mickey mouse moves…. until glazers sell there truly is no hope. They even screwes up the careers of 99 and 55 during the undercard years.
July 5th, 2018 at 10:28 am
Bad take. The guy has no clue how good the Browns will be yet, nor do any of us. They could roll in here undefeated and wipe out dirk. Dont think he’d get fired then. I hope he gets fired before that tho. If he thinks the Browns will have another winless season he is nuts. That team is going to be pretty good this season. Wouldnt surprise me at all if they come in here and win. Thats why they play em. Although Hue Jackson is almost as bad of a head coach as Dirk. Could be 2 guys both battling themselves to not lose the game for their teams.
July 5th, 2018 at 10:34 am
What would be the point?….Fire Koetter mid season and have Mike Smith take over as HC?…..not happening…..Glazers will sit it out….besides Bucs could win-out after Cleveland (could, but not likely)
July 5th, 2018 at 10:36 am
Articles we can read on here
Fitz is taking over for 3 games
JW’s future on the Bucs
Buckner is grumpy and the D line stinks
Koetter’s head is on the chopping block
Anything I’m missing?
July 5th, 2018 at 10:36 am
The Browns are building a good team!
July 5th, 2018 at 10:38 am
Problem is – if you dump Koetter – who do you replace him with – Smitty???
Just have to take our lumps this year (if any – optimistically speaking) and see what happens.
IF this coaching staff can put together a solid scheme on both sides of the ball that lets the talent on this team make the plays that are there – we can win some games.
I hate to keep going back to that – but I have very little confidence in this staff. . . but hey I hope they prove me dead wrong
July 5th, 2018 at 10:43 am
If “Mr. Me,” Todd Wright offers an opinion, it must be true. After all, he drops more names than Dan Patrick so he must be connected to the Bucs brass like no other. Funny, I looked up “I” and “Me” in the dictionary and he was listed under both—truly a multidimensional character. Surprise he didn’t break off his opinion with, ”I’d add more to this post but I have to play golf now with all my PGA Tour golfing buddies in far away places that most of you cannot afford to visit. Sneds (Brandt Snedeker) and I have a tee time later today in Monaco.”
July 5th, 2018 at 10:45 am
The clearest sign that the Glazers would fire Koetter would be if they gave him a pay raise or extended his contract. #PaidFloridaVacation
July 5th, 2018 at 10:47 am
See this is funny:
Zwak Says:
July 5th, 2018 at 10:36 am
The Browns are building a good team!
So who is starting for them at LT? Who is starting for them at RG? Who is starting for them at Safety? Who is starting for them at the 2nd corner?
You see I find this funny because people say we are horrible because those things are not rock solid here, but when someone else has those same issues plus countless others and just went 0-16 they are building a good team.
SMH at you people!
July 5th, 2018 at 10:54 am
I don’t like the ‘idear’ of firing a coach mid season. I’d rather wait until the end of the season. Yeah. Lose at home to the Browns would put Koetter out unless it was the only loss of the season or the Bucs had a winning record. The last few years the Bucs have had whining records. I bet they have a whining record again. Tank and get first pick in the draft. Get a QB unless there are none and if that is the case, trade down and get picks.
I am not in favor of bringing Winston back. If he comes back it will be hard to root for him. I hope Fitz has a Rich Gannon in Oakland under John Gruden kind of year. Doubt that will happen.
July 5th, 2018 at 11:00 am
Won’t happen.
July 5th, 2018 at 11:02 am
That’s an absurd take from Todd. Look, it’s very easy to look at 1-31 and completely dismiss the Browns, but that would be a big mistake. From top-to-bottom, their roster isn’t significantly worse than ours. Plus there is NO home field advantage at RJS- hasn’t been for nearly a decade. That’s all to say, if they’re going to fire Dirk, especially after taking a kick to the groin from Jaboo and his situation, do it after the season. Consider the totality of the circumstances vs one game.
July 5th, 2018 at 11:09 am
it could happen……
dirk will crumble under pressure and adversity…..we saw that in 2017…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!!…..GO BUCS!!!!
July 5th, 2018 at 11:10 am
I believe the the Saints and Eagles games are winnable. Why? We’re familiar with the Saints. Most Superbowl champs struggle earlier in the season due to not having the right mindset in the beginning. The mindset that they accomplished their goal, while other team are taking aim to dethrone the Eagles as champion.
July 5th, 2018 at 11:16 am
I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many overactive takes on the bucs ever. We’re not the 9-7 bucs from two years ago and probably aren’t the 5-11 bucs from last year either. Media are worse overactors than fans because at least they know they’re doing it to be relevant. Lions went 0-16 before and haven’t looked that bad ever since. This is not the same 0-16 browns from last year. It’s called free agency and the draft. If they fire the coach in season and the interim I sorry arse Mike Smith that’s basically giving up on the season. I’ve seen the glazers do dumb things but if Raheem and schiano make it through so will Dirk. Your not in taking mode when you have an experienced coach like Mike Smith as interim and if you’re not tanking what’s the point of firing Dirk
They have decent receivers and running backs, quarterback is as big a question mark there as it is here. Yes we should win but I think we should win 2 of the first 3 games too
July 5th, 2018 at 11:18 am
I’d think Todd Wright would know better than to suggest a mid-season firing. Yeah, it’s a discussion point, but ain’t going to happen. True, the Glazers may be reaching for the hammer and nail to put into the coffin, but that’s the day after end of the season. Only reason I could ever think to fire him early is they want Smith to be HC next year and don’t want to lose him…and I don’t see that either. If Koetter is fired due to 0-3 and loss to Browns, then the D would have huge hand in that.
I don’t see anything less than a winning record heading in to face the Browns. Nothing else is acceptable…and only a defeatist expects to lose and is willing to lumps ahead of that.
July 5th, 2018 at 12:28 pm
I can see it happen unless the Browns do a complete turnaround and are playing lights out and beating everyone, then no.
July 5th, 2018 at 12:53 pm
The bigger question for me is what if the team is 2-1 after three games? That for me would almost be a scarier proposition for management than 1-2 or 0-3.
At that point you have to seriously question the future. 1-2 or 0-3 makes it an easy decision as far as QB goes.
Dirk can go 8-8 or possibly 7-9 and keep his job this year.
July 5th, 2018 at 1:05 pm
Jim Harbaugh!
GOAT
July 5th, 2018 at 1:07 pm
Even if with Joel Glazer as QB we beat the hell out of the Browns
July 5th, 2018 at 1:16 pm
They’ll never fire him mid season, we’ve had much worse than DK and they all survived their season
July 5th, 2018 at 1:21 pm
Who fires a coach after losing to a superior team?
July 5th, 2018 at 1:32 pm
Just look at the huge ripple effect that Winston’s actions are having. If he just could have conducted himself in a respectable manner and kept his hands to himself we wouldn’t be talking about all of this at all. Feace of a franchise? NOPE. Team leader? NOPE.
July 5th, 2018 at 1:45 pm
Wouldn’t it have been something if we played the Browns in week 11. Say they started 0-10 To make them 0-26, then we could be handed them loss 27 in a row. Now THAT would’ve been great.
July 5th, 2018 at 1:45 pm
They wont fire Koetter during the season….Raheem lost 10 in a row one season….he made it to the end.
July 5th, 2018 at 2:02 pm
To the fire ……….(fill in the blank) crowd,
If you’re not confident in DK and want him fired. What exactly gives you faith that ownership is capable of landing a great coach?
History is not or should not bolster your faith. What other teams have accomplished with the addition of a new coaching staff is not something that is relevant to compare. I can’t think of another franchise that has been rejected by proven candidates, shunned by hot up and coming one’s, leaving only the league rejects and assistants who take the job because they bought a lottery ticket. Meaning the phone rang and the glazers opened with congratulations you have been selected……..ok.
As of today, Jameis Winston is still twisting in the wind because ownership is incapable of leadership. Yet fans are willing and eager to fire a coach and roll with the glazers wagon.
If you’re out there DB 55 take a bow. You may be flawed in your approach but not your destination.
July 5th, 2018 at 2:45 pm
“If you’re not confident in DK and want him fired. What exactly gives you faith that ownership is capable of landing a great coach?” Absolutely nothing. But to stay with DK if he can’t or isn’t a NFL caliber HC is equally a bad path to stay on. Glaziers don’t fire mid season so that is not a likely scenerio. Unless we are winless and lose to cleveland.
July 5th, 2018 at 3:34 pm
I think that Cleveland calls themselves Tampa Bay Buccaneers North.
July 5th, 2018 at 4:21 pm
@Wright … ““An 0-3 or 1-2 start without Jameis, Jameis comes back, people are all over this team and they lose at home to the Browns, Dirk’s gone the next day.”
Yet another example of ridiculous “What If” scenarios AND unrealistic expectations. What makes Wright think that it’s any more likely that the Bucs will start 0-3 or 1-2 than 3-0 or 2-1? Past history? Water under the bridge; teams have a number of different players this year. Or maybe that Jameis is suspended? I’d suggest that’s why T-E-A-M-S have backup QBs. And besides, Jameis being suspended has NOTHING to do with Koetter … why should Dirk be ‘gone the next day’ IF Bucs lose the 4th game against Chicago (a team that coincidentally finished 2017 with a 5-11 record, EXACTLY the same as the Bucs). What even makes Wright think that Jameis will even start Game 4 regardless of what the Bucs record is? After being away from the team for 3 weeks, with no organized football, why would anyone think that Jameis would come back playing like gangbusters? Can’t wait for training camp to start so we can all have something to talk about besides ‘It’s All About Jameis’.
July 5th, 2018 at 5:56 pm
No loss by the Bucs to any team would surprise me. A knack for pulling a loss out of the jaws of a win, like last years Packers and Bills games.
July 5th, 2018 at 7:01 pm
Buccfan37…. Your screen name?????? Is the 37 for Tandy or is it your age or your old Football #??????
July 5th, 2018 at 7:18 pm
I’ll do Mr. Wright one better.. Why wait? Fire Koetter and Smitty now. Send Jameis packin for Canada and get Nick Foles in here!
July 5th, 2018 at 8:04 pm
We will be drafting Jamise replacement in 2019..
July 5th, 2018 at 8:21 pm
If. If. If. 🙁
July 5th, 2018 at 9:12 pm
Well it seems like Cleveland has like 20 first round picks on their team so honestly with the right coaching they could be an all star team. Kind of joking but not really! These are the type of teams like the Rams who fly out of the ashes and take over divisions.
July 5th, 2018 at 9:22 pm
As of now the Browns lead the series from 1976 t0 2014 6-3. Points 188-144. So don’t put the cart before the horse and start yelling easy win!!
July 5th, 2018 at 10:18 pm
What in the world would the HC do if the Buccaneers started out 2-1? Would he start Winocheo??? I would take a Harvard grad over a groping FSU flunky anytime. Heck, I would be willing to bet on it: 10 LBS of crab legs.
July 5th, 2018 at 10:21 pm
Poor guy finally gets his shot and it’s with the glazers boys running the show.
July 5th, 2018 at 11:25 pm
I am enjoying this. The whole NFL has written off this team. Does anyone think the Eagles or the Steelers are going to take Tampa seriously? This is a opportunity to take the league by surprise. We all know the talent is there, and I still believe in the coach.
July 5th, 2018 at 11:53 pm
I’m dosa[[pomted tjat hardly anyone has mentioned the additions the Bucs have this season……don’t u think the addition of Ron Jones, at RB is doing to help the offense immensely? Plus, the other 2 RB’s arent terrible either, and now they have O>J> Howard, a very good TE. They’ve added at least a couple of Off. lineman…and moving Maripet back to his original position is a good move, isnt it?
On Dfense, adding JPP & Veo Teo has to improve our pass rush, doesnt it?
I agree, Jameis is just plain a pain in the neck ……..I think his character will continue to out shine his physical talents…..but I agree, the Bucs are committed to Jameis…he’s not going anywhere this yr.
I’m hoping for an 8-8 season…..am I delusional?
July 5th, 2018 at 11:57 pm
You should page down a little or use Joe’s (free) archives. There is a story that was published mere hours prior to this article on Jones and his potential impact.
July 6th, 2018 at 11:51 am
we should re-name ray jat “the frog pond”…just like the killer clearwater restaurant spot
July 6th, 2018 at 11:51 am
ray jay *
July 6th, 2018 at 12:12 pm
I’ll do you one better: if they’re 0-fer, and they barely squeak by Cleveland, I’ll say Koetter gets run. Once does not merely “win” versus Cleveland. The Browns are supposed to be practice.
July 6th, 2018 at 6:23 pm
YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE CRAZY TO WANT THIS COACH BACK NEXT YEAR IF THIS TEAM HAS ANOTHER BUCS SEASON, OR JW BUT THE WAY THINGS ARE SO AGAINST THE BUCS THEY MIGHT SURPRISE ALL OF US WE WILL HAVE TO SEE
July 6th, 2018 at 9:38 pm
The players have to overcome having the worst coaching staff in the NFL and that’s what we all have to be concerned about , and I like this coach but what I do not like is his pressers after a bad loss , he was sheepish and looked down and defeated and would not look anyone in the eyes .just not a leader but the only good thing is this is the last shot baby so lets make it happen