Dirk Koetter Makes Move To Monken As Playcaller, Cashes In Fast
September 9th, 2018
Let’s peddle in reality. It was a very gutsy move for Dirk Koetter to turn playcaller duties over to Todd Monken today — gutsy when it comes to his job security.
It would have been a brutal look for Koetter, a career playcaller and a head coach with a losing record, to turn it over to Monken only to have him fail. Then what?
But Koetter manned up and did what he felt was best for the team. And it worked.
The Bucs 0nly had one freakin’ punt! Read that again and let it sink in.
Monken’s first-quarter call for a Fitz three-yard keeper in the red zone was a thing of beauty. Lotta balls right there. Touchdown!
And the many deep shots were well-timed and, of course, well executed. The last one, Evans 1-on-1 against mighty Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore, had Joe so fired up. It’s about time the Bucs gave Evans more of a shot as a true deep threat. That one went 51 yards for a TD.
Every move is great when it works. And this one sure did. Imagine being the Eagles defensive coordinator tonight?
September 9th, 2018 at 4:13 pm
Well damn! đź‘€
September 9th, 2018 at 4:14 pm
Let me guess this is when the Bucs are going the the super bowl talk commences?? And least one thing was proven #KluelessKoetter shouldn’t be a head coach or player caller but a ping pong official.
September 9th, 2018 at 4:14 pm
Most important decision for this team until Mike Smith gets fired
September 9th, 2018 at 4:14 pm
NFL Player of the week America’s QB Ryan Fitzpatrick.
September 9th, 2018 at 4:16 pm
Monken and Koetter are nothing without The Beard Lol
September 9th, 2018 at 4:16 pm
Joe please do a Fitz article
September 9th, 2018 at 4:16 pm
Very impressive game from The Bucs. Monken seems like a talented play caller. Very impressive.
September 9th, 2018 at 4:18 pm
YEA MIKE SMITH SUCKS
September 9th, 2018 at 4:18 pm
Great to see Saints burned on so much man coverage. They were pressing the bucs receivers up on the line all day. We saw how badly that coverage worked for them today.
September 9th, 2018 at 4:19 pm
U just cant beat a vet at QB
September 9th, 2018 at 4:21 pm
Great win. Monken was super. Now find a D coordinator FAST.
September 9th, 2018 at 4:22 pm
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The Eagles defense is MUCH better than that Saints defense we just saw. We won’t be putting up 48 on them. That said, the offense is for real and every team is now taking notice. Don’t sleep on the Bucs!
September 9th, 2018 at 4:23 pm
Cleveland is taking the Steelers to OT. Eagles looked very beatable.
Who says 0-3 still?
September 9th, 2018 at 4:24 pm
Hold them accountable!!!!!!
What a game plan by the coaches!!!!! Huge game from Fitz and the rest of the offense!!!!! Coach Smitty gets kudos as well for pitching the shutout in the 3rd quarter with the duct tape defense!!!!!! That was the deference!!!!!!! Coach Smitty got the rook’s and new guys stand up for a quarter!!!!!!!!!!!!!
how is that “status” woe now!!!!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 9th, 2018 at 4:24 pm
Great win! Offense rules! But still big questions on defense. At some point, the offense is going to sputter, and we will not win unless this defense gets better coverage players. There were some good plays on defense (take aways), but regardless that Brees is a master, way too many completions.
September 9th, 2018 at 4:24 pm
so would you rather have a new kicker or defensive coordinator?
September 9th, 2018 at 4:24 pm
Just so many weapons on O. The oline was simply outstanding and also showed some serious nastiness. Fitzmagic!
September 9th, 2018 at 4:25 pm
Man both Joe’s predictions were Koetter taking back the play calling. Don’t fix it if it isn’t broken.
September 9th, 2018 at 4:25 pm
I told you. Monken gives a much better chance to win because he doesn’t have so many predictable, exploitable tendencies like Dirk does.
But holy hell. Mike Smith, you are truly, truly awful at your job. We can not afford to give up 40 points a game. Realist, you still gonna deflect all the blame onto the players?
September 9th, 2018 at 4:25 pm
Now if we can fire Smitty and bring in a competent DC we might be able to make some noise
September 9th, 2018 at 4:26 pm
No Super Bowl talk, but:
In Todd We Trust.
September 9th, 2018 at 4:26 pm
Is this “reality” the new Buc Ball? I like it! It’s a different kind of heart attack, but I like it. #Fitzweapons
September 9th, 2018 at 4:26 pm
Where is kobefaker? He should be happy as a bucs fan!
September 9th, 2018 at 4:26 pm
Good win for the bucs.
Saints defense was lost, no pressure on Fits whatsoever, Watched that Eagles defense against the Falcons and they are for real. Go Bucs!!
September 9th, 2018 at 4:29 pm
Only complaint of the game is that we could’ve broke the record and we didn’t. Let’s finish strong guys # AllGasNoBreaks
September 9th, 2018 at 4:29 pm
Defense wins championships. Time for to step it up Mike Smith!
September 9th, 2018 at 4:30 pm
Todd needs to call the plays all season, That was one heck of a debut.
The Saints defense looked lost all afternoon.
September 9th, 2018 at 4:31 pm
Don’t treat monken like the Messiah, saints defense has been trash for a long time. Lattimore was good as a rookie but 1 good year doesn’t make a career, he looked like Ryan Smith all afternoon.
That’s the strains I remember, great offense sorry defense. Let’s see what he can do when the offense faces a real pass rush. Happy about the win but it’s a fluke if they aren’t consistent
September 9th, 2018 at 4:33 pm
Koetter’s playcalling simply wasn’t as good when he became HC.
It was obvious to everyone. That’s why many of us were lobbying for Monken to be the real offensive coordinator and try calling the plays.
Hopefully his success continues. Go Bucs!
September 9th, 2018 at 4:33 pm
Guarantee you if Dirk was calling plays today we’d have lost by 18+
He’s just too predictable. Much like his inept best bud Mike Smith.
September 9th, 2018 at 4:34 pm
Quit the negativity about the D. We just faced Brees. What do you think they are saying about the saints D right now, which is supposed to be much improved. Bucs D will be just fine. Enjoy the victory
September 9th, 2018 at 4:34 pm
Great win!! Now just fix that defense.
September 9th, 2018 at 4:34 pm
Jesus Buddy give it an effing rest after a win!! A HUGE coming out party for KOETTER’s offense. Monken did awesome but as Joe said it took balls (and leadership) for Koetter to hand over those reins to his playbook
September 9th, 2018 at 4:35 pm
Yes, we are not there yet, “Not there yet”, but let’s enjoy this win!
September 9th, 2018 at 4:35 pm
Fitz was so on target today, he made Monken look good.
September 9th, 2018 at 4:37 pm
MVP to Fitz and the entire o-line for all the time they gave him.
September 9th, 2018 at 4:37 pm
Fitz was spot-on accurate. Deep balls that bounced harmlessly to the turf last year (ahem) dropped right in the receivers hands. Loved how he didn’t wait for the pocket to collapse; running for 5 yards can be a win on first down.
September 9th, 2018 at 4:37 pm
Weapons: Godwin, Howard, Evans, Jackson, Humphries, Brate, … the list goes on. Never seen a team with so much firepower at the hands positions.
September 9th, 2018 at 4:38 pm
Good point about the oline. They were fantastic today.
September 9th, 2018 at 4:38 pm
@Buddy WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU DUDE?EITHER YOUR A BUCS FAN AND CELEBRATE THIS WIN OR GET THE BUC OUTTA HERE WITH THAT STUPIDTY SPEWING OUT YOUR MOUTH!ENJOY THE WIN AND WORRY ABOUT THE EW-GLES NEXT SUNDAY!
September 9th, 2018 at 4:39 pm
LETS GOOOOOOO!!!!
September 9th, 2018 at 4:40 pm
Bucs!!!
September 9th, 2018 at 4:44 pm
It’s about time?….They’ve been dialing those plays up, Winston cant hit anything beyond 20 yds. This offense is explosive when A) the QB can execute and B) dont kill momentum with TURNOVERS.
ONE TURNOVER BY THE BUCS WOULD HAVE LIKELY COST US THAT GAME. Thats the NFL, there’s no room for error. I hope we continue to rally so Winston sees we dont need him trying to be superman, we just need him to execute and let the game unfold. Fitzpatrick keeps putting those numbers up and the Bucs have a problem….The fans have been starving for a good product on the field, especially one that can compete and win some big games. I still think they go back to Winston in Week 4 but i did not see Fitzpatrick throwing 400 yds/4TDs…Wow.
September 9th, 2018 at 4:46 pm
Seems like everyone already forgot about the numerous deep balls Jameis hit in Preseason…
Fitz played phenomenally today, but in the words of Cam Brate, Jameis is the starter for a reason.
September 9th, 2018 at 4:47 pm
Yeah I hope the Eagles defensive coordinator believes he knows Monkens tendencies but Koetter calls the game and we destroy them lol
September 9th, 2018 at 4:49 pm
Outclassed Payton!
September 9th, 2018 at 4:53 pm
Some of you need to rewatch quarters 1-3. The defense was good and will only get better from game to game. It wasn’t until VHIII got injured and Smith went to Prevent that things got ugly.
VHIII, who I have been talking up all off season had a great game, even though 98% of you did not think he would.
Traditionally, even dating back to the Dungy/Kiffin days, the defense starts the season slow. They used to take until Game 3 to really vet going. This is even more the case with the limited contact in camps these days. As Brooks said, tackling has to catch up now.
Too soon to talk superbowl, but 11-5 a d playoff came within reach with this win.
September 9th, 2018 at 4:55 pm
Clap Clap Clap
The sound of me clapping for Joe finally admitting the stupidity of his calling Koetter “winning head coach” for so long by acknowledging he has a losing record.
Now what’s Joe gonna do when he has to stop calling Jameis “America’s QB”
Gonna be alot of crying in Joe-ville that day
September 9th, 2018 at 4:56 pm
Trench War Says
“I hope the Eagles defensive coordinator believes he knows Monkens tendencies but Koetter calls the game and we destroy them”
Exactly what I was thinking. Being able to switch up gives us a good plus.
September 9th, 2018 at 4:57 pm
The Bucs offense when executing is lethal with an accurate QB throwing the ball where the receivers have a shot at running after the catch. Bucs early in the game were robbed on the offensive PI vs Brate. I read Sean Payton’s lips telling the refs that they suck and that call took Bucs out of a TD. Godwin had an easy TD on the one bad pass Fitz overthrew him.
Tom Brady carved up the Eagle defense in the SB, the Bucs will be able to put up points and the Philly offense minus Wenzhou and Jeffrey is ordinary. Zach Ertz is their main weapon now.
This win over the Saints with a weakened Eagle team changes the outlook for the Bucs. Anything can happen now.
September 9th, 2018 at 4:57 pm
R.I.P. run up the middle on every first down in the first half…
You won’t be missed.
September 9th, 2018 at 4:59 pm
Anyone else notice that the NFL Headline was “Kamara Has Monster Game”? No mention of Bucs win.
September 9th, 2018 at 4:59 pm
Good point about Evans. Hit him in stride and tally up the YAC!
September 9th, 2018 at 5:01 pm
Difference between Winston’s deep ball and Fitz is the timing and letting the receiver run to the ball instead of having to stop or ball being way overthrown.
September 9th, 2018 at 5:02 pm
Great win but let’s cool our jets a bit here. Remember the last time two times we celebrated an opening win?
September 9th, 2018 at 5:03 pm
Fitz has done good..
…but don’t think for a second that he should start over Winston. Fitz has a history of doing great for 1-2 games, then blowing it. That’s why he is not normally a starter.
The comments that he made throws Winston could not is bull. Winston make plenty of impossible throws all the time. Fitz throws a lot of floaters. Winston throws with power.
If we are lucky, Fitz beats the Eagles. If not, he at least won a game in the first three, which was the minimum we needed from him.
September 9th, 2018 at 5:03 pm
XpfcWintergreen2 Sep 9, 18 at 4:31 pm [Posted at Pewter Report]
Waa…hooooo!!
To hell with the pundits, the trolls and the nattering negativists who dare to call themselves fans.
No Excuses! Now, on to the next challenge, the Eagles!
______________
Go Bucs!!!!!
September 9th, 2018 at 5:03 pm
*last two times ^
September 9th, 2018 at 5:05 pm
Wow! Watching it live from section 121 was extra sweet – GO BUCS!!!!!
September 9th, 2018 at 5:05 pm
Happy.
🙂
September 9th, 2018 at 5:07 pm
Agree Bonzai. Ryan Smith played better also. The main reason Saints got back in the game is because refs gifted them with a hitting a defenseless receiver.
That was just clean pass defense IMO.
September 9th, 2018 at 5:08 pm
The Fitztruthers are hilarious. He literally has his best day ever, the best passing day in team history, and they now think this is the new norm and if Winston can’t get 500 yards and 5 TDs a game the Bucs should cut him. LOL!
Calm down people. Enjoy the game and lets see if Fitz can throw the ball outside next week before we make him a 1st ballot HOFer.
September 9th, 2018 at 5:10 pm
Bonzai
I’m not sure why you are so awestruck with the Steelers. MG beat them in freaking Pittsburgh. The play in the one team AFC and they’ve yet to get past that one team in recent years.
Today they went to overtime 21-21 against the mighty Cleveland Browns…today still waiting for the final on that won. Speaking of which they padded their record last year with two wins against the winless Brownies.
I respect the Steelers but I certainly do not share your awe of them…especially if Leveon continues his holdout through our game. I think Big Ben had thrown three ints last time I checked in on that game. We CAN beat them.
September 9th, 2018 at 5:10 pm
What was the difference in the game between the Bucs and the Saints????? Coach Smitty pitched the shutout in the 3rd quarter with that duct tape of a defense with all those rookies and new guys!!!!!!!!! The “real” fans stand up and applaud these great coaches we have in Tampa!!!! For out coaching and out scheming the other team with less experienced talent!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 9th, 2018 at 5:10 pm
Great win for the good guys today! That was step one in our perfect scenario during the Jameis suspension. But let’s be aware of the realities. Although the offensive line did well and pass protection, they did poorly in the run game. There were no holes for Barber up the middle. Most all of his yardage came when he bounced it to the outside or on plays designed to get him isolated. And let’s not forget that our defense gave up 40 points.
To be fair, Ryan Smith played his ass off today as did Godwin, DeSean Jackson, Mike Evans, and especially Ryan Fitzpatrick. I saw a lot of the pocket collapsing around Drew Brees, would’ve liked to have seen another sack or two.
I’m as thrilled as anyone with this victory today, but let’s remember, there’s still a bunch of work to do.
September 9th, 2018 at 5:11 pm
Fear the Beard! Hoping the injuries aren’t too bad and we are ready to compete week in and week out. While I’m very happy about the win, there is a lot about the defensive performance that leaves a lot to be desired and tightened up.
September 9th, 2018 at 5:12 pm
It was great until the 4th quarter when they tried to run out the clock with 10 minutes left- not a good decision against Brees in New Orleans. Fitz won this game with great execution and kudos to OL and Barber.
Now let’s Fix the DL issues- hopefully Vea will be back soon…Gholston not much of a factor
September 9th, 2018 at 5:13 pm
Rod…it is fun to read their stuff though.
See, see, see I told ya Fitz is the better qb…..I told you guys I was right…
Funny stuff!
September 9th, 2018 at 5:13 pm
Cat our kicker is fine he missed a 45 yard he went 2-3 an made all his extra points an had great kickoffs he shoulda made that FG but it wasn’t like he missed it badly it was close pushed it a little it happens in football kickers are not going to be perfect an mike smith will do better an our defense will as a whole the saints have one of the best offenses in the league an we had 2 rookie corners out there an Ryan smith an VH3 had a great game forced fumbles an good in coverage hope his shoulder is ok
September 9th, 2018 at 5:14 pm
Bonzai are you insane? The defense was atrocious. WE GAVE UP 40 POINTS!
You and Realist are delusional when it comes to Mike Smith…
September 9th, 2018 at 5:14 pm
Fitz just scored more points than Jameis’s 19 PPG average in two games last season. Fitz scores like that again next week against Philly’s defense then we won’t see Jameis until after the bye.
September 9th, 2018 at 5:16 pm
@BobinValrico
Agree with your sentiment but I would disagree with the main reason the Saints got back into the game.
The contest was literally over…a 3 possession game if we simply convert a 44 yard FG. That choke was what gave the Saints their chance and clearly brought the crowd and momentum back into the game. Make a freaking kick!!!
September 9th, 2018 at 5:21 pm
Trench War – If Fitz plays anything like this then I’m fine with keeping Winston on the bench all year, and I’m a huge fan of Winston, but that’s common sense. Lets hope Fitz can get the home win against Philly, it will be interesting to see if he can do it outside, which has always been Fitz’s issue. But in the meantime, celebrate Fitz having a career day, because there’s a 99.9% chance he’ll never ever have a game like this again, which is true for basically every QB that has ever played and not a dig at Fitz. He had a historical day.
September 9th, 2018 at 5:21 pm
Fitz was dropping dimes all game. Great way to draw it it by Monken/Koetter and company.
MAJOR shout out goes to the offensive line who did not give up ANY sacks and only had one pre-snap penalty.
Keep up the discipline driven attitude.
September 9th, 2018 at 5:22 pm
Give Koetter huge credit for delegating….that is what good coaches do…glad it paid off for him and our Bucs…,
That bomb to Djax was a thing of beauty…he had a great game.
September 9th, 2018 at 5:24 pm
Still kicking myself for benching Fitz in a couple leagues where I had him as a backup to Winston and has a daily fantasy cash play. I bought the fantasy “experts” hype on Tyrod Taylor and at the last second made the switch. Thanks “experts”… while Tyrod had a nice day, Fitz had a historic day, sitting on my bench.
September 9th, 2018 at 5:32 pm
But Dan is 100% right- HUGE game by the OL. HUGE! Fitz had all day to throw against man coverage. Kudos too to the WRs who all beat press/man- all day long. Without question, the most dynamic offense we’ve seen in, well ever, in these parts. The Saints were exploited- damn near every snap. Great job to the coaches and players for the gameplan and it’s near flawless execution!
On D, we have the same old problems. Marginal rush, inconsistent LB play, Conte doing the Conte, and some very weird schemes & coverages vs down and distance. Good enough to win- bad enough that they’ll need to tighten up.
That all being said, this is the most entertaining and meaningful win in ages- especially b/c it came at the expense of Sean Payton’s ego!
September 9th, 2018 at 5:50 pm
Much better game management by Koetter, smart move letting the OC call the plays
September 9th, 2018 at 5:52 pm
Buddy,
I was calling a Bucs Superbowl run this year weaks ago *before the Saints game…
September 9th, 2018 at 5:53 pm
Bonzai and 1987: you misery does not need our company.
September 9th, 2018 at 6:22 pm
Give the coaching staff kudos for having the team well prepared overall. Monken did a good job calling the plays. Good decision by Koetter. Also good game management today. Dirk Koetter has taken another step up as a head coach in the NFL.
Can’t wait to watch the game next week … at home!!
___________
Go Bucs!!!! No excuses!
September 9th, 2018 at 7:18 pm
Hey don’t forget about me unogodeep your least favorite!! Up here calling people snowflakes and you’re the biggest sugar britches, cream puff, tinkerbell, dandy lion, Nancy boy and cajone loving jelly donut up here. You guessed Fitzy was going to do good trying to puff out your little bird chest up here like you told us something. You’re like that teacher in Charlie Brown, wa wa wa wa wa wa wa, or better yet Ben Stein calling Bueller…..Bueller…….Bueller. thats about how entertaining you are.