No Decision On Who Starts At QB At Carolina… Yet

October 28th, 2018

No decision today.

The starting job for America’s Quarterback next week isn’t exactly set in stone.

Asked today in his postgame press conference who will be the Bucs’ starting quarterback after Jameis Winston got benched for pretending to be Andy Dalton with four garish interceptions in three quarters, Koetter said he doesn’t have to make a decision today.

“We don’t need to talk about it,” Koetter said. “I mean, today is not the day I have to decide that, right? We don’t have to talk about that today.

“I don’t have any problems making decisions and I will make it when the time is right. Now is probably not the right time to make it.”

Feel free to jump to your own conclusion as to what Koetter will do against the Panthers in Charlotte next week. But Joe will explain in the morning how Koetter is in no-man’s land.

66 Responses to “No Decision On Who Starts At QB At Carolina… Yet”

  1. Dusthty Rhothdes Says:

    pretty sure jason licht and dirk do not see eye to eye on personnel moves and see dirk starting fitz next week against owners orders and being fired on monday

  2. Jason Says:

    Jameis deserves to be benched till further notice. This kind of game is completely unacceptable and Koetter should start packing his bags.

  3. Wesley Says:

    Carolina is going to destroy this garbage team.

  4. Aceofaerospace Says:

    The only thing that can save his job now is wins. Period. Jameis is irrelevant.

  5. NaplesBucsFan Says:

    Here is no decision…Fitz all the way!!

  6. Season Is Over Says:

    Yes, it is one of life’s great enigmas. I know I am completely dumbfounded as to how this one plays out.

  7. SilverBuc Says:

    Please start #14, I wanna see 4 interceptions on 4 straight passes, that should be an NFL record right?!

  8. WalkdaPlank Says:

    Franchise QB’s don’t get benched when their team is sitting at .500 almost halfway through the season.

    Not only that but the guy he benched him for went out and scored on 3 out of 4 drives and came back from an 18 point deficit in almost 1 quarter of football.

    If Koetter starts Winston next week he might as wee start filling out job applications with Lovie Smith.

  9. SilverBuc Says:

    Shame Fitztragic couldn’t win the game when it mattered most, smh

  10. WillieG Says:

    They need to trade Winston, go with Fitz the rest of the year, and the first part of next year, until our rookie QB is ready to take over. #3 has had 3+ years and he’s still playing like a rookie.

    Your past comparisons to Favre are laughable. Favre was a winner. Winston is a loser.

  11. Dewey Selmon Says:

    If my job was on the line I’d go with Fitz. who cares about next year if you are not there. The whole team rallies around him.

  12. Gofortheface30 Says:

    “After pretending to be Andy Dalton.” – oh yeah? If the Bucs were only so lucky, he played like Andy Dalton. Andy Dalton makes the playoffs. Andy Dalton doesn’t have near as many interceptions

  13. Brian Says:

    If there is any thought at all that they don’t trust him enough to drop twenty mill next year, then they have to sit him rest of the year. That contract is guaranteed for inj only. RG3 situation. Bye Jameis. You just were not very good…

  14. RTG Bucs Says:

    Agree, not the time to talk about it from a coaches standpoint, but the decision has already been made. You can take that to the bank!

  15. Coburn Says:

    My guess is Jamis will start again but hopefully be on a short leash

  16. Bird Says:

    Silverbuc

    Stop tossing that mans salad

  17. NJBucsFan Says:

    Fitz until the wheels come off the. RG4…simple

  18. StartRyanGriffin! Says:

    my name says it all

  19. NewTampaChris Says:

    Starting Jameis would be an insult to the fans. There is no doubt — right now — as to who gives the Bucs the best chance to win. Only an overrule from the Glazers should stop the decision; and if they do, they should step up to the mic and explain themselves.

  20. lambchop Says:

    @Gofortheface30,

    Also, Andy Dalton is accurate. You don’t see AJ Green asking for a trade because of his QB. That tells you enough when your team demotes you from being team Captain and the fastest and baddest WR wants to run away to another team because you consistently deliver the ball accurately to the other team.

  21. Troy Says:

    Winston is untradeable. Sorry folks. You won’t get a seventh round pick for him. You can’t value him based on what a fool thinks. He’s overpaid to be a back up and in the lower end of starters. Why would anyone trade for that?

  22. stpetebucsfan Says:

    Dusthy

    I get your point…this is a business decision not a sports decision but if Koetter starts Fitz and he shows any more Fitzmagic and we upset Carolina….Koetter is not going anywhere the following Monday. The fans would riot!!!

  23. Sweeptheleg Says:

    October 28th, 2018 at 5:11 pm
    If you’re an FSU fan you should be banned. All of you stupid morons. With your blinders on for 4 years of this bullsh#t.

    Screw all of you. I can’t believe we had to argue with you idiots with things everyone knew except you nuthuggers.

    Rod munch? Oh you gonna hide when your boy falls on his face?
    Ndog? Don’t start backpedaling now.

    All of you with your bias finally have to eat crow. Shut up no one wants to hear your excuses and bullsh#t anymore.

    Get to steppin. Kick rocks.

  24. Alvin Scissors Harper Says:

    I believe the Jay Miss era in Tampa is officially done. Nothing to see here. Move along please.
    This team isn’t going to the playoffs. Start Fitz and start Griffin at some point as well. Let Jay Miss hold the clipboard.

  25. Sweeptheleg Says:

    Silverbuc

    Still hasn’t swallowed his FSU pride and is grasping straws like a good little moron.

  26. Frank813 Says:

    Riiiiiiiiggggggghhhhhtttttt…… I’m sure that decision hasn’t been made yet 🤔

  27. BucNole Says:

    This is gonna be a tricky decision for sure
    On one hand the GM doesnt want to look like he picked the wrong guy with a 1st overall pick
    On the other hand the coach doesnt want to lose his job – if he hasnt already
    And lastly he may lose the locker room if he starts JW
    Certainly the team doesnt trust him fully at this point
    Its a pretty sad situation

  28. Brad Says:

    It’s over!!! I just crashed the Winston Bandwagon that I had been driving for the past 5 years. Yes, since he was at FSU and the general was trotting out Mike Dynamite. There are many “reasons” why. The reality is that this has to end. At least on the bright side, we are used to having no QB!!! Easy transition for us fans!!!

  29. Brad Says:

    Joe, you could call for the firing of Smith, but not the benching of Winston? At no point during this game could I honestly tell myself that we wouldn’t have a better chance without Winston in the game.

  30. TonyC Says:

    Why not give Griffin a shot. He’s been in the league 5 years, he’s 26, he makes good decisions. At least he isn’t a proven turn over machine like the other two.

  31. SilverBuc Says:

    Go Fitzmagic!!! Go get that 6 year contract extension you bearded wonderman!!

  32. Troy Says:

    Only people who want Jay Miss to start are the FSU fans who refuse to let go of the National Championship Winston was a part of. Let’s get this straight: the NFL isn’t the ACC; it’s where the big boys play and Jay Miss doesn’t belong in the club. Sorry.

  33. BuccoDav Says:

    SiverBuc… Come clean with us. Are you JW’s dad?
    Only a family member could defend JW after that game.

  34. Greg Says:

    The suspension screwed with Jameis? Whos fault was that? Joe keep trying to protect this d-bag. He was a turnover machine in college and has been every year here. Hes not Americas QB and its an insult to America to say that. Joe is obsessed with him and people are finally seeing it. Cut the sex offender and alleged rapist and friend of proven rapist and turnover machine Winston.

  35. SchwiftyBuc Says:

    Coming from a long time fan of Jameis Winston, today was the straw the broke the camel’s back. I just can’t defend him anymore. He single handedly lost us this game.

  36. Anonymous Says:

    Ride and die with your QB Koetter Jameis will bounce back !

  37. Troy Says:

    Brad,

    Joe is dishonest when it comes to Winston. He hasn’t told the truth about Jay Miss since before the kid was drafted. All he cares about is playing the guy from FSU and deflecting blame from Jay Miss for his poor play.

  38. Oneilbucs Says:

    Well Buccodave they did when Bret Farve done it they do when Andrew Luck do it so yes . Jamies played bad today I do agree. But for y’all to think that fizpatrick will lead this team to the playoffs is just crazy.

  39. Erik w/ Clean Athletics Says:

    This is Fitz’ team now.

    I will literally protest/picket outside of OBP if Jameis starts over Fitz again.

    Who will join me???

  40. Petty Officer Buc Says:

    Here’s the difference between JW3 and Fitz.

    In Chicago, Fitz wasn’t doing anything productive and had an INT in one half. Gets benched at halftime and Winston can’t do anything in the second half. Both QBs still had Mike Smith for defense and the defense was giving up TDs every drive it seemed. Winston wasn’t an upgrade that game and with the 32nd defense it wouldn’t matter anyways.

    Today, Fitz comes off the bench MUCH LATER in the 2nd half and is able to tie the game. Fitz was good enough to climb out of the hole. With this defense, Fitz can command the team and has the respect of the locker room. Bucs would have won of not for the missed extra point THANKS TO FITZ.

    Winston is a hole digger and Fitz gives this team life. Can you blame DeSean for wanting a trade? Winston is like a dementor when he takes the field and gives off terrible vibes to everyone around him. He has probably taken YEARS off of Koetters life with added stress. I’d rather have Felipe Frank’s than Winston at this point and Frank’s is terrible.

  41. Tom Edrington Says:

    How can they bench “an elite talent”??? Wish the Joe(s) would tell us….

  42. Dlavid Says:

    Why on earth would you start Winston unless you have given up on the season ? He makes more bonehead plays than motivating plays . I was a complete die hard fan till this season but he has ruined this team with his on field play and off field antics . Time to move on again … I swear this team is cursed . Rooting since ‘76 but losing my appetite for football since I can’t bring myself to support another team .

  43. Pete I Says:

    Are there any adults among Malcom’s kids? They need to end this farce. Is there any decision on who will coach the team next year.

    Silverbuck Swallows JW when he should spit.

  44. jerseybuc Says:

    The decision is made.
    He doesn’t have to say it in Cincy. But if Fitz isn’t the QB he will lose the team. It is about accountability and we need to play the best player at the position. That is Fitzpatrick right now.

  45. T REX Says:

    Are there any non fsu fans that want to keep that loser jw?

  46. thunderchunkyPA Says:

    The things is , you can see a difference in attitude when Fitz is playing. When Jameis is playing, everyone seems to be waiting for the mistake to happen.

  47. EA Says:

    This guy is not a winner. I’d be mad if he starts next week, experiment over.

    Koetter experiment is also over, his game management is subpar, kicking a field goal at the end of first half and leaving too much time on the clock at the end of the game. The biggest blunder today was not pulling Jamies after the second Int ( the was a terrible throw and it should have really been his third pick).

  48. Jean Lafitte Says:

    Throw Jameis out there again. All his jock supporters need more proof in their rose colored glasses.

  49. BUC IT Says:

    The problem I have is I feel like Fitz can’t grind out a game. He can throw a deep ball but he’s not good at intermediate passes. I’m not sure whats wrong with Jameis….. I mean he does all these jukes in the pocket that fitz doesn’t seem to have to do. So maybe he just doesn’t see the field. This is just an awful issue we are having. For everyone wanting to give up on Jameis…. its just not that easy. He’s only 25 years old. What if we trade him and he becomes a stud. He has all the tools to be good and its sooo hard to draft or acquire a franchise QB. Fitz is 35. If he is the answer… he is the short term answer and we aren’t contenders…. so whats the point of that.

  50. tbbucs3 Says:

    SweeptheLeg

    How did your boy Ronald Jones do today?

    Dude is straight trash. Slow, no ability to cut, has no balance and softer than chicken bleep.

  51. orlbucfan Says:

    So what are the Glazers supposed to do? Fire Koetter right now? The team should have lost this game by 21 points at least. It didn’t. The offensive game plan from the initial kickoff lost this game. All the offensve firepower was wasted. It was the same crappy running plays. Nothing surprising. So Winston starts backfiring and throwing interceptions. Still nothing creative with the offensive, stinky play calling. Koetter is an offensive team genius, but he’s blowing it as a HC. He can’t handle the pressure; some can and some can’t. There are 9 games left. This one sure wasn’t the fault of the defense. Placekicking woes?? More Buc Luck! Get Griffin ready and start him behind the old fart. That might give the team a chance.

  52. Warrenfb12 Says:

    He’s going to go with Fitz. And he should at this point. The picks have become a joke.

  53. B-Rad Says:

    Winston will give the Bucs a great shot at a top 5 draft pick. Fitz will land us in the 20’s with all the wins he will bring.

  54. FortMyersDave Says:

    Simple solution for next week. List Winston as questionable due to an undisclosed injury (bruised ego, whatever) and then start Fitz. Koetter saves the locker room and provides some cover to Licht. Koetter very likely needs Ws to keep his job so this is a move that has to happen.
    Licht on the other hand can save himself by making the coaches the scapegoats. So I bet there will be some friction between Dirk and the GM.

    BTW can the Bucs go ahead and sign one of the KC kickers they tried out??????

  55. FortMyersDave Says:

    Orlbucfan. Could Koetter blame Monken for the poor play script or does he still hold the offensive reigns????? Lots of blame to go around….

  56. NPRSageBoy Says:

    Joe’s – please stop using America’s QB moniker to describe the Tallahassee Dumpster fire that is Jay Miss.
    Move along….

  57. Trench War Says:

    I wonder if he mysteriously has another shoulder injury? …smh

  58. gambelero Says:

    Is this a joke?

  59. LakeLand Says:

    They couldn’t be playing Carolina at a worst time. They are as healthy as they have been in years.

    Everything is clicking for them
    Even against a top defense like the Ravens

  60. Firrrreee Licht Says:

    No decision on who coaches it either.

  61. Firrrreee Licht Says:

    Catanzaro is the person to blame for this game. The missed kicks last week shook Jameiss up. He can’t trust the coaches, the kicker, and the GM can’t get him a running back… all out mess. The only name mentioned here who deserves to stick around is Jameis.

  62. Firrrreee Licht Says:

    Start fitz and watch him lose just like Jameis would… the panthers r going to crush Tampa Bay. Hopefully that’s the nail in Koetters coffin.

  63. Oneilbucs Says:

    This fan base has been hoping for him to fail . Envenchly every quarterback has a bad game or 2 . But that’s what they been hoping for. This fan base don’t stand behind no quarterback but old washed up guys like fizpatrick. Now that he has espertaions watch what happens.

  64. EA Says:

    Oneilbuc I like the way you spelled eventually, this fan base has been patient for 4 years, enough is enough, he is the same guy he was in college who everyone thought wouldn’t cut it in the NFL.
    Just ask Tim tebow how it’s working out for him.

  65. RustyRhinos Says:

    Joe, ?
    “who will be the Bucs’ starting quarterback after Jameis Winston got benched for pretending to be Andy Dalton”

    Winston = 18-35 for 275 1 TD 4 INT
    Fitzpatrick = 11-15 for 195 2 TD 0 INT
    Dalton = 21-34 for 280 2 TD 0 INT
    How was Winston benched for pretending to be Dalton? Playing QB in the NFL?

  66. adam from ny Says:

    jameis is kinda like an outpatient with mental issues…i did a whole segment on it about 10 days ago…joe should do an article about what i wrote…jameis needs help…he can’t see clearly – he is mentally ill…and get’s way ahead of him self like a premature ejaculator – this is not a joke