Weak Talk By Dirk Koetter
December 1st, 2018
Joe didn’t like chatter flowing from the mouth of Dirk Koetter yesterday.
Joe’s unsure whether it was a weak choice of words or a window into a football team that struggles with readiness.
It all flowed through the Buccaneers Radio Network.
Koetter was asked by a fan about whether players in the locker room feel that they’re still alive in a playoff chase at 4-7.
Koetter didn’t seem to know, and then he appeared to reveal the Bucs have trouble getting up for opponents consistently.
“Well, to be honest with you we just really don’t talk about it like that,” Koetter said. “We talk about it as just trying to get better week to week and, you know, this week we start off the first of eventually three home games against our division opponents. It was kind of quirky with the schedule this year that we play all of our division home games at the end [of the season] and we play the road games on the front end. So, you know, this week it’s easy to get up for Carolina, because when we went and played at Carolina, they were playing at an extremely high level and we did not play our best that day and they got after us pretty good. And, you know, since it’s a division game, a team you play twice a year, I think that’s what the guys are most fired up about this week.”
First, in past weeks, Koetter has talked about how he shares with the players where they are in league standings and with various stats, so Joe doesn’t get why Koetter didn’t offer a resounding “Yes!” when asked about whether his players understand that they have a shot at the playoffs (if they run the table and reach 9-7).
And why the heck is Koetter even saying, “This week it’s easy to get up for Carolina …”
Shouldn’t it be easy to get up for every opponent every darn week? This the freakin’ NFL and you’re a franchise that hasn’t been to the playoffs since the 2007 season.
That’s awfully scary phrasing by Koetter right there.
Joe’s temporarily waving the white flag on trying to figure out the mentality of this football team. The evidence is its production. It’s been wildly inconsistent since the start of the 2015 season. (In 2014, the Bucs were very consistent)
Like everything else, that starts and ends with the head coach.
December 1st, 2018 at 9:43 am
Joe, it should be obvious by now based on the team’s preparation, attitude, and performance that Koetter is not a leader. He may have the title HC, but he is not a leader. Leadership is earned and not based on title.
December 1st, 2018 at 9:43 am
Mr Wishy Washy has no clue on how to prepare his team. That’s why you see them routinely gets their ars handed to them on the road. The home team is ready to play and the Bucs look like they just woke up from their bus nap. Koetter should probably say less like Belichick. We’re on to Cincinnati.
December 1st, 2018 at 9:45 am
Man, I gotta tell ya, Joe.
I have always like Dirk Koetter, but this quote is about as uninspiring from a head coach as I have ever seen.
It is definitely bothersome.
And yet, the players do seem to fight for him when the chips are down.
I don’t know. Just don’t know anymore. (sigh)
December 1st, 2018 at 9:45 am
You did figure it out Joe, this is a mentally weak team, lead by a mentally weak coach. It’s a team built by a G.M. who’s just not mentally astute enough to know how. It’s a team that makes their fans mental when they watch them.
December 1st, 2018 at 9:47 am
Speakin’ softly…as advertised.
December 1st, 2018 at 9:48 am
I think Dirk is channeling his inner GMC.
Ah shucks……..
December 1st, 2018 at 9:50 am
So you want him to lie to them? Constant articles about a bad defense. Coach being fired. Season is over. And they are grown men. They know what they have and don’t stand a snowballs chance in hell of making the playoffs. So yes the want revenge for the loss to Carolina this week. Next week will be next week. One week at a time.
December 1st, 2018 at 9:57 am
“Kobe Faker, was verbally persecuted by many from here over 2 years ago because of my evaluation of incompetent Klueless Koetter…
Kobe is waiting for his apologies from the abusers…”
Kobe Faker
December 1st, 2018 at 10:30 am
We are talking about a team that is holding onto Jackson out of sheer greed. A player that has publicly stated that he doesn’t want to be here yet they are trying to save face by keeping him. It is a shame what Licht and Koetter are doing before they leave. Just think of the example this sets for the team. All of the players see this. This is as big as not suspending Winston for his multiple antics. Not suspending Winston was the worst decision in the “Lost Decade” besides signing McCoy. The Bucs make some of the worst decisions imaginable. Common sense lapses. That fifth round pick you may get for Jackson that Licht is going to bust on once again is not worth the respect you are losing from the city. I know I am not going to forget this.
December 1st, 2018 at 11:00 am
Sunday’s team was different than the one we’ve seen most of the year.
JPP was the only rock still playing. Nassib is new…Vea is new…GMC is now in a more comfortable role…our safeties are showing excellent improvement. We desperately need a pair of CB’s and out LB corp which used to be one of our strengths is now one of our weaknesses.
I still want to wait and see which team shows up for the remaining five games. The uninspired heartless group that played the first ten games or the team that played this last contest with heart and chemistry.
I haven’t written them off but I certainly concede they are down to their last chance.
December 1st, 2018 at 11:27 am
He’s beat down and wants out..
December 1st, 2018 at 11:36 am
Dear Kobe:
On behalf of many o’ posters ( I may have been fooled by the miraculous 5 game win streak of 2016…but never a true believer of DK as head coach material in the NFL ) let me be the first to apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you and your family. You provide quality comedy with a side of keen insight to the comment section here at JBF. Godspeed, Sir.
December 1st, 2018 at 12:08 pm
It’s easy to let losing become a way of life. That is where the Bucs are right now. Too much losing and not enough winning. Winning starts with the head coach. Things need to change at the top. the Bucs also need to get a few “GAME WRECKERS” on their roster. They haven’t had that for years , and it shows. They have had a sprinkling of good players but no Sapps, Lynchs, Rices, or Barbers. I really like Chris Peterson as a head coach for the Bucs. He is a no non sense winner everywhere he has been. It’s time for some new blood and a fresh attitude in Tampa.
December 1st, 2018 at 12:59 pm
According to at least one of the Joes “you play for the playoffs or you play for the draft”…….
What do you expect from a coach who is supposed to give up like most of the media and the fanbase?
Maybe I’m simply old-fashioned…..but I think you play to WIN!!!
December 1st, 2018 at 1:24 pm
I think someone is nitpicking.
December 1st, 2018 at 1:30 pm
I agree with every comment above me. That doesn’t happen often.
December 1st, 2018 at 1:31 pm
Well, Bonzai chimed in while I was reading.
I guess I don’t agree with every comment after all
December 1st, 2018 at 2:08 pm
Weak talk by Koetter
That’s nothing new unless he’s talking about meaningless stats and teams goals like explosives….you know weak talk about all things except, he doesn’t seem like a guy demanding wins or the players very best especially if he won’t make his best return get on the field for punt return duty
December 1st, 2018 at 2:19 pm
Klueless is an OC who likes to be in the press box, like his pal Smitty.
No HC chops whatsoever…
Ultimately it falls on Licht….
December 1st, 2018 at 2:29 pm
TBBF
Amen brother. If we don’t play to win why bother to line up. Just phone in the loss and grab your lottery ticket for that 60% chance of finding a good player….if it’s the first round…gets worse after that.
But on a team trying to break a losing culture with a million questions to get answered why play to win.
If I sense that begins I’m outta here…I do not watch teams play for freaking draft picks.
December 1st, 2018 at 5:33 pm
Yeah these players aren’t fired up to play for Koetter. He’s not a leader, just a good OC. I like that he finally brought an offense to Tampa bay though.
His players aren’t leaders either to be fair. Jamies and Gerald are clowns, and he just got a reliable kicker. A HC can’t do everything by himself.
Koetter deserves one more year, just get him a good DC.
December 1st, 2018 at 6:00 pm
Yeah I don’t really buy that they don’t talk about it but even if they don’t so what?
Why looks to the postseason when your goal is right in front of you? Win this week!?
You should lay it all on the line like this is the last game every week.
I think Dirk has done a good job instilling this in his team to take it game by game, you can hear it in the player interviews.
Of all the things that I’m disappointed or embarrassed about with Dirk, this didn’t really bother me, although when I heard it I didn’t really buy it.
December 1st, 2018 at 8:27 pm
Soft coach, Soft practices, Soft team.
December 1st, 2018 at 8:55 pm
To me it seems like Koetter can’t motivate his team, he’s not a leader and he has given up on his team. Maybe the Glazers has told him he’s done already
December 2nd, 2018 at 2:45 am
Kobe you lost a bet a while back and if I’m not mistaken shouldn’t be posting on this site if you would have honored that bet.
December 2nd, 2018 at 6:56 am
Speak softly, and carry anxiety into your next game.
December 2nd, 2018 at 10:00 am
All this talk is played I do not think he could take a team to the playoffs with the best team in football
December 2nd, 2018 at 10:03 am
Bottom line is they aer not selling tickets and I usually go to 3/4 games and I haven’t been to one I would rather give my money to charity .