Koetter: Winning Now Is The Priority; Don’t Overlook Practice Development & Evaluation
December 22nd, 2018
Nearly departed head coach Dirk Koetter had Joe running head first into walls last night after his weekly visit to SiriusXM NFL Radio.
NFL scouting godfather Gil Brandt asked Koetter to name young Buccaneers that have made significant progress from the start of the season until now.
Koetter paused and laughed and then mentioned rookies Carlton Davis and Jordan Whitehead, and he said “by far” the biggest progress on the team is Vita Vea. “Those are the three guys that jump out at me the most,” he said.
Ok. Sounds good.
But then co-host Alex Marvez asked Koetter about a coach balancing getting playing time late in a season for the development of young players versus doing everything to win.
Koetter said it’s all about winning at all times and fans might not realize players are developing in practice.
“Sometimes people think you’re not looking at guys if they don’t go in a game,” Koetter said. “But they forget that we’re looking at guys every day in practice. I think players do get development in practice, so sometimes it doesn’t show up on Sundays. Alex Cappa is a young guy for us that, I know he hasn’t gotten as much playing time as people would like to have as an O-lineman. But Alex Cappa has developed nicely for us this year and he’s going to be a fine offensive linemen in the NFL.”
Yeah, players are coached and observed in practice. But there’s so little real hitting there that a guard like Cappa can’t be properly evaluated until he’s in games.
And you can make the same case for Ronald Jones. Offensive line and running back are positions that can only be judged effectively in real games or 100-percent-live-hitting practice (which doesn’t happen on Koetter teams to Joe’s knowledge). You can hear coaches talk about that every single training camp.
Cappa should be starting now for Caleb Benenoch, especially if he’s “developed nicely,” as Koetter said. And Ronald Jones needs the rock multiple times to see what he can do running inside.
This season is toast and winning is of secondary importance. Next year should be the priority. Joe sure hopes Koetter and the organization decide to empty the bench in the season finale.
December 22nd, 2018 at 12:53 pm
Hey JOE when does the ATrain get off the posting watch list
December 22nd, 2018 at 12:58 pm
According to dirk everyone is on alert for not receiving a pay check
That must really inspire beta male glazers to continue giving money to other beta males
December 22nd, 2018 at 1:00 pm
Dirk wants to win, 7-9 is better than 5-11 in his eyes. If he wins next week he would have to be the first coach in NFL history to win every opener and every finale. It’s the 14 games in between that doomed him. He would also finish in last place only 1 year out of 3. Better than the last 3 coaches at least.
December 22nd, 2018 at 1:07 pm
Nothing he says is relevant anymore.
December 22nd, 2018 at 1:09 pm
I’m wondering why he hasn’t been let go already? Everything that’s done in the last two games could be done by an interim coach.
December 22nd, 2018 at 1:19 pm
Hey kids, wanna play for the NFL, be rich, and be a loser?
Then take beta male Glazer cash!!
December 22nd, 2018 at 1:37 pm
To a fault Koetter protects his veteran players and the pecking order.
December 22nd, 2018 at 1:46 pm
Agreed nothing Koetter says has meaning. Guess I need to stop logging in until game days then black Monday because just way too many posts about a coach I didn’t want to come back last year and is now surely out the door. He better be because life is too busy to worry about watching this guy in another wasted season
December 22nd, 2018 at 1:53 pm
He didn’t mention young Jamyth..
December 22nd, 2018 at 1:58 pm
My hope is that Coach Kotter is returning with the Glazers blessings along with Licht and they bring in Marvin Lewis as DC. It would be so explosively entertaining to be there to watch the Joe’s reactions. Happy yule to all. Blessed be.
Go BUCS!
December 22nd, 2018 at 2:06 pm
Tony and not there yet,
Did you two read the article? Dirk was asked a question and his answer was solid and informative. He’s the coach and one of his responsibilities is interviews and press conferences. You guys I have no doubt would critize him if he gave up on the team before the season, if he refused to meet his obligations like the radio show you’d say that He already shut it down and it’s the reason why the team is mentally weak. If not you two, some other jabroni’s would because …well….jabroni’s are predictable.
If the media asked better questions, meaningful ones, I have to believe koetter would answer them with meaningful stuff…whatever the f that is. So relax ,dirks time is up in 8 days at which ti,e your life will magically transform from the nightmare it is to rainbows and butterflies.
December 22nd, 2018 at 2:17 pm
If this season was about developing players for next year and evaluations, then why haven’t we seen Ryan Griffin?
December 22nd, 2018 at 2:20 pm
der de der dirk!
December 22nd, 2018 at 2:20 pm
Actually kind of sounds like high school
December 22nd, 2018 at 2:30 pm
Anyone watching today’s 4 O’clock game ?
December 22nd, 2018 at 2:50 pm
Classic Dirk, shoveling SH!T and callin it sugar.
December 22nd, 2018 at 3:00 pm
@Dewey
and why wouldn’t he wanna finish at 7-9? That could possibly save his job, so yeah you’re right, for all the selfish reasons he’d like to save his job.
December 22nd, 2018 at 3:17 pm
I heard the interview last night….talk about a pregnant pause when asked which young players were beginning to stand out. Licht’s Out for 2019.
December 22nd, 2018 at 3:18 pm
Classic Dirk stubbornness
December 22nd, 2018 at 4:32 pm
Wow sounds like somebody who’s name rhymes with Hoe may be suggesting the Bucs tank the finale. By emptying the bench you’d be tanking a ball game. You wanna put something on tape, earn a starting position and you can make tape for 16 weeks a year. Screw that suggestion of emptying the bench, pretty ignorant actually.
December 22nd, 2018 at 11:56 pm
empty the sorry ass bench tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!