Koetter Dead Wrong On “Extremely Freakish”
March 25th, 2016
It seems Dirk Koetter doesn’t listen to Vincent Jackson’s show on the Buccaneers Radio Network.
Multiple times, Jackson spoke about how the ligament injuries to his knees last year, which cost him eight games, are a byproduct of the new NFL.
Solid high hits now are punished routinely by the league, so defensive backs and linebackers are aiming low. Jackson hates the rule change and says it leads to more injuries.
In the irony of ironies, Jackson’s first injury of 2015, during the Capital Collapse in Washington, was caused by Dashon Goldson. The former Bucs safety was targed by the NFL for high hits, getting fined repeatedly during his first season with Tampa Bay in 2012. Goldson had to overhaul his game — and it probably cost the Bucs two wins last season plus Lovie Smith’s job.
“[Dashon Goldson], aims a little bit lower target than most guys,” Jackson said in November.”But there’s been such a big rules and fines and things going on in the NFL about targeting and hitting at the shoulder and head area, you’re starting to see more and more defensive backs go lower, kind of aiming at the belt buckle or lower, which is unfortunate. I think you’re starting to see a lot more injuries coming from that.
“It’s tough. I look at the play, and it’s like, ‘Man, could he have aimed higher?’ Of course. But I have nothing against Dashon. I respect him as a player. Would I rather take one in the chops? Absolutely. I’d rather take one in the chops every day instead of getting one like that low where you can’t see it coming at protect yourself.”
At the NFL Owners Meetings this week, Dirk Koetter went on a firm rant about how he doesn’t think for a moment that Jackson has lost anything from his game at 33 years old, and Koetter said Jackson’s injuries were “extremely freakish.”
The reality is those two big hits to Jackson’s knees were not “extremely freakish” in today’s NFL. Just ask Jackson.
This is the life now for 6-foot-5 wide receivers — and the Bucs have two.
March 25th, 2016 at 9:23 am
Unfortunately he is right. That is part of the game now and some talking heads discuss that exact thing a couple years back. Another reason the Bucs need another wide receiver
March 25th, 2016 at 9:41 am
I’m pretty sure he was talking about the type of injury with them being non common ligament injuries, not just a sprained knee so I’m not so sure he is”dead wrong”
March 25th, 2016 at 10:01 am
Just like the Joes were dead wrong about Manziel
March 25th, 2016 at 10:25 am
It was a cheap shot, straight up! Goldson could have and prob did end vjax career. Vjax gets all the credit in the world for acting so professionally. Ironically, Goldson may never play again. Karma is a mf.
March 25th, 2016 at 10:57 am
Big players make big targets, and QBs and WRs are especially vulnerable due to the nature of the position. As a kid I remember watching Fran Tarkenton play almost 2 decades. He never seemed to take a direct shot, and if he did he bounced right back up while guys like Archie Manning and Jim Plunkett got destroyed from big hits year in and out.
Seems counter intuitive but who was the Bucs iron man of the past?
The smallest guy on the field-Ronde.
March 25th, 2016 at 11:20 am
DB55, you are completely off on this one. Goldson made the correct play, that the NFL has pushed him to make. Calling it a cheap shot show a lavk of football understanding.
March 25th, 2016 at 12:03 pm
I don’t know guys. In the heat of the game, a defensive player cannot always hit where he aims or be careful. The game is just going at to fast a pace. I know there are cheap shots. I mean a lot of these big bodied receivers are hard to bring down. A lot of Defensive coaches are yelling, Just bring the guy down. Vicious game man. Goes with the territory.
March 25th, 2016 at 12:05 pm
That is why lovie is so honorable!!! Because his system never had cheapshots or Hits on anyone!!!!!!!!!!!
March 25th, 2016 at 12:25 pm
I think the NFL is eventually going to turn into professional flag football. All these guys can cry me a f###ing river. They’re not getting payed multiple million dollars to play two-hand-touch. Who I really feel bad for is these college kids that are taking the same risks and aren’t getting a freakin dime
March 25th, 2016 at 12:29 pm
Big problem with going after other players knees. When Jackson’s game was lost he already was recovering from earlier knee related injuries.
March 25th, 2016 at 2:51 pm
The new NFL.
You know…if all of the players feel this way, why not hold a league wide player vote to force the NFL to change it back? I’m sure some sort of waiver can be signed, protecting the NFL from lawsuits.
The whole concussion thing to me is stupid. Anyone who plays football knows the risks, and always has. Claiming otherwise is lying. Not one of them would decide to avoid the risks and not play, so they are taking the responsibility on themselves.
March 25th, 2016 at 2:52 pm
Mike Johnson Says
I don’t know guys. In the heat of the game, a defensive player cannot always hit where he aims or be careful.
Not only that…there are offensive players who see hits coming and duck into them so that they are hit wrong and draw penalties now.
March 25th, 2016 at 5:47 pm
True that..BucBonzai!
March 25th, 2016 at 5:54 pm
we also saw a couple pretty severe internal injuries this year (andrew luck & the chargers WR, both lacerated kidneys)….i wonder how much making high AND low hits illegal (as they are for QBs) will eventually increase the frequency of people’s internal organs blowing up.
March 25th, 2016 at 7:12 pm
This is exactly what Brandon Mariweather was talking about a few years back when every one gave him s#@t for his response.
March 25th, 2016 at 10:56 pm
@buccaneerbonzai
Exactly. It should be on these gigantic contracts that they know what kind of risks they’re taking. “It’s a business” BS that is constantly put out. If you’re trying to get paid you gotta know what the situation is gonna be
March 26th, 2016 at 1:15 pm
What was the number one reason we nose dived at the end of the season? Not penalties, not dropped passes, not even the officiating. So many players were either out on IR or playing through some significant injuries. Yes, injuries are part of the game and will always be there but after last year I think everyone has in the back of their minds, are we going to hold up this year? The only real answer, you would think, is to get younger? Austin Seferian-Jenkins rules that out. There were 9 players on defense alone who missed at least one game due to an injury. 7 of those were original starters. On offense their were 7 players who missed at least one game. 5 of those players were starters. 54% of our starters missed at least one game because of injury and 30% of the team as a whole. IMO this year ASJ needs to complete the season of it is time to move on. GMC needs to have a solid injury free year too. I was disappointed seeing players like Jacquies Smith, George Johnson, Akeem Spence and Johnthan Banks all lose time due to injuries.