Tampa has the number one passing offense in the league, and the defense is the worst in the league. How can you win games that way? Simple answer: You can’t, and they are not.
Bucs are 3-5 again and face a remaining schedule that seemed to be ideal for the Bucs to make the playoffs, until Sunday’s loss that is. Presently, I have no clue what’s in store other than more let down.
Let’s face facts here. Koetter and his team, which included a Mike Smith defense, went 9-7 during his first season as head coach. They were playoff-bound! They were so close to making it. Then Tampa lost two of the ‘must-win’ games—Cowboys and Saints—that would have allowed the Buccaneers to slide into the playoffs for the first time in close to a decade.
The Bucs 2017 season looked promising at the start. They drafted key guys in positions of need and went out and got free agents, who were needed to fill depth, some of them being veterans, who would have helped guide our rookies during their transition. We were 2-1. We looked promising again, but that was all thrown out of the window when we lost every game in October. We went on to lose two in November and all but one game in December. You can point the finger at hurricane Irma or the reality that we didn’t get a bye week amid the season; that’s fine if you want to do so. I blame it on being unprepared.
2018 was supposed to be our year! The year the Buccaneers were going to do something. Tampa went out and grabbed some amazing talent in the offseason. Jason Licht traded for a top defensive end, and he’s panned out! I am still excited about Jason Pierre-Paul and quite satisfied in his play. I can say the same for Ryan Jensen; I am totally happy with him. We drafted some great talent despite taking a step back with a couple of guys. Be that as it may, here the Bucs are at 3-5 facing another sub .500 season. The Bucs fired the defensive coordinator, Mike Smith, and the Bucs defense looked essentially better, however, again the defense looked lost, on Sunday. The Buccaneers looked out-coached, despite all of their efforts. I was hopeful about Tampa perhaps making the playoffs, yet now I am totally uncertain.
We can blame the OC and the Interim DC; we can even blame the GM. But at some point, we have to look at the team for what it is, and that’s a s***-show. The blame has to fall solely on Koetter’s shoulders. Our GM made moves to get players, who would help us. Yes, he’s had some crappy selections, who haven’t worked out, but he has also done more good for the team than bad.
After the stomping by the Bears in Chicago, Koetter admitted that they all ought to be fired.
“Based on that game today, we couldn’t make enough changes. We should fire every person that was on that field today, starting with me. That was horrific.”
You fired one of the guys you needed to, in spite of not having any desire to do so. But now, it’s time for you to go.
Back in July, The Greek Sportsbook had Dirk Koetter as one of the head coaching candidates to be fired this season.
First NFL Coach To Get Fired Odds
Dirk Koetter +125
Vance Joseph +200
Adam Gase +650
Hue Jackson +800
Marvin Lewis +800
Jay Gruden +1500
Jason Garrett +2000
Bill O'Brien +3000
Todd Bowles +3000
Field +1500 pic.twitter.com/wvEKF1Kx93— The Greek Sportsbook (@BetTheGreek) July 19, 2018
You can complain that the Buccaneers will never have a winning season if they keep firing their head coaches, but you cannot deny that just one above .500 season isn’t winning.
Koetter survived longer than generally anticipated. It’s still early. However, I will watch my telephone, TV, and email throughout the day, in the expectation that I will get a notification stating that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fire their head coach. Something that I have become used to seeing throughout the years.
Bottom line: The Buccaneers are too talented a team to be at the bottom of the division. Changes need to be made. Whether or not he is fired now or at the end of the season, it’s time for Dirk Koetter to be fired. I am getting tired of the constant bombardment of the ‘Koetter has to go’ messages in my inbox after almost every game.
