TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter likes simple. Ask him the object of a football game, he will tell you it is to finish with at least one more point than the opponent.
Somewhere though, in the film study, game planning, terminology, practice, lineups and game day decisions lies the hard part.
A professional football game begins to look like a symphony when all the work is put in and Koetter has shown himself to be a solid conductor.
He takes pride in game planning, then calling a game.
On Sunday, Koetter dialed up 501 yards of total offense, yet the Bucs scored just three points in a loss to the Washington Redskins.
The conductor cannot play the trumpet once the music starts. Nor can a coach snap the ball on 3rd down in the opponent’s red zone, or throw a pass to an opening running back at the goal line, or kick a 30-yard field goal.
Who carries the blame for Sunday’s baffling 16-3 loss?
Well, the coach and Koetter is the first man to agree.
Despite the mistakes and the lingering injuries, all excuses he refuses to lean on, Koetter is trying to write a symphony sweet enough to save his job. Is the orchestra still willing to play?
At 3-6, the Bucs hopes for the postseason have already entered “help” mode. Forget the NFC South.
The New Orleans Saints have reeled off eight straight wins after the Bucs hit them for 48 points on opening day.
The Carolina Panthers are currently the first wild card team at 6-3. Behind them, the 5-3-1 Minnesota Vikings.
The Bucs are in a mathematical “must win” situation for the remainder of the season.
Moves were made on Monday. Kicker Chandler Catanzaro was placed on waivers. Ryan Fitzpatrick was named the starting quarterback for this week’s game against the New York Giants. Koetter’s attention is on the present day, as it should be.
The big picture question becomes what do the Bucs do for the long term? The franchise has contract situations at key positions, beginning with quarterback Jameis Winston. A move at head coach or even general manager in January will effect everything.
Last year, News Channel 8 Sports’ Dan Lucas was a proponent of staying with Koetter despite the prospect of a losing record.
He never got a sense that the Bucs locker room was divided or not putting forth its best effort for the coach and still does not get that impression.
Koetter has built a reputation for being straight and honest with players and that means something to a professional athlete. Is losing a “culture” problem with this franchise? The Bucs have tried everything after Jon Gruden. The loose Raheem Morris, the drill sergeant Greg Schiano, the calm Lovie Smith.
Koetter, in Dan’s opinion, lets the culture build itself. It is the players’ team, not his. But he runs an offense that requires precision.
Most of all, Dan has listened to Bucs fans beg for an offense ever since the Josh Freeman experiment crashed and burned. It has taken more than half a decade to get to where it is today.
Koetter helped build that.
Where do the Bucs go from here?
Either answer regarding the coach is a fair one and the final seven games of 2018 will make it clear.
But one thing we can count on. Koetter will prepare for a must win because as he puts it, “every game is a must win.”
