Home games have treated the Bucs well the last few weeks as they just won their second game in a row, both on home turf. Aided in part by four sacks and four interceptions, with three of those coming from Andrew Adams, the Bucs improved to 5-7 on the season and defeated a division rival while doing so. Following the 24-17 win over the Carolina Panthers, head coach Dirk Koetter discussed the game.

Before Koetter answered questions, he gave a quick shout out to the Highland Rams, a team from the Ponticello, Idaho area where Koetter grew up. Koetter also led them to a state championship as their head coach in 1984.

“I don’t know if you guys are aware, but we have six representatives of the 1984 Highland Rams state championship football team here today, and their all 52 years old, man, how old does that make me? That is so awesome that those guys could be here today, I haven’t seen those guys in over like 30 years, so very cool that they could be here today and bring us good luck.”

“They know a whole different side of me, the good side, the side you guys don’t ever see.”

(On the defense)
“The D was fantastic today. Four turnovers, four interceptions, four sacks, and the offense, we couldn’t get that last score to put the game away in the second half, so the defense just had to keep going out there and keep getting it. Our d-line played so hard, I think when Justin Evans went out at halftime, we’re basically playing with none of our starting five defensive backs when you start the season, and so for all those guys that came in and were role players today, and stars today. Shoot, double A (Andrew Adams) with three picks and (Javien) Elliott with a pick, Harris with two nice pass breakups, that was pretty cool for those guys. It was awesome to have Lavonte (David) back, he led us with 12 tackles and one sack. Today was a day for the D, they did a great job.”

(On what he thought of Andrew Adams since coming from the Giants and what he’s seen from him)
“Well, everyone that we checked with when he came here said “good special teams player, good backup safety.” It just jumped out, his personality, if you talk to him, you know, right away his personality jumps out. This guy likes ball, and he’s bright eyed and he likes to work, he likes to play. Duff and the staff have carved out a nice little niche for him in a dime package playing like as an inside linebacker, part of that as necessity with Kwon (Alexander) and Lavonte going down, and he’s made the most of it. With our safety situation, he was playing a lot of safety in the second half as well.”

(On the significance of Jameis Winston having the most touchdown passes in Bucs franchise history)
“I’m happy of course for Jameis. You know, Jameis’ production, when he doesn’t turn the ball over, his production is always going to be there. Jameis is a fantastic player, and sometimes that gets negated by turnovers, but You can see in the last two weeks when we don’t turn the ball over, we’re a lot harder to beat.”

(On if he would rather see Jameis take those sacks like he did rather than throw the ball into dangerous areas)
“Take a guess about that.”

(On if Jameis Winston’s decision making has been better the last two weeks)
“Absolutely.”

(On how much of hitting Cam Newton and the sacks played a factor in causing all those interceptions)
“Well, the four sacks are one thing, but those last two interceptions, he was hit on those throws and those balls were fluttering. Cam, he’s got a rifle, so those balls hung up there. Our d-line was relentless, led by JPP (Jason Pierre-Paul), but Gerald (McCoy), Vita (Vea), Carl (Nassib) Vinny (Curry), all the d-line, Will (Gholston), all those guys, Beau (Allen), they played their tails off today.”

(On if hanging in there speaks to the quality of the team and this secondary)
“Sure, it just shows what kind of guys we have. Hats off to Jason (Licht) for the guys he’s brought in, and they’ve hung together. You can’t play would of, could of, should of, you got to take them as they come. It was great to get the win today, proud of the guys for hanging in there.”

(On Jameis Winston’s performance today considering there was no run game)
“Jameis was our run game today, he was our leading rusher. I thought Jameis’ best play of the day was the touchdown to Godwin. That was actually his fourth option on that play, and he scrambled up and found him in the back of the end zone. I thought that was his best play, but, I thought Jameis was really in control all day, and for the most part took what they gave him. We just couldn’t really get in a rhythm there in the second half, but the first half we moved it I thought really well, obviously that fumble on the one, that hurt us, it would have been nice to have that score. We ended up getting a score sometime later after the turnover, we just couldn’t get in very good rhythm in the second half. I don’t think that had anything to do with Jameis, we just couldn’t get our run game going and they were pressuring us a lot. They gave us a couple of looks that we hadn’t seen before, but, Jameis played well.”

(On Javien Elliott’s interception, being able to keep his feet going)
“Keeping his feet, I thought he was going to go down right on the catch. I told him at halftime, that was a hell of a job just staying up, then if he would of had any speed he would of scored. That was a heck of play, and if you know Javien, go back to the hurricane, Javien’s family was right in the eye of the storm up there and he was worried about his family. We actually had to let Javien go for a day, Javien was off our team for a day, we had to cut him, not because of the storm but because we needed the spot, then we brought him back, he was on the practice squad, then by the end of the week he was up on the 53, and here he is making the interception today. That’s perseverance by him.”

(On the Bucs having these players that stick through to play football and stay in this business despite roster cuts)
“Well it’s a good way to make a living. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a million guys waiting to take their spot if they don’t want it, but part of being in that position is being the right kind of guy to be able to handle the ups and downs. We start the beginning of every week by saying “if you’re in the room, you might be playing on Sunday,” and you know, David Rivers started off the week on practice squad, Bobo Wilson started off the week on practice squad, and they were both out there today.”