The PR Bucs Monday Mailbag is where PewterReport.com’s Mark Cook answers your questions from our @PewterReport Twitter account. You can submit your question each week via Twitter using the hashtag #PRMailbag.
Below are the questions we chose for this week’s edition of the PR Bucs Monday Mailbag. Read them over and offer up your thoughts in the comment section.
Question: So will Koetter and Licht survive another season in the range of 6-7 wins? I like them both (especially Licht) and where this organization is now compared to when they started. It is night and day.
Answer: My crystal ball is cloudy. I suppose much will be determined by what caused the team to only get 6-7 wins, though, if that in fact takes place. If the team struggles out of the gate and goes 0-3 without Winston, then plays pretty well after that, they could survive, or if they were to get hit with some injuries at important positions. So many factors will go into whatever decision the Glazers make. Of course everyone involved hopes the team gets to that 9-10 game win total and sniffs or makes the playoffs, and at that point the needle is pointing up and everyone lives to see another year without a complete overhaul.
And yes, from a talent standpoint, it is night and day from when they took over. The organization has acquired the talent, now it is up to Chef Koetter to cook the dish.
Question: Is Licht guaranteed to get fired if Koetter does? I would be upset, I believe he has done his job well.
Answer: Where is all this negativity and gloom and doom coming from in these questions before the first game has even been played! I am kidding, kind of. But that is an answer only the Glazers would know, and that is down the road. As mentioned above, many factors would have to be considered. One, the quarterback. If the reason Koetter were to be fired is because of the play of Jameis Winston, or if he were to be suspended again, then yes, Licht would be packing his bags as well. Licht went to bat for Winston and is married to him. Winston’s future success will determine the fate of the franchise’s, and also Licht’s. You don’t get a do-over when you have the overall No. 1 pick and you select a quarterback.
Question: Do you see Monken calling the offense this season?
Answer: I sure hope to see that continue. I think the proof is in the results from the preseason, especially with the first team unit performing so well. That isn’t to say Koetter wouldn’t have had the same results this preseason had be been calling plays as normal, but knowing Monken is more than capable frees up Koetter to be an overall and all around better head coach. Monken’s success as a play-caller didn’t just start this season. He was very successful in his college stints and seems to really have a knack for it. As Scott Reynolds pointed out in his Fab 5 last week, if Koetter were to resume duties and the Bucs went out and fell on their face offensively against the Saints, Eagles and Steelers, he would really be setting himself up for a ton of criticism.
Question: What if Shaun Wilson is the best rookie RB on the team?
Answer: Simple. Then he deserves to play over Ronald Jones. This front office and coaching staff is in no position to not play the best player strictly because one was a second rounder and one was an undrafted free agent. They need to win and to win this year. I am in no way saying Wilson is a better player that Jones, but if the staff thinks Wilson is more capable, then he has to see the field. And if that proves to be true over the next five years then Licht and company will face criticism for drafting Jones that high, but also gets a feather in their cap for finding a diamond in the rough.