Dirk Koetter has tried for two years to manufacture an offensive identity – to become the bully in the NFC South! Wanting to build a badass offensive team, that imposes it will on opponents predicated on the running game to open up his two tight end play action offense. None of which has come to fruition.
During his off-season self-scouting evaluation of his offensive scheme. He’ll need to place it under a microscope and thoroughly question, its efficiency and effectiveness - to its plausibility of placing players, in the best position to succeed on a play-by-play, down-by-down and game-to-game basis. He’ll need to be open minded to scheme tweaks, personnel changes and doing things differently – which ultimately might include considering a switch schematically and philosophically in the way the offensive line operates, to ignite a run game.
The Buccaneers can ill-afford another dreadful season of offense were its spends 16 weeks scratching and clawing around in the dark trying find its identity.
Should Koetter fail to fine tune his offensive approach and maximize player talents to score points and secure wins – he’ll be looking for employment, with other members of the Fired Football Coaches Association. If Koetter succeeds in manufacturing a high octane offense - with players maximizing their unique talents, resulting in wins he’ll receive another year, becoming the first head coach to reach a fourth year, at the helm, since the Glazer’s fired Jon Gruden.
Interestingly enough – even if things improve offensively - 2018 is still a make or break year for the organizations three figure heads. Jason Licht, Koetter and Mike Smith have essentially been placed on notice, when the Glazers picked up Licht’s option year, gave Koetter a vote of confidence – bringing him back and allowing him to keep his staff intact for 2018. All presumably and hopefully understand the scrutiny with which they will be judged by ownership and fan base.
Speaking defensively things are far bleaker - for the embattled Smith, who in two years has failed to produce any semblance of a cohesive defensive unit, with the exception of a five game stretch in 2016. Smith has one-year, to propel an anemic pass rush and secondary devoid of talent, to respectability. However, his task will be much harder, knowing he will need to count on rookies to achieve defensive success. With a mandate from the Glazers, self-aligned with Lichts philosophy of building an organizations long term sustainable success through the draft, as its primary means of talent acquisition. Smith is in a virtual no win situation, with the fate of all three figure heads resting in the play of his defense.