Koetter main reason offense is better, OT Dotson says
Before coming to the Bucs during the offseason, Dirk Koetter orchestrated three top-10 NFL offenses during an eight-year span spent with Jacksonville and Atlanta. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS By Roy Cummings | Tribune Staff Published: November 5, 2015 at 05:06 PMTAMPA —The Buccaneers rank 11th in the 32-team NFL in total offense, including fourth in rushing and seventh in net yards per passing play.The improved play of the offensive line, the re-emergence of RB Doug Martin and the steady emergence of rookie QB Jameis Winston have contributed to those numbers. But to find the real spark behind Tampa Bay’s rise from 30th at the end of last season, look to the sideline.So says Bucs RT Demar Dotson.“Having an offensive coordinator like Dirk (Koetter) has really benefitted us because we didn’t have that last year and we were all over the place,’’ Dotson said. “We were passing the ball when we should have been running it and running it when we should have been passing it. But now we have a guy who knows what he’s doing and who’s been there, who’s done it and been very successful at it.’’Before coming to the Bucs during the offseason, Koetter orchestrated three top-10 NFL offenses during an eight-year span with Jacksonville and Atlanta.With the Bucs, he replaced quarterbacks coach Marcus Arroyo, who took over the coordinator position on an emergency basis before the start of the last season after Jeff Tedford took a leave of absence to attend to a heart ailment.Though Tedford designed and ran some of college football’s most successful offenses, he and Arroyo had never worked at the NFL level. The Bucs suffered, Dotson said, because of their lack of experience.“Last year, we didn’t have (that experienced) guy,’’ he said. “And you don’t know how badly you miss having something like that until you have a guy like Dirk. That’s the biggest thing from last year to this year. We’ve got us a solid offensive coordinator that knows how to manage the game and knows how to call the right plays at the right time.’’Capture the flagIn baseball, a walk is said to be just as good as a hit. In football, drawing a penalty can be just as good as catching a pass. That is how Bucs WR Mike Evans sees it.On consecutive third-down plays in in last week’s win at Atlanta, Evans drew pass interference penalties that advanced the ball a total of 47 yards to help set up a 4-yard Jameis Winston touchdown run. He also drew a pass interference penalty in overtime that helped set up the go-ahead field goal.Though he caught only three of nine passes intended for him for 48 yards, Evans was proud to contribute in another way.“I was so happy to get those,’’ Evans said of the penalties he drew. “I work my butt off on the routes, trying to out-physical guys. And I got some calls this time, and that really helped us.’’Injury reportThe Bucs added S D.J. Swearinger (toe) to the injury report Thursday, but LG Logan Mankins returned to practice after sitting out Wednesday’s workout to rest for Sunday’s game. Also on Thursday, WR Vincent Jackson (knee), DE Jacquies Smith (ankle) and S Major Wrigt (hamstring) did not practice, while DE William Ghoslton (knee), DT Gerald McCoy (shoulder), DT Tony McDaniel (groin) and TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins were limited.For the Giants, three players were limited Thursday after missing Wednesday’s workout — S Craig Dahl (neck), WR Rueben Randle (hamstring) and G Geoff Schwartz (ankle) — while CB Prince Amukamara (pectoral) was also limited. Four players remained sidelined for a second straight day: LB Jon Beason (ankle/knee), WR Victor Cruz (calf), TE Larry Donnell (neck) and LB J.T. Thomas (ankle).***[email protected]Twitter: @RCummingsTBO
