Following the Bucs’ 26-24 victory down in Miami for the first preseason game, Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter took to the podium back at One Buc Place the following day to answer some of the media’s questions.
The first thing Koetter did was clear up the injury status of cornerback Vernon Hargreaves.
Coach Koetter on Hargreaves injury #Bucs pic.twitter.com/SI5fIDfzSb
— PewterReport (@PewterReport) August 10, 2018
Hargreaves left Thursday night’s game with what was called a groin injury. It seems like that could keep him out for the remainder of the preseason.
Next, Koetter addressed giving offensive coordinator Todd Monken the play calling duties against Miami and the thought that went into that.
Coach on giving the offensive play calling reigns to Todd Monken for last night’s game #Bucs pic.twitter.com/sGBBCJ0vMN
— PewterReport (@PewterReport) August 10, 2018
Monken will call plays for the rest of the preseason, and Koetter said he enjoyed managing the game with a new perspective without having to call plays.
HC Dirk Koetter gives his thoughts about the three rookie defensive backs after their first NFL game #Bucs pic.twitter.com/zmbjgLE3fU
— PewterReport (@PewterReport) August 10, 2018
Koetter also had plenty of high praise for his young defensive backs, Carlton Davis, M.J. Stewart and Jordan Whitehead. He was pleased with the job they did in their first game, and said most of all the game “didn’t look too big for them.”
Finally, after a great touchdown catch last night, Koetter was asked if tight end Alan Cross improved the chances of making the roster as a bubble player.
HC Dirk Koetter talks about TE Alan Cross and his chances of getting a roster spot on this team #Bucs pic.twitter.com/Dxg9NJMuVl
— PewterReport (@PewterReport) August 10, 2018
“I’d say he’s not on the bubble” is a great sign for Cross.
Wow…Hargreaves out for the rest of pre season? Javien Elliot has a golden opportunity with MJ Stewart.
Koetter then went out and signed two more CBs – Aaron Davis/UGA and former Central Michigan corner Amari Coleman.
Injuries already sucks. Hargreaves starting to seek injury prone. I guess laceration just dumb luck. Still getting annoying already with him.
I’m hoping Koetter will just be the head coach and let the offensive coordinator call the plays in the regular season.
I believe he needs to keep focused on the defensive side as to the play-calling by Smith.
Yes, I pray Koetter embraces the freedom to manage the game without calling plays. I feel like other aspects suffer on game day when he has to devote so much of his attention to play-calling. You lose bigger picture perspective on things like time management, player rotations, in-game adjustments, and conversion decision-making. Areas I feel the team has struggled in the past.
Monken did a good job. Hopefully Koetter continues this into the regular season and starts managing the whole team and the whole game. Seems like Koetter and Smith fell into a familiar track from their Atlanta days. Problem I see is that Smith hasn’t been getting the job done, but Koetter was just trusting him because of their past. As head coach, this is on him now. Let’s see if he starts acting like one.
The injury bug seems to get us every damn year! Fortunately though, this year our secondary looks talented and deep enough to weather the storm. Our 3 rookie DBs played lights out on Thursday! As far as play calling, “if it aint broke!” I would love to see Monken continue to call plays as he did so very well on Thursday. Plays seemed less predictable and most of all, the players seemed to take to them well. I didn’t see the usual slow start for Winston especially. I’m pulling for Alan Cross as he’s played well for us when called… Read more »