Buccaneers: Grading Dirk Koetter Halfway Through Year One
He Has This Team: B
There is no doubt where this team is right now. One of Bill Parcells’ most famous sayings was “You are what your record says you are”. The Bucs are 3-5. So far, the defense hasn’t been able to stop a nosebleed, especially in the passing game. The pass rush has been inconsistent. On offense, they have taken significant steps backwards. There have been flashes, but they haven’t been able to achieve cohesiveness from week to week.
But Koetter has to get a lot of credit for the fact that this team even has three wins. James is right, injuries are not an excuse. They are a mitigating factor, because these aren’t just injuries, they are key injuries. The entire running back depth chart has fallen to injury, and veteran free agent signee Robert Ayers, brought in to take quarterbacks down, has missed time. Now, Mike Evans is in concussion protocol.
Losing that much talent makes even three wins an accomplishment. It means the Bucs are buying in. Dirk believes in his players and the players believe in him. Establishing that relationship in eight games earns the higher grade.
Next: Five Bucs that Must Step Up in the Second Half
We have had our say, now we want to hear from you. Assess Dirk Koetter and his first eight games. What say you? Sound off below.