The Pewter Plank
FanSided

Buccaneers: Winners and Losers from Bucs 2017 Week 9 loss to Saints

By Michael Horan

NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 05: Head coach Dirk Koetter of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reacts during the first half of a game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 5, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 05: Head coach Dirk Koetter of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reacts during the first half of a game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 5, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next

Losers

Mike Evans

I know that Mike Evans earned some praise among fans for his hit on Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore, it helped earn him a spot on this list. Full disclosure, I’m a big fan of Evans and it’s probably the last time he’ll ever be on the losers list. With that said, I think that Evans’ cheap shot made him and his team look like punks, which is salt in the wound for a bad team.

I don’t fault Evans for being passionate or defending his quarterback (who really shouldn’t have been defended, given that he instigated it in the first place). What I have a problem with is the way Evans went about it, blatantly cheap shotting a rookie that had been shutting him down most of the day. If Evans is able to avoid a suspension he can most definitely count on a substantial fine from the NFL. One catch for thirteen yards will not cut it for a superstar receiver like Mike Evans, regardless of the chaos at his quarterback.

Next: Week 9 Pick Six

Dirk Koetter

When an entire team struggles the way that the Bucs did against the Saints, the head coach has to be among the losers. For the sixth time this season the Bucs looked completely unprepared and for the second week in a row he was completely out-coached by an NFC south rival. The Buccaneer offense in particular, Koetter’s unit, is struggling mightily. Part of that is on Jameis Winston‘s shoulder injury, but the game-plan is an even bigger part.

I do not know whether Dirk Koetter is safe. This season has been an extraordinary disappointment, and if they can’t get to five wins I’m not sure the Glazers will give him another season. Do you see the Buccaneers getting three more wins this season? Also working against Koetter is the fact that the Glazers make all decisions around what’s best for Jameis Winston. Will they want to waste another season with Winston in an offense that appears to be broken schematically? I’m rooting for Dirk to turn it around, but I’m not sure if it’s possible.

"NSFW: The latest PewterCast post-game call-in show. Frustrations are swelling and blame is spreading."

Who were your winners and losers from the Bucs loss to the Saints? Sound off in the comments, Buccaneer fans!

Home/Bucs News