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Buccaneers Round Table: Should the Glazers care about injuries?

By David Harrison

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 15: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers speaks with Offensive Coordinator Dirk Koetter before the preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings on August 15, 2015 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Buccaneers 26-16. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 15: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers speaks with Offensive Coordinator Dirk Koetter before the preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings on August 15, 2015 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Buccaneers 26-16. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – SEPTEMBER 18: Defensive end Noah Spence #57 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 18, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Buccaneers 40-7. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – SEPTEMBER 18: Defensive end Noah Spence #57 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 18, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Buccaneers 40-7. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Michael Horan

Few teams in the league have been ravaged by injuries more than the Buccaneers this season. The injury wave hit early in the season, claiming prized pass rusher Noah Spence for the season, and linebackers Kwon Alexander and Lavonte David for several games each.Veterans Robert Ayers and Brent Grimes have each struggled to stay on the field this season as well. And that’s just the defense.

On offense, quarterback Jameis Winston has suffered from a shoulder injury almost the entirety of the season, and the offensive line has now lost its two best players in Demar Dotson and Ali Marpet.

It’s been a remarkable storm of injuries, and I expect the Glazers to weigh that when they determine the fate of their coaching staff this off-season.

No coach is safe thanks to the disappointing nature of the season, but I think head coach Dirk Koetter will ultimately be spared for one more season, in part because of all the injuries.
I don’t expect defensive coordinator Mike Smith to be retained, and I think several assistant coaches will be disposed of as well, including the offensive and defensive line coaches.

Injuries definitely played a key part in the ruin of this season, but in the NFL, injuries are a part of life and both players and coaches unfortunately have to pay the cost of them.
Consideration of the injury bug may save Dirk Koetter, but the majority of his staff won’t be so fortunate.

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