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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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ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 20: Head coach Mike Smith of the Atlanta Falcons questions a call by the officials against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Georgia Dome on October 20, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 20: Head coach Mike Smith of the Atlanta Falcons questions a call by the officials against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Georgia Dome on October 20, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

David Harrison

Obviously the Buccaneers brain trust will consider injuries to the team when evaluating whether or not they want to move forward with head coach Dirk Koetter and his staff. The real question is: Will it matter?

Short answer, no.

Here’s the long version. Rosters are built for a reason. If NFL teams expected to find the best 22 and win Super Bowls, they wouldn’t need 52 spots, or 90 entering their training programs. No duh, right.

Well, quite simply, when you have a team experience as many key injuries as this team has and fail then there is a problem somewhere. It’s either with the player evaluation and scouting process, or it’s with the coaches use of depth.

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This is where the Bucs decision makers need to figure out what they believe. If the answer is on the coaching – i.e. the team believes they have the roster to succeed, it’s lacking in execution – then the coaches need to go.

However, if the dominant theory is the talent pool isn’t deep enough, then it’s time for Jason Licht to walk. Now, this is the easiest option and provides the path of least resistance.

Honestly, I could go on about this, and probably will at a later date. For now, I’m going to leave it to the topic at hand.

Speaking with Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com earlier this week, we both agreed the team has not had many more injuries than many NFL teams experience over the years. Maybe more this specific year than some, but not in the grand scheme of things.

No, the injuries won’t make an impact on whether or not coach Koetter and others have a job with the Buccaneers in 2018. The opinion about the failure of depth at many positions will.

"Check out the latest PewterCast Episode here!"

The injury bug lies under every NFL bed, it’s just a matter of time before it bites. Our writer’s have given their thoughts on whether or not this year’s injuries will help save Tampa’s current collection of coaches. Now share yours.

Give us your thoughts in the comments, on Twitter, or at walkingtheplankpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for reading!

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