The Tampa Bay Buccaneers season is on the brink. After back-to-back losses, the Bucs need to bounce back against the rival Atlanta Falcons after the bye.
The bye week came at a perfect time for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After starting the season red-hot, the Bucs have fallen back to earth and head into their bye with a record of 2-2. The past two games have truly exposed how big of a weakness the Bucs defense is.
The Bucs have a lot of work to do in this bye week, specifically Dirk Koetter. I have given coach Koetter credit this season. He has made hard decisions like giving up play-calling duties and has prepared his team well.
After starting the season 2-0 the Bucs offense started gaining recognition, Ryan Fitzpatrick was putting up record-setting numbers. But the unfortunate reality is the offense covered up how bad the defense has been. Coach Koetter needs to do something during this bye.
After the embarrassing loss to the Bears, people are calling for defensive coordinator Mike Smith to be fired. They have great reason to. The Bucs have given up at least 400 yards every game this season, and they just made Mitchell Trubisky look like Aaron Rodgers.
Dirk Koetter and Mike Smith are good friends but as head coach, Koetter needs to make a change. Koetter has already said he isn’t going to fire Smith which concerns me. I really hope he has some sort of secret magic plan to fix everything.
I am rooting for Koetter, he is a brutally honest coach and that is something I believe the Bucs need. He has made some big decisions, but to not lose this team and save his job they must come out strong after this bye week.
The next game is against the division rival Atlanta Falcons. I know we are only a quarter way through this season, but after getting blown out this game in Atlanta could be the first domino to fall in whether Koetter returns next season. If he fires Mike Smith or not I believe he will get the job done. Or at least I hope. Stability is what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers need.