Buccaneers Didn't "Start Slow" According To Koetter
Many Buccaneers fans on social media were freaking out over the slow start for Jameis Winston and the Bucs. Head coach Dirk Koetter has a different perspective of what happened.
Start fast. That’s the key to victory for the Buccaneers and something the new coaching staff has preached relentlessly leading up to the season. They don’t want to play from behind like they did so many times last season.
So how fast did the Bucs start Sunday?
Well, Winston was 3 for 9 for 15 yards and an interception and the Bucs were down 10-3 in the first quarter. Not really a fast start according to most.
Good thing Dirk Koetter doesn’t fall into that category.
Kotter spoke to the media Monday on the team’s off day to address a lot of what transpired in the win against the Falcons. The outstanding play of Kwon Alexander and Gerald McCoy, wanting to get Mike Evans more involved early on, what it was like to win that first game, but also the perceived slow start to the game;
Sep 11, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) drops back to pass in the third quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. The Buccaneers won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
“I’m pleased, but let’s remember now, here’s how the game really started. Everyone’s talking about how bad of a start we got, here’s how the game started: We deferred, our defense held them, they hit a bad punt, we got right in field goal range, then we had a six yard loss on a running play, so it was second-and- 16. Jameis overthrew a wheel route on second-and-16, then he overthrow Mike on the pump on third-and- 16, then we kicked a field goal. So for the next 15 weeks, if that happened and we got up 3-0, is that a fast start or a slow start? That’s an okay start, right? It might not be lightning, but it’s not horrible. I’m not saying we played perfect, but. I know Jameis was two of his first six, but I think he hit eight in a row after that and 12 out of 13.”
Once you look at it that way, it doesn’t appear to be as slow as we all thought. In fact, the only reason the Falcons were able to get the go ahead touchdown in the first quarter is because of a miscommunication that resulted in an interception, giving the Falcons the ball at the Bucs’ 13-yard line.
The Bucs face a huge test in Arizona this Sunday as the Cards are looking to bounce back from a stunning and disappointing loss to the Brady-less Patriots. The Buccaneers are certainly going to need a very fast start in that one if they are going to enter their home opener 2-0.
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