Dirk

Koetter

It’s a homecoming for 59-year-old Koetter, who coordinated Matt Ryan and Julio Jones’ offense from 2012-14. That included one amazing season and two bad ones. Replacement-level as a head coach in Tampa Bay, Koetter’s 2018 offense took off after Todd Monken was given play-calling duties. It’s hard to label Koetter a bad hire, but he is certainly an uninspiring one. Dan Quinn is circling the wagons around “football men.”

He’s expected to accept it. Koetter was fired by the Bucs and hasn’t been linked to any other job openings. Meanwhile, his OC in Tampa Bay, Todd Monken, has interviewed for multiple head-coaching gigs and was reportedly a finalist for the Packers gig. Monken was the one calling the shots for the Bucs’ high-flying attack. Koetter has a history with Matt Ryan and Julio Jones.

Atlanta is expected to “move pretty fast” in hiring a replacement for Steve Sarkisian, who was fired on Monday along with the team’s other two coordinators. Koetter was just canned on Monday as well but should quickly land on his feet calling plays somewhere. He was the Falcons’ OC from 2012-2014 before taking the same job in Tampa and obviously has a history with both Matt Ryan and Julio Jones. The Falcons have also been linked to ex-Seahawks OC Darrell Bevell.

The Bucs fired Lovie Smith following the 2015 season so they could keep his offensive coordinator, Koetter, but the move “peaked” with a 9-7 2016 before back-to-back 5-11 campaigns. Koetter frequently employed antiquated, vanilla schemes on both offense and defense but strangely took the play-calling reins away from OC Todd Monken earlier this year. Monken’s air raid had been raining points and yards. Koetter’s biggest problem was failing to develop Jameis Winston, who essentially looks the same he did as a rookie. Koetter’s defenses were gutted every year. Koetter’s phone will not be ringing off the hook as an offensive coordinator candidate.

The Glazers have yet to make a final decision, but Koetter is a longshot to be back. With most of their assistant coaches on expiring deals, Tampa is set up to clean house this offseason. The Bucs have been connected to ex-Packers coach Mike McCarthy as a possible replacement for Koetter.

Koetter has been on the hot seat since last year, but the Bucs have yet to make a decision on him. Tampa has one of the top offenses in the league under Koetter and their defense improved since the in-season firing of DC Mike Smith. It would still be a surprise if Koetter returned after another disappointing year. The Bucs’ talent-heavy roster would make them one of the more attractive openings this offseason.

Koetter, 55 next month, has head-coaching experience; he was the head coach at Boise State from 1998-2000 before coaching the Arizona State Sun Devils from 2001-2006. He had a 66-44 career record at the college level. Koetter has been the Falcons OC the past two seasons. He was previously the OC for the Jaguars from 2007-2011. The Falcons fielded the league’s No. 14 offense in terms of yards in 2013 and played the majority of the season with a shoddy offensive line, minus Julio Jones, a hampered Roddy White, and a broken-down Steven Jackson. Atlanta had the No. 8 offense in 2012.

Koetter is one of, if not the only candidate to interview with the Browns who has previous head-coaching experience at some level; he coached Boise State from 1998-2000 and Arizona State from 2001-2006. Bills DC Mike Pettine appears to remain the front runner for the Cleveland job. The Browns may still want to talk to Seahawks DC Dan Quinn before making a decision.

Koetter’s play-calling was not an issue in his first season as head coach, but he’s exploring ways to free up more time as his team’s leader. Coach Mike McCarthy recently made the same decision (since reversed), to disastrous results. Koetter will probably hold onto the play sheet in 2017.

Koetter flirted with giving up the play sheet, but he will keep doing what earned him the job in the first place. With DeSean Jackson and O.J. Howard added to an offense on the upswing, the Bucs should take a big step forward this season.