There are new coaches. New players. New schemes. Heck, even the quarterback has a new waistline.
Let’s hope there will be new results.
The Tampa Bay Bucs started their first off-season program under new head coach Dirk Koetter Monday, beginning with two weeks of lifting and conditioning. Another eight weeks are to follow for the Bucs.
It’s a long road,’’ Koetter said. “Everybody’s excited. The coaches are happy that (the players are back).
“I didn’t want to bombard them with too much heavy stuff today, mostly just an outline of what the next 10 weeks are going to be like.’’
With Koetter still handling the offense, you might think the most improvement should come from the defense and special teams. Koetter, despite a team record 6,014 yards last year, says the offense has to get better, too.
“We’re by no means where we need to be on offense,’’ Koetter said. “When you win six football games, you’ve got a lot of stuff (you need to improve on). We have score more points, No. 1.’’
Perhaps that will be better with second-year quarterback Jameis Winston, who said his weight is down to 230 and falling. Winston said he wants to get better in every phase of his game, but he admitted deep balls are a priority.
“You know, I don’t let (receivers) go by himself,” Winston said. “He’ll do a 50-yard route, and I will sprint 50 yards downfield. When I’m out there with the guys I don’t let them do all the running because that’s the only excuse a receiver or tight end can have. ‘Well, you’re not out here running” And I say, ‘OK, I’m going to show you. I’m going to do the same running you’re doing so we can’t have any excuse.”
