Most NFL head coaches get their jobs after becoming proficient as coordinators on offense or defense. Those coaches typically continue to focus on what they know, and to hand the other side of the ball to a skilled coordinator.
That’s what Andy Reid has done for nearly 20 years, in Philadelphia and Kansas City. It’s what Doug Pederson is now doing in Philly. It’s also what Dirk Koetter is doing in Tampa. Even though the Buccaneers’ defense is struggling a bit, Koetter has no plans to get involved in it, with the Broncos coming to town.
"[Defensive coordinator Mike Smith] and the defensive staff, they know what they’re doing,” Koetter told JoeBucsFan.com. “If I go in there, I’ll just screw ’em up. . . . As far as scheme, those guys know what they’re doing.”
It’s somewhat surprising that so many head coaches take a hands off approach to an entire side of the ball, especially since offensive gurus surely know a thing or two about what does and doesn’t work defensively, and vice versa. Still, if it works, it doesn’t matter. If, however, the person to whom half the fate of the team is delegated can’t get it done, it will be hard for the head coach to avoid returning to his coordinator role, with another team.