Why Dirk Koetter should be the Buccaneers' next head coach

Just when the wave of coaching fires seemed to be over, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stunned the football world by dismissing Lovie Smith on Wednesday night.

Some Buccaneers players were upset with the move, but tight end Brandon Myers had a clear vision for who should take over on the sidelines in Tampa Bay.

Myers is referring to offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, who may have head coach added to his title by the time you read this.

Under Koetter, the Bucs finished fifth in the league in yards per game in 2015, despite having a rookie quarterback at the helm. The team chose a sink-or-swim approach with Jameis Winston and the first overall pick responded well showing that he is more than capable of delivering in Koetter's system.

Koetter's work with the Buccaneers' offense can partially be attributed to the depth of coaching experience he brings to the job, more than most other candidates on the market.

The 56-year-old spent eight years as the offensive coordinator with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Atlanta Falcons, before arriving in Tampa Bay last offseason. Prior to that, he served as a head coach at the college level, splitting time between Boise State and Arizona State.

Koetter has had success at every stop, and if Myers tweet is any indication, it appears the players responded well to his approach.

With rumored interest from the Philadelphia Eagles, Tennessee Titans, and San Francisco 49ers, Koetter's value was on the rise, which may have forced the Buccaneers' hand, causing them to fire Smith days after other coaches were let go.

Forcing Winston to learn a new offense entering his second season would be a mistake and could threaten the development of the team's franchise player.

Koetter may not be a headline-grabbing hire, but if he has gained the respect of the players and can continue to advance the team's offensive development, he deserves a chance to show what he can do as a head coach at the NFL level.