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Buccaneers coach Dirk Koetter has decided to separate from defensive coordinator Mike Smith after only five games.
The Bucs announced Monday that Smith was fired less than 24 hours after the Tampa Bay defense lost more than 400 yards in a 34-29 loss to the Falcons on Sunday.
The Buccaneers have averaged 34.6 points per game this season, which is the worst in the NFL for six weeks. The Bucs also have the second-worst NFL defense in terms of total yards, with the team yielding 439.8 yards per game (only Kansas City is worse).
"We all understand that it is a results-oriented profession and our results to date do not meet our standards," Koetter said in a statement. "I want to thank Mike for all the hard work and passion he has demonstrated here every day and I wish him every success."
Smith has been the Bucs' defensive coordinator since 2016, when Koetter appointed him a few days after being hired as Tampa's head coach.
The decision to dismiss Smith comes just two weeks after Koetter apparently granted him a vote of confidence following a 48-10 loss to the Bears. The day after that match, Koetter said that it would not make much sense to make a coaching change as early in the season.
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"For those who think they snap their fingers and change coordinators in the quarter of the season, OK, what would you do next?" If we sent Mike Smith, what would we do? " Will the next move be? Koetter said on October 1st. " As coaches, we need to coach better. It starts with me, but Mike Smith missed no tackle. He did not rush the smuggler. He did not blow up any blankets. He had no communication errors. "
With Smith absent, linebacker Mark Duffner will assume the role of defensive coordinator for the Buccaneers.
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