Now that the Bucs have their coach, Dirk Koetter, to completely shut the door on the painful Lovie Smith era, it’s time to set sights on getting the defense fixed.

And the first call should be to Jim Schwartz.

No, Schwartz is not a nice guy. No, he is not a cuddly guy. Good!

This Bucs defense needs to be turned around and this is the guy to do it. He had the No. 4 defense in the NFL two years ago, his last season in Buffalo. He runs a 43 defense, which suits the Bucs’ roster.

Everywhere Schwartz has been, the team has had a nasty defense. He cut his teeth with Bill Belicheat in Cleveland and spent a couple of years with Ray Lewis and the Ravens as an outside linebackers coach. He spent a great deal of time learning from Jeff Fisher in Tennessee (Fisher stinks as a head coach but as a defensive guy, Fisher is damned good).

Joe will lay cash that cornerbacks won’t be misused under Schwartz. Joe will lay cash Lavonte David makes a Pro Bowl with Schwartz. Joe will lay cash the Bucs’ front line won’t be timid and weak, and will actually take advantage of one of the best defensive tackles in the game.

Schwartz is what the Bucs need at defensive coordinator.

Then go out and buy his former stud defensive end, Mario Williams, and watch this Bucs defense take off.

Joe just isn’t feeling Mike Smith as a defensive coordinator. Schwartz brings the resumé, the results and the attitude this defense is sorely lacking.