NFC South: Raheem Morris
MIAMI -- Before jumping back into Super Bowl stuff, time for a quick update on the Buccaneers.
They sent out a release this morning announcing they finalized their 2010 coaching staff. Most of the moves were reported over the past few weeks. But if you missed any of them, here’s a look at how Tampa Bay’s coaching staff now stands:
They sent out a release this morning announcing they finalized their 2010 coaching staff. Most of the moves were reported over the past few weeks. But if you missed any of them, here’s a look at how Tampa Bay’s coaching staff now stands:
- Raheem Morris -- Head Coach
- Greg Olson -- Offensive Coordinator
- Richard Bisaccia -- Associate Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator
- Joe Baker -- Linebackers Coach
- Tim Berbenich -- Assistant Wide Receivers Coach
- Tim Holt -- Offensive Assistant Coach
- Jay Kaiser -- Assistant to the Head Coach
- Chris Keenan -- Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
- Jimmy Lake -- Defensive Backs Coach
- Steve Logan -- Running Backs Coach
- Pete Mangurian -- Offensive Line Coach
- Chris Mosley -- Defensive Assistant Coach
- Alfredo Roberts -- Tight Ends Coach
- Kurtis Shultz -- Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
- Dwayne Stukes -- Assistant Defensive Backs Coach
- Alex Van Pelt -- Quarterbacks Coach
- Todd Wash -- Defensive Line Coach
- Eric Yarber -- Wide Receivers Coach
Don't look for dramatic moves by the Bucs
January, 27, 2010
Jan 27
3:11
PM ET
As we wait for the Saints to resume practice Thursday, it’s relatively quiet across the rest of the NFC South.
The Panthers and the Falcons are quietly doing their thing at the Senior Bowl. So are the Bucs, but general manager Mark Dominik took some time to speak with Tampa Bay reporters at the Senior Bowl on Tuesday. Kudos to the Bucs for at least acknowledging the members of their local media who made the trip at a time when newspaper budgets are more than tight.
Dominik talked at length, but didn’t say anything earth shattering. The most significant thing he said might be exactly what a lot of Bucs fans don’t want to hear -- the Bucs will explore options in free agency, but they remain committed to the draft.
In other words, don’t expect a big splurge in free agency. The Bucs have 10 draft picks at the moment and they’re focusing on building their team that way.
Yeah, I know, go ahead and start yelling and screaming that the Bucs need to re-sign Derrick Brooks and spend $150 million on big-name free agents. It’s not going to do you any good.
I’m not saying Dominik’s approach is right or wrong, but that’s the way it’s going to be. The Bucs clearly are committed to Dominik and coach Raheem Morris for another year and this is the way they’re going to do things.
You can spend the next nine months griping about what the Bucs don’t have. Or you can spend the next nine months watching what they do add and seeing, over time, if this rebuilding process starts coming together.
The Panthers and the Falcons are quietly doing their thing at the Senior Bowl. So are the Bucs, but general manager Mark Dominik took some time to speak with Tampa Bay reporters at the Senior Bowl on Tuesday. Kudos to the Bucs for at least acknowledging the members of their local media who made the trip at a time when newspaper budgets are more than tight.
Dominik talked at length, but didn’t say anything earth shattering. The most significant thing he said might be exactly what a lot of Bucs fans don’t want to hear -- the Bucs will explore options in free agency, but they remain committed to the draft.
In other words, don’t expect a big splurge in free agency. The Bucs have 10 draft picks at the moment and they’re focusing on building their team that way.
Yeah, I know, go ahead and start yelling and screaming that the Bucs need to re-sign Derrick Brooks and spend $150 million on big-name free agents. It’s not going to do you any good.
I’m not saying Dominik’s approach is right or wrong, but that’s the way it’s going to be. The Bucs clearly are committed to Dominik and coach Raheem Morris for another year and this is the way they’re going to do things.
You can spend the next nine months griping about what the Bucs don’t have. Or you can spend the next nine months watching what they do add and seeing, over time, if this rebuilding process starts coming together.
Bucs express sadness on Adams' passing
January, 17, 2010
Jan 17
3:36
PM ET
The Buccaneers just sent out some quotes about Gaines Adams, the Chicago Bears defensive end who died Sunday and began his career with the Buccaneers.
AdamsAdams, the fourth overall pick by Tampa Bay in the 2007 draft, was traded to Chicago in October.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Gaines Adams during this sad day," Bucs co-chairman Joel Glazer said. “It is a tragedy to lose someone at such a young age and our entire organization is deeply saddened by this news."
"Gaines was a part of the Buccaneer family and this is a tragic loss," general manager Mark Dominik said. “Everyone who met Gaines came away knowing what a great young man that he was."
Adams, who never quite reached his potential as a player, was frequently challenged and criticized by coach Raheem Morris before the trade. But Morris had strong praise for Adams.
"Gaines will be missed by all of us, especially by his teammates in our locker room," Morris said. “He was a true team player and a positive influence to everyone he met. My prayers go out to his family."
Veteran cornerback Ronde Barber might have had the strongest words of all.
“Gaines was a quiet, humble kid and is far too young to be gone," Barber said. “He had so much potential that had yet to be achieved and I am very sad that the full extent of his life won’t be realized.”
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Gaines Adams during this sad day," Bucs co-chairman Joel Glazer said. “It is a tragedy to lose someone at such a young age and our entire organization is deeply saddened by this news."
"Gaines was a part of the Buccaneer family and this is a tragic loss," general manager Mark Dominik said. “Everyone who met Gaines came away knowing what a great young man that he was."
Adams, who never quite reached his potential as a player, was frequently challenged and criticized by coach Raheem Morris before the trade. But Morris had strong praise for Adams.
"Gaines will be missed by all of us, especially by his teammates in our locker room," Morris said. “He was a true team player and a positive influence to everyone he met. My prayers go out to his family."
Veteran cornerback Ronde Barber might have had the strongest words of all.
“Gaines was a quiet, humble kid and is far too young to be gone," Barber said. “He had so much potential that had yet to be achieved and I am very sad that the full extent of his life won’t be realized.”
Countdown to Thursday's NFC South chat
January, 12, 2010
Jan 12
12:00
PM ET
Here’s your official 48-hour warning. The NFC South chat will be held Thursday at noon ET.
We’ve moved it up from our usual spot on Friday because I’ll be traveling to New Orleans. Obviously, the Saints are the only NFC South team still playing and I anticipate lots of questions about their game with the Cardinals.
But there also is plenty to talk about with the Panthers (the futures of John Fox, Julius Peppers and Jake Delhomme), the Bucs (why they’re sticking with Raheem Morris and whom they might draft) and the Falcons (what they’ll be addressing this offseason). So please try to join us.
We’ve moved it up from our usual spot on Friday because I’ll be traveling to New Orleans. Obviously, the Saints are the only NFC South team still playing and I anticipate lots of questions about their game with the Cardinals.
But there also is plenty to talk about with the Panthers (the futures of John Fox, Julius Peppers and Jake Delhomme), the Bucs (why they’re sticking with Raheem Morris and whom they might draft) and the Falcons (what they’ll be addressing this offseason). So please try to join us.
The Bucs already have said coach Raheem Morris is staying, but it looks like there could be some changes to his coaching staff.
Special teams coach Richard Bisaccia’s name is being floated as a potential candidate for the head job at the University of South Florida. Makes sense because Biasaccia had a long background in the college game before joining the Bucs in 2002. He also has made it known he would like to be a head coach at some point. There haven’t been any reports of Biasaccia interviewing with USF yet, but don’t be surprised if something happens in the next few days.
Also, receivers coach Richard Mann reportedly has been given permission to interview with an unnamed NFL team. Mann’s contract is set to expire in February, and this is a pretty strong sign he won’t be staying with Tampa Bay.
Special teams coach Richard Bisaccia’s name is being floated as a potential candidate for the head job at the University of South Florida. Makes sense because Biasaccia had a long background in the college game before joining the Bucs in 2002. He also has made it known he would like to be a head coach at some point. There haven’t been any reports of Biasaccia interviewing with USF yet, but don’t be surprised if something happens in the next few days.
Also, receivers coach Richard Mann reportedly has been given permission to interview with an unnamed NFL team. Mann’s contract is set to expire in February, and this is a pretty strong sign he won’t be staying with Tampa Bay.
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A team-by-team analysis of the division. The arrow indicates which direction each team is trending.
New Orleans Saints
Final Power Ranking: 5
Biggest surprise: Wide receiver Robert Meachem said in the preseason this would be the year he showed the world why the Saints took him in the first round in 2007. A lot of people rolled their eyes at that one because Meachem had been a big disappointment in his first two seasons. But the man came through on his word. Meachem turned into a big-time player for the Saints. He scored nine touchdowns, showed very good hands and made things happen after the catch. Most of all, Meachem earned the trust of quarterback Drew Brees. He’s only going to keep getting better.
Biggest disappointment: There weren’t many in a 13-3 season. But you have to be a little concerned about the way the defense played over the second half of the season. After starting so well under new coordinator Gregg Williams, the defense slowed in its turnover production, in stopping the running game and had trouble with some ordinary passing games. Maybe things will go back to the way they were as the Saints get everybody healthy during the bye week. But recent indications leave questions about how much Williams really improved this defense.
Biggest need: With Charles Grant getting older and injured for the playoffs, the spotlight starts to turn another defensive end: The Saints have a pretty good one in Will Smith. But they could use another consistent pass-rusher who would cover up any problems in the secondary.
Team MVP: Brees. You can make a strong case for him as the league MVP. Even though that honor probably will go to Peyton Manning, who grew up in New Orleans, most people in New Orleans will swear that Brees is the real MVP.
Best move not made: The Saints talked about signing Edgerrin James or drafting Beanie Wells. They did neither and that turned out to be a brilliant move. The Saints went with a combination of Pierre Thomas, Mike Bell and Reggie Bush, and coach Sean Payton made a strong commitment to the running game that paid off.
Atlanta Falcons
Final Power Ranking: 15
Biggest surprise: The schedule. The NFL handed the Falcons one of the league’s toughest schedules, including games against a bunch of teams coming off their byes. In some ways, it might have been payback for a light load in 2008, but it also seemed like the Falcons ran into a lot of teams when those teams were playing their best football of the season.
Biggest disappointment: The running game, which was so dominant in 2008’s playoff season, struggled with consistency most of the year. Just when it seemed as if Michael Turner was starting to get back to last year’s form, he got hurt and missed a lot of playing time down the stretch. The Falcons need to determine why Turner struggled and they have to address the reasons in the offseason. If Turner wasn’t in shape or wasn’t running well, it might be time to bring in an alternative. If the problem was with the offensive line, the Falcons need to go out and upgrade it.
Biggest need: A pass rush. Veteran John Abraham dropped off dramatically and no one else really stepped up. The Falcons need to get help for Abraham and an heir apparent. You could also say there are big needs in the secondary, but I don’t think they’re quite as dramatic. The old adage is that the best pass defense is a good pass rush. The Falcons need a better pass rush than they had this year.
Team MVP: Curtis Lofton. In his second season, and with some good guidance from veteran Mike Peterson, the second-year linebacker emerged as an on-field force and leader of a defense that got better as the season went on. Lofton became an every-down linebacker this year and anchored a run defense that allowed only one running back to run for 100 yards, and that was New England’s Fred Taylor in Week 3. Lofton didn’t make the Pro Bowl, but Atlanta’s coaches will tell you he played at that kind of level. If he keeps doing that, he’ll end up in the Pro Bowl when the Falcons become a playoff team.
Remember the rookies: A lot of people want to call general manager Thomas Dimitroff’s second draft a bust, especially since his first one was so great. But that’s not fair or accurate. The top two picks, defensive tackle Peria Jerry and safety William Moore, went down with season-ending injuries before they really had a chance to make an impact. In Jerry’s limited time, you could see he was going to be a difference-maker. He’ll have to make that difference a year later than expected.
Carolina Panthers
Final Power Ranking: 18
Biggest surprise: Julius Peppers. After making noise about wanting out of Carolina in the offseason, Peppers wound up sticking around. Somewhat out of character, Peppers showed up on a pretty consistent basis and was dominant at times. Of course, it might be argued Peppers was only showing up so he could earn himself a big contract somewhere else. That might be the truth.
Biggest disappointment: I still haven’t figured out what happened to quarterback Jake Delhomme. No, he never was Peyton Manning or Tom Brady. But for a very long time, he did a nice job of managing games and being reliable for Carolina’s ball-control offense. But Delhomme started throwing interceptions in bunches for no apparent reason. His performance ended up looking even worse when backup Matt Moore came in and actually had some success. We still don’t know for sure if Moore is good enough to be Carolina’s starting quarterback, but it’s painfully obvious Delhomme isn’t that anymore.
Biggest need: A quarterback. Let’s be real honest here. Moore did some very good things and he could end up being the answer. But has he really shown enough for us to know that for certain? No, period. At very least, the Panthers have to bring in a quarterback capable of competing with Moore for the starting job. This team has too much talent and John Fox has too much on the line not to have another strong option at quarterback.
Team MVP: Linebacker Jon Beason. Peppers had some big games, but Beason was a steady force on a defense that ended up being the best in the NFC South. He had 142 tackles and made some big plays. Beason wasn’t too happy when he was snubbed by Pro Bowl voters. He’s got a good point –- and he’s got plenty of motivation now.
What the heck?: There wasn’t a more stunning move off the field in the NFC South than owner Jerry Richardson firing sons Mark and Jon just before the season started. The Richardson brothers had largely been running the day-to-day operations of this team for a long time. We probably will never know the full story, but it’s safe to say the Richardson brothers had a major clash and their father thought it was so divisive that the franchise would be better off without them.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Final Power Ranking: 30
Biggest surprise: Oh, man, where do I start? This team had all sorts of surprises and most of them weren’t good. I guess I’ll go with the firing of offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski about a week before the regular season started. It was followed by claims Jagodzinski wasn’t organized and that his playbook was basically a pamphlet. If all that’s true, how did Raheem Morris miss the warning signs as he did his homework?
Biggest disappointment: Again, there are plenty of possibilities. But I’m going with receiver Antonio Bryant. He had a huge season last year and the Bucs placed the franchise tag on him. It meant he didn’t get a long-term contract, but it also meant he made about $10 million a season. The basic message from the Bucs was, “go out and show us you can do it one more time and we’ll reward you’’. Instead of doing that, Bryant did little for much of the year and, then, had the nerve to point the blame at just about everyone but himself. Umm, that’s not how you get a long-term deal. Good luck in free agency.
Biggest need: A defensive tackle. Yeah, there are needs just about everywhere, but this one is easily the biggest. Sad part is, it was the biggest need last offseason and, other than drafting Roy Miller in the third round, the Bucs didn’t address this. It was an obvious problem in the final month of Jon Gruden’s last season and the Bucs somehow decided Chris Hovan and Ryan Sims were the answer. They can’t think that this time around.
Team MVP: Josh Freeman. The rookie quarterback played only about half a season, but he’s the reason Morris is keeping his job. Freeman made some rookie mistakes, but he also had some moments of brilliance. At those times, it made you wonder what this kid can do with some real wide receivers to throw to.
Let’s finish with something positive: Easy -– Sammie Stroughter. The Bucs took a shot on the wide receiver, who had some personal problems in college, in the seventh round. Stroughter turned out to be their best receiver and a pretty good return man. So no, not every move the Bucs made was a disaster.
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A team-by-team analysis of the division. The arrow indicates which direction each team is trending.
New Orleans Saints
Final Power Ranking: 5
Biggest surprise: Wide receiver Robert Meachem said in the preseason this would be the year he showed the world why the Saints took him in the first round in 2007. A lot of people rolled their eyes at that one because Meachem had been a big disappointment in his first two seasons. But the man came through on his word. Meachem turned into a big-time player for the Saints. He scored nine touchdowns, showed very good hands and made things happen after the catch. Most of all, Meachem earned the trust of quarterback Drew Brees. He’s only going to keep getting better.
Biggest disappointment: There weren’t many in a 13-3 season. But you have to be a little concerned about the way the defense played over the second half of the season. After starting so well under new coordinator Gregg Williams, the defense slowed in its turnover production, in stopping the running game and had trouble with some ordinary passing games. Maybe things will go back to the way they were as the Saints get everybody healthy during the bye week. But recent indications leave questions about how much Williams really improved this defense.
Biggest need: With Charles Grant getting older and injured for the playoffs, the spotlight starts to turn another defensive end: The Saints have a pretty good one in Will Smith. But they could use another consistent pass-rusher who would cover up any problems in the secondary.
Team MVP: Brees. You can make a strong case for him as the league MVP. Even though that honor probably will go to Peyton Manning, who grew up in New Orleans, most people in New Orleans will swear that Brees is the real MVP.
Best move not made: The Saints talked about signing Edgerrin James or drafting Beanie Wells. They did neither and that turned out to be a brilliant move. The Saints went with a combination of Pierre Thomas, Mike Bell and Reggie Bush, and coach Sean Payton made a strong commitment to the running game that paid off.
Atlanta Falcons
Final Power Ranking: 15
Biggest surprise: The schedule. The NFL handed the Falcons one of the league’s toughest schedules, including games against a bunch of teams coming off their byes. In some ways, it might have been payback for a light load in 2008, but it also seemed like the Falcons ran into a lot of teams when those teams were playing their best football of the season.
Biggest disappointment: The running game, which was so dominant in 2008’s playoff season, struggled with consistency most of the year. Just when it seemed as if Michael Turner was starting to get back to last year’s form, he got hurt and missed a lot of playing time down the stretch. The Falcons need to determine why Turner struggled and they have to address the reasons in the offseason. If Turner wasn’t in shape or wasn’t running well, it might be time to bring in an alternative. If the problem was with the offensive line, the Falcons need to go out and upgrade it.
Biggest need: A pass rush. Veteran John Abraham dropped off dramatically and no one else really stepped up. The Falcons need to get help for Abraham and an heir apparent. You could also say there are big needs in the secondary, but I don’t think they’re quite as dramatic. The old adage is that the best pass defense is a good pass rush. The Falcons need a better pass rush than they had this year.
Team MVP: Curtis Lofton. In his second season, and with some good guidance from veteran Mike Peterson, the second-year linebacker emerged as an on-field force and leader of a defense that got better as the season went on. Lofton became an every-down linebacker this year and anchored a run defense that allowed only one running back to run for 100 yards, and that was New England’s Fred Taylor in Week 3. Lofton didn’t make the Pro Bowl, but Atlanta’s coaches will tell you he played at that kind of level. If he keeps doing that, he’ll end up in the Pro Bowl when the Falcons become a playoff team.
Remember the rookies: A lot of people want to call general manager Thomas Dimitroff’s second draft a bust, especially since his first one was so great. But that’s not fair or accurate. The top two picks, defensive tackle Peria Jerry and safety William Moore, went down with season-ending injuries before they really had a chance to make an impact. In Jerry’s limited time, you could see he was going to be a difference-maker. He’ll have to make that difference a year later than expected.
Carolina Panthers
Final Power Ranking: 18
Biggest surprise: Julius Peppers. After making noise about wanting out of Carolina in the offseason, Peppers wound up sticking around. Somewhat out of character, Peppers showed up on a pretty consistent basis and was dominant at times. Of course, it might be argued Peppers was only showing up so he could earn himself a big contract somewhere else. That might be the truth.
Biggest disappointment: I still haven’t figured out what happened to quarterback Jake Delhomme. No, he never was Peyton Manning or Tom Brady. But for a very long time, he did a nice job of managing games and being reliable for Carolina’s ball-control offense. But Delhomme started throwing interceptions in bunches for no apparent reason. His performance ended up looking even worse when backup Matt Moore came in and actually had some success. We still don’t know for sure if Moore is good enough to be Carolina’s starting quarterback, but it’s painfully obvious Delhomme isn’t that anymore.
Biggest need: A quarterback. Let’s be real honest here. Moore did some very good things and he could end up being the answer. But has he really shown enough for us to know that for certain? No, period. At very least, the Panthers have to bring in a quarterback capable of competing with Moore for the starting job. This team has too much talent and John Fox has too much on the line not to have another strong option at quarterback.
Team MVP: Linebacker Jon Beason. Peppers had some big games, but Beason was a steady force on a defense that ended up being the best in the NFC South. He had 142 tackles and made some big plays. Beason wasn’t too happy when he was snubbed by Pro Bowl voters. He’s got a good point –- and he’s got plenty of motivation now.
What the heck?: There wasn’t a more stunning move off the field in the NFC South than owner Jerry Richardson firing sons Mark and Jon just before the season started. The Richardson brothers had largely been running the day-to-day operations of this team for a long time. We probably will never know the full story, but it’s safe to say the Richardson brothers had a major clash and their father thought it was so divisive that the franchise would be better off without them.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Final Power Ranking: 30
Biggest surprise: Oh, man, where do I start? This team had all sorts of surprises and most of them weren’t good. I guess I’ll go with the firing of offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski about a week before the regular season started. It was followed by claims Jagodzinski wasn’t organized and that his playbook was basically a pamphlet. If all that’s true, how did Raheem Morris miss the warning signs as he did his homework?
Biggest disappointment: Again, there are plenty of possibilities. But I’m going with receiver Antonio Bryant. He had a huge season last year and the Bucs placed the franchise tag on him. It meant he didn’t get a long-term contract, but it also meant he made about $10 million a season. The basic message from the Bucs was, “go out and show us you can do it one more time and we’ll reward you’’. Instead of doing that, Bryant did little for much of the year and, then, had the nerve to point the blame at just about everyone but himself. Umm, that’s not how you get a long-term deal. Good luck in free agency.
Biggest need: A defensive tackle. Yeah, there are needs just about everywhere, but this one is easily the biggest. Sad part is, it was the biggest need last offseason and, other than drafting Roy Miller in the third round, the Bucs didn’t address this. It was an obvious problem in the final month of Jon Gruden’s last season and the Bucs somehow decided Chris Hovan and Ryan Sims were the answer. They can’t think that this time around.
Team MVP: Josh Freeman. The rookie quarterback played only about half a season, but he’s the reason Morris is keeping his job. Freeman made some rookie mistakes, but he also had some moments of brilliance. At those times, it made you wonder what this kid can do with some real wide receivers to throw to.
Let’s finish with something positive: Easy -– Sammie Stroughter. The Bucs took a shot on the wide receiver, who had some personal problems in college, in the seventh round. Stroughter turned out to be their best receiver and a pretty good return man. So no, not every move the Bucs made was a disaster.
It’s looking more and more like there won’t be any coaching changes in the NFC South.
Although there has been lots of speculation about the future of Raheem Morris in Tampa Bay and John Fox in Carolina, it appears the door has shut on one scenario and seems to be closing on another.
As you know, Bucs co-chairman Joel Glazer came out last night and said Morris will return for a second season. The latest development is out of Carolina, where Fox told the team’s radio show that he sees himself staying in Carolina.
That’s a lot stronger than what Fox said after Sunday’s game when he left open all sorts of possibilities. I still don’t think it’s totally safe to guarantee Fox will stay with the Panthers, but that’s looking like the leading scenario.
Although the Panthers haven’t offered a contract extension beyond the 2010 season, they’ve made it clear Fox is welcome to finish out his contract. He’s scheduled to make about $6 million and has the chance to return to a team that has lots of good parts in place.
Barring another job coming open -- and coming with big dollars and in an attractive place -- my guess is Fox stays in Carolina and goes out with a chip on his shoulder next season to show the Panthers he’s worthy of a long-term deal.
Although there has been lots of speculation about the future of Raheem Morris in Tampa Bay and John Fox in Carolina, it appears the door has shut on one scenario and seems to be closing on another.
As you know, Bucs co-chairman Joel Glazer came out last night and said Morris will return for a second season. The latest development is out of Carolina, where Fox told the team’s radio show that he sees himself staying in Carolina.
That’s a lot stronger than what Fox said after Sunday’s game when he left open all sorts of possibilities. I still don’t think it’s totally safe to guarantee Fox will stay with the Panthers, but that’s looking like the leading scenario.
Although the Panthers haven’t offered a contract extension beyond the 2010 season, they’ve made it clear Fox is welcome to finish out his contract. He’s scheduled to make about $6 million and has the chance to return to a team that has lots of good parts in place.
Barring another job coming open -- and coming with big dollars and in an attractive place -- my guess is Fox stays in Carolina and goes out with a chip on his shoulder next season to show the Panthers he’s worthy of a long-term deal.
Bucs co-chairman Joel Glazer came out late Monday night and said coach Raheem Morris will get a second season. Good for the Glazer family for not hitting the panic button and doing something desperate.
I know the news might not sit well with Tampa Bay fans, who had visions of some fancy, high-priced coach coming in and instantly taking the Bucs to the Super Bowl. That was fantasy. The reality is the Bucs have a long way to go and Morris might be the right guy to get them there.
Yes, he made some very questionable moves in his first year and looked overwhelmed at times. But he did seem to learn from his mistakes and had the Bucs playing respectably for the last month. They finished 3-13, which if you’re really honest with yourself, isn’t all that different from what was realistically expected at the beginning of the season.
Remember, the Bucs, with the blessing or maybe even the orders of the Glazers, undertook a huge rebuilding effort. You could even call it a gutting. Things got very ugly, but Morris was able to show a little progress at the end.
This job is far from over. But, like it or not, the fact is, Morris is staying. With that in mind, here are five pieces of advice for Morris as he prepares for his second season.
1. Go out and hire a defensive coordinator. You did a fine job of taking over the defense after dumping Jim Bates. You went back to the Tampa Two and it worked. There are plenty of guys out there who are well versed in the Tampa Two, including some big names and there could be even more on the market in the coming days. Go out and get one of them. You’ve got more than enough on your plate as the head coach.
2. Find a stud defensive tackle. You’re sitting at No. 3 in the draft and all the talk is that Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh could be the first player taken. Hang loose a bit on this. Pre-draft workouts sometimes change things and Suh still could be available at No. 3. If you get close to the draft and it looks like he’s going at No. 1, trade up and get him. He’s exactly what you need and you’ve got 10 draft picks as ammunition to move up.
3. Continue building around Josh Freeman. The rookie quarterback did some really good things once he got to play and he did them with a horrible team around him. Go out and get him some real wide receivers to go with tight end Kellen Winslow. Let Antonio Bryant walk and, if you’re still sold on Michael Clayton, keep him around as a backup. You’ve got a good slot receiver in Sammie Stroughter. Now, go out and get two real NFL starters for Freeman to throw to.
4. Keep Greg Olson as your offensive coordinator. Yeah, I know some fans aren’t high on Olson, who was thrown into the role when you fired Jeff Jagodzinski on the eve of the season. But ignore the criticism. Olson’s been a coordinator in the NFL before and he’s got a year in of working with Freeman. Let the two of them stay together and build on the good things that came out of the second half of the season.
5. Settle on a kicker and punter. You went through more kickers and punters in your first year than some coaches go through in a career. Kickers and punters actually are important and continuity means a lot. Get the guys you want in the offseason and stick with them.
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Jamie Squire/Getty ImagesNow that Raheem Morris knows he'll be back next season, he has work to do.
Yes, he made some very questionable moves in his first year and looked overwhelmed at times. But he did seem to learn from his mistakes and had the Bucs playing respectably for the last month. They finished 3-13, which if you’re really honest with yourself, isn’t all that different from what was realistically expected at the beginning of the season.
Remember, the Bucs, with the blessing or maybe even the orders of the Glazers, undertook a huge rebuilding effort. You could even call it a gutting. Things got very ugly, but Morris was able to show a little progress at the end.
This job is far from over. But, like it or not, the fact is, Morris is staying. With that in mind, here are five pieces of advice for Morris as he prepares for his second season.
1. Go out and hire a defensive coordinator. You did a fine job of taking over the defense after dumping Jim Bates. You went back to the Tampa Two and it worked. There are plenty of guys out there who are well versed in the Tampa Two, including some big names and there could be even more on the market in the coming days. Go out and get one of them. You’ve got more than enough on your plate as the head coach.
2. Find a stud defensive tackle. You’re sitting at No. 3 in the draft and all the talk is that Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh could be the first player taken. Hang loose a bit on this. Pre-draft workouts sometimes change things and Suh still could be available at No. 3. If you get close to the draft and it looks like he’s going at No. 1, trade up and get him. He’s exactly what you need and you’ve got 10 draft picks as ammunition to move up.
3. Continue building around Josh Freeman. The rookie quarterback did some really good things once he got to play and he did them with a horrible team around him. Go out and get him some real wide receivers to go with tight end Kellen Winslow. Let Antonio Bryant walk and, if you’re still sold on Michael Clayton, keep him around as a backup. You’ve got a good slot receiver in Sammie Stroughter. Now, go out and get two real NFL starters for Freeman to throw to.
4. Keep Greg Olson as your offensive coordinator. Yeah, I know some fans aren’t high on Olson, who was thrown into the role when you fired Jeff Jagodzinski on the eve of the season. But ignore the criticism. Olson’s been a coordinator in the NFL before and he’s got a year in of working with Freeman. Let the two of them stay together and build on the good things that came out of the second half of the season.
5. Settle on a kicker and punter. You went through more kickers and punters in your first year than some coaches go through in a career. Kickers and punters actually are important and continuity means a lot. Get the guys you want in the offseason and stick with them.
Glazers say Morris will continue with Bucs
January, 4, 2010
Jan 4
11:24
PM ET
TAMPA, Fla. – No more speculation and no more anonymous sources. Raheem Morris will get a second season as coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
That’s the official word late Monday night from Joel Glazer, co-chairman of the Buccaneers, who usually run a very silent ownership group.
But, in a story on buccaneers.com, Glazer is quoted as saying the team is committed to continuing the building process with Morris. The Bucs stunned many last year when they fired Jon Gruden and hired Morris as the league’s youngest head coach at 32.
Morris went through some rocky times early, firing both coordinators, but the Bucs showed signs of promise by winning two of their last three games with rookie quarterback Josh Freeman playing well.
There had been speculation that Morris could be replaced by Bill Cowher or someone else, but the late-season play of the Bucs probably saved his job.
Part of the deal to keep Morris could include that he make certain changes to his coaching staff and additional help could be brought to work in the front office. The Buccaneers finished 3-13, but there is some optimism because of the positive finish and the fact the team holds 10 picks in the 2010 draft.
That’s the official word late Monday night from Joel Glazer, co-chairman of the Buccaneers, who usually run a very silent ownership group.
But, in a story on buccaneers.com, Glazer is quoted as saying the team is committed to continuing the building process with Morris. The Bucs stunned many last year when they fired Jon Gruden and hired Morris as the league’s youngest head coach at 32.
Morris went through some rocky times early, firing both coordinators, but the Bucs showed signs of promise by winning two of their last three games with rookie quarterback Josh Freeman playing well.
There had been speculation that Morris could be replaced by Bill Cowher or someone else, but the late-season play of the Bucs probably saved his job.
Part of the deal to keep Morris could include that he make certain changes to his coaching staff and additional help could be brought to work in the front office. The Buccaneers finished 3-13, but there is some optimism because of the positive finish and the fact the team holds 10 picks in the 2010 draft.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- I’m about to begin the trek back home to Tampa and I’ll be keeping an eye out for Bill Cowher all the way.
So far, it’s been a quiet Monday on the NFC South coaching front, although I’m still not totally convinced Tampa Bay’s Raheem Morris and Carolina’s John Fox will be staying with their teams. We should know more on both situations soon enough.
I’ll have the cell phone handy and will check in if anything breaks while I travel.
In other programming notes, we’ll have our season wrap-ups coming Wednesday. I also plan to do my annual All-NFC South team. Haven’t decided on an exact date for that yet, but it will probably come somewhere toward the weekend.
So far, it’s been a quiet Monday on the NFC South coaching front, although I’m still not totally convinced Tampa Bay’s Raheem Morris and Carolina’s John Fox will be staying with their teams. We should know more on both situations soon enough.
I’ll have the cell phone handy and will check in if anything breaks while I travel.
In other programming notes, we’ll have our season wrap-ups coming Wednesday. I also plan to do my annual All-NFC South team. Haven’t decided on an exact date for that yet, but it will probably come somewhere toward the weekend.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Just arrived in my hotel and saw no signs of Bill Cowher as I drove through the streets. I didn’t happen to see him in the Tampa airport, either. But I did spot the Georgia Tech basketball team (either that or a bunch or extraordinarily tall guys, who got a great deal on some sharp apparel) hanging out in my hotel lobby.
Anyway, I’ll be covering the Saints and Panthers tomorrow. Is it John Fox’s last game in Carolina? Don’t know, but we’ll find out soon enough. Same for Raheem Morris in Tampa Bay. I’ll have updates throughout the day Sunday and will be chatting on NFL Nation Live during the game.
In a couple of other programming notes, I’m scheduled to be on ESPN Radio at approximately 11:50 a.m. ET on Sunday. Also, shortly after that, I’ll be on the field at Bank of America Stadium, representing the Professional Football Writers of America and proudly presenting the Tom Berry Good Guy Award to Carolina fullback Brad Hoover, who truly is one of the good guys. The presentation is scheduled to take place about 30 minutes prior to kickoff.
Anyway, I’ll be covering the Saints and Panthers tomorrow. Is it John Fox’s last game in Carolina? Don’t know, but we’ll find out soon enough. Same for Raheem Morris in Tampa Bay. I’ll have updates throughout the day Sunday and will be chatting on NFL Nation Live during the game.
In a couple of other programming notes, I’m scheduled to be on ESPN Radio at approximately 11:50 a.m. ET on Sunday. Also, shortly after that, I’ll be on the field at Bank of America Stadium, representing the Professional Football Writers of America and proudly presenting the Tom Berry Good Guy Award to Carolina fullback Brad Hoover, who truly is one of the good guys. The presentation is scheduled to take place about 30 minutes prior to kickoff.
» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South
Nuggets of knowledge about the Week 17 games.
The Cowher watch. Which team will Bill Cowher be watching more closely? The former Steelers head coach's name has surfaced in speculation about the Panthers and Buccaneers' positions. But I’m not putting too much stock in either scenario. The Carolina speculation has been floating for a long time simply because Cowher lives in North Carolina. But I don’t know that Cowher is a guy that owner Jerry Richardson really would be interested in. The Panthers, who play hosts to the Saints in the season finale Sunday, might stick with John Fox for one more year. I’m not sure the Carolina job is what Cowher really wants. Just my gut, but I say he ends up in a much bigger market. The same theory applies to Tampa Bay. Why would he want to take over the Bucs' roster when ownership hasn’t spent a lot of money on free agency in recent years? Besides, I’m thinking Raheem Morris is going to get another year if the Bucs are at least respectable against the Falcons on Sunday.
Something to play for. Speaking of the Falcons, this thing about possibly having back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in franchise history means a lot more than you would think. Everyone in Flowery Branch, Ga. (and I’m talking all the way up to the highest level of the organization) is aware of this little statistic. The Falcons aren’t going to the playoffs, but they’re going to treat the game against the Buccaneers just like a playoff game.
Turning Stewart loose. I generally don’t give fantasy football advice (and if you saw the record of the team I have with an old college buddy, you’d know why), but I’m pretty comfortable in saying, if you have Carolina running back Jonathan Stewart, start him. Stewart’s been running great lately, it appears DeAngelo Williams probably will be out with an injury and the Saints haven’t been stopping the run.
A bright spot. There’s been a lot to criticize on Atlanta’s defense and I think that has cost the linebackers from getting the positive attention they deserve. Veteran free-agent pickup Mike Peterson had a strong and immediate impact, Curtis Lofton showed he’s an every-down player and Stephen Nicholas did everything the coaches asked in his first year as a starter. Yeah, Carolina’s Jon Beason and New Orleans’ Jonathan Vilma are better than any of the Falcons individually. But I’ll take Atlanta’s starting linebackers over any other group in the NFC South.
No Brees, no problem. The Saints reportedly will sit quarterback Drew Brees for the regular-season finale. Not a bad idea because there's no reason to even risk getting Brees hurt. Let Mark Brunell get some work and let Brees get some rest. But coach Sean Payton would be wise not to follow the exact same plan with the rest of his starters, particularly the defense. The Saints have played badly of late and work is needed in a lot of spots. Yes, the Saints will have plenty of time to practice during their first-round bye. But it might be wise to start getting things tuned up now.
Nuggets of knowledge about the Week 17 games.
[+] Enlarge
Jamie Squire/Getty Images Drew Brees reportedly won't see action on Sunday.
Something to play for. Speaking of the Falcons, this thing about possibly having back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in franchise history means a lot more than you would think. Everyone in Flowery Branch, Ga. (and I’m talking all the way up to the highest level of the organization) is aware of this little statistic. The Falcons aren’t going to the playoffs, but they’re going to treat the game against the Buccaneers just like a playoff game.
Turning Stewart loose. I generally don’t give fantasy football advice (and if you saw the record of the team I have with an old college buddy, you’d know why), but I’m pretty comfortable in saying, if you have Carolina running back Jonathan Stewart, start him. Stewart’s been running great lately, it appears DeAngelo Williams probably will be out with an injury and the Saints haven’t been stopping the run.
A bright spot. There’s been a lot to criticize on Atlanta’s defense and I think that has cost the linebackers from getting the positive attention they deserve. Veteran free-agent pickup Mike Peterson had a strong and immediate impact, Curtis Lofton showed he’s an every-down player and Stephen Nicholas did everything the coaches asked in his first year as a starter. Yeah, Carolina’s Jon Beason and New Orleans’ Jonathan Vilma are better than any of the Falcons individually. But I’ll take Atlanta’s starting linebackers over any other group in the NFC South.
No Brees, no problem. The Saints reportedly will sit quarterback Drew Brees for the regular-season finale. Not a bad idea because there's no reason to even risk getting Brees hurt. Let Mark Brunell get some work and let Brees get some rest. But coach Sean Payton would be wise not to follow the exact same plan with the rest of his starters, particularly the defense. The Saints have played badly of late and work is needed in a lot of spots. Yes, the Saints will have plenty of time to practice during their first-round bye. But it might be wise to start getting things tuned up now.
Checking in on the injuries that matter most
December, 31, 2009
Dec 31
4:36
PM ET
New Orleans coach Sean Payton told the local media he’d like to get cornerback Jabari Greer some work in Sunday’s regular-season finale at Carolina. Sounds like a wise plan since Greer has been out for seven weeks with a sports hernia. The important thing is to have him at full strength for the playoffs, but it wouldn’t hurt to get him some game action just to get his timing back.
Tampa Bay center Jeff Faine sat out practice because of a back injury. Coach Raheem Morris indicated that Faine was just sore from a long season.
I wouldn’t look for Atlanta running back Michael Turner to play Sunday. He sat out another practice Thursday and there’s really no need to risk making his ankle injury worse. Tight end Tony Gonzalez also sat out with a calf injury.
Carolina running backs Jonathan Stewart, DeAngelo Williams and Tyrell Sutton each sat out a second straight day of practice. Stewart generally gets the day off on Wednesdays and getting an extra day may just be a way to keep him fresh because he likely will be getting a lot of carries if Williams can’t play.
Tampa Bay center Jeff Faine sat out practice because of a back injury. Coach Raheem Morris indicated that Faine was just sore from a long season.
I wouldn’t look for Atlanta running back Michael Turner to play Sunday. He sat out another practice Thursday and there’s really no need to risk making his ankle injury worse. Tight end Tony Gonzalez also sat out with a calf injury.
Carolina running backs Jonathan Stewart, DeAngelo Williams and Tyrell Sutton each sat out a second straight day of practice. Stewart generally gets the day off on Wednesdays and getting an extra day may just be a way to keep him fresh because he likely will be getting a lot of carries if Williams can’t play.
TAMPA, Fla. -- For several weeks now, we’ve been hearing a bunch of Tampa Bay players lobby for Raheem Morris to stay as the head coach.
That’s not a bad sign, but I don’t know how much it really means when veteran cornerback Ronde Barber says he’ll retire if Morris is fired. First off, Barber might retire anyway. And, at his age, he might not be part of the plans even if Morris stays. Besides, we all know that being an icon for the Bucs doesn’t mean you get to make any really big decisions. Just ask Derrick Brooks.
FreemanBut something interesting just happened out here at One Buccaneer Place. The one guy who actually has some power, even though he might not realize it, just went to bat for Morris.
That’s rookie quarterback Josh Freeman. Yes, let’s face it: This kid has more power than Barber and Morris combined, and you could bring in Brooks, Warren Sapp and Mike Alstott and Freeman’s current power would be greater.
He is the centerpiece of whatever future this franchise has. The Bucs drafted him, paid him a fortune and all indications so far are that he’s going to be the first true franchise quarterback this team has had since Doug Williams. If the thoughts of anybody are going to be listened to by ownership, Freeman’s the guy.
Now, understand, it wasn’t like he came out and lobbied for Morris. But, when asked if changing coaching staffs would be a setback for him, Freeman had some pretty strong words.
“It would be a setback for everybody,’’ Freeman said. “Everything is easier the more you get to work with somebody and the more you get to know somebody.’’
Freeman also said he wants to continue working with Greg Olson, who began as quarterbacks coach, but was elevated to offensive coordinator when the Bucs fired Jeff Jagodzinski shortly before the season started.
“I think it would be huge having the same coordinator and the same quarterback coach,’’ Freeman said.
If the Glazers are going to pay attention to anything any player says, they just heard what the only guy who might matter thinks.
That’s not a bad sign, but I don’t know how much it really means when veteran cornerback Ronde Barber says he’ll retire if Morris is fired. First off, Barber might retire anyway. And, at his age, he might not be part of the plans even if Morris stays. Besides, we all know that being an icon for the Bucs doesn’t mean you get to make any really big decisions. Just ask Derrick Brooks.
That’s rookie quarterback Josh Freeman. Yes, let’s face it: This kid has more power than Barber and Morris combined, and you could bring in Brooks, Warren Sapp and Mike Alstott and Freeman’s current power would be greater.
He is the centerpiece of whatever future this franchise has. The Bucs drafted him, paid him a fortune and all indications so far are that he’s going to be the first true franchise quarterback this team has had since Doug Williams. If the thoughts of anybody are going to be listened to by ownership, Freeman’s the guy.
Now, understand, it wasn’t like he came out and lobbied for Morris. But, when asked if changing coaching staffs would be a setback for him, Freeman had some pretty strong words.
“It would be a setback for everybody,’’ Freeman said. “Everything is easier the more you get to work with somebody and the more you get to know somebody.’’
Freeman also said he wants to continue working with Greg Olson, who began as quarterbacks coach, but was elevated to offensive coordinator when the Bucs fired Jeff Jagodzinski shortly before the season started.
“I think it would be huge having the same coordinator and the same quarterback coach,’’ Freeman said.
If the Glazers are going to pay attention to anything any player says, they just heard what the only guy who might matter thinks.
» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South
Falling
1. Gregg Williams, Saints defensive coordinator: Remember early in the season when the Saints were playing good defense and the common assumption was Williams could parlay that into a head-coaching job next season? Well, forget about it.
The Saints haven’t been playing great defense for a long time. Some of that’s because of injuries. But you have to wonder if the rest of the league has started to figure out how to attack Williams’ scheme.
2. Drew Brees, Saints quarterback: It’s tough to say Brees’ stock is falling, but it is. It’s been at an extremely high level all season, and while he is far from dropping off the charts, he is out of the MVP race.
His numbers haven’t been all that bad in two losses. But this is an offense that needs to score more than 17 points.
3. Garrett Hartley, Saints kicker: He missed a field goal that would have prevented an embarrassing loss to the Buccaneers. It wasn’t a long one and Hartley said the snap and the hold were perfect.
Only recently, the Saints made the decision to go with Hartley over veteran John Carney, who has joined the team as a kicking consultant. Carney can’t come back to the Saints as a player this year. He better start doing some serious consulting with Hartley.
Rising
1. Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay quarterback: The kid has won his last two starts and looked good doing it. Pretty impressive for a 21-year-old to go into the Superdome and beat Brees.
Freeman just might save Raheem Morris’ job and he’s at least giving Tampa Bay fans a glimpse of light down what has been a very dark tunnel.
2. Jonathan Stewart, Panthers running back: DeAngelo who? With starting running back DeAngelo Williams out with an injury, Stewart has taken on a bigger role in the Carolina offense and ran wild against the Giants. We’ve always known Stewart was pretty good, but he suddenly is showing he can be great.
3. Matt Moore, Panthers quarterback:. He went into the last game in Giants Stadium and threw three touchdown passes. It’s premature to say he’s a franchise quarterback, but he sure has shown he’s a functional one.
If John Fox stays in Carolina, all the Panthers need is a functional quarterback in his system. Well, that and some receivers to go with Steve Smith.
We're going to give a special honorable mention to Atlanta defensive end Kroy Biermann, who had to kick off after Michael Koenen and Matt Bryant were hurt. Biermann doesn't look anything like a kicker, but he did a decent job.
Falling
1. Gregg Williams, Saints defensive coordinator: Remember early in the season when the Saints were playing good defense and the common assumption was Williams could parlay that into a head-coaching job next season? Well, forget about it.
The Saints haven’t been playing great defense for a long time. Some of that’s because of injuries. But you have to wonder if the rest of the league has started to figure out how to attack Williams’ scheme.
2. Drew Brees, Saints quarterback: It’s tough to say Brees’ stock is falling, but it is. It’s been at an extremely high level all season, and while he is far from dropping off the charts, he is out of the MVP race.
His numbers haven’t been all that bad in two losses. But this is an offense that needs to score more than 17 points.
3. Garrett Hartley, Saints kicker: He missed a field goal that would have prevented an embarrassing loss to the Buccaneers. It wasn’t a long one and Hartley said the snap and the hold were perfect.
Only recently, the Saints made the decision to go with Hartley over veteran John Carney, who has joined the team as a kicking consultant. Carney can’t come back to the Saints as a player this year. He better start doing some serious consulting with Hartley.
[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Bill FeigJosh Freeman led the Buccaneers in their win over New Orleans.
1. Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay quarterback: The kid has won his last two starts and looked good doing it. Pretty impressive for a 21-year-old to go into the Superdome and beat Brees.
Freeman just might save Raheem Morris’ job and he’s at least giving Tampa Bay fans a glimpse of light down what has been a very dark tunnel.
2. Jonathan Stewart, Panthers running back: DeAngelo who? With starting running back DeAngelo Williams out with an injury, Stewart has taken on a bigger role in the Carolina offense and ran wild against the Giants. We’ve always known Stewart was pretty good, but he suddenly is showing he can be great.
3. Matt Moore, Panthers quarterback:. He went into the last game in Giants Stadium and threw three touchdown passes. It’s premature to say he’s a franchise quarterback, but he sure has shown he’s a functional one.
If John Fox stays in Carolina, all the Panthers need is a functional quarterback in his system. Well, that and some receivers to go with Steve Smith.
We're going to give a special honorable mention to Atlanta defensive end Kroy Biermann, who had to kick off after Michael Koenen and Matt Bryant were hurt. Biermann doesn't look anything like a kicker, but he did a decent job.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Pat Yasinskas
Yasinskas joined ESPN.com in January 2008 after covering the Carolina Panthers for The Charlotte Observer for nine seasons. He began his journalism career with The Tampa Tribune in 1990.
