Dec 25th 2008 9:30PM by Sportz Assassin (author feed)
Filed under: Buccaneers, NFC South, NFL Coaching
Just last week, some talking head somewhere stated that a dark horse candidate for some of the NFL head coaching and defensive coordinator jobs this winter will be Tampa Bay secondary coach Raheem Morris. Morris’ name might be taken off a few lists as the Buccanneers have promoted him to defensive coordinator next season.
Morris will replace Monte Kiffin, who is leaving to join his son, Lane, at the University of Tennessee next year. Morris will continue to teach the same Cover-2 principles Kiffin put in place.
Morris has spent six of the last seven seasons with the Bucs. In those seasons, he’s helped coach one of the league’s best defenses. In 2006, he left to take the defensive coordinator position at Kansas State, but would come back to Tampa the next season.”I’m a big energy believer. I like guys with juice. I think you have to be a leader. I think you have to be able to motivate and stimulate these guys, relate to them - veterans, young players,” Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden said.
“He knows the kind of players we’re looking for. He knows the routine here in terms of what it takes to play in this system. I’ve been impressed with him throughout the six, seven years I’ve been with him. He’s had a year coordinating in the Big 12, and I think it’s the right thing to do. I think our players will respond to him.”
