COACHING CAROUSEL: The Bucs said goodbye to defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin after 13 seasons. It wasn't a good sendoff. His defense gave up 123 points and more than 1,500 yards in the final four games -- all losses. Defensive backs coach Raheem Morris takes over as defensive coordinator. He is 32 and began his six seasons with the Bucs in 2002. He spent the 2006 season at Kansas State as defensive coordinator before returning to the Bucs in 2007.

Assistant head coach Larry Coyer and tight ends coach Bob Casullo may not be retained.

FREE AGENT UPDATE: The Bucs have some key free agents to attempt to re-sign. Some inevitably will leave.

WR Antonio Bryant, the Bucs' leading receiver with 83 catches for 1,248 yards and seven touchdowns, will be looking for a huge payday. Re-signing Bryant may be the priority of the offseason and the team could use a franchise player tag if necessary.

WR Michael Clayton, the first-round pick from 2004, had just one TD since his rookie season before Sunday's scoring bomb. He feels he's been underutilized.

QB Jeff Garcia compiled a 6-5 record as a starter this season with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions. But Garcia will be 39 and injuries prevent him from going wire-to-wire. Bucs say they want to re-sign him, but as a starter?

QB Luke McCown is a seldom-used backup who was passed over for Brian Griese in a critical game at Atlanta. McCown will test the market.

DE Kevin Carter, at 35, has never missed a game in his career. A good run stopper, he no longer has the burst to rush the passer.

DT Jovan Haye plays the under tackle position, the most critical position in the Tampa 2 defense. Haye battled an assortment of injuries the past two seasons.

The Bucs rushing defense took a step backward when S Jermaine Phillips suffered his second broken arm of the season. It's unlikely the team will attempt to re-sign him with the expected emergence of Sabby Piscitelli.

CB Phillip Buchanon is a solid starter had two interceptions. He says promotion of Morris will be a factor in his decision.

FEELING A DRAFT: The Bucs have hit on some good players in early rounds, CB Aqib Talib, G Jeremy Zuttah among them. But they also had some misses that affected their depth. Second-round pick Dexter Jackson failed as a kick returner and did not contribute as a receiver. DT Dre Moore, a fourth-round pick, failed to make the team.

"Dexter Jackson is just in his rookie year," Gruden said. "It's a project, to a degree, as a receiver. It's going to take a little time. I hate to just slam the book on Dexter Jackson today. ... We've had some really good picks and we've had some picks that haven't worked out. But I can't name any team in football that has had every pick perform to the great high standards."

Tampa Bay owns the 19th pick in the 2009 draft. The Bucs' priority is at quarterback and defensive line. Since Gruden won't develop a young QB -- they have fifth-round pick Josh Johnson -- they will have to fortify the depth on their defensive line, particularly at defensive tackle.

TEAM NEEDS

Defensive tackle: The Bucs need to upgrade their interior line positions. Jovan Haye is a free agent. Chris Hovan is 30 and not a pass rusher. They need more speed and penetration from that position to assist the development of DE Gaines Adams, who led the team with 6 1/2 sacks.

Quarterback: Jeff Garcia will be 39 and is a free agent. He was 6-5 as a starter last season and there is a lot of bad blood between him and Gruden. The Bucs might offer him a chance to return as a backup. Stay tuned. But the only quarterbacks under contract are Brian Griese and Johnson. Gruden is a collector of veteran quarterbacks and will look under every rock to find one. But don't look for the Bucs to address the position through the draft.

Receiver: Antonio Bryant, who caught 83 passes for more than 1,200 yards and seven touchdowns, is a free agent. He will be a priority for the Bucs in the offseason and they could franchise him. But Michael Clayton is a free agent and Joey Galloway fell out of favor with Gruden this season and probably won't be back. That leaves a lot of openings. Ike Hilliard is 32 and Maurice Stovall has been injured during his three pro seasons.

MEDICAL WATCH: RB Cadillac Williams faces another long rehab after tearing his left patellar tendon, a similar injury to the one he suffered on his right knee last season. The silver lining is that the tendon did not rupture, it detached from the bone, meaning it will be a shorter rehab. It's possible Williams could be ready for training camp. S Jermaine Phillips, who is a free agent, is recovering from his fourth broken arm in three seasons. Geno Hayes is recovering from ACL surgery. RB Earnest Graham had a high ankle sprain and should be fine by OTAs.