TAMPA - A replacement for recently departed linebackers coach Joe Barry won't be the only offseason addition the Bucs make to their defensive coaching staff.
Following a season in which they struggled to create a formidable pass rush and prevent big passing plays, the Bucs on Monday named former assistant secondary coach Raheem Morris as their new defensive backs coach.
Morris, who left the Bucs a year ago to take a job as defensive coordinator at Kansas State University, replaces Greg Burns, who left the organization after one year.
Morris, whose first stint with the Bucs lasted four years, steps into the role Burns was hired to fill after Mike Tomlin left to become the Vikings' defensive coordinator last year.
Burns' quiet coaching style was in sharp contrast to the vibrant style players became accustomed to under Tomlin and Morris, but it was more likely the results on the field and not Burns' style led to the change.
A defensive unit that finished first overall in 2005 slipped to 17th and got only eight interceptions from its secondary in 2006. Poor tackling and generally poor play by the safeties were considered primary reasons for the slip.
Word of the change in secondary coaches came while General Manager Bruce Allen and Coach Jon Gruden huddled with the sons of Bucs owner Malcolm Glazer, so it may prove to be just one of several staff changes.
"There will probably be some more [changes]," Allen said last week when asked if coaches other than Barry might be leaving the Bucs. "There will be some more movement."
Another who could be leaving is quarterbacks coach Paul Hackett. His contract is set to expire at the end of the month and it's possible he will leave to find work elsewhere, perhaps as an offensive coordinator.
Morris first joined the Bucs in 2002, after spending two seasons as the defensive backs coach at Hofstra University. He became an assistant defensive backs coach with the Bucs in 2004.
The move comes less than a week after Barry left to become the Lions' defensive coordinator.
The Lions are coached by former Bucs defensive line coach Rod Marinelli, who left the Bucs along with Tomlin and Morris last year.[/b]
Bucs fire Jethro Franklin, the bum that replaced Marinelli
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TAMPA - The Bucs continued to make alterations to their coaching staff Tuesday, firing defensive line coach Jethro Franklin, the team said.
Franklin became the second coach to be let go in as many days. Defensive backs coach Greg Burns was let go Monday and replaced by former Bucs assistant secondary coach Raheem Morris.
Franklin and Burns worked just one season for the Bucs, who lured both away from the University of Southern California.
Franklin, who served the Trojans for just one year, replaced Rod Marinelli, but like Burns, his coaching style didn't seem to mesh with the players, nor did it produce the desired results.
Under Franklin, the Bucs finished tied for 31st in the league in sacks with 25 and struggled repeatedly to produce a formidable pass rush.
The Bucs' inability to consistently harass opposing passers and stop their opponent's passing attack was labeled by General Manager Bruce Allen and Coach Jon Gruden as a major reason for the team's downfall in 2006.
"Clearly this season there were two really poor performances by us," Allen said at his season-ending news conference Friday. "Our quarterback position performed poorly and our defensing the quarterback position performed poorly.
"Now when people look at that and say quarterbacks get a lot of blame and too much credit at times, it is a true statement because when an opponent's quarterback rating is so high, that's due to pass rush, it's due to coverage.
"A lot of sacks are based on good coverage and a lot of interceptions are based on great pass rush. We missed that this year and it hurt this team."
A replacement for Franklin has not been named, which means the Bucs are looking for two new defensive assistants, including one to replace departed linebackers coach Joe Barry.
Barry left the Bucs last week to become the defensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions, who are coached by his father-in-law, Marinelli.
More changes still could be ahead for the Bucs, who may also lose quarterbacks coach Paul Hackett.
Hackett is the only remaining member of the coaching staff whose contract is set to expire, and it is believed he will look for a job as an offensive coordinator.[/b]
Hackett will probably leave for an OC job this offseason. We'll only need a QB coach, DL coach, and LB coach. We could be in worse shape concerning the coaching staff, I like where we're at.
Just curious. Is Dewayne White a FA or not this year? I thought he was but i havent heard anything on him being resigned or not. Can you shed some light on this please.
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BUNKLEY!!! JUSTICE!!! GOCONG!!! JEAN GILLES!!! AVANT!!!
BLOOM???
White is an unrestricted free agent this offseason. He's already said that he'd like to test the market to see what his value might be with others teams. He said he'd like to return to Tampa, but he's going to check out some other offers.
Chances of returning if he were in this position last season: 95%
Chances of returning following this year: 45-50%
Most of the Bucs fans you will find want him back, myself included.
Bucs Offseason Thread
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