Late Monday night, word emerged that Buccaneers coach Raheem Morris had stripped defensive coordinator Jim Bates of his duties.
On Tuesday, Morris discussed the situation. And, showing ability beyond his years, Morris talked without really saying anything.
“Everything we do around here is based on progress,” Morris said, via PewterReport.com. “Right now we feel
like we’re in a position to make progress and move on. That’s the
thought process and that’s what we’re doing.”
(Under that thought process, then, the Bucs would be making progress by firing Morris and hiring a more accomplished head coach, right?)
It also was reported that the Bates’ scheme would be scuttled, and that Morris would re-install the Tampa Two. For obvious reasons, Morris didn’t want to talk about that.
“I’m not going to get into schemes because I don’t want to let Atlanta
know anything,” Morris said. It won’t be much of a change. There will be a little
more of a Raheem Moris influence. That’s what I plan to do.”
Morris also said that the decision to dump Bates was made by Morris himself, and that it’s possible (contrary to the initial reports) that Bates won’t be back at all this year.
“It’s still a wait-and-see deal,” Morris said. “We’re working together.”
Presumably, the Bucs are hoping that Bates will quit so they won’t have to pay him. So the “wait-and-see” might be the Bucs waiting and seeing whether Bates will accept a job description that includes scrubbing toilets and/or emptying trash cans at One Buc Place.
“There will be a little more of a Raheem Moris influence”
If there any more influence, the Bucs would be winless.
Bates may not be back because “we’re working together” on “a wait-and-see deal.”
Mercy, there’s no way this guy’s coming back to coach another season in Tampa.
“There will be a little more of a Raheem Morris influence. That’s what I plan to do.”
This guy has no clue. No clue.
Somewhere Gruden is laughing his ass off.
Its becoming almost a pattern for coordinators to be fired when their aspect of the game is failing, but no one ever thinks that maybe its just the talent. In this case, I’m thinking its the latter. There are very few players on the Bucs defense that stand out, and without playmakers in their respective areas, a coordinators job becomes that much more difficult. Another example of the “win now” phylosophy of football.
Gruden’s been laughing since Opening Day. All this plus all that cash from the Bucs and now ESPN too. No wonder he’s always smiling. Has a team EVER bagged both coordintors in season before ??? That’s gotta set some kinda record.
I would say its probably happened after a team’s season has ended, but I can’t think of the last time it happened by 3/4 of the way through a season.
If you listen real closely you can hear the cheers of the excitement from the other teams left on the Bucs schedule. From all the other decisions Raheem has made so far, as well as the front office, we can confidently determain that this is going to likely do more harm than good. 1 – 15 is all but in the record books.
Way to be proactive there coach. I say keep the neon orange unis around and boltster that win total.
A young manager feeling the heat and panics.
Used to work for one of those……
We need to bring the creamsicles back, not because I’m bashing the team for rebuilding, but because wearing those jerseys we actually won a game…coincidence? We’ll never know.
Another win for affirmative action!
This is more proof that Rah is more like Lily Tomlin than Mike Tomlin.
Let’s see, Rah is 10 games into his career as a “head coach”, and he’s already on his second offensive coordinator, his second defensive coordinator, and his third starting QB.
At this rate, Rah won’t have anybody left to blame by the end of the season.
Honest to God, this guy is barely qualified to be the getback coach at Bethune-Cookman.
Say what you want about Morris and his experience or ability for that matter, but firing Bates was a good move.
booooo
no jay it wasnt. it didnt fix anything.
Morris doesn’t know his head from his ass right now and its obvious he’s in over his head.
It does fix a few things, slipkid. No more trying to fit square pegs into round holes. There will be a re-emphasis on one-gapping the DL and will play to these players’ strengths instead of what has been happening. Besides that, playing ZERO coverage (all man) with absolutely no pass rush is insane!
“I’m not going to get into schemes because I don’t want to let Atlanta know anything,” Morris said. It won’t be much of a change. There will be a little more of a Raheem Moris influence. That’s what I plan to do.”
Hm. One wonders if he really misspelled his own name in this quote. It certainly would explain a lot, no?
(Before anyone attacks, yes, I know the typo is not doubt a transcription error. Still, it gave me a chuckle.)
So much for the gifted young coach who was to be an upgrade with Gruden shown the door. This guy has been making bad decisions all year. I don’t see him lasting past next year. Maybe he gets the boot early by cutting himself for the best of the team.
He’s a lost.
Oh Tampa 2, Oh Tampa 2 , Monte Kiffen we miss you! GO BUCS RAH RAH RAH!
What does it matter? We are 1-9 with Bates making the calls on defense. Why not try and change a broken and lost season. His scheme was not working and we really only lost 2 key guys on defense…Brooks and Phillips (Well Monte was a huge loss but his Tampa 2 could have remained in place). At the end of the day it puts that much more responsibility on Coach Rah Mo.
Gotta love a guy who refers to himself in the third person.