When new University of Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin puts together his staff, he will will look into the NFL ranks.

Two places he is expected to turn to are Tampa Bay and New Orleans. Kiffin’s father, Monte Kiffin, is the Buccaneers’ venerable defensive coordinator and would love the chance to work with his son. The question is whether the Buccaneers have contractually blocked the senior Kiffin from leaving for Tennessee.

One knowledgeable NFL source said assistants are allowed to leave for college jobs, but the Buccaneers have prevented coaches in the past for leaving for college.

Another candidate to join Kiffin is Saints defensive line coach Ed Orgeron, who worked with Kiffin at USC from 2001-2004. Orgeron served as USC’s assistant head coach, its defensive line coach and its recruiting coordinator, and the younger Kiffin knows how valuable Orgeron would be.

The interesting part is that the senior Kiffin and Orgeron will be on opposing sidelines Sunday, when Tampa Bay hosts New Orleans. There’s a chance the two could wind up on the same sideline next season or in future seasons.

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