Bucs’ Morris to take over defensive play-calling
Published: November 24th, 2009 | Tags: Jim Bates, Raheem Morris, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie coach Raheem Morris will take over defensive play-calling duties after relieving Jim Bates as defensive coordinator, according to the St. Petersburg Times.
Morris will reportedly return to the Tampa-2 scheme that the Bucs used under former defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, under whom Morris was the team’s secondary coach from 2007-08. Bates will remain with the team in a consulting role, according to the St. Petersburg Times.
The Buccaneers are 1-9, rank 26th in overall defense and last in stopping the run, allowing an average of 168.9 yards per game.
Bates becomes the second coordinator to be hired by Morris and relieved of his duties. Tampa Bay replaced offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski with quarterbacks coach Greg Olson 10 days before the start of the regular season.