Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2009 Coaches Profiles

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made some big changes in their coaching staff for the 2009 season.

Most notably, Raheem Morris takes over the head coaching duties this upcoming season replacing Jon Gruden. This will be Morris's first head coaching challenge.

Morris started his coaching career at Hofstra University in 1998, then Cornell in 1999. Then after 1999 he went back to Hofstra, and in 2001 he interned with the New York Jets.

His duties in those years were coaching the offensive scout team, developing scouting reports, and handling video breakdown, computer input and analysis.

With Cornell, he was the defensive backs coach and special teams assistant. W=When he returned to Hofstra, he was also the defensive back coach.

Before the 2002 season, he was hired by Tampa Bay to become their defensive quality control coach, where he helped them have the top-rated defense and win the franchise's first ever Super Bowl, beating the Oakland Raiders 48-21 in Super Bowl XXXVII.

From 2004-2005 he was the assistant defensive backs coach. After 2005 he went to Kansas State to be their defensive coordinator.

Before the 2007 season Morris returned to Tampa Bay to be defensive backs coach. The team's pass defense had fallen to 19th in 2006. Morris helped the team regain the number one pass defense in 2007.

In December 2008, it was announced Morris would take over as defensive coordinator for the Buc's after Monte Kiffin's departure. A month later, Jon Gruden was fired, and Morris took over as head coach for the 2009 season.

Morris had a favorable interview also with Denver prior to getting the job.

Although he has no head coaching experience, this might be a good pick for Tampa Bay, given time to develop players and working with his new coaching staff.

Grade: B


Jim Bates will take over as defensive coordinator for Tampa Bay. He runs a 4-3 scheme that uses fast undersized linebackers. This will be the teams biggest challenge, perhaps, adapting to this system.

Bates began his coaching career with the Cleveland Browns as their defensive line coach in 1991. He later worked for the Atlanta Falcons in 1994, as defensive coordinator, and then returned to the Browns in 1995 as their secondary coach. In 1996 Dallas hired Bates as their linebackers coach. He was promoted to assistant coach/defensive line in 1998. In 2000, the Miami Dolphins hired him as their defensive coordinator.

His first head coaching stint came in 2004 when he was interim head coach after Dave Wannstedt resigned. He went 3-4, including a victory over eventual Super Bowl champion New England.

When Nick Saban took over the team, Bates was not part of his plan. Bates then took over as the defensive coordinator with the Green Bay Packers.

Mike Sherman was fired in 2006, and Bates was offered the opportunity to interview for the head coaching position of the Packers. He interviewed, but was informed the organization was hiring Mike McCarthy instead.

Bates talked with McCarthy twice, but parted ways with the Packers after the hiring of McCarthy

In early 2007, Bates was signed on as the defensive coordinator by the Denver Broncos Defensive back coach Bob Slowik was promoted to the defensive coordinator position, and Bates was named Assistant Head Coach/Defense.

The Bronco's defense in 2007 went from ninth ranked in the league scoring to 29th as of week 13. In 2008, Bates announced he was leaving Denver. But, in 2009, Bates was announced as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defensive Coordinator, working with new head coach Raheem Morris.

Bates defensive scheme uses defensive tackles to plug the middle, with the defensive ends pressuring the quarterback. Short speedy linebackers are fitted for this format.

Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor are among the players Bates developed for Miami.

Bates is usually well liked as a hands on, energetic, demanding yet fair coach.

Grade:  B


Jeff Jagodzinski is the new offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Jagodzinski served as the Boston College head coach, but was fired after two years of a five-year contract for interviewing with the New York Jets without permission from the athletic director.

Jagodzinski began his coaching career as the running back coach for the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1985. He was the offensive line coach for Northern Illinois University in 1986.

He was a graduate assistant with LSU from 1987 to 1988. In 1989 he became the tight ends /assistant offensive line coach for East Carolina University. In 1997 he served as the offensive coordinator/offensive line coach at Boston College.

He became the Green Bay Packers tight ends coach in 1999, under Ray Rhodes. Rhodes, and most of his staff was fired at the end of that season, but new head coach, Mike Sherman kept Jagodzinski until 2003.

The Atlanta Falcons then picked him up to be the offensive line coach.

In 2006, Jagodzinski was rehired by the Packers to be offensive coordinator.

During his stint with Atlanta, Jagodzinski learned offensive zone blocking schemes from Alex Gibbs, the architect of successful NFL lines, such as the Bronco's that won Super Bowl XXXII.

Jagodzinski had a high flying passing attack at Boston College, and in his first year led the Eagles to an 11-3 record, an ACC Championship, and number 10 in the country. He had a hand in producing Matt Ryan, last seasons Rookie of the Year, in the NFL.

Jagodzinski was also a good collegiate player, starting three years at fullback before graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He was also all-conference in High School.

He is married, with five children.

Grade: A

These important coaching positions hold the future of the Buc's in their hands and minds. If they can get the most out of the talent they have, it could be an exciting season for Buc's players and fans alike.

However, it will be an up and down season in 2009, with new systems to be learned, and success with be limited until players gain more experience.

Fans must be patient and hope Jagodzinski can perhaps develop Josh Freeman into another Matt Ryan. It is rumored Griese will be gone, and Byron Leftwich will have his chance to start once more in the tough NFC South.

Good luck to all the Buc's in the 2009 season.

Thomas Moreland