Morris Failing to Follow Dungy's Example

Recently, Tampa Bay head coach Raheem Morris has reminisced a lot on the 1996 Tampa Bay Buccaneers squad.

That was Tony Dungy's first year as the head coach of the Buccaneers and things started terribly for the future Hall of Famer. Dungy came into a hornet's nest.

The Buccaneers were purchased by the Glazer family the year before and were mired in one of the most notorious losing streaks in football history. Thirteen consecutive losing seasons, twelve of which had double digit losses.

Pressure came from both the community and the ownership group.

The Community Investment tax was a major hot button issue in Tampa Bay and it also held the future of the Buccaneers in the city. Included along with schools, roads and other infrastructure was funding for a new stadium for the Buccaneers.

With the cities of Baltimore and Los Angeles eager to return to the NFL, the new ownership group had many suitors for locations for their franchise.

With support lackluster for the one percent tax increase, many believed it would take a good performance by Dungy's Bucs in their season home opener to win over the undecided.

But in the opener, the Bucs lived up to expectations and lost to the Green Bay Packers 34-3.

Amazingly, the tax passed anyway and the stadium would be built, but Dungy's Bucs went on to lose their first five games that season. In addition to the Green Bay debacle, the Bucs were beaten soundly by the Lions 21-6, and had a pair of close losses to Denver and Seattle before being shut out by the Lions (again) 27-0.

The one thing Tony Dungy held to steadfastly was belief in his system; his way of doing things.

Dungy practiced the team the same way; the coaches called plays the same way; executed their system the same way; and held their players in accountable in same manner. Eventually, the players bought in, finishing the season winning five of their last seven games.

It would set the stage for six straight years of playoff contention and eventually a Super Bowl victory for the 2002 team led by Jon Gruden.

It's been said that insanity is defined as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

Well, Dungy may have had a little insanity to stick to his guns. It was his belief in what he was doing that led to one of the most remarkable turnarounds in league history. Certainly, he might have tweaked the system here and there, but the core beliefs stood strong.

If only Raheem Morris could learn from the man and the team he says he's emulating.

Morris has been erratic since taking over the reigns from Jon Gruden. He dumped many of the veterans on the team, fired much of the coaching staff, hiring, then firing his offensive coordinator, seeing one player get suspended by the league and another arrested.

He took an extended period of time deciding his quarterback, then shipped off the loser, called one of his young players "a career backup," only to elevate that player to starting QB after one crummy outing by the winner of the starting QB competition.

Meanwhile, a once proud defense that hasn't ranked worse than 17th since 1995 and has been in the top ten in defense 11 of the last 12 seasons, is currently ranked 31st.

With his team looking desperately for leadership, Morris has shown indecision and confusion. With them looking to believe in what he's doing, Morris announced he's changing starting players and practice habits.

It all smacks of panic from a young coach that is perhaps in over his head and doesn't know how to get his team to respond.

Morris needs to look himself in the mirror and ask himself, "Do you believe in what you're doing?" If you don't, your team won't. If you do, then making all these seemingly panic-inspired moves and changes aren't the way to prove that to your team.

The Buccaneers are trying to establish their identity, as they did 13 years ago. Dungy established "Buc Ball"—doing things the right way, the consistent way. Playing solid defense, running the football, and protecting the ball.

Dungy took rinse and repeat to another level. He pounded his way of doing things through training camp, throughout the 1996 season. As the losses mounted early on, Dungy gave an answer that frustrated reporters and confounded fans, "We just need to execute better."

Eventually, the players got it.

When the mighty San Francisco 49ers rolled into town for the 1997 season opener, they didn't know what hit them.

Bucs fans accepted that this may be a rebuilding year. They accepted that unlike Dungy, Raheem Morris wasn't left with a Warren Sapp, John Lynch, and Derrick Brooks to build a defense around.

It also helped that Dungy toiled as a coordinator for years, biding his time for an opportunity to be a head coach in the NFL. Morris' quick elevation did not afford him that type of experience.

Most understood that to take a few steps forward, you sometimes need to take a step back.

The 1995 Buccaneers was the first Tampa Bay team in 12 years to not lose 10 or more games. The 1996 Bucs finished 6-10. It was a step back, but it was to go forward.

That 1996 team got better and better as the weeks went on. This 2009 team of Raheem Morris is getting worse.

One non-credible message board rumor even said that in a fit of desperation, the Glazer family has called Tony Dungy to see if he was available in some capacity to help Morris and the team.

While that's highly improbable (and possibly tampering), it wouldn't be surprising if it were true.

After all, Dungy has been through this before while Morris looks like a babe in the woods with the wolves closing in.

To Coach Morris I say this: The time is now Raheem; your team needs you to believe in what you're doing. Show them your resolve and the dedication before you lose them forever.

Stand by your decisions and your beliefs.

If you don't, who will?