Raheem Morris stays positive in the face of adversity

Tampa Bay Buccaneers first-year head coach Raheem Morris remains optimistic despite the team's 0-6 start and 10-game losing streak dating back to last season.

Asked about the Bucs' shortcomings during Sunday's 28-21 loss to the Carolina Panthers, Morris preferred to focus on the positives.

Among the things he liked most about the team's performance were its opening scoring drive, Tanard Jackson's interception return for a touchdown, Sammie Stroughter's kickoff return for a score, the Bucs' performance on third down and their win in the turnover battle.

He also cited cornerbacks Ronde Barber and Aqib Talib holding Panthers receiver Steve Smith to one catch for four yards, Cadillac Williams' rushing performance and Earnest Graham's willingness to move to fullback to fill in for injured B.J. Askew.

"The results right now are disappointing but to see the people start to grow and develop into what they can become are pretty encouraging,'' Morris said.

Morris acknowledged that the defense "wore down'' during the final drive, when Carolina drove 80 yards on 16 plays (15 runs) to score the winning touchdown.

"That’s where we have to find a way for our young guys to step up and our young players to become better talent so we can sub guys out, we can rotate the guys, we can have more guys going there,'' Morris said. "Maybe it’s time to see a little Dre Moore, maybe it’s time to see a different rotation there with the top four with the inside four so we can hold up more.''

Comments

[jerseybuc]

They didn't wear down on the final drive. They were steamrolled. Everyone knew what was coming and we could do nothing about it. We make no adjustments on either side of the ball, you had to make Jake the human turnover machine throw the ball and we didn't. No pts in 3rd quarter in six games, so don't worry Bates, the OC doesn't make adjustments either. Can't wait to see what Bellichek has in store for us.

[Dave]

Ah, the Adversity. An old wooden ship from the old days...

[Adam]

Yeah, we get it. You're staying positive. Thanks Coach. The only thing I'm positive of is that the Bucs are going to get smacked in England by a Patriots team that just started clicking on all cylinders.

[Scott]

Its gotten to the point where I think that this needs to be our rebuilding plan (all dependent on whether the Glazers actually care).

1) Bring in a new GM and all new coaches next year.

2) Trade Clayton for a fourth or fifth, trade Freeman for a second, and perhaps others such as Ruud or anyone else with an inflated reputation in order to stock up on draft picks.

3)Draft a real QB first and bring in an experienced QB to keep the seat warm for a year or so.

4) Draft a ton of defensive guys with all of our lot of picks, focusing on the defensive line and line-backer.

5) Bring in another experienced receiver in Free agency to go along with Bryant, Winslow, and Slaughter.

6) Keep the O-line (hopefully new coaching and a new scheme will help them).

7) Keep the running backs

8) Keep the safeties and Alib and bring in another corner in free-agency.

I truly do think that this team would have a bright future if they went this route. But, they will not because the Glazers would rather save money with a group of coaches / gm that does not complain and is just happy to be here.....our Bucs are yet another casualty of the recession.

[jjbjeff]

I'm also very positive.

I'm very positive we will lose to the Patriots.

And I'm very positive we will have the first pick in the draft, as well.

Oh, regarding the teams performance..........Not so much!!!!

[HayesNC]

That is called being in denial. The only way we can get through this is if Coach Morris admits that we suck and we need more talent and a new defensive coordinatior. Just be honest with everyone. We already know the answer.

[Tom]

Morris,
You might as well stay positive and enjoy your time as a Bucs head coach because it won't last long.

If they can fire Rod Marinelli who has shown to be a fantastic coach (assistant anyways), then any semblance of a 0-16 or 1-15 or 2-14 season deserves to get you fired.

[jjbjeff]

We should have packaged Bates along with Gaines Adams to the Bears for Rod Marinelli. Our D-line needs some serious coaching up.

[Itch]

Morris has to be positive, it is his job (on the line).

But the Rah Rah approach just makes me feel he does not get it. Unless he gets realistic, takes blame for coaching failures and demands more from his team, we are on the same track to 0-16.

Raheem points to the D-lines as "the issue". Still not ONE mention of the O-Line.

IS HE BLIND?

IS OUR LOCAL PRESS BLIND?

This is driving me nuts.

[notsosmart]

Can Talib play wide receiver?

[jjbjeff]

Anyone who suggests that we take a QB in the first round of the upcoming draft needs to shut-up. You are ridiculous!

[Brandon]

Scott,

I agree with most everything except the QB part. Drafting another QB is not the answer. For every 1st round sucess story like a Roethlisberger or Manning there are 3-4 Jason Campbells, JP Losmans, Kyle Bolers, Brady Quinn (too early?), JaMarcus Russell (not too early), Tim Couch, Akili Smith, Cade McNown, Ryan Leafs and on and on and on.

The two young QBs we have are worth taking a shot at developing. Freeman's physical skills are elite, Josh Johnson and his quick release and mobility are also worth trying to develop. But one thing is for sure, whomever is the QB, it will take some time to develop, we have the luxury of having two guys on our roster that are more than capable of being quality starters in the league. To draft yet another QB would mean we would have to wait that much longer to have a seasoned and effective NFL starter.

Our main problem with this team is our defense. The offense we have now is not significanlty worse than the ones Tony Dungy used to throw out there, the big difference is, that we aren't getting the ball back to our offense quickly enough (well, that's not true, sometimes the other teams scores in only 2-3 plays). Another differnce is that we can't commit to running the ball like we should because our defense is putting us in early holes and so then we are forced to throw the ball a lot more than we should.

I mean really, you compare the offenses from 97-99 to 09, you might find that the 09 version is better.

LT- Paul Gruber at the end of his career or Donald Penn? Advantage (this will piss a lot of people off) Penn
LG Jorge Diaz or Jeremy Zuttah- a wet paper back was held up better than Diaz-advantage Zuttah.
OC Tony Mayberry or Jeff Faine-Mayberry was a perennial pro bowler but he too was near the end of his career-advantage Faine
RG Frank Middleton vs Davin Joseph-Oh Frank, how I loved thee nasty demeanor but-advantage Joseph
RT jerry Wunsch vs Jeremy Trueblood-Wunsch was underrated, Trueblood is overrated-advantage Wunsch
TE Kellen Winslow vs Dave Moore-who doesn't love Dave Moore, right?-big advantage Winslow-Moore is a better long snapper though.
WR1 Antonio Bryant vs pretty much anybody Reidel Anthony?-at least Bryant was good enough to receive a franchise tag-Big advantage Bryant
WR2 Michael Clayton vs Jacquez Green-Clayton never met a ball he couldn't drop, Green never had a hamstring he couldn't pull-advantage to the guy that could actually catch a little, Green
HB Warrick Dunn vs Carnell Williams and Derrick Ward-we all loved Dunn, but frankly he was more flash than dash in his first stint with the Bucs-advantage Williams and Ward
FB Mike Alsott vs Askew and Graham-(this will also piss a lot of people off)-Alstott was the face of the franchise, he was tough, he walk on water, etc... but he also fumbled at an alarming rate and wasn't a very good blocker, Askew can blcok like a mad man, Graham is a better runner, blocker and receiver than Alstott-advantage Graham and Askew.
QB Trent Dilfer vs Josh Johnson and Josh Freeman-Eveybody hated Dilfer, heckI hated him even though I liked him (?)-the two Joshes have as much potential as any QB in franchise history (Johnson: Steve Young as Freeman: Testaverde) but they just aren't there yet, Dilfer was in control and numbers-wise, he was a better QB-advantage for now, Dilfer.

There-the problem isn't the offense guys, the problem is the defense. If we had been investing our picks and our cash on our defense the past few seasons (especially the DL) then we would still be a good team. Does anybody other than me remember the phrase, "Bucball"? We need to get back to playing Bucball... that might mean bringing Rod Marinelli in as our DC and drafting DT Suh from Nebraska and the rest of the picks on defense as well..but it is worth it, to start winning again.

[TVT]

Did anyone get disgusted with the chest thumping from Adam Hayward when the Panthers were ramming the ball down on the Bucs throats and he makes a tackle? That guy is a clown! Hey Adam, you are a special teams player and why are you celebrating when your team is about to lose and got manhandled on the last drive? The Bucs need to get rid of guys like this. We need to some mean and aggressive players that will make an impact and will not tolerate losing.

[jjbjeff]

Penn over Gruber?
C'mon dude, really???
I like Penn, and I know Penn is underrated, but don't go there.

Joseph over Middleton?
Did you ever watch Middleton? He was probably the best guard to ever wear a Buc jersey. Again, I really like Joseph, but he has not proven himself the way Middleton did.

At least you didn't put Clayton over Jaquez Green even though they both suck.

[jjbjeff]

TVT, maybe he was celebrating because he got as many tackles as our starting OLB in only a few plays.
Quincy Black is terrible!

[Daisy]

It's "The Incompetent Leading The Unwilling To Do The Unnecessary"! I believe this is what is going on in Bucsville!

[Scott]

Brandon,

Well, I think that you make good points, but I do not think that you can judge an offense by the individual player matchups, as scheme and continuity play a large role. Also, I think that your stats on quarterbacks included alot of first round picks, not the first couple of picks in the draft. You only have an opportunity to get an elite college QB (Freeman is not an elite college QB) once in a decade or so and I think that we should go for it and trade Freeman. That was my point, we do need to draft a QB if we trade Freeman.

TVT, I completely agree with you about Hayward and his chest bumping. It was on a third and one from the three yard line and if the Bucs stop the runner from a first down they will at least force a field goal and get the ball back with about a minute left. But, they made a first down on the play which left us in the situation where we would at best have to stop them twice just so they could kick a 19 yard field goal with no time left or get the ball back with 30 seconds left if they scored on their next run. They did score on the next run. So, it showed a complete lack of care for what was happening to the Bucs for Hayward to celebrate a hard hit....he only cared about getting himself on the television. Yes, I agree, we need to dump those types of players who have no clue or care what is happening to their team. Derrick Brooks would have made the tackle and then looked with concern up at the clock....even when he was a rookie. A big difference between the two.

[John]

Fire Jim Bates for trashing our defense.

Fire Morris and Dominik at season's end.

[D Block]

Can Talib play WR? Yes he can he has good hands and played WR at Kansas. But i'm not putting my best CB on offense if i'm coaching.

Dre Moore might get into the rotation? I know i would have been had him in the rotation and possibly starting! I know i would be starting Roy Miller as well, Hovan was on the field last time when the Panthers mauled the defense. Hovan isn't that big he is who he is? He is who we thought he was not that good point blank but you continue to play him several snaps when he doesn't make plays or help anyone else make plays. Simms should probably sit out as well he plays to high and for all the size he has he isn't strong at the point.

Jagz was fired before the 1st game. Lefty was pulled after wk 3, Adams was shipped out, players have been called out but those most responsible for the teams problems are still here and starting Chris Hovan & Ryan Simms. Bates system doesn't show much promise but those 2 didn't look good in the other scheme either and you might as well play the younger guys just to see if you need to bring in 1 more starter or 2 starters at Defensive Tackle.

[D Block]

Hey you can say what you want about Raheem but I like Mark he is doing his job outside of agreeing with that Freeman pick in the draft.

My problem with Raheem is he got rid of Jagz because he wasn't seeing the vertical game or play action plays he wanted and Jagz wanted to call the plays from the booth. Olson hasn't showed much either, i see dink and dunk with no counter plays, screens, reverses or anything of creativity. Maybe Olson needs to head to the booth so he can see more of the game and the defensive looks live! It might help, you say you liked the way Gruden called the plays from the sideline but he didn't score much in my opinion but some of you all can check the stats to see if i'm wrong about that theory.

Monte left the team in my opinion with 4 games left and the team hasn't won a game since. Bates was brought in to feel those shoes and looks like an infant. They can't stop the run or the pass. They don't blitz well either so why is he still there making those calls? I vote for Joe Barry at this point he has 7 years experience here alone as a LB coach and 10 yrs all together. Why not give him a shot as the DC he can't do any more damage then Bates has and yes Raheem he is younger as well. The Defense ranks 27th overall, 31st in Rushing & 11th in Passing. Stats can be misleading but out of 32 teams they rank 31st in the run. Yes they rank 11th in the pass only because people have been running it down their throughts like a $5 Hooker!

[Harvey Arndt]

Jim Bates defense needs pass rush from Defensive Ends and line clogging and run stopping from Defensive Tackles. The Bucs have a terrible d-line, Keep Roy Miller and dump the rest at end of season. Trade triple C today please! Got a 2nd rounder for a DE that can not pass rush, lets see what he can get for a WR that can not catch. It is painful to watch games, like no one has a clue. Patriots should give team a warm fuzzy heading into bye week.

[TVT]

Scott, I'm glad you feel the same way I do. I was watching the 1999 NFC championship game on YouTube and what a defense! You had a great players like Nickerson, Brooks, Sapp, Lynch and Barber. They were flying all over the field! They were also great leaders. I just don't see it on this team especially the defense. We have no playmakers.
jjbjeff, I also agree that Quincy Black sucks as well. Has he done anything so far?