Did Win Clinch Raheem’s Award?
December 26th, 2010
Joe brought up this point several weeks ago when it seemed a lock the Bucs would make the playoffs:
Raheem Morris should be coach of the year.
Joe wasn’t the only one saying it. Video star Anwar Richardson of the Tampa Tribune was the first Joe heard talk about it. Football sage Adam Schein of Sirius NFL Radio was also on the Raheem Morris bandwagon.
But a pair of losses to the Dixie Chicks and an ugly, harrowing loss to the rebuilding since 1957 Detroit Lions threw cold water on the accolades for Raheem Morris.
Joe wonders if that has picked up steam after today’s win?
The Bucs are literally piecing a team together with bailing wire, duct tape and thrown away parts found on a junkyard heap. And still the Bucs are in the hunt for a playoff spot after Christmas no less.
Today things just got worse. Arrelious Benn goes out with a knee injury that on the surface screams “IR.” Earnest Graham got his bell rung and who know if or when he will return? Still, the Bucs won in a blowout.
Richardson has long made the case that the Bucs do not have one player in the top five at his position in the NFL. If that premise is acceptable, and throw in the scores of injuries to starters and valuable backups, if the Bucs make the playoffs Joe’s of the belief that trophy (or check) for coach of the year should be given to Raheem as he rides off the turf of the Superdome on his players’ shoulders next week.
If the Bucs make the playoffs, Morris will have done this with mirrors… and bailing wire… and duct tape.
Could Andy Reid win with this group?
December 26th, 2010 at 10:14 pm
That head coach from Green Bay will get it if they make the play offs.
December 26th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
No coach in the History of the game could win with this group of Defensive players. no combined playing time together practice time for that matter they made it happen with what they had. I saw a liittle let down when they realized ten wins might not gaurentee a playoff spot and they allowed Detroit get in thair heads
December 26th, 2010 at 10:22 pm
Could Andy Reid have won with this group?
Probably. Thee were a few games that the Bucs should hav won and if Blount were used differently, if the weather, if…if….
Having said that I believe that Raheem had these players motivated in such a manner that a coach like Gruden or Reid coudn’t manage. If the Bucs win next week and finish 10-6 then yes Morris gets COTY without a doubt.
If the Bucs lose next week and get blown out to finish 9-7 there is still a possibility he wins COTY but it would be like the letter from the NFL about the blown Detroit call….we were wrong, sorry about that!
December 26th, 2010 at 10:38 pm
Great job by Rah, whether he gets that award or not.
If he does do the impossible and beat NO, give the man a contract and pay him.
Perhaps they should anyway.
Wow, never thought those words would be typed on my laptop!
December 26th, 2010 at 10:42 pm
While I think Raheem has a good chance to win this award, you cannot forget about the job Todd Haley has done in KC. He has led a surprising team to a playoff berth and division championship. One could also make the case for a very surprising Rams team and Steve Spagnoulo.
If you listen to BSPN though, they clearly think that Bill Bellicheat is going to win this award. Makes me sick how they ride that guys jock.
December 26th, 2010 at 10:48 pm
Yes Eric. Even though this team has beaten only sorry teams, 9 wins is a winning record. 9-7 is an excellent record for a second year coach. 10 wins would be a big wow.
Raheem deserves credit for drafting Josh Freeman. Josh Freeman and Greg Olson has taken these young, talented WRs to unbelievable first years.
Blount is unbelievable.
Raheem’s defense is absolutely suspect, but the team has 9 wins. He is back where Gruden left off, and actually has a QB of the future and an offense that hums.
Again, Raheem’s claim to fame is defense and he has done a sub-par job on defense. The Bucs should get Mike Singletary to be the Defensive Coordinator (once he gets fired) and draft some linebackers with their top draft picks.
December 26th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Forgot to close it out with a good job as a head coach Raheem.
December 26th, 2010 at 10:55 pm
Our last coach got fired for going 9-7. This one is mentioned for COTY. Even though his “Defense” was on par with the last D-coordinator, who got fired too, people are mentioning him for COTY. If any Buc coach deserves COTY they should go down to the O-coordinator, Olsen, and give him the award!
December 26th, 2010 at 11:10 pm
Our last coach that got fired with a 9-7 record went into December at 9-3 with a veteran team with a chance at home field advantage throughout the playoffs and then had one of the most epic collapses of all time and didn’t even make it in. And besides that he didn’t develop a single young player in his entire tenure in Tampa. Get a freaking clue tampa 2. Don’t any of you Gruden lovers ever wonder why it’s been two years and still Gruden doesn’t have a coaching job anywhere? I don’t think it’s because he’s an amazing sports broadcaster.
December 26th, 2010 at 11:31 pm
Ridiculous:
tampa2 Says:
December 26th, 2010 at 10:55 pm
Our last coach got fired for going 9-7.
If you really think that you are a DEAF, DUMB and BLIND Gruden homer. Gruden did not get fired for going 9-7. Yeeeeeeeessssshhhhh . . .
December 26th, 2010 at 11:42 pm
Actually, can you blame the man for soaking up that Glazer cash and commenting?
I would.
But lets not take this too far, Chucky will be hired as an NFL coach and could have already gotten a job if he wanted to.
The reason Rah’s 9-7 (if thats the final record, they may beat NO), is cause they turned over the team so quickly with young players and got competitive quickly.
That is no easy task and the man deserves full credit.
I sure as hell never expected it though!
December 26th, 2010 at 11:56 pm
Eric is right about both Gruden and Morris. Gruden is a great coach and will be picked up quickly. Hopefully with a real GM this time around. Morris (and Dominik) also deserve HUGE credit for winning in a rebuilidng year. They have put together a winnign season with an incredibly flawed (or maybe better said as “incomplete”) team.
December 26th, 2010 at 11:58 pm
Eric — from what I have read of your previous comments you deserve the fairness award for giving Morris credit tonight and for saying that you did not expect his success.
December 27th, 2010 at 1:59 am
Much respect to Eric and Buc You for admitting Raheem has done a good job. Happy Holidays!
December 27th, 2010 at 3:18 am
Got to disagree with one thing, Buc You. I want Mike Singletary to have no part of this team. That’s not because he teaches a different scheme (3-4), but because he has yet to prove he can coach, and his players don’t seem to respond to him the way ours do for Raheem.
December 27th, 2010 at 6:01 am
Dont agree with the premise, on top of that we have an elite offense and a very dangerous one even with a make shift O-Line.
As far as Andy, that’s a negative. Our players are playing for Rah and the players love him. Reid simply can’t and wouldn’t get that production from them why?? Everybody say it with me now….”because he’s not Rah”. Very good.
December 27th, 2010 at 6:52 am
Have to agree with everyone on this issue. At the beginning of the season, I thought 4 wins would be an achievement… I was wrong.
If they win next week I think it would be an injustice if he didn’t win.
December 27th, 2010 at 6:58 am
By trading McNabb, Andy Reed made the best addition by subtraction move this past off-season- and another when he decided to pay his (then) 3rd string QB a tremendous amount of cash.
Those two off-season moves set-up the Eagles for what may be a Superbowl run…
I am of the opinion that the coach who wins the Superbowl should get the coach of the year honors…simply because that is the GOAL of every team as they begin, but only one team walks away the victor.
Having said that – NO, I do not think Andy Reid would have won with this team…but then again, Andy didn’t have our tremendously lenient schedule. I understand what has been achieved, but anyone would have to admit we’ve had it pretty easy. The few times we’ve played real NFL playoff caliber teams, we’ve lost.
I absolutely think Coach Morris has done a unbelievable job continuing to win in the face of all the adversity/lost talent…but what he’s done does not equal what Andy Reid has achieved in Philadelphia.
…and that pains me to say because I HATE the Eagles.
December 27th, 2010 at 10:55 am
I think Raheem should get it but here are my other nominees:
AFC:
Belicheck: NE: Don’t like him, but he had no RBs and a defense as young as the Bucs and got rid of Moss. He seems like the only candidate from the AFC.
NFC:
Smith: ATL: Only 2 losses. If they get to 14, or even 13 wins, he is considered. I knew they would be good, but they have been the best, most consistent team in the NFC, arguably the NFL.
Smith: CHI: They have done a heck of a turn around this year and most thought they would be 3rd in the division. Now they are looking at a bye in the playoffs.
Reid: PHILLY: They were 2-2, now they have a chance for a playoff bye. Not sure if Reid is a candidate or the accolades just go to Vick.
Spagnuolo: RAMS: This team was the worst and now will probably be a division winner with a rookie QB, albeit at 8-8
That’s who I think are the potential candidates.
IF the Bucs get in the playoffs, Raheem HAS TO get the award.