Raheem Explains “Kinda The Mentality”
May 23rd, 2011
In what Joe can only describe as a 90 second stream of consciousness that rocked Joe’s world on many levels, Raheem Morris touched on a multitude of Bucs topics — past and present — during an interview last week with Mike Pepper on WQYK-AM 1010.
Revealing his masochistic side, Joe has transcribed the audio. You can read it below. Raheem was asked to explain what it’s like interacting with fans now versus coming off a 3-13 season, and the head coach brought his A-game.
Mike Pepper: What’s the difference between this summer and last summer? Fans, instead of going, ‘Ehhh, Hey, Coach,’ they are like happy with you. Yes?
Raheem Morris: Well, when you go back to the beginning, I gotta be honest, the Tampa Bay area is awesome. I know you guys probably get the tougher [questions] than I get on the street. Because if I get an upfront question that you may have to talk about on the radio, it’s easy for me to absolutely sit there and talk to you and detail myself and just kill you with knowledge. By the end of the day, you’re going to walk away and you might have had a negative or a derogatory comment and you’re going to leave and say, ‘Man, that guy’s a good guy.’ So that stuff’s easy for me. So that never really bothered me.
I remember reading things, like I told people I like to go to Publix and like to do things on my own. And they said, ‘You know, after you lose a couple of games you won’t want to do that.’ That’s not necessarily true. You gotta be able to face your critics.
What I do is not based on confidence. It’s a mentality before it’s ever reality. So we always go into it with the same mindset. You know, you’re kidding yourself if you think you’re gonna to lose guys like Derrick Brooks, Warrick Dunn, Jeff Garcia, Joey Galloway and all the great players, Ike Hilliard, all the players that walked outta here and that year that we had to let go and make moves and do changes and think you’re going to win a bunch of games. You’re trying to get better, and you’re trying to build something for the future. And you draft a quarterback. You want to do that, and that’s how it started when we went 3-13 that year. So going into the next year, in your next offseason, you’re knowing you’re coming back and you’re going to be better.
That’s why you can put things out there like the ‘Race to 10.’ You can put things out there like ‘We’re the Best in the NFC’ because you’re creating a confidence around your team.
So now that confidence is created amongst our team, amongst our fan base, amongst our sportswriters and reporters, now we can go out there and we can go get it. This year we want to win our division. This year we want to be our very best self like we’ve always wanted to be. And we want to go out there and get it. And that’s kinda the mentality.
Joe finds it interesting that Raheem all but admits here that the Bucs chances of winning in 2009 were a joke.
Plus, Joe is surprised that Raheem talks about creating confidence “amongst our sportswriters and reporters” like it’s somehow important. How could that remotely matter?
Joe can attest to the fact that the media won’t win or lose one damn game for the Bucs in 2011, or in any other year. Rick Stroud may type and Twitter well but he’s not going to shed a block. Anwar Richardson might be a video star, but he can’t talk his way out of a pass rush. And the media won’t be influencing personnel decisions anytime soon.
Regardless, Joe likes Raheem’s mentality that the Bucs are ready to win now — now that they’ve put the building blocks and confidence in place. It’ll be interesting to see how the team reacts when the free-agency bell rings.
May 23rd, 2011 at 8:10 pm
I’ve said it before that the media’s negativity trickles down to the fans. All we have is negative media (besides Mark Topkin for the Rays). It should be a goal of Rah’s to change the media’s mentality. He would have accomplished many more important things before that if he did.
May 23rd, 2011 at 8:17 pm
Yeah I agree with Nick. Alot of fans base their opinions on what Steve Duemig and other prominent TB media folks say. If they’re being overly negative it can affect the fan base big time.
May 23rd, 2011 at 8:29 pm
Rah has changed his tune on 2009 bc early in that season he was predicting playoffs. He also refuses to admit his failures in 2009, still blaming it on assistants, as is his m.o. – ask todd wash.
If you read his quote it makes no sense : “if I get an upfront question that you may have to talk about on the radio?” “Detail myself?” does he mean explain myself in detail? Or is he going to clean himself with detail?
“Our goal is to win our division this year.” not last year? Now that we have gained confidence in the fanbase and media we can “go get it.”
What head coach publicly cares about the fan and media confidence? A clueless and insecure one. Did he even answer the question?
This guy can clearly and cohesively express a thought or idea. How did he pass an interview? Thats right he wasnt interviewed, denver interviewed him and ran like hell to another debacle.
May 23rd, 2011 at 8:30 pm
Correction: can NOT
May 23rd, 2011 at 8:42 pm
thomas…. ur a moron…plain and simple!!! the biggest jerk, seriously why are u here??? ur NOT a BUCS FAN!!!! get outta here
May 23rd, 2011 at 8:52 pm
Here we go again, Thomas can’t control himself to spew more hate on any and everything Raheem. When exactly did he predict playoffs in 2009? Second, what would you want him to say back then, “Oh, we have no shot at being any good, but just wait a year or two and things will be fine.”?
And I love how you keep saying he is blaming everyone else. Stupid arse Thomas being himself I guess. He has never once blamed anyone publicly. If it is not working, he has corrected the problem. That’s what he is supposed to do dumb arse. If he didn’t, you’d be b!tching that he doesn’t make any changes. Most, if not all, of his coaching changes have been successful. Even though you refuse to admit it, the defense was much better under Raheem than Bates (eye ball test and statistically), as was the offense under Olsen. But I guess in your world he should have just stuck with Jags and Bates.
As for you dissecting his quote, get a life bro. I guess you want our coach to be an English major, but I could give a sh!t less. Any person with a brain could understand exactly what he was saying, but only a douche like you would over analyze it and criticize his English.
Now go ahead and respond with your same old BS about how our schedule was easy, the credit goes to Olsen and Freeman, the stats don’t show the real truth, blah blah blah. With every stupid post you make, you become more and more of a joke to all of us.
May 23rd, 2011 at 9:39 pm
What the heck was that? Does Raheem understand how the English language works? I love his coaching ability and the fact our players love him, but, Oh my. That man can not finish one thought before talking about another. I was so confused by the end of his words I forgot what the original question was. He’d probably make a great politician.
May 23rd, 2011 at 9:50 pm
I dare you to write something bad about Michael Clayton. 😉
Raheem doesn’t realize the media will turn on him on a dime. They didn’t beat anyone until Game 17. The media’s a bunch of ignorant boobs with an agenda. Sorry Joe.
May 23rd, 2011 at 10:25 pm
Joe, first off thank you very much for transcribing this talk. I would never get to see this stuff if not for you.
I think getting beat writers to talk positive things about a team is extremely important, affects the attitude of the fan base a great deal, and a team like the bucs needs help in that area. You could say winning games will pull the media on your side, i wouldn’t make that argument 100% of the time.
May 23rd, 2011 at 10:39 pm
What defensive coaching change has worked? What was the pass rush and run d ranked in 2010? Thought so.
Raheem means well, he is just ill-suited to perform that job. You must be able to communicate, analyze calmly, articulate sound game plans. He cant explain if the fans are now easier on him.
May 23rd, 2011 at 10:48 pm
@Thomas 2.2, why don’t you check out where the pass defense was ranked? Thought so. I can’t believe someone is actually trying to bash the guy who should have gotten coach of the year last year.
May 23rd, 2011 at 11:06 pm
“What defensive coaching change has worked? What was the pass rush and run d ranked in 2010? Thought so.”
—
Higher than what they were in 2009. Funny how you forget to mention the most important stat, points allowed. But go ahead and make an excuse as to why that is the case. That’s all you are good for, making piss poor excuses to back up your lame arse argument. You also fail to bring up the secondary and how many INT’s they had. So while they definitely had weaknesses, overall the improvement of the defense was considerable. That was very evident immediately in 2009 when he fired Bates. If it wasn’t, they wouldn’t have been 10-6 this year (cue the standard Thomass argument – that’s because of Olsen and Freeman). The defense still needs to get better, but it’s not going to happen overnight like a fraud of a fan like you expects.
May 23rd, 2011 at 11:39 pm
Thomas, I wish I could kill you with knowledge.
May 24th, 2011 at 12:00 am
Sorry Jrock, the journalist in Joe has to take issue.
It is not the job of a sports reporter to be a public relations agent, though some, sadly, do their best to be that. Sports writers and specifically columnists are to call it like they see it. As Joe vividly remembers his very first editor telling him just before his very first assignment covering a high school football game in southern Illinois: if they are good they are good, if they suck they suck; say it, write it.
BTW, you are more than welcome for the transcription.
May 24th, 2011 at 1:19 am
My God..Joe, you cant be so stup…unaware of the impact the local media has on the, general feelings, of alot of the ‘pied piper’ Buc fans. Ever since McKay left, and the spoon fed stories ended, and the rags, actually had to work for their stories, the majority of “columns” have not been positive regarding the Bucs. Fennelly is a great example. but the local “media” wont have much choice when the Bucs start winning, though they’ll be hatin’ every positive word they right. i’ve never seen a worse group of local sports writers..honestly. And, yes..I’ve lived in a few big market cities, and none have been anywhere close to as bad and negative as this “band of haters”.
May 24th, 2011 at 1:32 am
rahs just a real mans man he gets his sub and iced tea from publix just like the rest of us
May 24th, 2011 at 7:36 am
Although superficially there were some improvements in points allowed, which necessarily improves when the offense keeps the ball longer – if you seriously dive into the yards per play numbers, pass rush and run d numbers, the defense has not improved at all.
The team gave up about 5 less points a game but off efficiency and t o p went up which influences def points allowed by reducing opportunities.
May 24th, 2011 at 8:01 am
I think Coach needs some players to work with… might be going a little stir crazy?
The question was how are the fans treating you differently from last summer to this summer?
Don’t get me wrong – love everything about Coach Morris, he’s going to be a star in this league and the Bucs coach a long time with another year of NFL success.
Answer the question in a direct sentence and then talk about all that other stuff?
May 24th, 2011 at 8:51 am
All, please follow OAR’s advice and ignor Thomas. He is sim-ply baiting people into hijackinhg the post. I am surprised no one pointed out the over all defense stat…2009 – 27 and 2010 – 17. This is all I will say on the subject, and I shall keep ignoring Thomas, you all should do the same.
May 24th, 2011 at 9:28 am
“Plus, Joe is surprised that Raheem talks about creating confidence “amongst our sportswriters and reporters” like it’s somehow important”
I gotta disagree Joe, Not all Buc Fans at games on Sunday are diehard Bucs Fans and may just cheer for the local team if they are doing good. If the media is blowing steam they are more likely to buy a ticket.
Why do you think there are so many COwboys fans from a city they probably have no relation nor have ever been. Because the media hypes them year after year like they are superstars when in fact they are “Twinkle, twinkle little stars”.
I wouldnt say just the local media affects things, but the media absolutely creates a perception true or not, and people buy it.
May 24th, 2011 at 10:11 am
Sorry mcbuc that we disagree. I am just pointing out another failure to communicate, which i believe is ultimately important for a hc.
Take the word out of the bracket in first par. That joe added for clarity, then read it, it makes even less sense. I think for a public figure HC what he says in media is open for analysis
May 24th, 2011 at 10:47 am
Thomas only shows up when he can rip on Raheem. Thanks for not disappointing. You are if nothing else consistent in your insanity. Keep up the good work. You and the crazy “end of the world” preacher must be related. You fail to see reason and if facts don’t work out how you want them too you make up some other nonsense and go until that is proven wrong. Also, why is everyone so concerned about Raheem’s ability to talk to the media. What does it matter? AS long as he knows how to communicate to his players and get results. Is he a PR guy or a f’ing football coach?
May 24th, 2011 at 11:22 am
Rah thinks its important to build confidence in the media- read the article.
May 24th, 2011 at 2:51 pm
Thomas,
You are wrong buddy. So by your theory, one would assume the other teams had much less plays than 2009 right? You are right, by a whopping 2 plays per game!!! So are you saying that those 2 plays per game are the factor in us going from 27th in total defense to 17th? In fact, every single category with the exception of sacks (by 2) has gotten better from 2009. Also keep in mind the numbers became drastically better in 2009 when Morris took over. Kind of blows holes in your theory doesn’t it?
It’s also convenient that you are only interested in the bottom line when it helps your way of thinking, as in our 10-6 record is meaningless because we didn’t make the playoffs (even though 10-6 would have in 2009); yet our drastically better numbers versus 2009 are skewed by different factors. Shouldn’t the bottom line be that we are drastically better in the most important defensive statistic, points allowed? Like I told you before, don’t post BS facts and not expect to be called out on it. You are a fraud and a liar, and everytime you try to post BS, I’m going to look it up.
May 24th, 2011 at 4:40 pm
you guys got Thomas2.2-SUCKERED, AGAIN!
If I grew up on a farm, and was retarded, Thomas might impress me but I didn’t, so he doesn’t.
May 24th, 2011 at 4:51 pm
I know, OAR, I know. It just shows how much I really hate this stupid lockout.
May 24th, 2011 at 4:59 pm
Hawaiian
Aloha!
Very true and better than becoming a crimnal, like Ray Lewis suspects! Although, Thomas could lead one to that!
May 24th, 2011 at 5:10 pm
Thomas, you really know how to stir things up. I’ll give you credit for that.
May 31st, 2011 at 12:46 am
Thomas works for joebucsfan. com
May 31st, 2011 at 12:50 am
anonymous:
Not only would that be inaccurate but Joe has much more stellar legal minds to tap into if he would need to hire someone on retainer. 🙂