Act II For Raheem Morris
October 22nd, 2019
Ira’s column pops three times a week. Click through here to shop now at BillCurrieFord.com.
BY IRA KAUFMAN
A week from now, Arthur Blank needs to do the right thing.
If, as expected, his reeling Falcons lose to Seattle and slide to 1-7 heading into a bye week, Blank should relieve Dan Quinn of his duties and name an interim head coach for the second half of a lost season.
Dirk Koetter and Mike Mularkey have head coaching experience in the NFL, but there’s another member of Quinn’s staff who deserves another shot. His name is Raheem Morris and he’s been waiting behind the curtains for a second chance on the big stage.
This is not the same Raheem Morris who replaced Jon Gruden in 2009 at the age of 32 and found himself leading a youth movement in Tampa.
Somehow, some way, the 2010 Bucs won 10 games in Josh Freeman’s first full season as a starter. Although Tampa Bay came up just short in the playoff chase, the Glazers were ecstatic as Morris became the first coach since the 1970 merger to start at least 10 rookies and post a winning record.
What the Bucs didn’t realize was that everything broke right for them in 2010 and they really weren’t a 10-6 team. They were passive in free agency and a draft topped by Adrian Clayborn and Da’Quan Bowers offered minimal help.
Former Bucs head coach Raheem Morris
The 2011 Bucs opened at 4-2 before a trip to London triggered a 10-game slide that ushered Morris out the door, Morris didn’t help himself by getting too close to his players. The club lacked veteran leadership beyond Ronde Barber, so when adversity hit, the locker room separated into cliques and Morris lacked the experience and maturity to steady the sinking ship.
Instead of sulking, Morris got busy.
Rare Experience
For the next three seasons, he coached the secondary of the Redskins. Then he moved on to Atlanta in 2015, where he was named assistant head coach and defensive backfield coach. But in 2016, at Quinn’s request, Morris switched sides and took over the wide receiver room.
That doesn’t happen very often. Assistant coaches almost always remain on one side of the ball, working on their craft. So what happened when Morris started working with Julio Jones and company?
The 2016 Falcons promptly led the NFL in scoring, Matt Ryan was named league MVP and Atlanta led New England 28-3 in the Super Bowl before folding.
Kyle Shanahan weighs in
Morris made quite an impression on offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, who left to become head coach of the 49ers.
“Raheem has always been a great defensive coach and now, to have the experience on offense puts him at the top of the tier,” Shanahan said. “He has more energy than any coach I’ve ever been around and he can connect with any type of player or coach. He’s more than ready to be a head coach again.”
Naming Morris as interim coach next week would serve as an audition tape for the rest of the league to assess his credentials. If the Falcons respond well to him, Morris would raise his profile among the NFL’s key decision makers.
“I’d be shocked if Raheem doesn’t get a shot soon — and he should,” said former Bucs GM Mark Dominik.
That was two years ago.
The Falcons are a mess, but they don’t lack talent. Ryan, Jones, Devonta Freeman, Jake Matthews, Grady Jarrett, Deion Jones and Desmond Trufant have proven they can play at a high level in this league.
New Man & Ten Still Stands
What this organization needs is direction and enthusiasm that has been sorely missing since that historic Super Bowl collapse. Quinn isn’t coming back in 2020 … that’s a given. If you saw him at the podium this week, you realize Quinn has run out of answers.
Morris has worked hard for another opportunity. He has settled down with a family and at the age of 43, he has gained maturity and wisdom.
Even if Blank intends to look beyond Atlanta’s staff when seeking Quinn’s eventual replacement, he owes it to Morris to do the right thing.
Slap that “interim” label on Morris and see what happens. What have you got to lose? Your building is half-empty and your playoff hopes have vanished. Give this “youngry” assistant a chance to run the show for awhile.
The Bucs haven’t posted a 10-win season since Morris left town. That was almost nine years ago, and he’s a different man.
Let him prove it.
Click through to see all the fall savings at Bill Currie Ford!
October 22nd, 2019 at 5:14 pm
MAn, would love to see Morris take over and then get the job full time and watch a division rival take over for the next 3 years in the nfc south basement.
October 22nd, 2019 at 5:30 pm
So we are supposed to care WHY?????
October 22nd, 2019 at 5:37 pm
It’s so sad what happens in the NFL. Same players for the most part got to the super bowl, teams have below average drafts after having all that success over that time period they will get rid of the coach not the players who aren’t playing better or the gm. Dann Quinn is no belicheck and he’s no Dirk koetter either but hes been successful
He wont get fired because they play the bucs twice and just traded sanu so offense will look very different next week. They can outscore us easily.
October 22nd, 2019 at 5:43 pm
Sage, what are you his agent?!!?? He will never get another chance, you can’t go out with Talib in South Tampa douche land snorting off the bar and doing shots and expect to ever get another Head Coaches’ job.
October 22nd, 2019 at 5:51 pm
And if Mr. Blank needs to move on from Quinn, good man, good coach, needs a new start. If Raheem does not get th3e HC gig I have an idea, Ira see if you like it. USF needs to fire Charlie, (I know you have seen his record since Willie’s players moved on), and NEED to hire Raheem!!! He’ll inject what USF needs, relate sto young kids and you know what? I met Raheem a few times, I would absolutely trust my son to play for him!! NFL wants to keep passing on Morris? College head coach is not shabby and how many NFL caliber coaches will he attract? USF will get into the next realignment!!! Go Bucs, Go Bulls!!!! Ira, what do you think??
October 22nd, 2019 at 5:52 pm
And if Mr. Blank needs to move on from Quinn, good man, good coach, needs a new start. If Raheem does not get the HC gig I have an idea, Ira see if you like it. USF needs to fire Charlie, (I know you have seen his record since Willie’s players moved on), and NEED to hire Raheem!!! He’ll inject what USF needs, relates to young kids and you know what? I met Raheem a few times, I would absolutely trust my son to play for him!! NFL wants to keep passing on Morris? College head coach is not shabby and how many NFL caliber coaches will he attract? USF will get into the next realignment!!! Go Bucs, Go Bulls!!!! Ira, what do you think??
October 22nd, 2019 at 6:31 pm
Rah deserves a chance. He has sat back did his time learning and listening. He will be a much better the next time he’s a HC. He will get his chance again.
October 22nd, 2019 at 6:37 pm
Raheem was the right coach jist the wrong time for us.
Schiano was the right coach just the wrong time for us.
Lovie was the wrong coach and so was keotter.
Id love to see either of them coach us now.
October 22nd, 2019 at 6:39 pm
Rah is no Head coach material, sorry. His team quit on him the last year of his tenure, he is a great guy but not a leader of grown men.
October 22nd, 2019 at 7:10 pm
Agreed with stoned. And yes rah may have lost thr locker room but he ain’t the same coach sine then either
October 22nd, 2019 at 7:28 pm
I care.
I supported Rahim when he was here because he was our coach. He was in over his head and not a miracle worker. He was too inexperienced but I am sure it was a great learning experience for him.
I am a staunch Buccaneer fan but I can see the world beyond Tampa Bay.
Sure I am pulling for him to succeed somewhere. He does deserve a second chance sooner or later.
Thanks for your words, @Joe.
October 22nd, 2019 at 7:33 pm
Whoops, I meant thanks Ira! ://)
October 22nd, 2019 at 7:39 pm
He won’t change anything if he is named head coach.
October 22nd, 2019 at 7:39 pm
Sage. Don’t think we care that much for the falcons.
October 22nd, 2019 at 7:53 pm
I dont understand the concern for a division rival, much less giving then ideas…wtf!!
October 22nd, 2019 at 8:26 pm
Great, now the place I come to for all things Bucs related has thrown in the towel and posting articles about a division rival. #Itsabucslife
October 22nd, 2019 at 8:39 pm
“Where is the JBF weekly stat comparison between MVP Matty Ice and JW3 under Klueless Koetter?
Shouldn’t be very obvious for 30 milly MVP?
Strangely it’s obvious JW3 is a better QB in every statistical category
Can someone explain this?”
Son of Sam
October 22nd, 2019 at 9:16 pm
Morris did a great job that year. Not easy to win with the glazers team. Just ask Shiano, Lovie, Koetter and Arians
October 22nd, 2019 at 9:34 pm
Can’t see Morris settling for USF HC job. That would be a step down. Trying to move up to UCFs level has proved difficult enough. That last Bulls lost at Navy was pathetic.
October 22nd, 2019 at 9:41 pm
I agree. But what about the Bucs ? Any news?????????
October 22nd, 2019 at 9:45 pm
Youngry
To bad the Bucs were and are yitty
October 22nd, 2019 at 10:16 pm
Ira’s so sick of the product coming out of OBP, he’s decided to walk the plank in favor of a division rival. Maybe Winston can sign with Atlanta as a free agent. It’ll be like Raheem and Freeman, Falcon style.
October 22nd, 2019 at 10:59 pm
Agree with posters – Who CARES about ATL falcons plans. RM had his time and chance in Tampa.
All i care about > Bucs! Making playoff run to SB. And can BA fix JW3, our pass rush, and secondary sieve?
October 23rd, 2019 at 12:02 am
Poor guys had dom as a gm.
Worse then Jason….
October 23rd, 2019 at 12:19 am
I don’t really care to read about Raheehaw anymore. No wonder Mark Dominik thinks he should have another shot. He wants one too! When you’re looking for the root cause of why the Bucs are still a joke, look at the Glazers, hiring Dominik. You want to know why Michael Bennett was let go? Mark Dominik drafted DuhQuan “I can’t haszn a gun at the airport?” Bowers who he declared “ready to roll.”
There isn’t enough Xantac in the world.
October 23rd, 2019 at 12:36 am
Raheem was a good enough coach…wasn’t his fault Ownership was cheap and they didn’t want to spend money. Imagine what he could have done if we sprinkled in a few vets like Shaq Barrett etc. to go along with the youngry 10 win Bucs.
Nah we’d rather spend money on a punter… Raheem will go to another team and have a Run like Tomlin/Dungy
#ItsABucsLife
#BucsBeatingBucs
October 23rd, 2019 at 9:27 am
It’s not like he was 13 yo when he coached the Bucs the first time, he was a grown man. Why is there this pervasive belief that he is somehow a different person than he was?
If asked his offensive philosophy, let’s hope he has a better answer than “score touchdowns” this time.
Positions coach may be his best level.