An Untold Story
September 9th, 2016
Can Raheem Morris get inside Mike Smiths’ head and affect Sunday’s game?
One of the most interesting pure football stories of the entire 2016 NFL season revolves around the ol’ ball coach, the last man to lead the Buccaneers to a winning record, a 10-6 record.
Joe’s talking about Raheem Morris, a career defensive coach who made a radical change this offseason.
Raheem, who turned 40 last week, is the assistant head coach of the Falcons, joining them early last year with Dan Quinn’s new staff. Raheem focused on the defensive side of the ball in 2015, but Quinn called on him to be wide receivers coach this season.
It was a stunning move. What defensive coach, a former head coach, jumps to coaching receivers?
Keep in mind this is a unique Falcons receiving corps, which includes freakish Julio Jones, free agent Mohamed Sanu, pure speedster Aldrick Robinson, old man Eric Weems, and developing second-year man Justin Hardy, and more.
This was no babysitting gig for Raheem.
Joe asked Quinn this week what kind of impact Raheem has been having. It seems Raheem is changing the Falcons’ entire offensive approach.
“The biggest impact ‘Rah’ has brought is really a defensive perspective into the offensive meeting room. Where he has such an expertise in coverage and the different techniques and the different styles, you can imagine how valuable that would be to an offensive group,” Quinn said.
“For the receiver group in particular, he has real knowledge of, ‘This is how this guy is going to press,’ so in other words, looking at it from the other side of the line. That part has been even better than I expected. He’s a fantastic teacher. You guys know ‘Rah’ well just from covering the team through the years there. He still has the same energy, just like he did as a head coach there and on the defensive staff. He still brings that same juice and energy. We’ve got a very deep receiver group and they play with a lot of toughness and it’s no surprise that Raheem has a big part in that.”
Joe also asked Matt Ryan to describe Raheem’s impact.
“I think it shows just how versatile Raheem is, his ability to connect with the guys, understanding offensive and defensive football at a really high level and also giving us a little bit different perspective on the offensive side of the ball,” Ryan said. “For him having been on the defensive side for so long and understanding how they game plan and they see things, it’s a good perspective to have for us. So I think he’s done a great job.”
It sure sounds like Ryan and Quinn like the way Raheem predicts and projects the way defensive coordinators will read and react to the Falcons’ offense. That includes new Bucs defensive chief Mike Smith.
Pretty valuable stuff — if it works. There are very few defensive minds on offensive staffs across the NFL. That could change in a hurry if Raheem is successful.
Joe sure hopes that’s not Sunday against Tampa Bay.
September 9th, 2016 at 9:37 am
At 1st there was…
-Juan Castillo – The Offensive Line Coach
The there was ..
-Juan Castillo – The Defensive Line Coach
Now Raheem Morris – The once very Talent Defensive Backs Coach.
Is a receivers coach?
C’mon Rah
September 9th, 2016 at 9:44 am
Smart for Rah to attach his name with julio jones instead of the falcons secondary!!!!!!
Just a question, can Rah chest bump Julio, or does he need a steep ladder on the sideline????
September 9th, 2016 at 9:45 am
Ya I don’t know how much of a Impact he has on WR’s but I do know that he is a decent coach that guys love to be around and has that bond between him and his players, still li,e Rah, wished they would of found a way to keep him around on the staff but I know that’s not likely after being a HC here. Wish him the best except when hes playin his former club. Falcons should feel lucky, they have a great guy in Rah. Suprised that he went to the offensive side tho. Dont really get that one.
September 9th, 2016 at 9:51 am
Its an interesting concept and at first glance one might think, it seems obvious and every team should be doing it. Then if you ask yourself the question, how good would Lovie Smith be to work with recievers to predict what Mike Smiths defense will be doing? Not sure Lovie would fare so well because the two think so differently. Rah is a good coach though, it might work really well. It will be interesting to see.
September 9th, 2016 at 9:55 am
Rah will earn another shot at a head coaching gig unlike the ignorant and incompetent Lovie smith. Rah makes adjustments, adapts to players and can think on his own all things lovie is / was incapable of. Glazers setup Raheem to fail both with financial constraints and welll Dominick was GM..
September 9th, 2016 at 10:17 am
Raheem Morris was a great DB coach here. Just ask Monte Kiffin. I have always been a Rah punter, and always will be. Glazers set him up to fail forcing him into the HC position before he was ready. Yeow, Dixie Chicks got him coaching their wideouts. Interesting. Just makes our secondary have to play lights out tomorrow, for sure! 🙂 Go MIGHTY BUCS!!
September 9th, 2016 at 10:17 am
Pablo says Raheem was the best Bucs coach over last 10 years.
September 9th, 2016 at 11:19 am
Rah caught a tough break trying to coach and prepare a young team during the year of the NFL lockout. I definitely think that hurt that young group from building on the momentum of that 10-6 season the year before.
September 9th, 2016 at 11:23 am
Set up to fail, are you kidding me, this kind of stuff could not possibly go on at One Buc Place! He, he, he, he, he, he!
September 9th, 2016 at 11:57 am
Could you imagine Belichick ever drinking with his own players. Awful choice.
Seems like a good position coach though. Could learn from his mistakes….
September 9th, 2016 at 12:06 pm
Joe, have you scouted Rah’s favorite bars in Atlanta?
September 9th, 2016 at 12:06 pm
I still think raheem will be a successful head coach in this league some day. He’s still young and has been building his resume for many years now. A great guy, and an underrated football mind. Paired with a great GM he could be a great pick up for a franchise like Jacksonville or Miami. Or even new Orleans post Payton.
September 9th, 2016 at 12:10 pm
Unless it is downtown Hooters or a hotel bar, no.
Besides, have no clue what his favorite Atlanta bars are. Nor does Joe care.
September 9th, 2016 at 12:33 pm
Hopefully he takes Julio Jones out drinking on the town on Saturday night.
September 9th, 2016 at 3:44 pm
Raheem was probably one of the nicest, most easy going head coaches in NFL history. He got a raw deal in some ways with the Bucs. One half season of pure hell ruined his credibility, but he’s still a heck of a coach/coordinator. I hope he gets another shot as a head coach someday.
September 9th, 2016 at 7:30 pm
Not sure if its a benefit or a detriment for the Falcons to have a DB coach in charge of the receivers. But it certainly is good for Rah’s future head coaching aspirations to have been a position coach on both sides of the ball in the NFL.