Raheem Being Advised To Find “Even Keel”
August 27th, 2010
Raheem Morris says he likes to talk fast when it comes to his favorite subject. That would be defense.
That makes sense. The guy’s a defensive mastermind who catapulted to head coach at 32. He’s young. He’s passionate. He’s intense. That’s why his players (minus one) seemingly want to run through a wall to get him a winning season.
But his fast-talking, comes-naturally manner of speaking is something the Bucs’ media relations chief wants him to curtail when talking to the media, so the head coach said yesterday during his news conference at One Buc Place.
Joe’s not sure why. It’s not like Morris is a Senator on the campaign trail. He’s a football coach. What’s important is the message, not the delivery.
Here’s how Coach explained it:
Reporter at news conference: Switching to defense, how anxious are to see this first unit out there for than just a couple of series to see that they can do?
Morris: You know I can’t really express that. That’s hard to do, to be honest with you, because I get anxious to watch these guys go out there and practice. You know, I get anxious to watch these guys practice together. And I get anxious to watch different units go out there and practice together. You know we got all these packages that we have. You know whether our 3-4 looks we talked about yesterday. Whether it’s our redskin looks, or whether it’s our nickel looks, or whether our, you know, just 1st down and 10, go line up, you know, and split a double team and make a play. So I really get excited to watch all these guys go through all the phases of the game together.
You know we’ve got a couple of phases of coming out with our first team defense. We actually got one last week, kind of like a sudden changeup to the big kickoff return, and we didn’t stand up. But now we get an opportunity to go out there for a half, so you get a chance to see some more of those situations like events happen. And that just fires me up and really makes me excited. You know, I know [Bucs media chief Jonathan] Grella is always telling me about slowing down and talking, you know, even keel to the press. But when you talk about defense, you kind of get me. I kind of get off my Grella path. And I’ll go down that road of speed-talking you guys and really enjoying the moment.
Joe sure hopes that the head coach keeps showing his fired up nature to the press. It’s his best, honest self.
The Buccaneers deliver his news conferences to all fans via their website, and Joe really thinks when Coach is in the midst of what he calls “speed-talking,” firing out passion and Xs and Os in the same breath, he’s showing fans how much he loves, lives and breathes Buccaneer football.
It’s a good thing.
August 27th, 2010 at 7:35 am
I watched this last night, and loved it when he was talking about speed talking. He’s a funny guy, and entertaining to watch. I totally agree with Joe: it’s a great thing to have a head coach who is so obviously and intensely passionate about his team and game.
I’m taking my sons to the game Saturday. We like Raheem; we want him and the young Bucs to succeed together, and we can’t wait to see the game.
August 27th, 2010 at 7:45 am
If this were 10 years ago, and these videos weren’t available, I’d probably hate Raheem for everything that happened to make up 3-13. But I actually like the guy because I get to see him talk and feel his passion. He’s going to go wild when they turn this around. I see many Coors Light commercials in his future.
August 27th, 2010 at 8:04 am
Excitement is how you sell tickets. Raheem is excited, and he gets the fans excited. How many fans would be excited about 3-13 if Raheem was as boring to watch as say Bill Belichick?
The Jets are the talk of the league right now because they have a coach who arguably even crazier than Raheem. They even got their own show.
August 27th, 2010 at 8:24 am
Yes, Joe , god forbid the Bucs PR department urge Raheem to try and actually sound INTELLIGENT for once …that just wouldn’t be the dumb ass Rah we know and love !
Ian , newsflash , no on is excited about this Titanic of a football team….hence the empty stands and blackouts….
August 27th, 2010 at 8:27 am
Joe really does have multiple personalities on every level of the Buccaneers’ fan spectrum.
August 27th, 2010 at 8:50 am
@ Radio I wouldnt say Rah is “dumb”. Maybe he doesnt give you the average “coach speak”. But you dont become a head coach at the age of 32 years old if your “dumb”. Raheem is REAL and thats what I like the best about him
August 27th, 2010 at 9:04 am
I’m tired of everyone bad mouthing our coach he is a good guy that’s growing with our young team… All coaches started off like this your cowhers shanahans all of them… Plus since no coach has ever won a super bowl with 2 different teams why would you want to waste your time on an old washed up coach?
August 27th, 2010 at 9:06 am
When you try and limit one’s enthusiam for something they love, everyone loses.
Coach Morris knows football. Coach Morris knows how to motivate players. Coach Morris is continuing to learn how to be a Head Coach.
He is going to be successful. I think he has the exact right mix needed in today’s NFL to succeed.
Smart, Aggressive, High Expectations and comfortable in his own skin.
August 27th, 2010 at 9:06 am
radio is a douche!!!! go to charlotte and support the carolina kitties!!! and dont screw us, i belive in raheem, so, im a dumb too??? get out of here u fag!!
August 27th, 2010 at 9:31 am
Aldo Says,
“so, im a dumb too???”
Uhh, yes!
August 27th, 2010 at 9:34 am
@Ash Your Cat or dog can be an NFL coach if the owner names them to be. If an owner of a Forbes 500 company goes down to the mail room and names the kid that pushes the mail cart CEO of the company, does that make the kid a real CEO? No, it just proves that owner must not want to make any money anymore. Sorta like the Glazers and their empty stands!This guy is an amateur at best. To say this guy’s a defensive matermind is a joke. Cheerleader is a better description for him. And this will be proved shortly.
August 27th, 2010 at 9:42 am
Tampa 2…You are nuts. This is not a good comparison either. Maybe if you said the board of directors appoints a director or lower level VP it would make sense. Morris was one level under the DC, not the mail room guy. Also, if you have the title it is real. I see no one has scooped you up for your football knowledge. This mail room thing you have been saying for the last year or so in ludicrous.
August 27th, 2010 at 9:59 am
Tampa2, I make my living in the staffing business. Companies love the “up and comer” most of the time vs old re trends. And like McBuc said this guy wasn’t on the equipment manager level like your mail room comparison. Your taking that to the extreme.
August 27th, 2010 at 10:11 am
The fast talking excitement will be an endearing quality if we do not get our asses handed to us on Sundays.
Winston Churchill would be run out of town for 3-13 followed by a similar season.
August 27th, 2010 at 10:24 am
eric:
Joe believes that’s the first time anyone has dropped a “Winston Churchill” line in the two+ years Joe’s been around.
Well done.
August 27th, 2010 at 11:00 am
yea i love raheem as a person and am wishing the best for him as a coach. if i were a player hed be one of the guys id want to play for
and joe i disagree with you a little bit, its not a good thing, its a great thing
and who is this radio guy, get a life, or a get a grip, what a tool
August 27th, 2010 at 11:57 am
Joe said:
“What’s important is the message, not the delivery.”
As evidenced here every single day, the delivery is often more important than the message.
August 27th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
Joe here,
JimBuc – Have to disagree.
The speed of the delivery, which is what this post is about, and the subsequent passion that is expressed in that speed, per Raheem’s words, is not given any importance here. And Raheem has not been blasted by Joe for his speed or passion.
At times readers and Joe have written about some bizarre word choices and sentences — the substance.
It’s a nuance, but I think it’s important to distinguish.
August 27th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
so that’s Grella’s job.
August 27th, 2010 at 2:09 pm
Find this kind of stuff real interesting Joe. This is really all about winning, not about how he talks. Rah is street. He keeps it real. The guy will be a freakin rock star if they turn it around this year. Nobody will be able to get enough. Peace
August 27th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
I’d love to be a fly on the wall during those Grella/Rah meetings!
August 27th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
Is this what Joe means by Radio Morris being his best honest self ??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azB5wGPRcV0
LOL!!
August 27th, 2010 at 5:12 pm
Good one Mushmouth! I love it and that quote is Rahspeak at it’s finest.
I’m hangin with the coach for now, but sometimes he just needs to clam up. Still, his last couple pressers were better. I have told my kids for years to think about what you’re going to say before you say it. How is that going to sound coming out of my mouth? OMG, I sound like a complete buffoon and I have insulted everyone in the free world.
Safety,
that is awesome, and enjoy the game with your boys. My boys(grown now) go to all the games with me. We are so loud and obnoxious, but we do not Cuss. My daughter likes hockey (Lightning Games) and not a big NFL fan. We need more fans at the games, so CUDOS to the Safety Man!!! Yea! GO Bucs!!!
August 27th, 2010 at 7:18 pm
Good point Joe