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Silence On Kiffin Speaks Volumes

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By ROY CUMMINGS

rcummings@tampatrib.com

Published: December 2, 2008

Updated: 12/02/2008 12:11 am

TAMPA - Bucs general manager Bruce Allen says he knows where Monte Kiffin will be coaching next season. He wasn't willing to share that knowledge on Monday. He really didn't have to.

Allen's refusal to say Kiffin will extend his tenure as the Bucs' defensive coordinator to a 14th season fueled a growing belief that Kiffin will leave after this season to coach the defense at the University of Tennessee, where his son Lane was introduced as coach Monday.

Given a chance to end the speculation regarding his father, Lane Kiffin rode a path similar to Allen. He said he knows who he wants for his staff but refused to name names. Like Allen, he really didn't have to.

Kiffin's decision to tell Volunteers defensive coordinator John Chavis that he will not be retained lent even more credence to the belief that his father will join him after the NFL season ends and will leave the Bucs on the lookout for a new defensive coordinator.

It seems on the surface to be a daunting task. After all, during his 13 years on the Bucs sideline, Monte Kiffin established himself as one the best coordinators in football.

The designer of the vaunted Tampa 2 scheme, Kiffin is largely responsible for the Bucs being the only team in NFL history to rank in the top 10 in fewest points and fewest yards allowed 10 times in 11 seasons.

Filling his headset won't be easy, but Kiffin has been grooming potential successors for almost as long as he's been coaching here and some of those would-be replacements could soon become available to Tampa Bay.

Lions coach Rod Marinelli, Lions defensive coordinator Joe Barry and current Bucs secondary coach Raheem Morris are among the potential candidates who already have ties to Kiffin and the Bucs.

Should the Bucs decide to go outside their extended family for a new defensive leader, they could tap someone such as former 49ers coach Mike Nolan or Saints linebackers coach Joe Vitt.

No matter what they do, the Bucs have the luxury of time. Coach Jon Gruden made it clear Monday that no matter the outcome, Kiffin will remain with the Bucs through the end of the season.

"Yes, yes he will," Gruden said when asked if Kiffin would finish the season here. "He's my friend, and I want what's best for him, but we've got work to do here. We've got to finish the job."

Reporter Roy Cummings can be reached at (813) 259-7979.

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