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Rivalry Brewing Between Morris And Tomlin

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By ROY CUMMINGS

rcummings@tampatrib.com

Published: February 20, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS - Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is one of Bucs coach Raheem Morris' closest friends. Earlier this week, though, the two were talking about the possibility of becoming the biggest of rivals.

"We were actually talking about meeting in Miami at the Super Bowl next year and having a heavyweight head coaching boxing match, something the media wouldn't be used to," Morris said.

"It would be pretty funny if that would happen. We'd both love it to happen. It would be the first time in NFL history two head coaches were talking smack to each other on the podium."

Morris and Tomlin became close when the two worked as assistants for the Bucs between 2002 and 2005. Not surprisingly, Morris says he has adopted some of Tomlin's attributes.

"Mike Tomlin has a confident, cocky swagger," Morris said. "He's always focused on winning championships. I have that same swagger. Now I've just got to go do it."

BUMP & BARBER

The Bucs are expected to convert from a zone to a bump-and-run coverage scheme in the secondary next season. It's a move that doesn't necessarily mesh with Pro Bowl CB Ronde Barber's skills.

That doesn't mean, though, that Barber will lose his starting job or even see less playing time. Morris said new coordinator Jim Bates specializes in meshing a player's strengths with his scheme.

"Bates is flexible enough to let Ronde do what his strengths are," Morris sais. "Barber's strengths might be playing off and doing the same things you would do in bump, just in a different way."

Barber had what many believe was a less-than-stellar year in 2008, but Morris said Barber's play down the stretch proved he remains one of the best corners in the game.

"Ronde only had four picks in the last eight games of the season," Morris said. "Ronde Barber is a selfless player. If he's not an every-down player, he'll be the first one to let you know."

MANGURIAN A MUST

He wound up taking over as the Bucs' new offensive line coach. No matter what Pete Mangurian did, though, he was going to be a part of Morris' coaching staff.

"Pete actually gave me my first job in coaching, at Cornell University," Morris said. "I went out there, and he still owes me money because I worked for $5,000 for him.

"In a way, I'm overpaying him. But seriously, he's a good coach and he taught me a lot of the ropes in this game. When I got my staff, that was one guy I had to have in any capacity."

Roy Cummings

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