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By ROY CUMMINGS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 18, 2009

Updated: 01/18/2009 12:12 am

TAMPA - Seven years ago, when he was nothing more than a rookie quality-control coach responsible for getting Monte Kiffin his coffee, Raheem Morris would slide into Mark Dominik's office and pick the Bucs personnel director's brain.

"Mark was probably the only person who wanted to listen to me at that point, and we'd sit in his office and stare at the board and talk about all types of players," Morris said. "We'd talk about who we like, who we wanted to take. And after a while we kind of got in tune. We started to understand what we liked and who to look for."

Being in tune and knowing what the other likes in a player is more important than ever now because Morris, 32, and Dominik, 37, were officially named Saturday as the Bucs' head coach and general manager, respectively, replacing the ousted Jon Gruden and Bruce Allen.

Upon being introduced, Morris opted to skip a small set of stairs and instead jumped up on the stage in the main auditorium at One Buc Place, where nearly a dozen players, including Derrick Brooks, Ronde Barber and Warrick Dunn, turned out.

"I thought about walking around and going up the stairs there, but then I decided, that's not Raheem," the highly energetic Morris said. "So I just decided to hop on up here."

Many Bucs players were hopping over the appointment, as well. A secondary coach a month ago, Morris has since been promoted to defensive coordinator and now head coach.

"I think the one thing Coach Morris will bring to the table is energy and everybody being on the same page at the same time, from top to bottom," Brooks said. "That's going to be key, because the more comfortable people are in their roles, the better we can deal with this change."

Bucs co-chairman Joel Glazer was one of those who called for the change. He made it clear Saturday his decision to appoint Morris and Dominik was based largely on a belief they share the Glazers' vision.

"Both of these guys have Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their DNA," Glazer said. "Both bleed Tampa Bay Buccaneers football."

Dominik said there was a "surprise element" to the moves that took place Friday. As a result, neither Morris nor Dominik has had a chance to begin the process of reshaping the Bucs.

"This just happened Friday," Morris said, "so for me it's been about, 'How am I going to get my parents down here fast enough? What suit am I going to wear tomorrow? Is it nice enough?' That's where we're at. But we have time. Free agency doesn't start until, I don't know, it's on my calendar."

As for offensive and defensive philosophies, Morris talked as if he will stick with the Tampa 2 scheme used while Kiffin was defensive coordinator. That West Coast offense Gruden used may get the heave-ho, however.

"On offense, we want to score touchdowns," Morris said. "The only way you do that is to start with your fundamentals, start with skill development, with getting great players. If you do all those things, you give yourself a chance. But you have to go out and execute."

The final say on who will be part of the offense and defense will not rest in the hands of one man, Morris said. Referring to those skull sessions he and Dominik used to have, he said they will make those calls together.

"We've been doing this for a long time, we just didn't know it," Morris said of shaping a team. "So we'll continue to do things together. It'll be we, we, we."

Morris and Dominik said no decisions have been made regarding staff changes. They refuted a report suggesting former Saints defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs would join the Bucs in the same capacity.

Morris and Dominik agree the biggest problem facing the Bucs is an inability to finish both games and seasons strong.

"It's common knowledge that we haven't finished well the last two years," Morris said. "Who's to blame? It really doesn't matter who's to blame. It's who took the fall.

"Coach Gruden took the fall. He took the fall for all of us. I'm just as much to blame for the fall as anyone. But I've been provided an opportunity to lead men and change it."

Gruden acknowledged as much, Morris said, in a text message Gruden sent Morris earlier in the day. Morris nearly came to tears when he told the story shortly after he was introduced as Gruden's successor.

"He told me to take this thing and run with it," Morris said.

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

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