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New Defensive Coordinator Has Work To Do

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By JOE HENDERSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 22, 2009

Raheem Morris' has made his first major call since taking over as head coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Friday for Jon Gruden. On Thursday he hired Jim Bates to oversee the rebuilding of the Bucs defense.

Since the Bucs have basically operated under Monte Kiffin's defensive vision since, oh, the dawn of the last ice age, this one is going to get attention.

On the surface it sounds like it won't be that much of a philosophical shift.

Bates, 62, has been around a long time, too, and likes to pressure the quarterback (who doesn't?). He likely will blitz a little more than Kiffin did out of the Tampa 2, which could lead to either A) sacks and turnovers; B) defensive backs with leg cramps trying to cover receivers 1-on-1.

When the Bucs were good, of course, there wasn't much need to blitz. Kiffin had Warren Sapp and Simeon Rice to apply the pressure, so he didn't have to take a lot of chances. When he did, such as sending Ronde Barber from the corner, it often had great shock value.

Bates has coached just one year in the past three. He quit in Green Bay when he was passed over for the head position in 2006, sitting out that season before he joined the Broncos a year later.

That didn't work so well.

He was granted basic autonomy over the defense, but he lost that after just five games because Mike Shanahan didn't like what was happening. The Broncos allowed 409 points and finished 7-9, and Bates was gone at the end of the season.

He didn't coach in 2008, either. Draw from that what you will.

Bates has had a lot of success, though.

Six of his eight defenses ranked in the top 10 in yards allowed. Besides, there are some problems with the Bucs' defense that won't be fixed by schemes.

Bates will face the almost-certain overhaul of the defensive line. He has an emphasis on quick, agile linebackers (like Kiffin), but he'll have to decide if Derrick Brooks can still be a force, or if the tired and limping warrior we saw at the end of last season is all that's left.

Same goes with Barber, who struggled many times last season.

The identity of the Bucs has been built around defense since back in the day of creamsicle uniforms, and that probably won't change now. The Bucs slipped this season in large part because the defense collapsed. If they're going to get back in the playoffs, the defense will have to lead them.

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