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Tough Talk: Bucs Won't Be Bullied

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By IRA KAUFMAN

ikaufman@tampatrib.com

Published: March 26, 2009

DANA POINT, Calif. - Gazing longingly at the 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers, led by his mentor Mike Tomlin, Raheem Morris quickly decided he wants one of those.

Tampa Bay's new head coach appears determined to transform the Bucs from an undersized, finesse team into a big, nasty bully in the mold of the newly crowned Super Bowl champions.

All it took for Morris to articulate his new Buccaneer blueprint Wednesday was a question about the strength of the NFC South.

"If I walk around here going, 'Oh God, look at the Saints,' I'm in trouble already," Morris said. "It's about us becoming who we want to become - more physical, more violent, because the more violent team always wins. Ask Pittsburgh. John Fox has done that in Carolina, Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh, the Giants ... those physical, tough teams always win."

Tampa Bay's former secondary coach strolled around the NFL owners' meetings in relative anonymity for two days while Denver's Josh McDaniels faced a barrage of questions concerning the future of disgruntled Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler.

Morris knew his time in the spotlight would come during Wednesday morning's media session with NFC coaches.

With Cutler still under contract to the Broncos, Morris was prohibited from discussing any potential interest by the Bucs, but he addressed Tampa Bay's murky quarterback situation.

"We've got two unproven guys," he said. "Luke McCown started six games, won one. He has a bunch of talent that we see every day. We've got Josh Johnson, who should have been a second-round pick. He absolutely bombed at the combine and became a sixth-round pick. Josh improved all season. Brian Griese has played in a bunch of games, been a part-time starter, been a full-time starter, helped get us off to our 9-3 start.

"We want to add one more guy for competition. We're going to let them battle, best man wins."

Morris said he broke down in tears three times last month when he told Derrick Brooks the Bucs were releasing him.

Veteran Ronde Barber managed to survive the purge.

"He's staying because Ronde touches the ball and he scores touchdowns," Morris said. "I don't know any corner in this league that scores more touchdowns than Ronde Barber. I've seen him do it in bump, Cover 2, I've seen him blitz and pressure the quarterback. He's got some juice left."

Morris said he has no intentions of changing his coaching style now that the former position coach commands a bigger audience.

"Call it naïve, call it young, but this is how I'm looking at it. I had 15 players of them before, now I've got 66. You have fun, you make it competitive. You tell Ronde Barber the same thing you'd tell him before - I'm going to tolerate you until I can replace you."

As Morris spoke, Tomlin entered the room and sat at the Buccaneer table for a playful exchange with his protege.

"How have your first couple of months been, Coach?"

"It's been pretty good. I've got a great mentor."

"What makes you think you're ready for such a job?"

"Hey, I've been ready for this all my life."

Reporter Ira Kaufman can be reached at (813) 259-7833.

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