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Morris keeps confidence amid growing fan unrest

Staff photo by JIM REED

Raheem Morris wants to win games, but says he's building his team a piece at a time.

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By ANWAR RICHARDSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 21, 2009

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Raheem Morris knows many people are questioning him right now.

Morris is aware of the many criticisms directed at him. Some have come from disgruntled Bucs fans on sports talk radio shows. Others have voiced their displeasure by leaving negative comments on Bucs stories posted online, and discussion boards. There also are Bucs fans who simply will not buy tickets to support their winless team.

As Tampa Bay (0-6) prepares to meet the New England Patriots (4-2) at Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday, Morris is not bothered by his critics – or even the extremists who want him fired.

"I'm glad they are (criticizing). It's only going to make it sweeter in the end," Morris said. "We got fans. We got people that base their lives around us. We have people that we have a responsibility to. We got to go out there and do our very best job.

"Once you start reading that stuff, you get caught up and start believing it. You get mentally weak and you get soft. You get less violent. We're not going to do that."

Morris' tone might sound defiant, but retaining his confidence has been the first-year coach's only victory so far.

Only two of Tampa Bay's six losses have been by less than double-digits. The Bucs are currently one of three winless NFL teams. Tampa Bay's offense is ranked 28th in the NFL. Its defense is 27th, while Tampa Bay's rushing defense is 31st (second to last).

"Losing does not build character. It reveals character," Morris said. "Right now you have to be your very best self. I'm about building this football team, being violent, being physical and trying to go out and get our first win. That's never going to change."

The support Morris receives from his team has not changed, but players do not enjoy the growing pains.

Tampa Bay started six new players on defense this season. The Bucs fired their new offensive coordinator just before the season started. They changed quarterbacks after three games. Tampa Bay is also undergoing a youth movement.

"We lost a lot of veteran leadership at key positions from last year," Bucs center Jeff Faine said. "You take a guy like Derrick Brooks, Ike Hilliard, Cato June … those were guys we depended on, and in the case of Derrick Brooks, we depended on him for years.

"To bring in a new regime, a clean start, to expect not to have any kind of drop off, play with a lot of guys who have never played together, a new quarterback, a new coordinator and then another new offensive coordinator, it's a tough situation. A lot of us don't know how much of that was his [Morris] call. How much of it was left up to him?"

Morris' team is developing more slowly than players anticipated.

The Bucs allowed 462 yards in their season opener against Dallas, but reduced that number to 322 against Carolina. Tampa Bay often was victimized by big plays in the first month of the season, but Carolina's biggest gain was 26 yards. Bucs quarterback Josh Johnson threw three interceptions against Philadelphia, but only one against Carolina.

Still, it's hard for veterans to enjoy small improvements without wins.

"How do you look at a guy like Ronde Barber and say 'Hey, you need to be patient as we develop.' It's tough," Faine said. "It's something that I don't want to go through, but it's the reality. It is what it is. You're here. You have to keep working, trying to make everything better and that's all you can do."

While players are working hard, they believe Tampa Bay's constant changes have hurt.

"One thing people don't realize is one of the main reasons we're struggling on offense is because we practiced one offense all off-season, training camp and the preseason," Bucs tight end Jerramy Stevens said. "We fired the offensive coordinator and we've got a whole new offense being put in on the run.

"People don't realize this is the NFL. It's damn near impossible to put a new offense in and practice it during the game. A lot of the first time we're running it (plays) is in the game. It's not anybody's fault."

That being said, Stevens understands why many disgruntled fans are blaming his coach.

"It's obvious that we haven't won a game, we have a talented team, and the head coach is going to take some heat," Stevens said. "I don't think it's justified because he doesn't' go out there and make any plays. He doesn't throw one pass or catch one ball.

"Ultimately as a head coach, it's going to fall on you. You just have to win."

Winning is something Tampa Bay has not accomplished in 10 straight games.

Morris is still waiting to receive his first celebratory Gatorade shower as a head coach.

Until then, Morris expects to be soaked in questions.

"It has to come in pieces. Everything is built in pieces," Morris said. "Right now, we're building the character of young men. We're building a team … . Now that's no excuse for losing. We're still responsible for winning and we still want to win. We still want to win every single week.

"In the process, it would be nice to win a bunch of these games on our way to the top."

Reporter Anwar S. Richardson can be reached at (813) 259-8425.

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