Bates Might Help D Regain Old Form

TAMPA - A little seasoning never hurt.

Jim Bates, the new man for the Bucs defense, is 30 years older than his new boss.

Raheem Morris is 32. Bates has been coaching football for 39.

If age is not a question with Morris, it shouldn't be with the 62-year-old Bates, who was named Bucs defensive coordinator Thursday. If you thought Morris would go young, you thought wrong. If experience is a question with Morris, Bates will come in handy. By the way, he's younger than Monte Kiffin, and Monte never seemed old, did he?

Bates comes to Tampa after a year off, preceded by an off year in Denver, running a Broncos defense in 2007 that wasn't exactly inspiring (16 games, 409 points). But Bates' career tells another story. It's about success.

He might be just what's needed, a been-everywhere, done-everything counterbalance to Morris' youthful energy.

Bates comes with older energy, but energy nonetheless. He comes with a reputation as a leader, fiery, but fair. He'll be all over the practice field, exclaiming, exhorting - teaching. It's what Bucs GM Mark Dominik and Morris are banking on in their first big hire.

Bates helped Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor when he coordinated the Dolphins D, which never finished worse than 10th in the NFL while Bates ran it. He had produced defenses that produced Pro Bowlers and takeaways and sacks. Gaines Adams, you've been warned.

But let's not underestimate the job ahead. In some ways, there's as much pressure on Bates as there is on Morris. For Jim Bates is replacing a legend. Yes, technically Bates is following Morris as Bucs defensive coordinator, but Morris hadn't even gotten his defensive coordinator business cards back from the printer before being made head coach.

There would have been pressure on Morris.

Now there's pressure on Bates.

For Monte Kiffin's mostly unwavering legacy casts a long shadow. The Bucs' way of doing things became a standard. Kiffin was a whirlwind personality. He's a tough act to follow.

There you have Jim Bates' challenge.

But this man has been to rodeos.

This man has personality and then some.

Look for the Bucs to stick with the 4-3 scheme, but maybe employ more blitzes and man-to-man.

Jim Bates has worked for the Browns and the Cowboys. He has been a defensive coordinator in Denver and in Atlanta and in Miami and in Green Bay. He once was interim head coach in Miami and interviewed for the Packers head coaching job that went to Mike McCarthy.

His oldest son, James, played linebacker for 1996 national champion Florida. Another son, Jeremy, is a coach.

And now Jim Bates is big daddy to the Bucs defense.

It's a tall order.

His resume and energy say he's up to it. His head coach and GM say he's up to it.

All that's left is everything else.