Jim Bates demoted

[Chris Raiden]

Morris relieves Bates of defensive coordinator duties (http://blogs.tampabay.com/bucs/2009/11/morris-relieves-bates-of-defensive-coordinator-duties.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2Ftampabaycom%2Fblogs %2Fbucs+%28Buc)

The Bucs have demoted defensive coordinator Jim Bates. Head coach Raheem Morris will take over the defense and reinstall the Tampa 2.

[gamefarm83]

Bates was a great interim HC for Miami the 1-15 season. Wonder what happened

[Sascha]

Bates was a great interim HC for Miami the 1-15 season. Wonder what happened

Nothing Bates did wrong.

Morris and Bates made the decision to change the defensive scheme away from the Tampa 2, but never really provided Bates with the bigger players needed to perform in the new system. With Morris deciding to return to the Tampa 2, Bates is being demoted because it's not his style of defense. He'll still consult and draw a paycheck for the rest of the season, and can look for work elsewhere after that.

The happiest man in Tampa right now has to be Barrett Ruud, one of the many, but the most glaring, player who had difficulty with the switch.

[Jags4Lyfe]

I feel sorry for Raheem because he will probably be fired at the end of this season and its not really his fault because he just doesn't have the Talent on the team to win. Bucs definitely show signs of light though.

[Sascha]

I feel sorry for Raheem because he will probably be fired at the end of this season and its not really his fault because he just doesn't have the Talent on the team to win. Bucs definitely show signs of light though.

I don't see him being a one and done. Mangini is the only one, other than Cable maybe, that I could see losing his job a year after getting it. The Bucs brass expected a bad season, and that's what they're getting. As long as they can see glimmers of hope, and I'd say the last few weeks have provided that, Raheem will be allowed to stay the course.


I know this is something very unusual, but don't look now, here comes my bold prediction for 2010. The Bucs will have a top 8 NFL offense. Considering in the 30+ year history of the franchise, the offense has only ranked in the top HALF once, that's quite a bold prediction.

[gamefarm83]

hopefully things get turned around in Tampa and Bates can find himself another job

[GlasstheGrey]

I got the reason for gruden being fired. he wasn't getting the job done, and he wasn't able to keep his team focused after monte announced he was leaving for UT. I even understood Promoting Morris from within. The defense has always been Tampa's strong suit and Morris was the leading defensive coach on the team.

however I couldn't understand Morris' decision to hire a non-tampa 2 DC. They had a great roster built for the tampa 2. which unfortunately means they're undersized for most other defenses in the league. Then they bring in Jim Bates who is a good gameplanner... but not for the tampa 2. and the teams performance on the field shows this.

I'm sure Jim Bates will catch on elsewhere. although he's not had any real success outside of miami his name is still floated anytime there is a DC opening. and I'm sure tampa will be better off with a Cover 2 defensive scheme.