When Raheem Morris became the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2009 he was inexperienced - his most recent experience came as a position coach. The Bucs tried to surround him with experience, hiring two former head coaches as coordinators. Those two head coaches were fired before the end of the year, and that once again left an inexperienced Morris alone at the head of a football team. Things didn't end well.

The Bucs are trying to do the same thing with Greg Schiano, but it feels different this time. Schiano has a decade of experience as a head coach (albeit at the college level) and presumably has a heavy hand in these hirings. More importantly perhaps, the Bucs have added experience to assist the coordinators, too. Butch Davis will be able to help the new defensive coordinator (by doing everything but coaching) as well as Schiano. Veteran offensive coach Jimmy Raye II will likely help Mike Sullivan install his offense. It seems very unlikely the season will end with two fired coordinators this time around.

It has been a while since I've written a piece on coaches declining to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but it's happening again: University of Alabama offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland didn't even want to interview with the Buccaneers for their open offensive line position, according to Alabama beat writer Izzy Gould.

The Bucs appear to have exhausted their options in the professional coaching ranks, and have moved on to trying to hire college coaches - even though that, too, doesn't appear to be actually happening. The Bucs reportedly also interviewed Ohio State cornerbacks coach Bill Sheridan for their defensive coordinator position, but with no news since that report it seems likely they've moved on from him.

When your team is interviewing college position coaches for coordinator jobs, you know they're struggling to find coaches. When they're being turned down by college coaches, that's not a good sign, either. Free agency and the draft are swiftly approaching, and the Bucs still don't have a full coaching staff.

Bucs Report -Tribune staff: Dominik OK with Bucs slow search - from TBO.com Sports
As long as you get the right coach, it's all good. But this does hurt the team.

Sullivan's Offense Will Be Tough, Physical, Disciplined, Smart, Explosive | Pewter Report
That sounds good.

There's lots of (cap) room to improve | TBO.com
A lot.

Bucs hire Jimmy Raye as senior offensive assistant | TBO.com
Jimmy Raye II.

Bucs name Raye senior offensive assistant | Fox Sports Florida
Raaaaaaaaye.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers announce hire of Jimmy Raye as senior offensive assistant - Tampa Bay Times
Presumably he'll assist Mike Sullivan in installing an offense.

Bucs OC Sullivan eager to work with QB Freeman | TBO.com
His number one priority should be to get Freeman going again.

New offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan drawn to Tampa Bay Buccaneers because of Josh Freeman - Tampa Bay Times
Hurray.

Report: Tampa Bay Buccaneers interviewing Ohio St. assistant Bill Sheridan for defensive coordinator - Tampa Bay Times
Since he hasn't been hired yet, I'm assuming he's out of the picture already.

Bucs' new coordinator ready to get to work | Fox Sports Florida
Go go go.

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been publicly stating that they will spend in free agency this offseason. This departure from years past brings up an immediate question: where and how will they spend this money? I can think of two excellent spots to start: cornerback and linebacker.

Those two positions are large needs for the Bucs for different reasons. At cornerback the Bucs are likely to lose Ronde Barber, and even if he returns he is clearly a declining player. In addition, Aqib Tailb faces trial in March and may not return to the team even if he's not convicted of a felony. Behind those players the team has little depth, and they must find replacements for those two starters.

At linebacker, the Bucs don't really have any quality starters. Mason Foster showed some promise as a middle linebacker early last year but he regressed throughout the rest of the season. Geno Hayes and Quincy Black both had terrible seasons, and Hayes is unlikely to return as his contract has run out. Behind them, Dekoda Watson isn't consistent enough to be a quality starter and Adam Hayward is nothing more than a useful and versatile backup. The Bucs must find at least one and preferably two new starters for next season.

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via img.fannation.com

According to Rick Stroud, Ohio St. cornerbacks coach Bill Sheridan is a strong candidate to become the Bucs defensive coordinator and is interviewing with the team today. Sheridan won a superbowl with the Giants as their linebackers coach in 2007 and was promoted to their defensive coordinator in 2009.

Just one year later, he was fired after the Giants Defense slipped as the team dropped 8 of their last 11 games and allowed 40 points on five different occasions, a franchise record. He took a job with the Dolphins as their linebacker coach for for the past two seasons before recently leaving to join Ohio State as their cornerbacks coach.

How do you feel about him potentially being the Bucs new defensive coordinator?

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What happened in 2011

What looked like a posiition of potential strength in 2011 turned out to be perhaps the biggest weakness on the team. Most of that was the case because for the second time in two seasons, Gerald McCoy suffered a season-ending injury. The second-year player started the season in excellent form and he looked like he would fulfill the promise of his draft status. His play against the run was especially strong. Unfortunately he suffered a high ankle sprain in week five, and suffered a season-ending biceps tear a couple of weeks later. Without him, most of the defense collapsed as it lacked a stout presence inside, or any kind of pass-rushing threat at defensive tackle.

2010 second-round pick Brian Price was able to play for most of the season, but he was barely effective as he was still recovering from extensive surgery to his pelvis and hamstrings. Behind Price, the Bucs had a collection of ineffective defensive tackles, and they brought in Albert Haynesworth midseason to help kickstart the defensive line. To virtually no one's surprise, Haynesworth proved largely ineffective and was a liability against the run, and the Bucs' problems at defensive tackle continued throughout the season.

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Dominik: Bucs putting "every penny" into free agency | TBO.com
Ehm, that's not actually what he said, but okay.

Davis wants to be an 'extra set of eyes,' for Schiano, but not coach, Bucs GM Dominik says. | tampabay.com & Tampa Bay Times
Good for him.

Sports Radio Interviews | Raheem Morris Isn’t Looking Back After Being Fired in Tampa
Raheem talks about his time in Tampa, mistakes he made, and Josh Freeman.

Morris: Freeman has bright future - NFC South Blog - ESPN
An excerpt from the above interview.

Free Agency Primer: NFC South – Audibles
Apparently, Dominik wants to spend.

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