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Morris prefers a direct approach
Posted Oct 1, 2009 by Ira Kaufman
Updated Oct 1, 2009 at 12:15 PM
By IRA KAUFMAN
TAMPA—Raheem Morris is treading on dangerous ground.
Tampa Bay’s first-year head coach doesn’t believe in couching his frustration when he believes players are underachieving. Instead of making excuses for an 0-3 start, Morris has been calling players out—by name—for their shortcomings.
The man Morris replaced in January, Jon Gruden, adopted a different stance, rarely mentioning individual players who were stuggling.
Holding players accountable is a noble goal, but Morris has been singling out Buccaneers for what he perceives as lack of effort. TE Kellen Winslow and DE Gaines Adams have found themselves criticized for not playing hard enough.
That’s a strong accusation, different in tone and impact from saying Adams and Winslow need to play smarter or prepare more.
When you question effort, you prompt a strong response. Players will either meet the challenge or turn off.
On Wednesday, Morris suggested the media has been misinterpreting some of his statements. That may be true in certain instances, but there is no denying Morris is focusing in on lackluster effort that jumps out to him on film.
When you question a player’s desire, you’re making the most serious charge a coach can levy.
It’s honest, it’s rare—and it’s dangerous.
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Reader Comments
Por (MitchR) on October 02, 2009 (Suggest removal)
Raheem is hitting rock bottom. I watched the press conf where he called out Winslow, Talib and Zuttah and thought is was very classless of him. You want to call out a player, do it behind closed doors and make the player accountable for his actions. Pointing the finger at players is not taking responsiblity for yourself and your coaches. It is clear that Raheem is clueless out there and trying anything to formulate a winning strategy. It’s funny, when he was hired it was touted that he had learned from some of the best coaches, but it looks like he has no identity of his own and most decisision he makes have been wrong.
Suggest removalPor (MitchR) on October 04, 2009 (Suggest removal)
Another crappy performance. Replacing a QB with someone with whom you don’t trust to throw the ball. Smart move. Time to let Freeman play. I can’t imagine he’d do worse than Johnson did today. This team is abysmal.
Suggest removalPor (flajoe491) on October 05, 2009 (Suggest removal)
Can’t fault the guy for telling the truth about some players dogging it . Just probably could have left the names out until he told them first.
Suggest removalIf your gonna start Johnson let him throw the ball downfield and teach him not zone in on one reciever.