Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin has left the Buccaneers after 13 seasons to become the defensive coordinator at the University of Tennessee, where his son Lane was hired as head coach one month ago.

Change will follow as defensive backs coach Raheem Morris has already been named the defensive coordinator in Tampa Bay for 2009. The 32-year-old coach has his work cut out for him. He is charged with the difficult task of fixing Tampa Bay's defense, which finished the season ranked No. 9 overall, but played a significant part in the Bucs' collapse over the last four games of the season, allowing point totals of 38, 34 and 31 in losses to Carolina, San Diego and Oakland.

No one knows for sure what types of players Morris will have take the field for the Bucs defense next year, but 11-time Pro Bowl linebacker Derrick Brooks intends on being one of them.

"It's painfully obvious to us knowing that if we had just done our part and won we would have had a half a chance of getting into the playoffs as opposed to no chance at all," said Brooks. "It says a lot. Not just yesterday's game. I'm just totally hurting from the last month of the season, not just yesterday's game. It's going to be a while until I get over it.

"I plan on being back unless you know something I don't."

Brooks, who originally entered the NFL in 1995, was slowed over the final quarter of the season by a nagging hamstring injury. Despite being limited in practice, Brooks started his 224th straight game Sunday, which is tied with teammate Kevin Carter for most among active defensive players.

However, he could not finish the contest, and his injury clearly impacted Tampa Bay's defense, which allowed Oakland to rush for 192 yards (5.5 avg.) and two touchdowns.

"He was hurt," said Bucs middle linebacker Barrett Ruud. "He told me he tweaked it a little bit in the game. He's a prideful guy and wanted to be out there and give it a go. But obviously you saw him out there and it was something he couldn't play with. When he hurt his hamstring that was tough. He knows it, but he probably should have come out the first time he hurt it because if you can't run like you normally can you can't be out there."

Although Brooks intends to play in 2009, which is scheduled to be the final year of his contract with Tampa Bay, there is no guarantee the Buccaneers will bring him back. Brooks is due a $3 million base salary and will turn 36 in April. Head coach Jon Gruden did, however, seem pleased to hear Brooks intended to play football again in '09.

"That is encouraging," said Gruden. "He not only is fine football player. He is a great leader here. He is a hall-of-famer. I'm proud of him."

But there are growing concerns regarding the age of some of Tampa Bay's defensive stars. In addition to Brooks, Carter will also turn 36 in '09, and cornerback Ronde Barber will turn 34 in April.

"Well I think obviously everybody in the league has veteran players, we had some obviously that had lingering injuries," said Gruden. "During the final the portion of the season and it hurt us big time. You want those guys to be playing their best football as the season closes. Circumstances weren't just that way this year."

Some Bucs players do not buy into the notion that age might have caught up with Tampa Bay's defense.

"I feel Kevin Carter had a better year this year than last year. I really believe that,' said Hovan. "Some guys played better with age."

As for now, Brooks and the rest of Tampa Bay's defensive players are wishing Kiffin well and standing behind Morris as he prepares to attempt to fill some big shoes.

"I don't look too far ahead," said Brooks. "I'll be here today and I'll move forward if the Lord blesses with me tomorrow. My reaction and expectations will be based on the decisions that need to be made. We will be in a transitional change on defense with Monte to Raheem. I embrace that change and look forward to working under the leadership of Raheem. I also look forward to leading the new players we bring here."

Bucs Loaded With Cap Room
Tampa Bay owns the 19th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft and will have approximately $46 million in salary cap room, which likely will be more than any other team in the NFL.

The Bucs had a league-high $43 million in cap room to spend in 2008, but with the exception of inking center Jeff Faine to a six-year, $37.5 million contract, the team was not considered a big spender.

When asked if the decision not to be more aggressive in free agency had come back to bite the Bucs, who had depth and injury issues in the latter part of the season and missed the playoffs after starting 9-3, Gruden didn't seem to think so.

"A lot of guys stepped up," said Gruden. "The 9-7 record reflects the injuries we had. Our leading ball carrier was out, our leading receiver from a year ago didn't play much this year - we lost a number of key guys. Special teams were no exception. We lost Maurice Stovall, Geno Hayes, Byron Storer, and we didn't have a fullback for about seven weeks. We had a lot of guys step up.

Bucs general manager Bruce Allen and senior assistant Kevin Demoff have created a favorable cap situation for the team, and Gruden suggested Tampa Bay would pursue players it feels can help the Bucs return to form in 2009.

"You don't just max out your cap unless you're going after somebody you think is a fine football player or qualifies or has earned that right to seek those types of dollars," said Gruden. "We'll do the best we can to field the best roster possible.

"The salary cap I'm told is in great shape. We'll be in a position to compete for just about anybody. I'm confident we'll do that."

The Bucs will have plenty of players to spend cap money on, including some of their own free agents. That list includes quarterbacks Jeff Garcia and Luke McCown, wide receivers Antonio Bryant and Michael Clayton, tight end Jerramy Stevens, defensive tackles Jovan Haye and Ryan Sims, safeties Jermaine Phillips and Will Allen, and cornerback Phillip Buchanon, among others.

Tampa Bay's top two priorities during the offseason will be upgrading the quarterback position and improving its defensive pass rush, which were the same goals the team had heading into the 2008 offseason.

Gruden said Monday he'd like to have Garcia, 38, back next year, and that McCown would be given an opportunity to compete for the starting job if he re-signed with the Bucs.

As of right now, veteran Brian Griese and rookie Josh Johnson are the only two quarterbacks under contract with Tampa Bay in 2009, but Griese didn't seem confident he'd be back with the Bucs next year.

"I'm under contract, so I really don't have a choice," Griese said when asked if he wanted to return to Tampa Bay. "I don't like to talk about the future the day after a season ends because it's an emotional time. You kind of have to take some time away with your family and look back on it with a level head."

Whether it's signing a free agent quarterback or two, or drafting one in April, Gruden appears to be determined to bolster the quarterback position.

"I think the NFL all starts there," said Gruden. "It is a position that touches the ball on every snap, and like I said Jeff Garcia has done some great things here, that rival any quarterback that has ever played here, statistically and from a won loss standpoint. We'll certainly do everything we can to keep him, and we'll see who is available to come in and help us."

The same goes for Tampa Bay's defense, which recorded just 29 sacks in 2008. If the Bucs are going to continue to run a Cover 2-style defense they must get after the quarterback on a more consistent basis.

"I think we're pretty good in there. When Jovan Haye is healthy he's a pretty good player," Gruden said. "When he's hurt he's not as effective. That's pretty obvious. We have good players and I think we're going to continue to look and get better."

Haye battled a groin and knee injuries and failed to register a sack in 2008.

"We'll see," Haye said of becoming a free agent in February. "Whatever happens, happens.

Tampa Bay has a second-round draft pick invested in safety Sabby Piscitelli, which is why Phillips, who sustained two fractured forearms and finished the 2008 season on injured reserve, does not seem optimistic about being re-signed by the Buccaneers. However, he said having Morris as the defensive coordinator could influence the decision he makes in free agency.

"I don't know if it increases it one way or the other," said Phillips. "I think they have to look at personal and see what they need. We got Tanard and Sabby who are both quality players and who are going to be great in the future. I don't know if safety would be a need for them right now, but if they offered me and bring me back I'd love to be here."

Lake Headed For Tampa Bay?
The Detroit Lions fired head coach Rod Marinelli, defensive coordinator Joe Barry and defensive backs coach Jimmy Lake, among others on Monday after the team finished the season 0-16.

With Raheem Morris being promoted to defensive coordinator in Tampa Bay, the Bucs could express interest in hiring Lake as their new DBs coach since Morris and Lake worked together in 2007, but there's no guarantee that will come to fruition.

"I wouldn't say that is something that we've talked about yet," said Gruden regarding Lake. "We're going to see what Raheem feels most comfortable doing as a coordinator. Some guys like to continue walking around and have a guy coach a position, he might want to coach the secondary. Obviously we'll meet extensively in the next few days and talk about it."

Bucs linebackers coach Gus Bradley's contract is set to expire with Tampa Bay. Gruden would not elaborate on any potential changes that would be coming on his coaching staff.

"I don't know that," said Gruden. "I don't for see a lot of changes, but we'll have to see whose contracts are up and do the best we can to move forward from there."

Quote Of The Day
Bucs defensive end Stylez G. White on Philadelphia defeating Dallas on Sunday afternoon, which would have put the Bucs in the playoffs had they beaten the Raiders.

"That was like adding salt to the wound, but they handled their business. That's what we needed to do was handle our business, and we didn't do it. The best teams are in the playoffs right now."

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