Washington Redskins to interview Raheem Morris for DC

By Cory Buck | Jan 13, 2015

Oct 12, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Washington Redskins defensive backs coach Raheem Morris against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Redskins 30-20. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

The Washington Redskins will reportedly interview secondary coach Raheem Morris for their vacancy at defensive coordinator.

As their search for a new defensive coordinator continues, the Washington Redskins are taking a step back and looking within for a possible candidate. Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach and secondary coach for Washington these last two seasons, Raheem Morris, will reportedly interview for the vacant position, per ESPN’s John Keim.

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The Redskins are looking for a new coordinator after the team ‘mutually parted ways‘ with Jim Haslett, and they’ve been searching far and wide for a replacement this time around. Keim notes the list includes “San Diego linebackers coach Joe Barry, San Francisco secondary coach Ed Donatell, longtime coordinator Wade Phillips, former Jets and Browns head coach Eric Mangini, plus a possible mystery person.”

Washington also sought an interview with then-coordinator Jim Schwartz, but had been denied by the Buffalo Bills. That could change now that Schwartz and the Bills are parting ways in lieu of the Rex Ryan hire.

For now though, it’s first things first and that means an internal interview for Washington. Raheem Morris has actually never been a defensive coordinator at the NFL level. He served the post for one season at Kansas State University, but the bulk of his experience at the pro level comes as a defensive backs coach. He served in that position for two seasons with the Buccaneers before being promoted to head coach in 2009.

Morris has been the defensive backs coach for Washington since being fired by Tampa Bay after the 2011 season, but the Redskins have seen little improvement over that time thanks primarily to a lack of depth on defense. The team ranked below 20th in the league in sacks, they had the second fewest interceptions in the league, and they allowed the third-most points per game in 2014.

The Redskins defense was brutal last season, but it’s hard to tell how much of that was on Raheem Morris. Head coach Jay Gruden and the front office are clearly determined to figure just that out as they’ll no doubt grill Morris on what he did these past two seasons and what he can do going forward.

Given the growing number of apt candidates out there, it’s fair to say that Morris will have plenty of competition for the job. If he’s up to the challenge, he’ll have his work cut out for him both on and off the field.

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