Underrated dedication

By GARY SHELTON, Times Columnist
Published October 21, 2007

With little fanfare, defensive mastermind Monte Kiffin has helped to rejuvenate the Bucs.
	[James Borchuck | Times]

When a man works in the background, they do not build a statue of him in the lobby.

When a man spends his nights squinting at game film, they do not make movies about his life.

Head coaches, given the right results, can achieve a bit of celebrity along the way. Some places, they name a highway after him. Other places, they attach his name to a trophy.

Assistant coaches? They sweat. They swear. They scrutinize. Every now and then, maybe someone notices. Maybe not.

Which brings us to this, the perfect time to appreciate Monte Kiffin all over again.

He is still there, looking for lost details, the same as he has ever been. The voice still sounds raw, and the hair still looks wild, and his skin is still as bronzed as a football. As always, the state of the Bucs is still largely in his hands.

If the Bucs have been redefined in the first six weeks of this season, it is largely because Kiffin's defense has been rejuvenated. There are six new starters on defense. There are three new coaches. The pass rush is on a learn-as-you-go plan.

Still, the Bucs are better. The big plays have been stopped. Quarterbacks are having a harder time. Opposing running backs, too.

In all, the Bucs have surrendered 40 fewer yards, and six fewer points, than at this time a year ago. Once again, they are starting to look like one of Kiffin's defenses.

Around here, of course, Kiffin is an icon. Around here, people know this: Monte doesn't fade, and Monte doesn't slump.

Elsewhere? Well, they might be about to found out.

In his new book The Paolantonio Report: The Most Overrated and Underrated Players, Teams, Coaches, and Moments in NFL History, ESPN reporter Sal Paolantonio lists Kiffin fourth among his most underrated coaches of all time.

"Outside the football fraternity and the town of Tampa, few know of Kiffin's impact," Paolantonio writes. "And because he is often portrayed as a mad professor, Kiffin has grown into a caricature of himself and he has gone under-appreciated. That's why he makes this list."

The only coaches more underrated than Kiffin, Paolantonio writes, are former Jets coach Weeb Ewbank, current Colts offensive coordinator Tom Moore and former Steelers assistant Bud Carson. Just behind Kiffin is former Seahawks coach Chuck Knox.

Why haven't more people noticed Kiffin? Maybe because he has never had the bombast of, say, former Bears defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan.

"Let's compare for a moment," Paolantonio said. "In the 10 years Kiffin has been defensive coordinator, his defense averaged finishing seventh in the league in points allowed, and fifth in the league in yards allowed. Buddy Ryan? Averaged 14th and 17th respectively. Since the merger, Kiffin is the only defensive coordinator to lead the league in points allowed twice in a four-year period (2002 and 2005)."

Say this for Paolantonio: No matter what you think of his ratings - and he has the Bucs' 2002 team listed as second among the most underrated Super Bowl champions - he at least recognizes the work of assistant coaches.

In the profession, there are those who recognize the great assistant coaches. Sometimes, in the case of Bill Arnsparger or Carson, they do not turn into great head coaches.

It is hard to get into the Hall of Fame when a coach likes, well, fame. Still, those in the NFL know their names. They know about former 49ers line coach Bobb McKittrick and former Dolphins assistant Monte Clark and Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson. Once, Rod Marinelli was among those names, too.

And so Kiffin keeps shuffling onto fields and off them, trying to make his defense a little better than it was last week.

Last year was rough on Kiffin. After a decade in the top 10, his defense fell to 17th.

And so the Bucs looked for help everywhere. In the draft, where they picked up safety Tanard Jackson. In free agency, where they found Cato June and Kevin Carter. In the Arena Football League, where they found Greg White. At the coaches' convention, where they found Larry Coyer and Gus Bradley and, most important, Raheem Morris.

It seems to have helped.

The opposing quarterback rating is down 15.5 points to 73.5. Teams are rushing for 33 fewer yards per game. They have given up 12 plays of more than 20 yards, down from 22 a year ago.

Oh, there is still work to do. The pass rush needs to be better. Opponents are still converting 47 percent of their third downs.

But it's a good start that, in turn, has led to the Bucs' good start.

Can the defense keep it up? For Kiffin, the answer is the same as always.

If the Bucs are going to win, it had better.

Gary Shelton can be reached at (727) 893-8805.

[Last modified October 20, 2007, 18:25:35]