Bucs Defensive Coordinator Jim Bates looks to have filled a hole in his staff with Joe Baker, who Bates worked with in Denver two years ago. The following from Pewter Report.com.
By: Jim Flynn and Scott Reynolds
 Former Broncos linebackers coach Joe Baker worked with new Bucs defensive coordinator Jim Bates in 2007 (Getty) |
Tampa Bay is expected to fill its vacant defensive backs coaching job by hiring former Denver linebackers coach Joe Baker. Baker spent two seasons with Denver, one of which was with new Bucs defensive coordinator Jim Bates.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will take one step closer to filling out their defensive coaching staff as soon as they announce the hiring of Joe Baker, who will serve as the team's new defensive backs coach, PewterReport.com is reporting.
Baker, 39, spent the past two seasons serving as Denver's linebackers coach. He spent two seasons (2007-08) with the Broncos, the first of which was with Jim Bates, who was recently hired as Tampa Bay's new defensive coordinator. Baker and several other Broncos assistants were fired with former head coach Mike Shanahan earlier this month.
Before he was hired in Denver, Baker worked with St. Louis (2006), Green Bay (2005), New Orleans (2000-04) and Jacksonville (1994-98).
Baker fills a position that was overseen by Raheem Morris over the past two seasons before he was promoted to defensive coordinator for one month and then to head coach on Jan. 17.
Tampa Bay's current defensive coaching staff under Bates features Todd Wash (defensive line coach), Joe Barry (linebackers coach) and Joe Baker (defensive backs coach). The only coaching position that remains unfilled in Tampa Bay is the defensive quality control coach job.
