Browns to Interview Raheem Morris for Defensive Coordinator

The Cleveland Browns are set to interview former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Raheem Morris for their defensive coordinator position, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.

Redskins defensive backs coach Raheem Morris will interview Friday with the Cleveland Browns for their defensive coordinator job.

— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) January 17, 2013

Morris has never exclusively held the title of "defensive coordinator" in the NFL. He was with the Buccaneers in various roles from 2002-2005. In 2006, he left to become the defensive coordinator for Kansas State. He then went back to the Buccaneers to be their defensive backs coach for two seasons.

In 2009, Morris was ready to become the Buccaneers' defensive coordinator as the successor to Monte Kiffin, who was leaving for the college ranks. Then, Jon Gruden was fired a month later, and Morris became the Buccaneers' head coach. During that time, he doubled as the team's defensive coordinator, Morris lasted three years in that position before being fired after the 2011 season. In 2012, Morris joined the Washington Redskins to be their defensive backs coach.

When Morris was the Buccaneers' head coach, he ran a 4-3 scheme. However, part of the reason he joined the Redskins last year was to learn the 3-4 as a defensive coach:

He said he took the job with the Redskins, in part, because it would allow him to learn more about the three-linemen, four-linebacker scheme they run, which is vastly different from the 4-3 scheme the Bucs utilized.

"It's a very good defense that's worked for a long time with some of those 3-4 schemes and so this is a chance for me to learn and develop as well," Morris said. "This is going to allow me to become a better coach."

When you read that, doesn't it sound like a guy who fits the bill of running a hybrid defense?

The other two potential coordinators linked to Cleveland so far are John Pagano and Mel Tucker.