Last year, Dan Quinn left the NFL for the college ranks, signing on as the new defensive coordinator at the University of Florida. Apparently, he's in no great hurry to get back to the pros.
The Gainesville Sun reported on Monday that Quinn had turned down an offer from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to become the team's new defensive coordinator. The Bucs are still looking for a coordinator to serve under new head coach Greg Schiano, who will return to the NFL this fall for the first time since 1998.
There's no question that the Bucs will need help on defense in 2012. The 2011 team gave up an NFL-worst 30.9 points per game, and was 30th in the league in total defense (394.4 yards per game). The team was 21st in the NFL against the pass (238.4 yards per game) and last against the run (156.1 yards per game).
In Quinn's first year at Florida, the Gators ranked fifth in the SEC in pass defense (167.2 yards per game), rush defense (132.3 yards per game) and total defense (299.6 yards per game), while ranking sixth the conference in scoring defense (20.6 points per game).
Previously, Quinn spent two years coaching the defensive line in Seattle, his fourth stop in the NFL after stints with the 49ers, Dolphins and Jets. In his last year in Seattle, the Seahawks were 27th in the NFL in total defense.
Prior to his firing, Raheem Morris had served as both coach and defensive coordinator in Tampa. He was hired last month by the Redskins as a defensive backs coach.
