With just one win in the books this year, Tampa Bay is in the middle of one of the worst seasons in franchise history. With that, comes accountability, and while no one is ready to throw in the towel on rookie head coach Raheem Morris, the team’s assistant coaches are not so fortunate.

The first axe to fall came late yesterday evening, as Buccaneers defensive coordinator Jim Bates was demoted from his position, and stripped of his play calling duties. Morris will call the defensive signals instead for the time being, putting more stress upon himself in the process, but also placing the onus of responsibility squarely on his own shoulders.

It’s doubtful that this move will do much if anything to stem the tide of a lost season for Tampa Bay, but at the very least it sends a signal to the team as a whole that there is accountability for poor play, on the field and off.