The Sports Xchange

TAMPA, Fla. — Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Raheem Morris is coaching defensive backs for Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn, who coached Morris at Hofstra.

“Through the years we’ve had a great connection and I knew if I ever had an opportunity to lead a team and (there) was any chance that he could be here and do it with me, I’d want to take that opportunity,” Quinn said. “He’s (been) a real factor for us, especially defensively. The tackling, the takeaways, all the things from a philosophy standpoint that we want to stand for defensively, he’s had a real impact on.”

–Bucs offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter took responsibility for the failed third-and-goal play at the Redskins’ 1-yard line last Sunday that prevented a putaway touchdown and contributed to the Bucs’ 31-30 loss at Washington.

With the Bucs leading by a field goal late in the fourth quarter, running back Doug Martin ripped off a 49-yard run to the Washington 5-yard line. After two carries by Martin put the football at the 1-yard line, he was replaced in the backfield by Charles Sims. But the Redskins had two unblocked players when Charles Sims was ordered to run around left end and he was dropped for a 2-yard loss.

“Let everybody get this straight. I screwed it up,” Koetter said. “Nobody else. I screwed it up. Plain and simple. We had a check play on where we were checking on the goal line based on overload personnel. They had some injuries so they switched some guys around. I gave (quarterback) Jameis (Winston) bad information.

“One hundred, 1,000 whatever number you want to use, percent on me. Nobody else. Simple. That’s simple. Put that to bed. I screwed it up. I got to live with it. I feel horrible. I can’t take it back. I did it.”

–The Bucs have signed former USF receiver Andre Davis, who rewrote the Bulls’ receiving record books, to their practice squad, along with former Wisconsin guard Ryan Groy.

Davis went undrafted this spring and signed with the Bills, only to be among their final cuts in August. He pulls off the rare Tampa trifecta, having starred for Jefferson High and USF before signing with the Bucs. Groy, who started three games for the Bears last season and was traded to the Patriots in the preseason, has size to play guard or tackle at 6-feet-5, 320 pounds.

Davis has 13 USF receiving records, including career yards and touchdowns.

INJURY NOTES: WR Vincent Jackson (knee) could miss several weeks and did not practice Wednesday. He has started 74 straight games, including 54 in a row since joining Tampa Bay. … TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins, who has not played since injuring his shoulder in Week 2 at New Orleans, returned to practice Wednesday on a limited basis. … T Reid Fragel (concussion) still hasn’t passed the protocol and is not expected to play Sunday at Atlanta. … DT Clinton McDonald (pectoral) did not practice Wednesday. … WR Russell Shepard (hamstring) returned to practice Wednesday and would likely serve as the Bucs’ No. 2 receiver against the Falcons.