[BlackBeardsGhost]

Patriots tight ends coach Pete Mangurian, who served in that capacity from 2005-08, has joined Raheem Morris' coaching staff in Tampa Bay and is expected to become the offensive line coach for the Buccaneers, replacing Bill Muir, who was fired on Monday, Jan. 19.

The 53-year old Mangurian served as Dan Reeves' offensive line coach in Atlanta in 2002. Under Mangurian's leadership, the offensive line allowed the Falcons to set team records for yards-per-carry (4.53 avg.), rushing touchdowns (23) and the most 30-point games in Falcons history (eight) that year. Mangurian spent 13 years as an assistant with Reeves in Denver, New York and Atlanta, and became the Falcons offensive coordinator in 2003, a year in which the Falcons surrendered 35 sacks, which was the fewest the franchise had given up since 1991.
Mangurian began his NFL coaching career in 1988 under Reeves in Denver where he was the tight ends/H-backs coach. In 1991, he was promoted to offensive line coach and spent five years on the Broncos staff that appeared in Super Bowl XXIV. In 1993, Mangurian became the O-line coach for the New York Giants where he spent four seasons helping Rodney Hampton post three straight 1,000-yard seasons.

During Muir's seven-year tenure in Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers offensive line had just one Pro Bowler despite the fact that the Bucs invested one first-round pick, two second-round selections and a $37.5 million contract in guard Davin Joseph, guard Arron Sears, offensive tackle Jeremy Trueblood and center Jeff Faine, respectively. Joseph will be going to the Pro Bowl in two weeks as an alternate selection.

Mangurian hasn't had much more success in terms of producing Pro Bowl offensive linemen. Former Giants left tackle Jumbo Elliot and center Bart Oates were the only O-lineman who made the Pro Bowl under Mangurian's guidance, which occurred in 1993. But Mangurian has coached several successful players, including Elliot, Oates, guard Doug Widell in Denver and left tackle Bob Whitfield in Atlanta.

Mangurian and Morris have a history of coaching together back at Cornell University when Mangurian was the head coach (1998-2000). Morris was Mangurian's defensive backs coach and special teams assistant during the 1999 season.

The Buccaneers are in the process of conducting interviews for their vacant offensive coordiantor position. One of the candidates scheduled to interview for that position is Bengals quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese. Tampa Bay is also interested in talking with Chiefs offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, who still is under contract with Kansas City.