Bucs name Keith Millard and Grady Stretz co-defensive line coaches

After a lengthy search, the Bucs have found their men: Keith Millard and Grady Stretz. According to Stephen Holder of the St. Petersburg Times, Keith Millard will act as a pass-rush specialist. Millard spent 9 seasons in the NFL as a defensive tackle, mostly with the Minnesota Vikings. He made the Pro Bowl in 1988 and 1989, was named first-team All-Pro in the same years, and second-team All-Pro in the preceding two years. He had an 18-sack year in 1989. As a coach, he's spent time with the Broncos and Oakland Raiders as D-Line and Pass Rush coach. While with the Raiders, he also coached Warren Sapp. 

Grady Stretz comes from the college ranks, coaching the Arizona State Sun Devils D-Line for the past 5 seasons and has also spent time with the University of New Mexico. Although we don't know exactly how the coaches will work together, it seems likely that Stretz will be the D-line coach overall while Millard will concentrate on teaching players how to rush the passer. 

The Bucs have had one of the worst defensive lines in football over the past years, but have started to add significant talent to the position group. DT Roy Miller and DE Kyle Moore were added in the 2009 draft, while the 2010 draft yielded 3rd overall pick Gerald McCoy and second-rounder Brian Price, who missed most of the season with an injury. The Bucs are likely to add some DEs through the draft, which is deep in defensive end talent. Millard and Stretz will have a talented but inexperienced line to mold into a potentially dominant unit. 

In addition to the D-line coaches, the Bucs also hired Defensive Quality Control Coach Tyrone Pettaway. He served as intern linebackers coach for the Tennessee Vols in 2009 and was with the USC Trojans in 2010. He was draft eligible in 2005 but declined the opportunity to play football because he felt his true calling lay in coaching.