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BUCCANEERS TRAINING CAMP QUOTES
SUNDAY, JULY 27, 2008
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HEAD COACH JON GRUDEN
(On players leaving practice early)
"I think we had a couple guys go in early with cramping. It got a little hot here today – Antonio Bryant and Tanard Jackson. But other than that, some good work today."
(On whether Bryant and Jackson only had cramping)
"Yes."
(On the running game)
"Well, we can run the ball in different backfield sets. We can run it from a one-back set with two tight ends, we can run it from a two-back set with two tight ends or we can have no tight ends. We're getting a lot of guys in position to play, learn the system, but from a running back standpoint we've got some good backs. And we think we've got a tremendous fullback here, B.J. Askew. So we're working our two-back running attack at times and we're also working our single-back attack, and you have to practice that."
(On the new options at running back)
"We think Warrick [Dunn] is a heck of a football player and obviously Earnest Graham is no secret to anyone anymore. Michael Bennett has had some great games in the NFL, so we do have three guys that can run the football, and I think all three of them can catch it, which is something that also excites us. So they have versatility and I think they can help us in a lot of different formations."
(On if he has a set number of touches in mind for Warrick Dunn)
"No. We've got a long way to go before we get into a game situation. It's hard to do at any given time to say, 'We're going to give it to you 33 times, so be ready.' We've got to have success running it. The better running team we are the more touches there will be for all of our ballcarriers."
(On long completions in full-team drills)
"I thought it was a competitive day. Defensively I thought they got after the offense at times in the blitz period. We did hit a couple big plays from an offensive standpoint towards the end of practice. That's football. There are corrections that need to be made on both sides of the ball and there were some bright spots on both sides."
(On Jeremy Zuttah)
"It's really hard on him. He's making a transition from a tackle to a center position. He played both guard positions yesterday. But one of the real interesting points of training camp is that you have to have a sixth and seventh offensive lineman available on Sunday that can play either the swing-tackle position, the swing-guard or the backup center position. A lot of teams, like us in the past, have only had seven offensive linemen active on game day. He's competing in there to learn these three positions, and there are going to be some growing pains but we're impressed with him."
(On if he's made adjustments entering his seventh season)
"We try to change. We add different players, you change a little bit. The format of training camp changes. We try to adjust every year to try to make it as good as we can for our players to walk out of here after a couple weeks ready to play some football."
(On if his approach personally is any different)
"No, we put a lot of time into it, love it, got a lot of passion for it. We haven't made a lot of changes, no."
(On Torrie Cox's health)
"Don't know. He's going to be evaluated here carefully in the next couple days. Whether he sprained his knee or it's more than that, we'll have to find out and get it to you as soon as we can. We're looking into it and as soon as I get the information I'll give it to you."
(On Joey Galloway's return)
"The flight has been delayed. No, it's a mild groin strain. He tells me he'll be back in a matter of days. We need him."
(On what Maurice Stovall needs to do)
"What he's doing out here. He needs to keep doing what he's doing. He's playing all three receiver positions, he's a force on special teams, he's making plays. That's what he's got to do – he's got to stay healthy, make plays and he'll play."
(On Michael Clayton)
"He looks really good. Mike looks good and we're going to try to see those young guys string days together. Hopefully we can say this every day for 14, 15, 20 straight days, that they're looking good. We want to try to keep them healthy and keep them rolling because they're two young talented guys that are very physical."
(On what he's looking for from Brian Griese and Luke McCown this weekend)
"We're trying to put them in a lot of different formations and different situations so they get some reps in those isolated positions on the field. Experience is a great teacher. Brian hasn't been here in a couple years so there are still some new things that he's going through. Luke McCown's a young quarterback that benefited from some playing time last year. We're just trying to get them reps and hopefully that helps them pick up their execution and understanding of the system. And we're not going against chopped liver, now. This defense is outstanding and they're flying around."
(On if he noticed a difference in how Clayton approached this offseason)
"No, he's been a businessman and I think he realizes that we've missed him. I think he also realizes that there are some great opportunities ahead for him here in this organization. He's worked hard, and I credit [Wide Receivers Coach] Richard Mann also and I credit our training staff for working with him. But he looks good right now."
(On what he makes of more Brett Favre reports)
"I don't make anything out of it, okay? I don't have time to address it, really. We're moving on here. We've got training camp, and I'm really kind of growing tired of addressing all of the reports, no disrespect to anybody. We've got work to do; Jeff [Garcia] will be in tonight. You'll see him tomorrow and we're excited about that."
(On penalty flags in parts of practice)
"Yeah, we put the ball backed up on our one-inch line and I think the first play the defense was offsides. I think the third play, the offense was guilty of a false start. So we repeated that short segment of plays. It's a difficult place to be when you're on offense, backed up in the noise on your one-inch line. From a defensive standpoint, we have to shut the door and get off the field and create field position for our offense. We made the corrections and I think the players did a nice job of getting it right."
(On Russian S Sergey Ivanov)
"He got in yesterday, and I think it's a great thing to let people from a foreign country participate. You would think they might do it at the college level or at a different level – this is tough sledding, man. But he's got great coaching in Raheem Morris. He's a great kid and he's going to have a heck of an experience here."
(On if Jeff Garcia is still returning Sunday night)
"Yes."
(On if Phillip Buchanon is a great story)
"Yeah. He was a great player coming out of Miami. You don't get picked in the first round unless you are. He went to Houston and actually did some good things there. But he is a very athletic, gifted athlete and he's a great kid. He's got a lot of pride and he's playing really good football for us. Aqib Talib made a couple splash plays today also. And you forget about Ronde Barber being a fixture here. So we feel like we've got some talent there. We're really proud of Phillip and we expect a lot from him."
(On the tent)
"When we had rainouts last year we did go to an indoor facility. But we couldn't get film. We really couldn't create a football environment because the space was so limited. We did the best we could, but this year we're able to not only get the reps but to get the film and then in the evenings see who knows what and get the corrections that need to be made. So that's the big thing, the film. It allows us better teaching in the evening and it allows the players to learn more."
(On the tough road for Dan Buenning)
"We've had a lot of guys like that. Buenning started, went wire-to-wire for an NFC South Champion as a rookie, and handled himself well against good people. I feel for him. He had a serious injury, played through a real tough sophomore year and last year was hard on the kid. But here we are moving into our fourth season with Dan and he's competing with Jeremy Zuttah for the backup center position and obviously swing-guard position at this point. We think he's got the talent to be a starter in pro football."
(On players being one injury away from a life setback)
"Yeah. We lost our left tackle last year and Donald Penn came from nowhere and stepped up and helped us. You've got to be ready to go in this league whether you're a quarterback or an offensive tackle or guard, and you've got to be mentally tough, too. But Dan Buenning is that, and we do like some of the things we've seen. We'll find out a lot more tomorrow when we put the pads on."
CB RONDE BARBER
(On this year’s secondary being the best one he’s been a part of)
“It is athletically, without a doubt. As far as the players go, I don’t know. It’s pretty hard to top that ’02 team that we had, Dexter (Jackson) and John (Lynch) and BK (Brian Kelly) and Dwight Smith. Those were some good players, but talent-wise across the board and depth-wise we’ve never been better. I don’t think there’s a question about it. So, that being said we have a lot of expectations on ourselves. If we don’t live up to them we’ll all be disappointed.”
(On the Buccaneers being known as a defensive team)
“I don’t know. As long as Monte’s here I imagine it will be. Will Baltimore always be known as a defensive team because they won their Super Bowl on defense? I think you’d like to be known as an offensive team, but there is a mystique about our defense. The Pittsburgh Steelers are kind of an offensive team now, but people still think they are a defensive team just because of their Super Bowls in the ’70’s. It’s kind of a stigma that sticks with you and this team has proven itself on defense over a lot of years. Until we stop doing that and start scoring 50 points then we are going to be a defensive football team.”
(On the other NFC South teams)
“We know New Orleans got better at tight end. I hate that guy (Jeremy Shockey). No, I love the guy. He’s a great player and a good friend of mine. But you know that they’ve improved. I wouldn’t be lying to anybody if I said the NFC South was down last year, a little bit. And all these teams have worked to get better and all these acquisitions and Jake Delhomme coming back in Carolina is obviously a big help there. It’s just going to make it tougher for us. I mean, we haven’t defended an NFC South title ever and that’s a challenge of ours.”
(On helping young players)
“I know somebody in here, or in our room is going to take my spot at some point whether it’s Aqib (Talib) or Torrie Cox if he gets back healthy or any of these myriad of young guys we have. I’ve got to pass on some knowledge to them, there’s no doubt about it, and I’ve been doing it for years. Whenever I decide that enough is enough then hopefully they can step right in.”
(On Phillip Buchanon)
“Phillip has always been a talented player. He just never found the right situation. I don’t know what happened to him in Houston or Oakland. But he came in here and took advantage of his opportunity. I don’t know if he got better coaching or was around better people, but his talent is really showing through. He’ll be a good player for us this year. He’ll get the opportunity to be the number one guy over there where BK (Brian Kelly) was last year, and I think he’s ready to step up to it. I have a lot of respect for what he’s been able to endure through the past four years really, bouncing around some teams.”
(On Aqib Talib)
“I think he’s ready to play. When I came in I don’t know if I was necessarily ready to play. His expectations are that he’ll play. I think our expectation is that he’ll be able to play. I think that was a little bit different for me, but I pass as much knowledge on as I can to Aqib. I tell him about my struggles at the beginning. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing, but you know, it’s my experience and that’s how I share it with him. Aqib will be fine. He’s a talented player. He’ll show up for us.”
(On not playing the last two games before the playoffs)
“I would have personally rather have played those games, I’m not going to lie to you. But momentum is a tag word that we like use in sports, but at the end of the day we still have to go out and play the game. We were prepared the week before we played the Giants. I thought we had a better football team than them although they did end up winning the Super Bowl. I think we just got outplayed in the second half of that football game. It has nothing to do with us taking those weeks off. I’m just a guy that likes to play football and I hate watching someone else do my job.”
RB EARNEST GRAHAM
(On the competition at running back)
“I just do what I do. I am a football player so I am going to keep doing what I do. Coach Gruden is paid to coach this football team and he does a good job at it. He is going to find a way to get us all in the game. He is a guy that will work late and come up with creative packages so that we will be successful in the running game this year.”
(On if he has anything left to prove as an elite running back)
“I still feel I have a lot left to prove. I am in a similar situation that I was in this time last year and so I am keeping that same mindset. It was different this year because I came in and was not on any special teams depth charts, but my drive is within myself and I still feel like I have a long way to go.”
(On the opportunity at a 1,000-yard rushing season)
“I like where I am at. I do not think a thousand yards would affect where I am at personally. I believe if I did not have a thousand yards this season and we got the chance to play in the Super Bowl in Tampa, I would be happy. It is about winning, and if we win it will all come together.”
(On the finalizing of his new contract)
“It was big, mainly from a recognition standpoint. I got the chance to step up last year and I showed I could play, so it is good to be rewarded for that. I did not have any doubt that would come through for me, but sometimes these things just take time for whatever reason. I had full confidence that it would be taken care of and there was never any turmoil between the two parties.”
(On his lesser special teams role)
”I miss it already. I never played special teams before I got to Tampa and that is when I realized that special teams is football. Running the length of the field and tackle people. The intensity of special teams is what I am going to miss. I might find myself out there on occasion, because I am always asking how I can help out.”
(On Jeff Garcia’s absence)
“Jeff (Garcia) is ready to go. We get a lot in during the off-season, so he will not have any trouble coming in and mixing into the fold. He played a great season last season, so this will not affect us in any way. This just gives the other guys a chance to step in and get some reps.”
(On the new indoor practice tent)
“Anybody that knows anything about training camp knows that is a big deal. It helps our bodies to get that break, but it also helps us gain a grasp of what we are doing offensively.”
LB BARRETT RUUD
(On what he did to work on his versatility in the offseason)
“I got with (Head Strength & Conditioning Coach) Mike Morris and also with the program down in Nebraska, and did a lot of stuff with hurdles, going under hurdles, going over hurdles and then a lot of change of direction when you are working out. A lot of going different ways and using the bungee cords to open your hips. The good linebackers have that, I have that but I would like to get better at that, so I worked a lot on that. The worse part is after you’re done with everything, the stretching, because I hate it. I am going to try to stretch everyday before this stuff but it is taxing on me.”
(On having depth at the middle linebacker position)
“You never want to come out of the game but I think there is good depth behind us and we have a lot of guys that can play multiple positions which is nice. Ryan Nece obviously has been here for seven years now and he can play any position that is called upon. Antoine Cash is kind of the same way now, he has been here since I was a rookie with me and he is able to play Sam, Mike and Will, so he has done them all, too. It is nice to have the versatility that we have with the linebackers.”
(On LB Quincy Black)
“With Quincy, it is all about picking up the system right now. He is really a good athlete, he is explosive and he has a lot of abilities. He really made a lot of strides as far as picking everything up this offseason.”
(On the linebackers not getting the recognition they deserve)
“I guess we don’t have the glamorous 3-4, the outside guys get a lot of attention in that. We don’t have real big sack guys and even the tackle numbers can be misleading because if you are on the field a lot and not playing well, sometimes you get more tackles. The goal is to keep making the big plays. Keep making turnovers, keep making interceptions, cause fumbles and fumble recoveries because that is how we make our mark. We would hopefully like to get more sacks but we are never going to be a unit that has a guy get 10 or 15 sacks every year. It is going to be make tackles, make interceptions and force fumbles.”
(On how he measures his performance on the field)
“It is tough to say because tackles can be somewhat misleading. When I was leading the league in tackles I thought that was how you measure a linebacker, but when I had a couple of games when I had two or three tackles I was like well, we were off the field a lot. I look at my film the next day and if I am happy with that is how I judge it. I have had games when I had four tackles and I thought I played really well, and I have had games when I had 15 or 16 and thought I stunk so, when you turn the film on, that doesn’t tell you any lies.”
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