Reader poll

Bucs training camp
Did Jon Gruden take it too easy on his players this year?
Yes
No

Comments

[Mark Ingram]

From the three practices I was able to see, the players had it easy. There was no tackling and anything remotely physical happened very quickly. Joey Galloway, who already got to miss half of the practices due to his frailty, wasn't very involved in the practices he did attend. It was absurd to watch him saunter back to the huddle while the next play went on around him. The team I saw practice wasn't very disciplined or very interested in practicing. They looked like they were getting ready for another 4-12 season. If anything, Gruden was too hard on the fans, moving the bulk of each practice to the field away from the shaded seating. This kind of sloppy camp makes us one of the least disciplined teams in the league and is surely a big reason that we've started two of the last three seasons 0-4.

what an idiot comment

[Crazy White Steve]

I was just thinking, and knocking on wood, that the Bucs got through training camp without a major injury. Hopefully that will continue throughout the preseason. Mr Ingram up here was just pissed off because they didn't practice right in front of him. Superbowl winning teams avoid major injuries! I can assure you that running around in the pure unshaded Florida heat of training camp was no easy task!

Have any of the southern NFL teams ever considered going north for training camp to avoid the heat, much like MLB teams go south for spring training to avoid the cold. The Florida heat has got to take a lot out of the players and cause some teams to wear down in the second half of the season. Anyone remember Ray Perkins' three-a-days during his first training camp and how the Bucs started the 1987 year 4-3 and then lost their last 8 games.

[Daniel]

I appreciate your comments Mark. I haven't had the opportunity to attend training camp, so any unbiased opinion is something I'm interested in. The veiwpoint around the league is that Gruden runs a tough camp. It was voted 3rd toughest in a poll a NFL players. Most players come into camp in shape, unlike years ago, so I'm not as concerned about the lack of two a days. I am concerned with the lack of continuity on the offenive line and at the QB position as most of the good teams have been playing together for a while. These players need reps and game time experiance so I hope they all play more than a few series tonight against the Jags.