Bucs Open Camp Amid Excitement
(July 21, 2003)

With the goal of repeating as Super Bowl champions, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers opened training camp this past weekend. As the defending world champs, has the excitement and hype even exceeded last year's first camp under head coach Jon Gruden? What can we expect out of this year's camp Gruden?

The Buccaneers reported to camp last Friday, July 18, at the Disney sports complex. Among the festivities was a parade at Disney World. The opening of training camp, before any practices had even begun, was the lead story on every local television newscast. The station I watched that evening devoted half of its thirty minute newscast to the Bucs. There was ten minutes as the lead story and an additional five minutes in the sports segment. As practices began, the Bucs continued to be the lead story on the evening news. One of the local papers had a special section devoted to training camp. Several thousand fans watched the team work out in the Florida heat. More excitement and hype than last year? Maybe it is always this way when the Super Bowl champs open camp. After all, for the Tampa Bay area, this is uncharted territory.

Since the core of the Buccaneers championship team returns, there are only a few issues to resolve in training camp. The most pressing matter is that of running back. Michael Pittman has a domestic abuse charge pending in Arizona and could miss part of the season. The Pittman situation puts the team in a difficult position. Releasing him before the case is decided may cause problems with the NFL Players association, along with a salary cap hit. Keeping him is a gamble that he will not be suspended or jailed, not to mention the morals question. As an insurance policy, the Bucs obtained Thomas Jones from Arizona. Jones is a three year veteran and was the seventh overall pick in the 2000 draft, but did not set the world on fire with the Cardinals. Mike Alstott will continue to be the fan favorite to be the primary back and Jon Gruden has always been high on Aaron Stecker. The Bucs would also like to get second year player Travis Stephens into the mix. Gruden has even experimented with Rhonde Barber in the backfield.

Everyone knows that Brad Johnson is the Bucs starting quarterback and the battle for the backup position may have already been decided. They picked up journeyman Jim Miller in the off-season, however, he has been slow to recover from injury and may not be available until after the season begins. Certainly not an ideal situation for a new quarterback coming into the system. This means that Shaun King may become the backup QB by default. Rookie Chris Simms, a third round draft pick from Texas and the son of former NFL QB Phil Simms, has already impressed the coaching staff. The Bucs have signed former Tampa Bay Storm quarterback Shane Stafford to have another arm in camp.

The only other real question mark may be the offensive line. It seems that no Buccaneers preview can be written without mentioning the much maligned o-line. Five year veteran John Wade will replace Jeff Christy at center, so some chemistry will have to develop there. Newcomer Jason Whittle, a guard who spent the spent five seasons with the New York Giants, will have to factored into the equation.

All the players have reported to camp and in shape. After just a few workouts, the team looks sharp and is way ahead of where is was a year ago. There is not a new system to learn, only a title to defend. If everyone survives training camp, including the fans, this is going to be fun.