Buccaneers Head Coach Jon Gruden Quotes

[INTWTF]

PART ONE

TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2008


HEAD COACH JON GRUDEN

(On Earnest Graham being at camp and Chris Simms not being at camp)
"We're happy to see him. He's obviously a heck of a player. As I said a couple days ago, these matters have a way of working themselves out and he's a key member of our football team. I don't know where Chris is. As I said, I like him a lot and I wish him the best in this situation, but I'm going to coach the guys that are here."

(On what jumped out at him during the first practice of training camp)
"Well, the weather is warming up. And we've had a really good turnout. It's been very competitive. Somehow, someway we've got to reduce our roster to 80 men and there are going to be some tough calls here in the next week or so. I'm really impressed with the work ethic and the turnout, and we are picking things up. We've got a number of different combinations working on both sides of the ball and we like some of the progress we're making."

(On if he's decided how many quarterbacks the Bucs will take to camp)
"Bruce will decide all that stuff. I'm just trying to find the quarterback, trying to get our Pro Bowl quarterback to play even better. We're really excited to have [Brian] Griese back; he's been outstanding here on the practice field. Luke McCown is doing some great things too. We'll keep working with our youngster and we'll focus on the quarterbacks I just mentioned."

(On how the rookies look)
"They look good. They've been put in a tough situation, getting used to this weather, getting themselves in shape. Aqib Talib has just flashed and been consistently good here. Dexter Jackson has had his moments. He's made a lot of splash plays and there are some things he's got to get worked out, obviously learning the offense. [Jeremy] Zuttah, our third-round draft choice, is playing a position he didn't really play in college but he's shown promise. The other guys are hanging in there."

(On if Graham looked like he was in good shape)
"Yep, he sure did. He's always in shape. You know Earnest – he's going to be ready to go. As I said, these matters will find a way to work themselves out, whatever the workout status is. We'll find out."

(On what the priorities are for this week)
"We just keep looking at our team, trying to fit the best 80 guys into a roster that can give us depth and some versatility during training camp. The guys that earned it are the guys that will go. And keep an eye on the other teams, too. There are some other teams that have to release players, so we're going to continue to look at other players that become available."

(On if he's thinking about tweaking the training camp schedule)
"We have tweaked it the last couple years and we'll have to continue to do so. If they want to continue to reduce the number of players in camp and the weather continues to get hotter we're going to have to make some concessions. We'll have to be a little bit more creative in terms of how we get our work done, but I think that's a standard quote around the league, really."

(On if an indoor facility will be involved)
"They are going to have some kind of indoor facility up there and we're anxious to check it out. Hopefully it's high enough where we can get some film. No matter what anybody tells me, I still believe that repetition is the mother of learning. We still need to get our reps, although many of the reps might not be full speed as they've been in the past."

(On if people forget that he's trying to win football games and want him to be everybody's best friend)
"I don't go there. This is a tough business. When you have 93 guys on the team, it's a tough business. I get criticized for carrying John Daly's bag for four holes. I'm not going to say these are easy matters. It's an emotional time this time of year and there's a lot of disenchantment around the league, if you pay attention carefully. We're going to do the best we can to win. We owe that to our fans and our players and that's what we're going to do."

(On how confident he is that a game-breaker will emerge opposite Joey Galloway)
"Well, I don't know all those things. I'll tell you, Antonio Bryant has really been impressive. I said some things before that maybe I haven't been able to back up so I'm going to be reluctant to say much else. But we like the things Antonio Bryant has done here. Dexter Jackson gives us a threat to go down the field. He can do some things but he does have a long way to go to learn this stuff. We'll see, we'll see."

(On Jeff Garcia being further along with a year in the system under his belt)
"It's nice to have the same quarterback two years in a row. We haven't had that luxury. This guy here is special above the neck – very smart, very instinctive and a great competitor. Just being able to call the plays, feeling the rhythm of the offense and understanding some of the options that he has – everything's quicker, everything's easier for him right now and I think that will show in his play."

(On how confident he is that Dexter Jackson can win the kick return jobs)
"Well, we'd better be real confident, okay? That's one of the big reasons that he's been brought here. Ball security, decision-making – all those things can only be evaluated in game situations. So the preseason will have a real determination on that, but the guy really has shown an ability to do that in college. He is extremely quick and fast and we're excited to have him here.'

(On the defensive line)
"That's another area where we've added some players. [Jimmy] Wilkerson comes in here, [Marques] Douglas is here, there are some guys that are good players. We think Greg Peterson in his second year has a chance to develop into something. We drafted a big guy in the fourth round [Dre Moore]. Who knows what will happen? But it's very competitive there and you have to really take a lot of time to evaluate it and study the players' performance. But, again, it's going to be a tough call for us."

[INTWTF]

PART TWO


(On how he feels about Carnell Williams' availability this year)
"I don't know. He ran great today. It's one of the most amazing comebacks I've seen. He hasn't come back yet, but he is banging on the door. You'd be proud of him. Our fans would be proud of him."

(On how Williams looks)
"He's running fast; he's running real fast, I do know that. He's putting himself through an unbelievable workout routine and I've never seen anything like it. It rivals some of the great Rocky Balboa movies that you've seen on TV. This is very important to him and God bless him and his work ethic. I think it's really stimulated our whole coaching staff and football team as we've seen him go step-by-step in his return here."

(On if Williams will be ready for training camp)
"He's ready to go now if you ask him. He's really putting some good tape together in individual workouts. He's not allowed to be a part of the team activity at this point, but the explosive movement appears to be coming back, the change of direction, the confidence and the stamina. All those things, day after day after day, that a running back has to do are coming to him. That's what's really exciting. He doesn't appear to have any setbacks at this point. I just keep my fingers crossed and hope it continues because it's exciting, it really is exciting."

(On if Williams wanted to practice in this camp)
"He's been asking to come out here, I tell you, since this program started in April. He doesn't want to miss a rep. If there's one great story to come out of here today, it's Carnell Williams. It's a work ethic that this team has right now. I'll just say I'm really proud to see it and witness it."

(On if Williams has to be a little cautious not to push himself too hard)
"He's in the trainers' care, really. The doctors and trainers handle all of that, and when he's released to go he'll go. Again, we're going to do what we think is in his best interest and we're going to be solid and united in our process."

(On Josh Johnson)
"He's just starting to take reps. He's been reprogrammed here; he has to re-acclimate himself to the terminology. Luke McCown is a guy who can play, and really play, and he deserves a lot of reps this time of year. Obviously Jeff is our starter and a veteran quarterback needs time with his new teammates. So it's been hard to get [Johnson] reps, but [Quarterbacks Coach] Greg Olson has really made a difference. I think he came out here and completed all five of his throws today and was sharp."

(On comparing this team to the way it was a year ago)
"Well, I don't know. Last year we were 4-12 and we were at that point not very good. Who knows? I really like our team. I guess every other coach feels the same way this point in the year."

(On Luke Petitgout)
"He's good. He's in his stance, he's getting in and out of easily and he's much like Carnell where he's had a serious injury. We really need him back and we're really encouraged with the way he feels and the way he looks."

(On what WR Amarri Jackson showed during the rookie mini-camp)
"Well, he had another opportunity to showcase whether he belongs in the final 80, and if he fumbles the football like he did today it's going to be hard on him. But he's a big guy that is a heck of a competitor. He's a loose athlete, he's confident and he's a pretty smart guy. I like him. I really like his potential, but we've got to harness it and we've got to get a little bit more consistency from him. But we like what we've seen from him, we sure do."

(On Sabby Piscitelli)
"He was my special consultant last year. We're happy to have him back; it's like a bonus draft choice for us. We had a number of players injured – Maurice Stovall, Joey Galloway – key players on our team that couldn't compete down the stretch. But everybody appears to be on schedule. Carnell and Luke Petitgout, the guys who had the most serious injuries, are also knocking, so we're excited."

(On the young offensive line)
"We got younger this year with [Jeff] Faine coming in here. There are no excuses for us now. We've got to pick it up and play better. We're coming off a good season. There were some great snaps that we put forth last year. The collective effort was there. We've got two guys that can play left tackle; we've got a guy we think can be a dominant center in pro football; we love our two guards; and Jeremy Trueblood is really a tough customer at right tackle. We're eager to see what we can do with this offensive line."

(On how Jerramy Stevens has held up the last couple weeks)
"He's hung in there. All I can say is, we're going to give him another opportunity to get it together. I said similar things last season. I'm eager to put him in this environment with our leaders, our football team, and I'm confident he can be a great guy and a great member of our community here, and I think he can prove that."

[Bucamaniac40]

Git R Done Caddy!!!!!!!!!!!

[fan4ever]

	Quote:			Originally Posted by Bucamaniac40
	Git R Done Caddy!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm hoping Graham gets the most reps...he's earned it when it mattered sooooo much. Just hope he doesn't get pushed out because of Caddy and Dunn.