The first practice in pads is a hard-hitting reality check

LAKE BUENA VISTA - For the first time, the collisions sounded real, felt real and were real.

Monday morning, the third day of training camp and the fifth practice to be precise, the Bucs put on the pads for the first time and turned up the volume of participation. And while hitting the quarterback and hard tackling were outlawed, there were some spirited moments.

And the players loved nothing more.

"No doubt, it's a separation of the men from the boys," defensive end Greg Spires said. "If you're trying to hide, you're going to be exposed. If you don't have some thump to you, you're going to be exposed. When the pads come on, you can put everything you have into the game. It's the great equalizer; it equals things out."

With 90-plus players in camp, the Bucs have been eager to start hitting knowing that work in pads is part of the evaluation process.

"It's incredible how many guys I have played with throughout the years, and you watch them in minicamp, and they are like hell on wheels, and then something happens when they put on the pads," veteran safety John Lynch said. "You have to be able to practice well in shorts, we do. The (first) two days were very effective, and we'll do a lot of our practices throughout the season in shorts, and you have to be able to do that.

"But (wearing pads) really does give you a chance to see more, another step to see people at the game tempo. You can't have full contact all the time, but still there's some guys who run real well in shorts - you get them in pads and they can't do it."

With temperatures in the soaring 90s, the Bucs plan to be sensible about the number of practices in pads early in camp. The team was back in shorts for the afternoon session and that pattern likely will remain providing the morning sessions stay upbeat.

"We expect our team to come out crisp and kick it in. Any time, any place. No matter what the gear is," coach Jon Gruden said. "In all honesty though, no matter how long you play the game, it's different in pads the first day. We hit the seven-man sled, we had some drills early in practice to try to get them reacclimated. You have to learn to carry your pads again, and hopefully we will be a little bit better (today). ... It's football now."

DEPTH CHART IS IN: With a preseason game 11 days away, the Bucs have released an early depth chart and, as expected for a veteran championship team, there were few surprises. The only difference on the starting team: center John Wade, who replaces last year's starter, Jeff Christy.

Michael Pittman remains the starter at running back, backed up by Aaron Stecker, Thomas Jones and Terry Kirby, in that order.

Second-round pick Dwight Smith is listed as first backup to Spires on the right side, while Corey Ivy and Tim Wansley are first backups for Ronde Barber and Brian Kelly, respectively.

Wansley is listed as a backup to Stecker on the kickoff return unit.

"I used to do it in college," Wansley said. "In fact, that's how I broke my leg, it was returning a punt. I'm happy for the chance. It just means it's something more I can do."

RUDD RETURNS: After missing Sunday's practices with a stomach virus and dehydration, starting strongside linebacker Dwayne Rudd returned to the field and participated in both sessions.

"It was unfortunate that he was sick," linebacker Derrick Brooks said. "You don't want to start with a new team when you're sick. I can understand him being hard on himself, but we need him. That's the message we tried to convey to him. Don't pressure yourself back. ... Take your time and don't feel the pressure. We want him when he's healthy."

The heat claimed two more in the morning session, with guard Cosey Coleman and tight end Ricky Dudley needing IVs. Both returned for the afternoon session.

ON YOUR MARKS: Until the arrival of Rudd, Brooks was unchallenged as the fastest game-day member of the defense. His performance last season confirmed that. But players and coaches have suggested Rudd can outsprint Brooks.

Not so fast?

"We'll see," Brooks said. "I like to think I'm the fastest person on the field, but there are a lot of ways to measure speed," Brooks said. "In my mind, I don't think anyone can think as quickly as I can on that field. So, that is where my speed comes from. I'm a quick thinker out there. I don't think anyone can do that, and my awareness speaks for itself. But, it would be an interesting race."

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