Gruden: Future bright with rookies

By Times Staff Writer
Published May 2, 2005

TAMPA - The way Jon Gruden slapped, clapped and yapped Sunday all through the final workout of rookie minicamp, you could tell the Bucs coach was pleased with his freshman draft class of 2005.

"That's about as good a rookie camp we've had since I remember," he said.

Why? After owning a full complement of draft picks for the first time since he arrived in Tampa Bay, not to mention signing several impressive collegiate free agents, Gruden simply has more talent to work with.

"Better players," Gruden said. "We've got better players. Isn't that something? That's a shock. We've got a lot of good players here. Let's be honest, we've got a first-round draft choice (running back Carnell Williams ), this middle linebacker (Barrett Ruud ) is really a good player, the tight end (Alex Smith ) you saw for yourself has really got a lot of ability. ...

"This is a good draft class and there's four or five guys who are here (on tryout contracts) that we'll find a way to get on our roster, I believe. This was a strong cast of players."

The best sign for the team was the offense's crispness, with much credit going to tryout quarterback Jared Allen of Florida Atlantic.

"It was unbelievable, the tempo and the execution of the assignments were very, very well done," Gruden said. "I thought Jared Allen did a great job. He took almost every rep (Sunday). Give him credit, some of these sentences just to get out of the huddle are not easy and he did a phenomenal job and, once again, it's a credit to him and a credit to his upbringing under (FAU coach) Howard Schnellenberger .

"Like I said, when you have good young players to work with, it stimulates the coaches, too."

FAVORITE TOY: Nothing got more of a response from Gruden than when Smith went vertical. The third-round pick is a weapon that has not been available to the coach in Tampa Bay.

"Merry Christmas!" Gruden shouted after Smith hauled in a pass of about 25 yards. "Hey, that looked big and fast!" he said another time. "I've been trying to hit this play for six years."

Gruden didn't mask his enthusiasm for Smith. "Well, I mean, who wouldn't he excite?" Gruden said. "No disrespect to the tight ends who have played here in the last 10 or 15 years, but Alex Smith is what you're looking for as far as a tight end as a vertical threat. He can get downfield in a hurry. He's a quick study. ... We put a lot of plays and shifts and looks in this camp to stimulate him and get his attention, and he responded quite well."

As for Smith, who has graduated from Stanford, he got an education in pro ball.

"It's been a great learning experience," Smith said. "You realize how much different this level is from college, the tempo and the way practice is conducted, it's a whole new level. So you just have to try and learn it all as quick as possible and bring your A game every day in practice."

DIGGING DOUG: Super Bowl XXII MVP quarterback Doug Williams addressed the players after the three-day minicamp. Williams, who played for the Bucs from 1978-82, rejoined the team last year as personnel executive.

"We try to use Doug creatively, not just in personnel but as a former Buccaneer player," Gruden said. "He went through rookie minicamp at One Buc Place 27 years ago and had a hell of a lot to do with turning this team around. They went from 0-26 to a perennial playoff contender, with him, just him. When he left, we all know what happened.

"He had just a good word to these guys to get themselves in shape and come back here ready to go and to have some comraderie and unity among this class. Don't come in here intimidated and come in here ready to compete."

[Last modified May 2, 2005, 01:42:09]