NFL

Out of bounds

By STEPHEN HOLDER
Published August 2, 2005

It's hard to understand the rigors of an NFL training camp until you've been part of one. That's what young players like Barrett Ruud are learning.

The rookie linebacker from Nebraska gave us a taste of what an average day is like, and after hearing the extent of it, one practically needs a nap.

The day begins with a 6:30 a.m. wakeup call and a quick breakfast. Next stop: Disney for the morning practice. And what a practice it is. The mornings can be intense, so there's no rolling out of bed and just showing up. That won't work.

After practice, there isn't much of a break.

"We have a full-pads, full-speed practice, then lift weights for around 30 minutes," Ruud said. "Then I get in and sit in the cold tub for a while. Then, I try to hurry up and get back to the hotel and eat lunch. See, the goal is to get back and take a nap. If you get an hour nap in, you're doing great."

The hour goes quickly, though, because then it's time to get going for the afternoon practice, which includes the same routine as the morning. After that, it's dinner time, then - if you're lucky - 20 minutes in front of the television before a series of meetings.

"Then it's meetings until you go to bed at 10 o'clock," Ruud said.

The reward? You get to do it all again the next day.

QUOTABLE

"We plan on surprising some people. We don't have a (nationally) televised game, and it was kind of like a slap in the face."

- Bucs running back Michael Pittman, who believes the team is being disrespected.

FRESH FACE

KEVIN YOUNGBLOOD

POSITION: Receiver.

HT./WT.: 6-5, 215.

COLLEGE: Clemson.

BACK IN THE DAY: Youngblood, above, went undrafted after a good senior season but caught on with Atlanta as a free agent in the spring of 2004. Soon afterward, he began having complications from surgery he had as a college junior. He had to have a titanium rod removed from his leg, then had to recover from that surgery. By then, the Falcons were forced to release him, leaving him without a place to play until the Bucs signed him to the practice squad in October and to a free-agent contract in January. At Clemson, Youngblood bounced back from a broken leg that caused him to miss his junior year, catching 59 passes for 591 yards with two touchdowns as a senior.

TO MAKE THE TEAM: Youngblood has to separate himself from a group of young receivers who lack experience. It won't be easy, but he will get every opportunity. He says his speed is one of his best attributes, and at 6-5, he has size that would make him a difficult cover even for bigger-than-usual cornerbacks. Outside of Joey Galloway, Michael Clayton and Ike Hilliard, the position is wide open. The coaching staff is calling upon the receiving corps to make plays, an indication that if the current group doesn't get the job done, Tampa Bay might find others who can. But Youngblood has enough talent and physical gifts to land on the list of those who can.

LITTLE-KNOWN FACT: Youngblood has always been a speedster and a versatile athlete. As a high schooler in Jacksonville, he won the state championship in the long jump and anchored the 4x400-meter relay team at Raines High School.

QUOTE: "I think the thing about me is that you really don't see too many tall guys who are really fast and agile. There are a couple guys out there who are long-strided but maybe not too fluid in their routes. I kind of bring that fluid motion when I'm running my routes."

[Last modified August 2, 2005, 03:00:22]