On the sideline

By JOANNE KORTH and STEPHEN F. HOLDER
Published August 4, 2005

OUT OF BOUNDS

The pass-rush drill, in which offensive and defensive linemen battle one-on-one, already was a crowd favorite. Coach Jon Gruden increased the size of the crowd on Wednesday.

Calling the entire team around to watch, shout, cheer and jeer, Gruden increased the intensity of a drill hardly lacking to begin with. The object is simple: Defensive linemen try to reach a towel on the ground 7 yards behind the line of scrimmage, representing the quarterback, and offensive linemen try to stop them.

Ready? Go.

"We just want to make sure that we're accountable to one another," Gruden said. "I think it adds a little enthusiasm to the drill. The players are rooting for one another. That's the way we want it to be: The offense and defense working hand-in-hand with some enthusiasm that's genuine. I could feel guys getting excited."

In the first two rounds, the defense won two inside battles with tackles Anthony McFarland and Bryant Anthony. The offense rallied to finish with four straight victories, starting with left tackle Anthony Davis' win against Simeon Rice. In the final matchup, right tackle Kenyatta Walker held off end Greg Spires, who was upset because he thought Walker jumped.

"Did you see that? It was a false start, first and 15, right?," Spires said. "I take that as a win."

"I want to go to the Super Bowl. I'm tired of losing."

- defensive end Greg Spires

DeAndrew Rubin

POSITION: Receiver.

HT./WT.: 5-11; 175.

COLLEGE: South Florida.

BACK IN THE DAY: It has been a tough go for Rubin in the NFL. He has been through two training camps and hasn't made a roster, with unsuccessful attempts with the Packers and Colts. Green Bay drafted him in the seventh round in 2003 out of USF but cut him late in camp. From there, it was on to Indianapolis, where the Colts took a long look before waiving him prior to the 2004 season. The Bucs signed him in January. At USF, Rubin was a special-teams star, returning both kickoffs and punts. He also was a consistent receiver for the Bulls, finishing with 1,306 receiving yards. Rubin played his high school ball at Dixie Hollins.

TO MAKE THE TEAM: Rubin has to make plays that separate him from an undistinguished group of receivers. The Bucs have plenty of them, but they don't necessarily have plenty who can make plays. Outside of Michael Clayton, Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard, no receiver can rest assured he will make the roster. The Bucs could keep six receivers, and Rubin is in the mix. The next few weeks will be some of the most critical of his short career.

LITTLE-KNOWN FACT: Rubin grew up adoring the Bucs and recalled this week some of the team's former greats. Making the team would have a special significance because of those many childhood memories.

QUOTE: "The main thing that's standing between me and making this team is staying healthy, really. The last couple years I've been hurt, and that has set me back. It's about me staying healthy, fresh, so I'm determined to do that."

[Last modified August 4, 2005, 01:05:20]