On the sideline

By JOANNE KORTH
Published August 5, 2005

OUT OF BOUNDS

The Bucs weren't the only ones using Thursday's practice to prepare for the regular season. A team of four NFL officials suited up to work out the offseason kinks and inform players and coaches of several rules changes for 2005.

"It really helps to start being physical and get back in the groove of things," said head linesman Mark Hittner, an investment broker in his ninth year officiating. "By the middle or end of the season, it's just repetitious. Now it's, "Oh, yeah, I remember that.' "

The crew showed a video detailing rules changes and points of emphasis, most of which concern player safety. The crew will continue to work practices today and Saturday, giving coach Jon Gruden, players and assistants the chance to ask questions and make adjustments.

"Coach Gruden does a good job of telling us, "Anything you see, throw a flag,' " Hittner said.

- coach Jon Gruden on kickers Matt Bryant and Todd France

J.R. RUSSELL

POSITION: Receiver.

HT./WT.: 6-3, 206.

COLLEGE: Louisville.

BACK IN THE DAY: Russell, a prep star at Gaither High in Tampa, caught 186 passes for 2,619 yards and 19 touchdowns at Louisville, where he was a favorite target of quarterback Stefan LeFors. As a senior, Russell led the Cardinals with 73 catches for 968 yards and seven touchdowns. He was a first-team All-Conference USA selection the past two years.

TO MAKE THE TEAM: Russell impressed coaches during offseason workouts with his ability to make plays with his height and speed. But any seventh-round draft pick is a long shot to make an NFL roster. The Bucs' top three receivers are Michael Clayton, Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard, which leaves a number of young, unproven players to battle for as few as two roster spots.

LITTLE-KNOWN FACT: Russell, the last of Tampa Bay's 12 draft picks, didn't begin his football career until his junior season at Gaither. He was a basketball and baseball standout, but his mother, Lenoir Russell, refused to let her three sons play youth football. J.R., the oldest, was the first to break through. "When we got to high school, I guess we got a little freedom," he said.

QUOTE: "I know what kind of athlete I am, what kind of school I played at and what kind of competition I played with. Right now, I'm good enough to play professionally and I'm going to take it as far as I can go."

[Last modified August 5, 2005, 01:08:13]