Rookies feeling surge regular season brings

By STEPHEN F. HOLDER
Published September 9, 2005

	[Times photo: Bill Serne]
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TAMPA - When the regular season begins Sunday in Minneapolis, no one is going to be able to tell the difference more than the Bucs' rookies.

Their only exposure to the NFL has been training camp and four preseason games, but things are about to get a lot more intense. In many respects, they already have.

"You definitely see the difference already with the coaches," rookie tight end Alex Smith said. "That's something we've been talking about. You can see how amped up they are. They won't let you slip at all this week. They look at every single step you take.

"It's not going to be anywhere near what the preseason was like. You try to anticipate, but you have no idea until you step on the field."

The Bucs will play several rookies Sunday, among them likely starters Smith, Carnell Williams and Dan Buenning.

This week, they are preparing for the moment they have longed for their entire lives. No matter how much advice the veterans offer, it will be an eye-opening experience.

Even Williams, who played some of the best college football around in the Southeastern Conference, admitted the magnitude of what he will face dwarfs anything he experienced in college.

"It's bigger," he said. "This is the ultimate level. From what I hear from the other players, it gets loud in that dome. This is my biggest game and Lord knows I'm looking forward to it. The feeling that I have now, the atmosphere around here now, it's just on a much larger scale."

Williams has been getting pointers from good friend Michael Clayton, who went through the same thing last season as a rookie.

Clayton's advice was "if one play isn't there, don't get down on yourself and go into a slump," Williams said. "That's the main thing he's stressed to me. It's football. You know how to play this game. It's just the best of the best."

Barrett Ruud, who is expected to see a fair amount of action at middle linebacker, hopes his first play at this level has a better result than his first at the collegiate level.

"My first play in college, I remember it because I fell down on my face on the kickoff," he said. "So, unless something dramatic happens, hopefully I won't remember it too much. I want to remember for the right reason."

INJURY UPDATE: Guard Matt Stinchcomb, who is slated to back up Buenning at left guard, was downgraded from probable to questionable on the injury report because of a lower back injury. Stinchcomb continued to practice Thursday, but if he is unable to play, Jeb Terry likely would be the answer to spell Buenning.

KICKOFF PARTY: The Bucs will hold a season kickoff party at 6 tonight at the Channelside District Courtyard in Tampa. Scheduled to appear are coach Jon Gruden, Williams, Clayton, quarterback Brian Griese, linebacker Shelton Quarles and safeties Dexter Jackson and Jermaine Phillips.

Admission is free.

[Last modified September 9, 2005, 01:19:15]