No quarterbacks were harmed in this drill

THE DAILY GRIND: A daily look at Bucs training camp.

By RICK STROUD, Times Staff Writer
Published August 15, 2007

These are the hardest days of training camp, when monotony meets boredom.

Bucs coach Jon Gruden sensed that Tuesday after four dropped passes and some lackluster efforts. So toward the end of practice, he gathered his team and called for a one-on-one pass-rush drill, offense vs. defense, with Gruden selecting the combatants.

At stake for the winners was an extra hour of curfew for tonight.

The defense prevailed 4-3 with rookie linebacker Quincy Black beating tight end Alex Smith in the final pairing.

Chest-bumping players erupted wildly after each outcome was determined, with Gruden serving as the judge and jury.

One player who didn't fare too well was first-round pick Gaines Adams, who was planted by tackle Donald Penn.

"That's something he pulls out every camp to get the guys energized, get us in good competition mode," defensive tackle Ellis Wyms said. "It fires everybody up."

The Bucs defense recorded 25 sacks last season, well below its standard. And Gruden wasn't pleased with the quarterback pressure Friday against the Patriots. Wyms was credited with the only sack.

"Two areas we've obviously emphasized is our pass rush and our pass protection," Gruden said. "Sometimes you put the red light on a guy in front of his teammates and the fans down there late in training camp, when guys are exhausted physically and mentally, it's a true test."

Black earned the defense an extra hour on the town tonight, when rookies pick up the dinner tab for veterans.

"Quincy is going to be a great pass rusher. We're still going to stick him with the dinner bill, though," Wyms said.

Kiffin on Kiffin

Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin said he expects his son, Lane, the Raiders head coach, to recover after a few days. Lane was hospitalized Monday in California with a viral infection.

"Supposedly, he's in there for a couple days," Monte Kiffin said. "They're running some tests right now. But he should be okay. He should be fine.

"He'd been sick for four or five days. He didn't even know if he was going to coach the (Raiders preseason) game, but he sucked it up and coached. But I think afterward, they had to take him to the hospital. He'll be all right. He's a tough guy."

Rick Stroud and Joanne Korth, Times staff writers

[Last modified August 15, 2007, 02:53:32]