Gruden respectful of Spurrier- Orlando Sentinel

[Hauss]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/football/pro/buccaneers/orl-sptbucs24082402aug24.story?coll=orl%2Dsports%2Dheadlines

Gruden respectful of Spurrier

By Chris Harry | Sentinel Staff Writer

Posted August 24, 2002

Washington Redskins vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

WHAT: Preseason game

WHERE: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa

WHEN: 8 p.m.

TICKETS: Sold out (with scalpers expecting a profitable night -- for a preseason game, no less)

BROADCAST: TV -- WFTV-Channel 9. Radio - 740 AM (WQTM)

THE BUZZ: Redskins Coach Steve Spurrier returns to the Sunshine State for the first time as an NFL coach. "Is the game still on, or have they canceled it yet due to lack of interest?" Spurrier asked early this week. No, it's definitely on.

TAMPA -- Jon Gruden has met Steve Spurrier just once.

Both were mere days into new jobs when they bumped into one another at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis last March. They shook hands and exchanged pleasantries, with Spurrier asking Gruden how his visor held up in that infamous New England snowstorm.

It was cordial, then it was over.

But where it counts -- football -- Gruden feels as though he's known Spurrier a long time. It was Gruden's fascination for X's and O's that compelled him to acquire all the game tapes of the University of Florida's 1996 national-championship season -- when UF averaged 504 yards and a school-record 46.6 points per game -- and dissect them as if they were frogs in a 9th-grade biology class.

"I've never sat down and talked to him," Gruden said. "I just sat in a dark room and studied some end-zone tape of the Gators. That's it."

But it was more than enough to confirm what Gruden already knew.

The other guy in the visor has a flair for offense all his own.

"Some of the things I saw were not for me," Gruden said. "But some of it was very innovative and very exciting."

Tonight, Gruden and Spurrier likely will have a similar meeting near midfield before the Bucs (2-0) and Redskins (3-0) square off at Raymond James Stadium for a preseason showdown like none since Tampa Bay first entered the league 26 years ago. The circumstances for both men will be different, but no less intriguing.

In jumping from the Oakland Raiders, Gruden inherited one of the most-talented rosters in the NFL -- one armed to win a championship now -- and has helped oversee its fortification while at the same time invigorating the franchise with his energy and eye for offense.

Spurrier, once beloved by Tampa Bay fans as head coach of the United States Football League Bandits, took on a far greater challenge in bolting for Washington. Not only did he leave his Shangri-la in Gainesville, but he chose to risk his legacy on a team without proven quarterbacks and wide receivers to work his passing-game magic.

So tonight, long after Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks and Keyshawn Johnson have given way to players in contention for roster spots, look for Spurrier still to be throwing and catching with a mixture of first- and second-teamers because he truly isn't sure which are which right now.

And he'll be loving every minute of it.

Whatever that's worth -- and in the preseason, passing yards and victories mean exactly nothing -- Gruden will have to live with it. Yes, it'll be Raymond James Stadium, not Florida Field. And, yes, pure Bucs fans will far outnumber any others with Gator ties. The first mention of Spurrier's name over the loudspeaker, in fact, probably will be met with boos.

That's OK. In so many ways, this will be Spurrier's night. He quarterbacked the 0-14 Bucs of '76.

He endeared himself to the community with "Banditball." He became a legend at Florida. His dream NFL job was to coach the Bucs.

Instead, he'll settle for playing them.

"I can't say I've got a picture of him in my office, but I admire the guy," Gruden said. "And, really, I admire a lot of guys, a lot of people. I can tell you right now, I want to keep getting better as a coach, and I think the only way you get better is you've got to study and find people that get good results and he's one of them. But he's among many, many guys. Other than that, it's going to be great to have him here because he's done a fabulous job at Florida. I'm sure a lot of people are interested in seeing him."

In three preseason games, the Redskins have averaged more than 36 points and 400 passing yards -- numbers remarkably similar to those he posted at each of his previous stops. Even Duke.

"And he's gonna do it in the regular-season, just watch," said former Bandits quarterback John Reaves, who was the quarterback of record when that team became the first in pro football history to have a 4,000-yard passer and two 1,000-yard rushers. "It's simple stuff, but it's scientific. What he does has everything to do with splits, route-running, precision and timing. There are holes in every coverage, it's just a matter of outsmarting guys and getting there."

Added Gruden: "The way he uses audibles and hand signals, he's a guy that's got a great feel for game day, a great charisma and I think that's contagious. He understands concepts and how to get his best player matched against what he considers the weak link."

Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin has spent a little extra time watching tape this week -- and not of his players.

These dog days of summer usually are reserved for evaluating your own players. Rare are the preseason games when coaches work overtime game-planning for an opponent.

"You don't put up 440 yards a game, even in the preseason, and not know what you're doing," said Kiffin, who for years has believed Spurrier could make the transition from college to the NFL. "With coordinators, you can tell if they're well-coached or not. I don't think I would ever tell you a guy was a bad coach, but there are some offensive coordinators in this league that are just OK. But from what I can see from this league, man, Steve really knows what he's doing."

[Carlito Sway]

"The way he uses audibles and hand signals, he's a guy that's got a great feel for game day, a great charisma and I think that's contagious. He understands concepts and how to get his best player matched against what he considers the weak link."

'Nuff said.

:cool:

[codeorama]

Great article..... Thanks for the post.

[Art]

The best part of this is the last quote.

"You don't put up 440 yards a game, even in the preseason, and not know what you're doing," said Kiffin, who for years has believed Spurrier could make the transition from college to the NFL. "With coordinators, you can tell if they're well-coached or not. I don't think I would ever tell you a guy was a bad coach, but there are some offensive coordinators in this league that are just OK. But from what I can see from this league, man, Steve really knows what he's doing."

Someone send that to the media outlets will you?

[One Dollar]

I've said it before, the media hacks are there to make money and get a rise from thier target audiance.

You want real evaluation get the comments from peers like Kiffen and Gruden. Us fans on messege boards are kind of like the media, we shoot opinion, influenced by bias to get a rise out of the other guy

[Yomar]

Originally posted by One Dollar

I've said it before, the media hacks are there to make money and get a rise from thier target audiance.

You want real evaluation get the comments from peers like Kiffen and Gruden. Us fans on messege boards are kind of like the media, we shoot opinion, influenced by bias to get a rise out of the other guy

Warren Sapp sucks

[Loki]

I have read that Spurrier's reception in Tampa is going to be warm and I have also read that he is going to get boo'd. It is going to be interesting to see how the crowd reacts when we score our first touchdown..........

[pga]

Yomar.....LOL, that's too FUNNY!