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As Training Camp Closes, The Saga Continues For Bucs

Tribune photo by CLIFF McBRIDE

Jon Gruden speaks with Joey Galloway during Tuesday's morning's practice session.

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By ROY CUMMINGS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 15, 2008

LAKE BUENA VISTA - Canceling the last day of workouts is fast becoming as much a part of Bucs training camp as hot, humid weather and two-a-day practices.

The Bucs were slated to take the field for one last walk-through Thursday, but for the second year in a row that morning workout was canceled in the middle of the night.

Thus ends one of the most bizarre camps in club history. It was a camp that featured more plot twists and drama than a daytime soap opera.

The Brett Favre saga was the big story, of course, but there were others that kept everyone tuned in, including the Jeff Garcia saga, the Chris Simms saga and the Joey Galloway saga.

Most of those are ongoing, so the Bucs still have plenty of issues to resolve between now and the start of the regular season Sept. 7.

With Camp Saga finally at an end, though, here is a look back at the highs and lows, plus some business that remains unfinished from Coach Jon Gruden's seventh training camp.

Anybody Got A Nickel?

The starters are set at cornerback, but the Bucs still must decide who will play the right cornerback spot when Ronde Barber covers the slot in nickel situations. The Bucs played a nickel defense 48 percent of the time last season, so this is an important call. Rookie Aqib Talib seems well-equipped to handle the job, but the Bucs might feel more comfortable going with the experience of converted S Eugene Wilson.

Garcia And Co.

The Bucs still have to decide on a backup quarterback. It's starting to look like Luke McCown will win the job again this year, but there are indications Coach Jon Gruden could be more comfortable going with Brian Griese, especially if starter Jeff Garcia goes down early in the season. There is no question McCown is the more athletic of the two, but Griese's experience gives him an edge that Gruden cannot ignore.

Third Wheel

Donte' Nicholson had a good camp. Sabby Piscitelli had an even better one. They left two-a-days as the leaders in a battle for the third safety spot behind starters Jermaine Phillips and Tanard Jackson. Eugene Wilson is in the mix, too, but he will have to come on strong in the final three exhibition games to push past Nicholson or Piscitelli for the right to play the 20 snaps that go to the third member of the safety rotation.

Pass Rusher Wanted

It hasn't been much of a battle to this point, but the starting left defensive end job is still up for grabs. Kevin Carter is the leader here, but only because Greg White has been slow to make the transition from the right side. The Bucs need White's pass-rushing ability, but if White can't adapt to playing the left side, the Bucs might have to work Gaines Adams there and use Jimmy Wilkerson or Marques Douglas on the right side.

Running Back Rotation

Earnest Graham will start and get the majority of the snaps at tailback. He won't get all of them. The Bucs will make generous use of Warrick Dunn and maybe even Michael Bennett, so they still must decide how and when to use those players. Battles of this nature have a tendency to sort themselves out. If that doesn't happen here, the Bucs will be faced with the difficult but pleasant problem of how to distribute one ball among three capable backs.

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