By Tom Krasniqi

The waiting is almost over.  Yes, it is just preseason play, but football is back and Buccaneers fans everywhere can hardly wait.  They’ll get their first look at the new look Bucs Friday night when the team opens exhibition play down in Miami against the Dolphins.  For head coach Greg Schiano, it marks his NFL debut and says it carries some special meaning for him.  “I’ve been grateful that I’ve been a head coach for 11 years so I know what to expect in a game.  I remember my first game as a head coach, that was a scary proposition”, says Schiano.  What was scary about it?  “All the stuff I had to think about that I didn’t have to use to think about”.  By the way, Schiano’s Rutgers team beat Buffalo 31-15 in his first game as a college head coach back in 2001.

Schiano was a head coach at Rutgers for 11 years before taking the Bucs job in January.  He says the big difference between the college and pro game is the use of replays in the NFL now.  Schiano isn’t giddy about his first NFL game.  “I don’t think that way.  I never have”, says Schiano.  “It’s probably cheating the process a little bit because you never really get to enjoy it”.  One day, Schiano says he will reflect on his time in the NFL when he retires but not right now.

As for the players, they are anxious about playing a game against different color jerseys.  Anytime you spend almost two weeks of training camp, players get tired of banging on each other.  Now, they’ll get to unload on somebody else for the first time in 2012.  “Without a doubt, I’m tired of hitting up on the same people”, says linebacker Dekota Watson.  For rookies, like running back Doug Martin, it’s their first taste of the NFL.  “Just like any other game I’ve played in my career, you definitely get those pre-game jitters but they usually go away during the first series”, says Martin.

So how long will the starters play?  Schiano says the coaching staff will have a plan for every player and that discussion has already taken place.  There will be a set number of plays and that will be it.  The team will keep things basic, meaning they won’t show their cards during the preseason.  According to Schiano, the main thing is to evaluate players and how they fit their system.  Friday will go a long way in deciding who stays and who goes.   

News & Notes:

• The team made a couple of roster moves on Wednesday.  DE Jayme Mitchell left the team and CB Derrick Roberson was waived.  The team signed CB James Rogers and DT Terrell White.  Rogers and White will be available for Friday night’s game in Miami.
• Schiano says LT Donald Penn is progressing, but not ready to practice or play.  According to Schiano, the main thing is keeping Penn in shape until he returns.  If Penn plays this preseason, it will probably be in the 3^rd exhibition game at home against New England. 
• DE Michael Bennett had a rough time against Carl Nicks in a pass rush drill.  Once Nicks gets his hands on you, it’s lights out.
• TE Luke Stocker is starting to come on.  He gained some nice separation from Mark Barron on a crossing route from Josh Freeman.
• LB Quincy Black is looking more comfortable in this scheme.  He sliced into the backfield and stuffed RB LeGarrette Blount.
• The running backs had a difficult time in picking up the blitz during the 2-minute drill.  Blount and Doug Martin failed to pick up a blitzing Eric Wright, who recorded two sacks of Freeman.  That’s two straight terrific practices out of Wright.
• The team has a walkthrough on Thursday, and then they will fly to Miami.  Catch the Bucs-Dolphins preseason clash on 620 WDAE on Friday with our coverage beginning at 3pm with Steve Duemig.