Watch: Greg Schiano on NFL AM
Adrian Clayborn's team-leading 7.5 sacks as a rookie in 2011 had the Tampa Bay Buccaneers thinking he might become, in season number two, the team's first double-digit sacker since Simeon Rice in 2005. Such expectations for Clayborn never changed, they were just delayed.
Just three games into 2012, Clayborn went down with a torn ACL against the Dallas Cowboys. At the time, had yet to tally a sack, but Buccaneer insiders – and to some extent, the team's overall numbers – would tell you that was misleading. The Bucs had a respectable seven sacks through those first three games, and while none of them belonged to Clayborn his pressure off the edge and unending hustle had helped his teammates pad their totals. It would take the Bucs six more games to get another seven sacks after Clayborn went down.
This summer, Clayborn is one of four prominent veteran starters who are in the closing stages of their recoveries from 2012 season-ending injuries. On Thursday, while Davin Joseph (knee), Carl Nicks (toe) and Darrelle Revis (knee) all saw their practice reps limited, Clayborn took part in all 24 of the morning drills. Both player and team were encouraged when Clayborn finished the field session feeling good and itching for more.
Just before that practice, Head Coach Greg Schiano went on NFL Network's NFL AM show to discuss all things Buccaneer. His enthusiasm for what Clayborn could accomplish in 2013 was one of the interview's highlights.
"Adrian looks great," said Schiano. "We were real cautious with him in the spring but Adrian I think is going to have a great year. He's a guy that played really well as a rookie and then had last season cut short right away in the second [or] third game of the year. I think he's a guy that especially now that he hasn't had the game for a little bit, he's hungry and ready to go. I expect big things."
Schiano also believes Revis, Mike Williams and Josh Freeman are poised for strong seasons. Below is a transcript of the rest of the coach's NFL AM interview:
On what is the plan for cornerback Darrelle Revis throughout training camp and the preseason:
"Darrelle looks real good. He's been doing a ton this summer with Todd Toriscelli and then with his people out in Arizona, so we're going to ease him back into it. He's done a lot of movement drills and things but we'll start to get him leaning on some other players and then take it one step at a time. Our goal is to have him ready when we go to New York."
On if the Buccaneers have the best secondary in the NFC South and the NFL:
"I don't know about best this, best that – I know that I like these guys. Having been around them for this spring and now again yesterday, [they have a] great attitude, love the game of football and really [are] a good influence on the rest of our football team."
On signing wide receiver Mike Williams to a long-term contract:
"Philosophically the organization, we want to draft and develop. We're going to make free agent moves when it fits exactly right as we have but to lock Mike up for the next six years is huge. Can't wait to coach him."
On if there is any realistic way Mike Glennon can win the starting quarterback job:
"Josh [Freeman] is our quarterback. Maybe as things went on this year, I talk a lot about competition and maybe that kind of got taken out of context. I'll put it on me; I shouldn't have led people that way. But I'm really excited about Mike Glennon. Mike is an excellent quarterback and one that we're going to develop here. But I expect big things from Josh, and more importantly Josh expects big things from Josh. I really think he'll have a good year."
On what he sees is different this season from last season:
"I think the biggest thing is everybody knows what to expect; our players know what to expect, our coaches know what to expect. When you bring so many people together new as a new staff, there are a lot of things that have to get ironed out. I've learned, I've grown; our staff has, our players have and there is just a different comfort level with each other. That is going to allow us to get better faster."
On what was the toughest part of the transition from coaching in college to coaching in the NFL:
"I think really the biggest difference is the expansive ages of your players. You have some 21 year-old rookies, and then last year we had 37 year-old Ronde Barber and everything in between. With that comes different stages of life; children, wives – all of that stuff. I learned that every guy has to be treated just a little bit differently and that's been a big help for me."
On if too much is made about the distinction between college and NFL head coaches:
"I think it's the individual. I don't think you can ever group people like that. I believe that you have to go out and do it your way, and if it works in the NFL it works. My whole thing has always been there haven't been that many college guys that have had that chance. Every year in this league there are about six to eight guys that get replaced, so there are a lot of pro guys as well and that's the nature of this league."
