Rudy Carpenter Teaching Bucs 101

Thanks to Pat Yasinkas of ESPN.com for reporting this interesting Bucs tidbit. It seems as though Josh Freeman isn’t the only Buccaneer teaching the playbook this offseason, in a move that is a testament to the commitment of the Bucs roster from top to bottom, Rudy Carpenter will be meeting with Bucs’ 6th round pick Allen Bradford in Westlake, California to for an offensive introduction to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"“It’s hard for any young guy to learn the offense when you don’t have the time at the facility,’’ Carpenter said by telephone from California on Wednesday night. “I’m not going to be able to teach him the whole playbook because we install new stuff all the time. But my plan is to go over our most basic running plays and our most basic passing plays with him just to give him something to build on. I’ll run him through the verbiage we use in the huddle and we’ll work out.”"

Carpenter is a third year quarterback out of Arizona State who resides in California in the off-season. When the Buccaneers selected Allen Bradford out of USC in the 6th round Carpenter called their mutual friend, Browns 4th round pick Jordan Cameron, a tight end who had played with Bradford at USC. Carpenter as Cameron to make the introduction and the two have been meeting to go delve into the playoff several times a week since.

"“I’ve been looking all offseason to work out with guys that are out in California,’’ Carpenter said. “I did go back to Tampa for the little passing camp (Freeman) did with some of the skill-position players a few weeks back, but I’m in California most of the time and I’ve been able to make the most of it.’’"

Bradford, who is a bruising tailback in the same mold as LeGarrette Blount is currently partaking in a conditioning program at USC and learning the playbook in his free-time. In addition to Bradford, Arrelious Benn has also worked out with Carpenter several times this year.

"“Arrelious is such a hard worker and he’s done a great job with his rehab,’’ Carpenter said. “He’s running very well and catching balls and we’ve gotten in some good work. We’re also working to help him understand the offense a little better because he was only a rookie last year and got hurt before he could absorb everything.’’"

I have to be honest, Rudy Carpenter will probably never see the field in Tampa because Josh Freeman is a franchise QB and Josh Johnson is a very talented back-up. But Rudy Carpenter will see the field, the Bucs have always been high on the young signal-caller, but this is the type of thing other NFL teams will see and put a lot of credence in. When a reserve player takes the level of leadership and puts in the kind of work Carpenter has been willing to put in this off-season it speaks volumes about the young man’s work ethic and character. This is the type of Buccaneers story that I enjoy writing and this is why Tampa is on the rise.