Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ready to End "Suffering" Through Camp Schiano

Both players and fans knew the beginning of the 2012 season was going to be a rough one for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A team that showed a lack of both discipline and focus at times was primed for a rude awakening as Greg Schiano took over the helm in Tampa.

In what Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com claimed as being the toughest camp in almost 20 years, the Bucs have learned to become a better team through "suffering" as Schiano put it.

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“Suffer, yeah,’’ wide receiver Mike Williams said with a big chuckle. “I don’t know what he means by suffer, but putting in the work, breaking us down lifting weights and then coming back and getting us ready to come off a practice, I guess that’s the suffer part. So I guess we did suffer.’’

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The results seemed to have paid off after the Bucs put on a great showing against the Miami Dolphins this past Friday night. Although it's only the preseason, it was still nice to see all the players from starters to clipboard holders getting after it on the field.

Back at training the camp, the Bucs are also looking to use an added advantage for when other teams come to town. On HBO's Hard Knocks show, the Dolphins were shown finding inventive ways to get around the Florida heat, while some players fatigued during practice.

Schiano and the Bucs are planning that the heat won't be a problem for them.

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“Coach always talks about this heat is our friend,’’ defensive end Michael Bennett said. “It’s definitely becoming our friend and it’s going to be other people’s enemy. Right now, he’s showing us the way and it’s coming out pretty good, so I guess we have no choice but to follow.’’ 

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It's nice to see players buying into Schiano's system despite the grueling practices. Players may also be looking for the last day of camp as it usually turns into a "bonding" kind of day for football teams. Schiano was asked if he had any plans like that of New Orleans head coach Sean Payton, who took his team to a water park on the final day of practice.

"Which player put you up to that?" Sciano asked.

I suppose there's no rest for the wicked in "Camp Schiano."