Training camp preview: From Hogs to Dirt Bags
By Paul Attner - SportingNews
He's calling them Dirt Bags because this is a new offensive line and another era. But so much of what the Redskins hope to achieve this season will depend on how quickly Joe Bugel can mold his newest players into a line that would make the Hogs proud.
Bugel is demanding and funny and a bit crazy. The line already has gotten a taste of his tough love approach. But he's warned them that the real Joe Bugel -- the architect of the Hogs who now has the fancy title of assistant head coach/offense -- will show up the first day of training camp. "That scares me," says right tackle Jon Jansen, laughing. "He gets right into your face and reaches down your throat and tickles it. You either do it his way or the door is there."
The old way certainly was awful. Under Steve Spurrier's ineffective protection schemes, the line became an embarrassment. Last year, it gave up 43 sacks, subjecting quarterbacks Patrick Ramsey and Tim Hasselbeck to a horrid battering. The linemen pleaded and argued with Spurrier for better schemes. Now, they have them. The Redskins will protect, even if it means using nine players to block.
Bugel has told them he was sickened by what he saw last year. "I won't be a part of no puddy bunch," he says. "They need to check their pink panties at the door. We are going to start swatting folks off the ball."
But first, he needs to rekindle the career of talented left tackle Chris Samuels, who admitted to Bugel he hasn't pushed himself the last couple of years. Bugel will prod him; if Samuels responds, the Redskins will have two of the best tackles in the league. Bugel already is happy with guards Derrick Dockery and Randy Thomas and center Lennie Friedman. "All these guys are tough suckers," says Bugel. "They have a chip. They hated last year."
He has showed them tapes of the Hogs. But Jansen is tired of hearing how it used to be. "They've earned the praise," he says, "but I want my own stories. Now it's our turn to carry the torch."
Senior writer Paul Attner covers the NFL for Sporting News. Email him at attner@sportingnews.com.
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