Jon Gruden’s first 30-minute QB Camp episode of the year, airing all week on ESPNU, focused on Jake Locker. Spending so much time with one prospect was a good idea by the producers and helps make it a must-watch for football fans.
One of the funniest moments came towards the end. Gruden was telling Locker how you have to have a thick skin in the NFL because things change fast. He mentioned how last year’s top rookies Sam Bradford, Tim Tebow, Jimmy Clausen, and Colt McCoy would all have new offensive coaches this year.
Gruden said in Tampa that one day he was winning a Super Bowl, and the next he was in charge of the FFCA: “The Fired Florida Coaches Association.”
“Look at what they did to me man,” Gruden growled, motioning to a photo of a car with the tires taken off. “I’ll be back someday.”
That day won’t come for at least another year, with rumors scheduled to start up again around December. Gruden’s public stance that he’ll return “someday” will only serve to feed the beast.
In the meantime, I’ll unabashedly enjoy him as an analyst. His love for the game and especially the passing game comes across in the show. Even if he may love the players a little too much.
“With the way you compete and the talent you have, just enough people are doubting you, it’s perfect,” Gruden told Locker. “I got a feeling about you.”
We’ll see how many of those feelings he gets in the next few weeks.