McDonald Backs Up Lovie
August 19th, 2015
DT Clinton McDonald said the chaos created by the rain is a good thing.
Yes, there were several Bucs fans annoyed because practices got moved, delayed and shortened due to the rain that has pelted the region like a seemingly nonstop thunderstorm the past few weeks.
Bucs defensive tackle Clinton McDonald is OK with that. Just as Bucs coach Lovie Smith said, the changing of practices times and lengths due to inclment weather is a learning experience.
“You do. You hop right out of the bed, get breakfast and come right over here and work, McDonald told Joe when asked if the team can learn through adversity. “In the mornings it’s not a likely time to go out there and hit anybody, so getting our minds set on football early in the morning like that is a big strategy for us.”
Most coaches love rain because it gives the team time to practice wet ball drills, which cannot be copied with a garden hose and a bucket of water on a sunny day.
“No, you can’t replicate that on a day like this – it’s a beautiful day right now – but that’s the type of games we’re going to run into, especially being down here in Florida and you never know where else we’ll travel where it happens to be a rainy or a wet or a muddy day,” McDonald said.
So there you have it. If the coaches don’t mind the rain and the players don’t mind it, then there is no need for fans to chomp on a chew towel over it.
August 19th, 2015 at 6:00 pm
I hope we never play another game like the game we had against Kansas City in DEC-1979. It was the last game of the season and if we win , we win the NFC Central. It pour that day, we couldn’t hold on to the ball. Doug Williams threw 2 ints and we fumble 5 times, but we only lost 1 of them. Kansas City only had 80 yards of offense, we had 269 yards of offense.We finally won 3-0 on a FG, the players should get use playing in the rain. There will be more days like that rainy day in 1979, the players and fans gotta get use to it.
August 19th, 2015 at 6:05 pm
@LanklandBuc.
I remember the stadium stairs turning into waterfalls that game and helping the older people down the bleachers.
August 19th, 2015 at 6:16 pm
I was wearing large plastic trash bags, el cheapo.
August 19th, 2015 at 6:35 pm
I am all for playing in the rain on occasion, just as long as the team has enough reps that they are prepared to play in the 13 or 14 games a year that aren’t raining. My concern is that if there is too much heat and too much rain, the Bucs loose out on valuable practice time and fall behind because the other teams are getting more meaningful practice time than we are. If I am wrong,
some one point me to a game in recent memory that the Bucs took over late in the game because they were used to the heat or they excelled in the rain and the other team was gassed. I have not seen the Bucs really prepared for opening day in a very long time.
August 19th, 2015 at 6:48 pm
Agreed Dreambig. I like the Glazers but I don’t understand why the Bucs didn’t include an indoor facility into the new OBP complex. If the budget wasn’t there they could have easily put in a temporary 2 million dollar one like the dolphins are currently using. I realize that one is in the works and it’s better late than never. Btw the most expensive ones currently in use (FSU, Clemson and Purdue) all cost around 15 million, not much by NFL standards.
August 19th, 2015 at 7:09 pm
@Dreambig, when you said “My concern is that if there is too much heat and too much rain, the Bucs loose out on valuable practice time and fall behind because the other teams are getting more meaningful practice time than we are” you took the words I was planning to post, after reading the article.
All this rain lately has shown the need for an indoor facility for training at OBP.
August 19th, 2015 at 10:10 pm
“McDonald Backs Up Lovie”
When I first read the headline all I could think of was Ronald McDonald backs up Lovie and I thought to myself atleast he’s got a few clowns left in his corner.
August 19th, 2015 at 10:47 pm
I’m agreeing with Clinton McDonald. The guy with a Superbowl ring.
August 19th, 2015 at 11:45 pm
Missed practice= less trained team.
I’m trusting Jameis. The guy with the best winning record in college Football.
He knows florida football.
August 20th, 2015 at 1:57 am
the rain also keeps the players more fresh (over time)…cooled down..as practicing constantly in the heat can take a toll over the course of the season…keeps them fresh if they do have a rainout…or cooled off and prepared for weather impacts if they wind up practicing in the liquid sunshine, Joe.
August 20th, 2015 at 3:40 am
@Buccfan37
I bought 3 trash bags that day in 1979 too. Paid $3 a piece. Never seen rain that like before or since.
August 20th, 2015 at 10:08 am
it’ll probably be comparable to conditions for the 4 PM home opener. but trying to paint a full training camp schedule set up to compete with the storms everybody around here knows about this time of year as a positive is some pretty epic turd polishing and company-line-towing by Mr McDonald. “The thunderstorms are great, they limit practice time but we don’t need hoses and sprinklers to practice for wet weather!”
Looking forward to the indoor facility, for the team’s sake. unfortunately for fans, i assume it won’t be possible for them to attend practices in there….but i’d rather attend wins at the stadium than rain shortened practices in training camp