McDonald Hoping Success Wears Off
June 16th, 2014
The Bucs hope DT Clinton McDonald’s winning ways rub off
Does Joe need to remind anyone how rotten the Bucs were rushing the quarterback last year? In pains Joe to even think about it much less type about it.
It’s one reason why general manager Jason Licht went out and bought Michael Johnson and Clinton McDonald, a defensive end and a tackle, respectively. You don’t run out and buy two defensive linemen if your line is anywhere near average.
It will be interesting to see what McDonald brings. He’s coming from Seattle where he started in the Super Bowl, but rarely started in the regular season. He is expected to, at worst, battle Akeem Spence for the starting tackle spot opposite Gerald McCoy.
It seems the Bucs are hoping winning habits from McDonald spread to the rest of the defensive front, notes Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times.
He has started only two regular-season games in his four-year career, but he started in the Super Bowl in February, stepping up with five tackles and a Peyton Manning fumble recovery in Seattle’s victory over Denver.
So McDonald joins a defensive line that also added Cincinnati’s Michael Johnson in free agency (the two were teammates with the Bengals in 2009-10), and Smith has talked about the importance of setting the tone for a defense from the line of scrimmage.
“We bring a different attitude, a chemistry the team has but needs a lot more of,” McDonald said. “They already had great defensive linemen here, so for us to add to that line is a blessing. We’re bringing a part of who we are. We’re a growing defense, a young defense. It’s no one-man defense out here. The biggest thing for us is trying to form as a group, that way we can be a great D.”
Auman also writes how Bucs defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier raves about McDonald’s influence with his new teammates.
The Bucs defense showed promise last year. Just look how many turnovers they forced. But the offense was so miserable, they could not convert those turnovers into points. The Bucs were fifth in the NFL with 31 takeaways. Every team ahead of them in takeaways was in the playoffs. The Rams were the only other team in the top 10 in takeaways with a losing record.
So the only thing missing from the defense to be really good is to get heat on the quarterback. That is largely why McDonald was paid to come here.
June 16th, 2014 at 8:24 am
I hope this guy has the stamina to play in this heat. It’s not quite Seattle weather come September.
June 16th, 2014 at 8:37 am
I’m hoping McDonald’s success doesn’t wear off, rub off maybe, but not wear off.
June 16th, 2014 at 8:41 am
Making the team better by adding backups. That happens all the time, right?
Personally, I think if Spence doesn’t screw things up off the field, he has good potential to become at least as good as McFaarlane was years ago. Maybe better, as he seems more QB hungry than Booger was.
Again…IF he can avoid off the field issues.
June 16th, 2014 at 8:44 am
@biff, that is a very good point.
McDonald only started in the SB because of injury though. He could well be a second stringer here if Spence fights for his job.
June 16th, 2014 at 9:09 am
The key here (especially in Tampa) is rotation. There is a huge advantage for the defense to be able to substitute a bunch of skilled players in and out of games while the Offensive line tires out in the heat. It’s very tough to beat fresh players on every play.
June 16th, 2014 at 9:12 am
First, I think Lovie will have them conditioned for the heat – no doubt about it.
Second, I hope Spence gives McDonald a good run for his money on that starting spot. That would hopefully give us some depth which would provide a good rotation that keeps the guys fresh. If we have some depth, we can be good hosts and invite the other teams QBs to our “All You Can Eat Grass Buffet”!
June 16th, 2014 at 9:15 am
Not allowing an opposing D to rotate linemen in this heat is the singular biggest benefit of going up tempo.
I hope Tedford takes full advantage of this by spreading the ball around and making their defense run.
June 16th, 2014 at 9:18 am
The question to ponder this morning is if can Spence get up field as opposed to just occupying the double team.
June 16th, 2014 at 9:19 am
Starts don’t actually mean too much in modern football with line rotations.
June 16th, 2014 at 9:25 am
Booger has pointed out the benefit of having a 3 technique at the nose tackle next to another 3 technique in Gerald McCoy. Add that McDonald had 5.5 sack as a backup when Spence only had 1 in 16 games McDonald is a lock next to McCoy. IMO Gholston, McDonald, McCoy & Johnson will start in 2014.
June 16th, 2014 at 9:55 am
TDTB….”IMO Gholston, McDonald, McCoy & Johnson will start in 2014″
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This.
Spence was playing tilted nose so we don’t know if he’ll be able to penetrate and disrupt. I don’t see him as an explosive type player though.
June 16th, 2014 at 12:36 pm
Spence showed virtually nothing last year.
But he was also a rookie.
I always question the intelligence of people who call a Rookie or first year player a disappointment- as was said about Spence last year.
Let’s give him another year, to see if he’s converting potential to production
June 16th, 2014 at 4:37 pm
If Goldson can start,
We are freakishly tall!!
I love it!
Clayborne rotating with both of them.
Nice!