Lovie Embraces The Broil
June 10th, 2014
The Buccaneers’ 2014 mandatory, three-day minicamp kicks off today, and already something stands out.
That would be the start time.
Practices are all scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. and end at 4 on the sweltering, open fields of One Buc Palace.
Lovie Smith is embracing the broil. He wants his team feeling the heat in a big way. Lovie easily could have had morning practices like he did during Spring OTA practices. But Lovie has opted for the full throttle heat of the day.
Joe’s even heard rumblings at Bucs headquarters that Lovie might keep an afternoon practice schedule in training camp. Taskmaster Greg Schiano was an early-morning guy.
Lovie, of course, was a linebackers coach under Father Dungy’s glory days Buccaneers. Joe remembers those two-a-day, and three-a-day practices at the University of Tampa, back when the NFL let players beat the crap out of each other endlessly at the head coach’s discretion. Joe’s sure Lovie remembers those days, too. He’s unafraid of the heat’s effects, and he wants to toughen players up. The NFL labor agreement gives players get six weeks of mandatory vacation when this minicamp ends Thursday.
Lovie has said he wants the maximum home field advantage when the whistle blows at 4:15 p.m. for the home opener against Carolina in Tampa. That likely includes having guys used to getting after it in the afternoon summer heat.
June 10th, 2014 at 9:07 am
Sink or swim, Da’Quan.
June 10th, 2014 at 9:07 am
I moved to Montana and I Sure dont miss the heat down there
June 10th, 2014 at 9:09 am
While I see his point, there is a much greater chance of rain and lightning canceling the practices.
June 10th, 2014 at 9:21 am
You gonna show up there and cancel the practice with your buddy rain, lightningbuc???
lol
June 10th, 2014 at 9:21 am
Hmmm, Ok, I buy the conditioning, but we won 10 games in 2010 practicing in the A/C. Must have been a fluke cause we haven’t come anywhere near that practicing in the heat. Think it could be psychological?
Link deleted. Not a message board. –Joe
June 10th, 2014 at 9:22 am
And the legs are falling off come midseason.
June 10th, 2014 at 9:29 am
Carl Nicks is attending mandatory mini-camp today, but he will be standing in the shade! Let’s hear it for Carl!!
June 10th, 2014 at 9:42 am
Sorry to shatter everyone’s egos. The heat advantage may work against Green Bay and Minnesota. But in Charlotte, and where the Panthers Training camp is (Spartanburg, SC) it gets just as Hot and Hotter with just as high and higher Humidity. Heat index in Charlotte can reach in to the 100’s on a regular basis. There is no Heat advantage.
June 10th, 2014 at 9:46 am
Hahaha..Get’em Lovie-The Grind Begins! Go Bucs!
June 10th, 2014 at 9:46 am
gatrbuc,
I might rear my ugly head today – when Mother Nature calls me, I spring into action.
June 10th, 2014 at 10:26 am
The heat is not that bad, but it is something most opposing teams probably don’t look forward to coming to Tampa to play in. But I have’nt really noticed it being an advantage for the Bucs in the past. I’ve lived here my entire life and have never used air conditioning where I lived. If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
June 10th, 2014 at 10:28 am
Wow, thank god you guys are here with all your expertise! What would Lovie do without your experienced insite? I am certain Lovie knows what he is doing.
June 10th, 2014 at 10:29 am
I’ve lived here my entire life and have never used air conditioning where I lived
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Bucfan37,
Sorry, but I find that impossible to believe.
June 10th, 2014 at 10:37 am
Seems like pretty clear common sense to have practices in the afternoon heat if games are going to be in the afternoon heat.
People can say what they want that its hot everywhere in the summer but nothing compares to the Florida heat. Love it.
June 10th, 2014 at 10:49 am
Big mistake.
June 10th, 2014 at 11:08 am
It is not just about the heat, He is conditioning their bodies and minds to the time of day (1pm-4pm). That is the time majority of our games take place. Pure genius!
June 10th, 2014 at 11:12 am
“I’ve lived here my entire life and have never used air conditioning where I lived. If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”
Seriously, Clark?
You should check it out, it’s pretty awesome. We had a car with no AC when I was a kid in the 70’s, and only a wall unit growing up until later. I could not imagine going back to that. Color me soft, I guess.
June 10th, 2014 at 11:33 am
lightiningbuc… Believe it, no ac. Grew up without it, still don’t need it. Use fans, pay under 30 bucs a month electric, instead of near 200 bucs for ac. If we get rid of ac more than half of the states people would flee north. What’s not to like about that?
June 10th, 2014 at 11:45 am
Oster:
Don’t care what heat index says. Its much hotter in Tampa at 1pm or even 4pm than in South Carolina. It just is. I live in Atlanta now and its hot here but its nothing compared to where I grew up in Clearwater.
The thing people forget about is where these players are from. Guys from the west coast or up north may never get used to the Florida heat. Guys on the Panthers who are from Florida or hotter places may not be bothered by games in Tampa heat. Its a wash when it comes to one team being better prepared than the other IMO.
June 10th, 2014 at 11:49 am
@ Ryan – spot on about the temps. It’s every bit as hot and humid here is SC as it is in FL. No training advantage over the Stinking Panthers there. Must be some other motive for the PM mini-camp.
June 10th, 2014 at 11:54 am
@Buccfan37 what part of FLorida do you live in man? I lived in south florida for 16 years, and Orlando for 6, and I could not imagine having no A/C. Sounds like cruel and unusual punishment, especially those summers in Orlando!
Of course it won’t be a huge advantage over the other NFCS teams, but it certainly is in comparison to teams in other divisions.
@Joe, was the big mobile surprise we’ve been waiting for just another ad? Which is now fixed to the bottom of the screen? That would be quite disappointing. Also, I couldn’t use access any of the input fields on the comments form from my iphone either (keyboard does not display), just so you know.
June 10th, 2014 at 11:57 am
Uncer the rules of the collective bargaining agreement – there will be ZERO chance that this will sap the leg strength of players, or lead to any additional soft-tissue injuries – not unless vericose veins from all the standing around the players are doing.
Plus, it’s nothing like when Dungy wanted to build some toughness in order to turn superior heat conditioning into a homefield advantage in the September games. Tampa under Dungy and Gruden gained the “Reverse Lambeau” effect 110° with 90% humidity against a super fast defense – seemed to help us jump out to a few early victories and some fast starts…
However, once the weather begins cooling and the conditioning of the rest of the league caught up to the Bucs…that was when a real, consistent, offense made the difference. Hopefully that is what Tedford can create. Thats why it never made sense to me to coulple a fast defense to a fast-break offense? You have to be able to grind thru some yards to allow your defense to catch their breath…the beauty of “The Greatest Show on Turf” was how fast it forced the other teams defense to play for an extended period.
Dungy never had an offense that could do that – or never wanted one until Indy/Peyton – it will be interesting to see if Lovie really has learned the value of fielding the right kind of offense…the offensive players he has assembled for Tedford do kinda seem like they can either go “field-position”, or “fast-break”
I’m becoming intrigued.
June 10th, 2014 at 12:12 pm
bucfan37,
Frankly, I could care less what my electric bill would be without AC. I have a 2 story house with two units. In the summer months my bill will be over $400/month and I gladly pay it. don’t tell TECO, but I’d pay triple that to stay cool.
June 10th, 2014 at 12:32 pm
@Buccfan37
No snark, you’re a manimal. I could never do that.
June 10th, 2014 at 1:08 pm
I believe the military calls this stress training. I miss that heat and humidity I grew up in SW FL. Been living in SoCal for last 17 years and it’s made me soft. Lovie is on the money with this.
June 10th, 2014 at 1:32 pm
@lightningbuc, “don’t tell TECO, but I’d pay triple that to stay cool.”
Why would you even let then get the notion of that!?! I have Duke Energy and they constantly make me put the ball gag on and “assume the position” every month.
@biff, “And the legs are falling off come midseason.” in reference to practicing in the heat.
The heat “IS” our home field advantage, stay hydrated and its no big deal. I have lived here all my life and only had problems with the heat when I didn’t drink enough water or Gatorade. Not to mention we will be better conditioned than most other teams because of it.
Go Bucs!
June 10th, 2014 at 2:13 pm
Makes sense, most of the Bucs games are at 1 pm so why not practice everyday at the same time!
June 10th, 2014 at 3:37 pm
Bring back former 2nd round pick Brian Price. He’ll quit faster than you can say De Quan **cks.
June 10th, 2014 at 3:40 pm
Embrace the Suck!!!
I like the heat and don’t care for cold weather. Outdoor shower on cold works great for summer afternoons. Hopefully the majority of the team will stay in Tampa and train together for the next 6 weeks. Win a championship now & Rest when you’re dead.
June 11th, 2014 at 11:44 pm
lightningbuc Says
“While I see his point, there is a much greater chance of rain and lightning canceling the practices.”
That is actually a pretty valid point.
There are advantages though. Season games are played at 1 & 4, when the heat is at its worse.
Also, it trains their body-clock to be most active at that time of day, which might help with stamina.
June 11th, 2014 at 11:51 pm
Ryan Oster Says
”But in Charlotte, and where the Panthers Training camp is (Spartanburg, SC) it gets just as Hot and Hotter with just as high and higher Humidity. Heat index in Charlotte can reach in to the 100′s on a regular basis. There is no Heat advantage.”
Heh. You know nothing of heat and humidity, pal.
We have water on three sides, marsh gasses from the everglades that cause headaches in the summer, and during training camp the on field temp hits the 120s.
If you wanna come here talking smack, know your stuff. The only thing you have worse than us in the summer? Gnats.
You know. Like yoursself.