Suh’s introductory press conference was very interesting if you were listening closely.
During the press conference, Suh stated that he has always embraced playing in the heat and went off a tangent about why he considers playing/practicing in the heat/humidity an advantage.
Why should this excite you? As Bucs fans, we all know the team has perceived the heat as an advantage over the years. But, for some reason, it seems the Bucs haven’t been capitalizing on that advatage in recent time (see Bucs record since 2010).
Why is that? I have a theory that a MAJOR (yes, MAJOR) contributing factor to the losing over the past several seasons may be the teams MENTALITY toward the heat. You may think that theory is silly, but before you dismiss it, consider the following story:
Although I have attended several training camp practices over the past decade, one moment has been ENGRAVED into my memory. This memory is from a training camp practice prior to the start of the 2016 season. I was sitting in the bleachers watching 11-on-11s and the first teamers were called off the field for a water break. Members of the starting defense began taking knee on the sideline directly in front of the portion of the bleachers where I was sitting! Gerald McCoy and several key members of the defense (at the time), including LVD, knelt as they took a break and swigged water. I still remember this moment as if it happened yesterday. McCoy was on one knee and positioned in the middle of the group. After a couple swings of water, McCoy started complaining about how hot it was. I remember how he went on and on for 2-3 minutes bitching and complaining about the heat and how he was sick of practicing in it. I was really shocked at first, but then thought to myself, “it IS pretty hot out here” and that I wouldn’t be able to even get through warm-ups without complaining, so I just dismissed it as a typical trirade from an athlete who is under duress.
Needless to say, we haven’t fared too well in home games since that moment..... a losing record, I believe (even though we wear our all whites for home games during the first quarter of the season (but that’s a whole ‘nother issue).
So where am I going with this (you might be thinking)? Psychology during a football game is a MAJOR factor. Anybody who has played the game (at ANY level) already knows this. In my opinion, Geraldine was spreading a psychological virus — an idea that practicing and playing in the heat was a hardship and a DISADVATAGE .... for those who haven’t played the game and are unfamiliar with sport psychology, we might as well have been starting every game each week down by 10.
Enter Suh.
This guy seems to be INFATUATED with playing in the heat and I think that, if true, he is going to be MAJOR factor in changing the psychology of the defense.
Bucs fans should be paying attention VERY closely to this team because we, for years, have yearned for a culture change. And I believe it is happening now, before our very eyes.
GO BUCS!!!!
