Sometimes when you are so physically gifted you simply don’t have to try as hard to be successful. It is the work ethic and drive that separates the Kobe Bryants from the Vince Carters or the Peyton Mannings from the Jeff Georges.
It is obvious that Clowney has enough physical skills to be a great player in the NFL, but does he have the desire to be a legendary player?
There is a big difference between Julius Peppers and Bruce Smith. Only time will tell, Steve Spurrier was honest in his assessment of Clowney courtesy of PFT.com.
“Even though his production this year wasn’t near what it was last year, he had two or three guys waiting on him just about every play,” Spurrier said. “His run defense was very good, though, and he chased down a bunch of guys and made tackles. His sacks — he had to run around two or three guys just about every game. I don’t think teams will quite do that in the NFL, but we’ll have to wait and see.”
Here is how Spurrier describe Clowney’s work ethic.
“He was OK. It wasn’t like Marcus Lattimore, you know, every player is a little different,” Spurrier said. “His work habits are pretty good, they’re not quite like Lattimore, maybe Stephon Gilmore, Melvin Ingram, some of those guys, but when the ball is snapped he’s got something no one else has.”
Only Clowney knows how badly he wants to be great.
In the immortal words of Sheed, “Ball Don’t Lie”, the truth will come out sooner than later.