Clowney is hoping not to sit out the first part of his training camp. He had sports hernia surgery this offseason and said he doesn’t know if he will be full speed when he reports to camp. And even if he’s full-speed physically, it may take a while for the dominant, lightning-fast Clowney of his college days to return.
He has to learn the playbook first. He said the multiple plays which require players to “flip” sides of the field have been confusing. He’s learned, quickly, he said, that the NFL is not a major athletic step up in competition–it’s an intellectual one. “A lot of guys, it’s not as much athletic as it is they are just a lot smarter.”