Gerald McCoy, The Leader
May 28th, 2013
Rookie defensive end Steven Means lauded Gerald McCoy as being a leader for the young guns on defense.
On Wednesday (which is tomorrow, even though today feels much like a Monday), Joe will be out at One Buc Palace for Bucs OTAs. Naturally, you can expect loads of copy, interviews, analysis and observations.
Last week, rookie defensive end Steven Means had just walked off the practice field, seemingly OK with his first session against the vets. But one thing stuck out for Means — the leadership on the Bucs.
“There are real leaders,” Means said. “Lots of leaders on the field. It is different from college where you have a handful of leaders. Here, you have 20 leaders out there.
“It is vocal [leadership]. I will give you one example of a leader: It is Gerald McCoy. It is real vocal with him. If we mess up, he pulls us aside and shows up what we have to do right and why we have to do it. That way, we understand. It’s vocal with him, but also he shows us by example.”
The WWE match between rookie Akeem Spence and veteran Jeremy Zuttah on Spence’s first play from scrimmage didn’t surprise Means.
“It will be intense,” Means said. “Any time you have a group of competitors going against each other, it will be intense.”
Again, Means explained what he feels about his personal space.
“I don’t like being touched.”
May 28th, 2013 at 7:59 pm
Joe, will everyday be open to you and the rest of the media for the remaining OTA’s?
May 28th, 2013 at 8:29 pm
No. One availability per week of OTAs.
May 28th, 2013 at 8:53 pm
Love his attitude
May 28th, 2013 at 9:20 pm
the first thing that comes to my mind is that saying “too many chiefs, not enough Indians.” hopefully it doesn’t work like that in football.
May 28th, 2013 at 9:24 pm
I do love the leadership McCoy brings, we got veterans and also McCoy who does wants to take over.
Also Means needs to adjust his attitude towards opponents than team mates. As long as he can take orders and learn that’s all the plus for us.
May 28th, 2013 at 9:27 pm
A winning attitude is contagious….. makes for leadership!
May 28th, 2013 at 9:33 pm
I like Means. I very much appreciate his attitude. I hope he does well and shows them all he deserved to get an invite to the combine. Good luck Means!
May 28th, 2013 at 9:42 pm
Go bucs !!!! NFC south champs !!!!
May 28th, 2013 at 9:49 pm
@Joc
I’m with you on that. That’s the kind of grit I love to see and hear from the football players that I enjoy. I would wager that a lot of the old school greats carried a similar attitude.
Now let’s just hope he doesn’t Bosworth it.
May 28th, 2013 at 10:14 pm
NFC South champs? I hope so!
Want something to laugh about or maybe cry about. At any rate, not to be taken seriously, but I thought some of you would get a kick out of this while we’re waiting for OTAs to get started again.
Walterfootball is out with a 2014 mock draft today. Who is picked is not as amusing as where we are picking, especially among NFC South teams. They have the Bucs picking at 11 (If I recall that’s a 7-9 record), Panthers at 15, Falcons at 24, and the Saints evidently winning the division at 27.
In case you aren’t interested in linking on, they have the Bucs taking a TE in round 1 and a MLB in round 2. They have also decided that the Seahawks will win the SB over the Broncos!
http://walterfootball.com/draft2014.php
May 28th, 2013 at 11:15 pm
I’m more concerned with Spence than Means. I suspect Means may have a position change down the road.
May 29th, 2013 at 1:42 am
some of the scribes have Mr Akeem Spence as the strongest guy in the nfl already hopefully that strength transpires to his ability to shoot gaps and harass quaterbacks relentlessly. Oh yeah and he was a team captain as well.
May 29th, 2013 at 5:38 am
Thanks for the story macabee. It’s absolutely ludicrous for people to actually be publishing a 2014 Mock Draft. More insane are those that will take it as gospel. The NFL just changed the date of the big event so I wonder if that means Walter will have a different forecast. Speaking of forecast; we might as well get the Weather Channel to predict the weather that day. Probably more accurate. As Charlie Brown would say, “good grief”.
May 29th, 2013 at 6:35 am
@ bonzai,
If you are thinking Means will wind up at SLB, it’s doubtful.
The Bucs covet his speed coming off the edge. They are looking for the next Freeny.
I’m hoping he has the tools to go along with the attitude.