Gerald McCoy A Dominant Force
August 18th, 2014
The spreadsheet crowd has fresh proof. Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.
Joe started hearing the rumbling last year from a guy who rumbles the walls when he speaks. Joe raised an eyebrow (picture Derrick Brooks) when last year Warren Sapp tried to tell Joe that Gerald McCoy was better than he was.
Joe wasn’t biting. Or buying.
Then, this past training camp, Joe again asked Sapp the same question. Sapp explained that GMC was quicker than he was and added, “He mastered Greg Schiano’s defense. I could never do that!”
Joe will never forget Austin Seferian-Jenkins’ face go blank when he said of GMC, “I’ve never seen anything like that,” during the opening week of training camp.
Of course, Bucs coach Lovie Smith is on the GMC bandwagon but now the spreadsheeters are piling on. Consider how Michael Renner of Pro Football Focus described GMC’s play Saturday night.
There are only few people in the NFL today that are capable of doing what Gerald McCoy did to the Dolphins interior line on Saturday. McCoy accounted for two pressures within two seconds of the snap(about the time it takes to make a 7 step drop) and added a tackle five yards deep in the backfield. He now has the highest overall grade of any defensive tackle this preseason by a wide margin.
And to think some actually believed GMC was a bust not quite a year ago. Amazing.
If the Bucs’ defensive front does not improve on getting to the quarterback, other than GMC, that should tell you something. The man is being double- and triple-teamed if not chipped by running backs at the line.
Who or what do the Bucs need to sacrifice in order to get an edge rush?
August 18th, 2014 at 8:03 am
I hope this Larry English comes on in on a white horse, because the 2 D-ends have done nothing. But I guess Lovie is just enabling them by not calling them out and starting them, and letting them run around with number 1’s at practice.
#bench_adrian_slowborn!!!
August 18th, 2014 at 8:14 am
GMC is so good, all we need is a couple warm bodies on the edge. With his penetration, if Clayborn or Johnson could just trip and fall at the right place, and get a couple of lucky sacks this team will get plenty of sacks.
August 18th, 2014 at 8:35 am
The better GMC looks in the preseason, the more attention he’ll get from other teams when they draw up their game plan. It’s always possible to slow down/neutralize one guy which is why the rest of the other d-linemen need to show up in order to free up Gerald.
August 18th, 2014 at 8:42 am
It seems double team isn’t enough as he splits them, and you can’t triple team him. I am interested in seeing GMC against the elite centers and guards.
August 18th, 2014 at 8:45 am
I think the bust label came from losing his first 2 seasons to injury. Still blows my mind that Raheem and the coaching staff couldnt teach that boy to tackle when he got to the league.
August 18th, 2014 at 8:45 am
Here’s hoping in the next preseason game we see all of GMC’s line mates start getting some pressure since they’re not facing double teams. All of them need to step up.
August 18th, 2014 at 8:59 am
I admit, I thought he was a bust.
Not now, the guys a beast. Now I’m afraid they will take out his knees, because he’s too good.
August 18th, 2014 at 9:05 am
From what I have seen so far Gerald could be the best player in the league.
Just an awesome display.
August 18th, 2014 at 9:20 am
Putting GMC over the RG was brilliant. The RG is usually the weakest link on the offensive line, and GMC abused Miami’s rookie RG Thomas.
August 18th, 2014 at 9:32 am
Our DEs make plays by getting their hands up and using “high motor”, not by beating their man. While this is typically not the most effective Tampa 2 strategy, hopefully they get better at those things too. GMC is blowing up the back field! Also, is Lovie blitzing with CBs like Ronde had so much success doing? Who is the next member of the 25/40 club?
August 18th, 2014 at 9:35 am
I watched the film of GMC’s sack. He is so quick he makes the others on the line look slow by comparison. He went past two defenders and was at the QB before MJ was half way there ….. and he was unblocked. I think Gerald may have to slow down to give the others half a chance at getting a sack !!!
August 18th, 2014 at 9:38 am
Not hearing that Johnson=Rice nonsense anymore. Should have saved our money, left Clayborn where he was and kept Revis. Another case of the new regime choosing quantity over quality in offseason moves.
August 18th, 2014 at 9:41 am
Gmc does look amazing right. Hope he can stay healthy. Too bad the changes to the other 3 positions didn’t work. What a shame
August 18th, 2014 at 9:47 am
Funny how one of the guys on wdae at 9:00am had been calling GMC a ‘soft’ player as late as midway thru last season! He is so much fun to watch you almost think he can stop the other teams offense single handed! A player like that inspires the whole team and that is exactly what our Bucs need!
August 18th, 2014 at 10:00 am
DPOY…. G-Mac. You heard it here first.
August 18th, 2014 at 10:26 am
Funny thing is that you were the one calling him a bust on this very website. You said he was too soft and couldn’t make it through a full season. I’m glad our coaches give guys chances instead of giving up on players as quickly as our fan base and this website which seems to lead that charge.
August 18th, 2014 at 11:06 am
Interesting how Thomas 2.2 stopped commenting right about the time Gerald McCoy began to be widely considered the best DT in the league. His disdain for GMC was mentioned in just about every comment he made. With Rah, Dominik and Freeman gone too he has no one left to hate. No hate = no comments. Sad.
August 18th, 2014 at 11:08 am
I wonder what Dan Sileo thinks about this…
August 18th, 2014 at 11:26 am
@flboyindallas
I thought that thomas 2.2 got a life time ban from here?
August 18th, 2014 at 12:10 pm
in mccoy and david, i think we have 2 guys who will be DPOY at least once before they retire.
August 18th, 2014 at 12:27 pm
@Miguel Grande: Props to you for admitting that you were a bleating, over-the-top, the-sky-is-falling, Michelle Chico. You can have your balls back.
August 18th, 2014 at 1:20 pm
The Big Mac Attack ( GMac & Cmac) look strong, but our DE’s definitely aren’t doing their part. Hopefully, Clayborn & Johnson can improve…. I haven’t seen the 2nd half of the 1st 2 games; has anyone seen what Chaz Sutton looks like. He looked like a beast in practice.
August 18th, 2014 at 2:08 pm
With EVERY down GMC plays, his ASKING price keeps going up, spend to ur cap limit if necessary and LOCK HIM DOWN NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 19th, 2014 at 9:35 am
McCoy is an absolute beast. So far he’s the only player on the defense that’s been fun to watch. The talent drop off after him is glaring on the line.