“Full Steam Ahead”

May 29th, 2013

Last week at the “Sneaker Soiree,” a black tie affair where a collection of local sports celebrities mingled, an event that is only for the upper crust of society; “TKras,” Tom Krasniqi of WDAE-AM 620, got a chance to chat with Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy.

During the interview, GMC noted this is the first offseason since he was a pro that he got a brief moment to decompress and spend quality time with his kinfolks in Oklahoma.

“I got a chance to relax for an offseason — not long, but to enjoy my family and not have to go to rehab all the way up to” training camp,” GMC said.

As for as hearing the news of the Bucs trading for star cornerback Darrelle Revis, GMC was giddy.

“I was excited,” GMC said. “There’s not more to it than to have one of the best defenders in the game. For me, that is very exciting because that missed split second [the time a quarterback gets off a pass to an open receiver before GMC could sack him] was all it took for me to get double digit sacks last year. … [Revis is] the last piece we needed, but it will take all of us [to win]. I’m very excited.”

What interested Joe the most GMC confirming what Joe wrote last week, that the OTA practice he witnessed was much more crisp and players were less hesitant and seemingly had a strong purpose in the second season with Greg Schiano. GMC said the team is well down the track of success versus where the Bucs were this time last year.

“The mindset and focus is much higher than last year,” GMC said. “Last year it was kind of shaky because everyone was kind of worried and kind of complaining and now it is like, ‘Full steam ahead!'”

Of course, Joe will have much more from today’s OTA session when practice wraps up this afternoon. To listen to GMC’s full interview with Krasniqi, please press the black arrow below.

Audio courtesy of Clear Channel and WDAE-AM. Hat tip: Tom Krasniqi, Pat Donovan and Dory LeBlanc.

7 Responses to ““Full Steam Ahead””

  1. SeanyMac in SC Says:

    Very excited for this up coming season.

  2. tampabaybucfan Says:

    I’ve got news for Gerald…..the addition of Revis, Gholston & Banks along with a productive Wright will mean more than a split second to get to the QB…..perhaps a full second.
    Also, the addition of Revis has to pump up every Buc player. Knowing that your ownership & management wants to win and will lay their money down to do it.

  3. stevek Says:

    tampabaybucfan,

    Agreed, and it was about time the Glazers stepped it up fiscally.

    We are still 20 million under the cap. I hope we can extend Mike Williams/ sign some cap casualties as the rosters are trimmed down to 53.

  4. Snook Says:

    We all know who the complainers are… Hopefully they’ve all been removed. I have a hunch Blount was one of the complainers in training camp. He ended up in Schiano’s dog house early.

  5. T in Orlando Says:

    I’m really liking what I’m hearing this off-season re: McCoy. This is the first off-season since his rookie year that he’s not rehabbing an injury, which is clearly a plus for him, but I think it’s a great thing for the defense as a whole, as he gets to step into that leadership role on the field, not just in the classroom. Based on what I’ve read so far, he’s a real vocal leader, something this defense hasn’t had for awhile (Simeon Rice perhaps?).

  6. Biff Barker Says:

    The 12 man is emerging, wearing the name intensity on his jersey. Bout time.
    Brighter still is we now have players with the skill to bring results and not flying around on some crack named youngry.
    We keep hearing how much more comfortable the players are this year knowing both the system and the expectations.
    All that matters is we take NOLA and Atlanta to the woodshed. It’s all talk until we get this done.w

  7. BuccaneerBonzai Says:

    @T in Orlando
    I agree 100%. And it seems like quality leadership. Some players think leading is doing a lot of yelling and getting in people’s faces. Our leaders seem to be pointing out things and teaching how to overcome them as well.

    Yesterday (I think) a commenter mentioned he was fearful of too many chiefs, not enough indians. This is the kind of leadership we cannot have too much of. It is the kind that leads to championships.