McCoy Has “Dominant Force” Potential

April 4th, 2012

The self-proclaimed Geraldini, everyone’s favorite Little Mermaid-loving defensive tackle, had his head coach drop lofty expectations on his fragile biceps last week at the NFL owners meetings, so documented Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com.

It seems Greg Schiano has looked at the game film and spots greatness in Gerald McCoy.

“He plays defensive tackle the way I like,’’ Schiano said at the NFL owners meetings last week. “He’s a penetrating guy who can change direction. We’ve got to keep him healthy because I think he can be a dominant force in this league.’’ 

There’s really not much to say about McCoy anymore. In Year 3, he has to stay healthy, step up, and deliver like a No. 3 overall pick.

Joe suspects McCoy will deliver, but the staying healthy part is a huge and legitimate question mark. With Brian Price’s fragile health, Joe would rest a lot easier if the Bucs had scored proven depth at that position already this offseason.

37 Responses to “McCoy Has “Dominant Force” Potential”

  1. Adam Says:

    Why, oh why, did the Bucs have to win those meaningless games at the end of Blaheem’s first year? I’m still sick over the fact that N. Suh was a possibility.

    I’d rather have an angry, dirty player who is feared than this smiling dork with twigs for arms. And don’t give me this “disruptive” crap. No one ever got into the HOF because they were “disruptive.”

  2. Meh Says:

    Suh wasn’t really that great last year. McCoy could still be a better player if he can stay healthy. Odds are Suh will be better, but it is far from certain.

    The big question for McCoy is, can he stay healthy for a year?

  3. BigBear Says:

    @Adam Disruptive is the exact thing that all defense players are looking to be really. To disrupt the offense is the number one goal of any defense. Sacks are disruptive, ints are disruptive, forced fumbles are disruptive, tackles for loss are disruptive…. Every play that an offense runs that does not go according to plan has been disrupted in some way…So every defensive player in the hall of fame got there by being disruptive.

    McCoy gets in the backfield and changes the plays the offense wants to run. Hes not a great sack master but his play on first and second down at least gets us to third downs.

  4. MTM Says:

    If the defensive line chandeliers can stay healthy. It would definitely help the Bucs offense. The D-line seems to be a mash unit the last few years.

  5. ClayBURN94 Says:

    Thomas 2.2 knows more about football than Schiano and he thinks GMC SUCKS!! Boy I’d pick a pretend lawyers oppinon on a player than an Nfl Head coach’s oppinion any day of the week and twice on sunday. LOL THOMAS GTFO out here.

  6. teacherman777 Says:

    I dont why we forced Brian Price back to the field so early. He should have rehabbed longer. I think we may have destroyed his career by forcing him to play at 60%.

    I would really like to know how his health is, because I think he could be the key for this season.

  7. Joe Says:

    Thomas 2.2 knows more about football than Schiano and he thinks GMC SUCKS!!

    Funny. Usually anything about Raheem Morris or GMC flushes Thomas out of the brush quicker than a dog does a rabbit.

    No sign of Thomas (yet). He’s slipping. 🙂

  8. thegregwitul Says:

    He just needs to stay healthy, bottomline. GMC has shown flashes of his ability but he’ll be correctly labeled a bust regardless of his skill set if he can’t make it past the midway point (or less) of an NFL season.

    As for Brian Price, given his injury and subsequent recovery, I’m not too worried about him. He was solid last year and he appeared to be limited and building back his endurance during the season. Like McCoy, Price just needs to stay healthy, which is easier said than done, but I’m confident Sciano can turn the defense around in a hurry with proper coaching and conditioning.

    The linebackers still need to be addressed, as they are easily the most glaring weakness on the team. I like Hayward as a backup, Watson has potential and I feel Foster would excel away from the MIKE spot. Quincy Black looked worthless last season, but he’s not going anywhere this year, and for the contract he has, I feel it’s fair for Sciano to at least have the chance to evaluate and coach the player before cutting the cord. I’m not expecting any miracles, but who knows, maybe Black actually plays like a professional football player this season.

  9. Miguel Grande Says:

    Dominik can’t afford another bad draft. He better hope Kalil drops to #5 or he needs to trade down and get additional picks. Quantity, if you can’t draft quality. The problem with 1st round busts politically, is that the coach is forced to play them. The damage goes on and on until a new coach and GM can come in with new broom and sweep the team clean. We did not bring in a new GM and therefore the problem will persist.

    McCoy is the Gaines Adams of this team. Tweet that, Softy.

  10. Big Picture Guy Says:

    I think anyone can recognize GMC’s talent, and can recognize that just as he got injured the last 2 years, things were JUST starting to click. It’s unfortunate, but it can’t be happening anymore.

    You can’t hold injuries personally against someone, but in the end it still a part of an evaluation. If GMC continues to get injured, then tough. He’ll be a bust. But if these bionic biceps of his can stay healthy, he will really open up everything for Clayborne, Bowers, Price and Bennet.

  11. SteveK Says:

    EX LAX has “dominate force” potential.

  12. SteveK Says:

    GMC’s Grade so far:

    “D” for “Disruptive…..

  13. OB Says:

    Joe, Deacon Jones, who played for the Los Angeles Rams is in the HOF. He played before sacks were counted and the way he played was so feared, the NFL changed the rules outlawing head slaps. He was as disruptive of a DE that has ever been, next to him was Merlin Olson, a DT in the HOF, that came Rosevelt Green and Lamar Lundy, I don’t remember which one of them is in the HOF, but at least one of the is, Oh and they were known as the “Fearsome Foursome”, argueable the best DL line ever, but they were disruptive.

    As far as GMC is concerned, I believe I read an article that he had some defect in his upper arms and since they were fixed, the tears probably would not happen again. You or Pete would know more about this than me, so what do you guys know.

  14. Patrick Says:

    I don’t care about potential, I care about production.

  15. Bobby Says:

    McCoy absolutely produced when he was on the field and it’s just a matter of staying healthy. Same thing with Grimm. Both players really help our defense when they are in there but they do need to stay healthy.

  16. SensibleBuc Says:

    @ Bobby

    We talked about McCoy like last week and I mention that he needed to fix his uncontrolled pass rush moves. I’d say I was about 75% wrong after watching his 2010 highlights especially the Ravens game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-YP5QY_4ZA

    I leave the 25% in there because a) I’m a homer, b) it didn’t show his crappy plays and c) even on some of the good plays he either gets penetration but doesn’t breakdown, arm tackles a guy, the move he makes to get penetration is wild/inefficient, or the OL just lets him go by.

    It’s clear he has all the physical tools (I’d like him to get WAY bigger though) and even some legit technique. If he can stay healthy he can be just as good, if not better than Suh because of his athleticism. GMC hasn’t flashed as much as Suh thusfar because of the talent (or lack thereof) around him and the injuries.

  17. SensibleBuc Says:

    @ Joe

    I’m normally a chill dude but I absolutely can’t stand that GMC picture. Can you find a better one? LOL

  18. Capt. Tim Says:

    McCoy is already our best defensive player. It’s not even close.
    He never had injury issues before. Think he is simply trying to do to much. He’ll be fine, and will be a dominant player again

  19. SensibleBuc Says:

    Case in point about Suh and the talent surrounding him: Alot of the sacks in this clip are of the QB being flushed up inside the pocket due to pressure from DEs forcing them directly into Suh. If Clayborn/Bennett/Bowers can consistently get some pressure off the edges GMC’s sack #s will go up.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGnyGFEnCZ8

  20. Jarret Says:

    @ SensibleBuc

    Thank you! The face he gives in that picture makes him look like a d-bag, not a fearless d-lineman lol. Hopefully this season will give us plenty pics of GMC celebrating

  21. Mr. Patrick Says:

    @ teacherman777

    Agreed 100% on Price. He should have never hit the field last year and went directly to I.R. After coming off of the 10-6 season, Bucs had overrated their roster and coaching and wanted to get best players out on the field to try to win division. But Price’s injury and surgeries were horrific and I really hope the rush back to the field didnt do any lasting damage to a very young man’s career. I heard all the P.R. about how playing would help him heal if he could just play through all the pain. Well, I guess we’ll just wait and see.

  22. Oahubuc Says:

    I believe this is his year. And no, I didn’t believe that a year ago.

  23. Nate Says:

    IMO GMC is bust until hes pplays a full season.. His injuries were ridiculous pop warner stuff! Price i feel bad for.. we need dline help bad…

  24. rdbucfan Says:

    teacherman777 and Mr. Patrick,

    I agee about Price I think they rushed him back too soon. I actually liked him in the draft more than Price. I told everyone I know that I would have traded down if Suh wasn’t available and chosen Price. I didn’t think we could get them both. GMC needs to stay healthy all year and so does Grimm. I’ll be kind to Price because of the horrific injury he suffered. I hope his rehab is going well.

  25. Thomas2.2 Says:

    Schiano said: “I think he can be a dominant force.”

    Contrary to what Tim and others comprehend, he didn’t say “he is” a dominant force. He is not yet anything but a bust.

    Yes he has potential, I ave always said that. The potential has yet to materialize. Now that McCoy has legit coaching he has a better chance of improving, provided of course that he can stay off IR.

  26. Bobby Says:

    @SensibleBuc…..you seem to be the only one who thinks he has bad technique. The reason our sack totals went down after McCoy got injured is because he forced everything to the TE’s. He does need to work on technique
    just like every other player in the NFL but he is by far our best defensive player when he is healthy.

  27. Thomas2.2 Says:

    Bobby:

    Rahrah called his fundamentals “pop warner” like last year. So, sensible isnt the only one to question him. Also, I believe that Millard said when he got here in 2011 that GMC was basically a mess technique-wise.

    Remember he only played 5 games last year and I think 2 of those were partial games. So last year was a small small sampling.

  28. Hawaiian Buc Says:

    GMC has played only a little over one full season, so it is incorrect to say he is great, just as it is incorrect to say he is a bust. When healthy, he has done some good things. Not great, but good. However, I don’t really expect greatness to happen that early, especially at his position. Not everyone is Suh (however, it can be argued that Suh hurt his team far more than he helped them last year).

    I must have missed the posts where Thomas said GMC has potential. Maybe it got lost in all the times you’ve called him “softy” and every other nickname you would never say to his face (a real man doesn’t call another man a name unless he would be willing to say it to his face). As for his technique, I’d be more concerned if his technique was good at this point in his career, because that would mean far less growth. His technique will improve, and he will be a dominant force for us. Then maybe, just maybe, we can mention his name without Thomas chiming in repeating himself (what a great day that would be).

  29. Thomas2.2 Says:

    Fairly objective Hawaiian.

  30. Hawaiian Buc Says:

    Ha ha I try!!!

  31. Twodog Says:

    McCoy chooses to look like a moran.
    What the hell kind of leadership is that?

  32. Bobby Says:

    @twodog……only a ‘moron’ would use the word ‘moran’…..
    Sorry dude, you set yourself up for that one. ;>)

  33. Bobby Says:

    Noone ever said that McCoys technique was Pop Warner except Thomas. LOL! Sometimes the truth gets beyond stretched here. You don’t get drafted at #3 and projected by some as the top DT in the draft by having ‘bad technique’ or ‘pop warner fundamentals’. Do you guys even read what you post? It’s just beyond stupid how you can actually believe this stuff. It’s like the guys who say Claiborne can’t play in the NFL because of his wonderlic score. I keep saying go back and look at the tape of McCoy. You’ll see why the defense was so bad when he went down. You’ll also see why the defense will be so much better this year with him healthy. You’ll be the same guys trying to say “Wow! McCoy has really improved since last year!” I’ll be here to remind you of all your dumb comments.

  34. Capt. Tim Says:

    No again Thomas. Not what was said
    But then again, you struggled so hard to Grasp what a ” leading Reciever” was- even though the NFL as defined it the same since inception.
    Grow smarter, and then we’ll discuss futher.

  35. Capt. Tim Says:

    Now what does Hawaiian know about what a real man would do? Or Thomas- for that matter?

  36. Hawaiian Buc Says:

    ^I know that if I saw you in person, I wouldn’t hesitate to tell you to your face everything I’ve typed.

  37. Hawaiian Buc Says:

    …..and if you are bigger than me, you will see how fast my 40 time is!