Down On Gerald McCoy?
July 2nd, 2014
NFL players voted and named Gerald McCoy the best defensive tackle in the game and pegged him as the 28th best overall player, via the NFL Network Top 100 players list.
But a premier NFL analyst will have none of that.
The former Jets linebackers coach under Monte Kiffin who later became a Jets personnel chief — before joining the ranks of CBS Sports and SiriusXM NFL Radio — Pat Kirwan believes McCoy is not in the same league as Ndamukong Suh and sits a few steps behind other peers.
26. Ndamukong Suh, DT, Lions:A dominating inside force that enables the Lions to just rush four.
38.Geno Atkins, DT, Bengals:Great “3 techniques” are hard to find and even harder to develop.
39.Haloti Ngata, DT,Ravens:He’s getting older and staying healthy is getting tougher for him, but he is a force on the line.
42. Gerald McCoy, DT, Buccaneers:Some would argue he’s the best interior lineman. Lovie Smith will push him.
Joe will dive into this subject more tomorrow, but what makes it all especially interesting now is how the Bengals’ Atkins signed a five-year, $54 million contract extension before last season. But it only had $20 million guaranteed and was heavy on big, non-guaranteed cash in 2018.
Bucs general manager Jason Licht admitted he’s in contract-extension negotiations with McCoy in June. Is Licht trying to give McCoy an Atkins-like deal, trying to sell McCoy’s camp that he’s only on Atkins’ level?
Atkins had two Pro Bowls and All-Pro nods under his belt before getting his deal. He’s also the same age as McCoy and has been to the playoffs numerous times while anchoring top-10 defenses.
What potentially makes things sticky at the negotiating table is that McCoy will, in 2014, finish his five-year, $63 million rookie contract after being the No. 3 overall pick in 2010. That was before the rookie salary cap era kicked in. So giving McCoy an Atkins-like contract would represent a pay cut, even if that’s his market value.
The Bucs are sitting with a pile of cash right now under the 2014 salary cap, cash they can use to make McCoy happy immediately while maintaining a workable salary for him in future years.
It’s quite a chess game. If McCoy decides to play wait and see on Suh’s new deal in Detroit, then the Bucs might have to bite off a massive chunk of change.
Get it done now, Mr. Licht!
July 2nd, 2014 at 11:35 am
I would say Suh is not in McCoy’s league. Mainly because McCoy does not have the target on him like Suh does for being a dumbass on the field.
July 2nd, 2014 at 11:42 am
Yea Derick, I agree. Plus, they really are 2 different players, at least in style. Because I’m a die-hard homer, I’ll take GMC over Suh any day. I think his last couple of years have been very productive and he seems to be getting better. Throw in that he was surrounded by average talent while Suh had pro-bowl caliber line-mates.
He’s gonna get paid, that’s for sure!
July 2nd, 2014 at 12:07 pm
Ngata over McCoy? And Kirwan is an NFL analyst?
July 2nd, 2014 at 12:12 pm
And not a single **** was given.
July 2nd, 2014 at 12:18 pm
Kirwan had Kuechly at 6 and no Lavonte David. He must’ve asked somebody who watches a lot of ESPN to help him make this list. Kuechly made a bunch of tackles 10 yards down field; David disrupted plays. Too many guys writing about the NFL who don’t bother watching a lot of games.
July 2nd, 2014 at 12:18 pm
Wonder how much Kiffin is getting paid under the table to downgrade GMC….make him worth less….probably won’t work.
McCoy won’t have to pay state income tax……Suh, in Detroit (bankrupt)….no telling how much he’ll have to cough up to prop up the corrupted city.
July 2nd, 2014 at 12:43 pm
As a long time supporter/defender of Gerald McCoy. This will only serve as more billboard material for the young man. Gerald trains extremely hard in the offseason-so greatness is on the menu.
There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.
-Colin Powell-
July 2nd, 2014 at 12:59 pm
Obviously Kirwan has never seen Gerald in his “Batman” costume!
July 2nd, 2014 at 1:04 pm
Note:
Gerald McCoy attended Southeast High School in Oklahoma City. Where as a Junior he was named All-area, all-state and all-metro after he registered 83 tackles, mind you 23 of those tackles were for loss and 20 sacks. As a Senior at Southeast High School in Oklahoma City he registered 82 tackles, 20 sacks and nine fumble recoveries.
He was considered by EVERY SINGLE LAST RECRUITING PUBLICATION-AS A BLUE CHIP 5*****PROSPECT, CONSENSUS BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER IN THE NATION.
So when you here GMC say he couldn’t tackle, meh. Maybe not up to Schiano’s standards. But clearly he was doing something right, or he would’ve never garnered such attention. Shout outs to @ToddDurkin (Physical Trainer Extraordinaire) down in SD. He’s the one we gotta give homage for turning GMC around; not Schiano.
Gerald McCoy havin’ fun w/ his Explosiveness (2011)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW30fd0L5sE
NFL D-Lineman Gerald McCoy talks Conditioning with Todd Durkin (2012)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm-kd2FLLc0
Now in that last video-He said his goal was to be “COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR” (Published on Mar 9, 2012). Clearly the man was putting in some serious work, waaaaay before training camp started last year.
July 2nd, 2014 at 1:08 pm
List is garbage if Lavonte David didn’t even make it.
July 2nd, 2014 at 1:12 pm
The list is trash…Top 100 and no Lavonte David…pure BS.
July 2nd, 2014 at 1:29 pm
Always be yourself! Unless, you can be Batman….Then be Batman!
July 2nd, 2014 at 1:34 pm
I’ve heard some stupid analysis from Pat before, but this tops the cake. 1st of all, those other DTs are surrounded by many other very good pass rushers. Secondly, they also play for some of the best defensive coaches. If MJ has to be double teamed then McCoy will easily have 16 sacks this year. Especially with the coaching and scheme he now has.
July 2nd, 2014 at 1:47 pm
McCoy is not the best in the game. Suh is.
McCoy does not stike fear in opponents.
It’s probably unfair, but to me the gold standard is Sapp, and McCaoy is not even near his level. He has the talent.
but he does not have the sacks, the nasty, the swagger or the sense of when to go for the kill like sapp and simeon did. maybe one day, but not this year IMO
July 2nd, 2014 at 1:51 pm
LUVMYBUCS… What would Colin Powell know about success? You mean successfully lying about Iraq WMD’s? Helping to push death and destruction upon millions … OK enough of the political chatter. –Joe
July 2nd, 2014 at 1:59 pm
Not a message board. Joe let the last links in because they were football, but even Joe frowns on that typically. –Joe
July 2nd, 2014 at 2:00 pm
Opinions are like ***holes, everybody has one. Kirwan gets paid to spout this stuff, makes you wonder about the people paying for it.
I don’t care what ranking any of our guys have. I really don’t. I want wins. They do too. And McCoy will get paid, I’m sure.
July 2nd, 2014 at 2:24 pm
JL. Does not want to fu@k with McCoy other teams will pay him. We need Gerald.
July 2nd, 2014 at 2:33 pm
Suh is a one trick pony, who has still not developed past the bull rush…he might do better as a 3-4 DE then in his current underT/3T position.
July 2nd, 2014 at 2:59 pm
Wait till we can win more than 4 games a season for a couple of seasons, Kirwan will be singing songs about McCoy. It’s too bad that most boneheads only judge a players worth according to the teams win/loss record. It’s like F@#K the intangibles, his team sucks, so he sucks.
July 2nd, 2014 at 2:59 pm
Joe
If you were grading Pat Kirwan and saying he missed two for sure, GMC and David, and got all the rest, he would score 98%, he missed two. But since a team is made up of many players where team work is key, is Suh behavior better for the team than GMC’s? I don’t think so, plus you never know when he is going to get stupid and do something dumb that will cause him to be suspended.
However the picks are individuals and he still missed at least two. I think I heard him yesterday say he blew it on David by not picking him because he had, I believe 50 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
July 2nd, 2014 at 4:05 pm
We could argue the player is a product of the system or the system is a product of its players all day.
Some guys thrive in certain offenses/defenses, some don’t. Case in point, Ronde is knocking on the door at Canton but wasn’t deemed desirable as a man press corner. “System cover 2 guy”
That’s the problem with the top 100 list. Much of it depends on the what scheme, what team and with whom.
That said, LVD would thrive on 31 other teams. Another glaring snub.
July 2nd, 2014 at 5:35 pm
A little late to the party, but a lot of great comments on this thread, starting at the top. Gerald will show him, not a doubt in mind.
#ZeroF*~ks
July 2nd, 2014 at 6:47 pm
This constant snubbing of LVD is over the top. Kirwan needs to be canned IMHO. We need to start a Promote LVD campaign and go national.
More importantly, the Bucs need to win and LVD needs to be a big reason. I dare anyone to snub then.
LONG LIVE LVD!
July 2nd, 2014 at 7:28 pm
Who gives a damn what these “analysts” say? Their opinion means squat. None of it matters if you don’t do it on the field. Suh? What a joke. That guy is a suspension waiting to happen.
July 2nd, 2014 at 7:47 pm
If you click on the article, there’s a video debate about halfway down between Prisco and Kirwan on McCoy or Suh. They both make nice arguments, but really they both seem to respect each player. As far as rankings, I’m pretty sure Gerald will give his response over the next 16 regular season games.
July 2nd, 2014 at 8:57 pm
Whelp majority votes he is the best 😉
Too bad Patty
July 2nd, 2014 at 9:18 pm
I would put him above Ngata and either close to or tied with Atkins. That’s still very good. Wouldn’t surprises me if he surpasses Atkins and is on the same level as Suh once Lovie works his magic.
July 2nd, 2014 at 10:07 pm
The guy is already the best 3 technique in the league, he’s already gained the vote as the best DT in the league from the players. This season he’ll show the world.
July 2nd, 2014 at 10:13 pm
I love gmc. But the only reason McCoy was number 1 DT graded out and nfl top 100 is bc Atkins tore his acl. Atkins is the best from what I’ve seen. McCoy has recently shown his development and is the #2 DT but I wouldn’t say he’s hands down far and alone in another league from suh. They’re both great players but he’s done more recently with less than suh.
I’ll admit I was skeptical of McCoy. I wasn’t as impressed the first two injury riddled years and I didn’t think he deserved a pro bowl nod in 2012 bc he didn’t perform against better teams. 2013 he jumped off the radar and wrecked havoc.
July 2nd, 2014 at 10:25 pm
clafollett Says:
July 2nd, 2014 at 6:47 pm
This constant snubbing of LVD is over the top. Kirwan needs to be canned IMHO. We need to start a Promote LVD campaign and go national.
More importantly, the Bucs need to win and LVD needs to be a big reason. I dare anyone to snub then.
LONG LIVE LVD!
——————————————_
I couldn’t agree more. I have Lavonte David as the best 4-3 LB in the game right now. He deserved to be in the DPOY running. Keuchly has no business in that conversation as DPOY and best lb in the game. That guy is Barrett Ruud making tackles down the field. David is a terror for offenses. He just shoots gaps and makes plays. He’s a playmaker and is all over the place. These analysts are flat out missing the big picture with under rating him.
July 2nd, 2014 at 10:53 pm
I would take McCoy over Suh any day. Duh is a dirty player. McCoy is a character guy. Both are amazing athletes.
July 2nd, 2014 at 10:54 pm
Was that a Freudian slip?
July 2nd, 2014 at 11:48 pm
When the Buc’s win their second SB, the pundits will change their tune! We have the talent and coaches to get there now. It is just a matter of time. Can’t wait til the pads go on this year!
July 3rd, 2014 at 12:27 am
I’ve said this before but if our offense can sustain drives and keep our defense rested then I project more production from our d. The lions offense ranked 6h I believe keeping their d rested more. I think the Bucs were 32nd last year in time of possession. I think GMC will blow it up in the new defense. Suh<GMC
July 3rd, 2014 at 10:04 am
Joe and LUVMYBUCS… Sorry for the political jabs. I won’t let that happen again. GO BUCS!
July 3rd, 2014 at 8:14 pm
You want to see LVD get attention?
Then the Bucs need to make the playoffs. These national media guys only watch playoff games. The rest they watch highlights. And since the Bucs l lose so much, there are not a lot of highlights out there.
Same with McCoy.
He needs double digit sacks as well. Sapp had a ton of them by this point in his career. I thought he was going to hit double digits last year, but they negated a sack because of a penalty and he had to split the last one.
July 4th, 2014 at 10:18 am
Bucs were 4-12. Nobody deserves a trophy, ribbon, praise, or accolades.