Defending Gerald McCoy
October 11th, 2015
Popular sports radio personality Chris “Mad Dog” Russo continued his attacks on Gerald McCoy.
For some reason, Bucs fans love to go after talented defensive tackle Gerald McCoy. For some reason, they think he should be getting 20 sacks a year.
Maybe it is his personality. Maybe it is his not-quite-Hall-of-Fame numbers, but GMC irritates many Bucs fans.
But there is no segment of society that freaks out about Gerald McCoy quite like guys who make a living behind a microphone. Locally, former Bucs guard Ian Beckles has lashed out at GMC for years. It almost seems as if Beckles has a personal ax to grind with GMC.
Nationally, the one and only Chris “Mad Dog” Russo is one who thinks GMC hardly lives up to his billing. Russo has made his feelings about GMC known. And last week, while hosting the “Custodian of Canton,” eye-RAH! Kaufman of the The Tampa Tribune, on this channel that bears his name, “Mad Dog Radio,” heard exclusively on SiriusXM Radio, Russo went all in again on GMC.
Chris “Mad Dog” Russo: Speaking of linemen, how’s your overrated Gerald McCoy doing? Has he made a tackle yet?
eye-RAH! Kaufman: (Pause)(Guffaws) Chris, you are loaded for bear today my friend.
Russo: Oh, he is so overrated. Oh, he is so overrated.
Kaufman: C’mon Chris, he’s playing with a bum shoulder.
Russo: Aaawww… stop with these injuries! Please, I can’t evaluate these players with these injuries! Isn’t he overrated?
Kaufman: I don’t think he is overrated. I don’t. He’s got more sacks than any other defensive tackle the last three or four years. His first two years were undermined by biceps injuries. Chris, give the guy a break. He’s a good player on a bad football team.
eye-RAH! is right. Ask 25 other teams if they want GMC, and the general managers would think Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht wants a first-round draft pick and two cheerleaders in return.
GMC is the best 43 defensive tackle going, with the possible exception of Geno Atkins. And, yes, GMC is better than Ndamukong Suh, who is stealing from Stephen Ross. Suh signed that monster contract and has laid down ever since.
No, GMC may not be a Hall of Famer. He isn’t Warren Sapp. But he’s a good player, that’s for sure.
October 11th, 2015 at 8:14 am
GMC = OVERATED
October 11th, 2015 at 8:20 am
when you are 2-14 and now 1-3 going into the game, its almost impossible to think we have ANY really good players. We do: Vincent Jackson, Gerald McCoy, LaVonte David and Doug Martin. Sadly, L&L with high draft picks, trades, and TONS of money to spend in free agency haven’t brought any new starts since Dominik/Schiano…
October 11th, 2015 at 8:22 am
Watch yo mouth boy
October 11th, 2015 at 8:23 am
There is also a very visible trend with GMC…
When GMC is in the game the D- line plays average
butttttttt……
When we substitute for him…SUDDENLEY! the D -line comes to life and a burst of energy and fire returns!
GMC is like an anchor holding the defense back
October 11th, 2015 at 8:33 am
McCoy’s problem, if you can call it ‘his’ problem, is that he isn’t a bad a$$. He’s doesn’t fit the stereotype ‘we’ want. Fans want James Harrison, they want ornery Suh. He makes plays every game… People then complain they aren’t ‘impact’ the plays… Well when you’re down 20pts it’s hard to make a game saving sack. ‘We’ are still waiting for McCoy to take out two Hall of Famers in the same game…
October 11th, 2015 at 8:37 am
The Bucs have many problems and GMC isn’t one of them. I agree….a team that is 3-17 in it’s last 20 games can’t possibly have any good players.
October 11th, 2015 at 8:37 am
I agree with Mad Dog. Overrated. And the only reason he’s on the field right now is because pride is keeping him there. He doesn’t want to be on the IR for the third time.
October 11th, 2015 at 8:38 am
I’d rather have him than to see him beast for a contender.
October 11th, 2015 at 8:41 am
Don’t act like some other franchise wouldn’t appreciate those 8-10 sacks a year from a DT. His numbers would probably be higher on a quality team.
October 11th, 2015 at 8:42 am
GMC is our teams best player. He is brilliant.
If we add more talent to the D he shines even more next year.
October 11th, 2015 at 8:48 am
I like GMC too. If I was knocked down out on the street and he was around I would appreciate him helping me up. Classy guy.
October 11th, 2015 at 9:13 am
Ok…let’s see how well McCoy does today at home against the Jags.
October 11th, 2015 at 9:20 am
To those who call him “overrated”, what is your ” rating system??? Personally speaking I think he is a little over hyped but his numbers are solid enough to rate him as one of the best guys at his position in the league!!!
The hype has him as a game changer… So its fair to say he is not that YET… Out side of his numbers and hype… Part of a players “rating” is how good of a teammate he is and if he makes others around him better…. Regardless if the guys around him get the numbers they should (that’s on them not Mac) he is a class act and IMO he is the perfect kind of guy to represent me and my city…. If he was Sapp in this situation he would be demanding a trade and making things worste…. GMC is not even close to the issue with this team… He is consistent and will eventually be a huge part of turning thing around here…. What more could you want (other than real fans) from a team?!?!
October 11th, 2015 at 9:20 am
The perception locally and especially nationally (whether real or not) is that this team is physically & mentally weak. If this is reality who do you turn to? The leaders of the team & coaching. Through three coaches now this has been the one constant. Lack of fire and motivation in all three phases of the game for over ten years now is my biggest concern. Are all three coaches down right terrible or is the national consensus right that these players are physically & mentally weak?
October 11th, 2015 at 9:25 am
Lots of bad players on the team but GMC ain’t one of them
October 11th, 2015 at 9:30 am
I got no beef with GMC the player. I have a problem with GMC the leader. Even if he were just a captain I’d be fine with him. But this is “Dini’s Team” and this team is mentally weak and cannot rally. I mean cmon, Deflated after the first play of the first game of the season and can’t re-energize? That situation should the be the easiest possible situation to for a leader to unfunk the team. But instead he’s over swapping recipes with the other team!
October 11th, 2015 at 10:17 am
The issue is that GMC isn’t Sapp, and that’s what Bucs fans were expecting. Just like Lovie isn’t Dungy, LaVonte isn’t Brooks, Jaquies isn’t Simeon, Banks isn’t Barber, and Conte isn’t Lynch. Bucs fans were spoiled by having one of the best defenses in NFL history, that’s not likely to happen again.
October 11th, 2015 at 10:23 am
@joe
Aaron Donald is now the best 3 tech in the league. 22tackles 3.5 sacks. No injuries. Ha
In all fairness gmc had his best game last week. Dare I say best game in 2 years but he ain’t got nothing on Aaron Donald.
October 11th, 2015 at 11:15 am
GMC is not the type to make the entire defense better. He is not a leader like Sapp. With that said, neither is anyone else on the entire roster! Except maybe a rookie qb. Its like people see Mccoys new contract and want his head on a platter. 18sack
October 11th, 2015 at 11:26 am
IF McCoy is a problem, and I’m certain he isn’t, I think addressing that problem has to rank dead last on our priority list. GMC is a top-5 DT by any measure. Any team would be thrilled to have him.
October 11th, 2015 at 11:54 am
GMC is a great DT.
He is NOT a leader of men, and he almost never makes any plays in crunch time. He does NOT play with passion or fire.
You can’t argue this.
Siege this!
Go Sucs!!!
October 11th, 2015 at 12:54 pm
Ban them I pit you. I truly do that you have time to troll the way you do. How bout getting a job, maybe even a life. Enjoy the game dudes