Top Ten X-Factors For 2016 – No. 10
July 6th, 2016
The Bucs have a pile of key question marks entering the 2016 season. Most teams do.
For this countdown series, Joe looks at this year’s top X-factors, guys with question marks who could be great difference-makers, positive or negative, based on changes in their performances.
Gerald McCoy — No. 10
It was a no-brainer to place Gerald McCoy on this list. But that’s not because Joe embraces the McCoy haters who think he stinks, and/or whine and seethe because McCoy isn’t Hall of Fame material.
Joe puts McCoy here because at 28 years old, McCoy absolutely in his prime entering his seventh NFL season, and McCoy has the talent to be a unstoppable force, a 15-sack guy.
However, McCoy has yet to have that type of true breakthrough season, one that would put him in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year honors. A season like that would have a tremendous impact on the entire Bucs defense, especially in Year 1 under a new coordinator.
Don’t think McCoy is thinking about it? Consider what he said last year about getting 15 sacks.
July 6th, 2016 at 10:32 am
With a ton of upgraded talent there is no reason NOT to believe he can be a force this year.
Go get ’em #93!
July 6th, 2016 at 11:13 am
Just stay healthy!!!!
July 6th, 2016 at 11:14 am
I’ve been skeptical of 93 but I really think THIS is the year he goes off. With Ayers and Spence on the edges, he’ll get less attention.
July 6th, 2016 at 11:32 am
Primetime GMC, your year to showcase your shinola.
July 6th, 2016 at 12:13 pm
He’s good but not sapp 15? Dt
July 6th, 2016 at 1:09 pm
Now or the excuses must stop!
July 6th, 2016 at 1:36 pm
I don’t care what the persons name is just get 15 sacks. McCoy’s track record does not inspire any hope. What McCoy has done is not cutting it. McCoy will make one play and live off the emotions of that one play for the entirety of the game. If he does not make the one play, he is okay with it because he is hurt. NJ Watts will have a broken arm and still get 20 sacks.
July 6th, 2016 at 2:11 pm
Will never understand the McCoy hate. He’s a freaking DT not a QB. And one of the best DTs in the league. I seriously have no freaking idea what you guys are expecting but it isn’t realistic. I repeat: He’s a DT. Not a QB. I get hating the smiling I guess but that’s like where everyone entire argument hinges. Omg he does’t get 50 sacks per game and impact EVERY play. No d lineman does.
Unrealistic delusional expectations.
Aaron Donald plays with some of the best defensive talent around him in the entire league. Meanwhile McCoy has played with some of the worst. Those comparisons make me laugh. Meanwhile Aaron Donald isn’t winning sh1t for the Rams; much like all other DTs aren’t able to single handily win games.
Look at the most heralded defensive players and they are typically on teams with a lot of supporting help. Von Miller played on one of the best lines in the league. JJ Watt has always been part of an all around solid group.
Point me to a DT that is playing on a team with weak talent around him that has somehow been what you expect McCoy to be. It doesn’t exist.
July 6th, 2016 at 2:16 pm
Lol Lord that was a terrific, well thought out, and a very true rant.
July 6th, 2016 at 2:57 pm
Agree Buccanneers. Good rant Lord C.
I remember Alvin Harper looking good in Dallas playing along side Irvin. Then he comes here to be #1 and he’s a bust.
I can’t wait to see GMC this year. I hope he stays healthy. Then he should really produce! Much better DC…great DL coach…improvement on the back end means he might get another half second to get a sack…and the rest of the DL is now solid.
July 6th, 2016 at 3:01 pm
Excellent job there: Lord Cornelius
July 6th, 2016 at 3:17 pm
Licht, Koetter and Smith would take Donald over McCoy any day of the week so please stop pretending.
July 6th, 2016 at 3:35 pm
McCoy gets hurt because he is doing the dirty in the trenches.Many people dis him for that.This regime sees his potential so they signed him to a long term contract too many fans chagrin.Gotta give bucs credit to trying to ride
out the injuries.More than can I say for Chuckie and Bruce Allen who let Sapp walk after he got similar injuries to his shoulder.
July 6th, 2016 at 3:38 pm
Hey BFFL, can you look into that crystal ball and tell me what the winning lotto numbers will be today?!
I promise you Donald would not fare any better on the defenses we’ve fielded over the last few years.
I don’t understand Buc “fans”! We’re seemingly never supportive of our own players. “He’s this” and “he can’t do that.” My personal favorite “he doesn’t want to win”! Seriously people?! Can we just support our team?
July 6th, 2016 at 3:46 pm
“Licht, Koetter and Smith would take Donald over McCoy any day of the week so please stop pretending.”
Well the guy is 3 years younger so that seems prudent on the surface. Regardless McCoy has put up Donald-like numbers multiple seasons on a much worse front 7. I’m sure McCoy would have loved playing with guys like Robert Quinn, Chris Long, & Michael Brockers.
Seriously – those 3 guys that Aaron Donald plays next to are better than any single player McCoy has ever played with. It’s not even close. If you don’t think that makes a difference then you’re not living in reality.
It’s one thing to have a negative take on a player and be educated. The most confusing thing I see is hating on your own teams players with blind ignorance
July 6th, 2016 at 4:06 pm
Lord Cornelius
let me turn it around show me an elite defender who does not make the players around them better….gmc sure doesn’t…. George Johnson was serviceable in Detroit and did nothing playing with the great gmc…
its all irrelevant anyway gmc will be on IR by week seven
July 6th, 2016 at 4:19 pm
tmaxcon Says
“…show me an elite defender who does not make the players around them better…”
That doesn’t cut it.
Look, one player cannot do it all. Two players can’t do it all. If the talent isn’t there, it isn’t there.
Three players? Maybe they can tip the balance. GMC and LVD were forced to hold the defense up. The addition of Kwon made a huge difference.
With him back and at least two defensive starters added this year through the draft, and hopefully at least 1 good defensive free agent, GMC will be freed up to get those 10+ sacks.
10+ is a milestone. He may get more than that (I hope).
July 6th, 2016 at 4:21 pm
Lol, you guys comparing McCoy to Sapp And Watt are funny. Sapp had Simeon and Watt plays different position. McCoy has had no help at all during his years here. If you say Bennett was here just remember he is average for a DE and no where near what Rice meant playing With Sapp.Just can wait to see what his game will be like with a lititle outside help finally.
July 6th, 2016 at 4:26 pm
Agree with Lord C.When Clinton Macdonald got injured, henry melton, Tony macdaniel and da’quan bowers played next to McCoy.No comparison to any
the good D- lines lines in the league.Believe Gholston played inside also and while he is good run stopper at DE he was probably miscast since he gave up 20-25lbs to the person blocking him.
July 6th, 2016 at 5:21 pm
28 is some peoples prime? I’m 27 and I can barley walk. I never even played high level football. How do these guys do it?
July 6th, 2016 at 7:44 pm
Didn’t Old Softie play next to the much heralded Michael Bennett?
July 6th, 2016 at 10:40 pm
Will never understand the McCoy hate. – cuz he’s Charmin and disappears after the first qrt.
He’s a DT. Not a QB. – but he acts like a QB with all those smiles and he can’t play DT bc he hurt his hand. Seriously what DT has ever sat bc of an injured hand? Rub some dirt on it sugarplum.
Aaron Donald isn’t winning sh1t for the Rams; – yet it looked like he singlehandedly whooped our @ss last year. Did you not see him chuck Logan Mankins with one hand a suplex Martin with the other on 4&1 after he punked our messiah.
Point me to a DT that is playing on a team with weak talent around him that has somehow been what you expect McCoy to be. – sen’derrick marks Jax 2014 had 44 tackles ten more than me nice guy, 8.5 sacks same as McCoy and plays next to Brian price, hmm interesting. I can find more with more if you want.
Regardless McCoy has put up Donald-like numbers multiple seasons on a much worse front 7. – never once has McCoy recorded 69 tackles and 11 sacks. Never once!
And as for Donald’s supporting cast I assume you’re referring to Quinn who was on IR last year. Oh yes of course Chris long with his 3 sacks who was resigned by the Rams bc of his excellent play – oh wait.
Blind ignorance indeed Lord C – blind ignorance indeed. You defending a grown ass man that spends most his time playing with action figures, c’mon bro.
July 6th, 2016 at 10:43 pm
Lol I love poking holes in all your lame as defenses.
July 7th, 2016 at 8:01 am
@DB55
C’mon Bro
Unless you have played DT in tackle for a season NFL,with a torn rotator cuff and later a broken hand,can’t see how anybodies qualified to call him soft.
He did play through the season with these injuries.So what if played in the pro bowl,it is not a real game and most don’t even watch it.Its become a chance to take the family to a Hawaii for a vacation.
side note,glad to see Brian Price is pl;aying after those devastating injuries.
Just more proof that playing DT is one of the most dangerous positions on the field.
July 7th, 2016 at 8:58 am
Mike Smiths idea of getting the defense off the field. is the opposite of what Lovie tried to do.Defense was on the field too much.Tired players make more mistakes and get injured more.This is Fl.and the heat and humidity sap the snot out of you.Lovie did not take chances on offense even if we had momentum.So the defense came back on the field after three and outs too much.with the tweeks Lovie made on the defense,it was pushed all all over the field.Koetter’s go for it mentality should also help the defense rest,play smart,and get injured less.
July 7th, 2016 at 9:08 am
Are u sure a your a bucs fan DB55? Sounds like you m your buddy Tmax are wearing your panther jerseys while sitting in front of your computer. Aren’t fans suppose to support there players and team n not bash every positive thing that’s said about your so called fav team. I just don’t get all the hate that you guys put into your posts. Bucs don’t need or want fans like that. Lord C nailed it n u know it.
July 7th, 2016 at 9:11 am
@DB55
Never seen a fan that takes pride in bashing his own team. U sound real proud of yourself. Lol. That’s pretty sad.
July 7th, 2016 at 11:21 am
Demboyz
this is what really irks me we sit here bashing EVERYBODY but bash mr smiley face and you wrong for that.
Evans is ky hands, LVD is mentally weak, Jameis? Let me not even go there (last years comments), banks, Barron, ASJ, the list goes on and on. Why is gmc so off limits yet everyone else is fair game? That just BS.
Evans is the best WR TB has or might here have, LVD according to Brooks is on Brooks level but we still take shots at them so save me your “real fan” bs and look at the facts.
July 7th, 2016 at 11:24 am
Btw I don’t think you find a negative comment from me unless it’s about Lovie or gmc. I get beat up for sticking up for guys like Barron, Glennon, Martin but I guess that don’t matter cuz it’s not gmc. Man WAKE UP!
July 7th, 2016 at 11:32 am
Bob
Obviously haven’t played in the NFL but I did play with a torn rotator cuff in hs. Got the injury sliding into 3rd base and kept playing with it when football season started. Hurt like hell. I played MLB and WR go figure. I remember getting tackled and dislocating it every time. And as I’ve mentioned before I’ve broken fingers during flag football and still kept playing. So if I can deal with the pain and play for free and can’t understand getting paid millions and whining about a hand injury. Give me a break.
July 7th, 2016 at 11:53 am
“cuz he’s Charmin and disappears after the first qrt.”
Ok coach lmao.
“He’s a DT. Not a QB. – but he acts like a QB with all those smiles and he can’t play DT bc he hurt his hand. Seriously what DT has ever sat bc of an injured hand? Rub some dirt on it sugarplum.”
He doesn’t act like a QB you weirdo. He acts like an NFL player lol. QBs are the only people who can smile? What world do you live in? I learned today that smiling = playing Quarterback.
“Aaron Donald isn’t winning sh1t for the Rams; – yet it looked like he singlehandedly whooped our @ss last year. Did you not see him chuck Logan Mankins with one hand a suplex Martin with the other on 4&1 after he punked our messiah.”
Yeah dude is a beast but he is not the reason they beat us. That game was over after our defense let Case Keenum rip us to shreds. Aaron Donald had an impact but so did every other Rams player in that game basically. They destroyed us on both sides of the ball in multiple facets.
“Point me to a DT that is playing on a team with weak talent around him that has somehow been what you expect McCoy to be. – sen’derrick marks Jax 2014 had 44 tackles ten more than me nice guy, 8.5 sacks same as McCoy and plays next to Brian price, hmm interesting. I can find more with more if you want.”
LMAO! So you are envious of Sen’derrick Marks and a defense that was even worse than ours last year? Ok buddy! HAHA. You would take that over McCoy? That’s all I need to know.
“Regardless McCoy has put up Donald-like numbers multiple seasons on a much worse front 7. – never once has McCoy recorded 69 tackles and 11 sacks. Never once!”
True. I guess 9.5 sacks is pretty terrible. He’s never had that many tackles for sure but he doesn’t play the run-stuffing role. Gerald McCoy has been 1st team all-pro though – and that’s not a popularity contest. This guy was voted the best at his position that year by everyone who follows the game. But you’d rather have the dude from Jville. lmao
“And as for Donald’s supporting cast I assume you’re referring to Quinn who was on IR last year. Oh yes of course Chris long with his 3 sacks who was resigned by the Rams bc of his excellent play – oh wait.”
Robert Quinn played in 8 games last year and 16 in the prior year with Donald. He’s one of the best DEs in the league lol. And you ignore MIchael Brockers – a 25 year old premium 1st round pick DT next to Donald. How convenient. And don’t forget Nick Fairley who is talented and had a decent year too. THat D-line is insanely better than what McCoy has had next to him and anyone who argues otherwise is being blind & ignorant.
July 7th, 2016 at 11:58 am
“Why is gmc so off limits yet everyone else is fair game? That just BS.”
He’s not off limits it’s just stupid to hate on him. I think it’s stupid to hate on pretty much all the players you listed. The only players I think it’s worth hating on are the ones you would want released from the team or traded. I don’t feel that way about any of those guys.
I agree about Mike Evans. I think he’s easily the most talented WR this team has ever had. Even with his drops last year he gave us great production and was the only reason we had a lot of scoring drives due to making some big plays. He needs to catch the ball more but whatever what is the altnerative – cut him and have a really sh1tty WR cast?
Same with Lavonte. Guy is a beast. Excited to see him in a better scheme.
In general hating on the better players on our team seems just really really dumb to me. I just don’t get it. I get hating on Mike Jenkins & players that are seriously just terrible. I wanted those guys released lol.
July 7th, 2016 at 12:04 pm
Well said Sir Cornelius………Harumph!
July 7th, 2016 at 12:08 pm
You said to point to a DT doing thing while surrounded by nobody’s. Mark was just an example. One of many I’m sure.
July 7th, 2016 at 12:22 pm
@db
ok so you got grit Respect that.still McCoy does play injured against the best grown ass men there is and having both shoulder injury and hand broken doesn’t give you much ability to grasp or fend off people,and he didn’t even admit the shoulder was hurt till weeks later.
So it sounds like it a 27 million question for the last few years,I questioned that too due to his injuries to that point.A lot of the good DT suffer serious injuries in their career to me its nature of the beast.Hard to bet on a long career in the trenches.
to be fair,i agree that Evans takes too much heat.also don’t think it McCoys fault he gets paid so much or even gets injuries.I wish he gets healthy because we finally have more than 2 or 3 good defensive players on the team.
July 7th, 2016 at 12:31 pm
“You said to point to a DT doing thing while surrounded by nobody’s. Mark was just an example. One of many I’m sure.”
No i said “Point me to a DT that is playing on a team with weak talent around him that has somehow been what you expect McCoy to be”
Emphasis on “somehow been what you expect McCoy to be”.
I’m trying to give perspective on how unrealistic & unfounded your expectations are for McCoy over the last few years.
July 7th, 2016 at 12:59 pm
Bob
Thanks, agreed, we good.
Demboyz
The only thing we expect from him is to play hard all game, make plays all game, be a difference maker in the goal line, stop jumping offsides on 3&2. Have some pride and help his team win.
July 7th, 2016 at 1:24 pm
DB55 sorry if i came off like an a hole. You seem pretty reasonable. We are all entitled to hate who we want for whatever reason really in the end. Hope that GMC gets you to love him this year tho. Go bucs!
July 7th, 2016 at 1:34 pm
Lord C
Yes sir! Likewise…
July 7th, 2016 at 3:09 pm
@DB
hoping better days are ahead ,Bro
Curious to see if the depth on the D line and new scheme will help McCoy getoff extend to latter parts of games.It is now time for McCoy and his new and old
linemates to wreak some havoc.Would like to see Gholston come on this year and at least double his sacks..
July 7th, 2016 at 4:13 pm
I think Noah Spence is going to wreck shop. I got a good feeling about this kid. I like all of our Dline men, imo the weak link is Akeem spence and he plays hard too so we should be good. With that said, I just hope smith’s run def steps up as that was his Achilles heal in ATL.
We got more dogs on the def now, Noah, Kwon, LVD, vh3, Jac smith, I love me some Howard Jones, McDonald, Gholston all these guys play hard and they play together. Let’s see what happens …
July 7th, 2016 at 4:17 pm
We’re we need a big time upgrade is safety. Tandy is a starter imo but after him the rest are meh. Prob more of a liability than anything else.
I think we’re going to see a big trade coming up soon. We need another marquee player or two on defense.
July 7th, 2016 at 4:17 pm
*Where not we’re.
July 8th, 2016 at 8:34 am
I don’t bash any of the players and that was my point. I wish nothing but the best for these guys case I just want the to be succesful in the end. I love Evans, I bought his jersey a day after he was drafted and never bash him. It’s just every post I’ve seen from u is super negative and it sounds like this team is by far the worst ever coming from your perspective. Being real and being negative are 2 different things. Thsee players are alot better than u give them credit for, that’s all I’m saying. Support your team, dont neglect everything they do. But I guess here’s always gonna be haterz and ppl like u so why waste my time. Bash em all u want, it just shows a lack of intelligence.
July 8th, 2016 at 8:37 am
It’s nice to see sum positive posts from u. Shows u do want the best for this team. That’s all I was hoping for. We all want the best for this team in the end.
#Fire the Cannons
July 8th, 2016 at 8:41 am
@DB55
My bad if I went off, just want to see fans support our team, I know u just want this team to be succesful in the end as well. I feel the same way at times as well. I apologize for the comments.
July 8th, 2016 at 8:46 am
[…] Gerald McCoy — No. 10 […]
July 9th, 2016 at 6:39 pm
Tampa bay bucs!!! Its a BUCS LIFE! All you simple minded folks who clearly doesnt kno football bashing GMC!! Clearly doesnt kno Foolball Been 1 of the best DT in the league. Pretty much since his rookie year!! Hes going to blossom this year just watch. Learn Pay attention!! REAL BUCS FAN!!!! And realist. When and comes to Football!
July 9th, 2016 at 6:42 pm
*it
July 15th, 2016 at 11:09 am
[…] Gerald McCoy — No. 10 […]
July 16th, 2016 at 10:42 am
[…] Gerald McCoy — No. 10 […]