Gerald McCoy Knows Calijah Kanceys’ Destiny
May 21st, 2025
Big No. 93 (no, not Ndamukong Suh) has gone public with his prediction for Calijah Kancey, the Bucs’ explosive third-year defensive tackle.
Of course, Joe is referring to Gerald McCoy. Ol’ No. 93 made six consecutive Pro Bowls in a Tampa Bay uniform, albeit the ugly ones designed or approved by someone with masochistic leanings.
McCoy mixed it up with fans on X yesterday and responded to a run-stuff video of Kancey.
“He’ll be all-pro this year!! Bookmark this!!” McCoy wrote.
Why is McCoy so confident? Given that McCoy remains tight with some Bucs players, Joe suspects it’s one part what he sees on film and two parts what he hears about Kanceys’ work ethic. McCoy also worked with Kancey briefly at last year’s Bucs training camp.
McCoy’s endorsement of Kancey reminds slightly Joe of when McCoy put his stamp of excellence of former Bucs Pro Bowl guard, center and Super Bowl-winner Ali Marpet.
“He’s got, you know, these grippers; once he puts his hands on you, you’re in trouble,” McCoy said of Marpet in 2017. “And I truly believe, and you can stamp this and quote it, I believe Ali Marpet will be a dominant, not good, a dominant center. I just really do. He’s so athletic. He can pull. He can make all the blocks. He’s highly intelligent.”
Kancey has been dominant when you look at his average per-snap production, but the only reason that’s considered is because he’s lost so many games to calf injuries the past two seasons.
If Kancey can get past those issues, Joe would agree with McCoy that the Bucs have another superstar defensive tackle in their lineup.
May 21st, 2025 at 10:00 pm
Joe, did you write this article after a few beers? Lol
Typos, bros
And yeah, Kancey is a stud.
The Aaron Donald comparisons were apparently pretty astute.
May 21st, 2025 at 10:33 pm
Love Cancey LFG Bucs D will be much improved with Reddick over JTS an I believe Braswell will be great this year
May 21st, 2025 at 10:43 pm
I agree with Joe & Gerald … Kancey = 2025 All Pro!
May 21st, 2025 at 10:57 pm
Ummm…. Marpet was not a great center, Gerald. Pro bowl Guard, yes. Center? not so much.
Kancey has all the tools to be elite. Go be that man.
May 21st, 2025 at 11:39 pm
Joe
Sorry to continue to harp on this
Why does Jason LIGHT think Jamel Dean is a shutdown corner
Dean doesn’t even get interceptions like that
Go get Jalen Ramsey! Even if it means getting rid of Dean.
We really got torched last year and we have the same starting corners and some rookies
Cmon Joe. Do we really have to waste another entire season???
Also, Braswell is starting to give off Noah Spence vibes
Also Benjamin Morrison, stop all that crying bro we need DOGS
May 21st, 2025 at 11:40 pm
McCoy wears on my patience. Like loudmouth Stephen A Smith.
May 21st, 2025 at 11:53 pm
Don’t know that he is. And is Jalen Ramsey still a shutdown corner?
Biggest problem was the middle of the defense. The Bucs have said (not just one dude) they feel good about their inside linebacker. Rather than corner you should be focused on safety.
May 22nd, 2025 at 12:21 am
I def agree with Mr. McCoy. Kancey has “IT” and has flashed it plenty of times, he just needs a legit pash rusher to set the edge for him and take some pressure off so he can get 1 on 1’s more often.
I’ll never forget when Sapp called McCoy soft for helping opposing QBs up. 😂 Sapp said “U gotta have that killer instinct in u.” Could t agree more. To be fair that whole defense was softer than Bowles pass coverage last year 😭😭😭
May 22nd, 2025 at 1:13 am
Figure out the calf and he’ll be great. CK has this hop step that is unblockable. Never seen anything like it.
May 22nd, 2025 at 6:33 am
The key for Kancey is to stay heathy. So far both years he’s had the injuries early in the season and had to work his way back into shape. He’s going to have a great year if he can avoid that this year.
May 22nd, 2025 at 6:58 am
Go play with your Batman dolls McSoftie
May 22nd, 2025 at 7:09 am
Joe … ‘Biggest problem was the middle of the defense. The Bucs have said (not just one dude) they feel good about their inside linebacker. Rather than corner you should be focused on safety.’
Bucs feel good about their inside linebacker? Why? That’s potentially the weakest position group on the team. LVD’s a bonafide HOF LB, but he is 35 and Father Time wins every single time. My biggest concern: LVD blitzed more than any other Buc last year (80 times), and his Passing Completion Allowed Percentage (84.6%) was the highest of his career. Oh ya, and the age-thingie too.
SVD showed great PROMISE, but he’s barely gotten 100 def snaps in each of his first 2 years (PROMISE is sorta like HOPE Joe, and we know how you feel about that). My biggest concern with him is his pass coverage (which so many praise for some reason). His is a small sample (17 targets, 14 completions allowed), but that equates to 82.4% Pass Completion Allowed percentage, rather high for any ILB.
Anthony Walker intrigues me because he was a full-time starter with the Colts (4 years) and Browns (3 years) when he was healthy (an issue when he was with the Browns). Part-timer last year with the Dolphins (1-year contract); he did reasonably well, but they moved on and signed … KJ Britt. Walker started 81 games in 7 years though, has a career Missed Tackle Percentage of 8.1% (reasonably good for a MLB), and a career Pass Completion Allowed Percentage of 74.9% (slightly better than LVD’s career percentage of 76.5%).
Walker’s the one I’ll put my money on for winning the MLB starter gig. Bucs STILL need a bonafide starter-capable ILB to round out the ILB position group and challenge for a starter position.
May 22nd, 2025 at 7:27 am
Defense Rules Says:
Bucs STILL need a bonafide starter-capable ILB to round out the ILB position group and challenge for a starter position.
——————————————————————————-
I would bet that they’ll add to their depth at that position before the season starts, either via free agency or a trade. Fortunately, they have some salary cap room if they need it.
May 22nd, 2025 at 7:47 am
“Joe agrees with Joe”. Poetry
May 22nd, 2025 at 9:16 am
His “5 yard dash” is insane.
When he cuts through unblocked, he’s the fastest DT I’ve ever seen.
I’ve never seen a DT with closing speed like Kancey.
One time he almost KILLED Jayden Daniels in the end zone. Daniel’s got it away, but Kancey crushed his ribs.
If I was a DT like Kancey, to avoid “head hits and flags”
Go for body shots. Crush QBs ribs man. Avoid rhe flags.
May 22nd, 2025 at 9:27 am
DR – you just have NO faith in Sirvocea Dennis. See you saying it over and over again.
So I guess you will get a nice big surprise this year when Dennis shows you what a solid starting MLB looks like….
May 22nd, 2025 at 9:37 am
Teacherman Says:
“he’s the fastest DT I’ve ever seen. I’ve never seen a DT with closing speed like Kancey.”
Thats because he IS the fastest DT…. Officially…..
1 tick faster than Aaron Donald who WAS the fastest DT ever – until Kancey…
“The University of Pittsburgh’s Calijah Kancey, at 6-foot-1, 281 pounds, had a 4.67 official time in the 40-yard dash, the fastest time by a defensive tackle at the combine since 2006, when ESPN Stats & Information began tracking data from the event.”
May 22nd, 2025 at 9:39 am
Pickgrin … ‘you just have NO faith in Sirvocea Dennis. See you saying it over and over again.’
Nobody hopes you’re right more than I do. Our biggest pass defense problem lies in the middle of the field. We’ve got to solve that or we’re in trouble.
My head tells me though that SVD’s a 5th Round draft pick who’s played a total of 200 defensive snaps in 2 years. My head also tells me that Anthony Walker is also a 5th Round draft pick who has a total of 6 years starting experience and over 4000 defensive snaps and was ‘endorsed’ by LVD.
As I wrote Pickgrin, my money will be on Anthony Walker to start the season at MLB.
May 22nd, 2025 at 10:52 am
With VEA and Reddick….. Kancey and Yaya should have 10 + sacks
May 22nd, 2025 at 11:04 am
exactly… they got better just by bringing Shaq Barrett back, don’t see why they won’t be even more improved this year with Reddick and the other additions
May 22nd, 2025 at 11:47 am
So far, Buster Kancey makes one play a game. He needs to up that to 1 play a quarter, then 2 plays a quarter and then we may have someone.
May 22nd, 2025 at 12:04 pm
Defense Rules Says:
“Pickgrin, my money will be on Anthony Walker to start the season at MLB.”
How much money are you talking about?
If you are offering a wager of some type – I’m in! Name your bet (within reason).
May 22nd, 2025 at 3:36 pm
If we can ever get a pass rusher these guy will
Explode.
May 22nd, 2025 at 4:59 pm
Not sure anyone can have faith in SVD right now- dude just hasn’t been able to stay healthy.
He’s missed far more games than Kancey or Dean the past 2 seasons…
May 22nd, 2025 at 5:34 pm
You’ll see….. Dennis is going to play very well in this – his first year as a starter.
We still need a high end MLB no later than next off season – because when LD54 retires after this year, Dennis will slide over into that weakside spot.