Breakout Player: Gerald McCoy
July 14th, 2012
The Bucs have a lot of areas to turn around in order for the team to cleanse itself of the grotesque 10-game losing streak to end the 2011 season.
One could point to the absence of Gerald McCoy that resulted in the tailspin of the Bucs season. The Bucs were 4-2 with GMC in the starting lineup at defensive tackle, winless without him in 2011.
Now healthy again, Woody Cummings, writing for SportingNews.com, points to GMC as this season’s break out player.
McCoy’s attempts to live up to his billing as the third overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft were derailed each of his first two years by biceps tears, one to each arm. McCoy regained his health after going through yet another stringent rehab regimen. He seems more motivated than ever to finish the season.
McCoy has a good group of young, yet capable, pass rushers around him and he says the injuries should help him meet his team’s high expectations.
“They’ll make me play harder,’’ McCoy said. “People get injured when they slow down, but if you are going full speed you don’t usually get hurt. So to prevent injuries you have to go harder, and that’s what I’m going to do. For me, it’s full steam ahead. That’s all I am doing. Whatever is behind me is behind me, all I can see is the future.’’
Now Joe watched closely when GMC was playing and while he may not have racked up sacks, GMC got penetration, which blew up opponents’ plays in the backfield.
If the Bucs defense is to make a turnaround from the sloppy, matador defense of last season, GMC must be a part of that turnaround, and even he will admit he must stay on the field for the full season.
July 14th, 2012 at 5:45 pm
I’m sorry but until I see GMC make it thru an entire season in 1 piece this is all wishful thinking as far as I’m concerned. Look at all the hype we heard about Bowers and he’s out for the season.
July 14th, 2012 at 6:35 pm
“they’ll make me play harder.” what? He needs someone to make him play harder?
No surprise he sucks.
This guy just doesn’t get it.
With the exception of the Colts game (where he drew a UFA opposing guard who did not play college football) the only time Gerald blew up a play in the opponents backfield was when he was offsides (bc he times the snap).
Since he has finally learned how to tackle and someone is making him play harder – maybe he will rise to the level of average in 2012. I have my doubts.
July 14th, 2012 at 6:40 pm
Draft bust glass McCoy really needs to stop talking.
July 14th, 2012 at 6:43 pm
gmc is a loudmouthed doofus. I thought he was a bust on draft day, and I think he is a bust now.
July 14th, 2012 at 6:48 pm
idiots
July 14th, 2012 at 6:51 pm
@Mr Lucky
Bowers injury was a freak injury that could happen to anybody (ask Suggs). im sure if GMC has a 10+ sack season all these haters will be singing a different tune next season. but thats your opinion and the thing about opinions are, their easy to change, which is what happens on this site ALL THE TIME!! cant wait for the season to start. BUC IT IM OUT!!!!!!!!
July 14th, 2012 at 7:55 pm
To me Price is the weak link in our line. I never doubter GMC and I believe this is his year.
People who claim he’s loudmouthed usually hold his open faith against him…which makes them bigots. GMC has shown zero behaviour issues on or off the field.
July 14th, 2012 at 8:07 pm
The important thing is that the Bucs win, and win a lot. If they make the playoffs, even better. Nothing else really matters in regards to stats and who does what. I refuse to bash any Buc Player or coach at this point in time, before they take the field, or play a single down. The fact that any player or Coach makes it to the NFL says they know more about the game than any 2.2fus. I’m just really sick of so many so called fans bashing GMC at every turn.
Win Baby Win.
July 14th, 2012 at 8:14 pm
Glad to read that Woody Cummings is healthy again.
July 14th, 2012 at 8:22 pm
Gerald hasn’t had 10 sacks since his last year at OU and his entire NFL career combined.
Gerald never had more than 6 sacks in a 13 game schedule vs Big 12 O Lineman.
Gerald probably won’t have 10 sacks during the life of his initial 60 mil contract.
Hey at least he will now play hard and he has learned how to tackle! Don’t you fanatics realize that he had been admitting how bad he was all off season. Maybe this is a sign of maturity.
Yet some of you DomDom fan club members are trying to propagandize Gerald’s horrible performance as something more to protect the embattled GM.
July 14th, 2012 at 8:46 pm
Hey Thomas,
What have you ever done? What puts you so high on a pedestal that you can look down on an NFL player and speak to him as if he is less than dirt. Lay it out there buddy boy. Have you seen how much stronger McCoy is this season? The kid has been working his A$$ off. He doesn’t suffer from a lack of effort, and I think you confuse humility with self doubt.
The money is not his fault or the GM’s. Why do think they made a rookie salary cap? All top 5 rookies were being so overpaid it was a joke. But that doesn’t make it their fault. Agents are well paid to get the max value for their players. Why do think Barron and other rookies haven’t signed yet? Their agents are trying to squeeze every last drop of guaranteed money that they can.
July 14th, 2012 at 9:02 pm
Can’t wait for McCoy to come back and play at a high level like he did last year and the end of the season before that. He has dominated before and will dominate again. Stay healthy!!!
July 14th, 2012 at 9:27 pm
Jeff Faine says he is special, but his play so far has not shown it.
Maybe this will be his breakout year.
I am with the BigMacAttack, my Bucs are undefeated so far this year.
I say, let’s all keep an open mind, now that we have a real coach, and have spent some money.
I just have a funny feeling Tampa is going to flat out surprise some people this year.
July 14th, 2012 at 10:18 pm
This offseason has Gerald said:
Schiano’s staff is teaching me to tackle; and
They’ll make me play harder.
Yes he has, the conclusion:
He did not know how to tackle and prior groups did not have him playing hard.
That is quite an indictment of Gerald’s first 2 years here.
I am not mad at Gerald for taking the $, I am mad at DomDom for drafting him there and giving it to him.
July 14th, 2012 at 10:25 pm
Hey Thomas, why do you call yourself a Bucs “fan?” Everytime I see you post on here if is nothing but hate and negativity. Why don’t you just root for another team?
July 14th, 2012 at 10:39 pm
BREAK – which bone OUT- carted out of the game. lol
July 14th, 2012 at 10:41 pm
Saying Gerald has sucked isn’t negative it’s fact. We are 17-31 and last, next to last and last since 08 – hardly reason for a ticker tape parade.
I love the team and all deserving parts of it: like Ronde, Free, Clay, DJ and company. Thrilled with the Schiano hire and free agency class, Barron, Martin and David.
On this blog there tends to be a slant toward to propping up undeserving DomDom acquisitions – I have accepted the difficult role of objective counter-propaganda voice of reason.
Contrary to popular belief – your team isn’t very talented and your GM is no rock star at 17-31.
July 14th, 2012 at 11:17 pm
I am not going to lie, he can ball but he’s just overpaid for his production level. I am pulling for him but man it’s hard to go against Thomas argument when GMC is not holding up.
July 15th, 2012 at 12:05 am
Jamarcus Russell has labeled McCoy a draft bust…
July 15th, 2012 at 12:44 am
Thomas, you are skewing the facts (as usual) to make your argument. That is why I said mistaken humility for self doubt. If this is a team that you love, I can imagine how you spew about a team that you hate. McCoy could tackle, of course he could. but as others have tried getting through your thick skull, he is learning new technique and better fundamentals. Gerald has never played poorly on the field as a Buc or in College. Even on his worst days, he plays well. Does he have more to learn? I’m sure he does, he’s still young, but he works hard and it shows. Your favorite DT, Suh, if you remember in 2010′ was owned, tossed around, and rendered useless against the Bucs, that game. Offensive linemen outnumber and outsize D linemen. It takes time for D linemen to master their craft, not all, but most. The Bucs are better when McCoy is on the field. You may not see it because your Buclexial vision, but he does his job and does it well. Mark Dominick has also done a good job, and I think it is unfortunate that your blind hatred allows your brain to distort the facts. Its your loss though, because while you kvetch about every little thing that may be negative, many of us look for the positives and hope for better things to come, as they grow and mature. You should try it some time. I don’t think anyone would hold it against you, but I won’t hold my breath.
July 15th, 2012 at 12:48 am
Please show me where in the Queen’s English the word injury is a synonym of the word suck. Injuries do suck, but are they one in the same? No they are not.
July 15th, 2012 at 12:53 am
Thomas 2.2: “Contrary to popular belief – your team isn’t very talented…”
There you go… “your team”, you say, Thomas?
You’re right. It IS my team, and OUR team, and you can take your all negative, all the time sniping and cram it. Pewter_Power called it right. Why don’t you go root for some other team and leave ours alone since you have nothing whatsoever to do with it and have no affection for it. No one here will miss you, I promise.
July 15th, 2012 at 1:05 am
I would miss Thomas, even though we rarely agree. He can be entertaining at times.
July 15th, 2012 at 1:11 am
Okay. ONE guy will miss Thomas.
July 15th, 2012 at 1:31 am
I wouldn’t miss Thomas, not one bit. Every bit of fact I’ve thrown out there, he simply ignores and moves on to the next topic. Too weak to even attempt to defend himself. At least on this thread, he proved he at least reads the responses, since he added “except the Colts game” which he typically refers to as his “proof” that GMC is horrible until I pointed out the facts of the game. Now he uses the excuse that that game was against an undrafted free agent linemen, yet that doesn’t explain the tackles that game. He led the team in tackles, and he wasn’t tackling an undrafted lineman. When all else fails, he simply says he “doesn’t have time” even though he’s on here every day, sometimes several times per day spewing his nonsense. Too weak and pathetic for me to miss.
July 15th, 2012 at 2:24 am
I for one could care less about how some have rated gmc, all that maters is that he stays health this year and shows all the nay-sayers how wrong they have been. I’ll be there watching and rooting September 9, Go Bucs!
July 15th, 2012 at 4:13 am
The D-Line will be ranked in the top #15 if Big Mouth stays healthy. #30 if his body falls apart again. With Bowers body falling apart and B. Price’s body falling apart, This entire D-Fence is depending on a guy whose “dream in life” is to be a Hollywood Actor (yes, GMC).
July 15th, 2012 at 7:35 am
Who’s dream in life isn’t to be a hollywood actor? With that being said, and instantly off my chest. How can we rank this defense? This is the first time theyre learning how to tackle properly? The secondary is completely revamped, with only Talib remaining at his previous starting position. A completely overhauled Linebacker corps with only 1 previous main stay in Black. The D-Line without Bowers still seems worthy of significant mention. Taking an achillies injury doesn’t mean your body is “falling apart” It means your foot was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The Bucs Defense this year can rank anywhere from #1 to # 32.
July 15th, 2012 at 7:54 am
@pete dutcher I have never heard anyone say anything about his faith. Like tim tebow faith has nothing to do with me liking or disliking them. The fact that neither can play is the reason for disliking them.
July 15th, 2012 at 8:07 am
Faith is a reason to dislike them too. Time to step into reality, of chance/bad luck/good luck. Faith = the laws of physics will dictate the outcome.
July 15th, 2012 at 9:05 am
I think McCoy is a D-end playing D-tackle.
July 15th, 2012 at 9:12 am
@Jared AGREED!! People always talk about how awesome TEBLOW is while he just really sucks! The stats dont lie and i could really care less about someones religion when it comes to football although I am a christian, I just look at whether they are good at football or not.
July 15th, 2012 at 9:31 am
“Saying Gerald has sucked isn’t negative it’s fact.”
For someone who claims to be an attorney Thomas, you should know better than this. Would love to see you try and make a case like this to a judge.
July 15th, 2012 at 9:37 am
I like Thomas too. I thought Morris was a joke Gmc sucks and why would say Price is the weak link? He has out played Mc Coy on one good leg
July 15th, 2012 at 9:41 am
@ Donut Glazer….. Bowers has a Chronic Knee issue as well.
@ HurricaneKitty…… Exactly, McCoy is an IDEAL Left End. His center of gravity is too high to reach full potential at DT
July 15th, 2012 at 10:33 am
Gerald McCoy is a beast anyone who argues that is just dumb. now he is very injury prone but luck factors into that, and he just happens to be un lucky… but if this beast plays 16 games theres no denying he is a elite talent. it seems like when i watch him play every snap he just blows up the back field and ask anyone who plays football, or linebacker it just makes it that much easier. Bucs are making some serious noise in 2012 if he and others stay healthy. like the lions last year but better, making it past the wild card round ;). #Bucs #2012 #Playoffs
July 15th, 2012 at 11:42 am
Same old crap from the usual suspects.
zzzzzz
Buccaneers in 2012?
Can’t WAIT!!!
July 15th, 2012 at 2:01 pm
I think just wait until the season starts and then we can expose Thomas for the moron he is. McCoy will be elite. Thomas will always be lame.
July 15th, 2012 at 2:48 pm
I think the point here is that McCoy’s influence on a inexperienced defense is tremendous and the number prove that. But, until he proves he can stay on the field no one knows what to expect on defense. This factor alone will determine the degree of success of the Bucs.
July 15th, 2012 at 3:01 pm
The idiocy of the posters is almost beyond comprehension. I always point to Matthew Stafford and use him as a good example. Did Stafford ‘suck’ just because he was injured the first two seasons?? I don’t think so. Maybe someone as devoid of football knowledge as Thomas2yr.old would think he was a bust but someone with the objectivity to just evaluate talent for what it is would say “It’s unfortunate he got injured because when he was playing the team was definitely better.” You would absolutely have to say the same thing about McCoy. When he was healthy and playing the Bucs were a much better defense. Anybody who studied the film saw Gerald blowing up the opposing team’s backfield and we got a lot more sacks as a defense because of it. To argue otherwise is like having a kid marching the wrong way in a marching band and saying “Look! Everyone but my kid is marching in the wrong direction!” That describes Thomas to a T. Everyone who actually plays or scouts or has anything to do with actually making a living at football says McCoy is a tremendous talent and a difference maker when he plays. Not Thomas….nope….everyone else is marching in the wrong direction…. Thomas is a special kind of idiot.
July 15th, 2012 at 5:34 pm
big lebowdki,i agree 100%.i also thought he was a bust at the podium and he is doofus who is soft and does not get it;MANS LEAGUE!!!!
July 15th, 2012 at 6:07 pm
GMC can play in this league, he just needs to stay healthy. Anybody who has ever watched him play KNOWS this. He is as disruptive as any interior lineman in the league and anybody who says otherwise either hasn’t seen him play when healthy or is just bias against him.
July 15th, 2012 at 6:35 pm
Sometimes I think some articles are just to get Thomas started.
July 16th, 2012 at 7:37 am
Thomas…Reading comp? He said the injuries will make him play harder.
July 17th, 2012 at 9:06 am
we are a completely different defense when McCoy is on the field. Held the falcons to 20 yards rushing, then right when he gets injured we lose 10 in a row. I cant wait to see how good our defense can be if it stays healthy.