Calling For More “White Lightnin'”
April 20th, 2013Who needs custom-built Roy Miller when you have “White Lightnin’?”
That’s what Gerald McCoy calls Gary Gibson, the former Rutgers defensive tackle who’s one of the last NFL men standing that played in NFL Europe.
Gibson was a rotational guy on a small scale for the Bucs last season, but he had a big impact on Gerald McCoy. Last year, McCoy told Joe how Gibson helped teach him the nuances of the game.
“Gary, he’s a vet. He’s very smart. He teaches me little things, little things I need to focus on, little things I need to see, little things he sees that I can do that he knows I can do and need to go execute. And it helped me out a lot,” McCoy said.
Speaking at One Buc Palace this week, McCoy talked more about how Gibson set the tone early with the Bucs last year with his leadership and understanding of the Bucs’ defensive line stunts.
“Gibby was our best movement guy,” McCoy said, referring to Gibson’s technique on the line. “He’s a strong guy. He’s quicker than people think. He’s smart. He knows the game. I excited to see what he can do this year, you know, with more playing time.”
Now as much as Joe wants to be pumped up for all things 2013, Joe can’t get excited, like McCoy, to see more of Gibson. The guy’s a 31-year-old backup, and he fought a lot of nagging injuries that arose in training camp last season.
If Gibson can lead and teach and get a little spot duty, that’s more than fine with Joe. The Bucs need more depth and talent throughout the defensive line.
April 20th, 2013 at 10:09 am
Yes, we do need more depth, but in the snaps I saw Gibson play last year I was actually impressed. He was a pleasant surprise at the position. If the other role players who were signed this year (Ogletree, Crabtree, Casillas, Landri) can have similar impacts then our depth will have greatly improved.
April 20th, 2013 at 10:14 am
There really wasn’t a big drop off with him in there instead of Miller. I think of them both as great depth guys who can plug in a starting spot if they have to. Good guys to have on the team but we still need fresh blood at DT.
April 20th, 2013 at 11:50 am
Does that mean McCoy is “Black Thunder”?
April 20th, 2013 at 12:09 pm
Joe… Jared Allen was in the Columbia restaurant in Ybor City day before last. On vacation????
April 20th, 2013 at 1:15 pm
Oh bucfanjeff, I love it! And, fittingly, chances are you will get the Black Thunder before the White Lightning. (On the way to the QB that is.)
April 20th, 2013 at 1:30 pm
Smoke…DT all day @13, unless Star, Richardson, and Floyd are gone. Then we trade back and go CB.
April 20th, 2013 at 2:20 pm
Maybe McCoy should have been more PC and called him the “Caucasion Equation”.
April 20th, 2013 at 2:23 pm
…..and if Gibson and Landri are filling in at DT at the same time, the “Caucasian Invasion”.
April 20th, 2013 at 2:39 pm
Wow can’t believe we aren’t talking about Tavon Austin in this forum
April 20th, 2013 at 3:33 pm
No way we should draft a guy who’s 5’4″ 150 lbs with the 13th overall pick.
Pass.