David: McCoy “Is The Clear Cut Leader”
April 8th, 2014
Ronde Barber had no problem verbally passing the torch to Gerald McCoy when he faded into the sunset. And last year at this time McCoy stood tall and said, ‘This is my defense.'”
Now the Buccaneers’ defense wasn’t special last year, but McCoy was. One of his teammates today also acknowledged that McCoy is the team’s driving locker room force.
Today at One Buc Palace, Lavonte David was asked about expanding his leadership role, and David wanted to make the pecking order quite clear to reporters.
“Right now, Gerald is the clear cut leader,” David said. “Time to time guys come to me, and I only step in when something needs to be said. So but right now, I’m going to leave that role to Gerald.”
Joe’s not surprised that David is happy to — almost eager to — defer leadership to McCoy. It’s just not in David’s nature to a vocal leader. He’ll play his butt off on the field and bury his head in game film. He’ll lead by example.
As for McCoy, Joe is skeptical of his leadership ability. He’s got plenty to prove in that area. The Bucs only have had one good season (2010) during McCoy’s four years in Tampa, and McCoy only played the first half of that season. Has McCoy raised the games of those around him? Has he been a winning influence? Those answers are unclear.
(You can hear David’s full media session below via 620wdae.com.)
April 8th, 2014 at 4:22 pm
our leader will be michael sam
April 8th, 2014 at 4:30 pm
heDON Said:
“our leader will be michael sam”
And you sir are a dick.
April 8th, 2014 at 4:33 pm
Major Wright will be the leader as he is a Major …
April 8th, 2014 at 4:40 pm
GMC is about as sweet as michael sam but, sadly for michael sam and thankfully for us, GMC is about 147 times better.
I lol’d
April 8th, 2014 at 4:40 pm
McCoy is a deeply religious guy who could in time become another “minister of defense” ala Reggie White. Reggie was a respected team leader.
April 8th, 2014 at 4:46 pm
To be a leader you need followers. I’m not so sure there have been to many followers the past couple seasons. This team has been fractured for awhile and really hasn’t had the cohesion period needed to come together. With all the offensive coordinator and regime changes it’s hard to find that chemistry. We need smart players but even smart players need to step back and sometimes follow. Not everyone can be the chief, but everyone has to be willing to follow. For smart players to follow the top dogs, they not only have to lead by example, they have to be assertive and encouraging and demanding at the same time. That takes time to occur, and so far some have bought into the fact that Gerald is the Man, a position he appears to accept, if not by default.
April 8th, 2014 at 4:51 pm
I’d say GMC is a leader. An undisputed leader at that. He came in during RAH and had a horrible team with a coach that had favorites. Then he had to deal with schiano which of whom said GMC was a leader but whenever GMC tried to speak up and lead it seems like schiano would shut him down. Evidence in the Miami game when he begged for schiano to let the line go free and they sealed up the game.
April 8th, 2014 at 5:10 pm
Tremendous player, and person. A genuine good guy. Nice to see him get the accolades he deserves.
It is absolutely his defense. With a real coach- McCoy will be a superstar, and this defense will be dominant. May take another year- but it will happen
April 8th, 2014 at 5:10 pm
theDON Says—–
I got the best laugh of the day, thank you. I’m still laughing
April 8th, 2014 at 5:11 pm
I have questions about his leadership too. There might be doubts about what Lovie does with the offense, but I think Lovie will be a big part of GMC getting to that next level.
April 8th, 2014 at 5:24 pm
GMC is on the next level….this guy and David need to be locked up. I hope they WANT to stay in Tampa long term. Absolute MUST keepers!!!
April 8th, 2014 at 5:30 pm
Newbucsfan!!! Says:
April 8th, 2014 at 5:10 pm
theDON Says—–
I got the best laugh of the day, thank you. I’m still laughing
_____________________________________________________________
Yes. You are both mental giants. Congratulations!
April 8th, 2014 at 6:56 pm
Honestly Joe, outside of a QB, why does winning come into play when discussing a player’s leadership ability? The guy plays 1 position on 1 side of the ball, how is it his fault if the team doesn’t win? And how does it make him less of an effective leader if the offense can’t score points or a receiver burns a corner down the field?
Raising the level of player’s around him? How can you say he’s not? David was an all-pro LB this year, I’m fairly sure McCoy has helped raise his level of play. Clayborn has looked semi-useful at times, despite no overwhelming talent in any area of his game(motor is not a talent), I’m pretty sure McCoy has raised his game as much as he could. Foster has gotten better each and every year, playing a position he isn’t really suited for.. again, McCoy has made that possible.
The defense isn’t as laden with talent as everyone likes to make it seem, McCoy is a HUGE driving force behind what they have managed to field up to this point but he can’t play every spot on the D. He has to rely on the other 10 guys to do their jobs, and despite how great or bad of a leader he is, if the other 10 guys don’t have the talent to do their job, he can’t lead them anywhere but the unemployment line.
April 8th, 2014 at 7:43 pm
theDON and Newbucsfan just need one more philistine to make a shared comment on Michael Sam in order to complete the circle they so badly, yet secretly, desire to sit in.
April 8th, 2014 at 7:44 pm
Yeah, the Michael Sam joke wasn’t funny unless your inbred a$$ is still living in the stone age.
April 8th, 2014 at 7:46 pm
It’s hard to be a leader when the team is screwed up from the top down. Can’t hold GMC responsible for losing seasons. I mean, how much can one guy do?
April 8th, 2014 at 8:16 pm
Did you really just say gmc is not a leader because of the season records? I just lol’d. The crap that you type joe sometime kills me! You sometimes have a twisted look on things.
April 8th, 2014 at 8:20 pm
Who is this Michael Sam?
April 8th, 2014 at 9:30 pm
“Because he’s a Major”…haha!
April 8th, 2014 at 11:20 pm
McCoy to me if a lead by example kind of guy. He is not goona throw a tantrum and create drama. Mccoy wasn’t the reason for the (almost worst of all time) pass defense a couple years back. He’s played his ass off since being in tampa. It’s not his fault he has had to play with Teo, bowers, leonard J. He’s top 2 best players on this team. Who are you to question his leadership ability, Joe?
April 9th, 2014 at 10:55 am
there has only been one or two guys resembling leaders in the bucs locker room since mccoy was drafted…freeman, davin joseph, and the like were leaders by default. revis, vjax, etc supposedly showed leadership but really there was only room for one leader under schiano, and that was schiano. even the coaches were guys going around the NFL coaching block for the first time. barber was a great guy and my favorite player, but team success and defensive cohesion really hasn’t been there since monte’s exit along with derrick brooks. i think good leadership of a unit entails both a good cop (motivator) and a bad cop (butt kicker). mccoy seems tailor made for the good cop role making people feel like part of the team and encouraging guys to work harder, but there’s no warren sapp or hardy nickerson on the other side getting into people’s faces about lack of effort or missed assignments..and backing it up in the weight room and on the practice field
April 11th, 2014 at 7:57 pm
No disrespect, just a laugh fellas when one was needed, keep your shirts on. Now back to football commenting