Can McCoy Lead A Winner & Improve Teammates?
June 6th, 2014
Effective leadership again is a focus for Gerald McCoy
Great players, regardless of sport, typically inspire and raise the games of those around them.
Gerald McCoy hasn’t done that yet.
And reaching that level of leadership is a focus for McCoy. Last year, Bucs assistant coach Bryan Cox, the former All-Pro linebacker who now coaches defensive line for Atlanta, explained to Joe that this was McCoy’s greatest challenge.
“I saw a guy [in Gerald McCoy] that was mature, ready to take the next step, very into it in the meetings, very intelligent. And so you’d just like to think and hope that this year he can build and bring some guys with him. Because true great players bring, you know, other players’ level of play to a different level. That’s what we’d like to expect from him this season,” Cox said last June.
Remember, it was Lavonte David, in the closing minutes of the Bucs’ first win of the season against Miami last year, who went wild to his teammates and demanded they step it up and seal a win with pressure and sacks of Ryan Tannehill.
McCoy was quick to praise and explain David’s leadership on the Buccaneers Radio Network.
“Lavonte David came to me before that play, and he grabbed me,” McCoy said. “Because we had got the sack before on a blitz and he grabbed me and said, ‘now it’s your turn.’ He said, ‘You go get this one.’ Most people don’t know that. But he grabbed me and said, ‘You go get this one.’ I’m like, ‘OK. Alright. I’ll go get it.”
On SiriusXM NFL Radio recently, McCoy echoed Cox’s words from last June. McCoy said he’s hoping he’ll be “bringing people with me” into NFL success. And, no, McCoy wasn’t being cocky, just explaining that he’s had a couple of strong years and he needs to raise the games of his teammates.
That will be another X-factor of the Bucs’ season; McCoy’s quest to lead those around him and a good defense. Enjoy a cut from McCoy’s NFL Radio interview below.
June 6th, 2014 at 3:40 pm
It would be exciting if the Bucs could resurrect the Tampa 2 to perfection. Where there is not much visible drop-off from 1st to 2nd and 3rd team. The one thing that appears to stand out about this team compared to the last 10 years, is the amount of quality depth. Except for the obvious, we are stacked in practically every position. This bodes well just in fruition alone, and provides extra ammunition to fight that cursed injury bug. In years past if ours stars went down early, it pretty much spelled doom for our season, but hopefully this 53 man roster can absorb any significant losses with out much drop-off.
June 6th, 2014 at 3:52 pm
This year McCoy has support in “d-line players”, coaches and the system fits him to a T!
June 6th, 2014 at 4:11 pm
From PFT: “According to the Tampa Tribune, Buccaneers defensive line coach Joe Cullen has indicated that Bowers is not yet in shape…”.
F-king Bowers is one lazy a$$. How ridiculous. The team needs him to step up/GROW up and obviously he doesn’t get it. Maybe McCoy could start with this project. Kick his a$$ into the weight room. What a waste of a draft pick.
A little research reveals Bowers was scheduled for offseason knee surgery (https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=104231) and Twittered last week that he just got his legs back under him.
(https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=114140). Tribune story didn’t include that. –Joe
June 6th, 2014 at 5:06 pm
Gerald will lead and inspire his fellow defensemen without question. Can’t wait for that side to shut the offenses down. Gerald is the “real McCoy”.
June 6th, 2014 at 5:22 pm
Another surgery? That’s never good, especially at this point in his career. He was an injury risk going into the draft, and it hasn’t changed since.
June 6th, 2014 at 5:22 pm
@Joe,
“…A little research reveals Bowers was scheduled for offseason knee surgery (https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=104231) and Twittered last week that he just got his legs back under him.
(https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=114140). Tribune story didn’t include that. –Joe”
This is why I rely on your infinite wisdom Joe(s). My apologize to Mr Bowers for jumping the gun (but I also use the excuse that he came to camp last year in terrible shape). Alzheimer’s deleted the December article. And I remember the June 2 article, but I did not realize “getting my feet under me” had to do with surgery.
Hopefully Mr Bowers will get those 10 sacks he promised last year. Thanks for pointing out my error Joe(s). Go Bucs!
June 6th, 2014 at 5:42 pm
McCoy has a better chance to ‘lead’ this year. McCoy didn’t see ‘eye-to-eye’ with last years’ coaching staff, and that makes it difficult to lead. If you’re not going in the same direction, coaches don’t want you out front. THIS coaching staff seems to be going in the same direction that McCoy wants to go.
June 6th, 2014 at 5:51 pm
Boweers has zero chance of success. They need to cut him and not pay him, since there was a history of knee issues before he was drafted.
June 6th, 2014 at 5:53 pm
@Hawk
Stop trying to make it sound like McCoy didn’t get along with Schiano. The man had his besst year and was a huge leader last year.
June 6th, 2014 at 6:14 pm
Speaking of Bowers. He’s gone national. Nfl.com is now reporting off of the Roy Cummings article about him and his lack of conditioning.
I agree, GMC needs to “lead” Bowers into shape. Unfortunately for Bowers, I don’t think he is gonna make it. Definitely seems to be lacking the drive and good decision making.
June 6th, 2014 at 6:35 pm
Akeem Spence, Teo-Neshim, Adrian Clayborn, Daquan Bowers, and rookies Will Gholston and Steven Means. I dont know man, I cant put the lack of refinement for that crew on McCoy. Apparently he has helped Gholston take that extra step, but come on. That D line was just horrendous last yr.
June 6th, 2014 at 7:27 pm
I like McCoy and in this defense I think he can flourish. But I think he needs to stop saying he’s the leader and just get out there and prove it. He is a two time pro-bowler now simply by reputation. But put his tape on next to Sapp, and they wouldn’t even play on the same line.
June 6th, 2014 at 7:30 pm
McCoy was one of the vocal leaders who reportedly spoke out to the coaching staff about not cutting them loose and get after the QB. Other fell in line with him. The coaches let them do it for one game….I think the second half against Miami….the they put the leashes and line stunts back on. I think McCOy has raised the game of some players around him…..not only including the D-line but I think the whole defense is inspired by him, it has just been hampered by the coaches getting the least out of they’re players.
June 6th, 2014 at 8:03 pm
@ Buccaneer Bonzai
Re-read my post and cut-n-paste the word ‘Schiano’ for me.
I, for one, do not believe that *Schiano* was setting the defense. He hired defensive coaches to make the decisions on how best to use the players. *They* are the ones who McCoy didn’t see eye to eye with. He is on record saying that he didn’t agree with the status quo. How can you ‘lead’ people in a direction you don’t believe is correct? If Schiano had been given another year, it would not have surprised me to see him replace the DC (and most of his assistants).
Does that clear things up a little better?
June 6th, 2014 at 8:19 pm
We just can’t avoid the real question here, “will the addition of Johnson and McDonald make the difference in our pass rush this season”? Besides those two, it is the same cast from last year, and they certainly were not world beaters. We definitely need the young guys to step up.
June 6th, 2014 at 10:46 pm
@SAMCRO
I think yes. McDonald is going to impress. I feel Johnson has the makings of being an elite guy with the right training. He seems pretty smart.
I think Alterraun will get his chances this year due to the bad decisions QBs will have to make because of this revamped D line.
These guys have great potential to be elite – if they want it.
I think GMC does and is already showing that elite talent. Teams have to plan for him. His performance level has been pretty high over a growing number of games. I only see that continuing.
McDonald is the question mark to me but I’m very optimistic. He has a ring so I’m hoping his desires are still there and from what I’ve read, they are. In his backup role, here performed well. I’m hoping he’s ready for a full year of starting though.
Although he’s not on the D-ling, Alterraun impresses me every time I hear or read what he says. He seems very, very smart which I think is Licht’s top requirement in a player. I’m looking for many picks by him. Future elite name in the making? He’s still young and has a lot of good football ahead of him.
This is going to be a long summer… the season can’t get here fast enough. I can’t wait to see this team play.
June 6th, 2014 at 10:48 pm
Dang typo’s:
here performed well -> he performed well
D-ling -> D-ling
There, better.
June 6th, 2014 at 11:06 pm
McCoy had to waste his Season with d Line stunts until Schiano finally let him rush the passer in that game
June 7th, 2014 at 8:29 am
How many times was it noted that the players were tired of the stunts and felt like there needed to be more hunting and less dancing? More than I can count, I’d say that qualifies as not seeing “eye to eye.”
Bonzai is the ultimate Schiano defender now, watch out talking about his little general or last years staff. Schiano had nothing to do with getting Revis or what we paid him and he “hit” on 100% of the draft picks. He also knows that Schiano was told in that first meeting with the Glazers that he wasn’t to touch the QB or the OLine even though he quietly knew “this Freeman dude is bum.” Maybe he bugged the place after emptying the trash.
I guess we all have different interpretations as to what the word “hit” means. For Bonzai it must be that they are still on the roster and a couple of them had a few flashes. In that case look, the Jags and Browns both “hit” on 100% of their draft picks too! We are in good company there. I’m not saying the drafts didn’t improve under Schiano because they did but I wouldn’t call any of the picks “hits” yet from the 2013 class. Gholston showed some flashes, so did James for a couple games before getting hurt. Means didn’t do anything and Banks played okay for a rookie as did Spence. You are also calling Glennon a “hit” too just so you know. I’d say there is some potential there but potential is a scary word.
Yes, Dom was the GM and GM’s make the contracts and the trades but to say that Schiano had no part in approving a 16 mil a year contract of giving up a 1st round pick is comical. I think Schiano got a raw deal in that last year was just a perfect storm of events, many of which were out of his control but dude couldn’t coach on gameday. That’s the only day that truly matters in this league and that’s where he failed which is why he was shown the door.
Sorry for the rant that involved comments from previous articles but I just kept seeing Bonzai tell people to stop spewing BS but then turn around and spew BS, reminds me of my ex-wife so it struck a nerve lol.
June 7th, 2014 at 10:54 am
Schiano is the reason the last two Dominick drafts were better. No question.
Look at the amount of Rutgers players in the league. For a team that has never won the Big East, Greg sure cultivated a lot of NFL talent.
The perfect storm of events did get Schian canned. He should be the director of pro player personell.
June 7th, 2014 at 10:55 am
personnel*