Those Who “Legitimately Change The Game”
October 3rd, 2014
It warmed Joe’s heart to hear Sean Payton’s Thursday news conference when the head coach went on and on about how Lavonte David should have made the Pro Bowl last year and is a true every-down superstar.
Former Super Bowl winning coach Brian Billick took his praise for Gerald McCoy one step further.
Remember, it was Billick who predicted McCoy’s return would stop the Steelers’ power running game in its tracks last Sunday.
And then Billick penned a column for NFL.com exploring the players who “legitimately change the game” when they step on the field and keep opposing coaches from sleeping.
McCoy and J.J. Watt were the two defensive linemen he selected.
The Pocket Destroyer
As mentioned above, the best pure edge rushers have terrorized offenses for years — hence, the gargantuan salaries for elite left tackles. But the newest defensive trend is to have a guy who applies pressure on the quarterback from the middle of the protection scheme, knifing through the A and B gaps, like the Houston Texans’ J.J. Watt or Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Gerald McCoy. If you expend too many assets “pinching” in protections to help the guards/center, then you find yourself continually isolating your tackles, leaving them to go one-on-one against athletic defensive ends without help. Even the rush ends who aren’t dominant are going to win their share of one-on-one battles. Watt and McCoy also move all along the defensive line, so you have to guess where your help needs to be.
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It’s sometimes easy to take McCoy for granted. Bucs fans have gotten used to his dominance.
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McCoy very likely is giant key to the Bucs success Sunday. As Billick writes, McCoy can screw up the rhythm of an offense by blowing it up from the inside out.
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However, the Saints’ defensive line has had plenty of success with McCoy. Sean Payton and Drew Brees know exactly what’s coming from McCoy, and they’ve managed to keep him contained in the past. The Bucs will need another big day from other defensive linemen, like they got in Pittsburgh.
October 3rd, 2014 at 8:24 am
He has a chance to be one of the best ever at his position. Funny he has begun to stand on his own merit now after being in the shadow of Suh since the draft… Class player!!!
October 3rd, 2014 at 8:36 am
He’s never had double digit sacks yet, so for me personally I think all this dominance talk is premature. Bilick is lumping him in J.J. Watt, who’s the best defender in football? I like the praise but come on.
October 3rd, 2014 at 8:38 am
Defensive tackles without good edge rushers don’t get 10 sacks. Get educated buddy
October 3rd, 2014 at 8:39 am
Please change Drew Brees’ smiley A$$ face on Sunday. Put his whiney, cry baby A$$ on his back. Let’s Go Bucs!!!
October 3rd, 2014 at 8:50 am
Lovie should be playing the tape from last years blowout in NOLA.
Fire up the troops because they play better when angry,
October 3rd, 2014 at 8:54 am
JMomma, Don’t place too much emphasis on sacks from a UT. GMC has been double and triple teamed. I don’t have the PFF grade but it will probably tell you that McCoy’s QB pressures and TFL’s grade him top 2 or 3.
October 3rd, 2014 at 9:00 am
Joseph Mamma….
Dude, it’s not just about sacks. When you make statements like you made, which contradicts what everyone else in football is saying about McCoy’s dominance, it shows a real lack of football knowledge on your part. You don’t have to get to the QB every time to be dominant. McCoy changes the direction of plays by getting instant penetration. If we ever get a DE who can apply real pressure and turn the plays back to the inside then you will see the double digit sacks. It’s like when Sapp had Simeon Rice.
October 3rd, 2014 at 9:20 am
@Bobby
Thank you.
October 3rd, 2014 at 11:07 am
He deserve to play for rings and that’s not gonna happen in Tampa until they get a franchise QB and other serious pieces.
GMC is elite and if Tampa want to keep him they will have to pay him handsomely.
October 3rd, 2014 at 11:33 am
McCoy is a good citizen and a solid player. And I suppose he “grades” well, for people who do these sorts of things. But I’ve been catching a lot of JJ Watt on RedZone and that SOB is unblockable. He is always in the backfield and always disrupting. McCoy and others are certainly in the next tier down from Watt.
October 3rd, 2014 at 11:50 am
New tampa. Look at the players around each of them. They are the two best inside guys. JJ has better support around him.
October 3rd, 2014 at 12:54 pm
Cap goes up next year. Vjax and the hawk are outta here. We will be fine its just going to be up to mccoy if he wants to stay. I know the cowboys is going to make a run at him or Suh and McCoy is from Oklahoma so we’ll just have to see