Rush Lanes, Josh McCown And Marcus Mariota
August 27th, 2015
Gerald McCoy found a away to talk about Marcus Mariota preparation today.
Man, the thought of a real game has Joe all jacked up.
No. 93 was asked about the growth of the Bucs’ defense and how they might be able to close out games this season, something they couldn’t do last year.
In McCoy’ response, he talked about a key to smart defensive line play and how it will be a factor on opening day.
“Rush lanes are huge in this league. We’re playing a quarterback this week that I’ve had the pleasure of playing with. If you give him a seam, he’ll tuck it and run,” McCoy said of Josh McCown. “We definitely have to be on our rush lanes with him. But leading into Week 1, I mean obviously that guy can run. Rush lanes are huge up front and just covering each other up. On the back end, just being on your keys and everybody just doing your job.”
In case you didn’t catch it, McCoy was referencing Mariota on opening day.
What’s encouraging about the Bucs’ improving covering rush lanes is defensive end George Johnson. That was the word from former Bucs DE Steve White, who joined Ronnie and TKras on WDAE-AM 620 today and, unprovoked, said Johnson understands rush lanes, based on his performance against the Bengals.
“Those guys can all play off what McCoy’s doing, and when he crunches the pocket, they can kind of fall back inside and make those plays,” White explained. “That’s something that’s really easy to do but it’s been hard to teach evidently because our ends haven’t been doing that the last few years. But we finally saw it against the Bengals. Now what we have to see is them do it consistently.”
Yes, it should be easy to cash in on McCoy’s ferocious work inside. Maybe this is the year.
August 27th, 2015 at 1:47 pm
I obviously agree with GMC and everybody talking about people holding their rush lines.
But what makes me excited about facing Mariota is our LB Corps. LVD and especially Kwon are not typical college LB’s that Mariota simply outran. I think our LB corps will give Mariota fits if he tries to run. Shades of DB55 getting in Vicks head back in the good ole days against the Dixie Chicks.
August 27th, 2015 at 1:51 pm
Man, I always loved how Brooks got in Vicks head. I’m hoping to see something similar with LVD and Kwon when they face off against Mariota.
August 27th, 2015 at 2:00 pm
Mariota hasn’t been running the ball in the preseason but I expect they are trying to keep those plays under wrap until the regular season.
The trick to keepinh him contained is for the DEs not to rush to far past him and break containment.
August 27th, 2015 at 2:31 pm
Hopefully they do a better job preparing for him than Florida State. Go Bucs!
August 27th, 2015 at 3:07 pm
I wonder how much zone read will be thrown our way when the Titans come to town…
August 27th, 2015 at 3:50 pm
QBs can be hit on zone read plays with or without the ball. I’d have LVD n kwon hit him every single play and make him quit.
August 27th, 2015 at 3:59 pm
I can see MM running and getting tackled and struggling to get up or worse.
August 27th, 2015 at 4:06 pm
Since it’s preseason McCown will likely look better than he did here, if he plays in the game.
August 27th, 2015 at 4:14 pm
DB55
I agree completely. I think this will be gone from Mariota’s game before long.
What Suggs did to Bradford was totally legal. Perhaps a bit tasteless in a preseason game, but I actually thought Suggs let up a bit.
When the season starts every team in the league is going to be driving as hard to crush Mariota everytime he runs any read option.
Having said that, I don’t think it’ll last. It’ll simply look too brutal because as another RB the QB gets obliterated. There will be some ticky tacky roughing calls but more importantly after the season they’ll change the rules. The league simply doesn’t want their QB’s getting blasted like that.
But you are correct DB55 Lovie and Hardy will have an LB or perhaps a DE with one job which is too smash Mariota as hard as possible regardless if he hands it off or not.
August 27th, 2015 at 4:29 pm
Can’t wait to see McCown get his $hit rocked on Saturday. In regards to running QB’s… Well… Beast LVD & Tae KWON Do will take care of that.
August 27th, 2015 at 8:00 pm
They better make him look like he did in that first game against the dirty birds. Running around like a chicken with his head cut off!
August 27th, 2015 at 8:07 pm
SPBF
But you are correct DB55 Lovie and Hardy will have an LB or perhaps a DE with one job which is too smash Mariota as hard as possible regardless if he hands it off or not
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That’s what I would do! I’d even take a penalty or two.
August 27th, 2015 at 9:07 pm
St Pete Buc and DB55
I agree. I think Suggs got a bad rap for that hit. He let up. And did t go high near the head. So they complain he went low.
A defender needs to pick a player in that situation and go hit him. They can’t wait to find the ball sometimes. They need to force the action.
I hope the Bucs have a DE hot Mariotta every single time on the read option. Nothing against him and not to hurt him, just the nature of football.
You want to fake handoffs well, getting hit is going to be a big part of it for the QB.
GO BUCS!