Beckles, GMC And Winning
September 8th, 2015
It is unfair to single out Gerald McCoy for the Bucs’ losing ways.
So last week, simmering disdain was rekindled between Gerald McCoy and the noted longtime McCoy critic, sports radio personality and former Bucs guard Ian Beckles, of WDAE-AM 620.
It has gotten to the point that GMC is needling if not provoking Beckles on Twitter. And naturally, Beckles took the bait.
Joe can actually see both sides.
Beckles claims that for the Bucs to turn around their losing ways, GMC must play at a Hall of Fame level, which Beckles thinks he is not. Joe is pretty sure GMC might just agree.
Is GMC a good player? Of course! Only a moron would say otherwise.
Sadly for GMC, he is the face of the Buccaneers, for now. That’s sad because the Bucs have lost far more often than they have won since GMC was drafted. So, for better or worse, this losing is tagged on the most visible player on the team.
The Bucs are all about losing. They’re 30-70 in their last 100 games. And the man whose face represents much of that losing is GMC.
Is that fair? No, it is not.
Soon, if America’s Quarterback, Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston, has positive results, he will take the torch from GMC and become the face of the franchise. That’s inevitable for premier quarterbacks. One could argue Jameis is already the face of the franchise, much to the chagrin of former Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik.
It is also unfair to GMC that for most of his career, he largely has been saddled with schlock for defensive teammates and quarterbacks, sans Lavonte David,. Remember: Dick Butkus and Gayle Sayers, two of the greatest that ever played the game, never played in an NFL playoff game. And they were drafted by the Bears in the same draft!
Joe was just a tyke when those guys retired, but Joe is willing to lay cash Bears fans didn’t rake Butkus or Sayers over the coals because the Bears couldn’t make the playoffs.
September 8th, 2015 at 10:18 am
I don’t always agree with Ian Beckles, but at least he is not a kiss ass, like so many media people in Tampa are. He is not scared to be openly critical of players.
I like that.
September 8th, 2015 at 10:22 am
You cant blame the guy for a performance when he’s not even on the field. Defense, all on him. Offense, no way.
September 8th, 2015 at 10:26 am
@Chris
Agree with your take. Sometimes I do concede however that Ian goes out of his way to prove exactly what you just said. But overall I agree.
Who is going to criticize Dick Butkus. He’s the kind of guy who would have shown up at the studio to kick butt!!!
My take on GMC..what Joe says…Is GMC a good player? Of course! Only a moron would say otherwise. While I have been called delusional on this blog…I’m cool with that 🙂 I haven’t yet achieved moron status although after this post I’m sure some guys will be happy to bestow the title on me. LMAO
Of course GMC is a “good” player. That’s not really the question. Is he a “great’ player? Is he a future HOFer? I think the verdict is still out. He still has a lot to prove to me that in a word as I’ve said is consistency.
Sometimes I’ll see a replay and GMC looks great or HOF material…sometimes he looks really good..other times good…but sadly sometimes it looks as if he loses concentration or something. I don’t wish to accuse him of taking a play off but it does “seem” that way sometimes.
All I want to see from GMC this year is sustained effort. I don’t even care if he’s HOF every play…but he can’t sleepwalk through ANY plays even if he already has multiple sacks in that game.
September 8th, 2015 at 10:31 am
McCoy doesn’t take over games like greats of the past like White and Sapp or even the greats playing today like Watt and Suh.
Beckles is right about this and everyone, including McCoy, should stop being so sensitive and expect more from your supposedly best player.
September 8th, 2015 at 10:36 am
GMC is good not great. Warren Sapp still dominated while playing on less talented teams… Sapp is the measuring stick… GMC has a long way to go…
September 8th, 2015 at 10:42 am
This debate kinda reminds me of the old college days when the fairly good looking girl would surround herself with, let’s be diplomatic, some really no so attractive girls and it would make her look a lot better than she really was…
GMC is the nice looking girl surrounded by trolls, which is what the rest of the Bucs defensive line compares to.
September 8th, 2015 at 10:42 am
Sapp played on less talented teams?…….How about Brooks and Lynch…..Rice?
GMC has very little help except LVD….hopefully that will start to change.
I am cautious….but I am very hopeful that this is an extremely good defense…..if we can get any kind of pressure on the QB, it could be great.
September 8th, 2015 at 10:45 am
Earlier in his career Sapp played with less talented teams… Yes…
September 8th, 2015 at 10:49 am
I agree with Ian, St Pete, and Chris.
People are often quick to come down on people like Ian and even Shaun King because they’re not solely singing Buc praises. But lets be fair, this team has somehow been getting worse over the years – and they’ve been right.
And specifically with a guy like McCoy, how would u feel as a former player seeing a guy making $100 mil on your favorite team, taking plays off (as St. Pete put it) or being anything less than dominant?
September 8th, 2015 at 10:51 am
Sorry GMC life is not fair. When you are paid like a game changer but don’t change the game the losing is placed on you. Good player, now it’s time to make a play to preserve a late lead or lead the d to a respectable ranking
September 8th, 2015 at 10:56 am
I’ve been saying it. GMC is good, not great. Far to inconsistant.
September 8th, 2015 at 11:05 am
I agree with dallasbuc, and said it the other day. GMC doesn’t take over games like Sapp did. that is the standard that Beckles is measuring GMC by. Great player, sure. Hall Of Famer, nah.
September 8th, 2015 at 11:05 am
What Ian said was his opinion but there was some truth to it as well. I respect Ian for speaking his mind and I take his word over any media type. Ian played in the NFL and was in the trenches so he is qualified to evaluate player performance…especially at that position. The media is way to PC now and afraid to speak the truth. Plus most of them are journalism majors and never played a snap of football in their lives.
September 8th, 2015 at 11:06 am
@couchfan..I agree completely…GO BUCS!!!
September 8th, 2015 at 11:08 am
Hey Dallas we agree…imagine that.
Right now IMO Watt is so far ahead of all the others including Suh and Atkins that’s he’s just amazing. He IS at Sapp or White level.
He is the main reason I’ve counted that Houston game as an L.
September 8th, 2015 at 11:11 am
#93 is getting paid JJ Watt/Suh money. Yet I don’t see him performing like his peers. Yes. He had 9 sacks last season. But he fades in every game. I’m mean there were plenty of times I would see the DL getting stoned at the line of scrimmage and I would say to myself, “put Gerald back in.” Then I would look at the replay and see that he was in the game. Yes, he shows flashes. But flashes aren’t going to make a difference. Consistency will. Until he is consistent, he will just be a good player in my eyes.
September 8th, 2015 at 11:42 am
It’s mind boggling how stupid and football ignorant Bucs fans are. Since being drafted, both Suh and McCoy have had very similar stats. Suh had a much better group to play with in Detroit. Do you believe that if Suh were here he’d be ‘taking over games’ as some like to put it? With this D line? Are you kidding me??? He didn’t take over games in Detroit any more than GMC takes over games here. He and McCoy are both regarded as two of the premier DT’s in the league but of course the posters here know better. NO ONE IN THE ENTIRE NFL HAS BEEN WARREN SAPP since Sapp retired…..No One!!! Can you get that through your thick stupid skulls?? Sapp was a one of a kind player that rarely comes along at the DT position. Quit comparing McCoy to Sapp. It’s stupid and just shows your lack of intelligence. McCoy is a very, very good DT and we are very lucky to have him on our team. Once we get an edge rusher you will see just how good McCoy really is.
September 8th, 2015 at 12:10 pm
Count your statistical beans all you want. Suh and Watt take over games and wreck shop on Sundays. McCoy never does. I’m going with eyeball test over the counter. Thanks for playing.
September 8th, 2015 at 12:17 pm
@ mac
I really beg to differ with you….here are some of the players on the Bucs Defense when Sapp first played.
Brooks, Culpepper, Nickerson, Chidi Ahanoto, Lynch
September 8th, 2015 at 12:31 pm
@Bobby
I see McCoy helping players up more than knocking them down. I see the exact opposite with Suh and Watts (granted Watts is a DE so we should not be comparing him anyhow).
September 8th, 2015 at 1:08 pm
Ian is just being “disruptive”, so he should be paid Geraldini type money.
September 8th, 2015 at 2:38 pm
Watching the Bucs games I don’t even notice McCoy unless he jumps offsides or is in on a sack. I don’t notice him much.
September 8th, 2015 at 5:12 pm
For all you posters loving GMC, please give me examples of when he’s made a difference in an important game. GMaC disappears or get injured when the going gets tough. BTW I don’t see him elevate the players around him either. Ian is dead right. Dude is way overrated and soft! Al he is is the prettiest pimple on the ugliest girl.
September 8th, 2015 at 6:44 pm
Ahh, the gaging level of stupidity displayed here.
How do you take over a game, when you are triple teamed on every play.
How do you take over a game, when you are( until Macdonald arrived last year), the only NFL caliber player on the D-line. And only about 3 on the entire defense.
Its criminal, how the Bucs have wasted years of MCCoys proffesional life. Bad coaches, bad teammates, new scheme every season. Bunch of lame D-lineman around him
And incredibly stupid people, ( including rating hungry, lousy former players), criticizing him, when the problem is a fundamental failure, of biblical proportion, on the management level. Ok, meybe not Biblical- but always fun to use as an adjective!
McCoy suffers the same fate as the Great LeeRoy Selmon. The best player in the league as his position, but frequently surrounded by inferior players.
Beckles doesnt say what he believes. He says what he thinks will be controversial- to bump ratings.
Whos he gonna talk about? Chris Conte? Jonathon Banks?
No one would care.
He goes after our highest pick on Defense- the most famous defensive player on the team.
That didnt occur to any of you Zombies?? Nooo, of course not
September 8th, 2015 at 8:42 pm
While a painful period as a Bucs fan that I have otherwise subconsiously tried to forget the one bright spot was the utter dominance of our very own Lee Roy Selmon. He took over games while playing on bad defenses and bad teams. Watt during his career has taken over games while on bad football teams that don’t win. McCoy is no LeeRoy Selmon, on or off the field. I suppose the trouble here with all the McCoy and incompetent Lovie Smith apologists is that the standards have been lowered significantly thus allowing mediocrity to be judged in some strange light of respectability and greatness.
So much talk with miserable results and no winning football.
September 8th, 2015 at 8:58 pm
Capt. Tim, you’re dead wrong. I personally saw the great LeeRoy Selmon take over games while playing on inferior teams. He once won a game by himself causing a fumble on the the 1 yard line when the Bills fullback was going in for the game winning TD, among all his other great plays. How many great plays has GMC made in 5 yrs? NONE! Great players rise to the occasion, don’t blame the supporting cast.
September 8th, 2015 at 9:07 pm
DallasBucsFan, I couldn’t have said it better. Most fans on this site aren’t familiar with what a real DT like Selmon did, on and off the field. That’s why I know GMC is not a fraction of Selmon, so let’s not compare apples to rotten bananas.
September 8th, 2015 at 11:36 pm
Has anyone calculated how many of GMC sacks came in the 3-4th quarter when the game was already lost?
September 9th, 2015 at 1:14 am
There was several games when the Bucs offense had the lead within final the 5 mins of the 4th quarter. All the defense had to do is make a 3 and out for a win. Well it obvious they failed. I like McCoy. But, he’s not a leader. He’s a guy with a great personality that gets along with other people easily.
During game time, I can’t remember him being in any of the guys face trying to give them tips and strategy, pump them up, or get on them for their horrible play. I remember last year we had a winnable game. Defense is lousy. Yet, McCoy is talking to Steven Mean who was inactive before the game started. Why not spend that time coming up with a strategy with the active defensive players? This exactly what Ian means about McCoy doesn’t raise the talent level around him. Too passive as a leader.
Ian is correct to get on McCoy and the team about not having a leader. We badly need that guy. Hopefully Winston can be the guy that produce and continue his college leadership skill. These other quiet lead by example guys aren’t cutting it. Leadership as a whole among the players need to be improved. We don’t need the scared leaders. The team and players need to hear the truth. If they don’t like it, then the should’ve been doing their job correctly to begin with. It’s really that simple.
McCoy and other leaders on the Bucs does deserve the blame. I still like the guy. What you allow as a leader is a reflection of who you are as a leader. What McCoy D Line have shown is lack of production, consistency, and drive to be great during games. It hurt not just the defense but the whole team. If McCoy doesn’t change this, then let stop calling him a leader… please.
You can’t be friends with everyone as a leader. You will rub some the wrong way at time for giving constructive criticism. But you will get respect for telling folks the truth. We have leaders that want to be friends and on good terms with everyone. It’s not a good thing.