NFL.com: GMC > Jameis
July 1st, 2017
Lauded.
This should gets Bucs fans talking.
Conor Orr of NFL.com decided to look at teams whose best player is not the quarterback. Orr identified 19 and the Bucs are on that list.
And just who is the Bucs’ best player? Well, Orr believes it is stud defensive tackle Gerald McCoy.
McCoy is the best defensive player the franchise has seen since Warren Sapp, and he seems to be getting better. Over the last four seasons — all Pro Bowl campaigns — McCoy has logged at least 6.5 sacks. Quarterback Jameis Winston is on the rise, but he is not yet the bona fide superstar that McCoy has become.
Well, hold up! Is GMC the best player on the Bucs? Maybe. That’s a fair argument. GMC is easily among the top three defensive tackles in the NFL; Joe has no doubt about that.
Best defender since Warren Sapp? That’s a bit over the top. Best Bucs defensive lineman since Sapp? No question.
Joe wouldn’t put GMC over a Hall of Fame linebacker like Derrick Brooks, who lasted much longer with Tampa Bay than Sapp. And Joe wouldn’t put GMC over his former teammate Ronde Barber, himself making a run for a bust in Canton.
GMC is good, very good. Joe isn’t sure anyone would say GMC is a Hall of Famer. Yet.
July 1st, 2017 at 3:49 am
As Bill Clinton would say, ‘Define B-E-S-T.’ In other words, what’s Orr using as his criteria in this case? His selection of the Chiefs’ safety Eric Berry as his team’s best player seems to give some insight: “Berry has a way of placing an entire locker room on his shoulders while simultaneously inspiring the community around him. It was amazing to watch Berry take over certain games in Kansas City last year.”
So to Orr, leadership appears to be an essential ingredient as well as a player’s ability to take over games. If that’s his criteria consistently, I’d have to pick Jameis as being our best player last year. Realistically however, I can’t see much value to Orr’s ‘best player’ selection. Perhaps best defensive player & best offensive player might make some sense, but selecting one or the other as ‘best’ on the team seems circumspect.
July 1st, 2017 at 6:13 am
Very grounded stance Joe.
I’m impressed.
July 1st, 2017 at 6:23 am
GMC is not a HOF player.
July 1st, 2017 at 6:34 am
Mike Evans is best player on bucs. Hands down.
I will get crap for this too but lavonte is best bucs defender . Not GMC. Look for him to bounce back. Think he was to worried about Kwon ‘s assignments last year and lavonte clearly got better as year went on. Think mike smith will use him to rush qb more as well this year. Splash plays will be filthy
July 1st, 2017 at 8:01 am
Wake up, TMAXCON!!!
This article will make your weekend…..
I agree that Evans is our best player…..if you judge that by how well he plays his position and ranks against others at his position…..
July 1st, 2017 at 8:12 am
While jameis has superior leadership skills and a high competitive nature,
I would give the nod to Mike Evans as the best player on the team.His play was more consistant and did not have some of the ups and downs that Jameis had.
That said,here’s hoping Jameis’s third season is as big a leap as it was for
Mike Evans last year.
July 1st, 2017 at 8:38 am
@Bird
while I would agree that LVD was putting a big emphasis on helping Kwon his
first year.I would chalk up last year’s play to adjusting to the new defense and Mike Smith figuring out how to use him best.Like you’ I also hope LVD has a big
year.
July 1st, 2017 at 8:44 am
Putting Mariota ahead of Demarco, Conklin, or Delanie just illustrates the lack of thought put into the article.
July 1st, 2017 at 8:48 am
It really doesn’t matter what you think!!! McCoy will be a first ballot HOF pick!!!!
July 1st, 2017 at 8:52 am
Yeah TMAXCON must be sleeping in.
GMC is a very good DT but he is not more valuable to our team than Jaboo or ME13. He may not even be the best defensive player when you factor in Kwon and I am telling you all now, Noah Spence was flashing last season while playing injured. Spence is going to be a difference maker this season.
Now to defend GMC because we know how much certain people have such disdain for him, first off he is always double teamed so the real disdain should be focused on the guys who can’t win one on one match ups. GMC by design in the defense he has been in is supposed to occupy a couple of OL and plug a rushing lane. If he gets a sack which he does get some, that is gravy.
Add Chris Baker, a healthy Noah Spence, Ayers to GMC as well as the new rookie DT from USC who could be a great run stuffer on goaline and short yardage situations and now we have the makings for a really good defensive line. We also have some depth for rotating guys in to keep them from wearing down on a hot day.
I think the defense will pick up where it left off the second half of last season. I just hope our offense does not score too fast all of the time so the defense can get a rest in between series.
Finally, my last concern is that I can’t get to Vegas before the season to wager a hefty bet on the Bucs winning more games than the line is set at.
July 1st, 2017 at 9:00 am
Listen, GMC has been a decent player, maybe even the best defensively on the team at times. But great? Hardly. Dude has been more worried about flashing style, dying his hair, modeling with his car, etc. He’s a silent diva. He’s at that age where he’ll soon trend down not up. So a HoFer? Far from it.
July 1st, 2017 at 9:03 am
Oh yeah, and he’s not most valuable. Trade him away and Bucs would be just fine as long as they still have Jameis, Evans, the young OL, Kwon, VH3, Spence, and on and on.
July 1st, 2017 at 9:45 am
Mike Evans I said our best player with Jameis right behind him.
July 1st, 2017 at 10:57 am
@NYCBucsDave that’s a bit of a contradiction. Who has he played with on the Bucs line sans last year that was worth of a damn? If you take out MB, who? Considering that the Bucs have used mainly 4-3 formations, I’d say McCoys done the best with what he has. If you really want to understand how good Gmac is, listen to Steve Duemig on 620. If our defense is good it’s because McCoy is being the disrupter he is. HoF? No, but considering John Lynch is having a hard time getting in and the talk is that Ronde may have to wait awhile tells you everything you need to know about the ‘HoF’. That it’s a celebrity contests. Terrel Owens can’t get in because it’s a popularity contest from the media (who make up most of the HoF selection committee).
Does anyone really not want Gmac on our team? If you don’t, then by definition he is a great player on our team. Teams don’t let good players walk
July 1st, 2017 at 11:05 am
Haha bet Tmax loves this
July 1st, 2017 at 11:14 am
Tmaxcon is just another point of view…nothing more!!!!
July 1st, 2017 at 12:48 pm
This offense SHOULD…torture NFL teams.
The D will shake itself out no matter who says what about it.
Bring on this O. We’re all dying to see it!!!! (!!! for Realist)
July 1st, 2017 at 1:15 pm
This chit right here is super funny.
July 1st, 2017 at 1:32 pm
GMC and best player in the same sentence just doesn’t fell right. I can’t use the double tram analogy cuz all 3 tech dts get double teamed. A Donald gets tripled team he has no problem w effectiveness.
My best players outside of Qb
ME, MARPET, LVD,Kwon, Grimes , GMC, Dm. In that order. Throw away those stats sheets and use the eye test
July 1st, 2017 at 3:56 pm
ME.. In two years Fameis will be regarded as the best Buccaneer.
July 2nd, 2017 at 7:39 am
NFL= Not For Long. I love GMC, but Jamies is one in a million. Would not trade him for anyone in the league.