“Our Goal Was To Put Our Division On Notice”
February 2nd, 2018
Gerald McCoy speaks
During his tour of national and local radio shows camped out in Minneapolis yesterday, Gerald McCoy was asked why the Buccaneers have had so little success over the past eight years he’s been on the team.
Good question, McCoy has been a major face of the post-Chucky era after being the No. 3 overall pick in 2010.
McCoy had an answer for the New York audience on WFAN.
“Finishing. Finishing, man. You see us lose games. We’re always right there at the end,” McCoy said. “A lot of times we’re winning. We’ll be up in these games, or right in the mix, or the game is tied, but that other team always somehow finds a way to make more plays than we make at the end.
“The thing I’d say if you look at last season, in the final three games, our goal was to not quit, but to put our division on notice. … Played Atlanta to the wire, missed a field goal to win the game. We had Carolina beat. It’s 4th-and-3, 4th-and-5, we jump offsides. That’s us; that’s self-inflicted wounds. And then we actually beat New Orleans, who ended up being the NFC South champs. Our goal was to show them that we’re not goin’ anywhere. We just have to find a way to finish these games out, man, We’re right, right there. We’re so close.”
Those last few sentences there are so key for Bucs fans and management. Are the Bucs really “close?” Are they “right there,” as McCoy says.
Joe doesn’t think the Bucs are that “close,” not the way they’re currently constructed.
Speaking of the NFC South, Atlanta’s high-impact 2016 draft pushed them over the top. The Saints’ stunning haul this season took them from a steady stream of 7-9 records to a bad tackle from the NFC title game.
Jason Licht, Joe believes, is going to need one of those kinds of drafts for the Bucs to be the turnaround story of 2018.
February 2nd, 2018 at 12:26 pm
Are we close? Not on the d-line we’re not. However, a couple of plays here or there, like defensive stops or not turning the ball over, and we would’ve had a better record.
February 2nd, 2018 at 12:29 pm
nothing worse than a career and with a camera crew making dumbarse captain obvious statements. now go back to your dolls fool.
February 2nd, 2018 at 12:39 pm
We had Carolina beat. It’s 4th-and-3, 4th-and-5, we jump offsides. That’s us; that’s self-inflicted wounds
————————————
This is such BS. That penalty did nothing to hurt us. You still have to stop them from scoring a TD with 30 seconds left.
What he should have said is: Once again I let the gayest qb in the league run right over my gap as I stood there trying not to get hit. I don’t care if we win or lose I just don’t want to get hit. You know I’m preparing for an acting career as an evil villain.
February 2nd, 2018 at 12:39 pm
“WE” didn’t jump offsides on the crucial play of the Carolina game – Fatty Baker did! – immediately after you warned him not to….
Bucs played hard those last 3 games and Koetter may well owe his job this season to that fact.
February 2nd, 2018 at 12:44 pm
DB says:
“That penalty did nothing to hurt us”
Um – it was 4th down. Stuff that play and we win. Bakers offside made it 4th and a foot – which is a hell of a lot harder to stop than 4th and 3 yards. Geez
February 2nd, 2018 at 12:45 pm
“Joe doesn’t think the Bucs are that “close,” not the way they’re currently constructed.” Might be wrong Joe, but it looks like any team would have to at least break-even in their division to win that division, the only sure route to the playoffs. Offensively I think we’re just a couple of pieces away. But defensively? I agree with you, we’re not that close. New Orleans (#10 defense Points Scored) & Atlanta (#8 defense Points Scored) have both improved a LOT defensively these past 2 years, and Carolina (#11 defense Points Scored) perennially has a strong defensive team.
Bucs are a long way back (#22 Points Scored). No pass rush, mediocre Secondary … a loooong way back. With a focused draft we can improve that quite a bit I’m sure, but it would take a great FA haul to really make a giant leap in a single year IMO. Unfortunately not much on the FA market to really help our pass rush. Hopefully though we can pick up a great DT & a couple of quality CBs in free agency, maybe even a starting safety to complement Evans.
February 2nd, 2018 at 12:46 pm
The only team in the division that didn’t make the playoffs. They sure did put the division on notice.
February 2nd, 2018 at 12:46 pm
We are close…. we were two average DEs away from having a decent pass rush… we were one good defensive coordinator away from having a decent defense…
As it stands now… we need a very good DE… and one other DE to stand up and be AVERAGE… we need one good CB (Grimes) and another to stand up and be AVERAGE (Hargreaves, Smith). We’ve got more good LBs than most two teams do combined (3). We just need a good DE, a good CB, and average play from the other DE and CB… that’s it… and suddenly, we’re back to winning.
Our kicker is decent…better than the trash that has been run out there the previous 2-3 seasons. Winston should get better, our running game with improve through addition by subtraction (subtract 22 from the backfield should help a lot). This team ISN’T that far away. The young guys will improve drastically… Winston, Marpet, 2nd year guys usually take a huge jump in year two which bodes well for Godwin and our soon-to-be-stud TE Howard). We’re still on the right track… but to build a great defense you ALWAYS build from the front FOUR on back… not the Schiano crap of trading for a CB and signing a safety… the front FOUR is what wins championships.
February 2nd, 2018 at 12:47 pm
“Our goal was to put our division on notice”, LMFAO!!!!!!!! I can hear the Falcons, Panther’s and Saint’s spitting out their beers laughing hysterically!!! That’s some funny $hit right there, man I needed a good laugh!!!
February 2nd, 2018 at 12:52 pm
LakeLand Says:
February 2nd, 2018 at 12:46 pm
The only team in the division that didn’t make the playoffs. They sure did put the division on notice.
Exactly, they noticed we’re a joke of an organization that has a collection of a$$ clowns owning, running, coaching, and playing on this team. Put them on notice………….M@THER F@#KER PLEASE!!!! LOL
February 2nd, 2018 at 12:54 pm
Pick
Idgaf if it’s 1st and an inch. You hold them you win.
If you look back at that play on 4th&1 Baker and McDonald held them on 4th, super close but we didn’t get the call per usual. Gmc comes back in McDonald goes out and they run the ball right over GMC’s gap. But first Cam fumbles, has time to pick it up, and run in the end zone. Where’s was McIceCream? Watching the play from Bakers gap. Everybody else has their face in the dirt trying to stop them except for good ol McIceCream. Still pouting about an off-sides call.
Ironically I think Gmc leads the team in off-sides penalties, a b1tch and a hypocrite how did we get so lucky?!
February 2nd, 2018 at 12:58 pm
Fact: MCCoy and McDonald had 10 sacks
Entire roster of DE’s. 7.5 sacks – less than 1/2 sack/game- think about that – it took 3 games for a Bucs DE to record 1 sack
February 2nd, 2018 at 1:00 pm
Yeah Dirk..You put the division on notice allright. They noticed YOU and your Boy Smitty cannot make in game adjustments and are soft as hell on Defense. You put them on notice that they have another 2 or 3 yrs..free reign in the division. And Guess what Dirk? If you are your boy pressbox Smitty lay an egg next year? You are going to be put on..Permanent terminated Notice!! Coaches usually go before star players.
February 2nd, 2018 at 1:04 pm
I’m tired of reading his mindset. Not a championship mind set
February 2nd, 2018 at 1:13 pm
Nothing like some revisionist history DB55.
“Everybody else has their face in the dirt trying to stop them except for good ol McIceCream.”
That is such BS! Where were our LBs, DBs, S, DEs?! Cam literally fumbled took a step back then ran for the TD and you want that ALL on GMC?!
B.S.!!!!!!!
Leave it at “our defense s@cks”.
Ya’ll just want to scapegoat everything! It’s a TEAM sport fellas. EVERYONE failed at 5-11.
February 2nd, 2018 at 1:19 pm
Rank position groups within the division. The best we have is top TE group and #2 LBers. Make an argument for WR but if you lump “weapons” together we’re 3rd. Not a great recipe for “close”.
February 2nd, 2018 at 1:21 pm
Did I hear that Schiano is going to be the new DC for the Patriots? Lol Bucs are really dumb.
February 2nd, 2018 at 1:23 pm
Bucsfan
Did you see the play recently? Everybody was in the dirt! Except kwon he got lost. Gmc is straight up watching the play unfold.
Revisionist my left butt cheek.
February 2nd, 2018 at 1:24 pm
#ReleaseTheIceCreamMan
February 2nd, 2018 at 1:28 pm
They might’ve been in the dirt, but that doesn’t mean they were playing hard. I think I saw Gholston making sand castles!
February 2nd, 2018 at 1:29 pm
JAson Licht needs to have a Howie Rosen free agency haul. The draft ain’t gonna do it. Rookies are not going to get this team into the playoffs in 2018. Maybe by 2020. Impact free agents, not the high priced pbvious ones. But, the pro personnel department obviously sucks so that’s not happening anyway.
February 2nd, 2018 at 1:32 pm
What about how they so easily drove down the field before the fourth and five off sides fiasco?
I remember watching the game and Joe twitted “there is no way they hold this lead”
about 99% of bucs fans knew what was coming.
February 2nd, 2018 at 1:33 pm
tweeted……
February 2nd, 2018 at 1:34 pm
Our goal was to show them that we’re not goin’ anywhere.
damn right we aint going nowhere with this staff…..and we’ll remain bottom dwellers…..
GMC is right!!!….we aint going nowhere….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
February 2nd, 2018 at 1:37 pm
sounds like GMC is satisfied with being “close”….
don’t be “close”….get there and kick the f’ing door down!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
February 2nd, 2018 at 1:37 pm
Close but no cigar…. im tired of the talk…. they need to shut up and play… when we clinch a playoff spot then ill be excited…im still renewing my season tickets regardless… but dont want to hesr anything about were close because were not … 5-11 is totally different than 9-7 got to close games out
February 2nd, 2018 at 1:51 pm
They had plenty of chances to stop Carolina before the offsides. That was just the cherry on top. But GMC, by bringing that up, pushed the responsibility away from himself. For fun I’m gonna go watch the coach‘s film and iso on GMC. Better see a wrecking machine.
February 2nd, 2018 at 1:53 pm
Tnew- You better have a bottle of Crown with you. There’s not a lot to be happy about on that play!
February 2nd, 2018 at 2:07 pm
Saints – Great draft yes, but they also adjusted their normally Brees-centric offense to a more run-focused offense, which helped both the offense and defense (more rest, could attack more). COACHING FTW
Panthers – Fired their OC and bringing in Norv Turner in an effort to use their best weapon to his utmost. Defense is fantastic, but they will continue adjusting and using their players to the best of their ability. COACHING FTW
Bucs – Can’t find a DE to rush the passer… everyone wants explosive pass rushers on the edge, but most of those are the same type of players we already have, but aren’t USED in that capacity. COACHING FAILURE
yes we need more horses on the defense, specifically D-Line, but we could still get FAR more pressure and cause much more havoc on D if we had better coaches, and adjusted in-game. I am so tired of not having defensive coaches who adjust their scheme to fit the players!!
February 2nd, 2018 at 2:15 pm
Don’t you guys get it? The Bucs organization does not have a..CHAMPIONSHIP MINDSET. Start with the owners, The GM, The..retread coaches. or the players. Why is it?..Other teams plug in 4th thru 7th rd picks on their O and D line and keep right on hummin along and winning? I’ll tells ou why..We don’t have a Winning Organization set up. We just..hope..Wish..and Pray!
February 2nd, 2018 at 2:17 pm
“Eric Says:
February 2nd, 2018 at 1:32 pm
What about how they so easily drove down the field before the fourth and five off sides fiasco?”
Exactly. ALl they needed was 1 stop to win the game. One sack shuts the drive down.
But we all knew we’d give up the lead and lose. It’s what this defense did all year in those situations. Difference between 8-10 wins and 5-11.
February 2nd, 2018 at 2:17 pm
Ahhh yes, we put the rest of the division AND the NFL on notice that we SUCK!
February 2nd, 2018 at 2:27 pm
We’re doomed until he retires, if he ‘s staying with the Bucs…this clown counts close games as a victory…that says it all right there…Why didn’t he alone make a play to win those games the Bucs lost from defensive collapses as the clock was running out? Because he chokes when it really counts…
February 2nd, 2018 at 2:39 pm
Vita Vea
February 2nd, 2018 at 2:44 pm
“We’ll be up in these games, or right in the mix, or the game is tied, but that other team always somehow finds a way to make more plays than we make at the end”
It’s not that they make more plays – it’s that your defense makes NO plays at the end. Carolina got the ball with 2 mins left and their first 2 plays went for an easy 30 yards. Where the f*ck is the defense there.
On 3rd and 10 the defense gives up an easy 1st down. Where the f*ck are you?
The Panthers made like 5 big plays on that drive. THe defense made 0. No tackle for loss / no sack / no tipped pass. Nothing.
The defense couldn’t stop Brett f*cking Hundley – a guy who averaged like 70 yards passing – to hold a win. They couldn’t stop Tyrod Taylor and a Bills offense that was terrible passing the ball.
It wasn’t that other teams made more plays. It was that you f*cking consistently sucked 4ss on the field when it mattered most.
This defense basically does worse when the other team is forced to pass because they are desperately behind with little time. That’s so bad man lol – like most teams love to play defense with a lead and get after the QB. We’re the only team I know of that is at a disadvantage in that situation. We’re better off being down a few points and needing a WInston come-back… otherwise we better have a 9+ point lead with under 4-5 mins left or we are f*cked.
February 2nd, 2018 at 2:47 pm
SH!TTY COACHES OVER THE YEARS CALLING SH!TTY PLAYS= CONSTANT LOSSES.
February 2nd, 2018 at 2:47 pm
It would be interesting it someone collected all the quotes from GMC each and every year after the season ends and he always says the same crap. I’ll drink the coolaid when they’re in the playoffs.
February 2nd, 2018 at 2:54 pm
Idiot who has a goal of putting all the other teams on notice in the last three games when they are headed to the playoffs and you’ve got a top ten pick. This dude is a dud. People talk about how good he is all you want and I won’t dispute it, but you will never win with this type of loser in charge of the defense. People that are afraid of losing him, what kind of impact did Suh have on Detroit after he left? Haloti nata. Dude is trash and the next regime will come in and get him there he’ll out of here
On a side note we are not that far away from him admitting Little mermaid was his favorite movie lol what a Goof ball
February 2nd, 2018 at 2:55 pm
K just watched it.. funny how plays like the Baker off side cloud the entire picture. First issue. 4 minutes we have left in the game to run out the clock and Koetter goes to DOUG MARTIN to seal the deal. On the last drive Martin had runs of 2,3,1 and -3 yards. But still Winston managed to run over 4 minutes off of the clock, overcome 3 offensive line penalties and cross into field goal range. At 51 yards out, we miss the field goal. Why is Martin in the game at this point? He only had 6 rushing attempts for 7 yards total. What did he do to warrant this opportunity?Peyton Barber on the other hand had 13 touches for 51 yards, a 3.9 ypc average. Help me understand!!!!!!!!!!!! (the exclamation points are for those who feel good about the coaches and their decisions)
Now when we “turn the ball over” on the missed FG. GMC is literally a non factor in the entire drive. He honestly looked to take two plays off and ran some of the weirdest stunts. He was double teamed about half of the time. We never rushed more than 4 and our other pro bowler had horrible drops. Beckwith was the only player that looked like he was giving everything to the team and did put pressure on and Grimes was never tested. GMC made no difference on any play. Which is fine.. really. Just don’t circle another player’s play as the reason for a loss.. Even if it is.
February 2nd, 2018 at 2:59 pm
Typo.. sorry drive started with 8 minutes
February 2nd, 2018 at 3:04 pm
@tnew
I hear you brotha!!!!!!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
February 2nd, 2018 at 3:29 pm
Joe doesn’t think the Bucs are that “close,” not the way they’re currently constructed.
AGREED
The only thing the NFC south has been put on notice about Tampa is the following –
Cannot rush the QB
Cannot run the ball
Cannot throw the deep ball.
Just throw the ball all day long and you will beat the Bucs.
February 2nd, 2018 at 3:31 pm
Lord Cornelius Says:This defense basically does worse when the other team is forced to pass because they are desperately behind with little time. That’s so bad man lol – like most teams love to play defense with a lead and get after the QB. We’re the only team I know of that is at a disadvantage in that situation. We’re better off being down a few points and needing a WInston come-back… otherwise we better have a 9+ point lead with under 4-5 mins left or we are f*cked.
LOL LOL LOL SO TRUE!!! Well said Lord C
February 2nd, 2018 at 3:34 pm
What a f**king joke! Thus guy just doesn’t ever shut up.
He’s the last guy I want from this team doing the Super Bowl media tour.
He’s right about one thing though. I don’t know how many times in the last few years this team has had the lead with less than a minute and a half on the board and GMC and the defense allow the other team to march right down the field and score.
February 2nd, 2018 at 3:53 pm
I just now thought about this, how about our 2019 coach being Jay Gruden if Washington has a down year which would’nt be unsurprising
February 2nd, 2018 at 4:03 pm
GMC is what comes out of his mouth. Garbage. Why does he want to win anyway? GMC gets depressed when we have winning seasons. Proven fact
February 2nd, 2018 at 4:38 pm
Starts at the top people.
Every and any business does.
February 2nd, 2018 at 5:23 pm
I can’t wait until this super bowl is over so we can stop hearing from captain America for a few months! Dude makes me want to quit watching football and start watching soccer!
February 2nd, 2018 at 6:15 pm
Put the division on notice? LOL…..WOW….the division Kicked our A last year. We have made no changes but are preparing to jettison some deadwood players. They have drafted every bit as well as we have the last few years.
This is like the guy you easily just kicked the crap out of threatening you that he was going to watch a Karate movie overnight and was putting you on notice that he was going to kick your A tomorrow.
February 2nd, 2018 at 6:57 pm
If we re-sign Grimes and sign one of the FA CB’s like Talib or another our defensive backfield is very close. I think Evans is the real deal at safety.
Again…won’t matter how well the secondary plays though if our DL can’t put any pressure on the opposing QB’s. I’m not even talking sacks here but honest pressure that makes a QB hurry or moves him off his spot.
If Licht finds a great DE in the draft it’ll still take awhile for him to develop.
Perhaps he adds a decent FA like Ayers was two years ago. But we’ll still be short unless Noah comes back totally healthy and ready to live up to his manifest potential.
February 2nd, 2018 at 7:24 pm
Buccs are close. Consider they had half the team missing for the stretch run….and they still played pretty well. Upgrade the pass rush, rushing attacking (a piece or two on the oline) with added depth and the Buccs will be in the thick of things.
February 2nd, 2018 at 9:19 pm
Guys we are way close than some of you give us credit for. We lost 8 games by less than a score, with 4 of those being by a FG in the toughest division in football.
February 2nd, 2018 at 10:55 pm
Now Im no McCoy Fan, I think most know this already, but why are you telling the man to shut up when he was asked a question? Sheesh.
February 2nd, 2018 at 11:55 pm
To point at close games and say the problem was “just not finishing” ignores the main reason they were bad which occured all game long every game of the season. That is that the Dline was the worst performing Dline in the league. Forget the scores, how close they were, whether they were ahead or behind in certain games… The Dline was the worst in the league therefore the Bucs were a bad team.
February 3rd, 2018 at 8:51 am
Couch.. I’m directly calling him out for saying they “had Carolina beat” if not for an offsides penalty. That is as bad is at is. Like me saying, “we had Carolina beat if GMC had put pressure on Newton at the end of the game” He directly threw the shade off of him and onto Baker. What Baker did definitely affected the game and assisted with the loss. But lets not ignore the other 55+ yards that it took for the Panthers to get there, all while Baker was on the bench btw. That is what GMC asks us to do.
I have defended GMC in the past. I like his personality, enjoy his interviews but this take was indefensible.
February 3rd, 2018 at 9:14 am
You’re putting the division on notice??? And they are probably laughing at you and I bet some of your own teammates are too. This guy is a JOKE. The Bucs will NEVER make the playoffs with this clown as the “leader” of the defense!
February 3rd, 2018 at 9:49 am
Bucs play in the only division that sent 3 teams to the playoffs. No other division did it. They beat the division winner in the final game. How did THAT happen? Aints weren’t playing like cupcakes cos they needed the win. The problem is the defensive coach. Licht needs to draft, sign young D players. Smith needs to use them properly as in blitzing. The offense will be ready this season. Go Bucs!!