“Everything Is Interchangeable”
June 18th, 2018
New strategy.
Changes, they are a comin.’
Bucs coach Dirk Koetter is a firm believer that backup offensive linemen must be interchangeable. The more positions a backup lineman can play, the better chance he has at winning a roster spot.
It seems Koetter’s new defensive line coach, Brentson Buckner, is of the same belief. Only, Buckner believes his starting linemen must be interchangeable.
Last week after Bucs stud defensive tackle Gerald McCoy sprung for snow cones following the end of underwear football season, he spoke to the Tampa Bay pen and mic club and discussed a new mindset for his overhauled line.
GMC was asked about defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul getting spotted playing inside in practice and GMC said that is the new era of the Bucs defensive line.
“We are all over the place,” GMC said. “I have played end. I have played nose. I have played three [technique]. Everything is interchangeable. That’s the great thing about having a talented group. You kind of have a base spot but you really don’t have a spot.
“You are a defensive lineman. You are not a three technique, not a nose, not an end. You are a defensive lineman. And that is how Coach ‘Buck’ coaches us. You are a d-lineman. You may play a team where you have an injury at [nose] tackle. And they may say, ‘Hey Gerald, be up on that guy.’ You never know. We may have an injury on the inside and they say, ‘Hey, JPP, come on inside. Make them deal with your length and your speed.’
“It is all interchangeable.”
Now this is all very interesting to Joe on several levels. First, Joe likes this a whole lot. More diversified looks mean more chances of an offensive line to screw up, blow an assignment and let someone splash the quarterback untouched.
Besides, as quick as GMC is, why not once in a blue moon let him get off on a tackle and see what he can do in space as opposed to getting clogged up in a scrum in the middle?
But what is also interesting is an apparent new mindset from GMC himself.
He raves about Buckner. Last year, defensive coordinator Mike Smith (or perhaps former defensive line coach Jay Hayes?) had GMC playing in a three-man front the few times the Bucs used it. GMC was unhappy and groused that is not the way to use his skillset — but was also the good soldier and did what he was instructed.
Now with a new defensive line coach, GMC seems to be all good with potentially playing outside at end or maybe as a nose guard at times.
That tells Joe that GMC is willing to swallow his pride and do whatever it takes to make the playoffs as he realizes he is closer to the end of his career than the beginning
Or, does GMC simply trust Buckner maybe more than he trusted Hayes?
June 18th, 2018 at 10:07 am
I’d say trust buck is proven in this league it would seem as players would trust someone telling them something that’s been threw it before imho #GoBucs
June 18th, 2018 at 10:10 am
This sounds GOOD. Buckner is really talking the talk…. but can he walk the walk??? We shall see.
June 18th, 2018 at 10:12 am
2 Words
Calais Campbell
June 18th, 2018 at 10:12 am
Every time that someone has lined up GMC other than the defacto 3-tech, he has whined and cried!!!!! GMC complained about everything unless, she got to pass rush with no plan!!!!!
We will see if she is a good teammate and puts the team first!!!!!! Because it has not happened the first 8 seasons!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 18th, 2018 at 10:17 am
lets see if its effective….sounds creative but we’ll see
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!…GO BUCS!!!
June 18th, 2018 at 10:45 am
Like nobody ever heard of this.
Please. Enough talk. DO.
Until then its like listening to the Washington Generals before they played the Globetrotters.
June 18th, 2018 at 10:56 am
College teams have been doing this for years, happy gmc got sno cones for everyone
June 18th, 2018 at 11:04 am
Lol I love how Joe puts the snow cone line in there just to rile up the trolls like tmax-is-a-beotch.
June 18th, 2018 at 11:39 am
I’m really surprised it wasn’t working with Hayes. He did well in Cincy for a long time, but I have to admit I love Buckners attitude and approach..Being predictable all the time just doesn’t work. Never changing up the positions, never changing the rotation. Kind of like NEVER playing tight coverage..EVER!!!!!!
June 18th, 2018 at 12:01 pm
Its not on Buckner. The pressure is on DC Smith. Will Smith make a guest appearance on the sidelines during actual games this season? Stay tuned………..
June 18th, 2018 at 12:13 pm
Jack of all trades, master of none.
Don’t like this for o-line or d-line. For d-line, you should know where the ball is going by your second step. Hard to do when you have to worry who is going to engage you, where your sight lines are, gap containment, hand placement, knowing opponent’s tendencies, etc. etc. etc.
To play truly instinctive ball, you need the most reps possible at the same position. Quit screwing around! Are we setting these guys up to be pro bowl players or future coaches?
June 18th, 2018 at 12:14 pm
Eric Says:
“Please. Enough talk. DO. Until then its like listening to the Washington Generals before they played the Globetrotters.”
LOL!
June 18th, 2018 at 12:15 pm
Blah blah blah
Team is 5-11, until they prove they are better.
Glad to see McCoy out at DE.
Personally, I think a DE beats a Tackle, by sitting him up. That takes time.
Not a Fan of moving guys around to different positions.
Let a talented DT play DT- and spend the game figuring out how to beat his man.
Buuuut, lets give this approach a try. At this point, we have nothing to lose.
June 18th, 2018 at 12:29 pm
The great players do get moved around to get the most favorable matchups. That’s all they are talking about here.
June 18th, 2018 at 12:31 pm
These coaches like to move players around too much. They’ve been changing players positions to only move them back. I agree with TGH and Capt.Tim 100
June 18th, 2018 at 1:38 pm
6 Pro-Bowls ….BOOM!
June 18th, 2018 at 1:40 pm
I like the idea of moving them around. What if team we are playing has a sorry backup tackle and the game but has stud center and guards. Would you still want Gerald McCoy going against the pro bowl center and guards and will Gholston going against the crappy tackle. No because that would be a wash. Let McCoy slide out and try to beat up that tackle. It’s all about mismatches and to get those you have to move guys around. Some offensive lineman do great against speed guys and some power guys. So makes the most sense to move them around to get that sped guy on the power blocker or vice versus
June 18th, 2018 at 2:07 pm
I’m so tired of reading some of these complaints about the Joes’ articles. It’s the off season…what do you guys expect? I think the articles are great in the sports vacuum that exists between the end basketball and start of training camp. Rays are not really worth watching so this is it. For the next 5-6 weeks, I’m reading these articles and catching up on any binge watching that I may have missed over the last few months.
June 18th, 2018 at 2:36 pm
Not telling us anything new Joe. It’s a part of rotation and good teams have good rotation.
June 18th, 2018 at 3:47 pm
McIceCream strikes again. He lined up outside last yr during camp but never once during the season. #Snore
June 18th, 2018 at 3:51 pm
Not sure how often this has happened, but I’d like to see GMC take a crack at DE in a 3-4 Defense.
All the skill sets are similar to that of a 3 technique.
Why not make GMC earn his paycheck with a few snaps at DE?
June 18th, 2018 at 4:28 pm
Joe, maybe the lack of perceived angst or “complaints” about playing positions other than the 3-technique is due to the surrounding talent. I can imagine being opposed to playing end because the person playing 3-technique in your place is better suited playing end, while you’re better suited playing 3-technique. It’s no secret that this is the most talented d-line Gerald has played with.
June 18th, 2018 at 7:10 pm
Hef used to do that with his playmates. They were all interchangeable and could play any position. Visionary
June 18th, 2018 at 8:48 pm
Didn’t GMC declare not very long ago he wasn’t playing anything but the position he’s in?…..GMC is always talking and in the locker room, i think it works against him to a degree. I think teammates have to respect his play but comes off as kind of a sell out/kiss a$$ in the press.
June 19th, 2018 at 7:29 am
Realist, good point but did you need to call him she? Hurts your credibility and quite frankly is sophomoric. Makes reasonable people not want to read your posts. Just sayin….
Go Bucs!