Gerald McCoy: Last Year’s Training Camp Inaccuracy To DeSean Jackson Was Telling
September 13th, 2018
Gerald McCoy opens up on the offense to Adam Schein
Powerful and insightful stuff today from Gerald McCoy talking about the Buccaneers offense and the national shock of Ryan Fitzpatrick ringing up five touchdowns (one rushing) on the Saints.
A guest on Schein on Sports, exclusively on SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio, McCoy talked about the confidence the team has in Fitzpatrick but was then asked by host Adam Schein to explain how exactly he knew Fitzpatrick was capable of lighting up the scoreboard in New Orleans.
McCoy went back to the summer of 2017.
Adam Schein: Take me and the audience through that, how you saw the signs throughout camp and through the week where you said, ‘This is going to work for Ryan Fitzpatrick.”
Gerald McCoy: I’ll start with two things that seem very minor but are actually very major to the success of our offense. And that is the connection of whoever is throwing the ball and DeSean Jackson. He can take the top off any defense. And the difference in this training camp and this offseason as opposed to last year there was a lot of misses between whoever was throwing to him. And this year it was very, very, very few misses. I mean it was very consistent with making that connection. And then another thing is the connection with O.J. Howard, him growing as a professional, as a player.
McCoy went on to praise the consistency and of Chris Godwin and say “Mike Evans is always Mike Evans.” But McCoy said if he were to “pinpoint” why Fitzpatrick and the offense was going to work, it was about the chemistry forged with Jackson and Howard.
Well, as most Bucs fans know, America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, was the guy throwing the balls to DeSean Jackson last year most of the time.
When Fitzpatrick played in 2017, he and Jackson had no chemistry issues. When in the red zone last season, Fitzpatrick targeted Jackson six times with four receptions and two touchdowns. In what remains an extreme mystery of the 2017 season, Jameis attempted just one pass in the red zone all year to Jackson. One!
Joe sure hopes Jameis got all the Jackson chemistry bugs worked out this summer. And it seemed they did. We hope.
If Jackson and Fitzpatrick keep connecting, and Jameis and Jackson can’t when Jameis returns, that would have ugly written all over it.
September 13th, 2018 at 5:38 pm
Well,
According to McCoy, good thing Fitz and Jameis were hitting Jackson in the preseason and in training camp….
#GoBucs
September 13th, 2018 at 5:41 pm
Instigating something that’s not gonna happen. No QB controversy will ever happen Joe…y’all would hope it would. The haters on here would as well… heard too many players say publicly that they’re dedicating these 3 games to WINS-TON. The magic will disappear soon and AMERICAS QB WILL EMERGE
September 13th, 2018 at 5:44 pm
love it!! Fitzpatrick brings consistency.
September 13th, 2018 at 5:48 pm
What he said was that all the QBs had bad connections with Djax in training camp last year; vs everyone connecting a lot more this year.
Fitz didn’t hit Djax deep really in any of his starts last year. Everyone sucked at that.
I do recall Winston hitting him deep in preseason (?) which would line up with all the Qbs having a better preseason.
Maybe I’m wrong tho. GO BUCS
September 13th, 2018 at 5:50 pm
So Knoxville, you would prefer “the magic disappear” so you can be right and have Jameis back out there?
What a fan…smh
September 13th, 2018 at 5:55 pm
Knox ….if Fitz wins Sunday and or MNF with the Steelers there is no way in hell Jameis starts.
This just sucks knowing that with a good defense we would be planning playoff games but we all know that they will give up the points and that fitz cannot sustain that type of output.
Fire Mike Smith
September 13th, 2018 at 5:57 pm
What controversy? There is none. If Fitz messes around and leads this team to 3 straight victories They had better stay with him until he either gets injured or peeters out. Why Interrupt a winner? Just because Sir jameis is coming back. Make him earn the starting job. Its just that simple folks.
September 13th, 2018 at 5:58 pm
Jackson is super duper fast folks. And his speed only increases as he gets down the field. This type of throw is not easy and the large majority of QBs aren’t used to throwing deep balls to someone so dern fast. I remember Tom Brady saying how much he had to adjust to Miss… To the point where he eventually just realized if he put enough air under it it was impossible to overthrow him. This is where that chemistry thing comes into play and we all saw Jameis looking much better on the deep ball to Jackson in camp and in preseason. Now we just need them to stay healthy.
September 13th, 2018 at 6:00 pm
Fitz may not have the strong arm like Jameis but he does a better job not locking onto his first receiver. Djax needs a little more time to get downfield. Perhaps the difference is the Oline as they gave Fitz a few seconds more than last year. The Oline seems to be making a huge difference on how well the offense is running.
September 13th, 2018 at 6:00 pm
I’m just asking because it seems no one knows. Where is our 2nd round RB aka rojo???
September 13th, 2018 at 6:02 pm
OK Joe, quit starting the Tampa Two video every time we log in.
September 13th, 2018 at 6:03 pm
The Majic….don’t always last ummm you’ll see!!
September 13th, 2018 at 6:08 pm
Hey McIceCream! Why don’t you worry about not jumping offsides, especially when you are directly above the ball, and STFU!
Fitzmagic, lol, and for his next trick he’ll POOF disappear just like McIceCream
September 13th, 2018 at 6:14 pm
Why exactly would Joe publish your long list of insults against Joe? Joe pleads not guilty to everything, though the list was so long Joe can’t be sure. Don’t read this website if you don’t like Joe’s opinions. This is an opinion-driven website with plenty of reporting, too. It’s been opinion-driven since Day 1. Buccaneers.com is there for you, as is the newspaper. Joe will have more than 2 million pages viewed on this site in September with a 10-year-old page design and no shenanigans of which you type. That wouldn’t happen if Joe was the blubbering fool you seem to think Joe is.–Joe
September 13th, 2018 at 6:17 pm
D jax was wide open multiple times last year!!!!! Tape don’t lie!!!!!!! Hard to believe that some local media were trying to say that D jax “worked harder” this past camp and “dedicated himself”!!!!!!!!!! Even when Head Coach Koetter told everyone that D Jax “did his job”!!!!!!!!!!!!
#trust the coaches!!!!!! Fix the “real” problem!!!!!!!! The Roster!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 13th, 2018 at 6:22 pm
Lol, 98, everyone knows. He was a healthy scratch because he sucks. Unfortunately he looks like a huge bust.
September 13th, 2018 at 6:24 pm
For those of you who can’t read, McCoy is saying that both QB’s were missing him last year, and both were connecting with him this year.
Reading is hard I know.
September 13th, 2018 at 6:32 pm
@ real
Its no different than the jameis haters hoping he will fail. I didnt see you getting on them. It seem posters like you are only a fan if jameis isnt playing. Smh
September 13th, 2018 at 6:47 pm
I said all offseason last year that when you bring in a guy with special speed – the type of speed you’ve never played with before – it takes about 4 games to get in sync. Well Winston was injured early and they never got in sync. This year Winston has already hit D-Jax deep in a game, and did it outdoors to boot. They’ll be fine this year once Winston is back – meaning you’ll hit a few of those big plays and miss more than you hit, that’s football.
September 13th, 2018 at 6:52 pm
If I were Jameis Winston I would start to seriously consider giving JBF the ESPN treatment.
September 13th, 2018 at 6:59 pm
Ummm GMC… Tell us about the pass rush you’re generating now that you are surrounded by talent? Oh, yeh, thats right. You said it took time to develop chemistry between you guys… That doesn’t matter the first time a QB and receiver get together.
Much rather hear the D tackle’s take on the continued defensive problems than what he happened to be noticing in training camp….. Last year. He was so distracted by the cameras and showing his personality off, I’m surprised he noticed anything else.
September 13th, 2018 at 7:02 pm
Seriously, the difference in last year and the first game of this year, plain and simple was our offensive line gave Fitz time and he capitalized. He was awesome, when things broke down, Fitz did a great job of taking off. The other difference is the play calling was also awesome. It was not predictable at all. Having said that, Mike Smith tried to lose it for us. If he plays off coverage, QBs will kill us just like last year. Just sayin’
September 13th, 2018 at 7:10 pm
By chemistry, you mean Jameis can’t hit a wide open Djax. Jameis has chemistry with #13 because #13 will stop box out a defender or leap 12 feet in the air to make a catch.
September 13th, 2018 at 7:17 pm
haters are so ridiculous and transparent.
He literally said everyone was having issues connecting with Djax in 2017, compared to everyone being in sync with him in 2018.
September 13th, 2018 at 7:17 pm
@Joe … “If Jackson and Fitzpatrick keep connecting, and Jameis and Jackson can’t when Jameis returns, that would have ugly written all over it.” Joe, you know that statements like that are like chumming in shark-infested waters while your friends are snorkeling behind the boat. Pure speculation … one game at a time.
Just read a neat article interviewing Todd Monken, in which he said that the Saints stayed in man-to-man much of the game & it cost them dearly. Made me think of all the arm-chair DCs who insist that Bucs need to use press even more than we do (and yes, we really do use it a fair amount) & go to man-to-man more than we do. IMO our CBs & Safeties aren’t the fastest guys in the world, and press with man-to-man could well result in other WRs like DJax taking the top off & racking up the explosive plays … and points. BTW, in that same interview Monken gave big kudos to Barber & Jacquizz for their outstanding pass protection, especially picking up blitzes. Strangely he didn’t mention Wilson in there. I guess experience really does pay dividends.
September 13th, 2018 at 7:18 pm
If Jameis gets the same run support and pass protection, instead of running for his life on 3rd and 8 every series, he will kick so much ass that it’s not even funny. I don’t think enough people are looking at it that way. Fitz played great, but with run support, a clean pocket, and our arsenal of weapons, any good (not great) QB should kick ass. And Jameis is far better than good. You saw it this preseason. You will see it when he returns, and it’s great to have a veteran badass like Fitz for when we need him. If we go 2-1 and end up making the playoofs, Fitz may deserve team MVP. GO BUCS!!!
September 13th, 2018 at 7:21 pm
With our success on first and 2nd round picks, I might consider trading them all for a boatload of rd rounders. If you think about it, a lot of first rounders have taken many hits in college and may be subject to early and often injuries. You cannot throw OJ Howard in that mix because he fell to us after 10 other idiots chose to pass on him..
September 13th, 2018 at 7:26 pm
Rushing to Joe’s defense (for like the first time ever), I’ll point out that Beckles said the same thing, only more strongly.
September 13th, 2018 at 7:29 pm
Back-to-back GMAC articles and no comment from TMax -Reality… whatever? Is a well-being check from law enforcement in order?
September 13th, 2018 at 7:32 pm
The press needs to start asking Koetter how he is going to improve our Defense to match and compliment our Offense; and why he has stuck with Smitty when he has already been making the same mistakes that dropped our Defense to the worst in the NFL. Now that he doesn’t have to call plays, he better be thinking how he is going to fix the Defense before it costs him his job. Oh and ask him what would have happened in New Orleans if Fritz had not run far enough to get the vital first down late in that game!
September 13th, 2018 at 7:33 pm
F’n Love this place…..
September 13th, 2018 at 7:35 pm
Did anyone pay attention to the type balls Jameis was throwing and it started last year when he returned from the SHOULDER INJURY that occured in the SECOND FREAKIN GAME!!!
For you so called football experts Jameis have been throwin some text book elite type balls they are AWESOME!
THE SPIRAL, THE ZIP AND HIS RELEASE HAS BEEN ON POINT…and some analyis was talking about how the laces stay down…some of you can’t see how sharp his throws are now, because you are blinded and still in the past!
SMH…
I like Fitz but he is no Jaboo…bring the blitz…do he can do what he do!
September 13th, 2018 at 7:39 pm
Owlycat…that stuff’s not important.
Causing trouble and drama is.
Pretty sure the Joes were never a fan of Jameis. Perhaps more fans of the stories he might bring.
America’s Quarterback and all. I get it now.
Why insult Joe like this with lies. First, Joe doesn’t type anything other than what Joe believes. Second, Joe was in Jameis’ camp long before he was drafted. That said, Joe begged the Bucs to stick with Glennon after McCown was injured and returned in 2014. Joe was confident that was the right move to give the Bucs a chance to win instead of sticking with career loser McCown. Joe had no interest in tanking in November for Jameis. Lastly, Jameis has a percentage of fans who don’t like him. You think those fans want to read about him? No way!!! And you think a nickname brings in eyeballs here? You are sadly mistaken. Finally, Jameis was a guest on the Ira Kaufman Podcast in June. You hear him do an interview like that anywhere else? There’s a reason for that. Sad, sad take by you. –Joe
September 13th, 2018 at 7:40 pm
The upgrade at the QB position has definitely helped
September 13th, 2018 at 7:41 pm
Let me simplify this QB thing a bit. The Buccos have beaucoup dollars invested in JW , of that we can all agree . The Buccos have let way more than their share of QB’s get away and win a Super Bowl elsewhere(Steve Young,Doug Williams, Trent Dilfer). Bucs have to find out if JW can be the top 5 QB they drafted him to be , because the last ti,e I looked , talent rich QB’s were a hot commodity in the NFL. If he proves that he can be that top 5 QB and stay out of trouble , well then you have a 10 plus year high quality starting QB , and that is hard to find. Jameis will play when his suspension is over , no matter the record of the team , because they have to know if he is THE GUY. If you are more than just a casual observer it is readily apparent that the O-Line is balling , and JW never had that before. GO BUCS-STOMP IGGLES!!!!!!!!!!
September 13th, 2018 at 8:00 pm
I think some of you guys just troll Joe(s) trying to get a response.
September 13th, 2018 at 8:14 pm
Jameis was ON FIRE during the preseason. Fitz played great too.
If anyone hasn’t noticed… our O-Line is MUCH BETTER this year with the addition of the highest paid center in the NFL and moving Marpet back to LG.
A really good O-Line makes ANY QB better, just like a good D-Line makes any secondary better.
If the O-Line continues to play like they did in Game 1, Jameis will put up 40+ points as well when he comes back.
September 13th, 2018 at 8:16 pm
I think I just figured this QB controversy out…
We can have the best of both worlds!!! Seriously…
His name is Ryan Griffin…
Cut Jaboo and Fitzmagic… The problem here is that we have two QBs with cool nicknames..
Ryan “Crime Dog Magic” Griffin in the house!!!!
WHO WITH ME????
September 13th, 2018 at 8:18 pm
He could be the secret weapon???
September 13th, 2018 at 8:31 pm
JOE
No, it would have “Jameis isn’t a franchise QB” written all over it. If #3 isn’t the All-Pro QB everyone (including myself) is expecting him to be when he comes back, it’s time to move on. Point blank.
September 13th, 2018 at 8:50 pm
Day he was drafted, Jameis said “We’re going to the Super Bowl. Year One…”He’s only a rookie!”. Year Two…”He’s only 22!” Year Three…”He’s hurt!” Year Four…”He’s been suspended for no reason!” Still waiting for the Messiah.
September 13th, 2018 at 8:56 pm
Buccaneers.com does have a new podcast…the kewl thing was “NO PLAYER BASHING” I hope they keep it up…because can’t stand the “CHARACTER ASSassINATION” of players…and for me JAMEIS!!!
September 13th, 2018 at 9:05 pm
I come back to this site every once in a while to see if i find that special something that i used to enjoy reading here.
Sadly i see nothing entertaining. Just more Instigating drama and divisiveness.
September 13th, 2018 at 9:07 pm
@therealmalloy the magic will disappear cause it always has with this guy. If you’ve followed football the last decade any at all you’d know that he will bring the magic and then a week or two later Ryan Fitzpatrick will show up and then he will go back to his normal position, on the sideline. And yeah I’m a fan and you and many other idiots are being teabagged by the bearded one. A real fan wouldn’t jump on the Fitztrain and not pull for the franchise QB no matter the circumstances… WINS~TON
September 13th, 2018 at 9:12 pm
Doesn’t matter who plays QB if you give up 40 a game.
There are good defenses out there capable of shutting down the Offense. Whether it’s Fitz or JW.
But if the other team can’t score, they can’t win. It has always been so.
That being said…FEAR THE BEARD!
September 13th, 2018 at 9:12 pm
I’m not sold on the Bucs or Fitz, they need to show me more than one good game.
September 13th, 2018 at 9:13 pm
“Its not the chemistry, its the play design”
Klueless koetter is Americas Jeff Fisher
“Release the Monken!”
Kobe Faker
September 13th, 2018 at 9:29 pm
The wife and our twin girls are flying down for this one, we need to be the 12th man out there Sunday mofo’s… I hate them eagles, I don’t care if we win 3-0 Sunday just as long as we kick their A$$ At the end of the day we all think we know it all, Respect one another Buc fans were all here for the same reason And Go Bucs
September 13th, 2018 at 9:35 pm
I”m sensing (from the news conference) that Fitzpatrick wants to keep his starting role and that the coaches (Monken the mad genius in specific) are much more confident in his ability to execute the “plan” and “scheme” than Jameis (who is much less seasoned).
September 13th, 2018 at 9:40 pm
Knoxville,
I hate them eagles, I don’t care if we win 3-0 Sunday just as long as we kick their A$$
Truer words have never been spoken.
And I would absolutely love it if our D won a 3-0 game.
September 13th, 2018 at 9:40 pm
Let’s do this, Bucs! We need to whip that eagle 🦅 booty!
We can do it. Fitzmagic’s encore.
The defense is going to start clicking.
The key to the game is our O Line. If we can protect, it will beat coverage as Koetter mentioned.
Joe- can you please ask Vita Vea when we should hope to see him demolishing offensive lines?
September 13th, 2018 at 9:42 pm
Vita who?
September 13th, 2018 at 9:49 pm
I agree with you Lakeland thats its too early. The sample size is not great enough to eval but off to a great start anyway.
Fitz is a good QB and has a higher football IQ than Winston but he does not have the potential and talent of Winston. I think this will work itself out as expected. Fitz will be up and down as history has shown. Winston will return as starter. Go Bucs!
September 13th, 2018 at 9:49 pm
I’m sorry Joe I thought this site was opinion driven. Just giving it.
September 13th, 2018 at 9:51 pm
If I’ve said it once I’ve said it a hundred times JW is NOT Koetter qb. Koetter drafted Blaine Gabbert and Ryan Griffin. Koetter wants a game manager not a straight baller like jaboo. Either way, let’s reconvene on Sunday say about 4pm and discuss fitzmagic some more.
5 TDS is the bar let’s see Fitz beat that. I say Fitz doesn’t finish the game. I say Evan Smith or Caleb will get picked on and crushed on Sunday but wtfdik.
September 13th, 2018 at 9:58 pm
Buc1987
You should ask Pickgrin about “A Tale of Two Joe’s”
September 13th, 2018 at 10:05 pm
Ha ha ha….I don”t think I need to now.
It is what is. I know one likes him more than the other I was just stating what it’s starting look like.
Again it’s just an opinion.
September 13th, 2018 at 10:06 pm
GO BUCS!
September 13th, 2018 at 10:18 pm
Koetter did not draft Blaine Gabbert. He was in no position or authority to do so. That’s like saying Koetter drafted Jameis.
September 13th, 2018 at 11:14 pm
Kobe
Koetter has said that whoever call the plays will be using the tampabay offense,
ie the koetter offense. Single coverage and good execution by QB, RB’s, and receivers made it effective. One wrinkle that probably came from Montgen was probably the RPO plays that were incorporated.
September 13th, 2018 at 11:16 pm
And the O line blocked pretty well in both the pass and run game.
September 14th, 2018 at 12:34 am
I said long time ago, I think Monken play calls would be better for JW…oh my bad that was
Fitz.
Yea…Fitz sounds lile he is soliciting to continue playing before he Fizz out….
Why it’s okay for the Eagles to have a back up as capable as Fole and Wentz still maintain his job?
🤔
September 14th, 2018 at 12:45 am
@ Joes…
I love Jameis, but think about this….
Jameis has never in his entire football life had a game like Fitz just had last weekend. Jameis has had a few great games in his lifetime, don’t get me wrong; but he has never had as complete of a performance as we just saw from Fitz…
That means that: as of right now, Fitz has shown that he has a higher ceiling than Jameis.
You would think it would be the opposite and Jameis’ ceiling would be higher (and it may be in the future, who knows), but at this point in time, Fitz has shown that he can have a better game than Jameis can when he’s on…
If he continues, executing at the elite level that he did last weekend, he’s our QB (until or unless he’s loses his mojo at some point).
We might be looking at a Testeverde with the Jets type of scenario with Fitzpatrick, but we’ll just have to see how it plays out…
September 14th, 2018 at 1:15 am
My understanding based on a couple of reports I came across early in the year was that Winston and Jackson did get together several times during the off-season. This was truly on their own time and before OTAs.
Fitzpatrick, Winston and Jackson et al. are all working from the same playbook.
______________
Go Bucs!!!! Take out Philly!
September 14th, 2018 at 5:28 am
@Bob in Val
Kobe has copies of the 3 games Fitz played last year under Koetters playcalling
Night and day
*Monken calls pass plays when koetter predictably runs (1st and 2nd down)
*Alot of 1 read throws (RPOs) alot less seam patterns n traffic(not much of brate)
*The ball is quickly out and no sacks and QB hits (fumbles) because its 1 read and scramble if the pass route is covered
*Koetter overloads with 4 reads and 5 checkdowns in 3 seconds in every play
*Monkens playcalling is QB friendly- gets the ball to playmakers before the pass rush and alot less options…very similar to wants happening with Goff/mcvay in LA Rams
September 14th, 2018 at 6:23 am
KOBE
While Koetter does call a lot of runs and the blocking wasn’t enough good last year.
Some of that is on him and some of it is on Jameis for getting his team down by 14 points. Some of the same plays were used in this game especially in
the deep go routes to both Evans and Jackson. Jameis was given lots of chances to complete this pass the last two last years, his passes were often inaccurrate and thrown into double coverage.
Montgen did a fine job calling the plays, all playcallers want good blocking,effective running, and single coverage on the playmakers and he got it.
There have been a lot of seam routes thrown into traffic,much of that is on Jameis because Brate is one of Jameis’s favorite target.
As I said previously the RPO plays were probably a Montgen wrinkle, But Fitz
made quick decisions to put his head down and run when necessary.
Come on Kobe, “Koetter overloaads with 4 reads and and 5 checkdowns
in 3 seconds every play”, you’re fooling yourself. Jameis needs to read the coverage and figure out who is singled covered and Try to get the ball in a
spot where only the receiver can get it and extend the play.
September 14th, 2018 at 6:33 am
And Kobe,
I neglected to add that this can often be done at the line of scrimmage ,before the snap. One thing that would help Jameis do this IMO, is to give the primary responsibility of line calls to Jensen, and let Jameis focus on what the defense is giving him.
September 14th, 2018 at 8:34 am
@Bob
I agree, less the responsibility and desicion making for Jameis the better he will perform.
He is still young and learning how to win. This is too much overload for him and needs to be in a QB friendly system scheme that Goff and Mahomes is under
September 14th, 2018 at 9:02 am
What Bob said.
September 14th, 2018 at 9:11 am
Agree Kobe
Very good opportunity to watch and learn how efficient this offense can be.
At any rate I enjoy our back and forth. Year four,it is time for Jameis to hit the Go button. Go Bucs!
September 14th, 2018 at 9:18 am
IMO , this a very good system for Jameis if can improve on the deep ball. If
you asked for a show of hands between Koetter and Jameis who wants to throw
the deep ball,I guarandamntee both their hands would go up and Jameis would probably be jumping up and down at the same time.
September 14th, 2018 at 10:23 am
@Erik
LMAO
Jameis threw 5 TDs against an Eagles team on the road, so yeah he has already had a game like that.
They won 45-17
Plus Fitz has NEVER thrown for 4,000 yards in a season. Done twice by Jameis in 2 years.
I understand the hype around Fitz after this game, but so do the Eagles.
Let’s see what plays out, and although it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see them score 40 again, I believe 30 will win the game.
I also believe these rookie DBs can still be elite.
Last year Lattimore got picked apart by the Vikings week 1, then won Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Again, It’s waaaaayyyyy too early to know.
September 14th, 2018 at 6:36 pm
Thank you Billy was just about to point out the same game! It’s these Jameis haters way of taking one game and saying this or that, but in his short career Fameis Jameis has had some very good games and yet to have a truly bad season like Fitz. They look for every way possible to justify their view points. They take Jameis past and say that it’s the barometer for his future but yet Fitz has one stupendously great game and these people a ct like this is a harbinger of great things to come conveniently forgetting his past inconsistency and bad qb play. They forget how bad he played last year preseason though he was a 12 year vet. Jameis outplayed him this year and they still think he should be the starter? Please he’s just keeping the seat warm, he’s had his chance