First-Team Defense Failed; Gerald McCoy Is Not Concerned
August 16th, 2015
There exists a massive, unhealthy level of tension among Bucs fans. And it won’t fade until Tampa Bay has a winning record again.
So Joe gets why Teddy Bridgewater carving up the Bucs’ first-team defense (7-for-8 for 86 yards) last night has fans freaked out. Joe talked to Gerald McCoy about it after the game.
McCoy was cool as a cucumber and is thoroughly calm.
“You know, it’s the first preseason game,” McCoy said. “You get the dust off, the rust off. We could have been better. Obviously, they scored on us. The goal line stand, the fullback dive, I took on the double-team. They got movement on me and they scored. So me grading myself, I could have been way better. But overall, it’s the first preseason game. All we can do is come out this week, have a great week of practice and just build off this start. Obviously, we showed we haven’t peaked yet. So you don’t look too much into this, you just know everybody individually has to be better.”
McCoy went on to say the steady rotations early on the defensive line is part of the evaluation process. Coaches are “trying to see who mixes well.”
On Jameis Winston, McCoy said Jameis played like a rookie and that’s ok. “He has that winning gene. Once it comes out, it’s going to be scary,” McCoy said of Jameis. “Everybody did something uncharacteristic of themselves,” McCoy said of the rough night. But he called that common in “Week 1 of preseason football.”
So there you have it, Bucs fans. Relax. Breath easy. Don’t lose sleep over an ineffective pass rush and the Vikings rolling up points in August.
August 16th, 2015 at 1:20 am
Blah, blah, blah.
The same crap ever after any preseason game ever.
Win a home game.
Beat a division opponent.
That’s when I’ll start listening.
August 16th, 2015 at 1:45 am
Right on GMC; Mojo your expectations are not reality based. Have fun or get another team, better yet get another sport and stress out over that.
Crying out loud–how was JW supposed to deal with Gilkey’s jump balls? He threw a pass right to ME and VJx and those did not get caught. He was going for the difficult throws instead of shorter throws. The run game never got going to any great degree. The field goal was wide. He was in the opposite endzone at start of every series.
He completed some sweet passes though–and it just gets better with time.
August 16th, 2015 at 2:05 am
After tonight performance, I still say that we win the division. I don’t put too much into preseason, the coaches are getting the wrinkles out. I seen some good things tonight from Jameis and a few other players. I’m glad that Dirk Koetter is not showing everything that we have. Overall i’m please with tonight’s performance, I can’t wait until the season start. Go Bucs
August 16th, 2015 at 6:14 am
Watch for any cuts from the Vikes O line! They have some great players and could afford to cut someone we could use. Sad but true. But I did like what I saw with #54. I swear, he has an intuition like no other LB out there.
August 16th, 2015 at 6:26 am
Same old…no pass rush will kill us…
August 16th, 2015 at 6:34 am
O-line will get Jameis mangled if there’s no running game.
August 16th, 2015 at 6:40 am
The Bucs could be 0-8 and McCoy wouldn’t be concerned. He is use to defenses he leads being carved up and scored on.
August 16th, 2015 at 6:52 am
You negative people are so damn annoying.
It is pre season.
It does not mean a thing. Never Ever has.
August 16th, 2015 at 7:17 am
Defense doesn’t have me freaking out, Winston does. He was lost out there.
August 16th, 2015 at 7:21 am
Stop with the America’s ab crap now.
August 16th, 2015 at 7:28 am
Same siege different day!!!
In the preseason you usually see no schemes and just 1 on 1’s ( especially at the lines ). Our guys did not win hardly any 1 on 1’s. Skip to the regular season and Lovie then implements his scheme, Which is for his D-line to win 1 on 1’s
See the problem here!!!!!!!
August 16th, 2015 at 7:34 am
New season, still no pressure on opposing team QB.
August 16th, 2015 at 7:40 am
Gilkey better not ever start at center….the guy SUCKS!!!!!
I also couldnt help but notice the ol run up the middle on first down. Good job lovie….you are on track to lose your job this season if you keep that crap up…..everyone smells your sh!et and its time to clean up your act or get to stepping. Let Koetter run the offense or get the hell out of here yesterday!
August 16th, 2015 at 7:53 am
Isn’t that part of the problem…not concerned? Smith wasn’t concerned enough to block for his QB, Clay wasn’t concerned enough to down the ball for a touchback and call a fair catch, and on and on it goes. When you team goes 2-14 the previous year, the absolute LEAST a team could do is play with “concern” at its soonest opportunity. But, not the Bucs. They’re no concerned. OK, so there you have it, the makings of a 1-15 team. And, that’s your season folks.
August 16th, 2015 at 7:56 am
So one of the QBs we should have drafted lit us up while your boy looked wildly inaccurate.
August 16th, 2015 at 8:13 am
Lol one preseason game and all the whiners are back again after a long hibernation. Makes me miss the offseason
August 16th, 2015 at 8:28 am
Ok, Walter, please inspire and inform us on the bright lights from last night. Please tell about Smith at tackle, Clay and the return game, the rest of the O-line…and by the way who will fill for Dotson the rest of the season after his ACL surgery? You MUST see something that the sports writers don’t see and even us “whiners”. The floor is yours…we await your informed reply.
August 16th, 2015 at 8:40 am
@Richbucsfan
You realize you’re talking about a bunch of rookies right? That was their first ever NFL game, did you really think Clay was gonna take one to the house? That Jameis was gonna school the Vikings first team D like he was back at FSU? That D. Smith was going to stuff Everson Griffen in a box and make him disappear? As for Demar Dotson, that was about the only real piece of news I took away from last night, they’re going to have trouble patching that hole at this point. The only unit I was actually upset with was the first team defense, they got no pressure on Bridgewater, which lead to breakdowns in coverage, but we already knew that was going to be a weakness, or did you expect George Johnson and Jacquies Smith to become pro bowlers this year? Basically what I’m getting at is that what I saw was what I expected from the first preseason game, so I don’t understand where all this outrage is coming from. The Vikes will be playoff contenders this year, we’ll be lucky to win 6 or 7 games. Sorry if you were expecting more.
August 16th, 2015 at 8:48 am
There was only one positive that I took away from this pre season game. Kwon Alexander! He was all over the field making plays while our secondary looked like ostriches with their heads in the ground. Defensively we still didn’t get any pass rush. I know it’s preseason but this is the time to evaluate talent on the team and Kwon Alexander was the ONLY bright spot of last night.
August 16th, 2015 at 8:53 am
Thank you, Walter, for confirming what the rest of already knew, this team is a hot mess. No, no one expects rookies to be Pro Bowlers, but we do expect the FO to field a team with veterans at key positions. With Lazy Smith at tackle Winston will be sack bait the entire season. Again, I think his season ends by the 4th game when he will go down with a season ending injury. It is dangerous to have Smith, Marpet, Pamphile, Edwards, And Gilkey out there. THIS is your offensive line!! OK, let’s throw in EDS and Mr. BBQ. Any rookie QB needs a solid line to help him. Winston will not have that. It’s a darn shame this is the best the FO can put together. Totally unacceptable. And as for McCoy’s statement that he’s “not concerned” about the defense, isn’t that the problem? No concern! The Patriots, Seahawks, Broncos can say that. The Bucs CANNOT. They need to come out with blood in their eye every game even preseason to prove 2-14 was not who they are. Frankly, it IS who they are and will be. That is my point. I am not whining, just pointing out the reality of the situation. You are ABSOLUTELY correct when you ask me what I expect of rookies. The answer is nothing. And, that’s my point. That’s what the Bucs have is a bunch of unproven and untalented rookies at key positions on the O-line and kick game. This season is over before it starts. We knew this after the draft not after the first preseason game.
August 16th, 2015 at 9:03 am
@richbucsfan
Well, you just kind of made my point for me, it’s a growing year. It’s going to be very ugly in the beginning, especially on offense with so many first or second year players starting and playing key roles. That’s ok, as long as they show progress throughout the season. What I’m not okay with was the lack of pass rush, as well as Lovie and Lichts negligence to address that issue, but I suppose they’re planning on addressing that in the first round of next year’s draft. (If they’re still employed) all I’m saying is that this outrage from everyone is completely unwarranted, and over-the-top drama. I get it, it’s been hard being a Bucs fan, very little to celebrate over the last 13 years, but some of you guys are in mid season form when it comes to the whining, I’m at least going to give it til week 4 of the regular season before I start getting concerned if I don’t see growth from the rookies, especially Jameis. He made some nice throws last night though, left me encouraged. I can see the skills are their, he’s just getting comfortable with the NFL, it’ll take more reps.
August 16th, 2015 at 9:06 am
Oh, and of course Gerald was going to say they’re not concerned, it’s the first preseason game, he knows it’s not the end of the world.
August 16th, 2015 at 9:21 am
Yeah, that line always works to smooth over the show put on, “it was just the first game.” That should placate fans for another week. It’s all good. Look over there.
August 16th, 2015 at 9:28 am
Well, Walter, we have staked out our position (which are not that dissimilar). Let’s get back after Game 4 (season, not preseason) and see where the team is. We both have grave concerns over the O-line (no drama or hysteria as that is fact); no pass rush (no drama, just fact). We agree on these and probably more. I want them to succeed, but the FO and head coach seem to be more of the problem than solution.
August 16th, 2015 at 9:31 am
At least GMC was honest. He was thoroughly outplayed last night along with the whole starting D line. Similar to last year, he is at least good for 1 offsides per game. He was able to accomplish that by just playing the 1st qtr. I know some think that GMC is the next Sapp but I don’t see it. He is a good player, but he only has one strength. He is quick, but he’s not strong. If he doesn’t get by his man at the snap he doesn’t have the strength to move anybody. He gets stone walled way too often and sometimes even pushed back. I’m not hating on him, it’s just what I see. He needs to play alot better if this line is going to be a threat going forward. GMC is supposed to be the face of the team. Especially the defense. That is why my expectations of him are so high. He needs to go out there and set the tone in practice, during the season, and even in the first preseason game.
August 16th, 2015 at 9:34 am
I’d like to point out Minnesota already had a game under their belt. It was clear they had less nerves than US. Winston settled in later on and we had some calls go against us. Granted, #35 and Gilkey don’t deserve roster spots on this tteam or even the NFL. I think we will come out much more relaxed next game and the jitters will subside.
I was pleased with our run D and the play of Banks and Verner. Safeties need work and our front four on D need to create more pressure in the passing game. We definitely had the “trying to do too much” problems early on and we dug a hole for ourselves.
August 16th, 2015 at 9:43 am
GMC seems fake to me when he is out there talking and he just doesnt seem 100% sieged into it….id like him as a leader to say every time we step on the field we expect to win… he should want to win at everything he does.. even the peter king madden thing GMC should have buried that shlub but he walked away..sick of hearing the tampa 2 takes time… the viking D was ready and aggressive and attacking… bucs were passive led by passive GMC…winston is going to be good hopefully he doesnt get killed
August 16th, 2015 at 9:56 am
I found it amusing that so many posters kept saying they were glad the Bucs didn’t land any high priced free agents. Hope you’re still happy about that. Last night, when the starters were playing this team looked worse than last year’s 2-14 version.
August 16th, 2015 at 9:57 am
Interesting with the above comments because I see it the same with Gerald McCoy, he’s only quick with no power but than again what if it’s Leslie Frazier calling it a run play meaning GMC holds in is gap, I don’t know. The run game looked good and also, suprisingly weird that Winston didn’t start out with a short pass or check down to get it going, damn koeter
August 16th, 2015 at 10:02 am
It was the same excuse makers last year when this bad football team led by incompetent Lovie Smith, his little lapdog GM and Trash McCown pounded it into the pooch in the preseason. A whole lot can be gained by observing a team in the preseason. No it is not about points or wins and losses but it is about individual and unit performance and this team got embarrassed in about every way possible from a competetive standpoint. It should be concerning to McCoy and all Bucs fans. The only players that I’m not concerned about are Winston and David. The rest of the lot looked uncompetitive for this league.
August 16th, 2015 at 10:05 am
Oh, and Richbucsfan is not DallasBuc…for the record!
August 16th, 2015 at 10:23 am
You’re dead on with that Dallas. I could care less if they win or lose a pre season game. I do care if our starters look bad in all 3 facets of the game. By the end of last preseason I knew we were in trouble based on how the starters had performed. There is very much a reason for concern.
August 16th, 2015 at 10:31 am
@DallasBuc,
You took the words right out of my mouth. Winston was fine. David was his awesome self. But the Bucs D looked as awful as Gilkey did at center. VERY disappointing!
August 16th, 2015 at 10:47 am
Unfortunately I see this team looking a lot like last year’s team. I sure hope they prove me wrong.
August 16th, 2015 at 10:53 am
Everyone has to take into consideration that last night was the Vikings second preseason game. Not an excuse, but it did give them a comfort level that the Bucs didn’t have. And the referees were totally in the pocket of the home team. If that were Princess Brady that slid and got hit in the head they would have ejected the player who hit him. Am I right?
August 16th, 2015 at 11:48 am
TouchDownTampaBay Says:
August 16th, 2015 at 9:56 am
“I found it amusing that so many posters kept saying they were glad the Bucs didn’t land any high priced free agents. Hope you’re still happy about that. Last night, when the starters were playing this team looked worse than last year’s 2-14 version.”
Did “high priced FA’s” work last season? Nope
What makes you think it would have worked this season?
August 16th, 2015 at 12:08 pm
This may only be the first preseason game, but I see shades of the 2014 defense rearing it’s ugley head in 2015. If the God of the Bucs (Gerald MCcoy) isn’t con-cerned then the same problem that existed last year is showing up this year;
NO LEADERSHIP!
August 16th, 2015 at 12:23 pm
Buc1987 – Using that logic the Bucs shouldn’t have taken Winston since Freeman didn’t work out. The Vikings shouldn’t have taken Bridgewater since Ponder didn’t work out. Sorry but I find that argument nonsensical. With a bunch of rookies and no depth to speak of we could have used a few quality players from free agency.
August 16th, 2015 at 12:24 pm
If they don’t work out they don’t work out, but you don’t just give up!
August 16th, 2015 at 12:56 pm
TDTB- when you are incompetent and you don’t know what you are doing nothing you do is going to work. I will again reiterate that as a fan I expect that the leadership of this team, ie HC/GM, field a highly competetive product. If you cannot muster a competetive product from any part of your football team then you suck at what you do and you should go back to your basement and pop some corn.
August 16th, 2015 at 1:03 pm
I thought Marpet and DSmith played very well outside the spin move by griffin but smith gets a mulligan on that considering it was his first play. Joe Allen needs to move up to second string center I thought he played well.
Glennon looked sharp. Harron caught a pass YEY! And kwon looked like a killer.
I didn’t see much if any improvement any where else. Spc team is going backward, the offense is moving backwards and the Dline is getting pushed off the ball.
Someone will have to teach me what a double team looks like bc I saw the goalline score and it looked like 1-1 block to me. Gmc ended up five yards deep in the end zone but I didn’t see two guys driving him back just 1 guy. Time for me to go to LensCrafters I gues.
August 16th, 2015 at 1:08 pm
DB55- I thought the same thing when I read that. GMC looked like he was locked in a couples song at the skating rink!
August 16th, 2015 at 1:11 pm
Dallas
Pretty much! And we won’t mention the offside call bc that’s none of my business though.
August 16th, 2015 at 2:36 pm
Hi DallasBucFan, our positions are the same. I wouldn’t like it, but would understand if the team was competing. They aren’t and I’m sick of the excuses.
August 16th, 2015 at 3:34 pm
Richbucsfan- yeah I know, you sound just like me. People star thinking it’s me using your name!
August 16th, 2015 at 4:25 pm
Lovie was right. Kwon plays like he’s possessed.
Murphy was playing well.
Herron was good against 2nd stringers as was Glennon.
ATC, I’m glad Jameis played the half and was able to leave on a positive note
The Bucs may want to consider an Oregon/Chip Kelley up-tempo offense.
How Ironic..II
Teddy will become a career B- player. Or, he could become the next Montana.
Mike Evans said: “I could have leaped for it but it’s just preseason”
Translation: I want to be healthy for the start of the season.
The camera angles on NFL Network seemed off and the broadcast as a whole was not up to NFL standards.
The Bucs have enough film now to pull the trigger and pick-up a good free agent OL or 2. But, they’ll wait until the end of preseason and try to find a bargain.