Mentality, McCoy & Motivation
June 5th, 2019
BY IRA KAUFMAN
Gerald McCoy isn’t fooling anybody, especially Demar Dotson.
Entering his 11th season, Dotson is the only Buccaneer who had more seniority than McCoy, the polarizing defensive tackle who just signed with the Panthers.
McCoy had also visited the Browns and Ravens before deciding on Charlotte as his next destination.
Why Carolina?
Playing for Ron Rivera doesn’t hurt, The last time McCoy worked under a defensive head coach, he posted 8 1/2 sacks for Lovie Smith in 2015.
McCoy is also surrounded by some serious defensive talent, with linebacker Luke Kuechly and linemen Mario Addison, Kawann Short, newcomer Bruce Irvin and FSU rookie end Brian Burns helping the cause.
Demar Dotson opens up on Gerald McCoy and coaching
Charlotte’s weather in the fall and winter is preferable to Baltimore or Cleveland, but there’s more. McCoy won’t admit it, but the opportunity to stay in the division and extract some annual payback at the expense of his former organization is compelling.
“I was sitting around a few days ago,” Dotson told me after a mandatory minicamp practice. “I know Gerald, man, and when I heard Carolina was in the mix, I said he’s going to choose Carolina. Why not? Why not get a chance to come and play us twice a year and wreak havoc? I would.
“You know for sure I get to play this team two times that let me go. They got a good ball club over there. It’s up to us to stop him. We can’t allow it to happen. I would have that same mindset. If I had a chance to go to Carolina and play against a team that cut me, that’s motivation.”
Tampa Bay’s offensive line will prepare for McCoy and company ahead of a Thursday night matchup in Week 2. But starting in late July, Dotson’s group will butt helmets every scorching day with McCoy’s replacement, Ndamukong Suh, who will be wearing that familiar No. 93 in training camp.
“Suh’s gonna make us better with the mentality he brings,” Dotson said. “I know how hard he goes and how physical he is. I know how hard he is to move. If he brings that same mentality to practice, it’s going to make everyone on the offensive line better.”
Dotson is the first to acknowledge there’s plenty of room for improvement up front. This team hasn’t run the ball a lick since Lovie Smith departed and Buc fans are wondering whether the problem has been personnel or coaching.
“Last year, we had a great offensive line coach in George Warhop,” Dotson said. “It was down to each individual guy doing what you’re supposed to do. It ain’t the coaches’ fault.”
Change from Dirk Koetter is obvious, says Demar Dotson.
Bruce Arians has come in with a sprawling staff and a succinct message: all this losing stops now.
“Every coach tries to bring their mentality to the team,” said Dotson. “I’ve been through five of ’em. I think B.A. is trying to instill toughness mentally. Lots of things we did last year to beat ourselves — not knowing the situation, the details. That’s stuff we need.
“It comes down to the players buying into it. This is my 11th season and I don’t mind buying into the head coach around here. I know I have to respect leadership. Been lots of guys who like to do things on their own, not buying into the way a coach asks you to do. That’s being a pro.”
The Bucs are determined to forge a new identity. McCoy is determined to address an old wound. Demar Dotson is determined to give playoff football a try.
Open the gates. Let the games begin.
June 5th, 2019 at 9:51 pm
My God when will this end ! ?…mark my words , McCoy won’t be a panther all but Max 2 years before they let him go !
June 5th, 2019 at 9:52 pm
And yes I know it’s a one year contract…I’m just saying if he survies this year as I figure he will , he might be told to ride pine before end of another one year contract..
June 5th, 2019 at 9:59 pm
Ira are you serious???? McCoy exact some revenge??? LMAO!!!! The only thing the biggest fraud is going to do is steal some money from the Panthers which I couldn’t care less about. I’m just disappointed he won’t be at Ray Jay for the crowd to let him know what we really thought about him. I also LOVE the fact that they gave his number away to his replacement.
June 5th, 2019 at 10:02 pm
If it isn’t the coaches fault, who’s fault is it? The players.
But blaming Koetter is always easier.
It should be noteworthy that both GMC and Koetter chose to stick it to their former team…
June 5th, 2019 at 10:32 pm
Dotson won’t be on this roster come opening day so maybe he should scout some houses in Carolina too. ✌🏽
June 5th, 2019 at 10:36 pm
Suh>mccoy
June 5th, 2019 at 10:42 pm
Great to hear from a Buc that has been through a gauntlet of coaches: each one having their own style, approach and message, but the quote that caught my attention was “…Been lots of guys who like to do things on their own, not buying into the way a coach asks you to do. That’s being a pro.”
When a team has had players like Desean Jackson and Chris Baker not buying in, it spreads throughout the entire team, especially a team learning how to win.
June 5th, 2019 at 11:40 pm
DB55…yikes!
June 5th, 2019 at 11:46 pm
I ain’t skeered of McCoy…
Not a bit.
June 5th, 2019 at 11:56 pm
He choose to be in Carolina for to be the next Marvel Black Panther. GMC wanted how it feels to a real cartoon character
June 6th, 2019 at 12:43 am
If McCoy finally “decides” to wreak havoc on his former team (who made him the face of the franchise and paid him over $100 million) instead of wreaking havoc against said team’s opponents for the better part of a decade, than he’s a complete POS.
I hope Marpet and Jensen and whatever RG the Bucs put in decide to rag doll and destroy his fake a** twice a year.
This is all the McCoy apologists need to know.
Shameful.
Go Bucs! Show the world what a fraud Gerald really is.
June 6th, 2019 at 1:08 am
Kgh4life,
Personally, I find the comments about situation and details far more important than buying in. Winning is the only way to get a buy in. Even then it’s not unheard of for players to question coaching decisions.
Point is, if it takes winning, then not knowing game situation and lack of details from coaches or players not knowing them makes winning damn difficult and for some veteran …who knows what’s missing…buy in isn’t going to happen period. Rookies don’t know what THEY don’t know, vets signed from good teams will see quickly that buying in is a fools errand.
June 6th, 2019 at 4:24 am
Dotson needs to go-
The last thing young Bucs need is relics reliving the past
June 6th, 2019 at 7:22 am
Demar, when you’re let go you won’t get a chance to stick it to your former team. No other team would have you. Your career has been over, the Bucs just haven’t figured that out yet, but they will. Hopefully they find your replacement before the real games begin.
June 6th, 2019 at 8:16 am
🤣🤣🤣
June 6th, 2019 at 9:16 am
Love the fans, Hodad, who can’t wait to get up in the morning and start trashing the longest tenured player who has been solid for us for years.
I guess if your life is miserable, take it out on anyone you can, especially if your anonymous…
June 6th, 2019 at 11:02 am
Watching all the haters cry about McCoy joining a better football team makes me smile. The only thing better would be to hear the outcry if he plants Winston into the ground without a “sorry.”
June 6th, 2019 at 11:05 am
Warhop was an awful hire and did little to nothing during his time here.
June 6th, 2019 at 10:26 pm
My god. Bucs need to flush out everything out including this bum Ira. As a fan base we need a restart and damn Ira needs to go. He can’t get anyone into the HOF with his NE accent and terrible takes. Bucs have moved on from McCoy and now its time to move on from Ira and other entrenched media like Scott Smith too. Get these fools out of here.