Friday AM Buccaneer Linkage: Gerald McCoy Tweaks Hip, Walks it Off

by Craig T on Jun 11, 2010 10:01 AM EDT

9 OTAs down, 5 more to go. Metaphorically speaking, it's about 5 in the morning and the dawn/first light of the 2010 football season is not far away. Late July and the start of training camps is roughly a month and a half away. Woot. I don't know about you guys, but I'm especially excited about watching the preseason this year to see how all of the new guys perform, battle for roster spots, and pop with the pads on. Basically turns the preseason into 4 very meaningful football games.

Now for what's out there....

-OTA's contained a few noteworthy nuggets today. Gerald McCoy and Arrelious Benn left the practice field with mild injuries, but walked it off and appear to be fine. The Bucs have been pretty fortunate to dodge that little flying injury bug as well as they have so far. No achilles blowouts, ACL sprains/tears, etc. That could be half the battle this fall...just having a healthy stable of talent.

-Looks like the Bucs also experimented with 3-down linemen, with an extra safety in there....so basically a 3-3-5 formation. I'm a an of this formation actually...as you can disguise your coverages/blitzer pretty well. This formation works when you have a quick, strong, athletic safety who can come up in run support like a 4th linebacker. Sabby Piscitelli, I think, could carve himself out a niche in this system pretty well. Could be interesting to see if they keep toying with it.

-Demar Dotson, much to my pleasure, got into a fisticuff with rookie free agent DE James Ruffin. Even though it was non-contact and this kind of thing shouldn't have happened, that's what I want to see out of Dotson...fire, aggressiveness, a nasty streak, and some toughness. Obviously, he's got a lot to work on with his technique, as he's still growing as a football player having played very little in college, but I like where his head is at.

-Oh, and Mike Williams did what Mike Williams does...namely make another ridiculous one-handed catch in the end zone that brought the house down.

-A bit off-topic, but, unless you've been under a rock, you've undoubtedly heard about the stiff sanctions slapped on the USC football program......2 years without bowl games and 30 scholarships lost. Ouch. What goes around, comes around, Lane. I just wonder if Monte will stick around for the next few years, if he'll go back to the college game, or maybe retire. I'd put my money on the latter sooner rather than later. Sorry, just my little bit of off-topic Volunteer homerism there with a slight bit of a Buccaneer take.

-Discuss

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Comments

I have a feeling that Williams is going to be our #1 receiver going into the season.

by Bucs on Jun 11, 2010 10:13 AM EDT reply actions

After the draft was over... I felt the same thing

not based on anything other than a hunch. Hope he works out for us because his talent on the field has never been in question.

by Cracker Ball on Jun 11, 2010 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah

I think the real test for him will come when he faces adversity. First major injury, a streak of poor play – I want to see how he reacts to that.

by Sander on Jun 11, 2010 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions

Good point Sander...

Now that he has $$ there will be temptations like never before. It won’t take long to see if he has actually matured, or all of this was a cleverly orchestrated ruse by his agent.

by Cracker Ball on Jun 11, 2010 11:06 AM EDT reply actions

Brandon who?

I truly hope this kid works out not only because we need a deep field threat to prevent the stacking of the box that stifles our run plays but also because of those who were certain that our lack of free agency activity spelled doom for the offense. Marshall had baggage and high cost. This kid has smaller baggage and relatively low cost. Win-Win!

by ncbucfan on Jun 11, 2010 12:54 PM EDT reply actions

I really hope that Lane fails at USC.

I’ve never see anyone get as many undeserved job promotions.

by Bucs on Jun 11, 2010 12:58 PM EDT reply actions

Well he will fail now regardless

USC is banned from bowls for a few years. But I don’t wish that on Lane regardless, I think he got a bad name with some stupid moves, but nothing unlike what other coaches do. He could have rebuilt his reputation a lot by just staying put in Tennessee another couple years. But hey we don’t know the whole story, maybe he didn’t get along with the school’s administration, after the fiasco in Oakland, I can see where he would want to be somewhere friendly without a lot of BS politics (I am speculating, he may have just wanted brighter pastures). But after all that, the reason I wish him well is because he has my favorite coach as his defensive coordinator. Go Monty!

by Eric9321 on Jun 11, 2010 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Pretty obvious now why Carrol bailed.

Most assumed that once he left, he felt that strong sanctions were about to hit hard at USC. This is going to do some grave damage to USC. If the Pac 10 continues to expand, as we know it will, USC is going to be in an incredibly difficult place for many years.

"I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault." ~ Jack Tatum

by MNeilson on Jun 11, 2010 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Its too bad it doesn't work that way in the NCAA...

I mean look at basketball coach John Calipari – his actions got U Mass the death penalty and then did it again to Memphis. Nothing happens to him, at all, but he continually leaves a wake of NCAA rule violations, inappropriate behaviors and destruction in his path. Buyer beware…

by Cracker Ball on Jun 12, 2010 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions

If he fails maybe Monty Kiffin will come back

by keysersoze19 on Jun 12, 2010 5:44 AM EDT up reply actions

No chance of that happening. He obviously knows his age and wants to spend time with his family.

by NewLogic on Jun 12, 2010 7:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Michael who?

The best upside to this scenario is finally ridding ourselves of Mr. play hard in practice, then disappear during the regular season Clayton. If Clayton pushes Benn and Williams to replace him then I believe he will have finally served a useful purpose.

by ncbucfan on Jun 11, 2010 12:59 PM EDT reply actions

Subterfuge?

USC really coveted Monte, not his son. My guess is their plan will backfire because Monte will retire after this season.

by ncbucfan on Jun 11, 2010 1:03 PM EDT reply actions

They wanted Monte to replace Carroll?

He’s 70

by Bucs on Jun 11, 2010 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Dotson became trueblood?

We need a psychologist on our Team.

I don't have a Sig!

by 4QB on Jun 11, 2010 1:33 PM EDT reply actions

Clarified:

Even though it was non-contact and this kind of thing shouldn’t have happened, that’s what I want to see out of Dotson…fire, aggressiveness, a nasty streak, and some toughness

Isn’t that trueblood and isn’t that what we hate (on field)?

I don't have a Sig!

by 4QB on Jun 11, 2010 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions

To a point

The nasty streak is good, if it isn’t overdone. Last year Trueblood wasn’t too bad with the personal fouls, his false starts were a lot worse.

by Sander on Jun 11, 2010 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions

It was a package deal

I’m just speculating that Lane wasn’t the main draw. Not much of a track record. Pick the old man’s defensive brain and see how Lane does on offense. I wasn’t suggesting Monte would replace Carrol.

by ncbucfan on Jun 11, 2010 1:54 PM EDT reply actions

Alright cool.

by Bucs on Jun 11, 2010 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions

We already have a psychologist

He doubles, er,triples as a head coach and def coordinator. I like seeing some spunk from the new guys. Just channel it appropriately during the season. Maybe Talib can let him play with his anger mgmt role playing dolls.

by ncbucfan on Jun 11, 2010 2:00 PM EDT reply actions

Playing with a mean streak is a good thing...

but drawing personal fouls and penalties for being a hot head is something entirely different. Channeling your rage is a good thing – you can’t tell me that Hardy Nickerson didn’t play angry. Just can’t let it consume you into making foolish mistakes.

by Cracker Ball on Jun 11, 2010 2:48 PM EDT reply actions

I don't think

You can a 3-3-5 when your top 2 picks are d tackels and white is the only person who can get consistant pressure (that we know of). Last yr we didn’t blitz enough. When u have a bad front four it makes sense to take chances. I’d would like to see mccocy in 3 technique. 4-3!

by TampaFSUfan on Jun 11, 2010 4:54 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Listening to Raheem Press Conference Yesterday

I’m starting to think like the Bucs are going to do a ton different looks with our D this year…thinking about the players they have, a lot them are versatile guys that can play many different looks, he hit on a few with Rudd and Black, but we also know Moore, White can play different sides and also inside/out, while Price was drafted for his versatility. Look like we might be shifting around a lot with our front 7 while letting the Secondary preform a cover shell.. I’m really intrigued to see how Raheem does the D this year.

"I've got nothing to prove,"- Warren Sapp

by ReaderM on Jun 11, 2010 7:58 PM EDT up reply actions

3-3-5

I think that would be an interesting look. Having McCoy and Stylez rushing off end would be great. Sean Jones and Tanard can come up for a little Safety blitz to help cause some turnovers. As for U$C, I’m ecstatic. Being a Sun Devil we have about two years to make a run, because the Pac 16 is gonna be tough.

by Nick Shepro on Jun 12, 2010 6:16 PM EDT reply actions

I have a theroy on why the mega confrences are being built

The main reason is the SEC, I think teams are trying to balance the power cause the SEC is 3 times better than any other conference. Now the Mountain West will get some higher profile schools so they can possibily get a BCS championship bid. The BIG10 is getting richer, and there has been talks the the SEC will try to lure MIA and FSU, and the ACC will look at some BIGEAST teams.

by keysersoze19 on Jun 13, 2010 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions

The main reason teams are moving is money. That's it.

The Big 12 doesn’t share their revenue equally so teams like Nebraska, Mizzou, Kansas etc don’t get the same dollars from TV revenue as Texas and OU. That’s why teams are leaving.

As you can always expect come from behind victory is when you least expect it.

by Buc Wild on Jun 14, 2010 8:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Is it fair to say

the SEC generates more money than the other conferences

by keysersoze19 on Jun 14, 2010 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions

No idea, although I'm sure it's between them and the Big 10.

I just know that the SEC is an equal sharing method whereas the Big 12 is not.

As you can always expect come from behind victory is when you least expect it.

by Buc Wild on Jun 14, 2010 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Everything is about money.

The NCAA and all institutions are a business, regardless of what they might say. The Big 10 network has made so, so much money for the member institutions that I’m sure other conferences/schools are trying to find a way to increase their revenues….be it through a new television network or a conference championship game, whatever.

I don’t think these schools care as much as fans about perceived SEC superiority because their conferences make them a load of cash and have guaranteed BCS game slots and big-money non-conference games.

Cannons... fire them.

Buc'Em - SBNation's home for discussion of all things regarding the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

by Craig T on Jun 14, 2010 9:08 PM EDT up reply actions