Buccaneers vs Bears: Five game-changing players

Gerald McCoy

When the Bucs were unable to play in week one, everyone on the roster surely felt like they were missing out. But no one was more outspoken about it than Gerald McCoy:

Say what you want about McCoy, but he does have a true ability to disrupt an opposing offense. In past years, the veteran often saw a lot of double teams. Due to those double teams, he didn’t come up with as many of the splash plays that people expect him to make, which drew some unwarranted criticism. That may not be a problem anymore, with the Buccaneers having some true depth at defensive tackle. The team added Chris Baker to the mix this year, which gives some much-needed help to McCoy. With Baker sliding into the starting lineup, the reliable Clinton McDonald will provide some solid depth. The interior can be special, and it will only be helped by Robert Ayers, Noah Spence and others on the outside.

With all of the ire and criticism that McCoy gets, it’s easy to forget that he has put up seven or more sacks in each of the last four years. The Bucs’ last double-digit sack season came from Simeon Rice in 2005. There are multiple guys on this year’s defense that could be the next one, but wouldn’t it be fitting for McCoy to accomplish the feat? If he can start with a big performance on Sunday, it would be a major plus for Tampa Bay. Getting after Glennon and shutting down the middle of the field will be a priority if the Bucs want to win, and McCoy certainly needs to do his part in that effort.