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Buccaneers: First quarter awards for the 2017 season

By Philip Schwegler

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 24: Jerick McKinnon #21 of the Minnesota Vikings runs with the ball against Kendell Beckwith #51 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of the game on September 24, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 24: Jerick McKinnon #21 of the Minnesota Vikings runs with the ball against Kendell Beckwith #51 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of the game on September 24, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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SAN DIEGO, CA – DECEMBER 04: Gerald McCoy #93 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers shakes fans hands after defeating the San Diego Chargers 28-21 in a game at Qualcomm Stadium on December 4, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – DECEMBER 04: Gerald McCoy #93 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers shakes fans hands after defeating the San Diego Chargers 28-21 in a game at Qualcomm Stadium on December 4, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Defensive Player of the Quarter

This award should come to no surprise. The one man who has been consistently causing havoc in opposing team’s offensive backfield is none other than defensive tackle, Gerald McCoy.

No one in the entire league, in my opinion, is faster off the snap than McCoy. Looking back at his first game against the Bears, GMac seemed to be past the offensive line before the linemen could comprehend the ball was even snapped.

In those first two snaps, McCoy came away with two tackles for losses. He sets the tone for the defensive front every game even if he seems banged up in the later parts of the game. PFF has McCoy as an Elite interior lineman and deserving so.

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The All-Pro will continue to prove his dominance in the coming weeks for the Buccaneers who are desperate for a consistent pass rush.  With only one sack on the season so far, McCoy’s elite play will hopefully spread throughout the defensive front, which will in turn create more opportunities for sacks and takeaways to happen.

Without McCoy’s stellar play, a lot of defensive players would not be able to make the plays they have been and will be making. This player is one that all opposing offenses should scheme around due to his quickness and grit.

Will McCoy become the first double digit sack player the Bucs have had in years? We’ll soon find out. Either way, he’s the Defensive Player of the Quarter.

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