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Buccaneers: Five Bucs to watch in week nine vs. the Saints

By Sean Eck

NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 24: Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers makes a catch over Sterling Moore #24 of the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 24, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 24: Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers makes a catch over Sterling Moore #24 of the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 24, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 04: Gerald McCoy #93 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs onto the field before the game against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium on October 4, 2015 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 04: Gerald McCoy #93 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs onto the field before the game against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium on October 4, 2015 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images) /

Gerald McCoy

McCoy and the whole Buccaneers defensive front line have been incredibly underwhelming this season. Gerald needs to step up and make some plays against All-Pro Quarterback Drew Brees and force him to make some mistakes. Brees on the year has only been sacked seven times and has completed 71% of his passes. The good news for the Buccaneers is that Brees might be forced to play with a backup right guard Senio Kelemente. Breaking up the middle and forcing Brees to move out of the pocket could give the other Buccaneers the ability to make plays around the edges also.

Gerald has been the heart and sole of the buccaneer’s defense for the better part of the last decade and needs to get the defense back to how they were playing down the stretch last year. If McCoy can force pressure and disrupt the passing game the Buccaneers could make some big plays and get a few takeaways.

Should McCoy record two sacks in the contest he will tie David Logan for the fifth-most in franchise history and the thirds most by a defensive tackle. This might not be a huge milestone, but as a defensive tackle recording six games with two or more sacks in today’s NFL is a huge accomplishment.

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