TAMPA, Fla. ? In a season that?s been otherwise forgettable, defensive tackle?Gerald McCoy?has been a big bright spot for the?Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
McCoy
McCoy enters the final game of the season (Sunday at New Orleans) with nine sacks. He has a chance to join Warren Sapp (who had double-digit sacks three times) and Santana Dotson as the only defensive tackles in franchise history to record 10 sacks in a season.
?I think it?s quite an honor for an inside player to have 10 sacks,?? coach Greg Schiano said. ?That doesn?t happen a lot. Gerald?s that kind of player. God willing, he stays healthy, I expect that to be the yearly norm rather than an exception. That doesn?t happen a lot. That?s a special feat. We need him to do that for us to win this week.??
McCoy made the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career last year, but I think this clearly has been a breakthrough season. McCoy often has been a dominant force in the middle.
?I?ve seen improvement in every phase,?? Schiano said. “His run defense, his pass defense, his understanding of the game. He?s improving as a football player, and that?s one of the neat things about Gerald. He?s such a gifted athlete, but he works so hard and has bought in so full into what we?re doing that he makes strides every day.??
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