Bucs find needed run-stopper with ex-Seahawks DT McDaniel 
Tony McDaniel, a 6-foot-7, 305-pound, 10-year veteran out of Tennessee, has developed a reputation over the past decade for being strong against the run. TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO By Roy Cummings | Tribune Staff Published: August 22, 2015 at 10:19 PM TAMPA - There was more behind the Buccaneers decision to sign former Seahawks defensive tackle Tony McDaniel than their need to find a replacement for the injured Akeem Spence.After about a week of training camp workouts, the Bucs were running the ball so well on offense that they decided they should upgrade their rush defense if an opportunity came along.With McDaniel suddenly on the street, it did.“We’re always trying to stay two steps ahead of the game and (McDaniel) was available, he wanted to be here and he’d started the last two years for a really good defense,’’ Bucs GM Jason Licht said. “So we said, ‘let’s get him,’’’What the Bucs got was a 6-foot-7, 305-pound 10-year veteran out of Tennessee who has developed a reputation over the past decade for being one of the biggest and best run stuffers in the league. “Most nose guards we’ve played don’t have that type of height,’’ Bucs coach Lovie Smith said of McDaniel. “That’s a big wall in front of the quarterback. But he’s not just a nose tackle. We think he can give us some reps at the three-technique, also. That’s a good football player we’ve added to our team.’’You make the callCalling defensive plays is nothing new for Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith. He did it during his two years as a coordinator with the Rams back around the turn of the century and has continued to do so to some degree all through his career as a head coach.Smith’s first year with the Bucs was one of those years in which he left the bulk of the play-calling duties to his coordinator, Leslie Frazier. The absence of offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford, who missed the entire season while recovering from a heart ailment was the reason.Smith said he spent a lot more time than usual last year focusing on the offensive side of the ball, but with the offense now in more stable hands under new coordinator Dirk Koetter, Smith plans to get more involved in the defensive play-calling again.“I’ve been in the same role since training camp started,’’ Smith said of taking on added play-calling duties. “With our situation on the offensive side, I can be a little more involved on the defensive side this year.’’For startersThe majority of the Bucs starters played only a handful of snaps in the team’s preseason opener at Minnesota last week. Those same starters should expect to play a little longer Monday against the Bengals.With the exception of QB Jameis Winston, who could play the entire first half again, the Bucs plan to play their starters for at least a quarter and maybe more in their preseason home opener.Another exception will be projected starting RT Gosder Cherilus. Obtained just last week as a replacement for the injured Demar Dotson (left knee sprain), Cherilus will see limited work in his Bucs debut.“We’re going to play him some, but he probably won’t start,’’ Smith said. “We’ll kind of see what type of condition he’s in as we’re going through, but we want to get him some quality reps with our (first teamers).”Keep it cleanThe Bucs were a little sloppy on the offensive side of the ball during their preseason debut last week. There were some poorly run routs, some poorly thrown passes and lots of breakdowns along the offensive front.The primary goal of the players on offense this week, WR Louis Murphy said, is to clean up their act.“We just want to be better execution-wise,’’ he said. “We don’t want any mental errors. We’re going to go out there looking to play a clean game and execute the game plan we put in place. That’s it really.’’ [email protected] (813) 259-7893 Twitter: @RCummingsTBO
