The Biggest Takeaways from the Loss

Biggest Takeaways from Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Week 9 LossBy Luke Easterling Nov 10, 2015Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports Once again, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers got painfully close to a victory in Week 9, getting within two points of the New York Giants, but eventually falling 32-18 for yet another home loss.The defeat drops the Bucs to 3-5 as they close out the first half of the 2015 season.While the more optimistic members of the Tampa Bay fanbase will point to the fact the Pewter Pirates have already exceeded last year's win total, it's tough for others not to be frustrated with the amount of close games the Bucs have failed to finish this year.But regardless of the result, there are always important things to take away from any game. Here's what we learned about the Bucs in Week 9.Something's Not Right with Gerald McCoyScott Cunningham/Getty Images Three-time Pro Bowler Gerald McCoy inked a huge contract extension last season, putting even more pressure on the team captain to take his production and consistency to the next level.But after tallying 4.5 sacks in his first give games of the season, McCoy hasn't gotten to the quarterback since, managing just four tackles over his last three games. Health is certainly a contributing factor, as McCoy has been fighting through a shoulder injury since the end of Tampa Bay's Week 2 road win against the New Orleans Saints.But McCoy is facing just as much scrutiny for his attitude as his production lately. From laughing with Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins just minutes after a monumental collapse by the Bucs defense that cost them a win to his body language at the overtime coin toss against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 8, McCoy has fielded plenty of criticism from fans and media about his leadership in recent weeks.McCoy didn't do much to quell that criticism when he reportedly brushed past reporters following Sunday's loss to the Giants, refusing to talk to the media, according to JoeBucsFan.com.McCoy spoke with Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune on Monday, admitting he's more frustrated than anyone with his play:I was sitting in bed (Monday morning) thinking this his frustration level I have with myself right now feels like what I had during my first and second year in the league. There’s not a fan, a coach or a media member who’s more frustrated with me than myself.If a team is going to make a turnaround or a change or be successful, the best players have to produce. So, I need to pick it up. And I know that. There’s a lot more I can do and I promise you I’m putting everything I got into it and it’ll turn around.I understand that me, being a franchise player, I have to do more. I know I need to pick it up, and I will. And I know I have to be better. But I will be. I will be.The combination of injuries, increased pressure thanks to his new contract and a constant inability for his defense to finish games and protect leads seems to be taking its toll on McCoy. While the veteran captain seems to possibly be fading into the background, rookie quarterback Jameis Winston has taken more of a vocal role as the team's emotional leader over the last few games.If McCoy's shoulder is hurt that badly, it might be best for all parties to put him on injured reserve for the rest of the season, letting him heal up instead of risking making the injury worse. He's clearly not producing on a Pro Bowl level, and it would be better for the team in the long run to have him fully healthy and ready to roll in 2016, after the front office has had another offseason to surround him with more talent on the defensive side of the ball.Jameis Winston Might Already Be Bucs' Best PlayerDon Juan Moore/Getty Images Every NFL team wants to have a quarterback that gives them hope on every possession, and makes the opposing defense feel nervous when the game is on the line and the ball is in his hands.It's still early, but Sunday's performance was more proof that the Bucs seem to have found that in Jameis Winston.Even in a losing effort, Winston yet again showed the poise and playmaking ability that helped make him this year's No. 1 overall pick. Despite going without a touchdown pass for the first time in his young NFL career, Winston went without a turnover for the fourth straight game—and provided a highlight-reel moment with a leaping touchdown run that nearly tied the game late in the second half.For all of Tampa Bay's current struggles, one of them was expected to be erratic play from their rookie quarterback. Instead, he looks like he might be the one player on the roster who can strike fear into the hearts of their opponents on a weekly basis.Musical Chairs in the Secondary Might Be HelpingChris O'Meara/Associated Press The Bucs continued shuffling bodies around in the defensive backfield last week, but they got some impressive play from a couple of fresh faces who were inserted into the starting lineup.It was surprising to see Sterling Moore and Jude Adjei-Barimah as the team's starting corners on Sunday, but along with veteran Alterraun Verner in the slot, the group turned in one of the more solid performances the unit has seen all season.Moore bagged an interception off a deflection on the game's first play, then made a handful of big plays in coverage throughout the game, often when matched up against Odell Beckham Jr.An undrafted free agent out of Bowling Green, Ajdei-Barimah easily played as well as Johnthan Banks or Mike Jenkins have so far this year. Verner scored the team's second interception when he jumped in front of Beckham Jr. on a slant route.Head coach Lovie Smith admitted after the game he was pleased with the play of his new corner combo, per JoeBucsFan.com.The team is clearly willing to shake things up, parting ways with disappointing veteran Tim Jennings on Monday, per Buccaneers.com's Scott Smith. With injuries and inconsistent play plaguing the entire secondary, it looks like the Bucs have at least found a better combination of corners as they move into the second half of the season.Pass Rush Has Little Hope Without Jacquies SmithSmithReinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports The Bucs were without their leading sack-master last week, and his absence was painfully obvious.Jacquies Smith is on pace to give the Bucs their first 10-sack pass-rusher since Simeon Rice in 2005, but he missed last week's loss with an ankle injury. Without him, Tampa Bay barely sniffed Eli Manning all afternoon, going the entire game without a sack.Smith bagged 6.5 sacks over the last eight games of the 2014 season, giving him 11.5 over his last 16 games. Sunday's lackluster performance by the front four without Smith in the lineup proves he's the driving force behind their ability to get after the quarterback.If he's out for an extended period of time, there will be more long afternoons for the Tampa Bay defense until he returns to the starting lineup.With Little Depth at Receiver, Mike Evans Must Find His MojoCliff McBride/Getty Images Mike Evans had one of his best statistical performances of the season last week, catching eight passes for 152 yards. But the box score doesn't show Evans' six drops, many of which came is key situations or could have gone for big plays.After the game, Evans acknowledged issues with the weather and his gloves, but refused to let them be excuses for his mistakes, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times:I don't know what it is. I've got to work on wet ball drills or something. I mean, the Giants receivers were catching them in the rain and I wasn't and I live here. That's unacceptable. I have to be better for this team.It was humid. It was wet, but it was humid and I kept sweating through my gloves. I put the rain gloves on and I dropped a third-down conversion and I had to keep changing them. The ball was too slick. That's no excuse. I've got to catch those.It's frustrating of course, but I'm a man. I can take it. I've got to bounce back. I proclaim myself to be one of the best receivers in the game, and I'm not showing it. So I've got to be better for this team. I'm going to put in the work and I'm going to come back.With Louis Murphy already out for the rest of the season and Vincent Jackson's timetable for return still unclear, the Bucs are extremely thin at wide receiver. Rookie quarterback Jameis Winston has played admirably despite the skeleton crew of pass-catchers, but he'll need his No. 1 target to improve his consistency if he and the Bucs offense want to continue to improve and develop.link