Bucs couldn't stop unnecessary roughness flags Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer? ? Tuesday, December 31, 2013 12:51pm 
The NFL implemented rules changes this season designed to protect player safety, and few teams struggled to adjust to the new rules as much as the Bucs, who jumped from just four unnecessary roughness penalties in 2012 -- tied for third-lowest in the NFL -- to 17 this season, the second-highest total in the league.Some of that upswing can be attributed to personnel -- the Bucs signed safety Dashon Goldson, who had four roughness penalties last season for the 49ers and had six this year for the Bucs, the second-highest individual total in the NFL behind only Cincinnati linebacker Vontaze Burfict. But at least 10 different Bucs players had roughness penalties (one was unattributed, officially), so the issue wasn't limited to one player.The Bucs' plus-13 change in roughness penalties was easily the league's largest -- the Rams doubled their total from 9 to 18, and the Steelers jumped from two to 10. Only five other teams had so much as five more penalties with the new rules this year -- in fact, 12 teams had fewer unnecessary roughness flags this year than they did a year ago, with the Vikings drawing seven fewer and the Eagles six fewer. Across the league, there were 284 UR penalties in 2013, up from 245 last year, an increase of 16 percent. The Bucs set a team record with 1,136 penalty yards in 2013, and Goldson himself accounted for 104 yards on his seven penalties. He's the first Bucs player to top 100 yards in penalties in a season since 2005, when corner Brian Kelly had 155, with pass interference flags of 41, 47 and 27 yards to cover much of that.The most penalized Bucs player, surprisingly, was defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who drew 11 flags -- including three for roughing the passer, one for unnecessary roughness and another for unsportsmanlike conduct. Last year, McCoy had just two flags, and one of them was declined, and he totaled nine penalties in his first three NFL seasons before this year's upswing.One Bucs player who took a step forward with penalties was right tackle Demar Dotson, who had four holding penalties last season, but was flagged just once in 2013, despite starting every game.
The problem is with guys like Goldson not learning that they simply can play that way anymore unless they want to hurt the team and their own bank balance.What more can be do with the guy, he was warned, fined multiple times, suspended multiple times (although 1 was reversed).What does it take to get through to them that they need to play by the rules of todays NFL not the one the grew up watching?
I just knew it was going to be McCoy.
Dotsen needs to be moved to LT. hes build more like one and I think he can handle it. RTs are easier to find. either way we could spend the entire draft on the OL. 5 years of neglect.
Kinda figure it was gonna be McCoy. It had to be someone who got a lot of penetration. While he had a very good year, I sense he tries to make too many plays himself and gets out of control, which leads to those penalties. Hard to stay in control when he "knows" help from teammates also getting penetration ain't likely comin'... Yeah, it'll be interesting to see how the new Coach approaches the draft. Our O'line, IMO, is in need of repair. I've wanted a stud C for years. Joseph has clearly declined, Penn is too, as he ages, especially late in the last 2 seasons. Nicks has been a no-show with health issues 2 years in a row. Many would argue for a pass-rushing DE or OLB. TE and WR are also big needs to get our passing game on the move, IMO. I feel like we need help at CB too, but we have so many young guys developing there, we may actually down the road be much better in a year or two. Bucs were raving about Rashaan Melvin before he got hurt; a speedier version of Johnthan Banks...
The flags on GMC that bugged me were e offsides that he seemed to draw too much.
Yeah, McCoy's roughness peanalties were mostly BS. Especially that one a couple games back where he slowed down and grabbed the QB, took him to the ground, but his helmet just barely made contact with the QB's. That one was just pure bull. Some of the other roughness penalties the team got were bull as well. The league needds to refine the penalty a little. It can't be a zero tolerance type penalty, or players are just going to start knee diving. It seems you can't make a straight up tackle anymore, because you are likely to have some minor helmet contact and get called for the 15 yards. That penalty change alone cost us a couple of games this year.
McCoy the undisciplined thug
That would be Goldshon.
Cut the bum.
I thought it was going to be Davin, it seemed like he was always getting called for holding.
McCoy seems to get an offsides every game. I honestly don't mind it though if that anticipation helps him get off as fast as he does on all the other snaps.
At least he has the production to back it up unlike Goldson.
McCoy seems to get an offsides every game. I honestly don't mind it though if that anticipation helps him get off as fast as he does on all the other snaps.
True...it just sucks to have it happen on a play when David picks off a pass and returns it for a TD.....maybe that was the play that would have got him more national recognition
McCoy seems to get an offsides every game. I honestly don't mind it though if that anticipation helps him get off as fast as he does on all the other snaps.
True...it just sucks to have it happen on a play when David picks off a pass and returns it for a TD.....maybe that was the play that would have got him more national recognition
I'd forgotten about that. Timing is everything. In that instance the penalty was much bigger than just five yards. That was an incredible interception.
