READ-OPTION: PASSING THE TORCH

Staying ahead of the curve is important.

This can be said, not only when examining how your team is building compared to the rest of the league, but also being self-aware enough to see some writing on the wall within your own locker room and film sessions.

With that in mind, and staying along the pass rushing theme of this Cover 3, our Read-Option to diagnosis this week is what the Bucs should do with Gerald McCoy moving forward.

Before you freak out, no, I’m not one of those people who thinks McCoy shouldn’t be on the team or that he isn’t fulfilling the worth of his contract. But I am asking if how he’s being used is in fact maximizing, not only his contract, but the future contracts the Bucs are about to sign in the coming years to continue to build this defense.

Bucs DE Noah Spence and DT Gerald McCoy sack Seahawks QB Russell Wilson – Photo by: Getty Images

I’m here to pose this question: Should the Bucs continue to move forward with McCoy as their primary pass rushing building block, or is now the time to start shifting towards using Noah Spence as the team’s primary, foundational pass rusher?

The debate against the change is simple: this is McCoy’s defense. It has been since basically two years after he was drafted, and it has been that way ever since. For years, the defense has gone as McCoy’s production has. After dealing with injuries early on in his career, McCoy has barely missed any time. With trench players, the best ability is often availability. McCoy has had that. 

McCoy has made the Pro Bowl ever since becoming the defensive leader of this team in 2012 (five years straight). Since then he’s also recorded yearly sack numbers of 5.0, 9.5, 8.5, 8.5 and 7.0. He’s currently fourth all-time on the Buccaneers franchise sack list with 42.5, and he’s only 28 years old.

However, there are arguments that have merit to suggest a shift in priority.

Though McCoy was close in 2013, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers haven’t had a double-digit sacker since Simeon Rice in 2005. More than 75 players have recorded double-digit sack seasons since the last time last time a member of the Buccaneers has. 

That’s not acceptable. I don’t care who the focus is.

Back in the early 2000s, it wasn’t until Warren Sapp’s stats took a back seat to Simeon Rice’s that the Buccaneers defense finally got the team to the Super Bowl. It was switching the focus to the edge player as the finisher that elevated that championship defense. Sapp had 16.5 sacks in 2000 before Rice arrived, and had just 6.5 the following year while Rice notched 11 in his first season in Tampa Bay. During the Super Bowl year in 2002, Rice had 15.5 and Sapp had 7.5. In 2003, Sapp’s least year in Tampa Bay, he had five QB captures while Rice had 15.

I’m not saying that Sapp’s role was diminished or less important, or that I’m trying to imply that McCoy should take a back seat. But there’s a proven track record for success when edge rushers are the focus finishers instead of the interior defensive lineman.

Bucs DE Simeon Rice and DT Warren Sapp – Photo by: Getty Images

Stats don’t happen by chance. Yes, every player is working to collapse the pocket on every play and there’s a chance that any of them could get to the quarterback first. But there’s a game plan that allows for one players to be the finisher. Since it’s been McCoy, that double-digit sack drought has extended.

Even if you’re on board with making the edge rusher the focus, the follow up question is: is Spence ready? Spence had a solid first season with 5.5 sacks while playing through a torn labrum, but does that warrant placing sack duties on his shoulders from now on? Do you think he’s ready?

Staying ahead of the curve is always important – the Bill Belichick way. Getting the most out of veteran players while they’re still in the tail end of their prime and being able to perfectly combine that timing with younger stars entering their best years is when teams can really do something special.

Is the timing right for McCoy to move to the shotgun seat instead of the driver’s seat and tailor Tampa Bay’s pass rush around Spence?