McCoy sees Broncos D as the gold standard
Buccaneers defensive tackle impressed with their discipline
Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy won’t have to look far Sunday to find a role model for his defense. He sees the unit that will oppose his offense Sunday — the Broncos defense — as the gold standard.
Tampa Bay, 1-2, is on the other end of the spectrum this season giving up an NFL-high 101 points over their first three games. The Broncos, 3-0, rank in the top-10 in total defensive yards, passing defense and points allowed giving up 57 through three games.
The fewest points the Bucs have given up this season is 24 in their lone season-opening win against Atlanta. Denver hasn’t allowed more than 20 points all season.
“They hit elite status a while back,” McCoy said of Denver’s defense. “They got a lot of pieces to that defense that make them who they are. But the best thing about them is they’re very disciplined. They play as one heartbeat and that’s what we’re working to get to.”
McCoy delivered high praise to the entire Broncos defense, but pointed out cornerbacks Chris Harris, Aqib Talib, safety T.J. Ward, defensive end Derek Wolfe and outside linebackers Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware and Shane Ray as players who have impressed him.
Tampa Bay’s defense doesn’t lack for talent with three-time all-pro McCoy, all-pro linebacker Lavonte David and a trio of talented cornerbacks in Brent Grimes, Alterraun Verner and first-round pick Vernon Hargreaves.
Yet McCoy pointed out inexperience with the defense and players, including himself, trying to make the big play and overcompensating for the guy next to them instead of doing their job. McCoy says it starts with trust throughout the defense and they’re hopeful to turn it around soon.
“How Denver plays defense, you never see when you watch the defense that it seems like the guy’s doing more than he’s supposed to,” McCoy said. “They all work together and that’s why their defense is almost flawless with the guys they have rushing the passer, how they play the run and probably, arguably, the best secondary in football. We have to do better at doing our job and sticking to the defense. It’s just a lack of experience within the defense, but we’ll get better.”
Tampa Bay is adjusting on the fly with a first-time NFL head coach in Dirk Koetter and a new veteran defensive coordinator in Mike Smith. After the Bucs’ 37-32 loss to the Rams on Sunday, Koetter told ESPN that he wants to change something in their culture that has led them to lose close games. Both McCoy and Koetter declined to discuss the culture change other than to say that it’s being handled in the locker room.
Regardless of what the Bucs are able to change between now and Sunday’s game, they’re a desperate team with a talented quarterback in Jameis Winston. Traveling to the East Coast to face that sort of team after a big road win over the Bengals screams trap game for Denver.
“There’s 16 traps in the NFL. If you don’t play good, you get beat,” Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said. “We respect every opponent.”
The Broncos will need to be prepared for a fight and a Bucs team willing to shift up their game plan to score a marquee win.