Tag: Gerald McCoy

Raiders DT Gerald McCoy is ‘coaching’ but come the season ‘it’s go time’

Raiders DT Gerald McCoy is ‘coaching’ but come the season ‘it’s go time’

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Gerald McCoy has a new outlook on being an NFL player. The former Pro Bowl defensive lineman said he’s never taken playing in the NFL for granted, but after sitting out a year due to injury, he has a newfound appreciation for being part of a team.

“I’m extremely excited to be up here,” McCoy said to open his first press conference as a Raider. “I’ve been out of football for a year.”

Many thought McCoy might never play again. McCoy was a bit worried he would get another opportunity. But it was never his intention for 2019 to be his last.

“The goal always was to come back,” McCoy continued. “Immediately as soon as I got hurt, especially with a leg injury, 32 years old, been in the league 11 years, people immediately assume, D tackle, that he’s older, knee injury, will he be able to come back? I love when people count me out. I’m from the Southside of Oklahoma City, 405. There’s not many people that do what I’ve done. I’m not talking about success in football, I’m talking about lasting this long in the NFL. I’ve been a fighter my whole life, so it was nothing but another fight to me.”

The thing is, though, about being at his age and having been out of football for a year. It’s no easy thing. The Raiders say he stayed in shape while he was away, but football shape is a whole other thing. And as great as he once was, nothing is a given.

During his year away, McCoy said he was steady watching film. His intention was to stay up on the league to stay ready for his opportunity. In his tape viewing, he noticed a few things his friends around the league were doing on which he, in his veteran wisdom, could offer some tips.

That openness and eagerness to offer instruction to his fellow lineman continued when he joined the Raiders. Right from the first moment, McCoy stepped on the field, he was offering instruction to his linemates. Then when team sessions start, he stays on the sideline, watching some of these young linemen work.

“I will be on the field at some point,” McCoy said. “And whatever reps they give me, I’m going to give this team everything I have, but right now, since I’m not practicing — I do individuals, get my reps, working day-by-day to get back in — my job is to be a coach right now. Every phase that I’m in, I’ll be doing that.”

The veteran DT says he sees “so much want-to” in this group which is made up primarily of guys the Raiders are taking a flyer on this season. He added that he sees “very explosive players and guys that just need to fine-tune some things.” And McCoy is taking it upon himself to be the person to help them do that.

“Just teaching guys how to be pros,” McCoy added. “I always say there’s a difference between being a professional and being a pro. When you get drafted, or whether you’re undrafted or whatever, once you sign a contract, you’re a professional. It doesn’t make you a pro. Being a pro is how you approach every day. How you prepare. How you watch film. What do you do when times get tough on the field. What are you eating? How are you learning to be successful in this league. That’s what I believe is being a pro. And not all professionals know how to be pros. My experience can help a lot of the young guys and even some of the experienced guys. Teach them how to really be a pro, more than just a professional football player.”

Coaches find this veteran experience to be quite valuable above and beyond what these veterans can do on the field. But make no mistake, the Raiders didn’t sign McCoy to be a coach. If he is to make this team, he will need to perform on the field. But there’s still time for him to get there.

“Right now I’m coaching, getting my feet back under me, and then when they say ‘Hey, Gerald, it’s time to get reps’ then I’ll be a player-coach. Then step-by-step, when it’s opening week, now it’s go time.”

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Raiders DT Gerald McCoy vows to wear number 93 this season

Raiders DT Gerald McCoy vows to wear number 93 this season

Gerald McCoy has worn number 93 since college. He wore it at Oklahoma, he wore it for nine years in Tampa, he wore it in 2019 with the Panthers, and he was going to wear it last season in Dallas until an injury kept him from ever suiting up for the Cowboys.

Then he showed up in Raiders camp wearing number 61. The change had many wondering of it was permanent. But McCoy said Sunday that, rest assured, he will be wearing number 93 again come the season.

Currently, Kendal Vickers is wearing the number 93, but Vickers has no attachment to it. He wore 91 last season and switched because free-agent addition Yannick Ngakoue wanted it. So, it stands to reason Vickers wouldn’t have any issues with letting McCoy have 93.

This is all, of course, dependent upon McCoy making the team. Or should McCoy make the roster and Vickers doesn’t, the number will be available anyway.

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Raiders still see ‘pop’ and ‘twitch’ in former Pro Bowl DT Gerald McCoy

Raiders still see ‘pop’ and ‘twitch’ in former Pro Bowl DT Gerald McCoy

The addition of Gerald McCoy by the Raiders drew some mixed initial reactions. On the plus side, he’s a six-time Pro Bowler. In the negative side is the fact that he’s 33 and didn’t play at all last season due to a ruptured quad in camp with the Cowboys.

Many people probably forgot McCoy was still out there. Others probably thought there was a reason he was unsigned and perhaps that reason was injury related.

When it came out that he was at the Raiders facility for a workout, his signing was made official shortly thereafter, which means the Raiders were convinced quickly that McCoy still had the goods. At least enough of the goods to be worth signing.

“I just wanted to see what kind of shape he was in,” Raiders defensive line coach Rod Marinelli said of McCoy. “He’s been off and how he feels and all those things. He came in and really had a nice workout. You can see the pop. He got the twitch still and all of that. So, right now, we’re progressing him in and we’ve got him in some individual right now.”

He certainly looks like he’s in shape. He fits right in with the other defensive tackles who have been in camp already for over a week. I grabbed a couple videos of McCoy’s first few drills on his first day.

It was also worth noting that in between drills, some of the Raiders DTs were taking their turns getting technique tips from McCoy. The first was Solomon Thomas who is attempting to secure a spot on this roster at 3-tech DT, if not the starting job there. As it happens, McCoy’s addition could be one of the primary threats to Thomas earning his snaps. But McCoy is generous with his instruction just the same.

“Just his presence is really good with the guys. He’s a wealth of knowledge,” Marinelli continued on McCoy. “He’s played the position at a high level and it’s really great to have him here and it’s just a day-by-day process now.”

McCoy is worth a shot. From 2012 to 2019, he never had fewer than five sacks. He is joining a group of defensive tackles, all of whom the team is taking a flyer on in the hopes two or three of them will distinguish themselves and either live up to past potential (like Thomas) or past performance (like Darius Philon and Quinton Jefferson).

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5 free agent DT’s that can help fill in for David Onyemata

5 free agent DT’s that can help fill in for David Onyemata

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New Orleans Saints defensive tackle David Onyemata shared Friday on Instagram that he has been suspended to start the 2021 NFL season after testing positive for a banned substance. With two of the top three Saints defensive tackles (Malcolm Brown and Sheldon Rankins) leaving the team this offseason, depth along the line was already worryingly thin.

The Saints will likely need to add a tackle to the roster in order to help fill the void Onyemata’s loss will create. Of the seven defensive tackles left on the roster, only one of them was drafted to enter the NFL, and he (practice squad holdover Ryan Glasgow) is also the only one with more than three years’ experience in the league.

An experienced option to hold it all together would be nice, but it’s worth noting everyone still available is either older, returning from injury, or both. Here are five free agent options New Orleans could pursue:

Cowboys News: Will Aldon Smith return? Will Dan Quinn’s mojo?

Discussed are ideas on the possible returns of both Gerald McCoy and Aldon Smith as well as Dan Quinn’s impact as new Defensive Coordinator.

Free agency is just around the corner and the Cowboys are definitely in need of some help. Not only is Dallas negotiating with quarterback Dak Prescott but there’s a possibility of resigning Gerald McCoy after his season-ending injury last year. Another name being discussed to return is Aldon Smith. Pass rushers don’t come cheap though and Smith could be an important keepsake for the team.

How will Dan Quinn end up helping Dallas improve their defense? Will a change from safety back to cornerback ignite Reggie Robinson’s career? How can Demarcus Lawrence help the Cowboys pay Prescott?

Here’s Friday’s News and Notes.

Former Sooner Tony Casillas dishes on potential of Neville Gallimore

Former Oklahoma product Tony Casillas gives insight on Neville Gallimore’s productive rookie season for the Dallas Cowboys.

Every year, players at the collegiate ranks wait to hear their name called at the NFL draft and witness dreams become reality. Former players, family members, and alumni watch as household favorites are added to NFL rosters.

Not every elite college player has a successful career in the pros with the speed of the game and ever-evolving schemes. There is immense pressure for a young player to produce given the high expectations. Oklahoma product, Neville Gallimore was projected to be a second-round draft pick and the Dallas Cowboys snagged him in the third. He impressed in his rookie season and took advantage when his number was called.

Gallimore was drafted to be developed into the team’s hybrid system under Mike Nolan and to meet a need at defensive tackle with the interior of Dallas’ line exposed. With injuries to Gerald McCoy and Trysten Hill, along with the release of free agent acquisition Dontari Poe, Gallimore was thrust into action midway through the 2020 season. He helped elevate the squad’s struggling run defense.

The 24-year-old played in 14 games (nine starts) in his first year totaling 28 combined tackles, four tackles for a loss, 0.5 sacks, four quarterback hits, and one pass defended. Quite the resume considering he played only 36 percent of the team’s defensive snaps in 2020 and stats do not tell the whole story.

In a recent interview with former Sooner Tony Casillas during the season, he lit up talking about Gallimore.

“Neville [Gallimore] gets his chance, his opportunity to play, and I think he is showing some of the signs and things he did at Oklahoma. He’s disruptive, very quick, and agile for a guy his size, and I think once he gets confidence under his belt- the sky is the limit for him. He has so much potential. “

“Experience is everything and I think for him, being able to get the reps and it is all about confidence. You create confidence and you make plays, realizing that ‘every play is going to be different but I can do it’ – there is a lot of growth to that.”

Going up against top guards in the league and out leveraging blockers to collapse the pocket or clog holes to stop rushers is a challenging task. As expected, there was a learning curve throughout the young DT’s transition and lack of offseason due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

As the season wore on and his trust in himself and his abilities increased, his performance on the field thrived. The 6-2, 300 pounder showcased solid pass rush moves, explosive hands, and quick one-step maneuver. Gallimore penetrated gaps from the interior and got upfield.

His most notable performance came against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week nine. The Cowboys limited Pittsburgh to 46 rushing yards, a team that was averaging 118 yards-per-game on the ground. He did a tremendous job plugging holes, which only boosted the play of teammates DeMarcus Lawrence, Tyrone Crawford, and Randy Gregory.

“I think the main thing for Nev [Neville Gallimore] was just trusting himself,” DeMarcus Lawrence remarked via conference call on No.96’s growth.

“Coming into the league as a rookie, there’s a lot of pressure being great right now, instead of working on the basics and the fundamentals of this game. I feel like he had that type of pressure on him, once he started loosening up, started having fun with it and also knowing his plays and stuff, he started attacking more.”

After a successful rookie season, Gallimore will likely have a starting role in 2021. The defensive tackle spot is unknown for the team. Tyrone Crawford is a free agent and Antwaun Woods is a restricted free agent. Trysten Hill will be returning from knee surgery after a promising start to his 2020 campaign but regardless, Gallimore is certainly a defensive player to watch for in 2021. Grab the popcorn, he is just getting warmed up.

Cowboys rookie DT Neville Gallimore shining in increased role

With Gerald McCoy out for the season and Dontari Poe now off the roster, Neville Gallimore had an opportunity to step up, and he’s doing it.

The Dallas Cowboys’ run defense has been laughable in 2020, to say the least. Much of that can be attributed to injury and simply a lack of production on the interior of the defensive line. Gerald McCoy, signed back in March, suffered a ruptured quadriceps in August; he was lost for the season and eventually released. Dontari Poe produced only seven tackles in seven games and didn’t log a single sack or quarterback hit before he was released in October.

This set up an opportunity for third-round pick Neville Gallimore to show what he could bring to the table. In the Cowboys’ tough 24-19 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday, Gallimore graded out as one of the best interior defensive linemen in the NFL in terms of run defense, run stops, and run stop percentage.

The Cowboys had their best outing of the year versus the run against Pittsburgh behind Gallimore’s breakout performance. They held the Steelers to only 46 yards rushing as a team on 18 attempts. Even though the Cowboys still rank 31st against the run, it was encouraging to see them render the Steelers offense so one-dimensional.

Gallimore didn’t see the field much early in the season, logging just 20 snaps in the first two games. After not recording a snap in Weeks 3 and 4, Gallimore has played at least 22 snaps in four of the last five games (17 snaps versus the Eagles in Week 8).

Gallimore’s combination of quickness and power is rare for a man who’s 6-foot-2 and 304 pounds. The duo of Gallimore and Antwaun Woods on the interior, coupled with DeMarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory on the edge, may be the Cowboys’ best defensive line combination for the rest of the season.

The talented rookie now gets an extra week to prepare as the Cowboys are on their bye before hitting the road to face the Minnesota Vikings in Week 11. Gallimore will be needed more than ever. The Cowboys will be tasked with containing running back Dalvin Cook, who has rushed for nearly 400 yards and five touchdowns in his last two games.

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Cowboys failures in free agency shouldn’t make them gun shy in 2021

The Dallas Cowboys swung and missed this past offseason, but it shouldn’t stop the team from being aggressive in the future.

It’s a lost season for the Dallas Cowboys, which has to have set in for the team and their fans. After losing to the Philadelphia Eagles and falling to 2-6, there is nothing that can save the Cowboys from the dumpster fire known as 2020.

It was a bad team with Dak Prescott and it’s even worse without him.

There’s also no shortage of blame for the Cowboys being in this predicament. Blame the coronavirus for not being allowed to adjust to a new coaching staff, blame the lack of a preseason to help a team going through growing pains with new schemes and we can even blame the injuries, which have crushed the team’s ability be who they wanted to be.

And it’s fine to blame the players who are actually on the field because they haven’t helped with the turnovers, penalties or overall poor play.

Of course the sexy thing to do is always blame the organization. Jerry and Stephen Jones are easy targets, after all they selected the players and decided who was worthy of paying. As most observers continue to hammer home, not securing Prescott long-term was a misstep and failing to sign re-sign CB Byron Jones remains an egregious error.

Those were two huge mistakes, but the Cowboys did operate differently this offseason. Instead of shopping in the basement for bargains, the franchise actually went out and spent some real money on veteran free agents to help.

DT’s Gerald McCoy and Dontari Poe were good additions, even if Poe wasn’t the same player he once was. The team also brought in veteran saftey Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, CB’s Daryl Worley and Maurice Canady, and DE Aldon Smith to bulk up the defense.

Adding a capable backup QB like Andy Dalton was another strong move from and the Cowboys also signed versatile offensive lineman Cam Erving to pitch in if needed.

Most of the signings were good on paper, but just haven’t worked out.

Poe turned out to be washed up and McCoy, whose signing everyone applauded, got hurt, which has turned out to be a big loss. Clinton-Dix and Worley never worked out and Canady opted out for the season. The addition of Smith has been a major plus.

Injuries knocked out Dalton, but he helped win a game for the team and, until recently, Erving was injured as well.

In a perfect world, the Cowboys never need Dalton, but we’ve seen how 2020 has treated the best laid plans. The emergency use of Dalton was supposed to be for a few games to keep the teams head above water in case Prescott got hurt and was going to miss a few weeks. Dalton wasn’t supposed to be starting for the majority of the season.

The offseason plan was solid, the Cowboys brought in good options to help improve the team. They didn’t just patch up holes with street level players as they usually do, they added good (so we thought) players.

Each offseason Cowboys fans scream about the lack of aggressiveness from the front office. They want the team to be more assertive in acquiring talent to get better. And here was Dallas, making the moves to improve this offseason, they just haven’t worked out.

It would be sad if the Cowboys abandoned their approach from this offseason and went back to bargain bin shopping. This year’s results shouldn’t discourage them from being aggressive in the future.

The hope is the Cowboys will continue to find ways to get better each offseason and maximize their resources. Becoming skittish because one year didn’t work out isn’t the sign of a strong front office. The results from 2020 just means the Cowboys have to choose the players more wisely.

Dallas had a solid plan and it should be applied in the future. It didn’t pay off this season, but that’s no reason to throw the blueprints away.

You can chat with or follow Ben on twitter @BenGrimaldi

No-excuse Cowboys certainly aren’t helped by avalanche of injuries

To say the Dallas Cowboys are snake-bitten by injuries would be an understatement.

Disclaimer: this article is not here to excuse the performance of the Dallas Cowboys this season, especially not the game against the Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night Football. But, still, it’s important to talk about injuries in relation to the expectations both fans and teams had way back in September. Oh, that was just a month ago? Feels longer.

Over the last decade, the Cowboys have had their fair share of injuries but have largely been slightly above average in terms of health when compared to the rest of the league. In 2020, that is absolutely not the case. They’ve long passed the point where the boat has taken on so much water it’s time to abandon ship. And hope.

Here’s where the team stood league wide entering 2020, utilizing Football Outsiders adjusted games lost calculations:

Adjusted games lost gives one point for every game missed by a starter. It adds smaller amounts for time missed during the practice week even if a player ultimately suits up on gameday. It is not a perfect metric as some starters are different than others (see the 2015 Cowboys and the loss of Tony Romo) but it’s the best anyone has come up with yet.

Without calculating any of the partial points every team earns due to the nicks and nagging injuries that football inevitably brings, the Cowboys are racking up the points. Here’s a best guess at their baseline for adjusted games lost to date:

  • La’el Collins 16 games
  • Blake Jarwin 15 games
  • Tyron Smith 14 games
  • Dak Prescott 11 games
  • Trysten Hill 11 games
  • Leighton Vander Esch 4 games
  • Chidobe Awuzie 4 games
  • Anthony Brown 3 games
  • Joe Looney 2 games

That’s a total of 80 games and over half the season remains to add to the above names and possibly the last four players’ totals. It’s not clear if Football Outsiders would include defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who was the team’s presumptive starter. It also doesn’t even take into consideration some of the sort of starters that are missing time, like linebacker Sean Lee. It’s not yet even begun to calculate the more nuanced portions of this metric.

80 games lost would rank the team No. 20 in 2019. And again, that is the lowest number possible the Cowboys could have this year. That number can not get any lower. By the time things are all said and done this year, this team will likely be the most snake-bitten team in the NFL.

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Oklahoma’s Gerald McCoy Taught Neville Gallimore to “Trust the Process”

When former Oklahoma DT Gerald McCoy signed a three-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys in March, he called it a dream come true.

When former Oklahoma DT Gerald McCoy signed a three-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys in March, he called it a dream come true.

When fellow former Sooners CeeDee Lamb and Neville Gallimore were drafted to Dallas in April, that dream got even better.

Things took a turn for the worst once practice began, with McCoy rupturing his right quad tendon and subsequently being released by the team. But his relationship with Gallimore is one that made a lasting impact, even in a brief amount of time.

“The amount he’s helped me out in just a short amount of time, it was a great experience,” Gallimore said. “He really took me under his wing. He reminded me to trust the process and not overthink too much.”

On draft night, Gallimore told media members that he considers himself an “unfinished product,” which made the McCoy signing a timely one. The plan was for McCoy to mentor Gallimore, accelerate his development, and start in his place in the meantime.

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