Eye In The Sky comes to you from PewterReport.com contributor Steven Cheah, who has been breaking down the Buccaneers All-22 on Twitter since 2015. Cheah will be joining PewterReport.com with video analysis throughout the offseason, as well as weekly video feature analysis features during the regular season to closely examine an element of the previous week’s game. Here are a few things that stood out when watching the tape.

The first round of the draft is days away and the Bucs are picking in the top five. In 2010, the Bucs were also near the top of the draft with the No. 3 overall pick. That year, they took a defensive tackle out of Oklahoma named Gerald McCoy.

Bucs DT Gerald McCoy – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

McCoy has been a polarizing player throughout his career as he’s yet to get Tampa Bay to a post-season while also failing to reach double digit sacks in any season. Yet in 2014, the Bucs signed him to a seven-year, $95.2-million-dollar contract extension.

Fast forward to present day in 2019 and there is no more guaranteed money on that deal, so the Bucs could trade or cut McCoy who is scheduled to make $13-million dollars this season without any cap consequences. A drastic measure like that may be needed as Tampa Bay currently don’t have enough money to sign their projected draft picks and need to free up just over $8.9-million dollars to do so. But the Bucs could always come up with that money via other roster decisions that don’t involve number 93.

McCoy has been noticeably absent from off-season activities and new Bucs coach Bruce Arians certainly made waves when he said of McCoy: “He’s not as disruptive as he was four years ago, but he’s still a good player. If he’s there, he’ll be our starting three [technique]. No doubt about that…”

In his pre-draft press conference on Tuesday, general manager Jason Licht certainly didn’t confirm McCoy would be returning for his 10th season in pewter and red either.

Taking a look at McCoy’s film from this past season, let’s see at what type of player the now 31-year old defensive tackle is right now – or at least was a 30-year old last year.

McCoy had 21 QB hits in 2018, which was tied for the second-most he’s had in his career, just three behind his 2017 season. The play above is a microcosm of McCoy’s career as he dominates the blocker in front of him with elite get-off and technique, but the Bucs give up a near 20-yard completion. It’s a humbling reminder that no matter how good one player is, it takes a team to win.

While McCoy’s sack numbers were never huge, his presence was always felt. This play is a good example of positive play for the defense as Jason Pierre-Paul gets the sack, but a big reason was because McCoy’s quick penetration forced the quarterback to step up in the pocket.

McCoy still has a fantastic get-off at the snap of the football. Here it helps him get one of those 21 QB hits he had last season which results in an incompletion.

McCoy is still a versatile pass rushing threat as he can win with power in addition to speed.

McCoy is a complete defensive tackle as he can not only rush the passer, he is a solid run defender as well. In 2018, he ranked 26th (out of 112 interior defenders that played at least 280 snaps) in run defense according to Pro Football Focus.

McCoy is and has been a community leader in the Tampa Bay area as he sets an example of what you’d want a player representing your city to be off the field. On the field, he also does the little things like never giving up and hustling to the football and making tackles on wide receiver screens. How many defensive tackles to you see doing that?

Where do you stand on McCoy’s past and perhaps future in Tampa Bay if the Bucs don’t trade or cut him and keep him for the 2019 campaign? Do you view his career as a Buccaneer a success despite not having the desired individual or team success? Do you want him back for his 10th season at age 31 even though it would cost $13 million dollars?

Let me know in the comments section below or feel free to reach out to me on Twitter at @CHEAH_SAY