Gerald McCoy is the heart of the Buccaneers defense and is a leader for the team on and off the field. He has been one of the top defensive tackles since entering the league in 2010, one of only eight to notch 20 sacks in that span. In this week's Data Crunch, we take a look at the advanced stats that show McCoy's efficiency at getting to the opposing team's quarterback. Using Pro Football Focus's Pressures (quarterback sacks, hits, and hurries combined) and Pass Rushing Productivity score (pressures per snap, weighting sacks), we get a better idea of McCoy's impact on a play-by-play basis and how he stacks up to the league's other top sack artists.
While he is amongst the elite today, the player McCoy has been compared to most since he was drafted was also a force for the Buccaneers at the 3-technique, Warren Sapp. Switching tabs allows you to see McCoy's progress in reaching the accomplishments of Sapp, a Buccaneers Ring of Honor and NFL Hall of Fame inductee in 2013. In his nine years in Tampa, Sapp was a seven-time Pro Bowler and a four-time First-Team All-Pro. McCoy already has two Pro Bowls and an All-Pro selection under his belt, but to reach the marks of a Buccaneers legend, he still has his work cut out for him.