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McCray Thinking Big
by T.C. Wicker, NewOrleansSaints.com
Wednesday, August 12, 2009 - 10:30 AM
Bobby McCray feels like a wild dog let off the leash.
When someone talks to the sixth year player out of the University of Florida, he notices a theme to McCray’s self-perception. He is a playmaker, he knows it, and all he wants is an opportunity to show it.
In the past, McCray has been asked to play a standard defensive end's role and, as such, has at times felt constrained. However, under new Saints’ defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, McCray will be allowed to roam more and attack the line of scrimmage and will also line up at various spots along the defensive line. McCray lights up when he describes his role in the new defense. “He is putting me into position to make plays,” he said. “I don’t have to drop back now, instead I get to do what I do best.”
What McCray does best is rush the passer. His explosive first-step and speed around the edge were put on display last season as he had a pair of two sack games, and he led the Saints with 6 sacks. McCray’s defensive line coach Bill Johnson said, “Bobby has great length, speed, and more power than people think. He’s a great player for our team.”
However, Johnson is quick to tell that defining McCray purely as a pass rusher would be a costly mistake for opposing teams. “He is a good, complete football player,” Johnson continued. “Some people think of him solely as a good pass rusher, but that’s just not true. He can do it all.”
McCray also dismisses the thought that he needs to prove himself as more than a pass rusher. “I did it all last year,” he said. “I don’t need to prove anything. Look at my playing last year.”
When McCray replaced an injured Charles Grant last season, he did prove his capability to do everything the team needed. In addition to his sacks, McCray posted five stops behind the line of scrimmage and a career second-best 37 tackles.
However, McCray is not as worried about his accomplishments from last season as focusing on the upcoming season. “I can definitely see the difference with Coach (Gregg Williams) here,” McCray said. “He’s a great coach. With him, the sky’s the limit for this team.”
Any observer of the Saints’ training camp or of Gregg Williams’ interviews will immediately ascertain that he loves fast players and wants his defense flying to the ball on every play. Moreover, Williams has emphasized versatile players that he feels comfortable playing in a variety of his extensive formations.
McCray possesses the overall athletic ability that Coach Williams craves in a player. Williams trusts him to roam around the line of scrimmage as a stand-up rusher or to play off the edge as a traditional defensive end.
McCray embraces this year as a great chance for him to put on a show for Saints and football fans largely because of the new emphasis on fast play for the Saints defense. “With the aggressive mentality that Coach Williams has brought,” McCray continued, “I have a great opportunity to make plays.”
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