Buccaneers DT Gerald McCoy happy to finish first full season

When he was taken third overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2010 NFL Draft, Gerald McCoy was expected to anchor the Bucs defensive line. But season-ending injuries in each of his first two years have slowed McCoy down. When the Bucs' season finishes on Sunday at the Georgia Dome against the Atlanta Falcons, it will represent the first time McCoy has played wire-to-wire in three seasons.

Torn biceps ended McCoy's last two seasons and have slowed down his development because of rigorous rehab assignments. McCoy told the Tampa Bay Times he won't have rehab to get in his way this offseason.

"I haven’t been able to focus on football as much. I couldn’t move," said McCoy. "Now, I can actually get out there and work on it. The things I see on film, I can actually work on it instead of waiting until I get healthy. I’ll have that much more time in the offseason to get better."

The former Oklahoma Sooner has recorded 30 tackles and five sacks in 15 games this season with the Buccaneers.