Buccaneers' McCoy putting himself 'in the worst situations possible' to get better

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy is doing everything possible to avoid another losing season in 2015.

That means an exhaustive training regimen that hasn't let up during the offseason, all focused on maintaining discipline and endurance in the fourth quarter.

"I've been trying to put myself in the worst situations possible, the most exhausting situations possible, so that I can be at my best when it matters the most," McCoy told Roy Cummings of The Tampa Tribune. "It's hot in Florida, we all know that. But this is the NFL and in the NFL you have to be able to perform at your best in the fourth quarter, and that's what I've been working on."

The three-time Pro Bowler appears hell-bent on playing at the highest level in 2015, "pulling 10-workout weeks" that increase strength and stamina while others are vacationing.

"(The objective) is to find out how tired you can be and still go hard, because last year we lost a lot of close games. And so I need to still be at my best in the fourth quarter when those close games are decided.’"

McCoy knows this type of workout can't prevent a catastrophic injury from happening, as nothing can, but maximizing his impact is imperative on a Bucs team that finished with the worst record in football last season.

"If a person breaks his hand or sprains his knee, you can't help that," he said. "But this way, if something happens where I can only compete in 11 games, at least I can make the best of every opportunity I get."