biggest key to success

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Lovie Smith’s Chicago Bears were a consistent contender because they played strong defense. Tampa Bay Buccaneers The coach will try to get the same result with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the ingredients are there for that to happen. Tampa Bay Buccaneers  Smith inherited some special talent in defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and linebacker Lavonte David. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Both are just reaching their prime. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Smith has compared McCoy to Warren Sapp and David to Derrick Brooks. Sapp and Brooks were the keys to the defense during Tampa Bay’s glory days. Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Bucs believe McCoy and David can fill the same roles in the new generation and that a strong defense will help make the franchise relevant again.  McCoy and David are going to be good for years to come and they form a strong foundation. But the Bucs will need some complementary players to come through for this defense to be really good. Defensive end Michael Johnson was brought in as a free agent because the Bucs believe he can bring pressure from the outside. If he does, that’s only going to help McCoy and Clinton McDonald in the middle.  A strong pass rush will only help a secondary that has good potential, Tampa Bay Buccaneers but hasn’t hit it yet. Alterraun Verner was brought in to be the No. 1 cornerback, but the Bucs need Johnthan Banksand Mike Jenkins to step up as the other cornerback and nickelback. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Safeties Dashon Goldson and Mark Barron have talent and can form a nice tandem. Tampa Bay Buccaneers  Middle linebacker Mason Foster is going to get a chance to play a more significant role than he has in the past. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Foster will call the defensive plays and be asked to drop into coverage more than he did in his first three seasons. Tampa Bay Buccaneers  This defense will be the key factor in determining if Smith’s regime will succeed. Tampa Bay Buccaneers The offense can be average, but the defense has to be special, Tampa Bay Buccaneers.