Power Rankings: Top Post-Draft Defenses (16-20)

Dec 29, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham (80) is tackled by Tampa Bay Buccaneers free safety Keith Tandy (37) and free safety Dashon Goldson (38) in the first half at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4-12
Last Season’s Rankings: #17 Overall Defense (348 total yards per game allowed) #17 Passing Defense (237.9 passing yards per game allowed) #15 Rushing Defense (110.1 rushing yards per game allowed)

I feel that the 2013 Tampa Bay Bucs were a team that nobody paid attention to because of their laughably bad offense. Despite their last ranked passing game, the Buccaneers managed to still hold their own on defense (somewhat).

In terms of their run defense, the Bucs are somewhat loaded up front. In the off-season they were able to add former Cincinnati Bengal DE Michael Johnson to the mix. In his best season for the Bengals in 2012, Johnson was able to record 52 tackles, 11.5 sacks and two tackles for loss. As for the other parts of the Bucs front seven, DT Gerald McCoy (50 tackles, 9.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss and four passes defended in 2013), DT Akeem Spence (29 tackles and four tackles for loss), DE Adrian Clayborn (64 tackles, 5.5 sacks and 16 tackles for loss), OLB Johnathan Casillas (35 tackles and two passes defended), ILB Mason Foster (92 tackles, two sacks, seven tackles for loss and seven passes defended) and multi-talented OLB Lavonte David (145 tackles, seven sacks, 18 tackles for loss, 10 passes defended and five interceptions) will be playing for the Bucs come 2014. Now while some of the pieces on the line backing corps may be a little bit unproven, I believe that the star power of McCoy, Foster and especially David will lead this Tampa defense.

Last season the Bucs were ranked 17th on defense defending the pass even with CB Derrelle Revis so I think losing Revis wasn’t actually that bad of a loss for the Bucs. Picking up Verner while the Titans had a chance was an excellent move on the part of Tampa Bay. Other than Richard Sherman, Verner seemed to be a shut-down corner, racking up 22 passes defended along with 5 interceptions. Since his days in 2010 when he recorded 101 tackles, Verner has cut down on being a more tackle-heavy DB and more of a pass-defending DB. The Bucs just lost huge free agency Darrelle Revis to the Patriots and picked up the right guy in Verner. Last year their defense was ranked 17th in overall passing yards per game allowed (237.9 passing yards per game). I think with Verner on the Bucs’ squad, they will have their defense almost wrapped up in terms of off-season acquisitions. As well, with SS Mark Barron (88 tackles, six passes defended and two interceptions), FS Dashon Goldson (72 tackles and eight passes defended) and CB Johnathan Banks (55 tackles, five passes defended and three interceptions) the Bucs are set on the back end. I believe that Verner can be that guy for the Bucs and help the secondary which was ranked 27th in passing touchdowns allowed (30 allowed in 2013). Surprisingly, the Bucs ranked third in the league in interceptions with 21 picks. I expect that number to go up with Verner on the squad.