TAMPA, Fla. -- It's time to take a look at the defensive line as we continue our position-by-position glances at where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stand following minicamp and heading into training camp.
To talk about the line, you have to break up the tackles and the ends. The Bucs have one of the league's best group of defensive tackles, but the ends are a huge question mark.
All-Pro defensive tackle Gerald McCoy is as good as they come. He has solid help next to him with Clinton McDonald and Henry Melton competing for the other starting job. All three of those guys can rush the passer and Akeem Spence is a reliable fourth defensive tackle.
That's a great start. But then, you have to look at the outside. The Bucs were using Jacquies Smith and George Johnson as their starting defensive ends in the offseason program and that isn't likely to change. Both are journeymen, but they're coming off the best seasons of their careers.
In part-time roles, Smith had 6.5 sacks and Johnson had 6.0. If the Bucs can get close to double-digit sacks from both of them, they'll be thrilled. The Bucs will use a heavy rotation at defensive end to try to stay fresh. William Gholston has the ability to play inside and outside and the Bucs are high on T.J. Fatinikun and Larry English.
If the ends can be productive, the defensive line could be a real strength for the Bucs.
