Fansided

Power ranking the NFL defenses for 2019

By Russell S. Baxter

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 05: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks is sacked by Demarcus Lawrence #90 of the Dallas Cowboys in the first half during the Wild Card Round at AT&T Stadium on January 05, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 05: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks is sacked by Demarcus Lawrence #90 of the Dallas Cowboys in the first half during the Wild Card Round at AT&T Stadium on January 05, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – AUG 12: Noah Spence (56) and Defensive Coordinator Todd Bowles during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training Camp on August 12, 2019 at the AdventHealth Training Center at One Buccaneer Place in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – AUG 12: Noah Spence (56) and Defensive Coordinator Todd Bowles during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training Camp on August 12, 2019 at the AdventHealth Training Center at One Buccaneer Place in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2018 Review: Another season and once again the same old problems when it came to this defense. Yes, the Buccaneers did improve from a league-low 22 sacks to a respectable 38 quarterback traps. But the club made it very easy for opposing quarterbacks to light up the secondary as Tampa defenders allowed a whopping 34 scores through the air. After five games, coordinator Mike Smith was fired and linebackers coach Mark Duffner was promoted. But the bottom line shows the club surrendered 53 offensive touchdowns and 464 points.

2019 Key Additions: New head coach Bruce Arians is reunited with Todd Bowles, who used to run the defense when the duo was in Arizona. The team will utilize the 3-4 and there’s a pair of newcomers in versatile Deone Buccanon and 2019 fifth overall pick Devin White (LSU), a rangy play-maker at inside linebacker. Veterans Ndamukong Suh and Shaquil Barrett bolster the front seven. And the Bucs recently added safety Darian Stewart.

Analysis: Perhaps some new faces and a different scheme can turn thing around on this side of the ball for the Buccaneers. There’s talent here but the results speak for themselves. While the defense hasn’t gotten much help from a turnover-plagued offense the last few years, this unit has certainly had its own shortcomings. Bowles did quite the job with the Cardinals and look for him to eventually have an impact here. But the jury is out for now.

Next: No. 26

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