The Pewter Plank
FanSided

Buccaneers: Predicting the final 53-man roster

By Douglas O'Connor

TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 1: Fans watch a military jet flyover during the opening ceremonies of an NFL game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Carolina Panthers on January 1, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 1: Fans watch a military jet flyover during the opening ceremonies of an NFL game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Carolina Panthers on January 1, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 11: Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons is sacked by Gerald McCoy #93 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Georgia Dome on September 11, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 11: Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons is sacked by Gerald McCoy #93 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Georgia Dome on September 11, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

DEFENSE

Defensive Lineman: Robert Ayers, Chris Baker, Gerald McCoy, William Gholston, Noah Spence, Clinton McDonald, Jacquies Smith, Sealver Siliga, Stevie Tu’ikolovatu and Ryan Russell

Once again the there are quite a few players on this list that are lead pipe locks to make the team, the first six to be exact. After that injuries and what exactly defensive coordinator Mike Smith is looking for come into play.

In the never ending quest to find top notch pass rushers Jacquies Smith has been a dragon the Buccaneers continue to chase. After recording 13.5 sacks in just 28 games the Bucs were expecting big things from Smith in 2016. Injured on the first play he saw the field, Smith was lost for the entire season.  Smith had a setback in his recovery just before the start of this years training camp. Smith feels his recent recovery is on schedule and I believe that his return will come sooner than later. It is a guess, but I think Buc fans will see Smith on the field against Chicago, during the teams home opener. Smiths ability is to tempting to shelve for 8 weeks so he gets a spot on my 53 man prediction.

Sealver Siliga and Stevie Tu’ikolovatu are basically the same player. Two eggs walking on toothpicks that are near impossible to move, that play on the interior of the defensive line. Most pundits believe that the Bucs have to pick between one or the other and they may be right. I feel that Mike Smith wants to get bigger up the middle and these two players more than fit the bill. A short yardage and goal line package featuring both of these run stuffers will be a force to overcome.

With the injury to DaVonte Lambert, Ryan Russell slides into the last defensive line spot on my 53. Russell has done some good things in his 8 game stint with the Bucs. Including a sack, which is more than I can say for odd man out George Johnson.

Johnson is in his second stint with Tampa Bay and has never developed into the player that he is being paid to be. Johnson is due $2.25 million this year and to be blunt. I’d rather roll that money over into next years cap rather than use it on a veteran that will only get in a handful of plays a game, barring injuries.

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