What to expect from Buccaneers defense in week one

The Buccaneer defense has been finalized for week 1 of the 2019 season and it seems as though everyone is returning from injury just in time.

The 53-man roster has been set for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and lets just say that its been a bloodbath as it often is when an organization is forced to cut 40 players from the team in the span of just a few days.  The Noah Spence experiment in Tampa Bay has rightfully come to an end and several other veteran players have been cut in favor of a much younger defensive unit.

For what was the biggest and most shocking news of the final roster reports, the team has parted ways with second round pick Spence. Spence, who started training camp as the starting outside linebacker, was never able to use his freakish size and speed to dominate the position like someone of his size should be able to do.

Spence watched as his reps went from the first team, to the second team, and finally to the third. This all occurred while Shaquil Barrett lived in the backfield for most of the preseason against players of all calibers. Barrett is now the starter while Spence is looking for another job.

Spence being off the roster looks like a hit, but this was the correct move. Spence could not produce. Unfortunately for Spence, stats don’t lie and athleticism is not everything. While the hopes for Spence may have been high back in July, football doesn’t begin until September and there is a lot of time in the middle for reality to temper expectations. Demone Harris will take the open linebacker spot and Shaquil Barrett will move to starting OLB alongside captain Carl Nassib.