To say that the Buccaneers’ defense struggled in 2018 would be an understatement.

Tampa Bay’s secondary allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete a league-high 72.5% of their passes, allowed 34 passing touchdowns while taking away just nine interceptions, gave up a league-worst 8.2 yards per attempt and allowed 4,151 total passing yards. Fans and media often pointed to former defensive coordinator Mike Smith’s scheme as an issue, a theory that was validated with a marked improvement on that side of the ball after his dismissal in October.

Now in his second year, Carlton Davis spoke to the media on Monday and minced no words when voicing his belief that newly-hired defensive coordinator Todd Bowles’ aggressive style of defense could lead to a much better defense this year with complicated looks and putting players in a position where they’re comfortable and most effective.

“For whatever reason, the schemes didn’t work last year,” Davis said. “It just didn’t work. Our players are a lot more comfortable with the schemes we have right now, I feel like it fits us a lot better as a defense and our personnel.”

Tampa Bay’s defense has long been a unit where a four-man front and zone defenses have been the norm, from Monty Kiffin’s “Tampa 2” to the soft zones corners often found themselves positioned in last year. But with Davis, Vernon Hargreaves and two new rookie cornerbacks in Sean Murphy-Bunting and Jamel Dean who all thrived in press-man coverage at the college level, Bowles has brought in an aggressive and variable scheme that will likely put them in the best position to succeed.

Davis spoke about what it’s like playing man coverage in Bowles’ defense.

Davis’ bump-and-run coverage was also something that Bruce Arians praised on Saturday, stating that he has refined that part of his game after a good practice.

With a veteran addition in Deone Buccannon, three new rookies in Murphy-Bunting, Dean and Mike Edwards that could be opening day starters in the defensive backfield, a top-5 pick invested in middle linebacker Devin White and a new and improved defensive playbook, Davis believes that side of the ball has a very high ceiling in 2019. It isn’t just the defense that could improve thanks to the new-look unit however, as Davis says the offensive side of the ball also gets better and more prepared every day they get to go against them.