Defensive Ends:The Bucs signed Robert Ayers as an unrestricted free agent from the New York Giants in March 2016. Ayers was originally drafted in the 1st round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. In the last three seasons, he has played in 39 of 48 possible games with 15 starts. Ayers had a career-best, 9.5 sacks in 2015. Over the past three seasons playing for the Broncos and Giants, Ayers has amassed 20 sacks, 92 total tackles, four forced fumbles, five passes defensed, three fumble recoveries and five tackles for loss. Ayers is a very good two-way player who is disruptive against both the run and the pass. He can get heat on the quarterback from both the end and tackle positions getting a lot of hurries (18, in 2015) on the quarterback and disrupting the timing and rhythm in the passing game.Jacquies Smith originally entered the league as a college free agent with the Miami Dolphins in May 2012. Smith was claimed by Tampa Bay off waivers from the Buffalo Bills in September 2014. Smith started 32-of-53 games he played in four-years at University of Missouri, recording 159 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 13.0 sacks and one interception returned for a touchdown. He started all 11 games as a senior, for Missouri recording 39 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks. Smith spent time on the New York Jets practice squad, in 2012. He also played for the Hamilton Tiger Cats of the Canadian Football League, recording only one tackle, during the 2012 season. Smith spent 11 weeks on the Buffalo Bills practice squad in 2013 and the 2014 offseason. Smith made NFL debut with Buccaneers against St. Louis Rams on September 14, 2014. He made his first career NFL start versus the Atlanta Falcons on November 9, 2014. Since becoming a Buccaneer Smith has started 18 of 27 games, recording 13.5 sacks, three passes defensed, four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. Smith is below average size as a defensive end in the traditional sense. He makes up for his height weight disadvantage with his explosiveness off the snap. He has adequate bend off the edge. Smith is a quick twitch player, that beats blockers with his speed more so than technique.In his third season with the Bucs, William Gholston was selected in the fourth round (126th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Buccaneers. Gholston started 24-of-36 games he played at Michigan State (2010-12), totaling 142 tackles, 13 passes defensed, 10.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and 30.0 tackles for loss. He entered the NFL Draft after his junior season. Since becoming a Buccaneer, Gholston has played in 43 career games, including 22 starts. He recorded first career sack on Monday Night Football against the Miami Dolphins in November 2013. In his three seasons with the team he has recorded seven sacks, 139 total tackles eight passes defensed and one forced fumble. Gholston had his most productive season in 2015, with 67 total tackles, three sacks, two passes defensed and one forced fumble. Gholston has a nice combination of size, strength, and overall athletic ability. He is an above average run defender, showcasing his disruptive nature, regularly playing in the opponent’s backfield; Gholston was a non-factor on passing downs in 2015. He is better against the run then than the pass; Gholston plays with a ferocious physical style that wears him down late in games.Howard Jones was signed to the Buccaneers practice squad in September 2015. He was elevated to the team's active roster on October 6. Jones entered the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers, an undrafted rookie free agent in May 2014. He played collegiately at Shepherd University, where he was converted from receiver to defensive end. During his four years at Shepherd, Jones complied 35 sacks, 69.5 tackles for loss, eight forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, four blocked kicks and one interception. With the Buccaneers, in 2015 Jones started 5 of 12 games after being promoted to the active roster amassing five sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one touchdown. Jones made his NFL debut versus the Jacksonville Jaguars on October 11, 2015. Jones recorded two sacks in his first career NFL game, becoming only the third Buccaneer player to ever do so (DT Santana Dotson & DT Curt Jarvis); the first one came on his first career defensive snap. Jones lacks ideal size at just over 6-foot-2 238-pounds. Jones has an uncommon ability to accelerate and hit top speed very quickly. He has a tremendous punch to deliver jolts to blockers overwhelming them physically. Exceptional burst and get off at the snap. He’s a work in progress with his technique. Jones needs to improve his hand usage. Has the traits to be a situational edge rusher as he develops additional pass rush moves. Noah Spence was drafted by the Buccaneers in the second-round (39th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft. Spence transferred to Eastern Kentucky, after being dismissed from Ohio State: during his two years at Ohio State Spence played in 25 games recording 9 sacks and 62 tackles. In his lone season at Eastern Kentucky Spence had 63 tackles and 11.5 sacks and was named Ohio Valley Conference co-Defensive Player of the Year. During his draft prep Spence worked out with Jesse Hayes, son of current Buccaneers defensive line Coach Jay Hayes at Defensive Line Inc. owned and operated by Chuck Smith. Smith, who had 58.5 sacks and played for the Falcons and Panthers from 1992-2000, has tutored some of the game’s elite pass rusher since 2002. Spence has natural explosion, violent hands and bends the edge with ease. He is a pure pass rusher that can turn the corner and close on QBs in a hurry. The Bucs traded with the Detroit Lions for George Johnson in April 2015. Johnson originally entered the NFL as an undrafted college rookie free agent with Tampa Bay in May 2010. Johnson was waived by Tampa Bay in November 2012. Johnson played collegiality at Rutgers: playing in 51 games from (2006-09), starting 35, totaling 134 tackles, 31.5 tackles for loss, 13.0 sacks, three fumble recoveries, two interceptions and one forced fumble. Johnson has played Has played in 38 regular season games with Tampa Bay (2011-12, 15), Minnesota (2012) and Detroit (2014), totaling 56 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one pass defensed. Also contributed three special teams tackles. Johnson Made NFL debut with Tampa Bay against the New Orleans Saints October 16, 2011. Johnson has prototypical size and length of a defensive end. He’s a marginal athlete with good speed. Lacks lateral COD ability and bend around the edge. Johnson is a power rusher that cannot covert power to speed and routinely attacks the whole man rather than half a man with little to no pass rush plan on the onset of the snap. The Bucs claimed Kourtnei Brown off waivers from the Houston Texans on November 23, 2015. Brown originally entered the NFL as an undrafted college rookie free agent with the San Francisco 49ers on May 4, 2012. Brown has spent time with the 49ers, Washington Redskins, Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, St. Louis Rams, Houston Texans and Bucs. Brown made his NFL debut in win at New Orleans on September 20, 2015. Brown played four seasons at Clemson (2007-11), totaling 75 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, three passes defensed, two fumble recoveries and one interception (returned 20 yards for a touchdown). Brown recorded three sacks and had a 69-yard interception returned for a touchdown for the Texans in the preseason; however Houston’s still cut Brown during final roster cuts prior to the 2015 season. Brown has decent triangle numbers (Height, Weight & Speed) for the edge. However he has yet to put it altogether. Brown is a decent athlete who plays hard. Even after bouncing around since 2012 his fundamentals and gap discipline are still lacking. Brown over pursues plays and leaves his assigned gap often. The Buccaneers signed Channing Ward, as a priority undrafted rookie free agent following the 2016 NFL Draft. Ward a five-star recruit at defensive end, from Aberdeen, Mississippi, shocked many pundits during the 2012 Under Armour All-American Game, when he made his announcement live on ESPN to attend Ole Miss. During the Under Armour All-America Game he posted 2.0 sacks and 3.5 TFLs . Ward totaled 29 sacks, during his junior and senior seasons in High School. Ward at 6-foot-3, 288-pounds is not your ideal prototypical defensive end, at nearly 300-pounds. Ward played in all 52 of the Rebels’ games during his four-year career, making four starts and was a prominent member of the Rebels special teams. Ward complied 110 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles and three passes defensed. Ward possesses straight line speed and short arms for a player his size, at just over 31 inches. Ward has the frame to add additional weight and mass while kicking inside to use his quickness, hand usage and strength as a 3-techinque – his versatility to play end and special teams will allow him to push for a sport on the 53-man roster. The Buccaneers signed unrestricted free agent Cliff Matthews from NFC South rivals, the Atlanta Falcons. As nondescript, players go Matthews is the poster child. Matthews entered the NFL as a seventh round (230th pick overall) draft choice by Atlanta in 2011. Matthews played in 32 games with Atlanta from 2011-2014 amassing 28 total tackles. At 268-pounds, Matthews looks far heavier than his listed weight. Just, 26-years old Matthews is familiar with, new defensive coordinator Mike Smith. During his collegiate career with South Carolina, Matthews accrued 15.5 sacks, 26 tackles for loss, 149 total tackles, 7 forced fumbles and 5 passes defensed. Matthews is a player that can play inside or 5-techinque the With the Bucs going to a hybrid defense or more commonly known as a 4-3 Under. Matthews can use his length to set the edge, doing the dirty work for the teams edge rushers to reap the rewards.
