Buccaneers Players Poised for a Breakout Campaign in 2015

5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Players Poised for a Breakout Campaign in 2015 By Luke Easterling May 22, 2015 Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports It's strange to think a team coming off a 2-14 season could have so many promising players on their roster, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have quite a few reasons to be optimistic about their chances of success in 2015.Sure, there's a new franchise quarterback at the helm, as well as a playmaking receiver who took the league by storm as a rookie last year. But beneath the flashy surface of the bigger names, the Bucs have a few players primed to break out this season.These players are just starting to scratch the surface of their NFL success, but it looks like the stars could be aligning for them this season, helping Tampa Bay to break out of a slump that hasn't seen them win a playoff game since they hoisted the Lombardi Trophy after the 2002 season.Which Bucs are ready for their best season yet? Here's my take.TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins  Mike Evans stole the headlines last year, but Bucs fans should expect big things this year from the other massive target Tampa Bay spent a high draft pick on last year.After being selected with the 38th overall pick in the 2014 draft, Austin Seferian-Jenkins was expected to be a dangerous weapon in Tampa Bay's passing game last year. But after missing rookie minicamp due to school obligations and dealing with multiple injuries throughout the year he had just 21 catches for 221 yards and a pair of touchdowns.The second-year pro will have quite a few factors working in his favor this season. A full offseason, a clean bill of health and consistency at offensive coordinator should help him immensely, and the presence of Jameis Winston shouldn't hurt.With opposing secondaries focused on Evans and Vincent Jackson, Seferian-Jenkins should make a big splash in 2015.S Bradley McDougaldMitchell Layton/Getty Images The Bucs paid Dashon Goldson a ton of money last year, but he was easily outplayed by a former undrafted free agent who was claimed off waivers prior to the 2013 season.Bradley McDougald was Tampa Bay's best safety in 2014, flashing playmaking ability both in coverage and in run support. The former Kansas Jayhawk appeared in 15 games with five starts, knocking away seven passes and making an acrobatic interception in the end zone during the Bucs' Week 17 loss to the New Orleans Saints.McDougald also racked up a ridiculous 15 tackles in Week 15 against the Carolina Panthers.Heading into the 2015 season, the Bucs have shuffled things around a bit at safety. Gone are Goldson and Mark Barron, who began last year as the two starters, and new additions like Chris Conte and D.J. Swearinger have joined the fold, while veteran Major Wright was re-signed.But look for McDougald to once again be Tampa Bay's most impressive player at safety, as he becomes even more comfortable in the Tampa 2 scheme.RB Charles SimsGrant Halverson/Getty Images Tampa Bay's running backs struggled last season, and it's hard to fault them, given the play of the offensive line for much of the year.Despite bigger needs elsewhere, Tampa Bay's new decision-makers like Charles Sims so much they drafted him with the 69th overall pick in the 2014 draft, adding him to what seemed like an already packed backfield. But before the regular season began, Sims underwent ankle surgery that cost him the first half of his rookie year.Over the final eight games of the season, Sims showed flashes of the explosiveness as both a runner and receiver the Bucs had fallen in love with prior to the draft, but he was still adjusting to the speed of the NFL game and coming off a serious injury.This year, it should be a wide-open competition for the starting job at running back, and Sims should be the front-runner. If he's got a clean bill of health, and improved offensive line and a passing game that should keep defenses a little more honest this year, the former West Virginia Mountaineer should thrive.CB Johnthan BanksKim Klement-USA TODAY Sports The Bucs released Darrelle Revis after just one season, replacing him with free agent Alterraun Verner, who was expected to be their best corner in 2014.But it was second-year man Johnthan Banks who emerged as Tampa Bay's top cover man, snatching four interceptions and knocking away 10 passes over 14 starts last season. A former second-round pick out of Mississippi State, Banks looked plenty comfortable in his first year in the Tampa 2 scheme, especially over the second half of the season.This year, Banks is another year wiser, more experienced and should have an even better understanding of how to maximize his skill set within the defensive scheme. The entire defense should be improved in 2015, and Banks is primed to be one of the driving forces behind their success.LB Bruce CarterKirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Bucs fans knew Mason Foster's days in the middle were numbered with the arrival of the Tampa 2 defense, which requires a much faster, more explosive athlete who excels in coverage.As expected, Foster was replaced this offseason by free agent Bruce Carter, who some might think had his breakout season last year with five interceptions from his outside linebacker spot for the Dallas Cowboys. But injuries limited Carter to just eight starts last year, meaning he's capable of racking up even better numbers this year.Carter will move inside and start in the middle for the Bucs, giving them the athleticism and range in coverage required of the position in the Tampa 2 scheme. If he can stay healthy, Carter should be a huge addition to a defense that was already improving considerably down the stretch in 2014.link