The Buc Player Most Likely To Break Out In 2014

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2014: Player Most Likely To Break Out In 2014 By David Levin August 14, 2014Ask Johnthan Banks about his rookie season last year, and might describe it in two words:Roller Coaster.The defensive back had his moments down in Tampa Bay, but he also had some situations he would like to forget. Those are the growing pains of an NFL rookie.Banks will be the first to tell you he's not the same person he was a year ago."I'm smarter than I was last year," Banks said. "I'm not nervous going out there playing timid. I'm playing fast and I'm having fun."Banks is in competition with Mike Jenkins for the No. 2 cornerback spot opposite Alterraun Verner. But it's no secret that the Bucs would like to see Banks win the job because his size allows him to match up with some of the league's bigger receivers.Coach Lovie Smith has said Banks is a perfect fit in the Cover 2 defense and Banks agrees."I love this defense," Banks said. "I played this defense in college. A lot of people said I wouldn't fit, but I caught 16 interceptions and won the Jim Thorpe Award in college while playing this defense. So we'll see."Banks should benefit from Lovie Smith being named the team’s head coach. He attended Mississippi State University, where he played for the Mississippi State Bulldogs football team from 2009 to 2012. He compiled 158 tackles, 11 interceptions, four quarterback sacks and three touchdowns. He was originally a safety, but made the switch to cornerback as a sophomore.Following his senior season in 2012, Banks won the Jim Thorpe Award for the top defensive back in college football. He also received first-team All-American honors from the Football Writers Association of America, the Walter Camp Football Foundation, and Scout.com, and was a first-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection.His size at 6’2” and 185 pounds make him a sold coverage man with taller receivers – especially with the likes of Marques Colston, Roddy White and Julio Jones all in the NFC South. He also hopes to improve on his 55 tackles and three interceptions from last season.link