What Position is the Biggest Strength Heading into Training Camp?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5 Biggest Strengths Ahead of Training Camp By Jason Kanno Jun 2, 2015 Chris O'Meara/Associated Press The Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn't have much to boast about following last season's 2-14 finish. Though they still have a ways to go to become a contender, they do have areas of strength that will make them a difficult matchup for their 2015 opponents.The Bucs' strengths come not only in the play of their starters but in the quality of their depth. Injuries last year worsened an already dreadful season. Additions to the roster this offseason had to address the Bucs' inexperienced reserves.For as bad as the Bucs were last year, they did have a strong wide receiver corps and a solid group of interior pass-rushers. With a year of experience playing together and some new offseason additions, these groups should only improve in 2015.The Bucs also addressed deficiencies at linebacker and cornerback, positions already anchored by talented starters like Lavonte David and Alterraun Verner. An improved defensive interior and a greater familiarity with Lovie Smith's defense should lead to improved results this season.The up-and-coming quarterback position is where the Bucs took their biggest gamble this offseason. Selecting quarterback Jameis Winston first overall and hiring experienced NFL offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter could turn the franchise around.Here are the Bucs' five greatest strengths going into this summer's training camp.No. 5: QuarterbackWilfredo Lee/Associated Press There is no position the Bucs upgraded more this offseason than quarterback. However, drafting Jameis Winston was only part of that improvement.Winston is a clear upgrade from Josh McCown and even Mike Glennon. The Bucs would not have taken him first overall in the 2015 draft otherwise.Nevertheless, Winston is still a rookie who threw 18 interceptions and generally struggled at the start of games in his last season at Florida State. There will be a learning curve and plenty of bumps along the way for Tampa Bay's new franchise quarterback.What should keep Winston from imploding and make his arrival beneficial to the Bucs is the hiring of offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter.The former Falcons offensive coordinator was instrumental to Matt Ryan's success over the past three seasons, and he runs a vertical passing attack that pushes the ball downfield with big plays to big wide receivers.Koetter is an ideal coach to steer Winston's development. He should also be a stabilizing force for an offense that played more or less without an offensive coordinator last year.The Bucs also have a reliable backup in Mike Glennon. Though he isn't the playmaker Winston can be, Glennon is extremely disciplined with the football, throwing just one interception for every 41 attempts.While the Bucs won't want Glennon to have to play, it should be reassuring that he's backing up Winston.No. 4: CornerbackChris Graythen/Getty ImagesCornerback was not an area of strength for Tampa Bay last season. The maturation of the defense and one key addition could turn that right around.Johnthan Banks and Alterraun Verner are likely to return as starters. Banks established himself as a reliable if not ideal starter in Lovie Smith's Tampa 2 defense.Verner struggled with injuries throughout the season and didn't take to Tampa's defensive scheme as well as they might have hoped. Verner told Pewter Report's Scott Reynolds that while the defense isn't complex, it asks a lot of its players:“ We don’t run a lot of defenses, and because we don’t, they expect you to run it extremely well. Most of the time teams are going to know what we’re doing, but it takes the discipline to run it well. That was more of a learning curve than I anticipated.”Verner and Banks should only improve as they become more comfortable in Smith's system.The Bucs made one major addition to their cornerback ranks who could be vital to their nickel defense: former Cowboys CB Sterling Moore.The nickel cornerback position has been a weakness for as long as Leonard Johnson has manned it. Moore was Dallas' second-best cornerback behind Orlando Scandrick. He's quicker and better in coverage than Johnson and should take his semi-starting position at nickel corner.The Bucs also get another former Cowboy cornerback back from injury. Mike Jenkins sat out most of the 2014 season with a torn pectoral muscle, robbing the Bucs of a potential starter.While Jenkins is unlikely to supplant Banks or Verner, he can provide crucial depth to a unit that fielded the likes of Brandon Dixon and Isaiah Frey deep into last season.No. 3: LinebackerPhelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press Since Lovie Smith started his NFL career as the Bucs linebacker coach, it would make sense that they would be one of his strongest units when he became head coach. They played decently last year but should be even better this year.There is no questioning that Lavonte David is the Bucs' best linebacker. He can do everything and do it well, including covering receivers, rushing passers and even aligning the defense. He follows in the footsteps of Derrick Brooks and Lance Briggs as Smith's prototypical weak-side linebacker.Danny Lansanah was a pleasant surprise for the Bucs last season, emerging after years of bouncing from team to team. He was a revelation in coverage, picking off three passes and returning two for touchdowns.The Bucs also added former Cowboys linebacker Bruce Carter and drafted LSU's Kwon Alexander. The additions should further mold the unit in Smith's image.Carter is a shoe-in for the middle linebacker position. He is as athletic as any other linebacker on the team, though his instincts may not be up to the par with the others.Athleticism is a quality Bucs coaches admire in Alexander as well:Though he is only a rookie, Alexander could challenge for a starting role or at least provide much-needed depth to position that had little last season.No. 2: Wide ReceiverPhelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press The Bucs best unit from last season remains one of their greatest strengths, and the wide receivers might be even better in 2015.Second-year wide receiver Mike Evans was an immediate hit for the Bucs' new front office. He mirrors the strengths of veteran receiver Vincent Jackson with his big body and sure hands.Evans and Jackson became the first Bucs receivers to both record at least 1,000 yards in the same season. They may become the second duo as well in a more stable offense helmed by Jameis Winston and offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter.Winston and Koetter both have successful histories with big wide receivers. Winston won a national championship with current Panthers receiver Kelvin Benjamin as his main target. Koetter had beastly receiver duo Julio Jones and Roddy White in Atlanta, helping Falcons QB Matt Ryan enjoy his most productive years in the NFL.Depth is a minor issue for the group, given Evans and Jackson's history of good health in Tampa Bay and the players the Bucs added over the past two years. They brought back speedy receiver Louis Murphy and retained talented second-year players Robert Herron and Russell Shepard.The Bucs also took Kenny Bell and Kaelin Clay in the fifth and sixth rounds of the 2015 draft. Clay is a return specialist, but Bell may have potential as a deep threat, given his 4.42 40-yard dash.Time will tell whether the Bucs young receivers can develop into viable role players or even starters. A strong training camp could see the receiver corps back among the Bucs' best units.No. 1: Interior Pass RushChris O'Meara/Associated PressIt's hardly a competition. The interior pass rush is the most fearsome thing the Bucs have going for them.Led by the Bucs' best player, defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, the interior pass-rushers should be relentless in 2015. Clinton McDonald was the Bucs' best free-agent addition last year, and it's possible that former Cowboys defensive tackle Henry Melton could be their best free agent this year.It's important to distinguish "interior pass rush" from "defensive tackle." First, the Bucs frequently rotate their defensive ends inside on third down. Even if the Bucs have problems with their edge rush, defensive ends like Will Gholston make the Bucs already deep interior pass rush even deeper.Second, the Bucs' defensive tackles need to improve their run defense. McCoy was the only Bucs tackle to receive a positive grade in run defense from Pro Football Focus last season.Some of their struggles could be attributed to the Tampa 2's emphasis on pass rush from the front four, but the defensive line as a whole needs to be stouter against the run in 2015.McCoy is already one of the best defensive tackles in football as well as one of the best pass-rushers. His 23 sacks in the past three seasons attest to his dominance up front.McDonald was a revelation for the Bucs in 2014. Coming from a Super Bowl-winning Seattle defense, he only got better as the year wore on and added five sacks of his own.Melton is the reason the interior pass rush looks to be their greatest strength in 2015. His five sacks last year should only improve playing behind one of the league's best defensive linemen.This trio will create a nightmarish rotation of fast-twitch pass-rushers. Offensive lines might stop one, but not all three.link