Who will make the biggest improvement in Year 2 under head coach Lovie Smith?

4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sure to Show Drastic Improvement in 2015 By Luke Easterling May 25, 2015 Chris O'Meara/Associated Press The 2015 season was a forgettable one for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as the team finished with the worst record in the NFL and earned the top overall draft pick for the fifth time in franchise history.But as with any team that goes through drastic changes in the front office, the coaching staff and the roster, the second season under a new regime offers hope that strides will be made to improve by new players in new systems.Last year saw the return of the Tampa 2 defense to the Bucs, which was made famous during the team's glory days, culminating in a Super Bowl following the 2002 season. There was also instability on offense, with new offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford missing the entire regular season after installing his system during training camp.Who will make the biggest improvement in Year 2 under head coach Lovie Smith and his staff?CB Alterraun VernerSTEVE NESIUS/Associated Press After the Bucs released Darrelle Revis, they signed a younger, cheaper corner in free agency who was thought to be a much better fit for the Tampa 2 defense.But despite high expectations, Alterraun Verner struggled in his first year in Tampa Bay, experiencing the growing pains of learning the new defense, getting burned on multiple occasions and not creating the kinds of big plays he was expected to when they signed him to a fairly lucrative deal in the offseason.But the former Tennessee Titan started to turn a corner down the stretch last season, showing weekly improvement over the second half of the year. As his familiarity with the scheme grew, so did his confidence.That process should continue in 2015, following a full offseason to continue building a solid knowledge of his assignments and develop chemistry with his teammates.G Logan MankinsDuane Burleson/Associated Press Despite having a glaring need for starting guards, the Bucs were nearing the 2014 regular season without much improvement at the position via the draft or free agency.But a late-preseason trade with the New England Patriots netted them six-time Pro Bowler Logan Mankins, who immediately plugged in at left guard. It seemed like a foregone conclusion that Mankins would shore up that spot, but he struggled right along with the rest of Tampa Bay's offensive line last year, failing to live up to the high expectations.There are multiple factors that likely contributed to such a down year for Mankins, including a knee injury he suffered in a Week 1 loss to the Carolina Panthers. Despite the injury, Mankins started all 16 games for the Bucs last season.Mankins also dealt with the shock of having to leave his family in Boston at a moment's notice, spending the entire season away from them.Heading into 2015, Mankins should be more comfortable with his surroundings, knowing more about what to expect with his new team and enjoying a clean bill of health. He should be a completely different player this season.LB Lavonte DavidJeff Haynes/Associated Press It didn't take long after Lovie Smith was named head coach for fans and analysts alike to start projecting Lavonte David to thrive in the Tampa 2 defense, much like Derrick Brooks did at the same position during his prime in Tampa Bay.But though he was still one of the most consistent performers on defense last year, David didn't make the kinds of splash plays many expected him to. The previous season, David racked up seven sacks and five interceptions, but he managed to get to the quarterback only once in 2014, and he failed to register a single interception.The Tampa 2 defense isn't quite as simple as some may think, and it takes time for players to develop and feel comfortable in any new scheme. This year, look for David to settle in and get back to his playmaking ways.C Evan SmithKim Klement-USA TODAY Sports Much like Logan Mankins, Evan Smith was brought in as a veteran who was expected to help anchor a struggling offensive line. But he had as rough a year as any of the starters up front, dealing with mental errors, penalties and just poor play.But with the center being responsible for making protection calls and the like, Smith suffered as much as any player due to the instability at offensive coordinator, following the temporary-turned-permanent absence of Jeff Tedford for the entire regular season. Smith told SiriusXM Radio early in the offseason that the Bucs were basically a toy without instructions.This season, new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter should be able to put the toys together properly, allowing all of his players to get the most out of their abilities. Smith should enjoy that stability as much as any player on the offense this season.link