Who Wins the Most Heated Roster Battles?

Projecting the Buccaneers' Most Heated Roster Battles This Offseason By Jason Kanno , Featured Columnist May 14, 2015 Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press For some Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the biggest thing standing between them and the opening-day roster is each other.Roster battles are just a part of life in the NFL. As talented as any one player is, there is always another player who is trying to replace him.The Bucs are well into rebuilding their roster under head coach Lovie Smith and general manager Jason Licht. Some jobs are secure, like those of Gerald McCoy and Mike Evans. Others have yet to be earned.The biggest battles will take place in positions where the Bucs are facing the most serious questions of talent and depth, particularly at defensive end and running back. These are contests where the outcomes will have a major impact on how the rest of the team performs.The offensive line will be another major battleground. The Bucs drafted four linemen in the past two years, all of whom will vie for starting roles. There are also starting gigs up for grabs at tight end and safety.Here are the six hottest roster battles to anticipate this offseason in Tampa Bay.Austin Seferian-Jenkins vs. Brandon MyersBrian Blanco/Associated Press Tight end seems like a position already set with Austin Seferian-Jenkins as the starter, but he faces one major challenge in keeping Brandon Myers out of his job: his own health.Last year the Bucs drafted Austin Seferian-Jenkins to be a "do everything" tight end including catch passes over the middle and block in-line, but a litany of injuries kept him from making a significant contribution.The Bucs also have Myers, who can do everything without excelling at anything. He began the 2014 season as the starting tight end but ceded the job to Seferian-Jenkins upon his midseason return.After ending last season on injured reserve, Seferian-Jenkins finally feels healthy. With his 6'5" size and athleticism, he could be a dominant tight end for Tampa Bay and poses a major upgrade from Myers.If Seferian-Jenkins can stay out of the trainers room, Myers doesn't stand much chance of regaining the starting spot.Winner: Austin Seferian-JenkinsMajor Wright vs. Chris ConteChris Graythen/Getty Images The Bucs completely revamped their safety group in the past year. Now, two former Chicago Bears will try to re-establish their careers in a battle for free safety.The Bucs love Bradley McDougald, who is likely to start at strong safety. While Major Wright and Chris Conte will rotate onto the field, someone has to be the starter.Wright is the likely pick coming out of the preseason. He played in Lovie Smith's defense longer than Conte has and is more consistent. He's not a big playmaker but gets by on his reliability.Conte could win more playing time down the line as he's the more natural fit at free safety. He will likely struggle as most of the Bucs defenders did last year as they adapted to Smith's Tampa 2 defense.Winner: Major WrightAli Marpet vs. Kadeem EdwardsBrian Blanco/Getty ImagesThe guard position suffered for years in Tampa Bay despite numerous attempts to address its deficiencies. A renewed commitment to drafting offensive linemen provides the Bucs with a little competition this offseason.The Bucs traded back into the second round for Hobart offensive lineman Ali Marpet this year and picked up former Tennessee State guard Kadeem Edwards in the sixth round last year. Their small-school origins leave them with an air of mystery and promise.Little experience separates Marpet and Edwards. Marpet has higher draft status, and his performance at the Senior Bowl indicates he could already be ready to contribute.Edwards' only leg up is that he already made his transition to the NFL. The NFL is a steep incline from Hobart College, so Marpet may be a little overwhelmed at first. Otherwise, the job is likely his.Winner: Ali MarpetKevin Pamphile vs. Donovan SmithCharles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press The future is now at left tackle in Tampa Bay.The Bucs used a second-round pick on Donovan Smith with the intention that he would become their starting left tackle. Second-year Buc Kevin Pamphile might have something to say about that.With two starts under his belt, former fifth-round pick Pamphile is only marginally more experienced than Smith. That may be enough for him to emerge from the preseason as the Bucs' starting left tackle.Pamphile has a fan in Bucs offensive line coach George Warhop, who said he wished he doubled Pamphile's snaps in 2014, per Pewter Report's Mark Cook. Warhop also stated that Smith would have to "beat out Kevin to be the starter," according to the Tampa Tribune's Roy Cummings.Smith possesses prototypical size (6'6", 338 lbs) and athleticism for an NFL left tackle. What's keeping him from the starting spot is his raw technique.Both men stand on equal footing in gaining the trust of quarterback Jameis Winston. He will be relying on one of them to keep him upright this season.With a little seasoning, Smith should win the starting left tackle spot...just not right away.Winner: Kevin PamphileJacquies Smith vs. Will GholstonJeff Haynes/Associated Press Defensive end is the one position where the Bucs need competition the most. If not for the likelihood of a prolific rotation at the position, the defensive end battle would be the Bucs' fiercest, particularly between Jacquies Smith and Will Gholston.The Bucs will likely start the 2015 season with mostly unseasoned starting defensive ends. The one player who is most assured a starting role is DE George Johnson, whom the Bucs acquired via trade from Detroit and subsequently signed to a three-year, $7 million contract.That leaves Smith and Gholston to fight over the other starting spot. The two defensive linemen have almost opposite strengths. Smith is a promising pass-rusher, while Gholston plays best against the run.Gholston may win the technical start for run-stopping abilities, but it's Smith who will likely earn more snaps. Lovie Smith's defense relies on a four-man pass rush, which requires him to play his best edge-rushers as often as possible.Winner: Jacquies SmithDoug Martin vs. Charles SimsGrant Halverson/Getty Images This offseason's biggest battle will take place in the Bucs backfield. Running back Doug Martin fights to regain his rookie form, while Charles Sims looks for his first breakout moment.With rookie quarterback Jameis Winston likely to start the season, the Bucs will lean on their run game to take the pressure off their franchise passer. The stakes of Martin and Sims' contest couldn't be higher.Both men struggled with injuries last year. An injury in training camp or the preseason will end the competition in favor of the healthier back.Martin has an edge as the more natural up-the-gut ball-carrier. Sims is the better pass-catcher. Both need work on their pass protection.Barring injury, Martin should emerge as the Bucs' starter. He comes with more experience in a pro offense and can add yardage after first contact. Sims will likely rotate in on third down.Winner: Doug Martinlink