Noah Spence in Better Spot to Meet Expectations

A year ago, Noah Spence's teammates were predicting big things for him. The since-departed Robert Ayers thought the second-year defensive end had 15-sack potential. After a rookie campaign that included 5.5 sacks but was marred by a shoulder injury that required him to play in a harness, Spence did indeed seem poised for a breakout in 2017.

It didn't happen. Spence, the 39th pick in the 2016 draft, stripped the ball away from Chicago quarterback Mike Glennon in the Buccaneers' opener but that would be his only sack of the year. After appearing in just six games he was once again sidelined by a shoulder injury, and this time he went directly to injured reserve and underwent a more significant…