TAMPA, Fla -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a goal this offseason of getting more physical on defense. One week from the season opener, they were able to do that by signing former Denver Broncos safety T.J. Ward, who will bring the type of impact playmaking the Bucs' defensive backfield has needed. He also gives them the capability to 'win now' in one of the toughest quarterbacking divisions in the league.
The secondary was a huge source of frustration much of last season for the coaching staff and front office. It wasn't until the Bucs' final eight games that things started to click at safety, when Chris Conte had interceptions in back-to-back weeks and later, Keith Tandy notched four interceptions in five starts.