TAMPA, Fla. -- On Tuesday, we talked about how the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are taking a gamble with their defensive ends.

Instead of signing a big-name free agent or using an early draft pick on a defensive end, they're going to throw a whole bunch of guys that have been average out there and hope that some of them rise up. It’s a risky approach.

But let’s talk today about a position where the Bucs don’t have nearly as much worry. Let’s talk about defensive tackle. It might be the deepest position on the roster and it’s filled with guys that have played at a high level.

The Bucs think Gerald McCoy is the best defensive tackle in the NFL and they just might be right. McCoy has 18 sacks over the last two seasons and has become a regular at the Pro Bowl. His 8.5 sacks last season helped the Bucs lead the league with 18.5 sacks from their defensive tackles.

Back in the days of former coach Greg Schiano, McCoy frequently played close to 100 percent of the defensive snaps. That’s not going to happen under coach Lovie Smith. The goal is to have McCoy play 60 to 70 percent of the snaps and try to stay fresh.

That shouldn’t be difficult to accomplish because the Bucs have plenty of other talent at defensive tackle. Clinton McDonald is the other starter and he posted 5.0 sacks in 13 games last season.

McCoy, McDonald and Akeem Spence already gave the Bucs plenty of depth at defensive tackle. But the team didn’t stand still this offseason. The Bucs went out and signed Henry Melton, who played for Smith in Chicago and has been to a Pro Bowl.

Melton likely will be the third defensive tackle and should get plenty of playing time on passing downs. Defensive end William Gholston also has the ability to play inside and could become part of the rotation.

The fact that the Bucs are so good and so deep at defensive tackle is going to help the defensive ends because they won’t get as much blocking from opposing offensive linemen.