Full Tampa Bay Buccaneers Awards at the Quarter Mark of the 2014 NFL Season

We're a quarter of the way through the NFL regular season, and things haven't exactly gone as expected for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Despite favorable matchups early in the season, the Bucs dropped two straight home games against backup quarterbacks to open the season before getting absolutely destroyed on the road by the Atlanta Falcons in front of a national audience.

But after a dramatic, last-second win on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers this past week, Tampa Bay fans have found a glimmer of hope amidst a forgettable start to the 2014 season.

We've made it to the first quarter-mile marker of the year, so let's take a look at who the award winners are for the Bucs over this season's first four games.

Most Valuable Player

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DT Gerald McCoy

As the loss of Peyton Manning proved to the Indianapolis Colts in 2011, sometimes a player's true worth is most clearly visible in their absence. The same can be said so far this season for Gerald McCoy, who is the heart and soul of the Buccaneers team, both on the field and in the locker room. 

McCoy's presence has been felt strongly when he's been active, proving to be as disruptive as ever in the integral 3-technique spot in Lovie Smith's Tampa 2 defense.  The two-time Pro Bowler wasted no time making an impact in the regular season, tallying eight total tackles and a sack in the Bucs' opener against the Carolina Panthers. 

But a broken hand sustained early in Tampa Bay's Week 2 loss to the St. Louis Rams would keep him out for most of that game and all of the following week.  Without McCoy, the Bucs defense allowed St. Louis third-string quarterback Austin Davis to look like a star and then let Matt Ryan rack up a nearly perfect quarterback rating on national television in Week 3.

McCoy returned to the starting lineup against the Pittsburgh Steelers this week, despite having his broken hand in a cast.  McCoy announced his arrival immediately, sacking Ben Roethlisberger on the second play of the game.

He's only played half of the team's games so far this year, but it's clear that McCoy is the engine that drives this defense on the field and the unquestioned leader of the entire locker room.

Offensive Player of the Year

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WR Mike Evans

Some might expect to see quarterback Mike Glennon here after last week's performance, but I'm going with the more consistent performer over all four games so far.

The Bucs had big expectations for Evans after using the seventh overall pick in this year's draft on him, and it's hard to be disappointed at the early results.  The former Texas A&M star has 17 receptions for 203 yards, leading the team in both categories.

Evans has already flashed the playmaking ability that made him such an attractive prospect, and his effectiveness as a red-zone target was put on display this past week against the Steelers, as the rookie hauled in his first career touchdown pass with superb concentration in the back of the end zone.

Evans left the Pittsburgh game with a groin injury that will reportedly keep him out for the next two to three weeks, and he'll be sorely missed.  His absence leaves the Bucs incredibly thin at receiver outside of veteran Vincent Jackson, who has struggled with drops early in the season.

Look for Evans to be another player who could prove his value through his absence over the next few weeks.

Defensive Player of the Year

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LB Lavonte David

With Gerald McCoy taking the overall team MVP honors, it's David who deserves the nod after him as the team's top defensive player so far this season.

Having already been compared to former Bucs great—and fresh Hall of Fame inductee—Derrick Brooks, David has been putting his speed and athleticism to good use in Lovie Smith's Tampa 2 scheme.  The former second-round pick out of Nebraska holds a comfortable edge as the team's leading tackler with 37, 31 of which have been solo stops.

And though he's yet to notch one of the sacks or interceptions that were so plentiful for him last year, David has still made an impact when it comes to takeaways, forcing two fumbles through the first four games.

David's impact will only continue to grow as he becomes more comfortable in this new defensive scheme, and it's only a matter of time before he starts living up to those lofty comparisons.

Comeback Player of the Year

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DL Da'Quan Bowers

After struggling his entire young career with injuries and staying in shape, few Bucs fans expected Bowers to make it through preseason cuts this year.

But the former second-round pick out of Clemson found a way to stick, showing the new coaching staff enough during training camp and the preseason to land him a spot on the final roster.

One trait that likely contributed to Bowers making the team was his versatility, as he proved he has the ability to slide inside and play defensive tackle on passing downs in addition to lining up at his traditional defensive end spot.

Bowers hasn't exactly set the world on fire so far this season, but he has seen plenty of action thanks to some early-season injuries.  He's also proved he can still get after the passer by sacking Matt Ryan in Week 3. For a player many expected to be cut before the season began, Bowers is well on his way to showing his doubters he's still got plenty left in the tank.

Newcomer of the Year

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G Logan Mankins

The Bucs made plenty of "splash" signings in free agency, bringing in the likes of Alterraun Verner, Michael Johnson, Clinton McDonald, Anthony Collins and Josh McCown to help overhaul a roster that won just four games the previous season.

But it was a trade made just before the start of the regular season that brought Tampa Bay the new addition who has had the biggest impact over the team's first four games.

Desperate to address their need at the guard position, the Bucs acquired six-time Pro Bowler Logan Mankins from the New England Patriots.  The veteran's presence has been unmistakable from the moment he joined the team, from immediately helping to improve and stabilize the interior of the team's offensive line to providing vital leadership skills in the locker room.

Tampa Bay is still a work in progress up front, as four of the five starters weren't on the roster last year and are still trying to build chemistry.  But having a veteran like Mankins has already paid off in a big way, and it should continue to throughout the year.

Next Man Up Award

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Quarterbacks Coach Marcus Arroyo

When Arroyo took this job with Tampa Bay, I'll bet he had no clue what was in store for him once the regular season rolled around.

With offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford recovering from a heart procedure, Arroyo was to shoulder the play-calling duties for the offense on a week-to-week basis, all the while assuming that Tedford would return to full health and take back the reins at any time.

Instead, Tedford has taken an indefinite leave of absence from the team, leaving the 34-year-old Arroyo as the de facto executor of the offensive game plan for the foreseeable future.

Though he seemed to struggle quite a bit through the first three games, Arroyo let loose this past week against the Steelers, dialing up more creativity and a willingness to stretch the field that fans had yet to see this season.

The Bucs seemed to attempt more deep throws against Pittsburgh than in the other three games combined, and Arroyo also spiced things up with an end around to Solomon Patton that went for 19 yards, as well as a halfback pass into the end zone that fell incomplete.

Arroyo may not have known what he was getting himself into this season, but he looks to be settling into his comfort zone as a play-caller, and he should only improve as the season moves along.

*All stats courtesy of Buccaneers.com.