Tampa Bay Buccaneers Week 11 Stock Report

It was an ugly win for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week, but a win nonetheless, improving their record to 4-5 on the season and continuing their trend of alternating outcomes since Week 4.

After weeks of the offense carrying the team for the most part, it was the Tampa Bay defense that stepped up in Week 10, stifling the Dallas Cowboys' running game and playmakers in the passing game on the way to a 10-6 home victory.

There were some welcome improvements in certain areas for the Bucs on Sunday but also places where more work is needed.

Who is trending in either direction for the Bucs heading into Week 11? Let's take a look.

Up: LB Lavonte David

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

After signing a five-year extension earlier this year, Lavonte David has had an up-and-down season, struggling with his consistency as a tackler as well as in coverage.

But last week's performance against the Dallas Cowboys could mark a turning point for David this year. The former second-round pick out of Nebraska racked up 12 tackles, one sack and one pass breakup, as Tampa Bay's defense set the tone for an ugly 10-6 win.

David seemed more comfortable in coverage and cut down considerably on his missed tackles. There's plenty of pressure on him to perform after getting that lucrative extension, but if Sunday's showing is any indication, he's starting to respond.

Down: CB Mike Jenkins

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

The Bucs have shaken things up at the cornerback position over the last couple of weeks, and veteran Mike Jenkins hasn't been on the positive side of the changes.

Even after the team waived Tim Jennings, Jenkins still lost his starting spot to rookie undrafted free agent Jude Adjei-Barimah, and Jenkins hasn't done much to earn it back. On Sunday, he even struggled on special teams, committing a costly personal foul that gave the Cowboys great field position to try to mount a game-winning drive in the final seconds.

It's clear the Bucs are comfortable moving forward with their new starting corners, but if Jenkins even wants to see playing time on special teams, he'll need to cut down on the mental errors.

Up: CB Sterling Moore

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

Since being given a starting job two weeks ago, Sterling Moore has rewarded head coach Lovie Smith with a pair of inspired performances that have helped elevate the play of the entire defense.

Last week's performance was Moore's best yet, as he shut down Dez Bryant and held him to 45 yards on five receptions. Through his two starts, Moore has posted seven tackles, three pass breakups, one interception and one forced fumble.

Moore's play over the past two games has allowed Smith to bring more blitzes, which is a sign of the coach's confidence in the secondary to get the job done in man coverage. That led to a pair of sacks last week in key third-down situations.

Moore and undrafted free agent Jude Adjei-Barimah should be Tampa Bay's starters on the outside for the rest of the year if they keep up this level of play.

Down: DE George Johnson

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

In one of the few moves Tampa Bay made in the offseason to help improve a lackluster pass rush, the team acquired George Johnson in a trade with the Detroit Lions.

But Johnson has been a huge disappointment, having been benched after three starts. Through nine games this season, he has yet to register a single sack in his second stint with the Bucs.

Even with Jacquies Smith out of the lineup, Johnson has failed to take advantage of the opportunity. He also missed Wednesday's practice with a calf injury, which won't help his chances of turning the tide and proving he can make an impact.

Up: Head Coach Lovie Smith

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

Head coach Lovie Smith was taking an insane amount of heat after his defense allowed a monumental comeback in a last-second loss to Washington in Week 7, but the Bucs have won two out of three since and are coming off their best defensive performance of the season.

Smith's defense shut down a productive Cowboys rushing attack, held Dez Bryant and Jason Witten to less than 100 receiving yards combined and kept Dallas out of the end zone the entire game. Smith dialed up effective blitzes to make up for the lack of pass rush from the front four, and he even tried to drive the ball down the field just before the half, something he's seemingly refused to do in previous weeks.

Smith isn't out of the woods yet, but if the defense continues to improve and the Bucs get a few more wins down the stretch, he'll be coming back to One Buc Place in 2016.