Opponent Profile: Ravens Will Try To Rebound Against Tampay Bay Bucs
By Samuel Njoku
The Ravens fell short in a hard fought game against the Indianapolis Colts. Now Baltimore will turn their attention towards a Tampa Bay Bucs squad still searching for their identity. And while this team isn't the Colts, it would be unwise for the Ravens to take this team lightly.
Bucs on Offense:
Baltimore had their hands full against Andrew Luck on Sunday but were up to the challenge as they held the quarterback to just two touchdowns. This week they'll have an easier time against QB Mike Glennon. He's not nearly as dangerous as Luck, but with the way the secondary has played it may not matter. The Ravens did receive a much needed boost with the return of Lardarius Webb, but he was still targeted by Luck as the Colts knew he'd still be a bit rusty.
Regardless, a rusty Lardarius Webb is still better than no Webb at all. With the loss of Asa Jackson for an extended period of time due to injury, his return couldn't have come at a better time. Look for the Bucs to attack Matt Elam and Chykie Brown by motioning Vincent Jackson to isolate them for one-on-one matchups.
Bucs on Defense:
Tampa Bay didn't show much in their loss against the Saints, but this team still has what it takes to shut down opposing offenses. With stars like Gerald McCoy and LaVonte David on that side of the football, Baltimore will definitely need to come prepared to battle. The best way to attack the Bucs would be to establish a balanced attack, something the Ravens didn't have last week. Bernard Pierce and Justin Forsett present a very intriguing 1-2 punch that could pay dividends in this game.
Given the lack of production from Flacco's wideouts not named Steve Smith, getting the offense moving on the ground seems like a smart move. With the way the Bucs were able to move the ball last week, the Ravens may have a shootout on their hands. They'll need to do a much better job moving the ball than they did last week.
Bucs Coaching:
Tampa Bay Bucs head coach Lovie Smith has an All-time record of 82-67. He previously coached for the Chicago Bears before being let go in 2012. The Ravens hold a record of 2-2 against the Bucs since 1996.
For more Ravens news and updates, visit Ravens Central.
Samuel Njoku was born and raised in Baltimore, MD and is a graduate of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Samuel has covered the Ravens for Examiner.com since 2010. Prior to 2010, Samuel was an avid blogger and radio personality in Salisbury, MD. Samuel Njoku is a freelance writer covering all things NFL. His work can be found on Examiner.com. You can also follow him on Twitter @Ravens_Examiner.
