MERGED: Baltimore Ravens Vs Buc's

[Finally]

[quote name='UMDan' timestamp='1290613221' post='549831']
While I think the Bucs are not to be overlooked, their good record is deceptive. Let's compare shall we...[/quote]


I don't want to give the bucs any praise but they play the teams that are on their schedule. The Bengals and the Rams were better teams (on paper). The cardinals folded like a cheap suit for us but they have certainly given other teams fits even without a true QB. They were probably lucky to face the Browns week 1 because they have gotten tougher as the year has progressed.

I still don't think this game will be close though. Morris has something to prove and he will want this win. I think he will use every trick up his sleeve to try and get it but I don't see it happening.

[George70]

I'll make my choice on this Sunday's game. I believe it will be a ten-point margin of victory for the Ravens, but it will be more of a high scoring affair, as Tampa Bay is capable of it.

Ravens 34
Bucs 24.

[BohBalmerOsbohs]

wearing the black uni's sunday

[JEEPercreepermd]

The Bucs are coming into Baltimore with their 29th ranked run defense. Enough said. The Ravens are going to pound them and then pound them some more. I'll give credit where it's due. The Bucs are having a nice season so far, but they aren't an upper echelon team yet. I think that they will play tough, but the Ravens in the end just have too many horses in the stable for them to match up with.

My pick- 28-14 Ravens

[UMDan]

Didn't we say the same about Carolina's run defense, though?

[BucsFan5]

[quote name='UMDan' timestamp='1290626682' post='549963']
Didn't we say the same about Carolina's run defense, though?
[/quote]
We are awful against the run. I don't know what got into us last Sunday, but we just completely shut down Frank Gore. Other than that though, most RB's have had field days against us including no named backs like Chris Ivory and Mike Goodson.

[flynismo]

[quote name='BucsFan5' timestamp='1290627032' post='549970']<br />We are awful against the run. I don't know what got into us last Sunday, but we just completely shut down Frank Gore. Other than that though, most RB's have had field days against us including no named backs like Chris Ivory and Mike Goodson.<br />[/quote]


Goodson had a nice game against us too; Carolina has a pretty good OL, so I wouldn't sweat that one too much.

[AwakenTheDemon]

Even though the Bucs are struggling against the run this year, I really think that should change in a year or so. If McCoy and Price make good progression, they'll have a nice, young anchor to that defensive line for the future. Stylez White is rather underestimated as well, not elite, but a good end.

Unfortunately for the Bucs, they have to play us at home.

[letsgoflacco]

One of the biggest factors of this game is the fact that we are playing at home.

Cover 2 does concern me. I am hoping that this game will show Joe's progressions through the year. Play calling has to be on point too. Let Ray Rice rumble!!

[1/28/01]

Reed missed practice today due to an undisclosed illness....per Sun text

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='1/28/01' timestamp='1290636663' post='550129']
Reed missed practice today due to an undisclosed illness....per Sun text
[/quote]

David? He got sick during the Panthers game. Hopefully, he can go on Sunday.

[1/28/01]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1290636983' post='550137']
David? He got sick during the Panthers game. Hopefully, he can go on Sunday.
[/quote]
Forgot there are two Reeds now....this is/was about Ed

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='1/28/01' timestamp='1290637033' post='550139']
Forgot there are two Reeds now....this is/was about Ed
[/quote]

I see. He should be fine.

[Shammy]

hopefully we if run the ball make few mistakes we should win

[UMDan]

We never run the ball much when we're supposed to... it's just the go-to when we're leading. Buffalo and Carolina... we should have run the ball more and we didn't much. Surprisingly we had one of our biggest running days against Miami.

[ravens_4life]

i didnt realize that tampa's run d is at the bottom of the nfl.

[ravens_4life]

hopefully rice has a field day.

[scrock]

Lets take a look at our upcoming opponents season so far and why the Ravens should beat them. I know every game is different and on any given Sunday a team can win but to me it looks like Tampa Bay hasn't turned the corner yet.

Cleveland - W, 17-14
@Carolina - W, 20-7
Pittsburgh - L, 7-38
Bye
@Cincinnati - W, 24-21
New Orleans - L, 6-31
St. Louis - W, 18-17
@Arizona - W, 38-35
@Atlanta - L, 21-27
Carolina - W, 31-16
@San Francisco - W, 21-0

The combined record of the teams they have beat is 16-44 (if I added everything up right). The Bucs are a young, talented team on the rise for sure but they have not yet graduated to the upper echelon of elite teams. A few weeks back the Miami Dolphins players talked about being able to beat the teams like Baltimore before they can consider themselves one of the better teams. We all know how that turned out for Miami, I see something similar happening to these Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Every one of their wins has come against teams that, lets just be honest, are not very good. Josh Freeman is playing good football and hasn't turned it over much unlike he did last year. Their running game has been improved with LaGarrette Blount running the ball, Williams has become more of a 3rd down back, he's a better receiver than Blount. Their receiving core is young, two rookies start, Mike Williams is a real threat, Benn hasn't been as productive but he has the speed to burn us. Their defense is poor against the run but they do have some very good corners in their secondary, especially Aqib Talib.

I don't think their defense can stop our offense, our defense has enough like left in it that they should be able to stop them enough times and when it counts. Most importantly I just don't see them being able to score with us. The Ravens offense has really been clicking lately and has been carrying the team, much thanks to Joe Flacco's play for that.

Should be a good game, I can't wait to see it in person...Go Ravens!!

[1/28/01]

There is already a Ravens/Bucs thread......

And everything you've listed here has been open discussion for a few days in the original thread.

[scrock]

[quote name='1/28/01' timestamp='1290648083' post='550298']
There is already a Ravens/Bucs thread......

And everything you've listed here has been open discussion for a few days in the original thread.
[/quote]

Oh, I glanced through the topics and didn't see anything

[scrock]

[quote name='1/28/01' timestamp='1290648083' post='550298']
There is already a Ravens/Bucs thread......

And everything you've listed here has been open discussion for a few days in the original thread.
[/quote]

"The Buccaneers are doing very well this season. Could make the playoffs! They will be a tough if they play. This could actually be a close game but I think we will win by a touchdown and a field goal.
Ravens 24
Buc's 14

Prediction stats
Offense:
Joe Flacco 286 yards 2 touchdowns
Ray rice 140 yards rushing 38 passing
Boldin 3 catches 71 yards
Stallworth 2 catches 97 yards 1 touchdown(55 yard reception)
Housh 1 catch 10 yards
Heap 2 catch 21 yards 1 touchdown (18 yard reception)
Mcgahee: 2 catch 49 yards
dfence
Reed 1 pick (48 yards)
Ngata forced fumble(recovered) 1 sack
Suggs 1 sack
ray lewis 1 sack
Carr 1 pick touchdown (8 yard return)

Other:
David Reed returns kickoffs for a total of 75 yards
Billy Cundiff 3 xp 2 touchbacks 1 FG(41 yards)
Punts 2 whole game.
bucs punt 5. (1 return for 13 yards)"

[b]i guess someone else mentioned what i did in this thread...projecting scores and stats is quite a different topic[/b]

[1/28/01]

And merge here we come......

[JohnnyBoy8102]

I have watched a number of Bucs games and it seems that their MLB Barrett Ruud is very weak at the point of attack (similar to McClain) and is having major problems against the run. I think the Ravens should run all 3 backs and eat up clock and yardage.

This is not the type of game to come out throwing and give the Bucs a chance to run the ball with Blount and keep the time of possession in their favor.

Also, please let Cody and Ellerbe play more so we can stop Blount.

[scrock]

[quote name='JohnnyBoy8102' timestamp='1290649553' post='550314']
I have watched a number of Bucs games and it seems that their MLB Barrett Ruud is very weak at the point of attack (similar to McClain) and is having major problems against the run. I think the Ravens should run all 3 backs and eat up clock and yardage.

This is not the type of game to come out throwing and give the Bucs a chance to run the ball with Blount and keep the time of possession in their favor.

Also, please let Cody and Ellerbe play more so we can stop Blount.
[/quote]

I remember seeing Ruud playing in a few games and always seeing him making mistakes or costing his team somehow. I agree, I think coach needs to play the best players (Ellerbe) and not let his pride get in the way of his decisions..Ellerbe to me has always played better than McClain, the thing with Cody is he still has a lot to learn but the best way to do that is by getting on the field. He had a good game in Atlanta and then kind of took a step back in the Carolina game.

I think with Cody, Ngata, Gregg in the middle we should handle the run quite well...letting teams hang around is what worries me too, even if the Ravens get a lead they seem to let their foot off the peddle instead of closing the game out.

[Alexir]

Bucs havent beat a good team yet.......

[cursona pirate]

nfc is horrible(except eagles giants ) maybe thats why the bucs look good?

[Brahmalbuc]

[quote name='scrock' timestamp='1290655865' post='550366']
I remember seeing Ruud playing in a few games and always seeing him making mistakes or costing his team somehow.
[/quote]
Ruud is the key to why our run defense has been so poor the last couple years. He was very good the first 3 years of his career but then regressed drastically, becoming soft and scared. Against the Niners was the first time i have seen him attack with consistent authority in ages, and hence Gore runs for a 1.9 yd avg.

Personally I think yall's big, physical o-line will steamroll our front seven, but games like this (where a young, rapidly improving and hungry defense goes up against an established, effective offense) are tough to predict. A hypothetical question, because Flacco is an enigma to me and many others; do you Raven fans believe that man can carry the offense on his shoulders if the Bucs sell out to stop the run?

I have no doubt that our offense can put up points on anyone but it may not be enough. I see the Ravens winning in a minor shootout, 28-24.

[Ravensfanspls]

Ravens 34 Bucs 20 Game will be over in 3rd quarter

[Brahmalbuc]

[quote name='cursona pirate' timestamp='1290659411' post='550421']
nfc is horrible(except eagles giants [b]falcons saints[/b]) maybe thats why the bucs look good?
[/quote]
Fixed it for you.

[ufojoe]

Bucs fan here.

Bucs don't play Cover Two exclusively any more. They have many different looks and occasionally go with the Cover/Tampa Two. They have a "Quarters" look and a 3-4 look.

If we can limit the run game, we have a good shot. If not, it will be a tough game to win. We shut down Gore but people have accused the Bucs of knowing when the 49ers were going to run and when they were going to pass. If that's the case, the Ravens should be able to run on us. We'll see.

Freeman has been clutch and the line has been protecting him very well. And when he has to, he runs.

Blount is a beast and Mike Williams has been clutch. Cadillac Williams has been a nice surprise as the 3rd down back. And his blitz protections have been stellar.

Gerald McCoy is really starting to pick it up lately. If the Bucs can get a decent pass rush going, they can win this game.

This young Bucs team is a lot better than earlier in the season when they lost to NO and Pitt.

Good luck