STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
NFL Team Report - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
FRIDAY INJURY REPORTTAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS --OUT: S Justin Evans (toe), WR DeSean Jackson (thumb) --QUESTIONABLE: DT Beau Allen (wrist), CB Carlton Davis (knee), T Demar Dotson (knee), S Isaiah Johnson (concussion), DE Jason Pierre-Paul (knee, hip), LB Adarius Taylor (not injury related)BALTIMORE RAVENS --DOUBTFUL: G Alex Lewis (shoulder) --QUESTIONABLE: QB Joe Flacco (right hip), CB Marlon Humphrey (groin), S Tony Jefferson (ankle), LB/DB Anthony Levine (ankle), LB Tim Williams (ankle), CB Tavon Young (groin)PLAYER NOTES --WR Chris Godwin was targeted 10 times but had only one catch in loss to the Saints last Sunday. PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: C Ryan Jensen returns to play his former Ravens team Sunday. But he hasn't had the kind of year the Bucs had hoped for. Jensen leads the team with nine penalties for 100 yards, including four unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. Last Sunday, after amassing 25 yards in penalties in one series, he got into a sideline spat with QB Jameis Winston. GAME PLAN: The Bucs biggest chore Sunday will be stopping the run. Lamar Jackson brings another element to the Ravens offense that few teams have. The good news is that the Bucs are used to playing twice a year against Cam Newton. Although not as fast, Newton adds a running dimension that puts pressure on the defense, particularly on the perimeter. Offensively, the Bucs are coming off one of their worst games of the season. They failed to gain 300 total yards for the first time all year. Blame it on the offensive line, which had a bad day against the Saints defense. Jameis Winston was sacked four times and hit 10 other times. The Bucs had few explosive plays. For the Bucs to win, they need to get the football downfield. But the Ravens defense may be better than the one Tampa Bay faced in New Orleans and this game is on the road. The only way for the Bucs to win is to rattle Lamar Jackson and turn him into a passer. He's still a rookie quarterback and rookies can make mistakes.MATCHUPS TO WATCH --Ravens OLB Terrell Suggs vs. Bucs LT Donovan Smith. Suggs still is a pass-rushing force with seven sacks this season. He will go against Smith, who struggled in the last game against the Saints as Jameis Winston was sacked four times and hit on 10 other occasions. --Bucs WR Mike Evans vs. Ravens CB Marion Humphrey. Evans is the go-to receiver in the Bucs offense and will need a bounce-back game after being largely held in check by the Saints last Sunday. Humphrey is a second-year pro with no interceptions this season and will likely get plenty of safety help.
The Sports Xchange
Recent Stories
Testing Buffalo Bill Page
Joe Horrigan knows the Buffalo Bills
Steelers positional analysis: Kenny Pickett stands alone in QB room
2/17/2024If the Steelers were concerned about the uncertain future at quarterback when Ben Roethlisberger retired, the outlook at the position might not be any more ...
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan doesn’t deserve criticism since Super Bowl
Globe StaffUpdated February 17, 2024, 9:38 a.m.Kyle Shanahan has been on the defensive all week following the 49ers’ 25-22 overtime loss to the Chiefs in the Super ...
New Raiders GM expected to be aggressive in search for top QB
February 17, 2024 - 4:19 PMIf Tom Telesco’s past offers clues about his future, expect the Raiders’ new general manager to be aggressive in bringing in a top-level ...
Latest Player Notes
How a Wisconsin legend got his German protégé into Badgers pro day
Mar 15, 2024
Marlon Werthmann put his life on hold for the opportunity in front of him Friday at the McClain Center.Werthmann ...
Why former Wisconsin football running back Braelon Allen didn't run the 40 at pro day
Mar 15, 2024
Braelon Allen’s sweat covered his shirt and dripped off his beard as he approached a group of reporters Friday.The ...
How can UW recruit its best class ever? It starts with these five prospects
By Andy Yamashita
Seattle Times staff reporter
Jedd Fisch has lofty recruiting goals at Washington. He didn’t waste any ...
Texas football kicks off spring practice Tuesday. We answer 24 questions for the 2024 team
Things certainly look fresh for the 2024 college football season, especially on the Texas campus.There’s a new conference ...
College Football Playoff: Conferences solve their differences (for now) and agree on general framework for 2026 and beyond
The FBS conferences and Notre Dame agreed on Friday to continue the College Football Playoff beyond the 2025 season, signing ...
Ball security, leadership key as Aztecs look to identify starting quarterback
San Diego State seemingly auditions a new starting quarterback on an annual basis.In the past 12 years, the Aztecs have opened ...
Results and more: A look at what happened at Penn State football’s Pro Day inside Holuba Hall
Most of those at Penn State’s Pro Day Friday were relatively quiet throughout the afternoon’s workouts, but there was one ...
Defense dominates first two weeks of Oregon State spring practice as Beavers ready for 2-week breather
CORVALLIS – Oregon State hit the break of spring practices Saturday, not exactly the midpoint but a good place to assess ...
Dillon Gabriel to have similar input, autonomy as Bo Nix had in Oregon’s offense
Published Mar. 16, 2024, 6:26 p.m.By James CrepeaEUGENE — Dillon Gabriel will have much of the same autonomy as Bo Nix did ...
Two transfers, one underclassman who impressed in Missouri football's spring game
With that, spring camp’s a wrap.Missouri football held its Black & Gold spring game Saturday in front of a healthy crowd ...