SCOUTING REPORT
BUCCANEERS
Ravens run offense vs. Buccaneers run defense
The Ravens want to commit more to the run and increase Jamal Lewis' touches into the 25- to-30 carry range. Success here hinges on how effectively the Ravens' offensive line can open holes against a talented Tampa Bay front four. In the season opener, Lewis was stopped within a yard of the line of scrimmage on 10 of his 17 carries. With one of the fastest defenses in the NFL, the Bucs gave up 118 yards rushing last week but allowed only 3.5 yards per carry.
Key stat: 0. Wins by the Bucs over the past five years when allowing a 100-yard rusher.
BUCCANEERS
Ravens pass offense vs. Buccaneers pass defense
The Bucs are looking to rebound from last week, when they couldn't mount a consistent pass rush and surrendered touchdown passes of 32 and 41 yards. The Ravens, though, looked shaky in keeping a safe pocket for quarterback Chris Redman. Tampa Bay only blitzes about a quarter of the time and relies on its front four to generate pressure. That means Redman needs young guards Casey Rabach and Bennie Anderson to hold off Warren Sapp, and Ravens left tackle Jonathan Ogden to shut down Simeon Rice, who usually plays Ogden tough. The other concern is receiver Travis Taylor, who will be limited with a sprained shoulder.
Key stat: 4.0. Average yards per catch by Ravens tight end Todd Heap on five receptions last week.
BUCCANEERS
Buccaneers run offense vs. Ravens run defense
The Ravens looked out of sync last week, when the Panthers racked up 145 yards rushing with the likes of Lamar Smith and Nick Goings. Their defensive front allowed too many blockers on inside linebackers Ray Lewis and Ed Hartwell, and the Ravens missed tackles when they were in position. The Bucs won't be as effective in getting to Lewis and Hartwell because of a subpar offensive line. But the Ravens have to prove they can bring down stout running backs Michael Pittman and Mike Alstott. The Ravens plan to give half of outside linebacker Shannon Taylor' snaps to Cornell Brown, who is more of a run stopper.
Key stat: 123. Rushing yards gained by Tampa Bay in the Dec. 29 meeting with the Ravens.
EVEN
Buccaneers pass offense vs. Ravens pass defense
The Ravens seem confident in their matchups, with cornerbacks Chris McAlister and Gary Baxter going against Tampa Bay receivers Keyshawn Johnson and Keenan McCardell. The Ravens' corners can match the size of Johnson and McCardell and don't fear either one going deep. But this is a secondary that got beat by average Carolina receivers last week. The Ravens can even out any lapses in their defensive backfield by exploiting the Bucs' biggest weakness, the offensive line. In 52 pass attempts last week, Tampa quarterback Brad Johnson endured 21 hits, 18 knockdowns, three sacks, eight pressures and 13 throwaways.
Key stat: 5. Passes thrown by Carolina in the second half against the Ravens last week.
EVEN
Special teams
Both teams are dealing with critical mistakes by special teams. Matt Stover had trouble with the wind last week when he missed a potential game-tying field goal from 47 yards. And the Bucs' punt team couldn't handle a light rush, which forced punter Tom Tupa to haphazardly throw an interception from his own end zone in overtime. Ravens punter Dave Zastudil averaged only 36.3 yards, and McAlister didn't break a punt return longer than 6 yards. Ravens kickoff specialist J.R. Jenkins needs to continue his touchback streak against Tampa's Aaron Stecker, who averaged 29.5 yards on four kickoff returns in Week 1.
Key stat: 2. Touchbacks by Jenkins.
RAVENS
Intangibles
The Ravens will have the emotion of the crowd behind them after a pregame ceremony honoring former Baltimore Colts quarterback John Unitas. All the pressure is on Tampa Bay, which cannot afford to go 0-2 after all of the preseason hype. Meanwhile, the Ravens have nothing to lose since many consider them to be one of the NFL's worst teams after losing to the Panthers.
BUCCANEERS
Prediction
Rising to the emotion of the day, Redman will play inspired football and keep the game close in the fourth quarter. But a day of tribute will end on a down note, with the Ravens bowing late in a 20-13 loss.
BREAK DOWN
Records
Buccaneers 0-1 Ravens 0-1
Line
Buccaneers by 3 1/2
Vs. spread
Buccaneers 0-1 Ravens 0-1
Series
Buccaneers lead 1-0.
Last meeting
Buccaneers won, 22-10, on Dec. 29, 2001, in Tampa, Fla.
NFL rankings
Bucs offense: Rush (23), pass (10), overall (16).
Ravens defense: Rush (25), pass (2), overall (7).
Ravens offense: Rush (20), pass (15), overall (21).
Bucs defense: Rush (T20), pass (22), overall (T21).
Quick hits
The Ravens have won their past two home openers and are 10-2 in their past 12 regular-season home games.
Buccaneers K Martin Gramatica made a 52-yard field last week and is 9-for-16 (56.2 percent) in his career from 50-plus yards.
Injuries
BUCCANEERS: Questionable: DT Buck Gurley (ankle); WR Keenan McCardell (quadriceps). Probable: G Cosey Coleman (knee); C Mike Solwold (leg); RB Aaron Stecker (turf toe).
RAVENS: Out: S Will Demps (elbow). Doubtful: CB James Trapp (chest). Questionable: WR Travis Taylor (shoulder). Probable: LB Ed Hartwell (hand).
STARTING LINEUPS
Ravens offense
WR 80 Brandon Stokley
LT 75 Jonathan Ogden
LG 61 Casey Rabach
C 62 Mike Flynn
RG 66 Bennie Anderson
RT 64 Edwin Mulitalo
TE 86 Todd Heap
WR 89 Travis Taylor
QB 7 Chris Redman
FB 39 Alan Ricard
RB 31 Jamal Lewis
Buccaneers defense
LE 94 Greg Spires
NT 92 Anthony McFarland
DT 99 Warren Sapp
RE 97 Simeon Rice
SLB 51 Alshermond Singleton
MLB 53 Shelton Quarles
WLB 55 Derrick Brooks
LCB 25 Brian Kelly
RCB 20 Ronde Barber
SS 47 John Lynch
FS 34 Dexter Jackson
Buccaneers offense
WR 19 Keyshawn Johnson
LT 72 Roman Oben
LG 71 Kerry Jenkins
C 62 Jeff Christy
RG 60 Cosey Coleman
RT 74 Cornell Green
TE 85 Ken Dilger
WR 87 Keenan McCardell
QB 14 Brad Johnson
RB 32 Michael Pittman
FB 40 Mike Alstott
Ravens defense
LE 98 Tony Weaver
NT 92 Maake Kemoeatu
RE 97 Kelly Gregg
OLB 54 Shannon Taylor
ILB 56 Ed Hartwell
ILB 52 Ray Lewis
OLB 58 Peter Boulware
CB 21 Chris McAlister
CB 28 Gary Baxter
SS 42 Anthony Mitchell
FS 20 Ed Reed
INSIDE SLANT
George Kokinis, the Ravens' assistant director of player personnel, sizes up the Panthers:
Strength
Running backs. Michael Pittman was a good addition. He's a hard, relentless runner. He's a lot different than Warrick Dunn. He's a high runner but churns those legs and gets them up to your facemask. Mike Alstott started clicking in the second half last week when they fed him the ball and he made four catches. In addition, Jameel Cook is more than a capable fullback.
Key matchup
Ravens tight end Todd Heap vs. Bucs cornerback Ronde Barber. If the Ravens flex out Heap in passing situations, I think Tampa Bay will want to put Barber on him. Barber is a smart, aware player. He anticipates routes well and has got play recognition, which makes up for anything he lacks in speed.
Play to watch
92 Weak Easy Fake Z Around. It's a running play designed to open a cutback lane for Pittman. After receiver Keenan McCardell motions in, the play begins with a handoff to Pittman and then an immediate fake to Keenan McCardell running a reverse. The key is for the fake reverse to freeze the unblocked defensive end. With the Bucs center blocking an inside linebacker and their tackle getting the outside linebacker, Pittman should have a hole on the back side.