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http://www.espn.com/blog/tampa-bay-...-gurley-going-punish-with-front-seven-vs-bucs
Jenna Laine ESPN Staff Writer
TAMPA, Fla. -- After a humiliating 40-7 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-1) look to get back on track against theLos Angeles Rams (1-1) in their home opener at 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday. The Rams rebounded from a 28-0 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1 to defeat the Seattle Seahawks at home on Sunday, 9-3. They have yet to score an offensive touchdown this season, but bring a punishing front seven.
Todd Gurley: The Rams badly need to get Gurley going. Their star running back has rushed for only 98 yards on 36 carries through the first two weeks, largely because opposing defenses are stacking eight or nine men in the box. Gurley is averaging 0.89 yards before first contact, third-lowest in the NFL. It’s hard to be productive when you don’t have the space to run free.
WR Tavon Austin: This is the third straight week we’re selecting Austin as a player to watch. He’s that critical to the offense. Austin has been targeted a team-leading 22 times, but has only pulled in nine catches for 63 yards. The Rams like to get Austin the ball near the line of scrimmage to give him space to run, but they have yet to maximize his ability.
RT Rodger Saffold: The offensive line has yet to grade out very well. In Week 2, Saffold was the only lineman to not allow a pressure, according to Pro Football Focus. The other four starting linemen -- Greg Robinson, Tim Barnes,Cody Wichmann, and Rob Havenstein -- allowed two quarterback pressures each. They need to do a better job of protecting QB Case Keenum.
DEFENSE
DT Aaron Donald: Donald has yet to record a sack, but he has graded out as Pro Football Focus’ best defensive tackle in each of the first two weeks. Against the Seahawks, Donald recorded four hits, three hurries, and four defensive stops. The Rams won Week 2 largely because of the pressure created by their defensive line, and Donald will look to lead that effort again.
LB/S Mark Barron: Barron plays a critical role on the Rams as someone who can drop back into coverage or plug the hole on rushing attempts, especially on a defense that often goes with only two linebackers. Barron, second on the team with 13 tackles, will be critical against Jameis Winston, who has already attempted 84 passes.
CB Troy Hill: If a lingering thigh injury keeps E.J. Gaines out in Week 3, look for Hill to start on the outside opposite Trumaine Johnson. Hill replaced Coty Sensabaugh as the No. 2 cornerback early in Week 2 and was targeted deep four times by Russell Wilson. One ended in a 53-yard catch with less than a minute remaining that almost won Seattle the game.
Rams looking to beat Bucs for a fifth straight year
Alden GonzalezESPN Staff Writer
The Los Angeles Rams are going from one opponent they've thrived against to another.
Their 9-3 win in a highly anticipated regular-season debut at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sunday gave the Rams three consecutive victories over division rival Seattle, and now they'll look to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the fifth year in a row. Jeff Fisher is 4-0 against the Bucs since joining the Rams, beating them 28-13 on the road in 2012, 23-13 at home in 2013, 19-17 on the road in 2014 and 31-23 at home in 2015.
The Rams enter Raymond James Stadium on Sunday as the only NFL team yet to score a touchdown, and will try to avoid becoming the first team since the expansion Bucs in 1976 to do so in the first three weeks of a season. They'll face a team coming off a demoralizing 40-7 loss to Arizona, but one that could be energized by its home opener. Here are six opposing players to watch, courtesy of ESPN Buccaneers reporter Jenna Laine ...
OFFENSE
Jameis Winston: Winston had a disaster of a game against the Cardinals in Week 2, throwing four interceptions and losing a fumble. All the momentum built up from four touchdowns he threw in Week 1? It may not be gone, but it came to a screeching halt. How will he fare against the Rams’ front seven?
WR Mike Evans: A big reason Winston can rebound is Evans, who had nine catches for 157 yards last year against the Rams. The Bucs still lost that one, but No. 13 did some damage. He and Winston also have improved quite a bit on the deep ball, although it wasn’t accurate enough when Patrick Peterson picked one off last week. Through two weeks, Evans has 11 catches for 169 yards.
RB Charles Sims: If Doug Martin can’t go because of an ankle injury, Sims is the next man up. Unlike Martin, a tough inside runner, Sims is more elusive on the outside and contributes significantly in the screen game. He’s also an asset downfield in the passing game. He’ll get a lot more touches this week, and so will Jacquizz Rodgers, whom the team signed last week.
DEFENSE
DE Noah Spence: Robert Ayers, one of the most valuable and versatile pieces on the Bucs’ defensive line, had to leave Sunday’s game against the Cardinals with an ankle injury, and he may not play against the Rams. That means a lot more attention on Spence, a rookie second-round pick who got the first sack of his NFL career last week. The sack came from rushing out of the left side, the first time he’s done that in his career.
DT Gerald McCoy: Rams fans can appreciate what an outstanding three-technique can do because they have Aaron Donald. McCoy, a four-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle, makes the Bucs' defensive line go. In the three seasons before this one he had 26 1/2 sacks, and he’s the focal point of every opposing offense’s game plan. In fact, defensive coordinator Mike Smith, who used to be the coach of the Falcons, has joked that they had many “sleepless nights trying to keep him out of our backfield.” A Rams offensive line that's still a work in progress may have its hands full.
CB Brent Grimes: The Bucs are one of just three teams not to have a takeaway on defense, and they gave up six explosive plays for 209 yards last week. A lot of focus shifts to the secondary, with high expectations for Grimes and rookie Vernon Hargreaves III and also their third cornerback, Alterraun Verner. Now is the time they need to show some return on that investment and get their hands on the ball.
http://www.espn.com/blog/tampa-bay-...-gurley-going-punish-with-front-seven-vs-bucs
Jenna Laine ESPN Staff Writer
TAMPA, Fla. -- After a humiliating 40-7 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-1) look to get back on track against theLos Angeles Rams (1-1) in their home opener at 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday. The Rams rebounded from a 28-0 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1 to defeat the Seattle Seahawks at home on Sunday, 9-3. They have yet to score an offensive touchdown this season, but bring a punishing front seven.
Todd Gurley: The Rams badly need to get Gurley going. Their star running back has rushed for only 98 yards on 36 carries through the first two weeks, largely because opposing defenses are stacking eight or nine men in the box. Gurley is averaging 0.89 yards before first contact, third-lowest in the NFL. It’s hard to be productive when you don’t have the space to run free.
WR Tavon Austin: This is the third straight week we’re selecting Austin as a player to watch. He’s that critical to the offense. Austin has been targeted a team-leading 22 times, but has only pulled in nine catches for 63 yards. The Rams like to get Austin the ball near the line of scrimmage to give him space to run, but they have yet to maximize his ability.
RT Rodger Saffold: The offensive line has yet to grade out very well. In Week 2, Saffold was the only lineman to not allow a pressure, according to Pro Football Focus. The other four starting linemen -- Greg Robinson, Tim Barnes,Cody Wichmann, and Rob Havenstein -- allowed two quarterback pressures each. They need to do a better job of protecting QB Case Keenum.
DEFENSE
DT Aaron Donald: Donald has yet to record a sack, but he has graded out as Pro Football Focus’ best defensive tackle in each of the first two weeks. Against the Seahawks, Donald recorded four hits, three hurries, and four defensive stops. The Rams won Week 2 largely because of the pressure created by their defensive line, and Donald will look to lead that effort again.
LB/S Mark Barron: Barron plays a critical role on the Rams as someone who can drop back into coverage or plug the hole on rushing attempts, especially on a defense that often goes with only two linebackers. Barron, second on the team with 13 tackles, will be critical against Jameis Winston, who has already attempted 84 passes.
CB Troy Hill: If a lingering thigh injury keeps E.J. Gaines out in Week 3, look for Hill to start on the outside opposite Trumaine Johnson. Hill replaced Coty Sensabaugh as the No. 2 cornerback early in Week 2 and was targeted deep four times by Russell Wilson. One ended in a 53-yard catch with less than a minute remaining that almost won Seattle the game.
Rams looking to beat Bucs for a fifth straight year
Alden GonzalezESPN Staff Writer
The Los Angeles Rams are going from one opponent they've thrived against to another.
Their 9-3 win in a highly anticipated regular-season debut at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sunday gave the Rams three consecutive victories over division rival Seattle, and now they'll look to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the fifth year in a row. Jeff Fisher is 4-0 against the Bucs since joining the Rams, beating them 28-13 on the road in 2012, 23-13 at home in 2013, 19-17 on the road in 2014 and 31-23 at home in 2015.
The Rams enter Raymond James Stadium on Sunday as the only NFL team yet to score a touchdown, and will try to avoid becoming the first team since the expansion Bucs in 1976 to do so in the first three weeks of a season. They'll face a team coming off a demoralizing 40-7 loss to Arizona, but one that could be energized by its home opener. Here are six opposing players to watch, courtesy of ESPN Buccaneers reporter Jenna Laine ...
OFFENSE
Jameis Winston: Winston had a disaster of a game against the Cardinals in Week 2, throwing four interceptions and losing a fumble. All the momentum built up from four touchdowns he threw in Week 1? It may not be gone, but it came to a screeching halt. How will he fare against the Rams’ front seven?
WR Mike Evans: A big reason Winston can rebound is Evans, who had nine catches for 157 yards last year against the Rams. The Bucs still lost that one, but No. 13 did some damage. He and Winston also have improved quite a bit on the deep ball, although it wasn’t accurate enough when Patrick Peterson picked one off last week. Through two weeks, Evans has 11 catches for 169 yards.
RB Charles Sims: If Doug Martin can’t go because of an ankle injury, Sims is the next man up. Unlike Martin, a tough inside runner, Sims is more elusive on the outside and contributes significantly in the screen game. He’s also an asset downfield in the passing game. He’ll get a lot more touches this week, and so will Jacquizz Rodgers, whom the team signed last week.
DEFENSE
DE Noah Spence: Robert Ayers, one of the most valuable and versatile pieces on the Bucs’ defensive line, had to leave Sunday’s game against the Cardinals with an ankle injury, and he may not play against the Rams. That means a lot more attention on Spence, a rookie second-round pick who got the first sack of his NFL career last week. The sack came from rushing out of the left side, the first time he’s done that in his career.
DT Gerald McCoy: Rams fans can appreciate what an outstanding three-technique can do because they have Aaron Donald. McCoy, a four-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle, makes the Bucs' defensive line go. In the three seasons before this one he had 26 1/2 sacks, and he’s the focal point of every opposing offense’s game plan. In fact, defensive coordinator Mike Smith, who used to be the coach of the Falcons, has joked that they had many “sleepless nights trying to keep him out of our backfield.” A Rams offensive line that's still a work in progress may have its hands full.
CB Brent Grimes: The Bucs are one of just three teams not to have a takeaway on defense, and they gave up six explosive plays for 209 yards last week. A lot of focus shifts to the secondary, with high expectations for Grimes and rookie Vernon Hargreaves III and also their third cornerback, Alterraun Verner. Now is the time they need to show some return on that investment and get their hands on the ball.
