TAMPA – One game, one victory.
There were plenty of positives for the Ravens in their preseason opener, a 44-16, win over the Buccaneers. After Joe Flacco (7 for 9, 57 yards, one interception) played the first quarter and got some rust off, the Ravens took control with a 24-point second quarter.
“We were pleased that we were able to keep pressure on them in all three phases of the game,’’ said Ravens coach John Harbaugh. “You just keep going after an opponent, and when you do that, sometimes you can overcome mistakes and penalties.”
Here are five takeaways:
WHAT THE RAVENS SHOULD LIKE
1. Running back Bernard Pierce is ready to rumble.
He had the best run of the night, a nifty 20-yarder for a second-quarter touchdown. Pierce bounced the run outside, and outraced Tampa Bay’s defense to the end zone.
“The Bucs’ D-line was slanting the whole game,” Pierce said. “I just slowed my pace down, took advantage of the slants and just tried to angle myself into the right position to get into the end zone.”
Coach John Harbaugh has said Pierce is faster and stronger than last season. It showed on that run. However much more the Ravens want to utilize Pierce this season, he looks ready to handle it.
2. The pass rush looked good.
Chris Canty had a sack early, Daryl Smith deflected a pass, and reserve linebacker Adrian Hamilton sacked Mike Glennon in the second quarter. The Ravens got consistent pressure on the quarterback, even with Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil not playing much. That’s a good sign for them.
3. Visanthe Shiancoe
He played a ton in the first half and had three catches for 27 yards. Shiancoe looks comfortable in the offense already, and he’s versatile enough to move around in different formations. The Ravens still need Ed Dickson to get healthy. But signing Shiancoe as a free agent tight end looks like another strong move by general manager Ozzie Newsome.
4. Sparkling special teams
The Ravens blocked a punt for a touchdown, they recovered a muffed punt return, and Bobby Rainey almost took a kickoff return to the house. LaQuan Williams sparkled on special teams, recovering a muffed punt, and recovering a blocked punt for a TD. Justin Tucker capped the night by making a 57-yard field goal with less than two minutes to go. The Ravens expect their special teams to be special. Looks like that could be the case – again.
On the blocked punt, Brynden Trawick made the block, and Williams made the recovery in the end zone.
“It was a basic punt rush – nothing too complicated,” said special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg. “Trawick came through to make the play, and LaQuan was alert to jump on the ball.”
5. The inside linebacker position looked solid
Both Smith and Josh Bynes had excellent games. Wherever the ball was, they seemed to be. Inside linebacker was an offseason concern, in the aftermath of Ray Lewis’ retirement and Dannell Ellerbe leaving for the Dolphins. However, Smith looks like he has plenty left, and Bynes looks ready to start. The Ravens may not have to rush rookie linebacker Arthur Brown into the lineup, and a position of concern looks a lot better in August than it did in March.
“It will be good for us to keep building on these experiences,” Smith said. You can practice a lot, but the game experience is when you really work on that trust with each other and form chemistry. We’ll continue to work on that. We’ll see where that takes us.”
On Thursday night, the Ravens took care of Tampa.
