Bucs Prepping For Joint Practices With The Ravens
April 2nd, 2025
Todd Bowles said this week his Bucs need work on their “killer instinct.”
So he’s happily signing up to practice against a team that refuses to take summer work lightly.
That would be the Ravens, against whom the Bucs plan to practice in Maryland prior to an August preseason game in Baltimore.
The teams are awaiting formal approval of the NFL schedule, Joe confirmed at the NFL owners meetings this week.
If the goal is to toughen up your team, then the Ravens are a club you want on your summer docket. Joe remembers well the Ravens’ 23-game preseason winning streak that was snapped in 2023.
Yes, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh treated that as a loss and was angered by those who call preseason games worthless.
“You never played the game,” Harbaugh said of the critics. “You never were out there in a preseason game; you never were fighting for a spot on the field. And yet you have the audacity to say that the effort that somebody puts into that, to fight and win a game like that, is meaningless.
“I can’t respect anybody that says that — because of the effort these guys put into it. …”
Regular readers here know Joe is among those scoffing at preseason games, but Joe loves joint practices. The controlled scrimmages seem more productive and somewhat safer.
Plus, media can hear a lot of the heated sideline chatter. Who could forget this gem from 2016?
Baltimore would be the only road preseason opponent for the Bucs this season. There will be two home preseason games.
April 2nd, 2025 at 2:47 pm
CG14 should just watch.
April 2nd, 2025 at 2:58 pm
After what Roquan did?
Not cool.
April 2nd, 2025 at 3:15 pm
Number 50 should have a “conversation” with Roquan.
April 2nd, 2025 at 3:21 pm
Uh oh.
April 2nd, 2025 at 3:22 pm
Keep them away from Godwin.
April 2nd, 2025 at 3:34 pm
Lol… why not the Jags 😂😂😂😂😂
April 2nd, 2025 at 3:43 pm
F the Jags!!
April 2nd, 2025 at 3:43 pm
I like this. An upgrade in opponents for a joint practice. Though as nails coach in Harbaugh. We need to get punched in the face early when it won’t go against our record.
April 2nd, 2025 at 3:48 pm
This is what we need. No more practicing with the Jags, Dolphins or Titans. We need to go up against the best in the league like the Ravens or Bills
April 2nd, 2025 at 4:04 pm
Well, the offense, will just get better. BUT, last key, via running back? Chubb, adrian peterson type, to go with irving? white, is mediocre, at best, for the nfl. line, solid, qb, solid, wr, solid, te, solid. white, not quite. chubb, much better, if not in cleveland, all pro from there
April 2nd, 2025 at 4:06 pm
Good.
You don’t get better playing it safe—and you don’t grow without a little pain.
April 2nd, 2025 at 4:07 pm
I hated the Ravens and fhe entire vibe.
They didn’t like playing us because we weren’t scared of them.
They also took some cheap shots on Otton.
The Ravens are a dirty team.
You guys remember when Sean Payton got his leg broke on the sideline in Raymond James?
That was Gods karma for “bounty gate.”
The Saints were an evil organization.
And Sean Payton deserved to have his leg broken.
April 2nd, 2025 at 5:09 pm
One thing that happened when Godwins ankle was dislocated last year was it provided the NFL a new rivalry game. Probably just a gruesome accident but I think the players won’t be able to let it slide that easily. Guess we’ll find out soon enough. Ought to have us playing with an edge going into the season, that’s for sure.
April 2nd, 2025 at 5:26 pm
What do Ravens fans think?
April 2nd, 2025 at 5:30 pm
How about a trade for Tray Henderson 🤔
April 2nd, 2025 at 5:44 pm
Time to get payback for Roquan Smith’s dirty ass hit. Aim for the knees.
April 2nd, 2025 at 5:57 pm
Don’t want Roquan Smith hurt but wouldn’t mind if Goodell suspended him for an illegal tackle (hip drop) on CG14. It’s a joke that he faced little or no penalty for an illegal tackle that could have ended Godwin’s career.
April 2nd, 2025 at 6:23 pm
If the universe were fair and vengeance was a virtue, some scrub that will be driving cabs or selling cars in September should absolutely blindside Roquan Smith and incapacitate him for a few years. That whalescum doesn’t deserve to be on the field.
April 2nd, 2025 at 6:26 pm
Did Todd Bowles have an Aaron Rodgers treatment over the offseason?! Love this guys focus and drive towards this season. Love our Front office and coaching staff. At least our guys work together. We could be a big ole’ sh** show like NYG or NYJ.
April 2nd, 2025 at 7:25 pm
The Ravens game was one of the most interesting games we played last season. Statistically the Bucs outplayed them, yet we got our a$$es handed to us 41-31. Defense clearly lost that ballgame, but it did it in a rather uncharacteristic fashion.
Ravens only had 10 drives total, and scored on 7 of them (they scored 5 TD plus 2 FGs, punted twice & fumbled once). Bucs gave up 4 huge explosive plays (2 runs & 2 passes) that led to 4 TDs. Two deep passes (59 yds & 49 yds) led to TDs. Two explosive runs by Derrick Henry (81 yds & 39 yds) also led to TDs. Ravens amassed over 500 yds in under 25 minutes, and almost half of them (228 yds) came on those FOUR plays.
There’s no question that Derrick Henry is a special beast. No question that Lamar Jackson (17 of 22 for 281 yds) played a great game. But the reality IMO is that our defense couldn’t stop the Ravens’ rushing attack (they ran it 30 times for 244 yds … over 8 YPC … with HALF of those yds coming on only TWO plays). Explosive plays kill.
April 2nd, 2025 at 7:57 pm
Explosive plays do kill when done en masse – and that traumatized Todd so much the underneath death by a thousand cuts became unstoppable in future games.
One Redskins big play, that actually resulted in no points (playoff game) and Todd played so soft after than I wanted to gouge my eyes out.
April 2nd, 2025 at 8:05 pm
DR
Don’t forget the phantom holding call on Wirfs that negated a Godwin TD, and ME13 dropping one right in his hands , I think on the next possession.
April 2nd, 2025 at 9:03 pm
Jmarkbuc … I agree, but 31 points should be enough to win any NFL game. The Ravens weren’t doing anything magical; we just couldn’t stop them from ‘imposing their will’.
April 2nd, 2025 at 9:17 pm
Jmarkbuc said “Don’t forget the phantom holding call on Wirfs that negated a Godwin TD, and ME13 dropping one right in his hands , I think on the next possession.”
I’m pretty sure that after both of those plays, which should have been TDs, Baker tried to force another TD and each time, threw an interception instead.
The result was a whole lot of negative press about Mayfield and how he lost the game. The defense was never mentioned, no the two TDs that should have been on the board and if they had, neither ensuing interception would have occurred and there would have likely been an entirely different winner of the game.
April 2nd, 2025 at 9:59 pm
Scotty
Right, kinda where I was going. Could have changed the whole complexion of the game…
Kinda like when Dean dropped an early interception in LA, in the Brady times.
Early miscues can change a whole game.
DR just think all that offense the Ravens rolled up as you pointed out and we still only lost by 10
April 2nd, 2025 at 11:18 pm
Going for Hendrickson?
April 2nd, 2025 at 11:19 pm
Clearing cap space for the rookies.
April 2nd, 2025 at 11:24 pm
Ahhh…
April 3rd, 2025 at 12:05 am
Great move because reality is the Bucs appear to not have a weight program ( vitamins included) that is even close to the less talented but more physical teams .
April 3rd, 2025 at 1:28 am
I want to read the Monday following those joint practices that Roquan Smith suffered a career ending injury.
April 3rd, 2025 at 6:03 am
That is one of the reasons I like Harbaugh Joe. Even if he says some stupid stuff now and then. At least he is not afraid to let his feelings be known!
I just hope nobody gets a knee or other serious injury.
Go Bucs!