A new Pewter Report Roundtable debuts every Tuesday on PewterReport.com. Each week, the Pewter Reporters tackle another tough question. This week’s prompt: Which Ravens player should concern the Bucs the most?

Scott Reynolds: Old Man Kyle Van Noy Can Still Be A Game-Wrecker

Ravens OLB Kyle Van Not and DT Justin Madebuike and Cowboys QB Dak Prescott – Photo by: USA Today

There are plenty of star players on the Ravens, including the likes of some household names, such as quarterback Lamar Jackson, running back Derrick Henry and inside linebacker Roquan Smith. My fellow Pewter Reporters will preview the challenges those Ravens will present to the Bucs. I’m going to focus on a familiar name, but more of a role player than a star player. Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy has played for five different teams over his 11-year NFL career, but he’s really found a home in a Baltimore scheme that plays to his strengths as an edge rusher.

On a defense that features Smith, defensive tackle Justin Madubuike and fellow edge rusher Odafe Oweh, Van Noy leads the Ravens with six sacks in six games. He’s on his way to crushing his career high of nine sacks from a year ago. Van Noy is just as adept at using an inside spin move as he is using an outside spin move and can beat offensive tackles in a myriad of ways. He sets up his moves like a chess player and has had two sacks in three different games this year, which shows that he can be a legit game-wrecker. With an 82.8 Pro Football Focus grade, Van Noy is the highest-graded defender in Baltimore so far this year.

At 6-foot-3, 255 pounds, Van Noy isn’t the most physical pass rusher or the best athlete on the field. But he plays extremely hard and has accumulated so much experience and wisdom at age 33 that he has an array of moves to unleash on offensive tackles to get to the quarterback. Van Noy will be used on both sides of the line but mainly lines up on the left side against right tackles. Luke Goedeke looked rusty in his return to action since a concussion in Week 1 caused him to miss four games. Goedeke will have his hands full against Van Noy on Monday Night Football.

Matt Matera: Roquan Smith Can Take Over A Game

Ravens ILB Roquan Smith – photo by: USA Today

While many will focus on what the Ravens offense can do, and understandably so, the Bucs shouldn’t ignore Baltimore’s defense and Roquan Smith either. Smith is coming off of two straight All-Pro seasons and is a leader of that unit. Coming from the Bears, he was traded to the Ravens on Halloween in 2022 and quickly acclimated himself to the defense that the Ravens are running.

This season, the Ravens have the No. 1 run-stopping defense in the league and Smith is a big reason for it. He is in the Top 10 of tackles with 59 and has also made other splash plays recording an interception, three pass breakups and a forced fumble during the year.

While two of the three interceptions from Baker Mayfield’s last game weren’t his fault, we saw what turnovers did to the Bucs in their last game giving the opponent better field position. Mayfield has to be aware of where Smith is at any moment as he can jump in front of his passes and immediately set up Baltimore’s offense in a good spot. The Bucs will want to get their ground game going and continue the success that Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker had in New Orleans, so we’ll see what they can accomplish against Smith and a tough Ravens unit.

Bailey Adams: Yes, Derrick Henry Is Still King

Ravens RB Derrick Henry Photo by: USA Today

How can you not be scared of Derrick Henry? The 6-foot-2, 247-pound running back is an absolute force, and he’s still dominant as he approaches his 31st birthday. The prized addition of the Ravens’ offseason, King Henry has taken the Baltimore offense to another level — a level even higher than it already was with two-time MVP Lamar Jackson doing it all. He’s a huge part of the reason the Ravens are 29.5 points per game and averaging 453.7 yards per game.

Through six weeks, Henry already has 704 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 119 carries. All of those marks have him atop the league, as does his 117.3 yards per game average. His 5.9 yards per carry average is up there too, and as evidenced by his 87-yard rushing touchdown a couple of weeks ago, he can still break away from a defense. He’s not just a big body who can run everyone over — though he is that, too.

The Bucs did a good job bottling up Alvin Kamara in their Week 6 win over New Orleans, but Todd Bowles’ defense hasn’t been quite as good at stopping the run as it used to be a few years ago. Tampa Bay is allowing 113.3 yards per game on the ground, which is down from the 119.8 rushing yards per game it was giving up heading into last week. The Ravens have PFF’s fifth-highest grade in run blocking, and the Bucs’ front will be up against it as it tries to slow down Henry. If Baltimore controls the game on the ground, it’ll keep Tampa Bay’s high-scoring offense (feels nice to say that again) off the field.

Josh Queipo: He’s The Reigning MVP For A Reason Y’all

Bucs OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Ravens QB Lamar Jackson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Lamar Jackson is a two-time, and current reigning, MVP who happens to play the most important position on the field. That should strike concern in the gameplan of any opposing gameplan. Jackson can beat a team in every which way. He is top ten in the NFL in rushing yards…as a quarterback. He ranks seventh in the league in passing yards with a 5:1 TD-INT ratio. Jackson is explosive and careful with the ball. With all of those yards, he ranks number one in the league in turnover-worthy play rate at 0.9% per Pro Football Focus.

The most concerning thing for the Bucs is how much Lamar punishes the middle of the field. Over 40% of his throws go between the numbers and six of his 10 touchdowns come in that area of the field. And we all know where the Bucs’ defense struggles. Inside linebackers Lavonte David and K.J. Britt make up one of the slowest tandems in the NFL, while Jackson’s athleticism is nearly beyond reproach. Jayden Daniels ripped the Bucs for 88 rushing yards in week one. Bo Nix gashed them for 47 yards and six first downs on nine carries in week three. Tampa Bay has surrendered 15 first downs to opposing quarterbacks this year despite playing one game against Kirk Cousins.

Jackson is uniquely positioned to exploit the Bucs’ defense through the air as well as on the ground. Head coach Todd Bowles will need to go deep into his bag of tricks to try and limit his impact or the Bucs could be facing another game where they struggle defensively just like when these two teams last met on Thursday Night Football in 2022. In that game, Jackson accounted for 238 yards and two touchdowns passing while running for 43 yards and three first downs.

Adam Slivon: Zay Flowers Is Heating Up And A Nightmare To Tackle

Ravens WR Zay Flowers – Photo by: USA Today

The Bucs’ secondary has shown itself susceptible to allowing big games from opposing wide receivers this season. Although Tampa Bay limited the Saints’ offensive playmakers from doing much on Sunday afternoon, they will have their hands full in all facets on Monday Night Football. Not only will Todd Bowles’ unit have to limit the likes of the duo threat Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry on the ground, but it will also have to contain Zay Flowers, who has only been heating up in recent weeks. 

Flowers is coming off two consecutive 100-yard games against the Bengals (7-111) and the Commanders (9-132). The Ravens have been a high-scoring machine, and the 5-9, 175-pound receiver is a handful to wrap up. He is often utilized on sweeps and screens, but he also has the route-route savvy to create separation. Then, when the ball is in Flowers’ hands, he is a nightmare to tackle and often makes guys miss. Washington’s defense can second this notion after his big performance on Sunday.

The Bucs’ defense has been up-and-down stopping top wide receivers this season. While they contained Terry McLaurin and Courtland Sutton earlier this season, they have also allowed Amon-Ra St. Brown, Drake London, and Darnell Mooney to have 100-yard games. That is not to mention that they have been fortunate to avoid A.J. Brown, Devonta Smith, and Chris Olave, who left Sunday’s game early with a concussion. With Baltimore opening up the passing game thanks to a dominant run game, one has to wonder how much the Bucs will be able to stop their top-five offense. In particular, Zay Flowers is the biggest aerial threat that should concern Tampa Bay the most.