Chucky's Chalk Talk

Bucs coach Jon "Chucky'' Gruden on this week's opponent, the Baltimore Ravens.

By RICK STROUD, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published September 15, 2002

ON WHETHER THE RAVENS DEFENSE IS STILL STRONG: "No one's really scored on them throughout the preseason. They've been very stingy. They gave up 10 points last week and seven of those were set up on a flea-flicker in a second-and-1 situation. They have a lot of pride with Ray Lewis and Peter Boulware and (Chris) McAlister and (Michael) McCrary. They know how to play defense in Baltimore."

ON ATTACKING THE RAVENS 3-4 DEFENSE WITH LINEBACKERS LEWIS AND BOULWARE: "Peter Boulware is what you would call an interesting football player. Here's a guy who can put his hand down and be a premier pass rusher and be an outstanding defensive end. And when he's playing outside linebacker in this 3-4 system, it's pretty easy for them to get him matched up against the back at times. You've got to be conscious of where Boulware is at all times and you know they're going to create some games internally and get Ray Lewis freed up to make plays. When you talk about the 34 defense, you talk about linebackers. And when you start with Ray Lewis and Peter Boulware, you're starting with some real clout."

ON THE POSSIBILITY OF CONFUSING RAVENS QUARTERBACK CHRIS REDMAN: "Inexperience is something that you've got to overcome, as a running back, as a quarterback, as a young offensive line. You have to overtime it. He's got a great coach there, a great system and he's got some real good resources with Todd Heap, the tight end. I think (Brandon) Stokley and Travis Taylor are good receivers. And of course, Jamal Lewis is back and that gives them a legitimate horse to hand the ball to."