Los Angeles Rams vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Five Bucs to Watch

The Los Angeles Rams go on the road in the team’s Week 4 match up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

LB Lavonte David

The Rams are facing yet another opposing defense featuring a top end linebacker. This week it is Lavonte David.

The fifth-year weakside linebacker is the Bucs most complete ‘backer. David plays the pass well. He had 13 passes defended and three interceptions in 2015. Pretty damn good for a linebacker.

He is also stout against the run and has the ability to shed blockers – which does not bode well for running back RB Todd Gurley, who is set to see yet another dose of nine-man fronts.

WR Mike Evans

The Rams’ secondary did a great job containing the Seattle Seahawks’ receivers last week. The Seahawks’ receivers did not have Tampa’s size advantage, however.

Mike Evans (6’5 231 lbs) towers above the majority of the Rams’ secondary. Franchise corner Trumaine Johnson is the only cornerback on the team with enough size (6’2 208) to match up with Evans. Lets hope defensive coordinator Gregg Williams keeps Tru on Evans throughout the entire game.

Oh and lets not forget WR Vincent Jackson (6’5 230 lbs). The 12-year vet can exploit the unstable state of the Rams’ No. 2 corner.

DT Gerald McCoy

The Rams have Aaron Donald. The Bucs have Gerald McCoy.

Another disruptive three-technique defensive tackle, the seven-year vet notched 8.5 sacks in 2015. In 2014, he bagged another 8.5 sacks. His career high of 9.5 sacks came in 2013.

Gerald has the track record of a big baller. The Rams will have to consistently double team McCoy to stall him. The interior offensive line will have plenty of work to do.

The entire offensive line has plenty of work to do.

DE Noah Spence

Third game of the season. Third left defensive end in this opposing PtW series.

It will be a trend until Rams OT Greg Robinson proves he can be more than an unexceptional left tackle.

With that said, rookie DE Noah Spence came out of college with the reputation as a top level pass rusher. To that end, he registered the first sack of his career against the Arizona Cardinals last week.

Spence will be getting an extended amount of playing time with starter Robert Ayers tending to a bum ankle.

QB Jameis Winston

Here is the guy Tampa can depend on to carve up defenses and take over games. His Week 1 performance is prime example. He ripped Atlanta’s secondary apart, throwing four touchdowns (one interception) in the process.

Just like how Jameis can toss four touchdowns like nada, he can throw four picks just as easily. That is what happened last week versus Arizona.

In that game, the Cardinals got to Jameis a total of ten times (two sacks and eight quarterback hits). The Rams need to pressure Winston and force him to make mistakes.