Buccaneers Not Acting Their Age

TAMPA -- Right there in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers weekly media guide is a statistical analysis that is the marvel of the young Bucs' season. They have been outscored in every quarter this season, but one.

The fourth quarter. Tampa Bay has 63 points, opponents have 29 in the fourth.

Skeptics can point to the schedule. The Bucs have played the offensively-challenged Panthers twice. They have played the similarly offensively-challenged 49ers.

Here is another stat: The Bucs are 4-1 on the road.

Fourth quarter play and success on the road are not the usual byproducts of a young team.

Extra Points

• Tampa Bay has picked off 15 passes this season, compared to five interceptions for opponents.

What's impressive about the interceptions is that the Bucs also know how to be physical in the run game with tackling by corners Aqib Talib and Ronde Barber. Talib did not come into the NFL with that reputation of being as sturdy as a strong safety, but there have been some counter runs where Talib (five picks) has been the lone defender out the backside and has made some stops.

Raheem Morris has been trumpeting Talib as a future star as a Pro Bowl corner. You are starting to see it.

• The Falcons threw the ball 50 times against the Ravens. They were quick outs and slants. Atlanta shucked the run and thought it could target the Baltimore corners. Tampa Bay's Sammie Stroughter, the backup wide receiver, and third down receiver, does not necessarily believe Baltimore is vulnerable in the secondary.

"If you are comfortable with your game plan and take what they give you, that's what you have to do," Stroughter said. "In different schemes, you find the voids. I guess Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons found that void. Against Carolina, the Ravens probably tightened it down."

• Ravens safety Ed Reed is as big a ballhawk as there is in the NFL , hunting interceptions thrown by hurried quarterbacks. It must be that he knows the hot reads in an offense and can jump to that spot when the quarterback has to get rid of the ball quickly.

"You have to understand their scheme," Stroughter said. "They have a big guy in Haloti Ngata and Terrell Suggs coming off the edge. As a safety you are sitting back there understanding and knowing it has to be something quick. It has helped him out his whole career, him jumping routes, and the way he comes down."

• Free safety Cody Grimm was torched for a long touchdown by the Steelers in his first start. That play was hung around the rookie's neck as a suggestion he was not yet fit for the NFL.

Grimm has played better in the last seven games and has become a fierce hitter in run support. Asked if he realized Grimm was going to develop into a solid player so soon, coach Morris said, "No, I wouldn't have drafted him in the seventh round. He is absolutely playing lights out football for us right now. He is a tone-setter for us right now."

Grimm was a walk-on at Virginia Tech and had a reputation in college as a hitter. He forced seven fumbles his senior season for the Hokies in 2009. He also lettered in lacrosse in high school.