What to Expect from Mike Glennon, Buccaneers Offense in Week 6

Though the Buccaneers suffered yet another loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, the rapid improvement of quarterback Mike Glennon should give Tampa Bay hope for the future of the offense.

The Bucs offense limped through the first two games under veteran QB Josh McCown. It wasn't until McCown hurt his thumb in Atlanta and Glennon took over starting duties the following week that the Bucs' pass game came alive.

At this point in the season, the Bucs' two signal-callers have played nearly the same amount, but the results and the stats favor Glennon going forward.

McCown vs. Glennon: 2014 Stats

	ATT	CMP	CMP%	YDS	YPC	TD	INT
Josh McCown	68	43	63.2	420	6.2	2	4
Mike Glennon	98	57	58.2	672	6.9	5	2

Source: NFL.com

McCown has a slightly better pass completion rate, but Glennon wins on every other count. Glennon was also instrumental in the Bucs' first win of the season over Pittsburgh and kept the Bucs competitive in New Orleans.

Glennon's superior performance, to McCown at least, may have led to head coach Lovie Smith making the second-year quarterback the favorite to start against the Baltimore Ravens next Sunday, per the Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud:

"

Smith said Mike Glennon has played two great games and the odds are he will start again this week."

— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) October 6, 2014"

Glennon and the Bucs offense have their work cut out for them. The Ravens have allowed only 16 points per game, the third-best scoring defense in the league per NFL.com. Baltimore also possesses one of the best run defenses in the league, allowing only 89.4 yards per game.

While the Ravens' defense isn't necessarily dominant, they are very physical, particularly six-time Pro Bowler defensive tackle Haloti Ngata. At 6'4", 340 pounds, Ngata is the crux of the Ravens defense, as he typically owns the trenches and allows Baltimore's linebackers to roam free in pass rush and run defense.

The Bucs offense is likely in for another long afternoon against Baltimore, thanks in large part to their inept offensive line. The patchwork unit had problems in every facet of the game in New Orleans. They failed to open many run lanes for running backs Doug Martin or Bobby Rainey, who combined for 66 yards on the ground and an average 3.3 yards per carry.

Jonathan Bachman/Associated Press

Miscommunication on the line spelled doom for the Bucs late in the game, as confusion by guard Logan Mankins and left tackle Anthony Collins left a huge hole for Saints LB Junior Galette to sack Mike Glennon, forcing a safety. While the line often afforded Glennon a clean pocket, the breakdowns that did occur were catastrophic.

If nothing else, the Bucs offensive line must stop committing penalties to have any hope of success. They committed five penalties in New Orleans alone and already have 15 on the season, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Expect the Bucs to struggle to win the line of scrimmage against Baltimore. With little chance of an effective run game, the Bucs' best chance for success is the renewed chemistry between Glennon and wide receiver Vincent Jackson. The 10-year vet enjoyed his best game of the season against the Saints, catching eight passes for 144 yards.

Jonathan Bachman/Associated Press

Jackson and the Bucs receivers are Tampa Bay's greatest advantage offensively. Despite the strong pass rush coming from the Ravens defensive line and stud edge-rushers Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil, Baltimore's pass coverage hasn't met the same standards as the rest of the defense, allowing an abysmal 267.2 pass yards per game this season, per NFL.com.

At 6'2" and 211 pounds, Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith is on the larger side for a corner and has played well this season. He matches up well even to the 6'5", 240-pound Jackson.

The Bucs should look to WR Louis Murphy and even rookie tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins to pick up some of the slack and exploit Baltimore's vulnerable secondary. Murphy's speed and Jenkins' size should create opportunities to open the field for Mike Glennon.

Success on offense will inevitably come down to how well the Bucs offensive line performs. However, the improved play of Mike Glennon and the Bucs' receiving weapons give Tampa Bay a chance to steal a win from the mostly stout Baltimore defense.