8 Things To Watch In Tonight’s Bucs-Titans Game
August 18th, 2018
Ahhh, it’s a football Saturday!!
Here’s eight things Joe will be looking for tonight as the Bucs face the Titans (not including cheerleaders.)
*O.J. Howard didn’t catch a pass in the preseason opener last week, while fellow tight end Cameron Brate hauled in five. Joe would love to see Howard get more action tonight. The hype around Howard and his 26 career catches has been extraordinary. Making a few preseason plays certainly could bolster his confidence.
*Hello, Ronald Jones! Questionable hands, questionable ball security and questionable special teams play is a nasty trifecta for a 21-year-old rookie gunning for a significant role. Inside the halls of One Buc Palace, Jones’ attitude and work ethic are highly respected, but he’s a work in progress. Jones needs one breakout preseason game (not necessarily tonight) if he wants to be a significant Day 1 option for Dirk Koetter when it counts.
*Vernon Hargreaves likely is in street clothes with his bad groin. That means plenty of time for maligned cornerback Ryan Smith, who really needs to prove he’s anything more than a highly suspect No. 4 corner.
*Is the Bucs defensive line really a deep and quality unit? The paper version looks awesome, but DE Vinny Curry has been slow to adjust unlike his counterpart Jason Pierre-Paul, who has been an animal so far. Noah Spence wasn’t exactly tearing it up against the Dolphins’ second teamers and he’s gotten banged up in practice. Will Gholston has had a very disappointing training camp. And Beau Allen and Gerald McCoy appear to be their consistent selves, while Vita Vea and Mitch Unrein have battled injuries. Vea hasn’t practiced this month. Joe would like to see a more encouraging outing from this unit tonight.
*Rookie safety Jordan Whitehead. If he looks as good as he did last week, then that could deliver a fast shakeup to the Bucs’ starting lineup. Joe expects him to get some first-team reps against the Titans.
*All eyes on right guard. Evan Smith, the sole survivor of the Bucs’ big-name free agent haul of 2014, started the preseason opener. Will Caleb Benenoch or rookie Alex Cappa get their shot tonight?
*Chandler Catanzaro’s missed extra point and long-range field goal last week against Miami was a real kick in the groin to every Bucs fan and team official. That’s unfair to Catanzaro, but that’s the Tampa Bay reality after years of a three-ring circus the kicker position. Catanzaro has to be good tonight to avoid mass panic.
*RB Dare Ogunbowale is a guy to watch closely. He arrived at the University of Wisconsin as a defensive back and played his final two seasons at running back, averaging 4.8 yards per carry on 285 rushes. The dude looks the part and channels his defensive skills well on special teams. He was signed early this month but might just have a better shot at the final-53 than overhyped undrafted rookie RB Shaun Wilson.
August 18th, 2018 at 1:44 am
All good things to watch for. I’d also like to see how all the young RBs do in pass pro. That’s usually the difference maker them.
August 18th, 2018 at 2:03 am
I’m going to guess Ryan Smith will get burned on at least 4 passes, then he’ll make one tackle where he shows great speed and people will think he’s someone worth keeping around.
August 18th, 2018 at 2:12 am
I think the Bucs 1st team starters are going to get massacred. Tenn looks good to go to the AFC Championship game this year.
Davis and white is going to make a mockery of our pass defense in the 1st quarter
August 18th, 2018 at 2:37 am
I say let OJ Howard block all pre-season – then feature him in the passing game early vs New Orleans. They won’t know what hit them….
August 18th, 2018 at 2:42 am
Everything this year hinges on improved DLine play (QB pressure & stopping the run), as well as improved OLine play (better run blocking & pass protection). If the beasts in the trenches git er done, Bucs can have a winning season. If they don’t, we’ll wind up going back to Square One unfortunately.
August 18th, 2018 at 2:53 am
Yea OJ has been our best tackle thus far. Honestly think Donald Penn had more targets.
All eyes on the right side of the oline. Im looking for Seaton to take over the RT job and As for Caleb and Evan Smith all I can do is smh
Looking for ME to get some yac and looking for Djax to catch a bomb for a score.
Looking at Bobo making plays in special teams and wr
Watching Teflon Kwon, see if he can wrap-up
Watching the dline, see if they can get any push against Tenn oline, get any pressure on mr. glass I mean Mariota
Finally watching to see if JPP is going to carry the dline once again.
I would hope Whitehead is a foregone conclusion
5 games on today, I’m a happy guy.
August 18th, 2018 at 4:46 am
That’s a bold prediction that Dare (7 att for 15 yards 2.1 aypc) will beat out Shawn Wilson for that last Rb spot. I’m looking forward to seeing both he and Wilson over the next 3 games. I’d also like to see a few offensive snaps to Whitehead giving him the ball in space and seeing what he can do.
August 18th, 2018 at 6:03 am
I understand the Ryan smith comment , but I want to see one of the new guys they just signed step up
Unfortunately , I have seen enough from Ryan smith . He knows the system better but He can’t be trusted The opposing team will continue to throw to any receiver he is matched up against
August 18th, 2018 at 6:05 am
Agree
Want to see some Shaun Wilson. Perfect quick scat back /third down back to go with barber.
Unfortunately ROJO needs time to get some MOJO
August 18th, 2018 at 6:17 am
I am hoping for a solid showing from somebody on the right corner. In order for
Vh3 to make have a comeback, he needs to be on the field regaining his confidence. He was shut down last year and is injured again. Carlton Davis has a chance to take this job and not look back.
August 18th, 2018 at 6:21 am
Agree with Defense Rules on the Dline, but I also think we will see a heavy dose of running by Titans. The Bucs success against the run will be interesting to watch.
August 18th, 2018 at 6:50 am
I am looking for Shaun Wilson…..Carlton Davis & MJ Stewart’s play.
Also, our pass rush with JPP, Curry & Spence….
August 18th, 2018 at 7:00 am
I don’t think Bucs first team will get massacred simply because Jax didn’t massacre them last year in preseason. But would have in regular season. I use Jax because they went to AFCCF and are comparable to your claim. Though they do have a superior qb than Jax
August 18th, 2018 at 7:25 am
In other news McCaffree of the panthers broke free for a 71 yard burst. This is ominous,because he has mostly been a pass receiving back. Article stated Norv Turner has plans to run him much more this season. Hope we see great improvement in that area from Bucs Dline starting tonight.
August 18th, 2018 at 7:29 am
All great points Joe. I would also like to see DJax return a punt or two.
August 18th, 2018 at 7:29 am
I’d like to see a deep bomb to D-Jax ! Jameis going through his progressions and not turning the ball over.
August 18th, 2018 at 7:35 am
The defense.
Period.
August 18th, 2018 at 10:00 am
Go Bucs
August 18th, 2018 at 10:01 am
Noah actullay did kinda tear it up last week. He was in on quite a few hours plays.
August 18th, 2018 at 10:21 am
Players to watch out for
Running backs
RB Dare Ogunbowale | Shaun Wilson
Offensive Line
C Ryan Jensen
RG Caleb Benenoch
Note: This run block was terrible against Miami
Receivers/Kick Returners
WR Bobo Wilson – Our new Kick Returner?
WR Sergio Bailey
Defensive Line
DT William Gholston
Linebackers
MLB Riley Bullough
SLB Jack Cichy
Defensive Back
CB Javien Elliott
August 18th, 2018 at 10:23 am
Offensive Line
C Ryan Jensen
RG Caleb Benenoch
Note: As a unit, Our run blocking was terrible against Miami
August 18th, 2018 at 10:27 am
Kwon Alexander’s the 2.0 version of Barrett Rudd IMO.
So expect more of the same Ol Kwon – you’ve been seeing the past couple seasons.
#ThisSh!tAintNothin’New
August 18th, 2018 at 10:53 am
Spawn is injured again?
Bummer.
August 18th, 2018 at 11:23 am
Let’s see if Ronald Jones gets some carries behind the first team O-Line. I don’t wanna see Barber play more than a series or two because we know what he is.
August 18th, 2018 at 11:40 am
Isn’t there an Igwebuike on the roster?
August 18th, 2018 at 12:52 pm
Isn’t the Ryan Smith experiment over yet–thought that long ago fizzled out and should be put to history. We have new guys that need experience. Really let us move on from him–he just keeps disappointing us.
August 18th, 2018 at 1:07 pm
I’m looking for signs of life from Gholston.
August 18th, 2018 at 4:19 pm
O.J probably didn’t get any catches last week because he was likely playing #1 RT in his snaps. We had a solid looking O-line last week. Hmmm…???
August 18th, 2018 at 4:22 pm
For sure gonna be looking for the rookie DBs.
August 18th, 2018 at 4:49 pm
Would love to see Shaun or VJax to return a kick for a touchdown and no missed kicks. Looking forward to see Monken’s superior playcalling again. I love watching Seaton block at RG again and Smith was decent at RG. The left side of the OL looked the best ever blocking that side. I want to see Jensen do some pull blocking to open up the perimeter for Jones or Wilson. I want all three QBs to look great again with no turnovers. Want to see our DL get sacks, pressures, and knockdowns. Want to see some blitzes again and a lot of our young DBs jamming their receivers and disrupting Mariota’s timing. How about total domination in the trenches?