Titans @ Buccaneers
Final Score: Titans 34, Buccaneers 3
Writer: Ben Brown (@BenBrownPL on Twitter)
This was a tough game to watch for fans of the defending World Champions. Tampa Bay’s offense struggled to move the ball for most of the night, and it seemed like anytime they made any progress there was a penalty that set them back. They also fumbled the ball six times. They lost only one, but it was still far too many mistakes for the backups. The good news? Buccaneers starters will play at least the first half next week.
Meanwhile, Tennessee was able to overcome some early hiccups with their offensive line and managed to string together a few scoring drives. Chester Rogers had a few nice catches and shined in the return game, while Mekhi Sargent was the best player on offense. Thankfully, this game wasn’t as bad of a watch as Tennessee’s first preseason game.
Tennessee Titans
Quarterback
Matt Barkley: 12/16, 115 yards, 2 TD, sack | 1 carry, -4 yards
Logan Woodside: 7/8, 64 yards, TD. 2 sacks | 2 carries, -2 yards
After Logan Woodside started the first two drives of this game, Tennesse flip flopped between Woodside and Matt Barkley for pretty much the rest of the game. Woodside was the more accurate of the two and looked relatively sharper against better competition.
Barkley was given the opportunity to run the two minute drill at the end of the half and he did not perform well. After a short pass to Mason Kinsey gained seven yards, Barkley and the offense huddled and took 35 seconds to run their second play. The drive resulted in a field goal after Barkley nearly fumbled the ball on a play where the refs bailed him out and said he was sacked prior to losing control of the ball. He did end up throwing two TDs in the second half, but I was still more impressed by Woodside once again. Barkley throws off his back foot too much.
Dez Fitzpatrick finds the end zone! @dezfitz8 🙌🏽 #TENvsTB
📺: Watch on @WKRN pic.twitter.com/7J0Cvm6svz
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) August 22, 2021
Running Back
Mekhi Sargent: 16 carries, 78 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, 5 yards, TD
Brian Hill: 10 carries, 24 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, 12 yards
Jeremy McNichols: 5 carries, -9 yards | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 15 yards
Jeremy McNichols did not gain a single yard on any of his five carries. He lost yardage on four of the five and then gained zero yards on the fifth. He contributed in the passing game a little, but otherwise, he was hurt by his offensive line which struggled mightily to hold back the Buccaneers’ front seven early in the game.
As I mentioned in the opening blurb, Mekhi Sargent was the most impressive player on the field for the Titans. He had multiple carries for double-digit gains, with one of them coming during the two-minute drill as he carried a defender on his back near the end of a fifteen-yard gain. He ran with power and again showed quick feet that allowed him to miss defenders in the hole. On his receiving touchdown he was able to catch the ball, extend it over the goal line, and kick the pylon for good measure. It was an impressive play.
Beautiful play action from @MattBarkley to Mekhi Sargent. #TENvsTB
📺: Watch on @WKRN pic.twitter.com/hRYogukUZf
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) August 22, 2021
With Darrynton Evans still recovering from a leg/hamstring injury he suffered in last week’s game, the door may be open for Sargent to make the team. From what I’ve seen, he deserves it.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Mason Kinsey: 8 targets, 6 receptions, 56 yards, TD
Dez Kirkpatrick: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 30 yards, TD
Chester Rogers: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 22 yards
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine: 1 target, 1 reception, 18 yards
Anthony Firkser: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 15 yards
Cameron Batson: 1 target, 1 reception, 6 yards
The other best player on the field for Tennessee was Mason Kinsey. He was running all over the place and it felt like the announcers were calling his name every other play. He’s good feet and solid hands. I haven’t seen him drop a pass in two games. He definitely has a shot to make this roster and earn some snaps.
Bitcoin Barkley finds @MasonKinsey87 for the payday! 💰 #TENvsTB
📺: Watch on @WKRN pic.twitter.com/WHw6DWMQuo
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) August 22, 2021
Chester Rogers also impressed in this one. He had two solid catches in traffic and was great on kick returns. He had one return for over 60 yards that was called back by a penalty for an illegal double-team block. He’s in a competition with Cameron Batson for a backup receiver/return job, but as of now I’d say Rogers is winning.
Nice catch, @ChesterRogers80! #TENvsTB
📺: Watch on @WKRN pic.twitter.com/9AqaYS0iLy
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) August 22, 2021
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Quarterback
Kyle Trask: 13/26, 131 yards, 2 INT, sack, fumble | 2 carries, -3 yards
Ryan Griffin: 6/11, 45 yards, sack, fumble | 1 carry, -1 yard
Blaine Gabbert: 3/6, 33 yards, sack, fumble | 2 carries, 3 yards
I don’t want to spend too much time talking about Blaine Gabbert or Ryan Griffin. It was a rough night for Buccaneers’ QBs overall and neither player showed much that we didn’t already know about them. Both have quirky mechanics that make their deliveries difficult to replicate, and both were inaccurate and struggled with decision-making at times.
Rookie QB Kyle Trask was the third signal-caller to take the field. He had some nice throws down the field and he throws a good ball most of the time. Both of his interceptions were two of his worst throws and both were rightly picked off. One thing I noticed is that on some of his throws, particularly the ones he added a little extra oomph to, he jumped a little on his follow-through and his feet left the ground. It wasn’t on every throw, but it was more than once. I’m no scout, nor am I an expert on throwing mechanics, but this stood out as something that isn’t good. He also had a fumble on a designed rollout where he simply dropped the ball, and he had another pass that went tumbling end over end after he lost his grip on the ball. He showed some signs of a capable NFL QB but he has a long, long way to go.
Another Tennessee takeaway! #TENvsTB @cgeathers26 with the assist from @e_mold3n
📺: Watch on @WKRN pic.twitter.com/kRv3HDiw7K
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) August 22, 2021
Another one! @Jamal_Carter6 🔒 #TENvsTB
📺: Watch on @WKRN pic.twitter.com/5ylf27drBz
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) August 22, 2021
Running Backs
Ke’Shawn Vaughn: 9 carries, 18 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, 9 yards
Giovani Bernard: 1 carry | 1 target
C.J. Prosise: 1 target, 1 reception, 11 yards
Tampa Bay pretty much abandoned the run in this one. Ke’Shawn Vaughn got almost every single carry and he was bottled up every single time. He really struggled to run the ball between the tackles, with his longest gain going for only five yards. He’s clearly the number three, or even number four, option in this backfield and I honestly don’t see what all the fuss is about for those still taking him as a late-round upside back.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
O.J. Howard: 6 targets, 3 receptions, 24 yards
Tanner Hudson: 7 targets, 6 receptions, 74 yards, fumble (lost)
Cyril Grayson: 8 targets, 4 receptions, 57 yards, fumble
Tyler Johnson: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 21 yards
Jaelon Darden: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 18 yards, fumble
Scotty Miller: 3 targets, 2 receptions, -1 yard
O.J. Howard had a game to forget. His first target of the night was a perfect pass from Blaine Gabbert, but Howard couldn’t haul it in and it bounced off his head not once but twice before falling to the ground. He also dropped his second target. Both were great passes and should have been caught. He went on to catch three of his next four targets, but by then the damage was done. He’s not in trouble of getting cut, but this is something that has been an issue for him throughout his career and it’s something to remember on draft day when you’re looking for a backup tight end.
Tyler Johnson got off to a hot start, catching Gabbert’s first two passes. He looked to get tackled onto his head after the second one and was motioning to the sideline, but he didn’t immediately come out of the game. I noticed him back out there on the first drive of the 2nd half so he appears to be fine, but he didn’t have another catch on the night. He’s an intriguing late-round target in deep leagues.
Scotty Miller nearly had a 20+ yard catch down the sideline but he couldn’t keep his right foot inbounds. Jaelon Darden flashed on a punt return that was called back by a holding penalty, but he later fumbled on another punt return when he tried to make a couple extra moves for extra yardage. He was able to recover his fumble. He’s got quick feet and often tried to dip and dodge defenders with the ball in his hands. It’s likely something he was able to get away with in college but it won’t be so easy as a professional.
Tanner Hudson caught a pass, got hit, fell to the ground, and fumbled the ball, which was recovered by Tennessee and returned for a touchdown. It initially looked like the ground caused the fumble, but after review it actually looked like the ball moved a bit in his hands on the way to the ground, and bounced out of his grasp without hitting the ground right into the defender’s arms. It honestly should have been called an interception. It was a great pass by Trask so it’s unfortunate that Hudson couldn’t come down with the catch, especially considering the fact that he’s fighting for a roster spot.
Briean Boddy-Calhoun! TOUCHDOWN TITANS! #TENvsTB
📺: Watch on @WKRN pic.twitter.com/vgB84Ry9nN
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) August 22, 2021
Right place. Right time. @darthBoCa
📺: Watch #CHIvsTEN (8/28) on @WKRN | @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/jOBJdTEhRF
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) August 22, 2021
— Ben Brown (@BenBrownPL on Twitter)
Test
Great read thank you!