Instant Reaction: Buccaneers 29-7 Win Over Titans

On Saturday night, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicked off their preseason against the Tennessee Titans. This was a decisive 29-7 victory in the Bucs favor. And while the final score is rarely important in the preseason it is an indication of how well this team played.

On a night where the Titans played most of their starters, the Bucs took a lead into halftime. They proceeded to pull away in the second half as their depth shined. It was the exact type of outcome you would expect from a Super Bowl contender going against the team that had the number one pick in the draft last year.

Here are my instant reactions from the Bucs preseason win over the Titans

An “A” For JJ

The player that stood out to me the most was undrafted rookie safety JJ Roberts. The rookie out of Marshall was all over the field tonight. He finished second on the team in tackles and tied for first with two passes deflected, including one that was batted up in the air and intercepted.

Roberts had his speed on display in this game. He was able to beat wide receivers to the spot and show off his range and run support. In a camp battle, where the fourth safety job is wide open I thought Roberts took control of this competition.

Buccaneers Playmakers Shine

To open the game, we saw outstanding catches from both Jalen McMillan and Emeka Egbuka. They helped lead the Bucs down the field to score an opening field goal on the team’s first drive. These are the Bucs third and fourth wide receiving options, but they look to be out matching the Titans starting secondary.

After that, it was truly the Ryan Miller show. He led the team with six catches and 66 receiving yards. This included some nice grabs where he had to adjust to off target or contested passes. It was a statement game for a player who was fighting and clawing to make the roster.

Sean Tucker also looked fantastic in this one. The Bucs third string running back showed why he was NFC offensive player of the week last year. His sub 4.4 speed was on full display as he elevated an all backup offensive line.

An Up-And-Down Night For Chris Braswell

The Titans played most of their starters, including their offensive line. This included the 2023 seventh overall pick JC Latham. Braswell, a 2023 second round pick, saw a good deal of action against his former Alabama teammate.

Overall, it was a mixed bag for Braswell. He did beat Latham early on to pressure the quarterback into throwing an in completion. He also had a few nice plays as a run defender holding the point of attack. However, he also played into the third quarter and failed to impress against back ups.

We are all hoping for a nice step forward from Braswell this year. We saw flashes last season and consistency is the next step in his developmental process. This game was not a consistent showing for him.

Depth Defensive Line Failed To Impress

Rookie fifth round pick Elijah Roberts was someone I was really looking forward to seeing in this game. Despite some relatively high praise for a day three pick Roberts was listed as a third string player on the depth chart. Getting a chance to go against back ups was his opportunity to make some plays and impress the coaching staff.

Frankly, I believe he failed to do that. Robert did very little to stand out at all in this game. Honestly, none of the depth defensive lineman did.

For a team that is looking to make a Super Bowl run, you want as much depth and talent as you can possibly have. The Bucs might not have time to wait around for Roberts to develop this year. This game got me wondering what free agents like DeMarcus Walker or Mo Hurst might be doing these days.

Practice Squad Potential

A few names did impress who have a chance to make the Bucs practice squad. 

Shilo Sanders had a very solid game both in coverage and playing in the box. He came to Tampa as an undrafted rookie out of Colorado and was a long shot to make the team. At this point, I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t make the practice squad.

Undrafted linebacker Nick Jackson made a few splash plays that should put him on everyone’s radar. He had a sack in this game as well as an interception on a tipped ball. For a team that is desperately looking for depth at linebacker beyond their top four, Jackson really impressed tonight.

Owen Wright had a nice second half for the Buccaneers. He led the team in rushing with 87 yards and also had a touchdown. He showed burst and physicality in this game. After floating around the Baltimore Ravens practice squad for the first two years of his career, don’t be surprised if he does the same with the Buccaneers this season.