Ticket sales did not reach 85 percent mark

TAMPA, Fla. - We move ahead to game two of the Bucs preseason schedule against the Tennessee Titans.

I would think that game planning for this Friday nighter would closely parallel Head Coach Greg Schiano’s approach to the Miami game, more about the Bucs and less about game planning.

Looking back on the Miami game, I put an emphasis on the defensive line play.

From my observations, their grade would fall in the “okay (C)” category.

Nothing spectacular, nothing special, no real standout plays, yet adequate.

I thought the front seven did a good job against the run.

Miami didn’t exactly make QB Matt Moore a target by going to the no-huddle and basically calling out three step drops on passing downs.

Perhaps Tennessee might oblige with a more conventional drop back in the pocket approach with Jake Locker getting his first start for the Titans.

Titans say Locker will get 20 to 25 plays, which should cover all downs against the Bucs starting defense.

I would think the starters will get about a quarter of playing time this Friday and then a half of football against NE the following Friday.

I would hope we would see S Mark Barron in the game Friday.  He needs game action, and we need to see what goods he really brings.

I’d like to see how Barron and FS Ronde Barber react together in the last line of defense, but I question whether Jake Locker will test the secondary.  He’s not exactly Andrew Luck.

Offensively, what I saw vs. Miami was what I expected.  A mostly veteran group upgraded in talent at guard and wide receiver.

RB LeGarrette Blount solidified his position as the #1 back on this team.

Doug Martin will get PT in the season, but he must hold on to the football.

Martin fumbled in practice on Monday.

We have not seen QB Josh Freeman target WR Vincent Jackson.

He might throw one or two to Jackson vs. Titans, but don’t expect Jackson to get too many reps Friday night.

I can tell you that in almost every practice, Jackson comes up with a play.  He’s the real deal.  No need to put him in harms way.

Better to figure out the depth chart behind him.  I think that’s the way Schiano will go this week.

In his press conference today, Schiano talked about how he breaks down penalties.

They fall in three categories, selfish, silly, and aggressive.

The first two are the ones every Buccaneer wants to avoid because it will get you a place on the bench or waiver wire.

Selfish is a personal foul where you allow your anger to get the best of you and your actions are put ahead of the good of the team.

Silly penalties are like lining up off sides.

Aggressive penalties are those that are made in attempting to make plays.

Schiano said that he doesn’t want to be the least penalized team in the league because it shows that you’re not aggressive enough.

He’d like to rank in the 5 through 10 range.

We’ll see. 

UPDATE:  WTSP, the station that broadcasts the Bucs preseason games reports tonight that the game will be blacked out within a 75-mile radius.  The game did not sell out a required 85-percent of the general seating.