It’s time for PewterReport.com’s 2-Point Conversion post-game column, which features two statements, two questions and two predictions based on the latest Bucs game. Tampa Bay traveled to Tennessee to take on the Titans and came away with an impressive 30-14 win to start the preseason 2-0 for the first time since 2008.

TWO BIG STATEMENTS

STATEMENT 1: Winston Having A Spectacular Preseason
Starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick looked like he was pressing during the first quarter. He overthrew an open Mike Evans on his first pass of the game down the sidelines. His passes to tight end Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard that were thrown inside were off the mark. Fitzpatrick finished the game completing just 5-of-13 passes for 46 yards before giving way to Jameis Winston in the second quarter.

In one quarter of play in Nashville, Winston completed 13-of-18 passes (72.2 percent) for 226 yards and two touchdowns with a QB rating of 151.4. Winston was accurate hitting deep balls to Mike Evans – a 38-yarder – and DeSean Jackson – a 54-yarder – as well as underneath passes. Winston showed supreme mobility in the pocket, eluding pass rushers most of the night, especially on his first touchdown pass.

Winston lucked out a bit while dodging sack attempts from linebacker Sharif Finch and defensive tackle Julius Warmsley and throwing off his back foot while getting drilled by linebacker Robert Spillane. Winston spotted Chris Godwin in the end zone and lofted up a pass to the second-year wide receiver, who out-jumped a pair of Titans defenders for the 8-yard touchdown to give the Bucs a 13-7 lead in the second quarter.

Bucs QB Jameis Winston – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“We emphasize a lot about scoring touchdowns in the red zone, and we saw a nice opportunity,” Winston said. “Godwin got open and I threw it up to him and gave my guy a chance. In film (room), I’ll probably get yelled it, but at the end of the day I’ve got to learn from those.”

But Winston wasn’t done.

After Bucs rookie cornerback M.J. Stewart forced his second fumble of the night, Winston got a chance to execute in the two-minute drill and led the Bucs on another touchdown drive that was capped off with a beautiful 21-yard fade pass to rookie Justin Watson for a touchdown. That gave Tampa Bay a 20-7 lead at halftime.

Winston was 11-of-13 (84.6 percent) for 102 yards last week in Miami in the second quarter of the preseason opener. Combining his stats from the first two games, Winston has completed 24-of-31 passes (77.4 percent) for 328 yards with two touchdowns and no turnovers. Those are spectacular numbers and the Bucs have to be thrilled with how he’s performed in the preseason.

“Explosives and not turning it over – that’s how you win football games in the NFL,” head coach Dirk Koetter said of Winston’s play on Saturday night. “It was good that we got some deep balls and we spread them around a little bit. That’s always good. It was good to see us finally connect with one over the top to DeSean.

STATEMENT 2: Catanzaro Looks Like The Real Deal
After Bucs fans held their collective breaths last week after new kicker Chandler Catanzaro missed an extra point on his first kick in red and pewter and then failed to hit on a 53-yard field goal, he redeemed himself with a perfect night in Nashville. Catanzaro kicked off the Bucs’ scoring with a 30-yard field goal to give the team a 3-0 lead in the first quarter. He then drilled field goals of 44 and 48 yards with each kick going straight and true.

Bucs K Chandler Catanzaro – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

In addition to going 3-for-3 on field goals against the Titans, Catanzaro was also perfect on all three extra points, too. Through two preseason games, Catanzaro is 5-of-6 (83.3 percent) on both field goals and extra points. He’s a perfect 5-of-5 inside 50 yards.

Nearly as important is the fact that Catanzaro’s kickoffs were stellar. He had five touchbacks and only two kicks that were returned. That was one of the difficulties with Pat Murray’s leg last year. It wasn’t as strong as Catanazaro’s and he didn’t force enough touchbacks.

So far, so good for Tampa Bay’s kicker – and what a relief it is for everybody.

TWO PROBING QUESTIONS

QUESTION 1: Should We Be Concerned About RoJo?
Yes. After rushing for a paltry nine yards and a touchdown on eight carries last week in the preseason opener at Miami, Bucs running back Ronald Jones was hoping to have a bounce back game in Tennessee. Instead, it was even worse.

Jones had just two yards on four carries against the Titans. That’s 11 yards on 13 carries – and for those of you scoring at home, that’s less than one yard per carry. That’s not what anyone expected from the team’s second-round pick, who was supposed to bring speed and playmaking ability to Tampa Bay.

Instead, Peyton Barber continues to shine and has a stranglehold on the starting job. Barber rushed for 32 yards on six carries (5.3 avg.), including an 18-yard scamper in the first quarter. Barber rushed for 21 yards and a touchdown on four carries (5.3 avg.) last week against the Dolphins.

Bucs RB Ronald Jones – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The question isn’t whether or not Barber is the starter. It’s how many touches is RoJo going to earn? Not many if he continues to be tentative as a runner. Jones needs to put his pads down, keep his feet moving and be more violent as a ballcarrier. He stops he feet too often when there is no hole available. As an NFL running back, he needs to learn to just put his head in the pile and either make a hole or just push forward and get a yard or two.

That’s the approach Barber has taken and his aggressive style is getting him 5.3 yards per carry right now. Granted, that’s what the first-team offensive line, but Jones will get more carries with the first-team offensive line next week and he needs to make his reps count if he wants to be a factor in the backfield this season. Remember, Jones is third on the depth chart behind Jacquizz Rodgers right now.

QUESTION 2: Will Koetter Take Over Play-Calling In The Regular Season?
That’s the plan, but through the first two Bucs preseason games the offense has been clicking under the leadership of offensive coordinator Todd Monken. This is no dig at head coach Dirk Koetter. In fact, it’s a brilliant move for him to give Monken the play-calling duties in the preseason and Koetter deserves a great deal of praise and credit for that.

After scoring 26 points and rolling up 399 yards of offense last week in Miami, the Bucs offense scored 30 points and compiled 365 yards of offense in Nashville with Monken at the helm. The quarterbacks have been efficient and turnover-free thus far in the preseason, and the red zone efficiency has shown improvement, too.

Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Perhaps more importantly, Koetter looks calm, in control and focused on his duties as a game-manager without the stress of always thinking about the next play as a play-caller. If Monken continues to shine in this role Koetter would be wise not to rock the boat. Koetter always reserves the right to take the reins back as a play-caller if he wants to, but if Tampa Bay’s offense continues to hum and put up touchdowns over the next two games, I think Monken deserves the right to continue to call plays.

I especially like the way that Monken used DeSean Jackson on Saturday night against the Titans. Jackson had a nice 19-yard catch-and-run from the slot on a crossing route, which was a play we didn’t see enough of last year. Then on first down in the shadow of the Bucs’ own goal line, Monken got aggressive and had Jameis Winston use play action to go deep and hit Jackson with a 54-yard strike. Jackson was underutilized last year, and if Monken can continue to use him properly and get him the ball that’s even more reason for him to remain the play-caller into the regular season.

TWO BOLD PREDICTIONS

PREDICTION 1: Watson Makes The Team
Bucs rookie wide receiver Justin Watson had a tremendous night for the Bucs. He led the team with four catches for 54 yards (13.2 avg.) and a 21-yard touchdown right before halftime. With the first four receivers – Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, DeSean Jackson and Adam Humphries – locked in the depth chart, there is a real battle for the fifth receiver spot between Watson, Freddie Martino, Bobo Wilson and Sergio Bailey, who caught a 21-yard touchdown from Ryan Griffin in the fourth quarter.

Watson, the team’s fifth-round draft pick, is the early leader. Look for him to stick and make the 53-man roster.

“We got thrown into the 2-minute drill in my first couple of plays and Coach just said go out there and try to make a play,” Watson told WFLA News Channel 8’s Dan Lucas after the game. “It was a great ball from Jameis. I think we’ve been building chemistry throughout the preseason. It was awesome to get that first touchdown.

Bucs WR Justin Watson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“That’s the one thing they say with Jameis, wherever you are lined up – always expect the ball. I was open and I was hoping he was going to see me and when I saw the ball in the air I knew I just had to make a play.”

Winston has been impressed with Watson’s work ethic and was excited to throw him a touchdown in Tennessee.

“It was awesome,” Winston said. “Justin has been working very hard and we’re very excited for him. For him to go up and make that great catch – I know it makes him feel good. Makes me feel good to be able to execute down there in the red zone and get a touchdown.”

PREDICTION 2: Bucs Will Have A Better Record Than Titans In 2018
I’m not ready to make any predictions for the Buccaneers yet, although their record will be somewhere between 7-9 and 9-7. And Tampa Bay will be better than Tennessee in 2018, too.

The Bucs dominated the Titans in practice during the week and looked like the better team in a 30-14 win in Nashville on Saturday night. I’d still take Jameis Winston over Marcus Mariota as a quarterback any day of the week, especially on game day. I just think he’s a better quarterback.

Tennessee finished 9-7 and snuck into the playoffs last year after finishing in second place in the downtrodden AFC South division. Jacksonville will be just as good this year, and Houston should be improved. I’d look for a 6-10 or 7-9 finish from the Titans in 2018.