Needing a big win to stay alive in the NFC South, the Bucs were able to come out victorious in their clash against the Titans, emerging with a 20-6 win. While there was plenty to be encouraged about from the game, there were some disappointing elements as well. It is not as extensive of a list as last week, but there are always areas that can get better. Let’s take a look.

Bucs Run Game

Another week, another disappointing showing from the Bucs’ running game, which was just about non-existent. Rachaad White’s receiving exploits aside, White had just 20 carries for 51 yards rushing the ball, while Chase Edmonds (four carries, nine yards) did little as his complement. In fact, the longest run from the offense in the first half came from a Deven Thompkins end-around that got six yards.

Despite being active on Sunday in place of Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Sean Tucker was not utilized in the game and has yet to get a carry since Week 3 against the Eagles. With nine games as a sample size, it is clear that Tampa Bay’s rushing attack remains the weak point on offense. It will be up to Baker Mayfield to air it out to his weapons if the Bucs have any chance of moving the ball.

Slow Start On Offense

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and OC Dave Canales – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

For the first 25 minutes of the game, the Bucs offense was nowhere to be found. Through their first three offensive drives, they only had 39 total yards of offense to show for it, 37 of which came from a 20-yard Mike Evans catch and a 17-yard grab by Chris Godwin.

Both of those catches came on the first drive, which ended with quarterback Baker Mayfield being intercepted after chucking a ball into a sea of Titans defenders and landing in cornerback Roger McCreary’s hands. It was an extremely slow start for a side of the ball that came alive last week against the Texans.

Dropped Interceptions

For a Bucs defense looking to bounce back after giving up 39 points to the Texans, they did so in a major way against another rookie quarterback. Despite limiting the Titans on the scoreboard, there was an opportunity to pick off Will Levis on more than one occasion Sunday afternoon.

In the first half, both Antoine Winfield Jr. and Lavonte David dropped a ball that went through both of their hands. In the third quarter, David again had a chance to make a highlight play, leaping high in the air to make a play on the ball. He failed to come down with it, although it still led to a defensive stop. Early in the fourth quarter, Jamel Dean had a chance to get an interception in the endzone, but a Titans player came in late to break it up.

The defense did eventually get its interception, with Winfield catching a ball that was launched into the air by Will Levis after being hit by undrafted rookie outside linebacker Markees Watts, who was making his NFL debut. While there was one interception on the day, there were three instances of defenders in position to make an interception and make a game-changing play. Not doing so ultimately didn’t come back to bite them, but those are still plays that need to be made.

Jake Camarda

Bucs P Jake Camarda – Photo by: USA Today

Jake Camarda did not hold up to his end of what was a duel between two of the league’s top punters. Camarda averaged just 34.2 yards on five punts, with his fourth one going for just 18 yards. On the opposite side, Ryan Stonehouse averaged 56.8 yards per punt. For Camarda, it was a rare occasion that his cannon of a right leg was not on display.

Joe Tryon-Shoyinka

It feels a bit unfair to single out just one player on the offensive and defensive sides of the football in this game. But with the Bucs’ pass rush having a coming out party of sorts, it was one that outside linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka failed to join in on. Instead of recording a sack, he was a net-negative, with two defensive offside penalties on the day. Tryon-Shoyinka was well-positioned to capitalize against a weak Titans’ offensive line, but he instead failed to have much of an impact.