Titans vs Bucs: Q and A With The Pewter Plank
By Les Bailey
The NFL Editors here at FanSided try to get together before games where their teams are matched up for the week and do a Question and Answer session. We will attempt, if logistics permit, to bring these Q&A Sessions to you before the games this season.
With that being said, the week one game for the Tennessee Titans is with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, so we got together with David Rumsey(@David_Bucs) who is the co-editor at the Buccaneer site called the Pewter Plank for this weeks series of questions.
You cans read my responses to his questions over on their site but I will feature his answers to my questions here.
Let’s get this thing going!
Question 1.
Likewise, are the Bucs wanting to prove they got the best quarterback in the 2015 Draft?
Note: This was a follow on to one of David’s questions
Do any Titans players or coaches (especially Marcus Mariota) feel like this game is a chance to prove Mariota was the better choice than Winston?
Answer:
If anyone is thinking that, they aren’t saying it. OC Dirk Koetter said each team got their QB and they can both be great. Jameis Winston said he would rather the post-game headline be about the score over anything he or Mariota did in the game. But I think deep down Jameis and the Bucs want to prove he was the best pick at no. 1.
Question 2.
We know that running back Doug Martin is not 100% at this point, but are the Bucs expecting him to return to his 2012 self and have a big day against the Titans?
Answer:
Well Doug Martin has actually been pretty healthy this preseason and hasn’t had any nagging injuries recently. He showed some flashes in the preseason and I think he’s been motivated ever since the Bucs declined to pick up his 5th-year option. With that being said, if the offensive line is no better than last year then Martin won’t be better either.
Question 3.
Has head coach Lovie Smith done anything to improve his offensive line or what are they planning to do to take the pressure off of Winston. We all have seen that he can turn into a gunslinger when he gets flushed.
Answer:
The Bucs have done plenty to try and improve the O-line, but whether it will work or not remains to be seen. Rookies Donovan Smith and Ali Marpet were both drafted in the second round this year and may both start at LT and RG, respectively. Presumed starting RT Demar Dotson is out for half the year so the Bucs signed former Colts RT Gosder Cherilus. Lovie Smith isn’t saying exactly who the starting five will be on Sunday, but no matter who it is they will have to keep Jameis Winston upright if they want to keep their jobs.
Question 4
Some folks out there are predicting the Titans will win one game this year, and some say 6-10 is possible. What are the goals in regards to wins for the Buccaneers.
Answer:
Lovie Smith keeps saying the Bucs are going to be a good football team this year and Jameis Winston is all about winning. I expect a better season than 2-14 (last year’s record) for the Bucs this year and if the chips fell the right way I think they could end up 9-7 and win the weak NFC South. However, if we are being realistic, 7-9 or 8-8 would probably be a pretty successful season for this group.
Next: Who is a go for the Tennessee Titans on Sunday