The Tennessee Titans’ second and final joint practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was a bit overshadowed by the fight club it devolved into, but head coach Mike Vrabel was more concerned with his team’s performance.
The Titans’ offense, which didn’t have two of its best players in Julio Jones and A.J. Brown, wasn’t at its best, and the defense saw a drop-off in performance after a stellar Day 1.
Vrabel was quite blunt in his assessment of the last session before the Titans and Bucs meet ahead of Preseason Week 2 on Saturday, per Jim Wyatt of Titans Online.
“I thought it sucked,” Vrabel said. “I thought it sucked. From what I saw, we didn’t do well offensively. I don’t think we competed like we did (Wednesday). Probably a lot of reasons but just not good enough. They (Buccaneers) were clearly better today. We will see how we respond and take the coaching and play on Saturday.
“I don’t know (why), this isn’t like we alternate days. We want to come out every day and compete, make adjustments. Same guys going against the same guys. I am sure there were some good things but just not enough positive, just not getting into the flow of drives offensively, and I don’t think it was very good defensively either.”
Speaking of the fights, of which there were five, Rodger Saffold brushed them off as being just another part of the game and something he wants no part of at his age.
“I am too old, man, I am too old,” Saffold said, smiling. “I look at it and like, ‘I’ll get in there!’ And then when I see it’s 50 yards away and I am like, “Maybe I’ll just chill and rest.’ But it’s part of the sport.
“(The Buccaneers) came out today on fire. We had a really good day of practice yesterday, and that is what you want to see – people competing. A lot of pushing, but no punches thrown, and as long as no punches are thrown, we’re good.”
Titans cornerback Chris Jackson would beg to differ on the idea that no punches were thrown, as evidenced by the photo below.
George Walker IV / Tennessean.com via Imagn Content Services, LLC
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