Beddingfield: Cam Ward Impresses, Depth Distresses in Titans' Loss to Bucs

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By BLAKE BEDDINGFIELD, special correspondent
 
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – My initial thoughts after a close watch of the Titans' 29-7 loss to the Buccaneers in Tampa Saturday night:
 
--My first glance at this roster, I don’t see 53 make-it players out of the 90 players they have in camp.  
 
--Depth will be an issue on both sides of the ball.  First, the starting units aren’t stacked at every position with true NFL starters, but the depth will be a significant struggle.

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley runs against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL preseason football game on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Calvin Ridley/ ASSOCIATED PRESS

--The defensive line minus T’Vondre Sweat and Jeffrey Simmons is a significant drop-off in talent, size and potential playmaking ability. James Lynch is a good serviceable backup, but can’t play an entire game.  

--The one section that added notable size was at outside linebacker, drafting Femi Oladejo in the second round and bringing in Dre’Mont Jones and Jihad Ward during free agency.  Both are significant upgrades in terms of size, replacing

Harold Landry. The added size will improve the edge play versus the run.  

--Cam Ward looked good and showed potential.

--Left tackle Dan Moore is an upgrade over what they had in past years. 

--The Titans still lack pass rush.
 
Best things I saw

--Facing a third down on his first drive, Cam Ward had plenty of time but no receiver open and threw the ball away. He avoided a usual rookie mistake by trying to make something happen when there isn’t a play to be made. Good job taking the incompletion. 

--Patience by the rookie Ward, even when he had max protection and plenty of time, he stayed in the pocket, allowing Calvin Ridley to come uncovered. Young QBs at times get a clock in their head and will feel a ghost rush (nothing there) too often and force themselves out of the pocket on their own. Good job staying in and making the completion.  

--I like the depth at wide receiver, after Calvin Ridley the team lacks playmakers but there is good depth at the position.
 
Worst things I saw:
 
--I worry about the pass rush again this year. It will be better to evaluate with Sweat and Simmons inside, but the edge players are not instant-win rushers. 

--The depth of both the offensive and defensive line is a significant drop-off once the starters are out.

--I want to see more from the depth at outside linebackers, Ali Gaye and Jaylen Harrell aren’t capable of being full-time starters if asked to in an injury situation. Gaye has all the physical attributes but doesn’t make plays or an impact during games. Harrell is better in a rotational role.
 
Keep an eye on: 
 
--Undrafted rookie nose tackle Cam Horsley. He could have been a draft choice based on his ability and skills and showed well stuffing the run and also being a one/two-yard penetrator. He needs more reps in preseason Week 2 and has a chance.  
 
--Second-year inside linebacker James Williams is a better perimeter linebacker than a in-the-tackle-box thumper. He will have to find his niche, avoiding blocks, slipping and dipping around linemen when playing against the inside run game. He is at his best when he can chase, run and use his speed. 
 
--Cedric Gray needs to continue to improve. He is active, athletic and flows to the ball naturally, but plays small and seems to be a drag-down tackler, not a gap filler. He lacks strength at the point of attack. He is effective in zone coverage and covers ground quickly. Has upside to his game and, going into Year 2, has a chance to improve and add more starting-level talent to the inside linebacker position.
 
--Safety Julius Woods looks like a younger Mike Brown, a big, physical special teams player who is very physical against the run from the safety position.  A player to keep an eye on because he shows up around the ball, whether on the ground or in the air.  He tends to sell out on run plays and his angles must improve to avoid big gaps when he misses. 
 
I feel good about:
 
--The Titans' pro scouting department (separate from the college department) did a good job identifying back-end roster players who showed up during pre-season game one. Defensive tackle Timmy Horne (a signing from the Giants), cornerback and gunner on special teams Amani Oruwariye (from the Cowboys), outside linebacker Jihad Ward (from the Vikings) and James Proche (from the Browns). That department is a very critical part of building a complete 53-man roster.  

--Free agent signings like Cody Barton, Dre’Mont Jones, Xavier Woods, Tyler Lockett, Van Jefferson, Dan Moore and Kevin Zeitler can also be credited to the pro scouting department, but players of that caliber are signed and evaluated because of the money given by the higher-ups like the General Manager and Director of Player Personnel. Low-tier free agents are usually recommended by the pro scouts.
 
--Proche as a returner. Very comfortable, relaxed and shows a nice burst and acceleration when he sees a lane to run.  At this point, he is the starter as a returner. 
 
--The connection between Ward and Ridley.  Ridley didn’t have that connection with Will Levis but early on it looks positive for the veteran receiver and rookie quarterback.  
 
I don’t feel good about:
 
-- Moore’s pre-snap alignment. In his pass set, Moore will be almost a half yard back behind the left guard, when in a run blocking set, he will be more even with the guard. This will be picked up and easily identified by opposing pass rushers. It must be corrected.   
 
--Backup quarterback Brandon Allen lacks arm strength. He must be clean in the pocket with good fundamentals so he can step up to drive the ball in the intermediate areas to deliver on time and with enough velocity. Allen’s talent is only capable of finishing games and will be a big liability if asked to start multiple games.  
 
--I have been saying it for three years now, Jaelyn Duncan is a primary guard who can back up tackle. Duncan has been misused for three years, and his time is running out in the NFL
 
--Tim Boyle is not an NFL QB.  

--Tight end Josh Whyle is going to be on the outside looking in at the TE position. David Martin-Robinson is a much more active receiver and a better runner after the catch. 
 
--Safety Mike Brown is a special teams player first and can’t be any higher than a fourth safety on a roster.  Effective if asked to force the run from the safety position but not a coverage player. But a very good special teamer and will be on a team as a special teams coverage player.  
 
--With the signings of Xavier Woods and Quandre Diggs and the drafting of Kevin Winston the safety position could force out strong special teams’ players like Mike Brown and Julius Woods.
 
How did the Draft picks do?
 
Cam Ward—QB—First Round---Graded out as a positive
 
Did a good job of taking what was there and also identifying mismatches along the defense.  Ridley was his go to target and also found Tyler Lockett on third down.  Good job finding productive veterans to ease him into his NFL debut.  I liked the poise and quick decisions and he threw a nice catchable pass.  
 
Femi Oladejo—OLB—Second Round---Graded out as a positive even though he didn’t pressure the QB
 
Stronger run-down player than rusher in Game 1. Was strong on the edge and held his own versus tackles and edge blocks. Was trying to be scheme sound in his assignments. Plays hard, works hard to get into the action, tough, will throw his head in the pile. Needs to improve his pass rush repertoire but strong run-down OLB.
 
Kevin Winston Jr—S---Third Round---Incomplete
 
Did Not Play due to injury
 
Chimere Dike—WR—Fourth Round---Graded out as a positive
 
Got open, had some balls drop short of his route, but those were on the QB.  Got separation on a deep corner route that Allen threw 5 yards short of the route. Dike’s speed and quickness showed up on a quick screen pass.  
 
Elic Ayomanor—WR—Fourth Round---Graded out as an incomplete, but room for improvement.
 
Uneventful debut. Has good size and frame and adequate to solid speed. He needs to work on his releases from press coverage and also fight through the hands and rerouting downfield. He gets knocked off stride too often and must work through that and avoid the contact or be strong enough to fight through it. At times, he rounded his sharp cutting routes, and floated, one on a pass break up on an out-route, allowing the defensive back to close and knock the ball away.  

Gunnar Helm---TE---Fourth Round---Graded out as a positive and has upside to be a starter.
 
Caught one ball, looked comfortable. Solid all-around tight end, good hands, solid routes and releases off the line of scrimmage. Willing blocker, but lacks top strength versus bigger defensive linemen, but works hard to stay in front in run game.  Will struggle in pass protection versus big, long edge rushers as he gets tossed around too often. 

 Jackson Slater—OG—Fifth Round---Graded out as a project
 
Played both guard positions. An average locator downfield on screens and second-level blocking. Looks for work -- will hunt someone up when uncovered, but doesn’t look sure and sound in his assignment and the speed of NFL players.  The game will need to slow down for him before he gets on the field in the regular season. Solid player in both run and pass, needs more reps and that can fix most of his issues.  
 
Kalel Mullings—RB—Sixth Round---Graded out as average, solid runs but suspect pass protection.
 
If a RB is going to get on the field, he must pass protect. Mullings gave up an easy sack on a LB blitz. On his next pass pro attempt, he stoned the LB, but a tipped ball landed in his defender’s hands for an INT. Mullings had some moderate success on a couple of hard inside runs ,showing power to run through arms when his shoulders are squared.
 
Marcus Harris---CB---Sixth Round---Graded as incomplete
 
Flashed good man coverage skills, with good route mirroring ability. Also made a tackle on an underneath catch, where he broke quickly on the pass in front and brought down the receiver quickly with a hard, sound tackle. Needs more reps. In his short window of plays he showed quickness, speed and willingness to tackle.  Could play nickel as well with his movement skills.
 
The positive take from the first game:  All the draft choices look like make-it players.  
 
Players that caught my eye and I will watch more of in Week two.
 
Center Brenden Jaimes, guard Andrew Rupcich, nose tackle Isaiah Raikes and cornerback Davion Ross.

Stock:
 
Positives: Cam Ward, Dan Moore, Calvin Ridley
Negatives: Tim Boyle

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