TAMPA, Fla. – The Titans and Buccaneers practiced here on Thursday, leading up to Saturday's preseason game.
Here's a look at what stood out on a day when the feels-like temperature was 104 degrees.
-I thought quarterback Cam Ward had an impressive day in his first competition against another team.
It wasn't perfect, but it was pretty good.
Ward was 5-of-6 right out of the gate in the early 7-on-7 drill, with really nice completions to rookies Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor, who got open deep.
Then, in the first team period, Ward found Helm open again for a strike in the middle of the field. One observer nearby said out loud, "That's his best thrown of the day." I agreed.
Ward went 6-of-11 in an end-of-half, 2-minute period, which featured a great catch by receiver Calvin Ridley.
Ward connected with receiver Bryce Oliver and for Dike for touchdowns in a low red zone period.
But Ward had a few learning moments as well, and got away with a few bad balls.
Ward was picked off by Heason Riddick at the start of the end-of-half period, and he was nearly intercepted in an earlier team period. Another Buccaneers defenders had a chance to pick off Ward on another throw.
But Ward kept bouncing back, and he finished strong.
I had Ward at 15-of-24 in the team periods, making him 20-of-30 on the day with the interception.
-Everyone loves training camp fights, so I'll get to the brief skirmish next.
It happened midway through practice, and it started with the Barton brothers – Titans linebacker Cody Barton, and Buccaneers center Graham Barton. OK, they're not brothers, but they are Bartons. Several others then got into the fray, including Jeffery Simmons and Dre'Mont Jones of the Titans. There were others, Titans and Buccaneers.
For the most part it was a lot of pushing, shoving and cursing. I didn't see a whole lot of punches thrown, and the ones that were hit helmets.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd give this fight a solid 4.
-I can't lie and say I watched a whole lot of the defense, because I spent most of my time watching Ward and the offense.
I saw Titans cornerback Darrell Baker recover a fumble, and I saw defensive back Kendall Brooks nearly record an interception.
When the Baker Mayfield-led Buccaneers got the ball in the two-minute period, Titans safety Amani Hooker got his hands on the ball for a near pick, and safety Xavier Woods was in a great spot to make a play on a throw into the end zone.
In another period, Woods intercepted Mayfield on a ball that was tipped by linebacker James Williams.
I noticed Barton a few times, in addition to the fight.
Simmons was physical as usual.
I saw, and heard, edge Arden Key before, during and after practice.
-The Titans receivers had their moments in the one-on-ones, but there were some overthrows, and the timing was off on the others. The Buccaneers defenders challenged the receivers, and made plays, too.
-Several of the rookies really impressed me with their play, and intensity level.
Elic Ayomanor made plays, and he let Buccaneers hear about it. I hadn't seen that side of him before today.
I had Ayomanor with three catches in practice, and many nice moves.
-I thought it was tight end Gunnar Helm's best practice of training camp.
I had Helm with four catches, including several nice ones in the middle of the field.
I saw him as a real weapon today.
-Rookie Chimere Dike made plays as well.
-And, rookie Xavier Restrepo looked like he loved being back in Florida.
Restrepo had four catches, including a TD. He did some talking, too.
-Buccaneers fans really razzed the Titans.
There were boos, insults, and more. There were multiple chants of "Titans suck." One fan kept saying the Titans won one game last year. Did he forget about the other two?
Cornerback Jarvis Brownlee didn't like it, and I'll leave it at that.
-Receiver Calvin Ridley made a sick move to get open in one-on-ones, a clip that quickly spread on Twitter.
Ridley made four catches himself.
-QB Brandon Allen went 3-of-3 in the 7-on-7, and 13-of-17 in the team period, making him 16-of-20 in the day. Allen looked realty good in the two-minute drive, with big throws to TJ Sheffield and a few to Restrepo.
-QB Tim Boyle didn't get a lot of work, going 2-of-3 in 7-on-7 and 1-of-1 in team.
-Kicker Joey Slye is was 6-of-7 in practice, and he's now 42-of-48 in camp.
-James Proche, Jha'Quan Jackson, Chimere Dike, TJ Sheffield and Tyjae Spears all worked in a return period. Spears mishandled the ball on one return attempt.
-Proche caught a touchdown pass thrown by Allen in a team period.
-Restrepo caught a touchdown pass thrown by Allen in the low red zone period.
-Safety Kevin Winston Jr. did not practice.
-Defensive lineman Carlos Watkins did not practice.
-Defensive lineman T'Vondre Sweat did not practice.
-Offensive linemen Blake Hance (calf) did not practice.
-Cornerback L'Jarius Sneed and center Lloyd Cushenberry began training camp on the team's Physically Unable to Perform list and they're not practicing.
Next up: Preseason opener on Saturday vs. Buccaneers.
