Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0) vs. Tennessee Titans (0-1) Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-US PRESSWIRE

MIAMI – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0) vs. Tennessee Titans (0-1)

Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL

Time: 7:30pmET/6:30pmCT

Nat’l TV: N/A

Local TV: BLACKOUT

Away TV: WKRN 2 (ABC)

Live Stream: NFL.com Preseason Live

Radio: WDAE 620AM (Tampa), 104.5FM (Tennessee)

Weather: 90°F, Scattered Clouds and Thunderstorms

Line: Bucs by 2

Key Matchup: Bucs defensive line vs. Chris Johnson

Last year Johnson shredded the Bucs D-line when the two teams met, and the first step to repairing their self-esteem will be to have a good outing against Johnson, even if it is just a preseason game. Johnson is expected to see a doubled workload tonight and it will be interesting to see how the Schiano defensive line fares in comparison to that of the Rah-Rah Raheem Morris one did.

Last Game: Buccaneers beat Dolphins 20-7, Titans lost to Seahawks 27-17

Last Meeting: November 27, 2011 – Buccaneers 17, Titans 23

Series History (Since 2001): Titans lead series 3-1

Key Bucs Storyline: Blount vs. Martin running back battle continues, Mark Barron set to make Bucs debut.

Opposing View: Chris Johnson is reportedly getting extra carries tonight and is looking to get back on track.

Last Minute Preview: After an overall impressive preseason debut against the Dolphins, the Bucs are looking to hit the mark again against the Titans. Last season when the Titans met the Bucs, it was an ugly affair all the way through, from the general execution by Tampa to the rainy weather.

It’s supposed to rain again tonight, which means for at least one series, we will see the exact two teams going at it again. Only this time around Greg Sciano is in charge and for the first time we will get to see his team play the same team that a Raheem Morris-led team squared off against.

So there’s that to look forward to tonight.

But there’s also the matter of roster spots to fill and fight for. The headline battle is at running back between LeGarrette Blount and Doug Martin. Last time around they got the exact same amount of carries and basically performed on the same level, with Blount getting a few more yards.

This time around, Schiano may still continue to give both back the same amount of work to see well they do with the same reps. After all, that’s probably the best way to decide who’s better. Throw the same players out there behind the same line in the same system and see what they do with the exact same workload.

But there are other battles brewing, ones that will end with someone out of a job. Those are happening at wide receiver, safety, corner back and running back among other spots.

Last week Larry Asante and Cody Grimm turned in poor performances in the opener and are battling each other for the same string safety roster spot. In Schiano’s system, the safety positions are not interchangeable, so there’s a lot on the line here. At wide receiver, Sammie Stroughter and Ed Grant are battling it out and at running back Mossis Madu and Michael Smith are fighting for the third spot on the depth chart.

The final roster is far from completed, but as we enter the Bucs final three preseason games, there will be a lot of questions answered, and a few people out of work.

The Buccaneers have a lot of position battles brewing but we highlight some that will likely end with someone out of a job. (Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE)

The Buccaneers are gearing up for their second preseason game which means we have some serious cuts ahead of us. Greg Schiano and company are going to have to start trimming the fat off the roster, toning up the final 53-man and all the other cliches. But this is a team that is largely unchanged in terms of core pieces from last year which means, with the new additions made in the offseason, there are some familiar names that are going be out of a job in Tampa. Let’s take a quick look at some position battles that are going to end with someone out of a job.

SS Larry Asante vs. Cody Grimm

This is one is a headliner, so to speak. Both are names we’ve heard in the past but only one is going to stick around. Grimm sort of made a name in 2010 but barely. Asante has been kicked around the safety rotation as well but not very impressively. Neither will be starters in Greg Schiano’s defense since rookie Mark Barron and veteran Ronde Barber will hold down the roles. But it’s always nice to have a semi-solid backup with knowledge of the defense. It’s possible that both could end up on the roster, but that’s true for all these position battles and not everyone is going to end up with both players surviving the cut.

Projected Winner: Cody Grimm

RB Mossis Madu vs. Michael Smith

Neither of these backs have really proven themselves up to this point, and we’ve only really seen Madu in a game situation since he filled in when the going got thin last year at running back. It’s really two guys for one spot when it comes to this battle because the only running back slot available is the third spot on the depth chart. Madu adds speed to the team but he won’t ever really be used with the revolving door of Blount and Martin. Smith isn’t that much better of an option when it comes to a third string back and both look pretty irrelevant on special teams. It’ll come down to the wire on this one: Madu has speed and is famliar with the team, Smith is a draft pick and with Schiano, everyone is as familiar with this team as Smith is. Some are saying both can make the roster but given the offensive weapons already here, only one back will make the cut. Especially when the others special team role can be given to someone who can make an impact.

Projected Winner: Mossis Madu

WR Ed Grant vs. Sammie Stroughter

Stroughter is really down on his luck. He came into last season the slot receiver but thanks to an injury, Preston Parker took over and stole the job away from him. Ed Grant is in a similar position; he was a favorite heading into camp last season but he fell off the map a bit. This is a battle where only one guy, if either, make the roster. The Bucs already have a full house at wide receiver and honestly, neither of these guys have done anything to warrant the Bucs creating a sixth slot. Grant is likely going to get cut and it could come as soon as after the Titans game, and Stroughter may stick around until the last round of cuts. But with Jackson, Williams, Parker, Underwood and Benn on the depth chart,  don’t rush out to buy a jersey of either of these guys any time soon.

Projected Winner: Both will be cut.

LB Najee Goode vs. Jacob Cutrera vs. Rennie Curran

We have our first three-way of training camp. It’s obvious that five linebackers will make the team, but as BucsNation.com states, it’s anyones guess after that. That’s not good news for Najee Goode, Jacob Cutrera and Rennie Curran. The first to get cut will likely be Curran who’s disappeared since camp started and Goode hasn’t been much better. Goode was a draft pick so obviously that’s a bonus for him, but past that (which by the way isn’t enough to earn a roster spot) he hasn’t done anything to convince Schiano and company he deserves a spot. The only guy who’s been worthy is Cutrera but even he’s been barely noticeable. But at least he’s had his name called a few times in game situations like the first preseason game. Like the battle at wide receiver, the Bucs wouldn’t be crippled if all three guys got the boot.

Projected Winner: Jacob Cutrera

CB Myron Lewis vs. Keith Tandy vs.  Leonard Johnson

Here’s another interesting three-way going on at camp, one that is most likely to end up with all three combatants on the roster. The depth at cornerback is dangerously close to the situation that Bucs had at running back last year. Leonard Johnson was an undrafted free agent pickup out of Iowa State an he can be a nice asset in terms of depth, but he hasn’t done much so far to prove that statement has any truth to it. Myron Lewis has had the best preseason of all three of these guys, despite a poor preseason game. But Tandy and Johnson could catch a break of Lewis converted to a safety, which is a real possibility. If he’s not, it’s still possible that all three make the team, but don’t bet on it. There’s really only two cornerback slots available and it’s highly likely that Lewis and Johnson make the cut.

Projected Winners: Myron Lewis and Leonard Johnson

The Bucs turned in an ugly and sloppy practice on Monday, one which prompted head coach Greg Schiano to kick a unit off the field at one point. (Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE)

After what was generally a solid preseason opener, the Buccaneers turned in an ugly and sloppy practice on Monday, whoch Greg Schiano dubbed Alumni Day.

Schiano stopped practice twice and wasn’t pleased with the fumbles that the day produced.

“Two fumbles and a holding call,” screamed Schiano. “WAKE UP!”

Schiano was on fire the whole practice, yelling and getting in the faces of the players who were aiding the sloppy practice. During the eighth period, Schiano erupted after a series of fumbles and penalties. Later on, when another fumbled occurred, Schiano kicked that unit off the field, demanding the second unit come on and start the period over again.

He addressed the sloppy practice afterwords, and seemed a bit more sympathetic and optimistic.

“Sometimes that happens,” he said. “If you’re a little sloppy, you just re-start it and get going, get it on the right path. They worked hard. We just do what we plan to do. Every day is a test. They have to come ready and we have to come ready mentally, in the right frame of mind, because it’s never easy.”

The Bucs have a battle brewing at running back as well as safety and tight end. Dallas Clark and Mark Barron didn’t play in the Bucs preseason opener and couldn’t really display their talents in their respective races while the guys that did, Luke Stocker, Larry Asante and Cody Grimm got reps.

Clark and Barron are likely to get starting gigs but nothing is set in stone.

The Bucs have another camp session tomorrow starting at 8:45am and ending at 11:30am. It’s going to be the last open practice of the Buccaneers 2012 training camp. Tampa hosts the Tennessee Titans on Friday at Raymond James Stadium at 7:30pm.