When Joe watched the Bucs offense and second-string defense struggle mightily against Tennessee, Joe’s first thought was that this was a good thing in the long run.

Why? Because it sets up the New Schiano Order to really crack the whip this week, return hard to the basics and drive home more discipline and focus to the players. The reality is it’s just harder to do that successfully after a game performance is strong.

Speaking on WDAE-AM 620 Sunday, former Bucs tight end Anthony Becht fell into the same camp as Joe. Becht feels good about the timing of the Bucs’ bad loss.

“Going into that second preseason game, trying to amp it up and build on what you did last week [in Miami] when you saw success and had a little bit of that in front of you, you wanted to come out a little stronger in the second game. You kind of look at it and take it with a grain of salt, but I think it’s good with Coach Schiano that he gets a game like this early in the preseason, so now he can really press the buttons a little more,” Becht said.

Becht went on to explain that the Bucs have had a tough training camp and, essentially, the poor results Friday allows that beneficial atmosphere to continue and ramp up successfully for another week, verus the Bucs possibly falling into a “cruising” mentality if they had dominated a meaningless preseason game.

Keep your foot on the pedal, Schiano. (Becht’s entire interview is below.)

Joe senses a level of panic building among Bucs fans after the lackluster loss to the Titans in the second preseason game of the year.

The defense, fans bark, is a throwback to November 2011, a frightening thought indeed. But lost is the fact that the Bucs defense started the game with three, three-and-outs, which pleased Bucs coach Greg Schiano.

Joe had a fan Twitter him just today, thinking quarterback Josh Freeman will be no better than his 22-interception season last year because said fan thought Freeman telegraphed a couple of passes Friday night.

In short, as Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy said after Friday’s game, it’s preseason.

“We can fix it, we can fix it,” GMC said. “We just have to get it on tape and get on the grind. Not saying we haven’t been, but this is preseason and this is where you make your mistakes and make your corrections so on Sept. 9 we have those things behind us.”

Exactly the point. Rarely if ever is a team going to show its hand in a preseason game. Often, players are asked to work on very specific moves that may expose them.

There’s no reason to panic over Friday’s game. If this play continues into October, then perhaps.

E.J. Biggers raised an eyebrow this offseason when he talked about how the New Schiano Order is helping him know better about where to be on the football field versus his 2011 coaching staff.

Interestingly, Ahmad Black, the Bucs’ defensive star Friday with an interception followed by a quality return, also said there’s more focus this year on reponsibility in the secondary.

Buccaneers Radio Network locker room show host TJ Rives asked Black what’s new and different for defensive backs under the New Schiano Order.

“He’s basically, you know, he’s pressing us to make sure we know our defense and know our reponsibilities and to do our job like we always stress,” Black said.

It’s repeated comments like these that give Joe hope for the defense in 2012. They reinforce Joe’s belief that poor coaching and leadership, rather than a lack of talent, led the Bucs to a historically ugly defense.

Bucs Pro Bowl guard Davin Joseph checked in after the Bucs-Titans loss with the Buccaneers Radio Network on WDAE-AM 620. Among several takes in the interview below, Joseph explained of the offense, “We were just a little bit timid.”

Two fair catches were part of Preston Parker’s quiet night Friday.

And while that doesn’t seem like a big deal, those two fair catches were key bounce-back steps for Parker, who had fumbled away a punt in the preseason opener and committed a senseless personal foul.

“You can’t dwell on it other than to correct it,” Parker said. “We’ve been working on my technique. It was just something that happened in Miami. Stuff happens and you have to go and correct it the next time you get a chance. I was going out there to make sure I caught the ball securely [against Tennessee]. I had the fair catches, so I just made sure I caught them.”

Parker’s an interesting study. The guy was a stellar third-down receiver last season, one of the very best in the NFL, but he’s less-aggressive and much less sure-handed as a returner.

Though Joe’s unsure why, it seems the Bucs are set on Parker being their No. 1 returner. 

In 2011, Parker finished ranked 35th in the NFL in yards per kick return (10 or more attempts). Sammie Stroughter was 14th.

Parker also was one of the worst punt returners in the NFL in 2011. He led the league in fumbles on punt returns with six, and Parker ranked 23rd in yards per return among those with 10 or more opportunities. And Parker only had three punt returns of 20 yards or more and never “broke” one.

It feels to Joe like the Bucs are forcing the issue with Parker in the return game. This leads Joe to conclude that the prospects for Stroughter making the team aren’t strong.

Ted Larsen still draws on lessons learned in Patriots training camp

While it’s hardly sexy to talk about reserve offensive linemen, these guys are critical. To Raheem Morris’ and former offensive line coach Pete Mangurian’s credit, then 2010 backups James Lee, Derek Hardman, Jeremy Zuttah and Ted Larsen miraculously led the Bucs’ offense to its best showing in ages during the second half of that season.

The Keydrick Vincent Experience had gone sour. And Jeremy Trueblood, Jeff Faine and Davin Joseph all went down with injuries, yet the Bucs proved deep at O-line.

As for Bucs’ depth in 2012, Greg Schiano took to the Buccaneers Radio Network pregame show airwaves Friday and went out of his way to praise Larsen, a name we haven’t heard much of this season, which is always a good thing for an O-lineman.

“Ted Larsen is really a guy I think is a solid performer there,” Schiano said of his offensive line depth.

Larsen told Joe he’s working on tapping his experience and maturity and increased strength.

“I’ve got to be that sixth man, that guard, center, and tackle if need be. Just working toward being that guy you can plug in anywhere,” Larsen said. “It’s my third year, and I’m kind of one of the older guys with the second line and I’ve had the benefit of a lot of experience to tap and impart.”

Larsen was a sixth-round pick of the Patriots in 2010. He was cut by New England right before that season started and was signed by the Bucs. Larsen said he and the Bucs should benefit from their upcoming practices with the Patriots. He still has friends in the Pats organization and great respect for Bill Belichick.

“[Belichick] does a great job getting guys prepared. And I draw on that knowledge as much as I can, even now two years later,” Larsen said.

From Joe’s vantage point, it seems the Bucs’s final cuts will not include Larsen, Demar Dotson and veteran free agent pickup Jamon Meredith, who has been seen with the second unit at various positions.

Boy oh boy, was Mark Barron right.

Last week he told Joe, in so many words, that Bucs fans who have come out to training camp haven’t seen the true Mark Barron and wouldn’t until he played his first game.

In Joe’s mind, it was a helluva debut.

The Bucs drafted Barron to be a physical, lay-the-wood safety and Barron showed just that. Barron showed how he has lighting-quick speed. Once, when firing in a scrum to close a game and drop a ball carrier, Barron for a brief moment looked to Joe like John Lynch with closing speed, which brought a smile to Barron’s face.

“John Lynch with wheels, huh?” Barron laughed. “I came out and made a few plays, came out and got a feel for the game. I think it was good to get that in-game experience.”

Barron was held out of the preseason opener at Miami with a bum toe. So Friday was his first chance to play under the lights in an NFL uniform.

“No, I didn’t have butterflies, but I was a little anxious I guess,” Barron said. “I enjoyed it. I feel that getting that experience was good for me.”

Barron didn’t think there was any undo pressure put on him by Greg Schiano or Bucs management but he is well aware of the standards the team has for him.

“They are not putting pressure on me but of course there are certain things they expect of me,” Barron said. “So I have I have that in mind to do those things.”

Things like filling gaps, being physical and punishing opponents.

“I could have played a little faster in my opinion, but that all comes with experience and knowledge with what you are doing,” Barron said. “Once I get more game experience, I will be able to play faster.”

Schiano also dropped a tune that brought Joe back to 1996

The New Schiano Order watched film of last night’s Bucs-Titans game and came away yearning for more thump on both sides of the ball.

Greg Schiano said today that his players need to force themselves to battle through fatigue, which was a factor in the team’s questionable attention to fundamentals last night.

“We didn’t play physically enough on either side,” Schiano said. “You know, if you could say [we were physical] anywhere it would be the early part of the defense, but after that I didn’t think we played as physical as even we did the week before. So we need to get back to work and make sure that pad level and intensity and those things, and then more precise – aiming points, footwork, those kinds of things.

“Why? As a head coach you say, ‘Why is that happening?’ Some of it’s fatigue. No doubt. That’ll get better because we’ll get’em feeling better. But the execution part, you know, you gotta be able to fight through that and execute.”

That all sounds great. But this is the kind of situation that will test the mettle of the New Schiano Order. Can Schiano lead, develop and draw greatness out of a professional team?

Joe knows it will take time. However, the New Schiano Order is operating with extreme urgency, so said Ronde Barber this week.

Schiano also talked about how players need to trust their coaching, which was something former members of the 1996 Bucs have said was a theme during the early days of the Father Dungy regime. Dungyball started 1-8 before things turned around that season.

Joe’s wonders whether fans in 2012 would have less patience for a woeful start than they did in ’96.

Last night after the ugly loss to the Titans, Bucs coach Greg Schiano and running back LeGarrette Blount downplayed what looked to be a major leg injury to Blount late in the first half.

Blount layed on the ground, writhing in pain for some time but walked off — with help — and in the second half was spotted pacing the sidelines in full pads, though limping.

Joe even noticed in the locker room that Blount was not wearing any type of wrap around his left knee, which initially looked to be where the injury occurred.

The injury was deemed a groin injury and today when meeting the Tampa Bay pen and mic club at One Buc Palace, Schiano again stressed how Blount’s injury isn’t major.

“I don’t know how long [Blount will be out] but I don’t think it is going to be serious,” Schiano said. “Will [Blount only miss] this week? I don’t know but I don’t think it will an extended period of time.”

This is big news for the Bucs. Schiano has made no secret that he wants the Bucs’ offense to be a two-headed running back monster, pound the ball early and often, the anti-Greg Olson.

If Blount was unavailable, the Bucs top two running backs would be rookies, Doug Martin and Michael Smith — a backup his senior year at Utah State — with largely unproven yet talented Mossis Madu as your No. 3 back.

Joe’s going to guess that Blount will be shut down for the next two weeks of preseason and that Michael Smith will get some extended work with the first team offense.

Joe would love to see what that guy can do behind the blocking of Carl Nicks or Davin Joseph.

If you couldn’t find defensive tackles Amobi Okoye and Gary Gibson last night, it wasn’t you. Neither played against Tennessee.

This is troubling to any astute Bucs observer. Both of those veterans were brought in to shore up the depth up the gut of the Bucs defense, and that was before Brian Price was sent packing for late-round draft pick. But Okoye and Gibson are nursing injuries. Okoye practiced this week, but Joe’s unsure about Gibson.

What makes things worse is that the Bucs didn’t play well up front last night, and Greg Schiano detailed his displeasure.

“Misfits, missed tackling, and not attacking the line of scrimmage. You know, too much hovering as a defensive front,” Schiano said. “That was something that we talked about, an area of improvement. So it’s disappointing that we didn’t. But we got to go back to work and we’ll get it right. We’re going to play run defense. We will do that.”

Joe liked that Schiano line, “We’re going to play run defense.”

Thank you, Coach. Please, please, make that dream come true.

Looking at preseason attendance of Bucs games is the easiest way to get an idea of where Bucs season ticket sales are. And that’s important if you’re trying to figure out how many TV blackouts Tampa Bay will suffer in 2012.

The reality is there aren’t a ton of tickets sold for most individual preseason games, so reported preseason attendance is reasonably close to the bottom line season ticket number.

In 2011, the Bucs drew 49,313 for their preseason opener against New England, one of the few teams whose fans will by significant numbers tickets in Tampa. For the next 2011 preseason game against Miami, the Bucs reported 44,732.

Last night, the Titans-Bucs game had a reported attendance of 45,633. Frankly, Joe was hoping for a bigger number, which would have offered a little more hope that blackouts will end in 2012.

Bucs officials said months ago that there were spikes in ticket sales following major changes this offseason and free agent acquisitions, but last night’s attendance tells Joe it wasn’t any kind of crazy increase.

The Bucs need to sell about 42,500 non-premium seats per game to avoid a home television blackout under the new 85 percent rule in the NFL. How many of the 15,000 or so club seats and suite seats are actually sold per game is the key mystery. Add that unknown figure to the 42,500 and you have the magic number to get a home game televised.

Joe’s really hoping Bucs fans come through on opening day to get the Bucs-Pantheres game on TV for the greater fan base.

Joe took a Paradise Worldwide Transportation executive SUV to the Bucs-Dolphins game in Miami last week. The chauffeur was a Bucs fan, and Joe asked him what he does when a game is blacked out. His answer? “Cry.”

Now the Bucs’ defense played sloppy ball last night. “Extremely sloppy” was how Eric Wright described the Bucs’ defensive peformance after the game to Joe.

But as Joe steps away from the game a bit, Joe sees a silver lining in that the first-team Bucs defense had three 3-and-outs in their first three series.

First, Michael Bennett and Adrian Clayborn stuffed Chris Johnson for no gain up the gut on 3rd-and-1. Then Ahmad Black had his big interception. And on the third series, Jake Locker threw on first down, which was defended well by Aqib Talib, and the Bucs got off the field after a five-yard run and another incompletion.

“We had three, 3-and-outs early, which is excellent. That’s hard to do in this league,” Wright said. “We felt pretty good, but they got a long drive on us and that type of stuff happens. We’ve got to clean up our mistakes and make sure it doesn’t happen that often.”

Yeah, Locker hadn’t started a game since college, but at least that sharp start to the defense is something to hold on to after a 30-7 drubbing.

Perhaps Joe is missing something, but Joe can’t fathom the rationale behind the Bucs punting on the opening drive tonight at 4th-and-1 from their 41 yard line.

What was the point?

Greg Schiano talks about being a physical football team and one that will have the power and will to run when everyone knows its coming. What a great chance it was to get closer to that goal. Of course, the Bucs could have thrown the ball, or worked on drawing the Titans offsides and then taken the delay of game, if Tennessee didn’t bite.

Joe just doesn’t get passing on a situation that could have showcased the team’s new identity.

What was gained? An extra rep for the punt cover team?

This Bucs offense needs to build confidence. That punt was all but meaningless.

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In his postgame press conference, Bucs coach Greg Schiano stated that the ugly injury to LeGarrette Blount was a groin injury, not a knee injury.

It was a grotesque injury while Blount was trying to carry a couple of would-be tacklers when he was drilled and felled by what appeared to be a shot to his left knee.

Blount writhed in pain for several minutes on the ground and gingerly walked off the field, with the aid of Bucs trainers.

As halftime ended, the video feed of the Bucs broadcast of WTSP-TV showed Blount pacing up and down the sidelines with his full pads on sans helmet, limping, but walking.

This is very good news for Bucs fans as there is no secret Schiano wanted to use Blount and rookie Doug Martin as a two-headed monster in the backfield.

Look for Blount to likely be shelved for a week or two so his groin recovers properly in an effort to get him ready for the season opener.

Blount spoke to the local pen and mic club and while he admitted he was in pain on the field, he downplayed the seriousness of the injury, stating he would be evaluated Saturday,

Joe can confirm that Blount’s knee was not in any type of a wrap in the locker room.

When the leader of the New Schiano Order sprinted off the field at halftime, somehow a brave member of the Bucs media relations staff was able to corral him for a few questions and, not surprisingly, Schiano was not pleased with the Bucs play in the first half.

“I don’t think we protected very well,” Schiano said of the pass blocking.

Schiano had harsher words for the defense. When asked if the Bucs had improved tackling, Schiano said, “Some guys [yes], others no. It really was a half of missed opportunity. We had some chances to make some plays that weren’t tough plays and we didn’t make them.”

Something tells Joe the Bucs players are going to have a penance to pay this week in practice for the slop that was displayed on the field of the stadium on Dale Mabry Highway.

Halloween came in August for Bucs fans and it was no treat at the stadium on Dale Mabry Highway.

The offensive line couldn’t block. The defensive line couldn’t tackle. LeGarrette Blount hurt his knee.

The Titans’ pass rush was such a jailbreak repeatedly that backup quarterback Dan Orlovsky only wished he could make it to the back line of the end zone in order to escape the game in one piece.

But even in the most trying of times, there is a glimmer of light. The Bucs’ linebackers actually played OK. Rookie linebacker Lavonte David actually played really well.

No, he didn’t flash for a pickoff, he didn’t shine on a sack. But he did the little things right.

One example was on a run play by Chris Johnson to the right side. The Bucs linebackers had Johnson bottled up and as Johnson is wont to do to many NFL teams, he was ready to reverse field for a big gain.

But no! As soon as he turned to his left, he was met — rudely, in fact — by David.

On the run play, to the opposite side of the field from David, the Bucs rookie trailed Johnson, filling the gap which is the disciplined thing to do. This prevented Johnson from being able to reverse field.

So when plays of this ugly night creep back into Joe’s memory (Jeremy Trueblood getting routed; Jeremy Zuttah getting abused; Blount’s injury), Joe will also try to remember how well David played in this mess of a game.

Donald Penn is expected to resume practicing with the first team on Monday after being activated earlier this evening.

It may have flown past some Bucs fans heads earlier this evening when the Bucs activated Donald Penn, but the Bucs All-Pro left tackle should resume practice full-time next week, so said his backup Demar Dotson.

“I think he will be back next week, will likely be back [practicing with the first team] Monday, which will push me back to a backup position,” Dotson said. “Hopefully he is healed and he will be ready to go next preseason game.”

That would be a week from tonight when the Bucs host the Patriots.

Roy Miller was targeted early and often by the Titans Friday night.

This season, Joe noticed there was some hype about the apparent new Myron Lewis. Yeah, Joe noticed Lewis was making some plays in training camp… and was giving up just as many plays as well.

Also, Joe learned that there was a new Roy Miller, who seemed to fit Greg Schiano’s defense. That suddenly, free of pain, Miller was the stud of the defensive line.

It appears both forecasts were, well, premature.

Myron Lewis was his usual self Friday night, either getting burned on a play or getting caught in the wash enabling Chris Johnson to run amok.

Johnson was also able to gash the Bucs defense up the middle, largely because Miller was getting worked over.

The Bucs defense Friday night looked eerily like the Bucs defense that got lit up last November (although the play of the linebackers was mostly OK).

If Miller is to be the starting noseguard, he simply has to play better, there is no way around that.

Joe doesn’t know what to write about Lewis at this point.

The way the Bucs played last week against the putrid Dolphins, it seemed the offensive line was going to lead the way to an offensive renaissance.

A week later, Bucs fans have come back to reality.

Against the Titans, in some cases, the line was porous. Jeremy Trueblood struggled and yes, he was flagged too.

Jeremy Zuttah was abused often.

Even Demar Dotson got burned.

There were a few holes for LeGarrette Blount and Doug Martin to run through. The best run of the night came on the heels of a holding penalty. Once, Blount was nailed by three defenders in the backfield at about the same time he got the handoff.

If the Bucs want to be a strong, smashmouth running team, the offensive line has to do better and it also needs to keep Josh Freeman’s jersey clean. Too often he either had to rush a pass or was flushed out of the pocket, usually from a rush from the right side.

It’s only halfway through the preseason schedule and no time for panic, but Josh Freeman still hasn’t completed a deep pass.

On the Buccaneers Radio Network pregame show today, rockstar general manager Mark Dominik reminded Bucs fans that offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan is a play-action guy and that throwing deep will be a big part of the Bucs’ offense.

Well, Josh Freeman finished the night 4-of-10 for 21 yards. Vincent Jackson’s evening was highlighted by a drop and an eight-yard, first-down grab on the opening drive.

Joe could see that receivers weren’t open for Freeman, but Joe also wasn’t liking opening the game with a barely sold play-action fake to LeGarrette Blount that didn’t fool anyone.

Sure, the Bucs will complete passes this season. But Joe would have liked to see more creativity in the offense tonight, and the Bucs stick to the power running game early. Unlike in Miami, the offense had no identity against Tennessee.

Even if Blount escapes a serious injury, Joe’s confident Bucs fans won’t see him for the rest of the preseason.

Quite a scary moment when LeGarrette Blount was drilled in the left knee late in the first half tonight. Blount was on the ground for a solid minute and gingerly walked off the field.

Blount was seen limping on the sidelines in the second half in full uniform, and the Bucs will update his condition in the coming days.

But regardless of how the Bucs list Blount’s injury, Joe’s confident Blount is done for the preseason. There’s no reason to play him next week against New England if he’s not 100 percent. And there likely won’t be any first-teamers playing in Washington five days later.

Doug Martin has quite an opportunity to shine next week and possibly earn bell-cow status.