Koetter: Aguayo Can Boom Kicks
December 31st, 2016
Can kick from long-range.
Man, sometimes Joe feels sorry for this Roberto Aguayo.
The rookie Bucs kicker can’t seem to do anything right by the fans. If he misses an extra point, they want him run. If he misses a field goal, U-Hauls mysteriously show up at his crib in the dark of the night.
Hell, even when he’s on a roll like he has been of late, it’s still not good enough for fans. “Chip shots!” they scoff into their pints of beer. And you better duck if you remind fans the Bucs traded up into the second round to draft him, that pint of beer is likely to whiz by your head.
This season, Aguayo’s longest field goal (made) is 43 yards. Hardly the kind of stuff that reminds fans of Matt Bryant.
Yesterday, Bucs coach Dirk Koetter cautioned folks not to get fooled: Aguayo can blast field goals like just about any other NFL kicker.
“Yeah, absolutely,” Koetter said yesterday. “I mean, he made a 58-[yard field goal] in practice yesterday and he’s made over this last month – that’s usually where we stop him, is somewhere around 58. He’s definitely got the leg to do it.”
Joe remembers not that long ago when Koetter was asked if he had confidence putting Aguayo on the field in the final seconds to boot a game-winning field goal from 50-yards out, Koetter didn’t blink and eye. Koetter said without hesitation he certainly would trot Aguayo out for the game-winner.
So don’t worry folks. Aguayo has the distance.
December 31st, 2016 at 6:10 am
@Joe … So don’t worry folks. Aguayo has the distance.” That’s never been in question Joe … he can boom them. Whether folks have confidence that Roberto can CONSISTENTLY make 50+ yard FGs is the issue. (The words ‘slice’ and ‘hook’ come to mind when I think of my golfing prowess, or lack thereof).
But even that isn’t the key issue. Using precious 3rd & 4th round picks to trade up to the 2nd round then pick a kicker is what I and others question. Bucs have LOTS of needs at other positions (WR, TE, DE/DT, Safety especially) that were more critical. Would we have hit on those selections? Who knows, but guys like Vonn Bell were available when Roberto was drafted IF we’d gone that direction.
December 31st, 2016 at 7:23 am
We didnt use two picks to trade up of you consider the fact we acquired one of those picks via a trade. In fact its likely the only reason we made the other trade was to get tje value needed to trade back up to draft THE MOST IMPORTANT POINT SCORER ON ANY GIVEN FOOTBALL TEAM.
My point is, we dont draft the kicker in the second round if you dont find a way to do it without it costing you. JL completely made that pick available through late round wheeling and dealing of picks… Thus everyone is in an uproar over a pick we never had in the second round that we spent on a kicker BECAUSE IT WAS THE MOST GLARING NEED FOR A TEAM BUILT TO WIN NOW!!!
Say JL never trades to get the extra pick he needed to trade back up to get Roberto…. And instead we draft a guy like idk Ryan Smith… Does anyone care that we could of had a franchise kicker instead of a long shot… And yes we only would of had ONE pick seeings how the extra pick was acquired to assure we could move up and get Roberto…
So in fact all you knuckle heads need to stop and think about WHY we could afford to draft THE BEST COLLEGE KICKER OF ALL TIME… (For now) It was a well executed plan that netted us THE BEST AVAILABLE taltent for OUR NEEDS…
GET OVER IT… We used a forth round pick to trade up to the second round… The extra 3rd rounder was acquired just for trade bait to get our guy AND IT WORKED!!!!
Hope something similar happens this year in the first to get COOKS!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!
December 31st, 2016 at 7:37 am
“…if you remind fans the Bucs traded up into the second round to draft him, that pint of beer is likely to whiz by your head.”
Should of been a WR – the Bucs would likely be in the playoffs with a WR to complement Evans. Just sayin.
December 31st, 2016 at 7:40 am
Sounds like Coach has been hitting the Adderall too!
December 31st, 2016 at 7:49 am
It’s not Aguayo’s fault that he was drafted so high or that he was drafted at all.
That is 100% on Jason Licht. When Aguayo and fans realize that, the added pressure will be off and he will be free to face only the game pressure that every kicker faces.
December 31st, 2016 at 7:52 am
Can’t help it now. Watching FSU in the Orange Bowl last night, every time K Ricky Aguayo kicked, I held my breath! lol.
December 31st, 2016 at 8:10 am
Of course Koetter would trot him out there at the end of the game without hesitation. What choice would he have?
December 31st, 2016 at 8:10 am
We didnt need a WR until VJax decided to mail it in… Likely do to the culture change… Yall forget, he was the first leader of our beloved losers in Pewter and Red….
Go figure… He couldnt win as a Charger and did no better as a Buc… Just a big stat guy that brought the stereotypical me first mental game…
December 31st, 2016 at 8:54 am
Drafted too high = added pressure + youth and it was tough to watch early on.
However, he’s our kicker and I’m glad he’s doing much better now.
Hopefully he and his eyebrows get a shot from outside 50 yards against Carolina…… it’s just possible that his misses were caused by a severe manscaping accident right?
We had a much better season this year and I can’t wait til next year.
Go Bucs!
December 31st, 2016 at 8:57 am
Defense Rules : But even that isn’t the key issue. Using precious 3rd & 4th round picks to trade up to the 2nd round then pick a kicker is what I and others question.
WOW! the Bucs better fire Licht since there are such great talent evaporators as you and others stuck bagging groceries at Publix.
December 31st, 2016 at 8:58 am
Evaluators not evaporators
December 31st, 2016 at 9:09 am
Yes we did need a wr.! Vjac was old and slow and didn’t play a whole yrs. Last year.plus we new he was done after this yr. anyway!
December 31st, 2016 at 9:19 am
@ Defense – We traded that pick in the 3rd to KC. You know who they drafted, Keivarae Russell. You know what happened with him? He was cut. The Bengals picked him up and he played for games and recorded one tackle. To act like 3rd and 4th round picks are gold is silly. A great many of them do not work out. Aguayo appears to have turned the corner and is going to work out. I am pretty sure KC would love have a redo and not make that trade as it was a complete waste of a pick for them.
December 31st, 2016 at 9:19 am
Four not for
December 31st, 2016 at 9:24 am
The 4th round pick from us they picked up a guy named Eric Murray. He had 7 tackles for the Chiefs. Man we sure could have used those two guys. We would have been in the playoffs for sure if we had them.
December 31st, 2016 at 9:41 am
Thank you TDTB…
Now can you please explain how we didnt have an extra 3rd rounder to trade until we got it by trading some late round picks or whatever it was JL did.
In fact, Joe I know you read all my post… Would you mind digging up the draft story of Roberto at some point and illustrate the genius that made this contentious subject so…
This way everyone is on the same page… And the debate can be about how the extra pick was really jist a pon acquired to use to get the kicker…
Again, why ditch a plan when it goes off without a hitch… That type of thinkimg is what messes up a locker room/franchise…
December 31st, 2016 at 9:43 am
Defense Rules Says
“Whether folks have confidence that Roberto can CONSISTENTLY make 50+ yard FGs is the issue.”
What does that matter? If he has to consistently attempt them from 50+ yards, then that is horrible playcalling and the coach is taking huge chances.
December 31st, 2016 at 9:47 am
So in reality we drafted him using a forth round pick… Is anyone really complaining knowing the extra pick was never meant for an additional player…. Just a move to assure u get the guy u want when u want… Which we wanted him late but found a way to get him early using the same late round picks we had earmarked for him…
End of story…
Please do it again JL and bring us home Cooks!!!!
December 31st, 2016 at 9:49 am
Here’s the truth…people made up their minds to hate the pick from the start, and rather than admit they were wrong, they will always say he isn’t good enough.
The kid could go all pro and make it into the hall of fame in 15 years as a Buc, and you know what? They’ll still hate him.
The pick was the right call. Period.
The important thing is to get the right players on the team. You pick them where you KNOW you can get them. That’s what Jason Licht does. He doesn’t care about tradition or rankings. He does what he has to.
And, complaining does not good because what he does is working.
December 31st, 2016 at 9:55 am
Ha!
December 31st, 2016 at 10:36 am
Let’s hope Roberto got a GPS for Christmas so he can locate the middle of the uprights.
December 31st, 2016 at 11:27 am
Thank gawd, I don’t comment about draft choices. I don’t watch college football so I sure wouldn’t knows whats Iz talkin about–unlike quite a few on here. We have a ballgame tomorrow at RayJay with righteous weather. We’re still carrying on about RA? Let’s root for our team so they finish 9-7. GO TAMPA BAY!!
December 31st, 2016 at 11:54 am
Kind of torn about tomorrow. While a winning record would be nice it could cost us several spots in the draft and could cost us losing on the player JL would like to draft. Personally I would like to get Cook and if a win tomorrow cost us that chance we’ll then a meaningless win will hurt the future of the franchise.
December 31st, 2016 at 1:40 pm
His longest FG is 43 yards, and now Koetter say that he kick from 58 in practice. If that’s the case, why was we punting when he could have kick 55 yard FG in games? He tried one FG from 50 this season, Matt Bryant was 5-8 from 50+.
December 31st, 2016 at 3:00 pm
He appears to me to have “warning track power”. I’ll become a believer when I see it. His only 50 yard attempt was vs San Francisco I believe…and he was well right & short.
December 31st, 2016 at 3:49 pm
Missed routine kiddie kicks throughout preseason and first half of regular season. For perspective that’s 3 straight months of suck from a position that is highly specialized and uncomplicated. While I’m glad he made his gimme kiddie kicks in the last 2 months there is simply nothing impressive about it except for the fact that he couldn’t make then in the three months prior. Great job lowering expectations. Classic incompetent Lovie Smith stuff!
December 31st, 2016 at 4:35 pm
The bucs were rarely in position to kick long FGs. Most of the time we were either driving pretty well and in the redzone, or were on the wrong side of the 50 and had to punt.
I think there was one time where it would have been like a 55-60 yard FG try, but koetter decided to punt (rightfully so) and pin the opposing offense inside the 5 late in the game. We won that game.
That is really the only time i even remember there being a choice in the matter. You can’t hit 50 yard FGs if you do not get the opportunity to try them. Our offense is very hot or cold. We either drive deep into enemy terrority or get nothing. That is not Aguayo’s fault.
December 31st, 2016 at 5:36 pm
My gosh, turn it loose Licht maneuvered and got the Bucs a once in a lifetime kicker. So please, turn it loose…when didn’t lose anything…it takes many pieves to make a complete team…it is coming just….
wait…4 it!!!
Aguayo is not just your average kicker he is special… with some special kicking techniques in his arsenal…but he is rookie right now!
2017 it is on!
December 31st, 2016 at 5:54 pm
Im good with him now. Seems to have got his head right.
January 1st, 2017 at 1:07 am
I liked the pick on draft night … and I still like it. I believe Aguayo will contend for all-pro honors year in and year out within a few years