Top-12 Despite Roberto Aguayo
February 17th, 2017
One of two weak links in an excellent unit.
The cover-your-eyes kicking of Roberto Aguayo last year was enough to drag the Buccaneers’ special teams’ rating outside of the NFL’s top-10.
The Dallas Morning News‘ annual, detailed ranking of every NFL special teams unit has been published and the Bucs checked in at No. 12 overall and best in the NFC South.
Joe plans to contact data compiler/author Rick Gosselin for perspective on where the Bucs might have ranked if Tampa Bay didn’t have the worst field goal conversion mark (70.9%) in the league.
Bucs coverage teams were dynamic with Russell Shepard and Josh Robinson leading the way, and punter Bryan Anger was crazy good.
The punt return game was solid but the kick return results were the worst in the NFL. That’s why Dirk Koetter himself said the speed need this offseason extends to returner.
Cue the Cordarrelle Patterson choir!
At least the Bucs have clear fixes for their special teams, which will need to rely on a new long snapper after Andrew De Paola blew out his knee in the season finale.
Overall, they turned in a strong 2016.
February 17th, 2017 at 3:39 pm
Brace yourself for the “draft a long snapper in the second round” jokes are coming….
February 17th, 2017 at 4:05 pm
Yeah DB55…some folks here do not value originality…
It would be nice to have a burner returning KO’s…but FIRST..I want someone with football smarts who realizes what the freaking goal line means. Except for kicks that blast deep into or through the end zone..kicks can present a scary adventure for mind numb KR’s…saw it twice with the Bucs and once for GB in the playoffs.
FIRST secure the damn ball and field position…if that is secured then perhaps use speed to try and break one. I do not want a 4.4 KR with a cement head.
February 17th, 2017 at 4:11 pm
I love this Pic…Roberto is all smiles after nailing a 28 Yd FG.
February 17th, 2017 at 4:23 pm
Sign Hauschka. Let them compete.
February 18th, 2017 at 5:02 am
This is down to Angerer with his awesome leg and our gunners gunning like there’s no tomorrow.
This has sweet F A to do with A-misso
February 18th, 2017 at 9:43 am
The only clear fix for special teams is dumping the mistake AguaOh,no. This is something Licht brags about doing as part of his philosophy but didn’t happen when it came down to it with this disaster of a kicker. I’m guessing that had to do with all the draft resources spent on him. Had AguaOh,no been a 6th round pick (where he belonged) then he never would have seen a fourth preseason game in a Bucs uni nevermind kicking and missing for us the entire regular season. Belichek would have never let this guy kick for his team in meaningful games.
February 18th, 2017 at 1:13 pm
@bucs_365
Could not agree more!!!!! I like our kicker, I don’t have pitchforks out or anything, but I don’t understand why we haven’t already signed Hauschka! Frustrating.