Kicking Around Kickers
April 28th, 2019
Kicker search drags on.
By words and actions, it seems the Bucs didn’t like their kickers. You generally don’t draft a kicker if you don’t think you need one.
Yes, Joe is using the word “generally” loosely here. As the Bucs proved this weekend, when it came to the 2019 draft, logic was tossed out the window.
It is not like the Bucs don’t need a kicker. Like pass rushers, this organization doesn’t like good kickers. Unlike pass rushers, it seems the team is intent on fixing that problem but can’t. With pass rushers, the team has just flat given up.
Saturday after the draft was (fortunately) complete — the way Bucs fans reacted to the weekend moves, it isn’t just the Bucs new kicker who will need professional counseling.
Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht spoke after the draft and sure gave the impression he will stop at nothing in his quest to cure the ills of the Bucs’ kicking rash. That’s why he drafted Matt Gay out of Utah in the fifth round (who, just by the eyeball test, looks more like a guard than Alex Cappa).
And that’s great. Unlike with pass rushing, the team is focused on curing a long-time malady. But are they?
Robbie Gould, a proven NFL kicker, wants out of San Francisco. Long-time 49ers reporter Cam Inman reported last week there is no trade market for one of the better NFL kickers. That sure doesn’t sound like a Bucs team truly determined to fix its kicking problems has exhausted all avenues.
Then there is Matt Bryant, now a free agent. This organization’s kicking woes began when it kicked Bryant to the curb. Bryant became one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history. So if the Bucs truly are hellbent of fixing the kicking problem, why hasn’t he been brought in for tryout?
Well, Joe can answer that one and probably can answer the Gould question as well. Because a team that has lost 22 games in the past two seasons is in salary cap hell and drafting a kicker is a cheaper option.
April 28th, 2019 at 8:04 am
I don’t have a problem with using a 5th round pick on a keeeker (Scot Brantley) tribute….IF he works out he’ll put a lot of points on the board ans get 3 points out of Jameis’s stalled drives đ
oddly enough I like the UDFA better than the draft…not that they are better players just a better balance of positions…Go Bucs !
April 28th, 2019 at 8:06 am
Look at the bright side:
The odds of the Bucs being able to draft QB Trevor Lawrence with the #1 overall pick in 2021–just went way up.
April 28th, 2019 at 8:07 am
and as I was falling asleep last night a smile crossed my face thinking we could have a one eyed DE lined up on one side and a one handed DE on the other…
đ
April 28th, 2019 at 8:13 am
This Joe is smart. Gay wins the job, as well as nearly every rookie we just drafted because of lack of cash and upcoming personnel moves.
April 28th, 2019 at 8:14 am
When the Seahawks needed a quarterback, they signed and drafted 6-77 guys before they hit on Wilson. We can’t give up just because we failed in the past. Bears were after this guy according to Jim Miller. Browns drafted a kicker immediately after. Pats and 49ers also drafted punters in the 5th I believe. If you wanted a specialist, you had to get them in the 5th.
April 28th, 2019 at 8:16 am
6-7 ^^^
April 28th, 2019 at 8:18 am
Could have just signed Elliot Fry of the Apollos, but no. We let the bears have him.
April 28th, 2019 at 8:19 am
Nobody has a problem with this pick had they not picked Aguayo with a 2nd round pick a few years ago. It’s been said before but it’s a great pick if the kid comes in and lights it up. If he doesn’t and we still lose games due to bad kicking, then Licht’s not here anymore to worry about it.
April 28th, 2019 at 8:21 am
I don’t have a problem with any of these picks. The problem I have is where and when they were picked. We could of got a solid Oline or Dline player at 2 and still drafted these same guys. Hell, I think our last 3 picks might have gone undrafted.
April 28th, 2019 at 8:22 am
I am disappointed but not surprised that some posters are poking fun at Mat Gay’s depression problems…..that is low class, for sure.
Now, if you want to make fun of Joe’s depression regarding Edge Rushers…..that’s perfectly OK.
April 28th, 2019 at 8:25 am
Joe, so I thought you were big on not attacking the player and more giving them a chance regardless of what the staff has chosen yet, you chose to take a dig at this kickers mental state of being? Interesting.
April 28th, 2019 at 8:27 am
Speaking of opportunities with edge rushers, anyone else see the story on the new signing in Kahzin Daniels. One inspirational story, and someone for us to root for this summer.
April 28th, 2019 at 8:28 am
What about Gerald McCoy….I would love to know the agent/Bucs back story…I’d like him back at a market plus a little price….he may have different ideas …thinking getting market price and going to a Play Off team…probably what I’d do if I were him….have fun playing football again
April 28th, 2019 at 8:28 am
Tampabaybucfan: Agree with you that we shouldn’t make fun of the player battling depression. However, as a Bucs fan, you have to admit you can’t make this stuff up.
April 28th, 2019 at 8:29 am
We can not stay pat with what we have on the o line.You must bring in many more offensive lineman for tryouts Jason.
April 28th, 2019 at 8:29 am
I dont know about anyone else, but if I was Licht, I probably wouldnt have ever drafted another kicker the rest of my life …even if he was supposed to be the best ever. shows he at least has balls
April 28th, 2019 at 8:30 am
The bio on this kicker is nothing to write home about. He has a great leg from 40 plus. However he has accuracy issues in the 30-40 yard range; which just happens to be where we missed a ton of PAT’s.
Nicely done idiot Licht, you must want to be fired.
April 28th, 2019 at 8:30 am
I really hope that Gay can end our kicking curse but this really was a needless pick, Cairo was solid for us last year. Fingers crossed this ends better for us than the Aguayo mess did.
April 28th, 2019 at 8:35 am
Matt Bryant is your answer? Trading for a kicker is different than moving up in the draft for one how? And John Lynch turned down his trade request. You canât understand drafting a kicker really? I wouldnât have done it in the 5th but itâs just crazy how media talk like they know so much better. Drafting one makes complete sense just not in round 5. This draft was a head scratcher but your complaint is kinda dumb.
Theyâve already tried free agent kickers now you wanna trade for one or bring in an old guy who just tore something. Licht is bad but you seem so much worse
April 28th, 2019 at 8:35 am
Yeah , these Joe’s lately have been less than stellar ! I’m beginning to think they are a part of them problem with this fan bases negativity instead of the solution..some of you are spot on while most throw gas on the dumpster fire just as the Joe’s do…shame
April 28th, 2019 at 8:36 am
Arians to Licht “I want you to draft that kicker out of Utah”
Licht to Arians “You’re kidding, right?”
Arians to Licht “No…..draft him, I want him on our team”
Licht to Arians “Please please Bruce, don’t make me do this”
Arians to Licht ” Do it….you are here because of me…so you do exactly as I ask.”
April 28th, 2019 at 8:40 am
I’d get rid of the extra kickers before TC…or after the first mini camp. I wouldn’t want them playing head games with Gay….then bring in some leg swinging no namer to kick balls and give MG a rest durings OTA’s and TC….
April 28th, 2019 at 8:46 am
Anybody see the Trevor Sikkema tweet? Basically, he says, weâve drafted the same amount of DEâs (2) the past five years as kickers (2)… itâs a Bucs life…
April 28th, 2019 at 8:51 am
Interesting stat:
In 2017 there were 133 undrafted NFL free agents making âregular contributionsâ to their respective teamsâplaying at least 40% of the snaps.
That same year only 117 players had the same playing time from rounds 5-7 COMBINED!
Conclusion #1: The Bucs roster is far from set.
Conclusion #2: Quit bitching about âwastingâ a fifth round pick on a kicker.
April 28th, 2019 at 8:54 am
I guess we spent a 3rd on JPP if that counts but yeah itâs pretty criminal
I guess hereâs to another year of waiting for the necessary youthful injections plus depth to the DL rotation
April 28th, 2019 at 8:54 am
Prediction: Bucs will have at least two UDFAs on the roster……perhaps Oline & Dline.
But not S or CB……or K.
April 28th, 2019 at 8:57 am
Games are won in the trenches and yet again the Buccaneers didn´t take the oppertunity to rebuild the trenches.
The Suckaneers trenches suck, letting Matt Bryant go was also a typicall Suckaneers move..
and as long as the trenches suck (both O and D Line ) as long will i call the Suckanneers the Suckaneers, because yet again, after how this Offseason upfolded, i can already asure you, the Suckaneers are going to suck again big time..
GM totally sucks.
so Bucsfans.if you want an actual professional run Football team, start to boykott this laughable garbage until Jason Licht is fired and an actual intelligent Footbal mind gets hired.
Join the fire Licht Tonight campaign!
April 28th, 2019 at 9:05 am
Yes, this just goes to show Jason has balls. unfortunately it also shows he has no brains.
April 28th, 2019 at 9:09 am
I feel really bad for this kid. If he already has a disposition to being a bit unstable what will happen to him when he is booed off the field after missing a game winning field goal or worse extra point at Ray Jay? Or worse have to go to Philly or another really hostile environment and they find out he is unstable. Damn it will be brutal for him. Good luck kid.
April 28th, 2019 at 9:11 am
Could of had Patrick Willis. Why draft a kicker, didnât Bruce say that there were kickers everywhere, no need to draft one? Makes no sense, especially this guy. 5-11
April 28th, 2019 at 9:14 am
One thing for sure Bucs fans know how to complain
April 28th, 2019 at 9:29 am
Smart move actually. 5th round or below players rarely work out, and if this kicker works out, you’re getting a premium position with a 5th round pick, where the success rate at other positions is MUCH lower.
April 28th, 2019 at 9:30 am
I am usually an optimist regarding the Bucs, but the draft does not make a lot of sense to me.
The Bucs should have heavily invested in both lines, but for some reason ignored them(except picking Nelson).
Hopefully, the majority of us fans are wrong and the Bucs had a great draft, but this draft is hard to get excited about.
April 28th, 2019 at 9:32 am
I agree…..this is nowhere near the “moving up” second round gamble for Aguayo.
How many 5th round picks have stuck?…….(except last year)
April 28th, 2019 at 9:35 am
Gould and Bryant are almost a 100 years old
April 28th, 2019 at 9:36 am
Not one olineman drafted. We are one injury away from being in a world of hurt there. Not that we’re that talented up front to begin with.
April 28th, 2019 at 9:40 am
SC Bucs Fan Says:
April 28th, 2019 at 9:14 am
One thing for sure Bucs fans know how to complain
Well considering bucs have not won a meaningful game in nearly two decades and have been a league laughingstock and punching bag what would you suggest, jumping for joy, ignoring reality or start scheduling parades for basement titles???
Ignoring reality and celebrating failure doesn’t make you a better fan just means you accept failure with a smile…
April 28th, 2019 at 9:42 am
You ppl are so wrong & ignorant fans of football, jason licht is on the right track he has a 10 yr maybe 15 yr plan. All very successful teams draft 2 kickers in 5 years. I have it on good authority that clyde christiansen, leftwich & arians plan on running 93% of their plays to the left this year, so the right side of the OL is fine. Im amazed at the mental superiority of GM licht and how he builds this franchise.
April 28th, 2019 at 9:44 am
Hey…the D has been neglected since Jameis and the buildup of weapons around him (Jason)…the same thing is happening on the D side the past 2 years…a bunch of young defensive players that came into the league together…I can understand the plan as offensive units take more time to sync…so that appears to have been Jason’s plan…….but like Mike Tyson said
“Everyone has a plan until they are hit in the mouth !”
So here we are with as many questions and W-L record as when Licht started
You do understand Jameis is still a HUGE question mark once you get out of the 813
April 28th, 2019 at 9:47 am
I don’t agree the Bucs have given up on pass rush as Joe laments (likely out of frustration), but I do think Licht’s judgement is flawed, and now Arians too, saying they think the D line is good to go. As for Matt Bryant, he’s 42 and I believe had a leg injury last year that more than likely opens itself up to arthritis. He would probably demand something like year deal at $5M, something the Bucs can’t afford. What kills me about picking Gay is that he’s another head case…and the dire need to shine got into Aguayo’s head right away and never left.
Make no mistake, this team needs to rebuild and they know it, and refuse to admit it, because it’s bad for fan support and they also can’t afford to rebuild. This is a bridge to the rebuild.
April 28th, 2019 at 9:48 am
This mini camp will be full of competition in the defense and special team s Except for a few. This draft was all scheme. Letâs see how it plays out as long as we have hungry/ passionate starting players we should be competitive. The only concern in the running game. Oline a mystery and rb.
April 28th, 2019 at 9:48 am
joes depressed…
adams depressed…
matt gay is super depressed…
the den is depressing…
somehow gerald is super happy go lucky, dancing on the sidelines and watching batman reruns in his mancave…
jameis is never depressed — even when regressed…
and “big paw” is being shipped out to go live in a shantytown in thailand for guys who act out like he does…
what a gang of miscreants and misfits bloom from tampa…me included of course
April 28th, 2019 at 9:49 am
I’ll add…Robbie Guold is almost as old as Bryant and has already significantly lost some range. And like Bryant, he’d not come cheap either, as he probably doesn’t even need to play at all.
April 28th, 2019 at 9:52 am
@TBBF Your snark through this process has been entertaining, accurate and most importantly funny. Sometimes I wonder if this blog suffers from a lack of a sense of humor.
Kicker, CB’s, all the upset. It has occured to me that we judge the draft on at least two different levels.
The first is going on right now. It’s the fans reaction. Are the drafted players fan faves. Obviously by that metric this draft has failed.
The second is reality. Can any of these guys contribute at the NFL level. Need a few years to determine that.
I know I post this a lot but I’m not sure it has sunk in as reality for most posters. After the first round there is less than a 50% chance any of these picks will be successful no matter who has picked them. And when you get to the final rounds we’re talking a less than 10% chance. And yet posters here routinely come on to pimp their picks as being players who can beat those LONG odds.
I think I’ll wait a few years to judge this draft. And I’m not too proud to admit I’m not NFL personnel genius. My ego does not need any more validation. LMAO And in reality I don’t see geniuses in the pros either when 77% in the top five is the norm and less than 10% the final few rounds. It seem NOBODY is really an expert so why do we focus our hate on Licht?
April 28th, 2019 at 9:53 am
adam from ny Says
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đ đ đ
April 28th, 2019 at 9:54 am
dusty rothchild…
u sound crazy meng!
April 28th, 2019 at 10:00 am
It was also disturbing when the question was asked of Jason Licht(not sure if it was one of the Joe’s) about Scott Miller would be used in the return game.
Jason Licht’s response was Scott Miller does not have much experience in the return game.
According to Bowling Green website Scott Miller: Also led the team with 19 kick returns, averaging 17.7 yards per return ⌠Had three punt returns for 19 yards
April 28th, 2019 at 10:02 am
@WhattheBuc….good points on the other kickers being drafted. I doubt they’d have picked Gay though. He’s a head case with a history of significant injuries. Even NFL.com gave the pick a D grade. Sure could have used a OL developmental player at the very least. I think if they wanted a kicker to challenge Santos, they should have looked at the UDFAs today.
April 28th, 2019 at 10:08 am
So how has getting a A or B grade in previous drafts helped us exactly. Maybe this is some sort of reverse Mogo
April 28th, 2019 at 10:08 am
Gould and Bryant are veterans which translates to being expensive to sign. As everyone knows, the bucs salary cap situation isn’t great so a rookie kicker makes perfect sense from a payroll point of view. That being said, I don’t like burning a 5th round pick on the guy.
April 28th, 2019 at 10:18 am
The pick had nothing to do with the cap hit. Give me a break. Starting to wonder why I even visit the website lately.
April 28th, 2019 at 10:19 am
Btw, Bryant would come cheap.
April 28th, 2019 at 10:20 am
Scotty in Fat Antonio, have you seen our offense?
April 28th, 2019 at 10:21 am
Why on Godâs green earth does this walking and talking Neanderthal looking dumb arse still have a job running an NFL team? This guy is obviously missing a chromosome.
April 28th, 2019 at 10:29 am
I love our posters in here who work the early shift at Burger King saying Licht is stupid. And I agree with above that is laughable that so many people in here who can only afford basic cable know the guy from the PAC 10 who we should have drafted in the 7th who for sure will be a star yet every GM passed on him. Now go wash your uniform and get back to folding crowns for the kids.
April 28th, 2019 at 10:59 am
^^^^^^^
Funny stuff SC Bucs fans.
April 28th, 2019 at 11:01 am
I can totally understand Jason’s obsession with fixing the kicking game…The Bucs have probably lost at least 13 games or more because of missed FG’s and extra points alone since Licht has been here…
April 28th, 2019 at 11:01 am
The late night shift workers at the 7-11 who try to quash any form of criticism are hilarious. Thatâs what happens to you when you mix cheap beer or mad dog with your slurrpies.
April 28th, 2019 at 11:17 am
AlteredEgo Says:
“and as I was falling asleep last night a smile crossed my face thinking we could have a one eyed DE lined up on one side and a one handed DE on the other⌔
I was wondering why they were adding handicapped parking spots in the player’s parking lot.
I won’t make fun of the kicker with depressive paralysis and the funny name. I will pledge to take the high road but will kill two birds with one stone by simply renaming him, “Happy Gilmour.” After the only golfer in the world that used a running start before striking the ball, similar to our 5th round pick.
I just hope that Bob Barker doesn’t block one of his FG attempts or teases him. Gilmour going to have to lose the Penguins jersey in Tampa Bay.
April 28th, 2019 at 11:18 am
I’ve been scream “sign Austin MacGinniss off the street” for 2yrs…One of the most clutch K in the SEC during his tenure, finally gets a shot in the AFL/MEM & kicks his ass off …Still cannot get a legit shot in the NFL??? But the Bucs are drafting a K with depression issues in 5th round & skipping premium positional talent still on the board.
Seems like Jason knows what he’s doing, all right….
April 28th, 2019 at 11:35 am
More kickers please.
April 28th, 2019 at 12:31 pm
Joe,
Love the site – and don’t mind negative criticism here and there. But this site is definitely skewing way too negative lately.
Look, one can’t argue that the Bucs finally have terrific coaches who actually coach systems that work in the NFL and then completely rail against every pick they make for players they think will work in that system. It’s one or the other – it can’t be both.
I have zero problems with this draft. Arians flat out let it be known the Bucs would not be drafting an RB this year when he said Barber could be a top 5 back in the NFL and then raved about Ronald Jones at voluntary workouts. They said they wanted press corners and then went out and drafted some of the guys who excelled at the press and who had the size to do it. They drafted an in the box safety who excels at playing inside and covering for blitzing LBs.
And they have flat out said they are going to blitz the other team relentlessly with their inside LBs which makes the White move make a ton of sense. I haven’t read o e scout who thinks this guy isn’t a can’t miss prospect.
They took a kicker in the 5th. So what. Licht actually put it well – just because you miss on a position one time doesn’t mean you never draft that position again. The guy has a bomb for a leg and this is an entirely new coaching staff that actually has a former kicker as the kicking coach.
There are no such things as curses. Just stop with that nonsense. And this coaching staff has zero to do with the regime from last year. There is exactly zero holdovers between the kicking game last year and this year with the new punter as well. They are completely unrelated to one another. If one thinks it’s the actual grass on the practice field seeping the curse into the kicker’s leg, I just simply say “grow up a little”.
This was not a sexy draft. but it was the exact draft they telegraphed. I actually like the DE they grabbed in the 4th – very Nassib like which would be huge if he could put forth that type of effort and production. The DL from Mizzou in the 7th is likely too injured to ever compete – but if he gets back to his original 5 star recruit profile and gets coached up – he’s a rotational guy and a steal.
the defense sucked last year. So did the kicking game. They spent 7 of 8 draft picks correcting that. Plus added terrific new coaches to coach them up. If you can’t see positive signs in that – you never will with anything.
April 28th, 2019 at 12:57 pm
@Tony
Be careful you are using facts and making sense. That doesn’t always go over here with this group. They simply want to hear…
Licht is the worst…GMC is a loser…rinse repeat and restate ad nauseum.
April 28th, 2019 at 2:08 pm
Interesting interview with Matt Gay:
https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/news/nfl-draft-profile-10-questions-with-utah-p-matt-gay-agJUp_KeCkWmXklGvto4bg/
April 28th, 2019 at 2:13 pm
@ Tony LA: :golf clap:
Well said.
Arians pretty much let on what the draft was going to look like and when it did, folks are shocked.
This was not Licht’s draft. This was the Arians/Bowles draft. That had to be a condition to take the job.
April 28th, 2019 at 3:04 pm
The so called âexpertsâ are saying he wasnât the best kicker available. Ugh.
April 28th, 2019 at 5:56 pm
Say, what round did the Pats draft their kicker?
April 28th, 2019 at 6:33 pm
Patriots
5(25) Jake Bailey P Stanford
April 28th, 2019 at 6:35 pm
guess your sa point was incorrect. and, yes, a punter is in the kicker caregory
April 28th, 2019 at 9:45 pm
Fireeee Licht!