Matt Gay Is Not Satisfied
July 30th, 2019
The rookie kicker is feeling the competition
By ZACHARY SEIFTER
Manbeast JoeBucsFan.com intern
Through four days, it has been a neck-and-neck battle.
It could be one of the most important battles in all of training camp.
It’s the kicker battle.
Veteran Cairo Santos and rookie Matt Gay have been delivering blows back-and-forth. Santos nails 57-yard kicks, then Gay nails the same kick, but sails the ball over the kicking net.
But none of it will matter if they don’t get it done come game time. Still, it’s fun to see them battle it out and succeed in practice.
Gay took his turn as the primary kicker during Monday’s practice. He made his first eight kicks before sending a 61-yarder wide. He then came in for a 60-yarder on the last kick in practice and sent that one wide, as well.
Shortly after practice, Gay told JoeBucsFan.com that he feels good about the kicking competition through four days but he not happy about sending those kicks wide.
“Good,” said Gay in response to how the competition is going. “Both hitting the ball really well. Cairo, he’s killing it right now, he’s had two really good days. Today didn’t go as good as I wanted it to go, but I still feel like I’m hitting the ball really well.”
He is right. Through four days, both kickers are striking the ball really well. That said, Gay does seem to have the upper hand. As a fifth-round draft pick, as well as having the bigger leg, many think the job is Gay’s to lose.
Draft pick or not, Bucco Bruce Arians will go with the kicker that puts the ball through the uprights consistently starting Friday, Aug. 9, in Pittsburgh.
If Gay can’t do that, then he’ll be another kicker drafted by Jason Licht looking for work.
Practice starts at 6:30 p.m. Samer's got a load of free shirts to giveaway courtesy of Joe and Samer's great effort. … This will be a night to be a Loose Cannon and cheer and have a blast. You can Tweet @Samer__Ali about the t-shirt hookup. https://t.co/oSamyKzT2I
— JoeBucsFan (@JoeBucsFan) July 30, 2019
July 30th, 2019 at 4:15 pm
My Gay ain’t getting enough……………………UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
July 30th, 2019 at 4:32 pm
If somebody could actually come here and fixing our kicking struggles they will get a ton of praise from the fans. Probably more praise then they could get in any other cities. No team even comes close to the kicking problems we have had.
Kicking is the easiest thing to fix in football & it’s utterly mind boggling on how we have not been able to figure it out. I do believe in the Matt Bryant curse…….Also worry that our lickers look good now since Bryant is not playing. If Bryant signs midseason I expect that means our kitchen cking will take a nose dive once again………The Bucs should really consider giving Matt a job on the coaching staff with a contract reading he can’t sign anywhere else. Give him 5 million a year and let him be in charge of stationary purchases.
July 30th, 2019 at 4:33 pm
Cmon Joe. There is no kicker battle. Do you really think the GM will cut another kicker that he just drafted??? No he would not. Besides Gay goes well with the new male cheerleader.
July 30th, 2019 at 4:52 pm
No knock against Santos but I would think by the end of a 16 game schedule that Santos, whose smaller in stature, would suffer leg fatigue. Gay looks like he could endure the schedule better and not lose much in distance and accuracy. So, if I were making the decision, as long as Gay doesn’t suffer any significant injuries or have any major setbacks, he would be our starter.
July 30th, 2019 at 5:01 pm
Gay.
July 30th, 2019 at 5:04 pm
Pittshore right on, I hope for the bucs and the future that is gay is the answer for the bucs and their kicking woes but until the games are real its hard to be positive regarding a Licht draft pick. Santos is a proven commodity. NOt sure if bucs are all about analytics but it seems kicking would be one area that this could be used. I hope that in 2 Fridays that Gay drills his FGs against pittsburgh
July 30th, 2019 at 5:13 pm
“Gump doing what Gump does…again and again
U never draft a kicker. we needed oline help with the 5th round pick
rookie kickers never kicked with the different NFL size posts. thats why most teams sign veteran kickers
the gay kicker is going to miss cheap shots and cost us multiple games…
but he is long”
Kobe Faker
July 30th, 2019 at 5:23 pm
Kobe, help me out here: is it your ignorance or repetitiveness that is most boring?
I can’t decide which you sho the most. Which is your favorite? Or do they go together?
Maybe you and Ghost can get together for some spooning…
July 30th, 2019 at 5:31 pm
@Kobe Faker
You ever have anything positive to say? Would you have felt better if Zach Bailey was taken in the 5th and Gay as an UDFA?
Bailey was touted as a 3rd to 4th round talent before breaking his ankle before the senior bowl.
Fact is draft is over draft position matters less than what the players on the team do.
Kwon was a 4th round pick.
Brate Barber and Humphries UDFA.
Have faith. If Gay is as good as he looks we have a huge leg and someone who will kick for a decade.
Check the bust rate on 5th rounders…..
July 30th, 2019 at 5:34 pm
C’mon Kobe, the uprights have been the same for a while. 18’6. The hashes are different. I know you knew that.
July 30th, 2019 at 5:44 pm
Kobe Faker,
rookie kickers never kicked with the different NFL size posts. thats why most teams sign veteran kickers.
————————————————————————–
Dear Kobe,
The goal posts for college and the NFL are exactly the same.
18’6″ wide. 10′ high.
Identical.
FYI.
July 30th, 2019 at 5:49 pm
Its still early in the competition. Licht kind of lost face when he proclaimed
Aguayo a generational kicker. But aguayo couldn’t take the pressure. If Gay shows no kinks in his armor ,he will probably get the nod, IMO. That said ,I think it would be foolish to want him to fail.as a lot of fans hoped for with Aguayo.
July 30th, 2019 at 5:52 pm
“Check the bust rate on 5th rounders”
Amen to that! If you can fill a need in the 5th round with a good prospect then go for it. Who cares I’d its a kicker? Now second round…..you’d better hit on that one if it’s a kicker.
July 30th, 2019 at 6:01 pm
Awesome post CanaBuc.
Once heard another commentor say that a good stragety of the draft is use them middle round picks for speedy guys who can help special teams……This guy was smart and said a lot of other stuff why it’s such a good plan. But I think it was a good idea & maybe the stragety Bruce/Licht used.
Also wonder how much different the tone would be had we taken Nelson with our 3rd selection(day 2 pick) and Jamal Dean with our 5 player chosen(day 2 pick).
Only like ten or so draft slots between the players. All of them picks are close to same value but because of commercialization might different values are percieved from a Round 3-Day2 and Round 4-Day 3.
July 30th, 2019 at 9:11 pm
I’m hoping the rookie wins the job. Bigger leg, younger only can get better from here. I read he hadn’t been kicking field goals very long either?
Id roll the dice with Gay
July 30th, 2019 at 9:26 pm
I write something profound and thoughtful and get no response. This Kobe fake dude writes something stupid and everybody gives him the stage.
Idiocracy at it’s worst.
July 31st, 2019 at 9:29 am
Jean Lafitte, yeah, it’s weird how trolls get fed over and over again