Arians Talks Lively Kicking Competition In Camp
August 21st, 2020
It’s the AAF star, who has yet to kick in the NFL regular season, versus the Bucs’ returning second-year kicker who ended last season on a sour note.
The games have begun, Bruce Arians explained today.
Undrafted out of the University of South Carolina in 2017, 25-year-old Fry was picked up in May after going 14-for-14 on kicks in the defunct AAF. He also spent preseason time with the Bears and Ravens.
Matt Gay, 26, is the returning Bucs kicker who had a very solid start to rookie season but faltered badly in the final game, missing field goal attempts of 49, 44 and 34 yards in an overtime loss.
Today a reporter asserted to Arians that Fry has looked great in training camp and Gay has been a step behind.
“Is there any level of concern there for you regarding Gay’s performance?” Arains was asked.
“Yeah, I mean it’s an ongoing competition. We’ll add ’em up in the end” said the head coach. “They both of have hit the game-winners in the pressure situations today. So, it’s a shame we don’t have preseason games to throw’em out there and find out. But Elliott’s kicking the ball extremely well.”
Joe thinks this is a rather easy call for Arians.
With an expanded practice squad, do what you have to do to get Fry on it and let Gay start the season unless he has some sort of historic breakdown in practice.
As Arians said, there are no preseason games to get a better read on things.
Joe wouldn’t want the Bucs to go make Fry their kicker in Week 1 because, well, there’s no reason to think they’re great evaluators of kicking prowess. So Joe would rather let Gay settle into his sophomore season and keep Fry warming up in the bullpen.
Derrick Brooks drops some very interesting Tom Brady thoughts near the end of this new TAMPA TWO video, presented by The Identity Tampa Bay.
August 21st, 2020 at 2:26 pm
Licht should be banned from drafting kickers.
August 21st, 2020 at 2:26 pm
Agreed Joe, that sounds like a solid plan.
Kickers……
š¤·
August 21st, 2020 at 2:34 pm
Itz gay that Gay cost the bucs two wins last year, Giants and Falcons. I have zero confidence in him
August 21st, 2020 at 2:42 pm
Disagree Joe: “With an expanded practice squad, do what you have to do to get Fry on it and let Gay start the season unless he has some sort of historic breakdown in practice.”
One or the other wins the job – I really don’t care which one. May the best man win. But let’s admit it..kickers by and large are a mentally fragile bunch with the exception of the Adam Vinatieri’s of the world. That dude is a different cat.
But really..pick the best kicker by the time we get to The Big Easy and let him know, “you are our kicker and nobody is waiting to take your job the first time you miss an extra point.” Build confidence in whoever wins the job…not more pressure. Just my opinion.
August 21st, 2020 at 2:46 pm
Man it’s Jamies fault !!!! Lol šš¤£
August 21st, 2020 at 2:52 pm
As I started reading this post, I thought the same thing Joe. Put fry on the practice squad. Based on the Bucs woeful kicking history, I’d keep two kickers this year, both to press one another in practice and as a Plan B should one falter during the season. It makes more sense to have Fry on the PS as a possible replacement for Gay should it come to that than to carry two FG kickers on the active roster. I assume Gay would not qualify for the PS, having played full time last year?
August 21st, 2020 at 2:57 pm
I wouldn’t waste a PS position on a kicker……likely no team would pick up a Buc reject this year.
Just rent the guy an apartment and tell him to stay in town….
August 21st, 2020 at 3:13 pm
To borrow from an old adage…Parcell’s maybe..? “If you have two quarterbacks then you have none.” Same with kickers.
Pinion is a punter first and a kick off guy second. not a place kicker…just to head you off at the pass.
August 21st, 2020 at 3:36 pm
I really like Matt Gay personally. And I still predict he will break the NFL distance record for a field goal. I have NEVER seen “FOOMP!” foot like his. But he’s on the clock bad for making more accurate kicks. He likely won’t get another chance after this. Good luck to him!
August 21st, 2020 at 3:39 pm
“Matt Gay, 26, is the returning Bucs kicker who had a very solid start to rookie season but faltered badly in the final game, missing field goal attempts of 49, 44 and 34 yards in an overtime loss.”
Very true. And to think he could have redeemed himself in that same game had Jamies Winston not thrown one of his famous TD passes to the other team…the Falcons in this case….and lost it.
August 21st, 2020 at 3:43 pm
agree with joe…
GO BUCS!!!
August 21st, 2020 at 3:48 pm
I’m surprised they haven’t brought in Roberto Aguayo to compete. I heard he was a high round draft pick, like 2nd? Can’t remember who he played for or why he’s not with a team now.
August 21st, 2020 at 3:52 pm
šoneilbucs has been waiting 20 articles to mention our former QBš
August 21st, 2020 at 3:54 pm
They talking about the two kickers this guy still šššabout jameis sad life dude.
August 21st, 2020 at 3:56 pm
How can someone be a Bucs fan and their only comments always talk about a player on another team.
August 21st, 2020 at 3:58 pm
@Buford
LOL!!
August 21st, 2020 at 4:20 pm
Ever since we got rid of Matt Bryant, we have had the worst kicking game in the NFL!! The painful thing was him making so many kicks for the Falcons for so many years, SMH!
August 21st, 2020 at 4:24 pm
Taymeis is a real hard habit for some of these boys to break.
Real
Hard
August 21st, 2020 at 4:26 pm
Doosh
I prefer Jaysom….
120 , 121 whatever it takes..
August 21st, 2020 at 4:30 pm
….or 220, 221 š
August 21st, 2020 at 4:31 pm
I’m not concerned about the 5th round pick for Gay….after all, how many 5th round picks to we have to show for our last 10 drafts?
I will say that “draft ego” will probably give Gay the edge if things are somewhat equal in practice…….but the problem with that is you have really no good idea who will perform best in games.
August 21st, 2020 at 4:58 pm
Bucs fans should want Gay to get “straightened our.” The guy has generational power in that leg..
August 21st, 2020 at 5:24 pm
If they didn’t have Gay last season it’s possible that, they don’t have Brady and Jameis is still the QB.
Thanks Matt Gay!
August 21st, 2020 at 5:30 pm
87
That is quite a turnaround on the #1 Jameis proponent….I’m sure you are as disappointed as I am that he didn’t work out.
How are things in the restaurant business?…..hope all is OK for you.
August 21st, 2020 at 5:43 pm
have we thought about getting him glasses like ricky “wild thing” vaughn?
August 21st, 2020 at 5:47 pm
TBBF…Brady is Brady. Tom Freaking Brady.
Our restaurant has about no lie 100-200 regulars so we’re always busy.
No one’s caught the virus yet though.
Kids go back to school on Mon so I’m excited for that after 5 long months.
August 21st, 2020 at 7:12 pm
Iāll be damned Doosh.
Iāve loved that line from Mr. Mom forever…..and Iāve been saying it wrongš
Iāll just have to work on getting better.
God is good.
August 21st, 2020 at 7:16 pm
youngbucs the point is it doesn’t matter who the quarterback is are how well he plays or even the offense plays the kicking game has got to be better . Matt Gay lost 3 games last year that none of yall wants to talk about .
August 21st, 2020 at 7:20 pm
Truth be told I’m just ready for this hold year to end . 2020 has been a bad year with sports and just dealing with this virus . I’ve been blessed that the Lord didn’t allow me or my family to catch this virus . Thank God for His grace !!!
August 21st, 2020 at 7:21 pm
Jmarkbuc,
Nicely done sir!
Donāt forget how blessed you are too…..
August 21st, 2020 at 7:40 pm
Cobraboy,
I see what you did there. āBucs fans should want Gay to get straightened outā, Lol! I know what you really mean, but the pun on that got me Lol! In all seriousness, yes I really hope he works out!
August 21st, 2020 at 8:12 pm
1000% agreed Joe
August 21st, 2020 at 8:40 pm
@VABucsfan,
He literally put quotations around straightened out. We hope you saw it.
August 21st, 2020 at 9:04 pm
I saw it lambchop,
Unfortunately that flies over a lot of peoples heads. Forgive me for spelling it out.
August 21st, 2020 at 10:28 pm
What is this āthey’reā? Lichtās been picking the kickers. Bruce is picking the kicker now, and unless the expanded practice squad = teams canāt pick off our players, you go with the guy who won the competition (so far Fry) and put Gay on the practice squad. I know weāre all happy Gayās mishaps got us Brady essentially š (kinda/sorta), but weāve seen Gay blow it, and weāve also seen kickers come out of nowhere.
August 21st, 2020 at 10:57 pm
Matt Gay is not the answer. I donāt understand why the Bucs didnāt give Stephen Gostkowski an opportunity. At least he can make extra points. At this point Iād keep two kickers on the roster as Gay is a total head case.
August 21st, 2020 at 11:07 pm
jmarkbuc Says: August 21st, 2020 at 4:26 pm
Doosh
I prefer Jaysomā¦.
120 , 121 whatever it takes..
Jmark, whether we agree or not about anything Bucs-related > love the Mr. Mom movie reference. Lost on many posters here, but awesome reference. Kudos!
August 21st, 2020 at 11:09 pm
Correction – 220, 221, whatever it takes! Love it
August 22nd, 2020 at 2:28 am
In case anyone care; word outta NoLA is Jaboo not having a great practice. Missing just about everybody with errant throws and fumblingā¦”Deja vu”….š¤£š¤£š¤£
August 22nd, 2020 at 4:25 am
According to NOLA, USA Today, the GM and head coach Jameis is having a great camp. The only negative thing I could find was that a pass went though the WRs hands cause they are use to soft passes and it got picked. Other than that one throw heās having a great camp
I liked Fry coming out of college better than Gay or Aguayo. Fryās mechanics are much better than both. Gay probably has a better leg but Fry will get you a better FGP. Toward the end of the season teams were starting to realize that Gays four step run up on FGA was a liability that could be exploited.
August 22nd, 2020 at 10:19 am
Fry’s major downside is leg strength. Gay’s zone is at least 8-10 yards longer.
August 22nd, 2020 at 3:16 pm
Orlando was in 1st place because of Elliot Fry, who never missed a professional kick.
Gay is a head case who lost 3 games for the Bucs last year and will do it again this year especially if Fry is waiting on the practice squad.
Did the Bucs sign Shady, Brady and Gronk to just make the same stupid mistakes over and over again?