The Biggest Three
January 25th, 2021
Kicker Ryan Succop
Ten kickers, seven years — one long-running, three-ring circus.
Like so much in society, that Bucs horror show was canceled in 2020.
Joe’s not going to ramble much about kickers.
All there is to say is that unheralded veteran kicker Ryan Succop, signed Sept. 1 to spare the Bucs from the Matt Gay Experience, drilled a 46-yard field goal yesterday with 4:42 remaining to give the Bucs a critical 31-23 lead en route to their first Super Bowl in 18 years.
Joe doesn’t even want to consider what would have happened if Succop had missed.
Succop, 34, drilled more than 90 percent of his field goals in the regular season, and he’s been strong in the playoffs.
Thank you, Ryan, and thank you, Jason Licht. Finally, finally, finally the Bucs found their money kicker in their high-stakes season. What excellent timing.
The following will read like a tombstone in a graveyard of Bucs seasons past. These are the kickers the Bucs used in regular season play from 2013 through 2019:
Rian Lindell
Patrick Murray
Kyle Brindza
Connor Barth (Act II)
Roberto Aguayo
Nick Folk
Patrick Murray (Act II)
Chandler Catanzaro
Cairo Santos
Matt Gay
May those seasons rest in peace.
Enjoy today’s were-in-the-Super-Bowl edition of The Ira Kaufman Podcast, presented by Bill Currie Ford.
January 25th, 2021 at 1:34 pm
thanks for this joe! that kick was money. you were also spot on and was hoping you would be with mickens. he played well yesterday. only slip up (pun intended) was him slipping on the last return which kept it before the 2 minute warning but the turf monster got him.
another shoutout is andrew adams! cant speak to his level of play when he took over for whitehead but obviously the defense held up and i will always remember him for the three interception performance against cam newton in 2018 and him being a reserve and getting the job done when his number was called is another testament to this team. that is why i love this team: every member contributes in their own way and it is beautiful to see.
January 25th, 2021 at 1:37 pm
don’t jinx him guys!!!! mad props though!
January 25th, 2021 at 1:38 pm
Some of these are doing quite well….namely Folk & Santos….with very high FG percentages and, Matt Gay at 87.5% on FGs & 100% on extra points..
Apparently, they are good kickers who couldn’t kick at Tampa…..maybe the losing culture affected them also.
January 25th, 2021 at 1:45 pm
Clutch….any of the aforementioned kickers would have pulled it dead left or shoved it well right.
January 25th, 2021 at 1:55 pm
As I said yesterday, Succop won this game for us with that FG with a little over 4 minutes in the game. He drilled every extra point and the 46 yard FG in pretty cold conditions. It changed GBs approach to the end of the game. Hope he got a game ball.
January 25th, 2021 at 2:01 pm
Ndog and el buco el suco are cowards
😂
January 25th, 2021 at 2:09 pm
I go into the other room any time the Bucs kick a FG or XP. That list of kickers has scarred me so badly. I’d rather not watch, come back and see they missed than sit there and watch it. Enrages me so much when a kicker misses a routine kick.
January 25th, 2021 at 2:15 pm
Patrick Murray was the best among those, just didn’t have a very strong leg. But, thankfully Succop is here.
January 25th, 2021 at 2:17 pm
Dang with all the excitement I had forgotten the years of bad kickers. I just prey for help in the secondary next year and bringing back all our players.
January 25th, 2021 at 2:18 pm
Everything fell perfectly in place for the Bucs to win this game.
– The clutch field goal
– The Scotty Miller halftime catch
– Tyler Johnson’s big 1st down catch
– Gronks screen.
What a game and I love hearing about all the drama now surrounding the Packers on this victory Monday.
January 25th, 2021 at 2:19 pm
I doubt we will ever see the sheep lover and his puppy dog again
January 25th, 2021 at 2:21 pm
I tried calling you LUV But whoever answered said it wasn’t your number
January 25th, 2021 at 2:27 pm
hey joe off topic, have you heard anything on whiteheads shoulder?
January 25th, 2021 at 2:27 pm
The Real Fans don’t hide when the team wins.
January 25th, 2021 at 2:29 pm
Absolutely. Spot on piece by Joe
January 25th, 2021 at 2:30 pm
Seems Light was always gambling on guys with a big leg, but lagged on accuracy/confidence. I remember last of season Arions saying he just wanted somebody that could get the chip shots in consistently. Looks like he went for it on 4th more often around the 40 instead of trying to gamble on 50+ yard field goals for points
January 25th, 2021 at 2:40 pm
That long list of garbage kickers has effected me mentality. I just cant help it……Every freaking time we line up to kick I tighten up, start sweating, its hard to breathe……..And I know Succop has been money. I just cant shake the ghosts of Bucs kickers past.
Im not sure Ill ever be right again.
January 25th, 2021 at 2:42 pm
Sincere thank you to Succop! Games come down to kickers and this guy brings confidence!
January 25th, 2021 at 2:56 pm
DBS, oh yes, the “real fans”, always in scare quotes… I agree with Bird calling these cowards out. If you were actual fans you’d be enjoying this not hoping and praying for failure like they’ve clearly been all season.
January 25th, 2021 at 3:14 pm
Would have been nice had Tommy tried to pick up a few more yards instead of throwing it into the turf like a whistle had blown. He sure was nervous to toss it after those three picks. But yeah money kick. Props Succop. Keep em down the middle!
January 25th, 2021 at 3:36 pm
OMFG!!!
YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUT YOUR KICKER’S SUCCESS … EVER!!!
Please delete this article before the football gods see it. It fear it may be too late.
January 25th, 2021 at 3:45 pm
Real fans root for their team to win!!!!!!!!!
January 25th, 2021 at 3:46 pm
The first rule of kickers is to never talk about kickers.
January 25th, 2021 at 3:57 pm
i hope joe knocked on wood…
GO BUCS!!!!
January 25th, 2021 at 4:49 pm
So the guy did his job. Gee whiz. Quit being a bunch of succops. Lol.
January 25th, 2021 at 6:27 pm
He has been damn good. It’s incredible how many kickers have trouble with the extra point though.
January 25th, 2021 at 8:32 pm
Succop has ice in his veins! Clutch!!!!!!! Feel bad that Connor Barth is on this list of washed out kickers as he had some good seasons before he blew out his Achilles in a basketball game but I guess that injury alone lands him on the list as it led to a long list of failed kickers after him (It WAS a Bucs life before 2020) and he certainly was not as good as Matt Bryant or Mr Clutch Ryan Succop!
January 26th, 2021 at 11:33 am
I still think that they were too quick to cut Matt Gay, the guy has a really good leg. He kicked very well for the Rams this year, not sure that he missed a kick for them?
With that said, I completely understand why Licht made the move. He didn’t want to risk it after Gay had a poor end to last season. Succop has been great, so definitely can’t say that Licht made the wrong move. I just think that Gay will be a solid kicker in the league.