“He’s Got To Make Them”
August 22nd, 2016
Already drawing the ire of fans.
By the reaction of Bucs fans on social media, it appears it is open season on Roberto Aguayo.
The second-round pick of a kicker hasn’t looked like one of the greatest college kickers of all time, but he sure has looked like directionally-challenged Kyle Brindza.
Yesterday, Bucs coach Dirk Koetter would make no excuses for his high-priced leg.
“Well, I don’t know if ‘concern’ is the right word, but every player on a football team has a specific role and a specific job to fill and they’re expected to do their job,” Koetter said. “Roberto, in both of the first preseason games – I mean, he’s been pretty consistent in practice – but in both of the preseason games he’s missed kicks that he’s expected to make.
“You know, he’s working with two holders – we can make all kinds of excuses but the bottom line is he’s expected to make those kicks. He knows it, of course. Everybody knows it and we can’t hide behind it. We can’t hide behind any of our mistakes and trust me, I’m making more than anybody out there but yeah, he’s got to make them.”
This “holder” thing is nonsense and a misdirection at best. Generally, punters are holders. Punters are cut and signed all the time. So if the Bucs — or any team — has a new punter/holder, one should expect shanked kicks? Please!
One of the worst excuses Joe has heard for Aguayo’s yips is what a fan Twittered Joe over the weekend: the Bucs put too much pressure on Aguayo by drafting him in the second round.
Nurse!
August 22nd, 2016 at 9:05 am
You know, I’m kind of OK with missing a 49 yarder. That’s a long kick. 32 yds though…..come on man! Yeah, and the holder thing, please!
If he’s feeling pressure, he brought it on himself by missing a PAT and a FG shorter than a PAT! What is he like 50% on tries?!
August 22nd, 2016 at 9:08 am
There are only 2 options, He makes all the kicks and goes into the season with confidence, or he keeps missing kicks and right before the season he gets a “mysterious” leg injury and goes on IR for the year and the Bucs then bring in a free agent kicker!!!!!
August 22nd, 2016 at 9:09 am
U can call it what u want but it is obvious that he’s feeling the pressure to deliver on being a second rounder. I honestly believe that if he was drafted in the 4th round there is alot less pressure. I’m not gonna panic like alot of the typical fans around here who want to get rid of a player the very first time they make a mistake, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned. It’s only preseason so until he start missing FG’s that actually mean something I’m not gonna panic. I honestly don’t think he’s gonna continue his funk, it’s better he gets this all out during preseason. He’s just gotta relax and not worry about all that crap around him. Go out there and do what u been doing your whole life. Stop worrying about anything else.
August 22nd, 2016 at 9:12 am
If it were true that Aguayo feels too much pressure because he was drafted in the 2nd round, does that same logic apply to our #1 overall pick last year? Then, add to that fact that a LOT of people were heavily critical of the Bucs selecting Jameis (hello Father Dungy). Is Jameis feeling pressure because of where he was selected, or because he simply wants to win?
August 22nd, 2016 at 9:14 am
I think Realist hit it right on the head. Aguayo starts making kicks or is kicked to IR in September.
August 22nd, 2016 at 9:14 am
The idea that a kicker is just getting things worked out and honing himself during preseason is nonsense. Kickers have one function. You don’t have an entire playbook to sort through. You don’t have to work out your timing with anyone else. It’s just lining up, taking a few steps and booting it. If he can’t do that now then why would he be able to when there’s more pressure and more scrutiny? I think we’re watching this kid unravel right in front of us.
August 22nd, 2016 at 9:21 am
Why don’t all you crybabies back off. Everyone
gets into a slump and for crying out loud, this
guy was the best kicker of all time in college football.
This also goes for our esteemed Head Coach…shut
up and let Aguayo work this out!!
August 22nd, 2016 at 9:23 am
Why don’t all of you losers and our Head Coach shut up and let
Aguayo work this out himself. He was the best kicker in college
football for all time you know.
August 22nd, 2016 at 9:26 am
Thank you. Or Hargreaves or Marpet or… the list goes on.
August 22nd, 2016 at 9:30 am
pressure only affects the mental weak. Aquayo has performed on the biggest stages and has been successful. I hardly think it’s pressure. I also think the holder talk is nonsense. The young man just needs to get back to the basics. get in a routine and stay there. Too much going on with the transition to the nfl, new team, new town etc… Just get back to the basics and Aquayo and Licht will have the last laugh…
August 22nd, 2016 at 9:36 am
I don’t know if this has anything to do with it, But if you watch all the college video, RA19 really liked the ball set at almost 45 degree angle!! If you watch the highlights of Jags Preseason game show the football almost perfectly straight up in down ( or for Pablo (tampabaybucfan) the Football is in the erect position)!!!!!!
Maybe our kicking expects can iron this all out!!!! Joe, get Martin Gramatica GM7 on the phone for some insight!!!!
here is the video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrcwonihW5c
August 22nd, 2016 at 9:38 am
I hated using 2 draft picks to get Aquayo, but, I am a Bucs fan and I really want him to prove to be worth his cost!
August 22nd, 2016 at 9:39 am
100% Agree with @Patrick and its the exact same thing I said during the last preseason game.
Kicking is kicking is kicking
There is no change in competition, you dont need to wait for the speed of the game to slow down, you dont have to build more muscle to handle stronger players. You dont need to study opposing defenses while also studying your own playbook.
its NONSENSE. Kicking is Kicking. And Aguayo better kick the damn ball through the damn uprights or he has no place on this team or any other.
A kicker who cant kick is not a kicker.
August 22nd, 2016 at 9:41 am
You’ve got one job and if you can’t do it, get off the field. If any of us performed at only 50% of our occupational requirements we’d be fired. There’s been plenty of busts in all rounds of the draft. I just hope that he or the organization figures out a solution. I agree with realist on this one though.
August 22nd, 2016 at 9:45 am
One of the greatest college kickers of all time? He was the greatest extra point kicker of all time. In field goals he was average to good.
August 22nd, 2016 at 9:48 am
The Bucs clearly need to keep just 4 receivers so they can clear a roster spot for a holder.
Over/under on the round the best college holder was drafted in?
August 22nd, 2016 at 9:49 am
Buyers remorse, I hate that. I’m not too worried yet.
August 22nd, 2016 at 9:53 am
He sorta looks like Little Richard.
August 22nd, 2016 at 9:53 am
The Saints will not keep both Kai Forbath and Connor Barth. Right now Kobra Kai has the edge. So Barth may be available if Aguayo should pull a hamstring and have to go on IR. Won’t happen until after first week of regular for lots of reasons.
August 22nd, 2016 at 10:07 am
Tony Franklin, Sea Bass, these were two of the greatest college kickers ever. He had a high percentage on the automatic field goals. Not like he was a weapon at FSU. Too high a pick, even if he comes back and is the Roberto of FSU, still too high. There’s a ton of kickers you can pick up late in the draft or as a FA that are automatic on the 25-45 range.
August 22nd, 2016 at 10:09 am
And to claim he’ll be the highest scorer on the team so it’s worth it argument is stupid. By that theory, every team should pick a kicker high because they’re their teams leading scorer.
August 22nd, 2016 at 10:10 am
I remember people going nuts about Tim Tebow being the greatest college QB of all time so that meant that people weren’t allowed to criticize him at the NFL level. How’d that turn out?
August 22nd, 2016 at 10:17 am
Aguayos’ career NFL stats: 0-0.
August 22nd, 2016 at 10:21 am
Relax Buc fans. This kid will be ok. He’s just gotta settle down.He’s kicked in front of some of the biggest crowds in Football coming from a major college program. I do believe he will figure it out. But he’d better do so in a hurry. He’s got 2 more..grace games. After that, the boo birds will be loud when he misses. If You’re a good kicker, then that’s what you are. He’s kicked great before. So I do believe he gets there in the NFl. However, this ain’t college, and NFL fans can be brutal….like myself. Batter up Mr.Aguayo. Its do or die. We need you. Just remember sir there is always somebody smiling..waiting in the wings to take your job…as is in all of our lives.
August 22nd, 2016 at 10:29 am
you Barth people are crazy. He hs NO LEG Left… He had a bad year last year and is only getting older. Nobody latches on to mediocre players more than the bucs fan base. Barth was good years ago father time and injuries have caught up with him. Barth is NOT the answer. It’s a little premature giving up on Aguayo…. It’s not like he has had 2 bad pre-seaons in a row ala Mike Glennon but Glennon is heralded and labeled “Coming into his own” or “Starter for half the league” yet he can’t dominate 3rd stringers. Aquayo will be fine.
August 22nd, 2016 at 10:30 am
I’m no expert in the kicking mechanics of a kicker but his approach to the ball looks a little different to me compared to most other kickers in the NFL. I can’t pinpoint what it is. Kind of like when you see a hitter in baseball with a beautiful swing. Most people can’t tell you what a beautiful swing is but they know it when they see it.
August 22nd, 2016 at 10:33 am
@D-rome
I don’t know if this has anything to do with it, But if you watch all the college video, RA19 really liked the ball set at almost 45 degree angle!! If you watch the highlights of Jags Preseason game show the football almost perfectly straight up in down ( or for Pablo (tampabaybucfan) the Football is in the erect position)!!!!!!
Maybe our kicking expects can iron this all out!!!! Joe, get Martin Gramatica GM7 on the phone for some insight!!!!
here is the video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrcwonihW5c
August 22nd, 2016 at 10:44 am
My expert medical advice: Coach Koetter should kick Aguayo out of practice for clearly not knowing “what he was doing”. There is also the option of locking him in a room with Miko Grimes for about five minutes.
August 22nd, 2016 at 11:07 am
tmaxcon… you could always trade Aguayo and Glennon for a 4th round pick next year. Throw in ASJ to sweeten the deal. No takers? Add Murphy, a done deal.
August 22nd, 2016 at 11:11 am
Buccfan37
Now you are talking…. Love the way you are thinking. LOL…. You included all my favorites… Thanks!
August 22nd, 2016 at 11:13 am
not worried about the 49yarder but being drafted in the second round I expected him to make kicks 49yards or less….the extra point and 32yarder are concerning….he has 2 more games to figure it out….pressures on him licht and dirk…GO BUCS!!!
August 22nd, 2016 at 11:26 am
Just workin out some kinks. He will still be the best kicker in NFL history by a mile!
August 22nd, 2016 at 11:43 am
I don’t really know what to say. I was mad at the pick at first but my wife tried to calm me down and I came around on it; basically just thinking he’d be our kicker the next decade because the guy was so safe at FSU and gave a lot of comfort when he went to kick FGs.
I feel like I duno who this guy is right now but he’s not the Aguayo I’ve known for the last few years. I just hope he locks his sh1t in and figures it out and we can forget about this but if it continues it’s very concerning
August 22nd, 2016 at 11:49 am
Have always been an Aguayo supporter from day one and will continue to be one. He was not asked to be drafted in the 2nd round. Don’t get mad at Aguayo for missing kicks. Be mad at Licht for picking him too early.
August 22nd, 2016 at 12:20 pm
@ dick… absolutly right. Last year, the best kicker in college was k. Fairbairn.
He was the all american and had a better % than roberto. He went undrafted and signed with the texans. You don’t spend 2 picks on a kicker… 31 GMs know that.
August 22nd, 2016 at 12:50 pm
Anatomy of a bust:
Give up a bunch of assets and draft a player way over projection. Do so on the basis that their talent and mental makeup is special, despite being the reason their college team was upset for first loss of their season 6 months earlier due to not handling the pressure (low kick which was blocked and returned for a TD to end the game). Then watch said mental midget squirm under the pressure of being picked unjustifiably high for a position that almost exclusively deals with high pressure situations.
August 22nd, 2016 at 2:25 pm
Thanks for the link Rhealist. Its a good point about Aguayo apparently preferring that his kicks be held at a slight angle. You can see it on a # of the kicks in that video that the holder (who Aguayo worked with his whole career at FSU btw) was purposely angling the ball towards his body.
I wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss the notion that the strong competition for punter is negatively effecting Aguayo’s accuracy. Once he gets locked in with a single holder, they will be able to work on timing and nuances for kicks much more effectively.