Looking Out For The Team
January 11th, 2017
Easing locker room tension.
When America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, talks about the Bucs as family, he’s not the only one with the same mentality.
Winning Bucs coach Dirk Koetter, though he may not publicly display it often, is a players kind of guy. Just look at all the ways he tries to keep players fresh through the rigors of training camp, right down to having walk-throughs at night under temporary lights in order to spare exposure to the brutal Florida sun.
And in the mind of outhouse-admiring, airline-napping, steerage-flying, Yogi Berra-worshiping, urinal picture-taking, video game-playing, Taylor Swift-listening, pickpocket-thwarting, Bucs-uniform-frowning, Allie-LaForce-smitten, Big-Ten-Network-hating, pedestrian-bumping, olive oil-lapping, popcorn-munching, coffee-slurping, fried-chicken-eating, oatmeal-loving, circle-jerking, beer-chugging, cricket-watching, scone-loathing, college football-naïve, baseball-box-score-reading, NPR-honk, filthy-hotel-staying, fight-instigating, barista-training Peter King of Sports Illustrated and NBC Sports fame, Koetter gave the team morale a boost by putting embattled kicker Roberto Aguayo on notice when he announced competition would arrive for Aguayo.
Alas, seemingly hours later, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht signed a kicker.
This impressed King, who took to his keyboard Monday morning on his site, theMMQB.com.
I think I’m sure Tampa Bay coach Dirk Koetter won points in his own locker room by saying the team would have competition for second-round kicker Roberto Aguayo in training camp next summer. GM Jason Licht traded into the second round to pick Aguayo, and he was the worst kicker in the league (among kickers who played the full season with their teams); he was a 71-percent kicker, and hit just four of 10 from beyond 40 yards. “Our field-goal percentage this year was not good enough,” Koetter said last week. “Jason [Licht] and I have talked, and I think it’s already proven that we have no problem moving on from a draft choice and playing someone who wasn’t drafted.” Good lesson for Licht: Let’s say the four best kickers of the current era (just my opinion) are Adam Vinatieri, Dan Bailey, Stephen Gostkowski and Justin Tucker. One was drafted. You can find kickers—and great kickers—on the street, or late in the draft. You certainly shouldn’t trade up to pick one in the second round.
While Bucs players are lockstep in their public support of Aguayo — specifically Kwon Alexander — actions often speak louder than words.
Joe was struck by the image of a prayer circle of Bucs players seeking help from a higher authority as Aguayo lined up to kick a game-winning field goal at Carolina in Week 5.
It was as if players were hoping The Almighty would help guide Aguayo’s kick between the uprights.
When have you ever seen a gaggle of players drop to one knee in group prayer in Week 5?! A Super Bowl or a playoff game, sure, but Week 5?!
January 11th, 2017 at 7:05 am
I have blasted him for moving up to take RA when we needed WR help so badly. But that is one of my favorite things about Licht, he is wise enough to move on from draft mistakes if he needs to.
January 11th, 2017 at 7:14 am
Great. ………….let the Roberto “Flamingo” bashing begin…….
January 11th, 2017 at 7:15 am
There is no way they move on from RA…the competition well it ain’t no competition!!!
January 11th, 2017 at 7:52 am
Exaggerate much? RA will be the kicker in 2017
January 11th, 2017 at 7:55 am
Aguayo kicked better down the stretch. He did miss vs. Carolina, but look at Gano….missed a couple himself. I think a lot of times Aguayo tries to be a finesse “place” kicker and ends up sidewinding the ball. If he just line-ups….strikes the ball with his plant leg pointing north and south towards the uprights…with his follow-through leg going through the ball (north and south, no sideways) and continuing through the uprights, he should be fine. I believe Aguayo has the distance as well, but he got off to such a shaky start that our coach lost confidence in trying longer field goals (50 plus) and that also had an effect on his confidence. I think he will bounce back next season, I really do.
January 11th, 2017 at 8:13 am
#BUCSbringhomeD.Poe
January 11th, 2017 at 8:19 am
Big fan of licht, ton of confidence in him going forward. That was a dumb move and I’m sure he will learn from it.
January 11th, 2017 at 8:39 am
I will never get over that pick, I’m sorry. Listen I don’t watch college sports at all. But to move up to choose a kicker? Man I lost it that night. Called my FSU buddy asking WTF (who the fu¢)
Man that pick there. Right there was insane. Jason please NEVER NEVER never ever do that type of BS again. Seems like you were trying to appease a certain someone. Cut THAT sh!T out yo
January 11th, 2017 at 8:42 am
Well, he’s either going to nut up this offseason, or he won’t make it out of training camp as the starter. If you can’t kick a 40+ yard field goal, you’re useless in the NFL.
January 11th, 2017 at 8:48 am
Still like the confidence to make that pick after setting it up the way they did.
Just like with any SKILL position… You can’t predict bust… Nor can you count on someone off the street… Let alone a kicker…
Go pick BAD PERFORMANCE… Lets hope the next 19 years are better…
January 11th, 2017 at 8:48 am
*Good Pick
January 11th, 2017 at 9:12 am
Greg zuerlien, Steven Hauscha, Nick Novak all free agents, all make 50+yard field goals better than Aguayo makes 40 yard FG, kickers don’t cost too much, we were a playoff team if Roberto wasn’t so bad, cut the the faster Licht moves on, the faster the Bucs get past the 2nd round kicker distractions
January 11th, 2017 at 9:13 am
Cut the cord
January 11th, 2017 at 9:18 am
This is the Genius of the new coaching staff!!! By signing some chump kicker days after the season, they immediately silenced the detractors!!!! Is he really competition??? what it does is give time for RA19 another year to adjust and get stronger without having to read how horrible he is on every local newspaper and web post, every morning!!!!!
Improvement in coaching indeed!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!
January 11th, 2017 at 9:36 am
The Aguayo talk is ridiculous, he was not good this year (understatement), but he was a rookie, he has the entire offseason to correct his issues. There was an absolute epidemic in the NFL this year with kickers missing extra points and missing makable FGs. Either he fixes it or he will be gone after the Preseason. He is not the reason we are not in the playoffs. Our defense was atrocious in at least 7 of the 16 games and we didn’t have enough fire power to overcome it. All of you who want him gone NOW are just haters. 2nd round picks sometimes need time to adjust, this was his adjustment year. If he can’t fix it…See Ya. We have wasted 1st round (Mark Barron, Gaines Adams etc) on worse. We have bigger problems than a Kicker. Doug is a druggie, Antone Smith showed promise until he got flamingoes on an obvious horse collar tackle, (of course that wasn’t called) Jacquizz is a FA, Barber is very raw and Charles Sims all-in-all sucks donkey d**k. Sorry it’s true. Yes he has had a few “good” games but he is not good. So what if he can catch so can 3/4 of the running backs coming out of college every year. If you want to use him as a slot receiver, fine, then do it. Just stop lining him up in the backfield and running him up the middle. Where’s the outrage for using a 3rd rounder on him or a 2nd on ASJ. Just stop it already about Aguayo, he is our kicker stop trying to be the “I told you so guy”. He will be fine or he will be fine. BTW, worst move in Bucs kicker history was when we got rid of Matt Bryant.
January 11th, 2017 at 9:53 am
^He will be fine or he will be gone.
January 11th, 2017 at 9:53 am
* will be fine or he will be gone.
January 11th, 2017 at 10:59 am
Man that prayer circle was one of the funniest moments of the season. Me &o my brother laughed so hard at that 😂
January 11th, 2017 at 11:01 am
“he was the worst kicker in the league (among kickers who played the full season with their teams); he was a 71-percent kicker, and hit just four of 10 from beyond 40 yards.”…..
that last line is a kicker!!!…LOL…..4 of 10 from 40 and beyond….that’s str8 trash!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
January 11th, 2017 at 11:30 am
MR.Light has NOT shown to be a great gm so far..Lets hope he learns from his mistakes in the draft and free agents or bucs will need a new gm .
January 11th, 2017 at 11:45 am
Roberto is mentally weak. He lost his mojo before the end of his senior year at FSU. He’s done…. NEXT MAN UP
January 11th, 2017 at 1:08 pm
Ben
“Mr Licht” has seen the team improve every year since he’s been here. Oops I guess you could say that’s an opinion so let’s cut to the chase…
Mr Licht has watched the team’s actual record…as in scoreboard..as in show me the money..improve every year he’s been here.
He switched coaches…that is his major move of his 3 year tenure.
So great that for me. Did Licht make a good move in replacing Lovie?
Second part..Did Licht make a good move hiring Koetter?
Was Licht GM when we selected our franchise QB. Was he right or wrong? Should he have taken MM or does he look smart right now?
Mike Evans…Ali Marpet…Donavan Smith…Kwon Alexander…are these guys great picks or busts?
ASJ…total bust
Again for me it’s all Al Davis…”Just win baby!” He’s won more games each year he’s been here. He’s on track for double digits next year and the playoffs.
So let’s denigrate him…in fact let’s replace him…it’s the Buc’s way. (snark font off)
January 11th, 2017 at 1:23 pm
I don’t hate any player on the Buccs roster. I reserve my hate and disgust for teams like the Patriots. Give me a freaking break! Who in hell on Gods green Earth can stomach another Patriot SB win? Truly nauseating if it happens again.
January 11th, 2017 at 1:35 pm
Erik and I are right.
I’ve only been saying it since he was drafted. I didn’t even need to wait for the season to start.
The mojo is gone and the playoffs are on.
Berto’s toast.
January 11th, 2017 at 9:35 pm
We will see how tough Aguayo is come training camp. He either mans up and does what he has to do to get right. Or he fails and he gets cut. No use talking about it anymore. It’s always the same thing over and over. We will all see in a few months what he does to earn his job or lose it.