Dirk Koetter’s 10 Biggest Decisions For 2017 – No. 6
July 24th, 2017
The boot
So you thought Joe wasn’t doing a Countdown series this summer? Shame on you. Joe always has something like this planned to make you think and throw stuff at your computer. Last year, it was the Top 10 X-Factors of 2016. In 2015, it was the 20 worst Buccaneers personnel moves of the past 10 years. Now it’s Dirk Koetter’s 10 Biggest Decisions for 2017.
(Of course, this list is about decisions forseeable now, not wacky crystal ball stuff.)
No. 6 — The Kicker Pick
The Bucs have screwed up the kicker position far too often over the past 10 years, starting with sending Matt Bryant to the street following the 2008 season.
Mr. Bryant, 42, is still kicking for the Falcons, entering his ninth season in Atlanta. He made the Pro Bowl last year after drilling 92 percent of his field goals. In that key state, Bryant ranks ninth in NFL history.
During the Jason Licht regime, things have turned even farther south. Who could forget the Connor Barth-Kyle-Brindza-Connor Barth merry-go-round of 2015. And then came the drafting of Roberto Aguayo with a second-round pick last year.
Pass the Mylanta.
Now it appears the kicking call is off the plate of Licht and squarely on the plate of Dirk Koetter. Licht signed veteran kicker Nick Folk, who had a strong year with the Jets last season. He even got guaranteed money in his contract. Folk will compete with Aguayo and Koetter will pick his man.
Joe hates even having the kicking position on this Countdown, but it’s become that important. First, because the Bucs are a good team, and because Aguayo was the worst full-time kicker in the NFL last season.
Joe firmly believes it’s Folk’s job to lose. Aguayo is going to have to be perfect throughout August, or darn close to it, to have a shot.
No. 7 — Developing Noah Spence
July 24th, 2017 at 12:04 pm
Agree that Folk now has the inside track after all the upset with Aguayo last year.
Since we have Aguayo under contract we can keep him but does it mean wasting a roster spot? Could we try to slip him onto the practice squad.
I have this recurring nightmare…we use Folk and cut Aguayo and Roberto turns out to be the real deal at some future date.
Of course if Folk is all that we won’t have to worry about Aguayo.
July 24th, 2017 at 12:23 pm
This is a no-brainer for the Bucs. We cannot have a weak kicking game and expect to compete in the playoffs. Too many games are decided by less than 3 points in this league.
May the best man win!
July 24th, 2017 at 12:59 pm
@ st pete
Yeah i’d think it’d be ideal to keep Roberto around even if it’s on the practice squad or something; assuming he loses the job.
I just want to see him nail a few 55 yarders and get confidence in the strength of his leg again. He seemed to have issues with anything of distance last year and looked like he was over compensating at times. I don’t recall any FG in any practice that was a nicely hit 50 something yarder until reading about it in OTAs this year from one of the JBF updates.
July 24th, 2017 at 1:42 pm
I disagree with this sentiment of holding on to a player in fear that he may turn out OK down the road. I’m all for competition but if he can’t hack it, the Bucs need to move on.
WWBD?
What…
would…
Belichek…
do?
July 24th, 2017 at 3:27 pm
The “kicker” decision may well be Coach Koetters #1 “Biggest decision for 2017”.
If Folk is the choice – then of course the Bucs will try to get Aguayo back on the practice squad. Whether he would clear wavers or not is obviously the question – but if he does – it would make sense to bring him back on the PS in hopes of getting some type of value out of that spent 2nd rd draft pick at some point.
July 24th, 2017 at 6:22 pm
Joe’s right. Our placekicker has been awful. It’s been bad for longer than any fan should ever have to suffer through. I like Jason Licht but he has been a huge part of this problem. we have had awful placekickers every year he’s been here. Its been all time awful since Licht has been here too.
When I think about it I start to laugh. The laughter does not last long as soon as I realize how many wins it has cost us.
Obviously Jason is aware of the problem and he seems like the type of person that is much harder on himself about it than I am being. But the only thing that’s going to matter is if he’s able to fix this. If not the glazers got to do something. I’m not advocating for them to fire him over this but they’re going to need to find somebody to bring into the organization that knows how to Scout and find real kickers.
Bottom line is win and kicking is holding us back from winning
July 24th, 2017 at 7:03 pm
I am strongly rooting for Aguayo to come in this year, kick ass, and silence the well-deserved critics that he has amassed. Because if he wins the job, it means he will have done just that. Signing Folk was a gift because he never should have been released. When Folk lines up to kick, I have always felt great confidence that the Jets were about to score 3 points. If he has a 55 yarder, I still feel that way. SO, what I expect is for Folk to win the job and keep it (like Bryant did in ATL) for the next decade. And, for Buc fans to stop wearing out the front edges of our recliners and sofas!! GO BUCS!!!!