Friday Night Highs & Cutting Aguayo
August 12th, 2017
More takes from JoeBucsFan Saturday columnist Gil Arcia
By GIL ARCIA
The preseason is not about the scoreboard. It’s not even about stats, really. Even criticizing the play-calling or the decisions made from the sidelines is silly.
So that’s why the important thing is how a player performed on the field. That is also why second-year kicker Roberto Aguayo deserves all the criticism being sent his way.
When the game featured good play from several Buccaneers, Aguayo decided to be the low-point of the evening. His missed field goal and extra poit were enough to not see anymore from him the rest of the preseason.
It’s time to move on.
Just last week, I suggested there was some hope of history being on the young kicker’s side. I was wrong. Once the highest rated kicker in NCAA history and one who never missed an extra point at Florida State, now can’t seem to direct his kicks through NFL uprights.
Wasn’t able to in 2016, and apparently can’t do it in now.
The front office needs to make a decision and needs to make it soon. This isn’t the time to look back and try validating the pick due to what round he was selected. The drafts are always full of hits and misses. Chalk this is up as the latter
This team has a very talented roster. No longer can the team afford to lose out on points when the playoffs are on the line.
That’ll be a waste of a season.
That’ll be a waste of this season.
The Positives
– Quarterback Jameis Winston appears (for now) to have learned to dump the ball off when scrambling out of the pocket and into the open field. Winston would give up his body for extra yards if he needed to, but on Friday night, he didn’t cross the line of scrimmage and completed throws in the open field instead for first downs.
– Cornerback Vernon Hargreaves intercepted a pass and disrupted a couple others during his time on the field. This is a very good sign, as he has carried that kind of play into a game from practice.
– The Bengals secondary had no answers for wide receiver Mike Evans. While many fans were anxiously awaiting the debut of a Winston to DeSean Jackson connection down the field, Evans proved he remains a (the?) go-to guy for America’s quarterback.
August 12th, 2017 at 10:22 am
Great read, Gil. I completely agree
August 12th, 2017 at 10:29 am
Highs..what Highs? Ohhh you mean me with the unauthorized substance in the parking lot? We had an epic fail in the red zone on our 1st possesion. And I witnessed Roberto A. n the sidelines filling out his fast food mngt application. And maybe I missed it, correct me on the pass rush of our Bucs. But was there one? Oh yeah, its just the preseason. Will we be sayin, its just a regular season loss as well? So much for the hype!!!!!!!!
August 12th, 2017 at 10:30 am
What Jameis we Trust just said. Couldn’t agree more Gil.
BTW…The Bengals had a bad season last year and fell to 6-9.
But this is a quality team loaded with their own high level of talent. We can criticize the Red Rifle for never winning a playoff game…but on the other hand Dalton and the Bengals hit the playoffs for five consecutive years before last season.
It’s not like we were playing the Browns last night…although they won and given all their draft choices maybe this is the year they turn it around.
NAH…LMAO…they still have a horrible owner…and it all starts at the top as we’ve seen here in Tampa Bay.
August 12th, 2017 at 10:30 am
Good assessment Gil
It’s time to move on from Roberto. He’s a really nice kid and I hope he can find success somewhere else but its not going to be in Tampa.
I’m very excited about the offense but the depth on defense and offense struggled for the most part.
August 12th, 2017 at 10:46 am
Mike Evans is a BEAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 12th, 2017 at 10:59 am
Wow, even Gil is done with Roberto. Before shook for cook ( he may be ROY) there was Gil’s erection for aguayo and the daily you’re stupid if you don’t think it’s smart to trade up for a kicker. The guy was even great his last year in college. Still can’t believe Jason did something so stupid. Kickers are free. Imagine if we had two more young stars in the making instead of Roberto. I remember his loyalists praising him daily even saying he would revolutionize the kick off with high short kicks pinning the opponent deep. One of the dumbest picks I’ve seen. Time to close this chapter
August 12th, 2017 at 10:59 am
Mike Johnson, if I had a million dollars, I’d give you a healthy chunk of it to be a fan of some other team – ANY other team. I’ve never seen a bigger negative Nelly in my life. Have a bowl of ice cream and cheer up, man.
August 12th, 2017 at 11:07 am
It’s interesting to note that had Aguayo made a few of his kicks last season, the Bucs may not have been in a position to draft Howard.
August 12th, 2017 at 11:12 am
Mr.jamas was NOT great either. Bucs at 2 yard line in 1st qr. and his throws were way off..Cant score-can”t win!
August 12th, 2017 at 11:25 am
1ST and GOAL@ the 2 😡😡😡 Come On Maan
“TOUCHDOWNS” not “FIELD GOALS” win games!!!!
If you want to help your young kicker “make him comfortable”…. take him back or demand that he goes back to FSU and practice those things that he learned there maybe he’ll find out what made him the most prolific kicker in College history
We talked about having a “Attitude” please refer to the Adam Gase example when needed!!!
August 12th, 2017 at 11:30 am
Aguyo ah bye bye o..
Time to admit defeat on that and get Folk comfortable with being our kicker headed into a critical season for this team
August 12th, 2017 at 11:53 am
Just a few observations. In the past I have made excuses for Aquayo but now I am a believer. Competition will not help if you can make kicks in practice but miss in real game situations. I think he needs a change of scenery and the Buc’s need less distractions. You have to know that in game that counts Jameis is not going to run 2 identical plays from the 2 yard line. Might have worked but Pac man is a gamer plus Jameis needs to put ball where Evans can catch it. Thought 1st unit looked good but we do have some depth issues. This could play out badly as the season wears on. Obvious offense was vanilla as would be expected in 1st pre-season. That 3rd rd Safety has all the aggression in the world, he just needs glasses, missed several tackles. Over all B+ for first pre-season effort. (with the exception of Roberto)
August 12th, 2017 at 12:12 pm
Mike Johnson continuing to look like the Joe Bucs Fan tool.
August 12th, 2017 at 12:18 pm
You think we call 2 back shoulder fades back to back in a regular season game when 2nd and goal on the 1? It’s obvious they were more concerned about working on certain plays and timing than trying to score. Same with going for it on 4th down at mid field in a tie game, more situational football to work on specifics than taking your best shot at points. I could care less about the score, just how people look and play. 1s looked decent, 2s looked OK, 3s looked terrible. Koetter isn’t going to call his best stuff in preseason. Defense is going to be vanilla (saw 2 or 3 times David was covering lafell, probably would bring in dime package. Also Hargreaves would probably shadow aj if grimes was out.)
Overall, a decent showing. Not great, but not terrible. Except for aguayo.
August 12th, 2017 at 12:20 pm
I was one of those that thought the trade for Roberto was a great idea….I am one of the few will still admit it today. I am in agreement that it is time to cut him.
August 12th, 2017 at 12:23 pm
….and he’s gone. Rick Stroud reporting, the Bucs have released Aguayo.
August 12th, 2017 at 12:24 pm
Need pass rush!
Make Bullough blow up to about 250 and send him on 3/4’s as OLB or 4/3’s as DE! He needs to work on his tackling, and that will come, but his instinct and his game speed rush looked outstanding!
August 12th, 2017 at 12:25 pm
….and he’s gone. Rick Stroud reporting, the Bucs have released Aguayo.
YES! YES! YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 12th, 2017 at 12:26 pm
https://twitter.com/nflstroud?lang=en
August 12th, 2017 at 12:27 pm
Mixed bag on this one imo…It’s not a good day when you have to cut a guy one year after trading into the second for him, but on the other hand, at least the front office has the guts to admit defeat, and move on to something better.
August 12th, 2017 at 12:27 pm
Breaking on nfl network too.
August 12th, 2017 at 12:31 pm
Phone just told me we waived Aguayo?
I can live with this. Hoped for the best but…..MEH
August 12th, 2017 at 12:59 pm
Anyone who doesn’t see any highs from last night is blind and will never enjoy the game. In the first pre-season game our offense looked good, we had no major injuries (that I could tell), and our kicker situation worked itself out.