Abnormal Is Normal For Bucs Kickers
August 29th, 2020
“Kickers! Get your kickers here!” A new kicker comes to Tampa.
Updated 5:35 p.m. – It seems the infamous Bucs kickers merry-go-round is about to resume operations — while practicing social distancing, of course.
Fresh off AAF legend and former Orlando Spurriers kicker Elliott Fry yacking on the field of the Den of Depression yesterday after clanging the left upright on an extra point attempt and badly missing a makeable field goal way wide right and short in the Bucs’ scrimmage yesterday, the merry-go-round is getting greased up and prepared for another run.
The Bucs worked out a kicker today.
Field Yates of BSPN has the details.
The Buccaneers – who are currently conducting a kicker competition between Matt Gay and Elliott Fry – had longtime Titans kicker Ryan Succop in for a visit.
Perhaps another player will be added to the competition soon.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) August 29, 2020
Succop, 33, was a strong performer for Tennessee from 2014 through 2018. Last year, he struggled to return from offseason knee surgery and was awful in six games. Presumably, he’s now 100 percent.
And to just add to the drama, former Belicheats standout kicker Stephen Gostkowski got a tryout with the Titans today, as well, reports Albert Breer of SI.com.
The way Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians groused about kickers this week, it almost seems a kicking move is imminent.
Joe maintains the Bucs will keep one kicker on the practice squad this year, if for no other reason than to guard against losing a kicker to The Sickness.
Hat tip: @rybuc1.
August 29th, 2020 at 5:22 pm
We can’t be all in and lose games due to continued inept kickers. Get a proven veteran who is at least reliable for extra points and short to mid ranged FG’s. Also, we better never ever waste a draft pick on a stinking kicker ever again.
August 29th, 2020 at 5:23 pm
Thank you.
August 29th, 2020 at 5:29 pm
You mean THE Ryan Succop!!! He’s actually famous. He was Mr Irrelevant in 2009 chosen last pick number 256th overall!!!
August 29th, 2020 at 5:30 pm
Not a lot of confidence with Succop either. Please correct me if I’m wrong: Replaced by Cairo Santos due to IR, whom the Bucs cut when they drafted Gay. Not in anyone’s camp yet this year. Danger!
What a crazy carousel. So you got a guy with a hip (Ghost), or a knee (Succop)…none of which sound very good–to replace who we have now, who is not very good? We’ve got two weeks from tomorrow. The fact they are bringing guys in…not a warm fuzzy here.
August 29th, 2020 at 5:31 pm
You mean THE Ryan Succop!!! He’s quite famous. Chosen Mr Irrelevant pick 256 overall in 2009!!!
August 29th, 2020 at 5:33 pm
Santos is Kicking for the Bears.. They already announced they are keeping 2 Kickers. Their other one is injured.
August 29th, 2020 at 5:42 pm
Just another example of the ole stale biscuit clown show!!!!!!!!!!!! Seems that some are mistaking of being ” all in” and being desperate to cling to their jobs for a failed one year window!!!!!!!!
And worst of all is the lack of “player development”!!!!!!!!! Only player “replacement” , which once again exposes how lazy and sloppy the coaching really is!!!!!!!!!!!! A plus coaching staff my Azzzzzzz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In a few short months we will all be discussing who the New GM and Head Coach will be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 29th, 2020 at 5:42 pm
Amazing how far the kicking game has come over the years. Jan Stenerud, in 19 seasons, connected on 67% of his attempts, and is in Canton now. Today, 67% will get a kicker fired after 6 or so games!
August 29th, 2020 at 5:45 pm
If the Bucs go for 2 every td, 2 conversions are the same as 4 kicks-
3 conversions are same as 6 kicks.
Why depend on a kicker making a 30 yard xpoint?
August 29th, 2020 at 5:47 pm
In other words consistently inconsistent….Jason Lite as a sand spur in his jock.. Lol
August 29th, 2020 at 5:50 pm
Lacking confidence in the kicker can force a coach to change play calls…..we absolutely, positively must have a reliable kicker…..let the best man win no matter where they come from….draft pick or not…..
I’ll take a kicker who can make extra points and kicks inside 40 over one that occasionally hits from 55 yards…..
August 29th, 2020 at 5:57 pm
Just curious, but who’s the holder?
August 29th, 2020 at 5:59 pm
Why don’t the Bucs just go for two after each TD? Might be better than going with an inconsistent kicker. It seemed to work for the Steelers a couple years back.
August 29th, 2020 at 6:08 pm
i say what would it hurt, and i am being serious, to bring in adam vinatieari for a look see, yeah yeah he’s 47 but would like to play another season, is he capable? i don’t know, might be worth the look see jmho
August 29th, 2020 at 6:16 pm
James West-
You might as well have the Bucs’ kicking coach, Chris Boniol, give it a shot- he won a SB with Cowboys
August 29th, 2020 at 6:35 pm
Oh sweet Jesus, just get us someone who is automatic from 45 in.
August 29th, 2020 at 7:09 pm
I can sense more Bucs kicking issues in 2020 from a mile away.
August 29th, 2020 at 7:11 pm
@ Alan Collingwood Says:
Back in The Day 60% was the Gold Standard, and 45 yds was a monster kick.
August 29th, 2020 at 7:43 pm
We CANNOT have this continue to be an issue. How many of Brady’s wins even Super Bowl wins have come off the leg of a kicker. We need reliable consistency! I hope Succop wins and beats out these bums
August 29th, 2020 at 7:47 pm
I really don’t understand why Gostkowski isn’t given a job somewhere. Even in his “bad” year he was still pretty good – and he’s not super old. So unless he just completely feel off a cliff, I don’t get it.
Succop has been a very good kicker for many years as well, but he did clearly fall off a cliff last year. However, as stated, if the issue was health and he’s healthy now, then he’s a vet that should calm things down.
With all that said, just go with the Gay and stop rotating kickers. The guy, outside of losing two games, was solid last year as a rookie, and most kickers improve from year 1 to year 2.
Finally, as a reminder, unlike the Gay, Roberto never missed a kick that mattered – that changed the outcome of a game – and he made his only opportunity at a game winner. He’s another guy they should have just left alone and him play and we’ve had a kicker for the next 15-years right now.
August 29th, 2020 at 7:49 pm
james west – Vinatieari lost the Colts games and has no leg. The guy is a HOF kicker, but his time has passed.
August 29th, 2020 at 7:58 pm
How much you wanna bet that El Buco Realisto,if given a chance,would live in Portland Oregon, would be a hater of America, never vote for Donald Trump and embrace Bernie Sanders but will reluctantly settle for Biden? Dude… Is that you, in all black, that we see burning our cities every night on TV? You are the most miserable negative person. There is no excuse for that. Go see a shrink.
August 29th, 2020 at 8:55 pm
The good news…Arians has more faith in Tom Brady not turning the ball over. So the kick that was missed to end the Giants game would’ve either been a TD or a lot closer FG attempt. Another reason that Brady is an upgrade.
August 29th, 2020 at 9:24 pm
Just stop kicking FGs (unless you absolutely have to)or extra points. Go for 2 and if you get 50% you’re even money. Go for it on 4’th down with the best QB and receivers in the game, why not. Let Gay use his big leg for kickoffs and FGs as a last resort. Eventually Gay may figure it out. He’s still young. Fogetaboutit
August 29th, 2020 at 9:28 pm
Of all the bonehead Personnel moves over the years, letting Matt Bryant go was arguably the worst. Atlanta rode that horse forever.
August 29th, 2020 at 9:30 pm
Oh…NOW Gay’s a problem. Not last year when he cost us 3 games and probably JW his job. Smh
August 29th, 2020 at 9:50 pm
Six losses by seven points or less.
August 29th, 2020 at 9:57 pm
AlteredEgo Say:
“Jason Lite as a sand spur in his jock.. Lol”
.
.
That sounds worse than icey hot!
August 29th, 2020 at 9:57 pm
Rod
There’s no justification for using a second on a kicker. Whether he would have gotten his head straight or not. He’s still not on a roster.
As for kickers in general, moving the extra point back sure messed with their heads….
August 29th, 2020 at 10:11 pm
And if the “starting” kicker gets The Sickness, what then? Bring back Aguayo?
August 29th, 2020 at 10:12 pm
Alanbucsfan Says:
“You might as well have… Chris Boniol, give it a shot- he won a SB with Cowboys.”
.
.
Plot twist: Boniol torpedoes delicate-constituted disciples in a bid to wear the uniform one more time!
August 29th, 2020 at 10:22 pm
Cobraboy Says:
“Back in The Day 60% was the Gold Standard, and 45 yds was a monster kick.”
.
.
Now there is some trivia that normal people don’t walk around with. If I didn’t already know that you were a kicker, I do now!
August 29th, 2020 at 10:33 pm
I haven’t seen anything on Gay so far of missing field goals this preseason or is the concern just what he did last year? Yes, last year Gay missed a few that cost some wins and possibly a playoff spot. But if it’s just based off last season why wasn’t he allowed to kick during the scrimmage to see if he’s actually got the shanks taken care of or if we need a better kicker. I still think Gay is our guy and getting a year in the pros outta the way, now he’ll start becoming a better kicker.
August 29th, 2020 at 10:34 pm
Check Joe’s (free) archives.
August 29th, 2020 at 11:48 pm
This kicker carousel began when the Bucs released Matt Bryant too soon. Now it’s some albatross that only Tom Brady throwing TDs can remove!
August 30th, 2020 at 12:50 am
Succop was a really solid kicker prior the the knee injury. If he really is 100% then he should really give them hell. He and Fry both went to South Carolina. SC puts out a ton of great kickers and punters the last 15-20 years.
August 30th, 2020 at 1:16 am
Creating competition in a shortened preseason. The guy we brought on to do that is not providing enough competition, so they are bringing in another guy that MG will outplay as well.
Not a big story, just trying to keep players sharp.
In BA I Trust!
August 30th, 2020 at 8:03 am
Rod Munch is right. Just stick with Matt Gay.
Also, people around here tend to forget that when Matt Bryant was here, we had to keep 2 kickers on the roster. I don’t see why we should do that again.
August 30th, 2020 at 8:04 am
I don’t see why we shouldn’t do that again.
August 30th, 2020 at 9:04 am
Interesting video clip, Joe. Two songs playing were Yankee Doodle Dandee and our National Anthem….both of which spark outrage with too many now.
So with the update, if the Bucs do keep two kickers, one of them doesn’t look to be Fry.
Wow. Okay…sign Succop.
August 30th, 2020 at 10:49 am
Joe
I wasn’t advocating for bringing oh-no-yo back, if that’s what you’re implying. I’m saying you should never ever spend a second on a kicker, and he hasn’t improved enough to make a roster— still.