Why Ryan Succop Is So Important
March 18th, 2021
Money kicker.
Yes, it was Tom Brady Day yesterday and Joe was going to raise a glass for that reason alone.
Only Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht gave Joe another reason to drink.
Last night it was announced that the Bucs re-signed kicker Ryan Succop. This was big news. In fact, Joe made it clear on the list of the Bucs’ Big 8 free agents, Succop was No. 2 (behind No. 1A Shaq Barrett and No. 1B Chris Godwin).
Yes, a kicker is that important to the Bucs both currently, and because of history.
Joe is a huge history guy. Want to avoid problems now or in the future? Learn from the past. And in the past decade or so, this team could not find a good kicker.
Oh, it wasn’t for lack of trying. Ever since Connor Barth blew out the Achilles of his kicking leg in a charity basketball game, the Bucs simply could not find a kicker. They drafted, they overpaid in free agency, they even went after minor league kickers. The Bucs tried everything. Nothing worked.
Joe swears Tampa Bay was the only team that kept its fans in their seats — stadium, bars, couches — for extra-point attempts because the kicking game was such a circus. And never mind field goals!
It was especially nauseating to see dome kickers come into The Licht House and outkick Bucs kickers — even in the dreaded south end zone.
Finally last year, the Bucs found a kicker when they signed Succop. Finally! Joe was so deliriously happy about this if, given the choice, Joe would have selected Succop to stay over Lavonte David, Ndamukong Suh, or furniture-tossing, bicycle-throwing Antonio Brown. Even Playoff Lenny!
The Lost Decade history of kickers is almost too gnarly to think about without suffering a bout of PTSD. Succop brought an end to that.
And since the Bucs plan to “Go for Two,” somewhere along the way they will be in a tough-fought, close game. Maybe even the next Super Bowl, when a field goal could mean the difference between winning and losing.
You can see why Joe considered re-signing Succop so critical.
“Remember us?”
March 17th, 2021 at 10:55 pm
I’m being chased by Leprechauns right now. I would keel over if we had to trust a new kicker. Whew…..
March 18th, 2021 at 5:48 am
I miss the days of Michael Husted. Dude was a more than willing tackler too.
March 18th, 2021 at 6:01 am
Why was this so important? Because we went through 8 kickers in the previous 7 years with very limited success. Ideally, you want a kicker you don’t have to worry about. A kicker that will make all of his extra points and field goals inside of 45 yards, along with 75% of those greater than 45 yards. Someone who is automatic(a), like Gramatica. Here are the 8 kickers prior to Ryan Succop:
Matt Gay
Chandler Catanzaro
Cairo Santos
Nick Folk
Roberto Aguyo
Kyle Brindza
Patrick Murray
Ryan Lindall
March 18th, 2021 at 6:07 am
Mid 30’s age the only knock on succup
March 18th, 2021 at 6:29 am
Love Succop and the season hr just turned in, his mechanics are amazing and he always looked supremely confident lining up for kicks.
But there isn’t a snowballs chance in hell that he was more important to this team than Lavonte David. Sorry, thats just a fact. You are severely undervaluing the off ball linebacker position Joe, just as you apparently always have.
March 18th, 2021 at 7:20 am
A good/great kicker shortens the field.
March 18th, 2021 at 7:34 am
Today that memorial of kickers is pretty funny. At the time, no so much.
March 18th, 2021 at 7:46 am
What about Tynes?
March 18th, 2021 at 7:48 am
I forgot about “Como esta Husted”.
March 18th, 2021 at 7:52 am
He makes kicking a little less agonizing. I want Suh back though
March 18th, 2021 at 7:53 am
What I like about Succop is that if he misses a kick He doesn’t let it get in his head and ruin the game and we lose because he missed three kicks He just goes out there and knocks the next one down.
March 18th, 2021 at 8:25 am
Having Pinion permits us to have a kicker with a weaker leg
March 18th, 2021 at 8:28 am
Succop had a good season, now that he is resigned lets not talk about him, no jinxes please! Read that Patriots were signing Aguayo to a futures contract. So many games lost on the leg of a kicker for the Bucs. The worse I know of was Nick Folk who lost the game for us versus the Patriots a few years ago at Raymond James.
March 18th, 2021 at 8:36 am
TB fan – Good point about Pinion. Succop is great but Pinion is a valuable Buc as well. Reliable punter, holder, and KO guy (I think).
March 18th, 2021 at 8:41 am
Can we agree to call him SOO-cop?
I hate saying “suck” about our kicker considering how much I appreciate him.
March 18th, 2021 at 8:46 am
Thank you JL for resigning the best kicker the Bucs have had in 10 years. The number of close games the Bucs have lost, because of a missed field, over the past 10 years is astronomical!! GO BUCS!!
March 18th, 2021 at 8:49 am
He didn’t look to have a weaker leg on his 52 yarder in the Super Bowl.
March 18th, 2021 at 8:54 am
WOW! Great signing. Was starting to worry a little bit when dragged out. Thanks Bucs. On to Suh.
March 18th, 2021 at 9:07 am
It will be nice to watch the draft without having to worry that we might draft a kicker.
March 18th, 2021 at 9:24 am
Ryan hits that 46 yarder in Lambeau in the 4th to make it an 8 point game. Huge Huge kick. If he misses, its a 5 point game and GB doesn’t settle for three and there is a possibility we leave GB without a win. Thank you Succup!!!!
March 18th, 2021 at 10:02 am
Joe, that photo gallery of Buc failed kickers is a true horror show. I just threw up. Not from excessive St Patty’s celebrating either.
March 18th, 2021 at 10:22 am
It was obviously those horrendous uniforms, kickers distracted by the numbers on the back of the players jersey, they were not sure if they were watching a clock, the scoreboard or whatever
March 18th, 2021 at 11:27 am
the photo of Roberto had me rolling on the floor…LMAO!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
March 18th, 2021 at 11:49 am
Joe, my detectives couldn’t have put together a more incriminating photo line-up!
March 18th, 2021 at 7:54 pm
Cutting Matt Bryant was the cause of all this. Our current Front Office is SO much more capable now. This past week is proof of that.
March 19th, 2021 at 8:27 am
Jaymiss Pick6 Again Says:
March 18th, 2021 at 5:48 am
I miss the days of Michael Husted. Dude was a more than willing tackler too.
——————
Do you remember when he almost took a fake 50 yard FG attempt to the house?
March 19th, 2021 at 8:28 am
Succop was beyond excellent on FGs… his extra points were far from automatic.