Kicker Frenzy At One Buc Palace
July 29th, 2023
Replacements thriving.
There was joy in the air at One Buc Palace yesterday.
Joe cannot confess to seeing every kick in the special teams period Friday during Day 3 of training camp, but Joe got a report that the dueling new kickers, Rodrigo Blankenship and Chase McLaughlin, made all their kicks. And that included each drilling a field goal from 58 yards.
After practice, Joe brought this up to special teams chief Keith Armstrong, and he playfully took all the credit — while saracastically noting he deserves all the blame when kickers miss.
Armstrong went on to praise the steady work of his 2023 field goal unit.
Ryan Succop, the Tampa Bay kicker the past three seasons, remains an unemployed free agent. McLaughlin was the Colts’ full-time kicker last season after holding the same job with the Browns in 2021. He’s got the big leg Succop did not.
McLaughlin, 27, converted 13-of-16 field goal attemps from 50 yards or more over the past two seasons. He struggled in the 40- to 49-yard range in 2021 but was improved from that distance last season, going 9-of-11.
Ironically, McLaughlin replaced Blankenship in Indianapolis. Blankenship kicked in two games last season for Arizona and was perfect on two field goal attempts but missed an extra point.
If Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht finds a capable kicker for this season, Joe is willing to say the Bucs’ issues with kickers (curse?) are 100 percent over.
July 29th, 2023 at 1:29 pm
That would be a dream come true. 🤞🏻
July 29th, 2023 at 1:32 pm
Field goals will be critical this year.
July 29th, 2023 at 1:36 pm
Only time will. Still remember when we let Bryant walk. I know succup isn’t no Bryant but the only knock on succop is he doesn’t have a strong leg but dude is money from closer distances.
July 29th, 2023 at 1:49 pm
Most accurate FG pct. in Bucs history belongs to Connor Barth. Barth was released in favor of Roberto Aguayo-Yikes – Who made that call?? Jason licht.
July 29th, 2023 at 1:57 pm
And Steve Christie before Bryant. Bryant was just more painful because the guy kicked against us twice a year for what felt like a dozen years.
July 29th, 2023 at 2:22 pm
One basketball game ruined Barth.
July 29th, 2023 at 2:22 pm
speaking for Pablo
Pablo’s favorite kicker was Automatica…..he also liked Cairo Santos & was embarrassed by Roberto. Pablo can’t get too excited about this pair…..but WGAF what Pablo thinks?’
July 29th, 2023 at 2:22 pm
If the Bucs have to rely on 50+ yard field goals Canales ain’t doing his job, imo.
July 29th, 2023 at 2:23 pm
My money is on Blankenship to win this kicking battle…
July 29th, 2023 at 2:40 pm
If Rodrigo Blankenship is healthy he’s the better kicker, in my opinion. He’s younger and also a former Bull Dog like Camarda was too. It would be cool to pair them up for the next 10 years-12 years (if football as we know it is even around then).
As far as Conor Barth. He was good, but never made it fully back after tearing his achilles during a charity basketball game. Not excusing drafting aguayo but it was that injury that forced Licht to even go looking for a kicker anyway.
July 29th, 2023 at 2:42 pm
I never watch field goals it’s so traumatizing
July 29th, 2023 at 2:53 pm
Until the real bullets start flying I will reserve judgement. After all we are talking about kickers who have fooled the Bucs many many times.
July 29th, 2023 at 2:59 pm
Actually Barth re-signed with Tampa on 10/6/2015 to replace the disaster known as Kyle Brindza and finished the season going 23 of 28 on FG’s and missing one PAT , so to say he never made it back after the Achilles would be inaccurate as it was in 2016 the Bucs errrrrrr jason Licht elected to go with Aguayo and release Barth , just to set the record straight.
July 29th, 2023 at 3:00 pm
It’s nice to have the option to be able to kick a long field goal, but I don’t see Bowles electing to kick those very often…he’s going to punt and trust his defense..
Go Bucs!
July 29th, 2023 at 3:52 pm
It’s amazing the Bucs are fielding 2 guys who can kick 58 yarders! What a difference a year makes!
July 29th, 2023 at 3:55 pm
Cricket Baker- the OC and the offense can be doing their jobs very well and stilll need a good kicker.
Touchdowns still trigger a PAT. Every point counts for a lot the NFL. And no offense ever scores a TD on every drive. If the Bucs are only kicking FGAs that’s a problem, but even the best teams still need to hit at least a couple FGAs to win most games. In the playoffs they especially.
July 29th, 2023 at 4:09 pm
Doubly ironically, Joe…
Replacing McLaughlin who replaced “You Sunk My” Blankenship is none other than Matt Gay-Blade. Gay has been money post Bucs…and may have had an assist in ushering out Winston and ushering in Brady. Thank you Matt Gay!
July 29th, 2023 at 4:25 pm
They pick the wrong one 😉
July 29th, 2023 at 4:37 pm
Since76 Says:
July 29th, 2023 at 1:32 pm
Field goals will be critical this year.
———-
Indeed. Let’s say the Bucs are +14.5 vs the Eagles, and it’s 23-6 in the final minutes of the game, and the Bucs get a fumble recovery on the Eagles 40, then lose 2 yards on their next 3 plays and it’s 4th and 13 from the 43, if they can hit that 60 yarder, they could still cover! That would be huge.
July 29th, 2023 at 5:19 pm
Barth is from Wilmington, NC……..where TBBF resides…..I’ve met him at several charity events (he’s big on charity)……he and his little Brother, Casey both kicked for UNC….Casey never made the pros.
Connor Barth was certainly one of the best Buc kickers…..
July 29th, 2023 at 6:06 pm
I get it was probably time to move on from Succop but it was nice not having a mental patient at kicker for those 3 years…. hopefully that’ll continue.
July 29th, 2023 at 6:08 pm
Sounds like they’re both pretty good. Take the one that’s better at extra points and hope for the best. Nothing on special teams pisses me off more that a botched PAT.
July 29th, 2023 at 6:12 pm
I remember Barth well. We had decent kickers most years till recently. Even that last fiflh round kicker, Gay is doing well in LA. Should have given him another year.
July 29th, 2023 at 6:24 pm
Anyone remember Donald Igwebuike? Perkins called him Donald Kicker. He was sometimes called Iggy. Who replaced him? I remember Iggy missed a late field goal against the BUCS while Perkins was coach. The next series his Buc replacement won the game and Perkins ran out and practically kissed him. On the internet it says his name was Reveiz. I don’t remember that name for some reason.
July 29th, 2023 at 6:31 pm
Yes, I remember Gramatica well. He was our Super Now Kicker.
July 29th, 2023 at 6:48 pm
Just give us Laces Out and “little football” cookies and we’ll be fine
Gotta give it to Joe, when most are clamoring that “Kickers are people too” and for more love/attention, Joe sure loves and gives his attention and time to the Bucs’ Kickers!
Thanks Joe for always keeping Bucs Kickers in the news and relevant 👏
July 30th, 2023 at 3:30 am
Big legs are not the end all be all. Hope they have Ryan Succop on speed dial.
Actually I hope our kicker only does PATs and kickoffs this year. LOL
Go Bucs!
July 30th, 2023 at 8:23 am
Infomeplease Says: “It’s amazing the Bucs are fielding 2 guys who can kick 58 yarders!”
58 in practice is not 58 in a game to tie or win with seconds left (the only time you’re going to try a 58).