Where Drafting Aguayo Went Wrong

May 8th, 2017

GM revisits transaction.

It was a little over a year ago when Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht shocked the football world by trading back into the second round of the draft to select kicker Roberto Aguayo.

Many Bucs fans shrieked in horror and, for better or for worse, Aguayo was instantly a marked man in Tampa Bay. Fans let him have it during a poor performance in training camp. And to this day, many a Bucs fan twists and turns in the wee hours of the morning thinking of potentially losing out on an effective edge rusher by drafting a kicker at No. 59 overall.

Last week, Licht appeared on “Schein on Sports,” hosted by popular sports television and radio personality Adam Schein, heard exclusively on “Mad Dog Sports,” part of the family of sports channels on SiriusXM Radio. The subject of drafting Aguayo came up, and while Licht does not publicly regret the pick, he believes he could have made things easier for Aguayo, the Bucs, and indirectly for himself.

“He hit a pretty good stride there about the midway point where he was doing well,” Licht said of Aguayo’s rookie season. “And then, he finished it up at the end where he had a couple of kicks I am sure he wishes he could have back.

“If I could go back and do one thing over, it would have been getting him some competition. We feel competition always brings out the best. We did that this offseason by bringing in Nick [Folk] who is an accomplished kicker in the NFL. He has made some big kicks and has a pretty good resumé.

“So, we will see how it shakes out. I wasn’t afraid [to bring in Folk] or make a move — that I am not too proud to say that we need to go in a different direction with any of our players that we draft or sign. [Aguayo] is not going to be any different than any of those. Right now the competition is going to be good and I am very much looking forward to it in camp.”

One of the best attributes Licht has is a result of learning from the master, Bill Belicheat, who told his staff: We all make mistakes. Admit your mistakes, cut your losses and move on.

Licht has heeded these words and has demonstrated he won’t think twice about booting a player not getting the job done.

Whether Folk lights a fire under Aguayo and it forges the Florida State product to become a decent NFL kicker remains to be seen. Joe is confident of two things: this competition will provide drama for “Hard Knocks,” and whoever may win should be a competent, reliable kicker this fall.

85 Responses to “Where Drafting Aguayo Went Wrong”

  1. Destinjohnny Says:

    The whole thing was stupid on every level.

  2. Brett Says:

    Even at FSU, he couldn’t hit kicks consistently passed 40 yards. How could Licht have missed this detail?

  3. mike n Says:

    @destinjohnny… 100% correct. Drafting a kicker, and kicker by using picks is os dumb. Trying to justify it by saying if he ad competition ect, even dumber. Kickers are free or cost very little to aquire.
    On top of that, he never was great from long distance. Then the fact we had so many holes to fill

  4. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    People around here detest…outright hate Aguayo. They spew harsh words all the time. But I’m going to quote one of the wisest things someone has said about Aguayo:

    Defense Rules Says
    February 24th, 2017 at 4:36 pm
    “…Regardless of how much Roberto improves, the pick isn’t on him…”
    https://www.joebucsfan.com/2017/02/tagging-malik-mcdowell-round-1-buccaneers-blog/#comment-3781379

    People hold it all against Aguayo. The kid was hated on from the moment he was picked. Fans would say, “What kind of pressure does a kicker have?”

    Meanwhile, the guy was getting death threats on twitter before he even came to Tampa. Tampa fans suck (but that’s another topic). And the pressure never let up. Imagine stepping up to kick and knowing that even if you made the last 7 kicks, if you miss this 8th one, you’ll get more hate, more threats and people screaming for your job.

    I don’t know if Roberto Aguayo will turn things around, but I hope he does…as should every fan of the Buccaneers. Because if he turns things around, we get a career kicker for the next 10-15 years. Fans should not be booing him, they should be cheering him, encouraging him.

    Newsflash…doing so will not convince Licht or Koetter to keep him. Your cheers won’t affect his roster position. His playing will. So there is no harm in being encouraging.

    Maybe its just me, but I think back to when my youngest son was trying to learn to walk. I didn’t boo him every time he fell. I encouraged him and he succeeded. While Aguayo is obviously not a child, positive reinforcement does indeed work…and we all need it from time to time.

    Bottom line is this…if you want the Bucs to succeed, you should want every player on the roster to succeed.

  5. rayjay1122 Says:

    Hopefully Licht learns from his mistakes. All in all, I really do believe he had a much much better draft this year than last year. I could see every pick making the team and a few being key contributors.

  6. Jim Says:

    Good words, Bonzai…

  7. The Buc Realist Says:

    Said this a while ago!!!

    The Buc Realist Says:
    April 10th, 2017 at 10:56 am
    I was talking with “someone in the know” about the kicker picked at the bottom of the second round!! We both agreed that if John Robinson did not go to the Titans and knew the game plan, that NFL GM Licht would have waited until the bottom of the 3rd round!!!!!

    For the record, whether RA19 makes it or not, I like that our GM goes out of the box!!! If you just follow the blue print then you are nothing more than just a follower!!!!!

    Go Bucs

  8. Bucamania Says:

    Drafted a kicker in the second round. Traded up to get him. A kicker with no leg and a brittle mind. Still can’t believe it. I love Licht but that was epicly stupid.

  9. OhioBuc Says:

    @Bonzai…. BRAVO! Never really thought about it that way (referencing encouraging your son) but that is one helluva point.

  10. Defense Rules Says:

    @Bonzai … “Bottom line is this…if you want the Bucs to succeed, you should want every player on the roster to succeed.” The perfect summation Bonzai.

  11. Dusthty Rhothdes Says:

    That pick was bad because it did not help the bucs win games like possibly adding needed safety help that was available like vonn bell, go get a derrick henry at RB, or Michael Thomas at WR, but now the bucs wasted another #2 pick

  12. Chris@Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa Says:

    Licht , for the most part, does what he says.
    However, what about Charles Sims ? How long will it take for him to admit he made a mistake, and move on ?
    I will be surprised if Sims makes the final cut this year.

  13. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    My son is graduating high school this week…so that might be why I thought of him, lol. He’s only go a year of college left too…was dual enrolled.

  14. Supersam Says:

    Licht has a misaerable second round career grade, that’s why I’m worried about this Justin Evans pick.

  15. Pickgrin Says:

    I was hoping we drafted Aguayo last year – in the 5th round. 4th at most. Could hardly believe we moved up and drafted him at the bottom of the 2nd round when it happened.

    Light said they had a 1st round grade on Aguayo as justification – but it is hard to imagine any kicker being good enough to merit a 1st round pick no matter how good. Same kinda goes for the 2nd round as well IMO.

    Oh well – Whats done is done. Hope Roberto finds and keeps his mojo and works out long term – but I would hazard to guess that unless/until he kicks a 54 yard FG in the final seconds to win a Super Bowl – that most Bucs fans will never be satisfied with that pick nor be very supportive of the player – which is a shame.

    Glad they brought in a legit kicker with NFL experience as competition. May the best kicker win. I will root for whoever our kicker is this year and like everyone else – scream and cuss at said kicker if he misses kicks that cost us games in 2017 or any other year. That’s just the nature of the position.

  16. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    Supersam, I thought the same thing at first.

    But then I realize that’s not true.

    2016 Noah Spence (good)
    2016 Roberto Aguayo (undetermined)

    2015 Donovan Smith (good to so-so; developing)
    2015 Ali Marpet (great)

    2014 Austin Seferian-Jenkins (horrible)

    So really, only 2 of his 5 2nd round picks are questionable at present.

    Donovan Smith will look much better this year, trust me. ASJ was obviously horrible. On the surface, Aguayo looks bad, but we really won’t know until this year plays out. There is still a chance he pulls a Janikowski (spelling).

    One could argue that second round appears so bad because he’s had more picks in that round than any other.

  17. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    Pickgrin Says
    “I was hoping we drafted Aguayo last year – in the 5th round. 4th at most.”

    Same. I had him on my wishlist around the same round grade. It was a ballsy move…but even if it fails, contrary to what the media tells us, I don’t believe Licht’s GM job will be judged by it.

  18. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    Pickgrin Says
    “I would hazard to guess that unless/until he kicks a 54 yard FG in the final seconds to win a Super Bowl…”

    LOL…ironically, this might be the year he gets that opportunity. That would almost make you a prophet. 😉

  19. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    But imagine if he missed.

    Ouch.

  20. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    I really wish they would change the practice squad rules. Make it so that 1-2 year players cannot be signed away…but allow 4 year players on the squad.

    OR…create a developmental squad of 6 players that raise the main roster to 60. Designated developmental players cannot be active for games. Once off, they stay off.

    That would rock.

  21. theodore Says:

    Everyone seems to forget it could have been worse. Licht could have drafted a punter.

  22. Pickgrin Says:

    Bonzai – if that scenario actually came to pass – I don’t know if I could even watch the attempt.

    Could you imagine the hand wringing and drama and negative, fearful expectation of the outcome by millions of Bucs fans on Feb 4th, 2018 if Aguayo lined up in Minneapolis for a 54 yd FG attempt with 4 seconds left on the clock and the Bucs trailing the Raiders by 1 point…..

  23. Defense Rules Says:

    Pickgrin & Bonzai … Have felt for quite awhile that Jason Licht has a bit of a gambler in him. Thus the move to take Roberto in the 2nd rnd? But that same gambler mentality also got us Jameis, Ali & several other stalwarts. Much as I’d love to see him hit on every pick, I have to keep telling myself that’s just not reality.

  24. Buc1987 Says:

    Where can I get a Nick Folk jersey?

    Baby, baby, when you do The Fly
    Your arms are wasted wavin’ in the sky
    Come on and hold me like a lover should
    The Watusi makes you feel so good

    Wah-a, wah, wah-a Watusi
    Oh, baby, it’s the dance made-a for romance

  25. gotbbucs Says:

    It is what it is really. They could have picked any position and they could have bust.

  26. Defense Rules Says:

    @Bonzai … “change the practice squad rules”. Awesome idea. I’d even be happy if we could just protect a player for 1 year on a ‘developmental squad’. Keeping a 3rd QB like Ryan Griffin on the active roster for 2 yrs just so no one else would snarf him away had to impact our offense or defense depth one way or another.

  27. Stpetebucsfan Says:

    Two things could have changed the perception of last year’s kicker pick.

    If we had picked him in the 5th nobody would be going crazy, simply stating that he wasn’t all that.

    If he kicked like Vinateri Licht would actually be getting props. One can never know what psychological effect not getting points has…but I honestly believe if Aguayo had kicked like Vinateri we would have won at least one maybe two more games. It’s not just his missed kicks….lack of faith TOTALLY changes everything in the offense down to the play calling!

    Sooooo….one of two things is going to happen….we can’t undraft him…he’ll always be a second round draft choice…get over it!!!! So he either busts like OTHER 2nd round draft picks…or he doesn’t and he the Folk competition does make him realize his potential.

    To be honest I’m not that concerned because I know Folk is a competent professional….I”m rooting for Aguayo though…he’s a nice kid and he was a generational kicker in college…if he could do that in the pros a second round pick would be chump change on team poised to really compete.

    If we’re talking playoffs and all the way to Minny…we simply MUST have a $$$ FG kicker to win the inevitable close games.

  28. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    Pickgrin Says
    “Bonzai – if that scenario actually came to pass – I don’t know if I could even watch the attempt.

    Could you imagine the hand wringing and drama and negative, fearful expectation of the outcome by millions of Bucs fans on Feb 4th, 2018 if Aguayo lined up in Minneapolis for a 54 yd FG attempt with 4 seconds left on the clock and the Bucs trailing the Raiders by 1 point…..”

    Oh God, that would possibly one of the most stressful 4 seconds of my life.

    I like how you said the ‘Raiders’. I would love nothing more than to beat them in a Superbowl again. 🙂

    Although…beating the Pats would get us more recognition…

  29. Pickgrin Says:

    I’m one of Licht’s biggest supporters DR. He has done the near impossible which is draft his way from a 4-12/2-14 level talent of a team that Dom left us with – into a 10-6+ talent level team in just 3 1/2 years. That chits hard to do.

    I didn’t like paying so much for a kicker – but even if Aguayo gets cut because he’s not good enough – it won’t shake my faith in Licht’s ability to draft/acquire talented football players. He’s made some mistakes and/or misjudged as every GM does regularly – but he’s also cut and run every time as soon as it was possible to do so once those mistakes were identified. And they were identified. That’s the important point.

    Licht drafts better than most GMs and he moves on from mistakes that are made ASAP when they occur. Its a winning formula and why such great things are on the horizon for this franchise. Need to go find those special shades I bought on Chucky’s recommendation when he was here. I think we finally need them.

  30. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    Stpetebucsfan,

    I sort of wish we could somehow manage to keep both kickers as insurance.

  31. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    Defense Rules

    He does have the gambler in him…and it’s not just in the draft. HE signs a LOT of free agent players that have extensive injury histories, hoping they work out. That part I hate, but in the draft he hasn’t done so bad.

    It;s his draft record that earns him a little faith.

  32. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    Pickgrin, that willingness to cut and run scores points with me too.

    Although in some cases I think he does it a year or two too soon (McDougald).

  33. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    Honestly…Licht is very much like New England Bill, outside of the cheating.

    I don’t know of another GM in the NFL that is so similar, and it’s encouraging. It means we have a chance to become the next super franchise…and I LOVE that.

  34. Pickgrin Says:

    Bonzai says:
    “beating the Pats would get us more recognition…”

    You’re right Bonzai – I like that idea better. Then the true prophet – the Messiah who talked about “competing in Super Bowls with Quarterbacks like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady” before he was even drafted into the NFL would see his vision come into literal being.

  35. Tampa Tony Says:

    Roberto should’ve never been picked. Dude never made long kicks consistently at FSU and padded his stats by making short kicks and even shorter pats.

    Cut him if he can’t beat Folk

  36. Pickgrin Says:

    If McDougald was as good as you seem to think Bonzai, the Bucs would have re-signed him which they obviously had zero interest in doing – and he wouldn’t have been without a team for almost a month nor forced to take his best offer which was a 1 year $1.5M contract to be a guaranteed back up.

    Those are all facts and they speak loudly as to how “good” an NFL safety Bradley McDougald is currently. Hes a fairly solid back-up in the NFL which is quite an accomplishment for a UDFA – but he’s just not talented enough to ever be a top safety and that’s what we need at least 1 of for this defense to really be good.

    I don’t know if Justin Evans is that guy or not. His draft position would suggest he has the talent to be that though… fingers crossed.

  37. Pickgrin Says:

    You just love that “Messiah” talk don’t you Tony – LOL

  38. Buc1987 Says:

    “I like how you said the ‘Raiders’. I would love nothing more than to beat them in a Superbowl again.”

    Bonzai…I tell you what that SB was truly a gift. Long deserved of course, but the ramifications(proper word?) around it are still a BIG deal to me. That Super Bowl for me is equal to Happy Gilmore’s …happy place. If I get pissed off it’s where I go. I go to San Diego in my head and I’m smiling again. To this day. Like it was yesterday.

    For the young Bucs fans that were too young back then or not even born, words cannot describe the feeling of the Bucs winning the SB. Perhaps one of the top 5 best moments of my entire life. If I make it to 85 yrs old, in a nursing home, no matter how many more they win, that first one will ALWAYS put a smile on my face. That and Ronde’s pick against the Eagles of course.

  39. DallasBuc Says:

    If AguaOh,no is forced into to service again in 2017 because our ego-in-chief GM can’t own up prepare yourselves for some disappointing Sundays. This situation has the potential to precipitate into a full blown disaster if there are meaningful games on the line. Just the fact that AguaOh,no is still on the team tells me the exact opposite of what this propaganda piece is attempting to convince of us of, Licht has not learned from his mistakes and moved on because he still has not admitted his mistake to begin with. It’s not about competition it’s about trading up to take a keeker in the 2nd instead of the 5th and this guy not being able to hit water from the beach. And he sucked all through training camp and preseason. Any GM worth a shht would have had a competent place kicker off the street on the roster for the regular season after AguaOh,no continued to suck by the end of that 3rd preseason game.
    All the lectures by Bonzai and obfuscating of the GM record by the media won’t mean jack shht when AguaOh,no can’t make a 41 yard kick in a critical game this season. He is an entirely unnecessary liability.

  40. Buc1987 Says:

    Jason Licht Says : “If I could go back and do one thing over, it would have been getting him some competition.”

    DallasBuc Says:

    “If AguaOh,no is forced into to service again in 2017 because our ego-in-chief GM can’t own up ”

    Not getting into a battle with you Dallas, but I think he “owned up” right there.

  41. Pickgrin Says:

    Nice ’87. I know exactly what you mean. I rarely cry whether for happiness or its opposite – but I had tears upon tears of joy streaming down my face towards the end of that game. As a Bucs fan for so long I had suffered and suffered and suffered some more. 13 straight years of losing from ’84-’96 that makes our recent 7 year mostly losing streak as a team seem like a cake walk. That SB win was redemption for everything negative that long-time Bucs fans had suffered through and was truly a cathartic and magical moment in time.

  42. Tampa Tony Says:

    @Pickgrin- I don’t believe in fairytales aka religion so no messiah talk here

  43. Pickgrin Says:

    and then Dallas chimes in and spoils the moment…. Oh well – that’s life in jbf world. Thanks a lot Debby D. You are always such a ray of sunshine around here Dallas.

  44. Pickgrin Says:

    Just a joke Tony. Jameis is “the Messiah” because we’ve never had a true franchise QB in 40+ years – but now we do. I know you are still not yet quite ready to anoint him as such but in time even you will have to admit that he is that and more.

  45. DallasBuc Says:

    87- wrong. He is saying that the mistake was not getting him competition. That’s not owning up to the real mistake, trading up into the 2nd round to take a kicker that can’t kick. The agenda-driven propaganda piece is pulling a fast one on you and you are falling for it.

  46. 911bucs Says:

    Realist,
    Nothing wrong with being a follower as long as you follow the right people.

  47. DallasBuc Says:

    Aww Picky…is the truth too much of a downer for you? It’s okay people have been blaming the messenger throughout time. The real downer is going to be when our GM forces you to count on AguaOh,no to make a kick in a critical game. I’m sure you will find a way to make that my fault too!

  48. Pickgrin Says:

    The messenger of what Dallas? That our GM sucks? You are one of the few posters still clinging to that obvious misperception

    Coach K will be making the final decision as to whether Aguayo is the starting kicker or not Dallas. Not the GM. Are you really that ignorant to make such a claim? SMH

  49. Buc1987 Says:

    DallasBuc…so you’re saying you’d like him to own up to it. When was he supposed to do that? Last season when Berto was missing everything in sight? Kicker’s are fragile creatures. I’m sure you know that. You can’t just yank them out for missing a tackle like a LB.

    I knew it was bad pick from the get go and trading up had nothing to do with it. He should have never been drafted before the 5th round.

    I’m not siding with a dude(Licht) I’ve never met. Hell I know you better than I know him for ef’s sake, put here’s a question that I prolly know the answer to already.

    If the Bucs make the playoffs will you let off the guy or do they have to WIN the Super Bowl this coming season? I know you’ve said in the past you’d accept nothing less than a SB win. I really don’t care if you let up or not, I like to read. I only ask the question to ease other posters minds about your posts. So they can get a better gauge as to where you’re coming from, cause as you know, something like 95% of JBF posters like him as the GM.

    I think it’s fine that you expect the Bucs to win the Super Bowl every season or if not you’re going to be pissed off to all hell. To each his own, but I’m pretty sure, most fans of NFL teams across the league are not on that same page. as you. Again not complaining about your opinions. The comment section would be lame without you here, just dropping something I’ve wanted to drop for about a week now and never got around to it.

  50. Buc1987 Says:

    Golf clap for 87.

    You guys are getting some long reads out of me today. lol

  51. owlykat Says:

    Anyone who would threaten the life of any Buc Player is no Buc Fan! However, if a college kicker can’t kick a field goal over 40 yards, there is no chance he will do it in the Pros with more intense pressure mentally. So it would have been a bone headed pick even with a seventh round pick last year. Doing so with a second pick, and losing more picks moving up to do so was just insane. The person who should have been booed was Licht. I will be cheering for Folk to win the contest this year. If Licht had not spent a 2d round pick for Arguayo last year, the Bucs would have replaced him right away. So those games that we lost because of poor kicking should have been blamed on Licht. Licht’s stupidity cost us the Playoffs last year. Licht’s superiority complex has nothing to do with reality.

  52. Buc1987 Says:

    I grew up a Red Sox fan. I grew up hating(not anymore) Bill Buckner.

    Aguayo….sigh.

    Well….you get the point.

  53. Buccfan37 Says:

    Everyone is entitled to mistakes in their life, Aguayo is a whopper.

  54. DallasBuc Says:

    87- “If the Bucs make the playoffs will you let off the guy or do they have to WIN the Super Bowl this coming season?”
    Who?…AguaOh,no or Licht?

  55. Dewey Selmon Says:

    I’m hoping Folk wins the job and we forget about Roberto the kicker. I have gone through enough losing lately and I shouldn’t have to hold my breath on every kick including XP’s.

  56. Buc1987 Says:

    Folk should prove to be the better in kicker in the end.

    Why I bring up Buckner and baseball? Cause Buckner got death threats.

    If Aguayo misses the game winner in the NFC Champ. God help the kid after that. I know Tampa’s not Boston, but I might have some pretty bad thoughts about the kid. So I get it Dallas.

    Anyone that doesn’t know about Buckner can google his name and hit videos. He played many seasons in MLB, but I’m pretty sure he has only one video out there. Never looked. No need to, it’s emblazoned into my mind forever.

    Don’t let Aguayo be another Bill Buckner.

  57. Buc1987 Says:

    Dallas…I’m counting on Folk to actually, really, hard believe. beat Berto in TC and preseason. At that point Licht will own up, say he made a mistake and tell us we’re moving on like he always does to a point. ASJ being one example. They moved on and set out to get another TE. One with the similar frame and build. Without out all the BS. ASJ has all the tools and talent. Like Freeman did. There’s just too many mental cases out there and coming from a poor family or not. Many of these kids are part of the entitlement generation. They get there money and they’ve reached their plateau. It’s party time. They’ve made it, cause they made their millions. Dumbasses like Freeman, ASJ and another guy that’s still on our team trying out for rb.

  58. Birdie Says:

    You should not use a 2nd round pick on a kicker period!

  59. Mike Johnson Says:

    To hell with all of the..plausible pretext one uses to..hide behind. You either will or Won’t..shine or you Don’t! Batter up Roberto. This ain’t diaper changing 101.
    Somebody is waitin in the wings..ready to feast on your demise. Or..you can just take the easy way out and take my order at the drive through! Church’s Chicken is beggin for Managers.

  60. Pickgrin Says:

    ’87 – comparing ASJ’s talent as equivalent to OJ Howard’s is very much the same as comparing Freewee’s talent to Winston’s. Ridiculous in both cases. OJ is a WAAAY better on the field talent than ASJ as a TE. As is Jameis vs the mental midget formerly known as an NFL QB.

  61. Tampa Tony Says:

    @Pickgrin- I can’t wait for the day when I can anoint Jameis as a franchise qb! I will come down from NYC rent out a bar and buy a few rounds for all the local JBF readers when he earns that label. Hopefully it’s this year

  62. Eric Says:

    Heaven help the man if he starts out missing an extra point.

    I don’t buy the “everyone makes mistakes” excuse for the GM. Yeah, its true but it applies to real football players. Getting a kicker in the second round was monumentally idiotic and can’t be compared to a situation where a real player just does not work out as everyone expected.

    apples and oranges.

  63. Not there yet Says:

    It was a stupid pick but since he’s on the roster I’d prefer he win out over the old guy. Old means he’ll probably be replaced in a few years after he gets comfortable

  64. Brandon Says:

    Supersam Says:
    May 8th, 2017 at 8:54 am
    Licht has a misaerable second round career grade, that’s why I’m worried about this Justin Evans pick.

    ————–

    That’s just faulty logic right there. His 2nd round draft record is perfectly fine. He missed on ASJ because he was a turd, there is no doubt that ASJ had 1st round talent. There’s ZERO question that he CAN play. As for Aguayo… not sure I see an upside with him at all. He’s not a super talented guy with an elite leg. Now Marpet, Donavan Smith, and Spence have all panned out thus far.

    If you want to be worried about Evans, don’t be worried about him being a 2nd rounder, be worried because he couldn’t tackle my dead grandmother. His tackling is so bad that I wouldn’t have been surprised to see some teams have a 7th round grade on him.

  65. Stpetebucsfan Says:

    Pickgrin gets it all wrapped up in one sentence.

    Licht drafts better than most GMs and he moves on from mistakes that are made ASAP when they occur.

    I think that is the consensus opinion not just here at JBF but around the league.

  66. buddy Says:

    So its week 2 of the phase 2 of the off season program and Desean Jackson not there again. Just like he did after the first week of phase 1. Interesting.

  67. DallasBuc Says:

    87- if we are a good football team with AguaOh,no making all the NFL kicks then I will of course lay off of him and in turn Licht with regards to him because the results on the field are good and there is nothing to criticize. Same with Mike Evans last year. He was dropping too many damn passes and crying, throwing temper tantrums over every contested pass his way. He just about admitted as much and what happened? He stopped dropping passes, stopped whining to the officials, balled out and easily made the pro bowl. I was right then and I am right now. I go off of what I see not what I hope to see with my homer vision and upped doses of positivity pills.
    And yes, I expect to win every game we play and with those expectations comes playoffs and SB. Problem with this beaten, starved dog of a fan base is they don’t know what the expectations should be. They don’t know what to get excited about. They are perfectly content with lousy results and feel good stories about front office suits, lovable coaches from Sandy, TX, receivers that can’t catch, safeties that can’t tackle, olines that can’t block and yes, kickers that can’t kick. Stop the madness and let’s win in a way that deserves excitement, honor and pride. Ra ra isn’t enough.

  68. bucs_365 Says:

    The biggest mistake was the evaluation. He wasn’t a great kicking prospect, when you look at his kicks over 40. You can train a monkey to hit 95% from inside 40, so that perfect record means nothing.

    2nd biggest mistake is thinking that ANY kicker should be picked in the 2nd round. Zane Gonzalez was a better prospect than Aguayo this year and he got picked in the 7th.

    3rd biggest mistake was trading an extra pick to move up to pick Aguayo in round 2. The extra pick could’ve been an extra pass rusher.

  69. NFLNut Says:

    ************************************

    It was Aguayo or Von Bell … and Bell could flame out, one never knows … he had an up and down rookie season as well.

    So, let’s say we got Bell in the 2016 draft … we wouldn’t have had to draft Justin Evans this year and could have instead used our #2 this year and our #5 (which we used to draft Jeremy McNichols) to move up and draft Dalvin Cook … and we’d still have signed Nick Folk.

    So, as I see it the following is what we do have and what we could have had:

    HAVE: Justin Evans, Jeremy McNichols and Roberto Aguayo (or Nick Folk)

    COULD HAVE HAD: Von Bell, Dalvin Cook and Nick Folk

    Looking at the above, I’m not so sure what we have isn’t better than what we would have had Aguayo not been drafted …

    ********************************

  70. Cobraboy Says:

    Aguayo has never had any real competition in his career.

    That is why he’s mentally weak, and that is why Folks will be the new kicker.

    The Bucs seem to have acknowledged the mistake, and true to form, are moving on quickly.

  71. Buc1987 Says:

    Correct Dallas….if you’re locked up and starved of food for 4 days, I guess you should expect a filet mignon on the 5th.

  72. 813bucboi Says:

    sorry, but if he comes into TC missing 30-35yards like he did last year in TC, im bringing out the boo birds….I showed support and encouraged him last year….he aint a rookie any more….make the damn kick or walk the plank!!!….GO BUCS!!!!

  73. DB Says:

    Love and support the Bucs…but agree with the many that have said the problem is not Aguayo or really him having competition.
    The biggest problem was the evaluation and trading up to take a kicker. Any FA kicker or 6th round kicker would have been just as good. I like Licht, but trading up for Aguayo was a monumental mistake.

  74. NFLNut Says:

    ************************************

    It was Aguayo or Von Bell … and Bell could flame out, one never knows … he had an up and down rookie season as well.

    So, let’s say we got Bell in the 2016 draft … we wouldn’t have had to draft Justin Evans this year and could have instead used our #2 this year and our #5 (which we used to draft Jeremy McNichols) to move up and draft Dalvin Cook … and we’d still have signed Nick Folk.

    So, as I see it the following is what we do have and what we could have had:

    HAVE: Justin Evans, Jeremy McNichols and Roberto Aguayo (or Nick Folk)

    COULD HAVE HAD: Von Bell, Dalvin Cook and Nick Folk

    Looking at the above, I’m not so sure what we have isn’t better than what we would have had Aguayo not been drafted …

    ********************************

  75. NFLNut Says:

    ^ Do you guys really think Bell, Cook, Folk is all that much better than Evans, McNichols, Aguayo/Folk? I don’t …

  76. Buc2015 Says:

    those saying Aguayo never consistently hit from 40+ in college are not exactly correct. You have to look at the breakdown by year:

    Aguayo FG from 40+ Yards at FSU

    FR (2013) 9-of-10
    SO (2014) 9-of-12
    JR (2015) 5-of-10

    He was remarkably consistent from longer distances as a freshman, very good as a soph, and erratic as a junior. I’m of the mind that Licht and his scouts, while they were keeping a close eye on Jameis in 2013/14, may have locked in their evaluation of Aguayo over those two years, did not pay enough attention to the alarm bells of 2015.

    And those first couple years, Aguayo wasn’t just making everything — he was making everything within the middle 5 feet or so of the uprights. The most accurate kicker I had ever seen. That’s the Aguayo Licht thought he was getting in round 2, I’m sure. Time will tell if Roberto ever gets it back, but my magic 8-ball says “outlook not so good”.

  77. Rod Munch Says:

    Gonna say it again and again – rookie kickers tend to struggle, including many HOF kickers, look at their careers and you’ll often see their first years are bad, second season is average, then they hit a grove and play 15 years. I have no idea if kicker is that guy, but I wouldn’t take much of anything away from his rookie season. One positive is that he made the only pressure kick he had to make all year and none of his misses really changed the outcome of anything. I think takes a step forward and is fine this year, i just hope it’s good enough for him to stick around since I do think if he gets cut he’ll go somewhere and then kick for them for the next decade. Connor Barth shouldn’t have cut, the guy was the 12th best kicker in NFL history when we cut him (yes I looked it up and it’s a real stat) but you VHS t hold that against kicker, we just have to hope this turns out in the long run to be an OK pick.

  78. Capt.Tim Says:

    Jon Gruden begged the GC to Cut Janokowski, after his first year.
    BEGGED THEM.
    Now, Janokowski is a shoe in for the hall of the Fame.

    What a difference a year makes, in the Life of a rookie.
    Aguayo was the greatest Kicker, in college Football history.

    He was money, from 45 in.

    If he had the same stats here, that he had in college- we’d be building stayues of him, outside the stadium.

    Bonzi- Bravo, Bravo!!
    Nice to hear from a decent human being here!
    So many miserable, Hateful posters here! Their lifes must a nightmare!!
    Even when we draft a great player- their first comments are about whi will get fired, to make room.
    I cant imagine what some of you must do for a living, to be so miserable!
    And gotta be some ugly wifes involved, too!

  79. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    You guys need to do what I do in regard to DallasBuc…I just skip over his comments because all he spews is hate. No substance at all.

    Buc1987 Says
    “Bonzai…I tell you what that SB was truly a gift.”

    You are telling me? Man…I bet we both cried when that happened. I admit my part of that. We drove from Bradenton to Tampa late that night because they said the team was coming to to stadium (they didn’t). Thousands of people were there.

    I have the game on VHS and DVD. Those were the days…and in the right uniforms too!

  80. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    Thanks, Capt!

  81. Pickgrin Says:

    Capt Tim says:
    “I cant imagine what some of you must do for a living, to be so miserable!
    And gotta be some ugly wifes involved, too!”

    LOL – thats funny dude. Funny cause its probably true as Homer Simpson would say.

  82. Capt.Tim Says:

    Gotta be!!
    So much hate- towards this young kids!
    To feel that way,
    Your horrible life/hate cap is running over

    And you are sleeping with a pig.
    And not one of those kinda cute ones.
    Its one of the real uuuugly ones

  83. Pruritus Ani Says:

    He signed a 4 million dollar contract along with a 1 million dollar signing bonus to successfully kick field goals and extra points. Now some are worried about hurting his feelings… Really? Cry me a river.

  84. Vico Says:

    They solved it with competition. There’s no way to travel in time to the past and tell Licht not to do it. Either Aguayo or Folk will be ready, either one will get more 🏈 through th uprights and will still miss some. Relax. We will also lose games that “we could have won”, happens to every team every year. That’s why that Dolphins team is special. Can’t really have it all anymore.

  85. '79Defense Says:

    I love Licht as GM, and I know players are supposed to handle the pressure, but Licht did no favors for the kid by trading up to get him. I wish he would have fully considered the whole uproar and pressure placed up Aguayo prior to making the move. You have to wonder how he would have performed if he was chosen in a later round without giving up anything for him.