Should Koetter Just Throw In The Towel?
August 17th, 2017
He’s gone, but extra-point suckage continues.
Joe wonders if winning Bucs coach Dirk Koetter is going to chug about a half-dozen vodkas on the flight home to Tampa tonight.
This is starting to get ridiculous. First it was basketball-playing Connor Barth. Then it was directionally-challenged Kyle Brindza. Then it was Roberto Aguayo. Now add Nick Folk to the list.
This team just can’t find a kicker, not even with a second round pick. Not a guy in a welding shop, not a guy combining corn, not a guy who cleans dried puke off boat rentals. The Bucs just cannot find a dependable kicker to save their lives.
One reason the Bucs jettisoned Aguayo was, in the words of Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht, they didn’t have confidence Aguayo could kick a “f’ing” extra point.
So with Nick Folk anointed as the new starter, after the Bucs score a touchdown on their first possession last night, Folk goes and yacks on his first extra-point attempt in his secure (?) job.
Good grief!
At what point does Koetter just say, “Ah, the hell with it!” and just go full blown Mike Tomlin and go for two points on each touchdown? Look, if the kickers are this lousy, why not?
Joe remembers Licht on SiriusXM NFL Radio talking about the previous battle between Aguayo and Folk saying, “I’m hoping it is one of these guys.”
Not only was that not a ringing endorsment for Aguayo, it surely wasn’t for Folk either.
August 17th, 2017 at 11:46 pm
go all 2 pt attempts. I have way more faith in evans and jameis than any kicker at this point
August 17th, 2017 at 11:47 pm
Start going for two after every TD. I trust our red zone threats (Evans, Howard, Brate) will convert enough that it will be worth it.
August 17th, 2017 at 11:49 pm
Maybe Chicago will cut Barth and we can bring him back!!!
August 17th, 2017 at 11:53 pm
Folk is as consistent as they come. He will be fine. His kickoff looked strong and he had good power on his attempts. This is a nothing burger.
August 17th, 2017 at 11:56 pm
Donald Igwebuike…..
August 17th, 2017 at 11:57 pm
didnt it get blocked that isnt his fault
August 17th, 2017 at 11:58 pm
In his defense the extra point was blocked.
August 18th, 2017 at 12:02 am
We can take whoever Chicago cuts……could be Roberto…..or we can “STICK WITH NICK”………
August 18th, 2017 at 12:12 am
Does Joe really not have a rewind button on his dvr or is this just lazy reporting?
“Folk goes and yacks on his first extra-point attempt”
News Flash Joe, Kinda hard to kick an extra point when ur line gets blown up and allows opposing players to plain as day get their paws on the ball.
August 18th, 2017 at 12:16 am
Did you watch the whole game? Or did you go get a beer for xp? It was clearly blocked
August 18th, 2017 at 12:26 am
YES Iggy!
August 18th, 2017 at 12:26 am
Tampa wouldnt be happy with any kicker that makes their first mistake
August 18th, 2017 at 12:40 am
I like Joe but some of the reporting on this site has been just awful lately. First Ira spouts off non-sense on how Hard Knocks should focus more on the stick carriers (a great movement, don’t get me wrong) but clearly not the focus/purpose of Hard Knocks (the nation doesn’t care about our fanbase, just like we dont give a damn about the cheeseheads, or the folks waving the terrible towel). Then Joe clearly doesn’t watch the XP attempt (which was blocked, not yacked). Its one thing to spout an opinion (which I enjoy most of the time here on this site), but its another to spit one out with no credibility. Get back with it Joe(s) I like this site and don’t really want to take it off my Sunday routine.
Now about that missed 47 yarder….just awful. I’m thinking you will be right when mentioning the possibility of the kicker not being on this team yet… Go Bucs
August 18th, 2017 at 12:50 am
Again, Barth sucked, then brindza sucked, then Barth sucked again, then a guy who never missed a kick under 40 yards sucked, now Folk in practice and in games isn’t as consistent as he has been.
Who is the kicking coach?
August 18th, 2017 at 1:10 am
The extra point was blocked.
The last FG he missed. That’s on him.
I still have more faith in him than agauyo
August 18th, 2017 at 1:11 am
Meanwhile Matt Bryant is still playing solid.
Which dumbarse GM got rid of him? Was it the pop star?
August 18th, 2017 at 2:05 am
Can someone for the love of all that is holy on this dirt skittle tell who’s job it is to find a competent kicker in 2017 since we unceremoniously ditched the last one we had in Connor Barth?
F that guy
August 18th, 2017 at 3:22 am
Folk had one extra point blocked and missed one from 47. Those 47 yarders, the same distance Roberto missed from, are not give mes, even in the modern NFL kickers make what, about 50-60% of them? The one I don’t get is right before the half not kicking a 58 yarder and doing a hail mary. I don’t know the wind on the field at the time but Folk has a good leg or at least had one, he is getting up in age but let’s see what he can do. If he makes it, awesome – it’s good to know. If he misses, well it was from 58 yards, well it’s 58 yards. In either case it means more than a hail mary even if you get it.
August 18th, 2017 at 3:38 am
I think we could have had JUSTIN TUCKER for that 2nd rounder we spent on Aguayo … I wonder if Licht even considered that? I doubt he offered the pick to the Ravens for Tucker as if he did, Harbaugh would have accepted the offer and then laughed his head off and drafted some defensive stud …
August 18th, 2017 at 5:40 am
JOe were you even watching the game !!?!? Callis campbell got a hand on the ball for the extra point. I’m not so concerned on folks compare do to fitz’s And James isn’t bone headed plays. Jameis s down and and does ur season.
August 18th, 2017 at 7:17 am
Koetter at the time Aguayo was picked: “The best kicker in college football history doesn’t come around very often. It’s a situation we know is going to be criticized, but it’s going to play out over time. It’s no different than picking Jameis [Winston] first last year.” So yeah, he should throw in the towel…
August 18th, 2017 at 7:25 am
We should trade a second round pick to the Ravens for Justin Tucker. The guy is money.
August 18th, 2017 at 7:34 am
I am starting to wonder if it’s the special teams coaching. A few of these kickers where doing better before they came here. Maybe they should make a change their.
August 18th, 2017 at 7:37 am
If the Bucs could make 50% of their 2 point conversion attempts, they’d be better off than they’ve been lately.
August 18th, 2017 at 7:38 am
As many readers have pointed out the extra point was partially blocked at the line. Perhaps Folk should have more lift on the ball but honestly it was a great kick and still ALMOST made it despite being solidly blocked. I am not too concerned. I had less gitters then when Aguyao was out there so that’s improvement
August 18th, 2017 at 9:49 am
I expect shuttles full of kickers arriving at One Buc Palace on Sept. 1.
There just *has* to be a pony in this pile of horsepoop…
August 18th, 2017 at 9:51 am
Calais Campbell is 6’8″, 300+ lbs and has 6 blocked kicks in his career.
Every now and then, he’ll likely get his mitts on one. Not going to fault Folk on that one. That FG, though… yeah…..
I’m in agreement that we should start going for 2 more frequently. Mathematically, as long as we’re over 50% on conversions, we’re better off than if we took a chance on the XP.
August 18th, 2017 at 3:57 pm
Why don’t the BUC’s have a kicking coach? I know most team do not have a kicking coach but we need one.