The Newest Fan Favorite
January 5th, 2017
New kicker in Tampa
Yes, your Buccaneers have a shiny new kicker on the roster.
Joe easily could make a few grand selling John Lunsford jerseys this morning.
This is what happens when your other kicker, Roberto Aguayo, misses 64 percent of his field goal attempts of 40 yards or more.
Lunsford was an undrafted rookie free agent in 49ers training camp last year. He was cut before the season and signed by the Buccaneers yesterday.
The pride of Liberty football in the Big South conference, Lunsford didn’t kick any field goals for the 49ers in preseason, but he did boom some kickoffs.
Here’s a look at him from the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine analysis at NFL.com:
STRENGTHS
Strong leg. Boomed a 60-yard field goal with 1.8 seconds on the clock to tie the game against Richmond in 2014. Had two makes from 57 and one from 56 this season. Creates touchbacks on kickoffs.
WEAKNESSES
Accuracy has plagued him throughout his career making just 60.8 percent of his field goals over four years. Made just 13 of 24 kicks in 2015. Struggles badly with accuracy from 40-49 yards making just eight of 20 during his career.
Lunsford’s arrival feels more symbolic than anything. His mere signing to a camp-meat contract by Tampa Bay rings a loud bell to Aguayo, who was gifted a job last season and had no competition in camp.
But don’t expect Lunsford to necessarily be this year’s competition for Aguayo. There’s a long way between now and training camp, and Joe expects the Bucs to look at plenty of kickers.
January 5th, 2017 at 7:32 am
So we replace a 64% kicker with a 60% kicker… that doesn’t sound like competition to me?
January 5th, 2017 at 7:34 am
Yeah, this is strictly to motivate Aguayo to get better this off season.
January 5th, 2017 at 7:55 am
This is just a motivational tool….and, say what you want, but motivation hasn’t really been the problem with Aguayo.
January 5th, 2017 at 8:01 am
NOT the answer , but like them looking at kickers , like he can hit from 60
January 5th, 2017 at 8:04 am
so buc53 what is the dudes problem?
Aguayo has stressed me out every Buc game since he was signed. He lost our game to the Rams. Stupid signing, I am glad we are sending in the backups–stress him out and maybe we can get a reliable kicker.
January 5th, 2017 at 8:14 am
It doesn’t matter who they bring in. Aguayo will win the job in the end.
But…I am completely in favor of competition. He should have had it last year.
January 5th, 2017 at 8:20 am
Trueduckfan22 and pie-j should be happy this morning.
January 5th, 2017 at 8:43 am
Not real competition meant to make our team better but a mockery of the concept to avoid having to cut bait on AguaOh,no and thus attempt to salvage the hit to the overinflated ego our overrated GM.
More cons for the easily conned. Kind of a rampant scourge in this country these days. People see and believe whatever the hell they want to see and believe irrespective of reality.
January 5th, 2017 at 8:49 am
If first you don’t succeed, try try again. This time 1st round kicker!
January 5th, 2017 at 9:00 am
@Dallas- I’m not sure that I agree to such an extent, but this is hardly “competition”. I think the Bucs will do what they can to retain Aguayo in the hopes that he’ll get it turned around. I am truly not impressed if this is the level of “competition” we are hoping to push Mr. 43.
January 5th, 2017 at 9:12 am
It’s shocking the players we passed on that could have helped this team
January 5th, 2017 at 9:13 am
better competition coming in Free Agency. The way the bucs are situated cap-wise, i would be totally okay with them fully guaranteeing the salary of some legitimate veteran (with offset clauses) to convince them to sign up for a legitimate competition where our biggest hope is that Aguayo outplays the guy.
If Roberto wins, the incoming kicker is a recognized NFL commodity, he will probably get picked up by another NFL team after we cut him and the offset clause gets us mostly off the hook. If Roberto falters, we have an average NFL kicker to fall back on, which is an upgrade from last year
January 5th, 2017 at 9:15 am
Maybe this will be a good motivating factor after thinking about it. If a proven quality kicker comes in maybe Roberto thinks no way I have a shot next season, and doesn’t put forth a strong offseason training.
January 5th, 2017 at 9:31 am
I wonder if Jameis will be giving up his #3 to this new kicker? /sarcasm
January 5th, 2017 at 10:39 am
The only people that think our second round kicker actually has a chance of being cut are people that have nothing to do with this organization. You are plain stupid if you think they’d keep ASJ as long as they did but drop someone they traded up in the second round to get before giving him another year to prove himself. The guys not going anywhere
January 5th, 2017 at 10:47 am
Yeah, doesn’t make sense. Is great on 50+ yards but sucks on short kicks. Licht wants to have him for long kicks and keep Aguayo for the short ones? Would be the joke of the year.
January 5th, 2017 at 10:49 am
well, this tells me that licht and dirk aren’t bullsh!tin around with Roberto….get it fixed or your out….GO BUCS!!!
January 5th, 2017 at 10:55 am
I watched this kid kick up here in the Blue Ridge Mountains at Liberty. Those stats aren’t great but dude has ice in his veins. 1,000-yard stare. Pressure doesn’t seem to bother him. Has a very strong leg! Let’s remember, good old Bob Aguayo’s stats were fantastic coming out of FSU.
January 5th, 2017 at 11:19 am
I think a lot of posters are missing the point. This is a motivational tool in the sense that if they really wanted to replace Aguayo, they would have signed a kicker with better numbers. They are available. The Bucs brass have no intention to of replacing Aguayo anytime soon, and this signing reeks of an easy way to tell Aguayo indirectly to work very hard on his accuracy this off season.
January 5th, 2017 at 11:36 am
Teach Aguayohnohhh not to hook or slice the ball then kick right down the middle. Come on ST coach do your job or you’ll be having competition………trying to get a new job elsewhere!
January 5th, 2017 at 12:11 pm
Judging by this “competition” they still have faith in Aguryo obviously.
January 5th, 2017 at 1:17 pm
It would be nice if the Bucs had a FG kicker who could actually convert 50+ yard attempts occasionally. Presently that happening rivals a snowballs chance in hell.
January 5th, 2017 at 1:57 pm
There will be more competition. I have no doubt.
January 5th, 2017 at 1:59 pm
@shouldhavedraftedefiert-
If you feel that strongly about Eifert that you make it part of your name here, then perhaps you’d want to spell it correctly. Just a thought.
January 5th, 2017 at 3:50 pm
Plain and simple never should have got rid of matt Bryant not perfect but not I have to pray every time he comes out to kick!
January 6th, 2017 at 8:37 pm
Nope. Gotta be at 90% inside 40 yard attempts. 95% 33 yards yards and shorter. Lots of guys in college can hit 60 yarders. It’s being automatic on the close in ones that is the key. John McKa once said “Kickers are like grass. They’re everywhere.” Very true. Keeep looking.
January 6th, 2017 at 8:38 pm
Roberto ByeBuayo.