Two Special Teams Leaders Named
October 8th, 2018
“Personal protector”
No, the Bucs don’t have official team captains, at least its not known publicly. It’s part of a new Dirk Koetter policy.
However, the team does have leaders.
This afternoon at One Buc Palace, Joe asked special teams coordinator Nate Kaczor who he’d like to name as a leader of his unit given the no-captain situation.
Kaczor went right to two guys, linebacker Adarius Taylor and running back Jaquizz Rodgers.
“Adarius Taylor is one that’s not really a vocal leader. He’ll say what he needs to say, but he’s been playing good by effort and he breaks our huddle,” Kaczor said. “And Jacquizz Rodgers is a veteran that runs our punt team as the personal protector, but he does a nice job. Anytime you’re playing young players, it’s always is so beneficial to have a veteran presence out there that calms everyone to grow and make plays.”
Kaczor also praised rookie linebacker Jack Cichy for his production, and Jordan Whitehead and M.J. Stewart as players who were “trending” positively on special teams.
He also added, when asked by Joe, that Ronald Jones did fine in his debut on the kickoff return team. Lots could have gone wrong for Jones, Kaczor said, and none of them did.
October 8th, 2018 at 12:39 pm
Who on the defense is there to “calm(s) everyone to grow and make plays”? Who on the defense is there to walk into Mike Smith’s office and tell him what he is calling is not working? That’s Koetter’s job but he seems not to want to do it. A player (or players) needs to step up.
October 8th, 2018 at 12:46 pm
Quizz certainly isn’t playing like he’s over the hill, but the little guy is going to have to die of old age at some point. Hopefully he’s teaching RoJo how to block because he is awesome at it for a guy his size. Would love to see Cichy become a All-Pro LB in the future.
October 8th, 2018 at 1:02 pm
LOL.
He did good because lots of things that could have gone wrong, did not.
Is that really where the bar is for this team?
How about doing good means you create production and make plays. Not just “not screwing up”… SMDH with this team sometimes.
October 8th, 2018 at 1:03 pm
Overall this is a pretty good football, if you exclude that little thing called the defense.
October 8th, 2018 at 1:03 pm
I would’ve gave ryan smith the nod but hopefully that means he’ll be 1 of our starting CB’s until further notice…..
a.taylor is good on ST, but he’s been getting exposed as a starting LB…..we need beckwith back….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
October 8th, 2018 at 1:14 pm
813bucboi
Yeah I don’t know why Smith was mentioned. He’s been somewhat of a Josh Robinson (who was a ST captain and was in guys face’s every time they caught a punt and we still let him go) this year.
October 8th, 2018 at 1:15 pm
*Yeah I don’t know why Smith wasn’t mentioned.
October 8th, 2018 at 1:23 pm
What other NFL Team doesn’t have captains?
We have no leadership on this team, Dork is pathetic.
Can’t even name a team captain or two.
October 8th, 2018 at 2:01 pm
I have definitely noticed Cichy’s #at or near the tackle on quite a few punt coverage plays so far this year.
Ryan Smith is definitely your #1 guy now on ST with a nose for the ball and the speed to get there from the outside (vs 2 defenders usually).
Smith’s emergence last year and continuance this year as a special teams “ace” is what led to the release of Josh Robinson who never saw the field as a CB or “safety” as he was sometimes oddly listed – freeing up $1.7M and an “extra” DB roster spot this year for the team to have a look at younger players whose potential they like.