Buccaneers Hero Jake Camarda

January 1st, 2023

UPDATED: 6:15 p.m. — Joe literally has watched this play 10 times and it gets more unbelievable each round.

Rookie punter Jake Camarda might have saved the Bucs’ season with 40 seconds remaining this afternoon.

Give that young man a game ball!

The dysfunctional Bucs special teams botched a low snap to Camarda on a punt with him standing at his own 41 yard line awaiting the ball. Not only did Camarda pick up the bouncing ball that squirted behind him, he sprinted to the left sideline, eluded two tacklers, and gained 10 yards before a attempting a running punt that was downed inside the Panthers’ 5 yard line.

Joe cannot express enough the difficulty level of that play for a right-footed kicker whose momentum — in traffic — was going away from his kicking foot. Unreal.

“I have never seen a punter make an athletic play like that,” head coach Todd Bowles said.

Rookie tight end Ko Kieft was flagged on the play for being downfield when he shouldn’t have been. But Camarda’s damage was done. Carolina declined the penalty and Camarda lined up to re-kick after burning time off the clock.

The next snap was good and Camarda dropped a high beauty downed around the 10 yard line.

Ballgame.

A lot of fans scoffed and laughed when general manager Jason Licht drafted a punter in Round 4, some wanted the slimy Punt God, others hated the idea and were fine with a punter off the street.

Today Camarda showed one big benefit to having fresh, athletic legs at punter, and to drafting a savvy player with a lot of balls, too.

58 Responses to “Buccaneers Hero Jake Camarda”

  1. NJbucs23 Says:

    He’s the best athlete on the team by far….

  2. Bill in Seminole Says:

    Yes, great play. How about some boos for the long snapper that hiked a low ball at such a crucial time.

  3. TheBucsAnthem Says:

    Imagine that …..a ….

    ……PUNTER saving the game

  4. Mike C Says:

    Getting right, at the right time…..L F G !

  5. BucsBro Says:

    An incredible play.

    He’s been a hidden weapon all year.

  6. Tyler904 Says:

    Amazing play. We should still fire the coaching staff after the season

  7. BucFanForever Says:

    Give him the Angry Runs Scepter too.

  8. TheBucsAnthem Says:

    I agree

    Fire everyone except Todd Bowles…..his Defense truly held the game close

  9. Winny Testaverde Says:

    That had all the makings of a vintage Buc play…until Camarda’s high wire act. That was the opposite of a Garo Y. move…clutch.

  10. ElioT Says:

    Absolutely the play of the game!

    Kid deserves the game ball for sure.

  11. mg Says:

    🍻

  12. Cobraboy Says:

    If you live long enough, you’ll see everything in football…

  13. Frank Pillow Says:

    Can we fire Todd yet?

  14. TheBucsAnthem Says:

    Todd Bowles DEFENSIVE is what kept the game close…..why would you fire him?

    It’s Byron Leftwich that needs to go

  15. D-Rok Says:

    Who knew you could pick up a loose ball, run towards the sideline, then suddenly unleash a punt?

    Camarda did. That was an awesome play.

    You know who else was awesome today? The Bucs O-line.

  16. Eric Says:

    we froze our own longsnapper by taking that delay of game penalty.

    You could see the guy flinching a bit.

  17. Mike Says:

    Still can’t figure out why the Bucs haven’t found a way to utilize his athleticism on fake punt plays yet.

  18. SC Bucs Fan Says:

    At least we have one guy in the kicking room we can be proud of

  19. Alvin Scissors Harper Says:

    That was an amazing play by Camarda to even have the presence of mind to attempt to punt it in that position.

  20. Joe in Michigan Says:

    It was incredible, too bad there was one Bucs player downfield (besides the gunners), or it would’ve stood.

  21. D-Rome Says:

    He’s been must see TV all season. Never thought I’d ever say that about a punter.

  22. Sold Says:

    Jake Camarda should eat pineapple for that play alone!

  23. Winny Testaverde Says:

    It took a good amount of remaining time off the clock as well the re-kick pinned the Panthers at the 8. National Champion last year at Georgia…winning mindset.

  24. McBucky Says:

    His nickname: Brightspot

  25. Thelastbuscs Says:

    Hey like running backs Jason licht finally got drafting ST player correct this year.

    We could have possibly lost 2 games this year without him.

    Can’t remember the last time a punter made this much of a difference on any football team.

  26. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Camarda’s sky high punt helped cause the muffed return also……..he has some hang time…….
    Kid can play….

  27. Gofortheface30 Says:

    Succop on the other hand. Jesus Christ. I’m over him. Succop is 100% the reason why it was still a game in the finals seconds. Panthers had a chance to win because of our feeble legged kicker

  28. Winny Testaverde Says:

    GFTF:

    It’s a fair point…he’s o’fer forever from 50 yards or longer…quit trying those. His claim to fame was accuracy…he’s rattled…it’s a concern now.

  29. Alvin Scissors Harper Says:

    Winny, that’s a good point. Succop is rattled. We know he can’t kick it beyond 50, but Bowels hasn’t figured that out yet. He was rattled enough to miss an extra point. We’re gonna need Succ to be automatic from 47 in when we get to the playoffs.

  30. Oneilbuc Says:

    Good game bucs but defense can’t play like that in the playoffs!!

  31. StickinUp4Centers Says:

    I believe there was a kick return where he was in on the tackle and lost a helmet in the process too.

  32. Irishmist Says:

    I wonder if they have tried Camarda on long field gold attempts? His percentage probably couldn’t be any worse than Succups.

  33. Winny Testaverde Says:

    They had a former Lou Garza ( best college kicker ) Award winner in camp…Jose B. They went with the “more accurate veteran”. Hopefully it’s just an off day. Again…no more 50 yard attempts…it gives him low self esteem.

  34. smokeshow Says:

    Joe – “A lot of fans scoffed and laughed when general manager Jason Licht drafted a punter in Round 4”

    Well, given that we are constantly punting every few downs, it was a brilliant move. Genius. Guess Licht knew just how crappy Bowles and Leftwich would be and that we’d need a great punter.

  35. smokeshow Says:

    Given Camarda’s fantastic speed, would be nice if they faked a punt every once in awhile and had him run it when all we need is a few yards. Kid’s got serious speed and agility.

  36. Jody Says:

    He should get the game ball!

  37. Oxycondoms Says:

    He should kick the 50 yd fgs

  38. unbelievable Says:

    Best pick from that draft so far, without question.

    And he’s fast too! If we had an even halfway competent special teams coordinator, I could see him being a huge weapon on punt fakes too.

    But instead we have Keith Armstrong- the man who has inexplicably kept his job despite being responsible for the WORST special teams unit in the NFL for 4 straight years.

  39. unbelievable Says:

    Lol smoke show u and I are thinking alike.

  40. unbelievable Says:

    @Winny – have you been watching all season?

    Succop literally can not make a FG over 48 yards this year. Incapable.

  41. DJB Says:

    Ko Kieft brings nothing to this game as a blocker, receiver, or special teamer. He commits so many penalties as well,

  42. bob in valrico Says:

    Good player from Georgia national champions. I was impressed how he stopped the returner in that game.

  43. RSJCheapSeats Says:

    It’s the greatest play by a punter in NFL history.
    Patrick Mahomes would have been proud of that play.

  44. cmurda Says:

    I’ve already touched on the amazingness of Camarda’s punt. That’s the filthiest punter I’ve ever seen. Wioth that said, the little talked about fact was Ko Kieft can’t be downfield on a lack of awareness penalty. Fortunately didn’t hurt us in the end. He also dropped a ball and had an overall lousy game.

  45. Bobby M. Says:

    Great find in the 4th rd…..if Licht were only as consistent in rounds 1-2. Watching #9 is brutal, he’s Gaines Adam’s 2.0

  46. Joseph C Simmons Says:

    “Rookie tight end Ko Kieft was flagged on the play for being downfield when he shouldn’t have been. But Camarda’s damage was done. Carolina declined the penalty and Camarda lined up to re-kick after burning time off the clock.”
    ——-

    *accepted the penalty

  47. Aceofaerospace Says:

    Ray Guy Jr. Awesome rookie. Hope he stays consistent. Love the guy.

  48. LongSeason Says:

    Camarda keeps looking like a very good and worthy pick. Even though the play was negated by a penalty, imagine if he hadn’t punted and went down for a loss and the stinkin’ Panzers had started inside our territory. He saved the game. He better get special teams player da week.

  49. ACUC Says : Says:

    Little do you know – your punter is capable of 50 yard field goals – he’s been doing it since High School. He was the #1 punter and #4 place kicker coming out of HS. He truly is your secret weapon…

  50. kyle Says:

    unbelievable play??? it was crazy watching .. slow motion.. couldnt believe the bucs fd the game up and then this guy goes rugby style?? amazing!!!! he saved the game and the boys should buy him beers tonight!! go bucs

  51. kyle Says:

    winny doesnt watch, he likes to hear himself talk!! go bucs

  52. xhotwingsx Says:

    You know Pat McAffee is going to have a segment on this. Amazing.

  53. Zito Says:

    remember Doug Flutie’s last game ever as a patriot? he had a successful drop kick. That was 6 years ago. Before that? During WWII was the last successful one for points.

  54. Zito Says:

    Maybe the bucs will let him drop kick an extra point against the falcons. That would be cool.

  55. BUC CHEEKS Says:

    Give it up to Jason Licht for taking this kid over that punt god sicko

  56. Amh Says:

    He has been awesome all season. Should be on pro bowl

  57. BOAT Says:

    Honestly, that’s one of the best football plays I’ve ever seen.

  58. DrunkinYbor Says:

    Finally a drafted kicker works out. I’m still upset Matt Gay kicked the winning field goal for the St.LUIS Sheep.