“Hellacious Cover Guys” Will Make The Bucs Roster
August 8th, 2025
Receiver Ryan Miller, who has had a solid training camp, has an extra opportunity Saturday.
Change has come to the NFL, at least for the guys who decide the Buccaneers roster.
A new NFL rule says touchback on a kickoff now gives the offense the ball on the 35 yard line, a change from the 30 last year and the 25 for years prior.
The NFL wants lots of kickoff returns to re-energize the game, and consensus around the league says coaches will not accept giving their opponent the ball on the 35.
So what will the Bucs do? Yesterday, Todd Bowles gave his strongest public words to date on the subject.
The amateur 53-man-roster crafters out there will want to pay attention.
The head coach told SiriusXM NFL Radio he’s “a lot more dedicated” to finding coverage-exclusive players.
“Now you gotta think about your roster again,” Bowles said. “Before, you didn’t have to keep the extra special teams guys because the ball’s coming out to the 25 [on a touchback] every time. Now with the ball coming out to the 35, two or three guys can make your team just by being hellacious cover guys. And you’re bringing back the Ron Wolfleys (an old school football reference) and all those type of guys that can cover kicks and may not be high on the depth chart otherwise. Not saying [Wolfley] was, but they can be not high on the depth chart otherwise.
“But you gotta have guys to cover kicks now. Because two first downs — one first down and you’re in fourth-down territory every time. Two first downs. You got a good field goal kicker, you’re kicking the ball in there. So it’s very important for us to cover kicks this year. And preseason’s gonna be very important to see who can make the team covering kicks.”
Telling stuff there from the head coach. Joe was very intrigued by Bowles talking about keeping offenses from getting in field position where they’re going on fourth down versus punting.
Bottom line: Roster-bubble veterans like receiver Ryan Miller and Rakim Jarrett, and free agent corerback Kindle Vildor and undrafted rookie safety J.J. Roberts, have a real shot to cement a roster spot if they can show in preseason they’re animals covering kicks.
August 8th, 2025 at 4:59 am
I know ryan Miller looks good but he is a for sure practice squad guy. No one is going to snatch him. He is reliable and got 2 touchdowns for Bake but I don’t think he has a high ceiling. But Bake trusts him because he kept throwing to him even after the Falcons blunder!
August 8th, 2025 at 7:20 am
I love exciting kick returns, but I hate the rule changes.
At first, the NFL said they wanted fewer returns to avoid injuries. Now they want more returns to make it ‘exciting’?
It’s too easy now. Touchbacks put them 15 yards from enemy territory. Not balanced at all.
August 8th, 2025 at 7:23 am
What are the chances that Sanders can do what yis father did?
Bowles better wise up…we need a premium option to return kicks now. The days of backup players returning kicks are fading into the past. It’s now easier than ever to score on returns.
It’s a game changer.
August 8th, 2025 at 7:42 am
@Bonzai: Zero chances that Sanders can do what is father did. Deion was a generational talent. Dudes like him come around once in a life time. See – Boar Hog Jackson.
August 8th, 2025 at 7:45 am
Hang time on kickoffs will be very important also. I think Tucker will me our return guy. I would also like to see Devin Culp back there with him.
August 8th, 2025 at 8:11 am
Next year Roger and Richie are gonna make all defenses play with 10 players!
How I just now heard of this BS is crazy to me. These two and the greedy owners are gonna make football in to something I no longer enjoy… Sad
Go Bucs!
August 8th, 2025 at 8:58 am
why do you purposely leave out Shilo???
August 8th, 2025 at 9:03 am
“Bowles talking about keeping offenses from getting in field position where they’re going on fourth down versus punting.”
PTSD from the WAS playoff loss. They dink and dunked us almost with a constant go for it on 4th and short mentality. 5 4th down attempts in that playoff game (3 successful)
August 8th, 2025 at 9:08 am
Josh Hayes is our best Cover Guy on kicks/punt returns
Will he get one of the CB spots?
August 8th, 2025 at 9:11 am
Hate the way the almighty (dumbo) owners are screwing up the kickoffs, but them’s the breaks. Still a shame. Makes preseason games more valuable so that the teams can try and get used to the changes before the regular season starts. Right, Joes?
August 8th, 2025 at 9:26 am
This isn’t about returning kicks, it’s about guys who can cover kicks and how moving the ball closer to the goal on touchbacks effects the sorting out of guys on the bottom of the roster along with keeping an eye on the field position game.
Owners and these rule changes always favor the offense, because points on the board keeps butts in seats and eyes glued to TVs. It’s not about the quality of the game, it always, always boils down to fortifying the bottom line.
Seen it happen in the NBA, they took hand checking away one season and a few years later clear path rules came into effect. That’s why you see so many teams scoring >120-130 points on a weekly basis and it’s gross.
August 8th, 2025 at 9:43 am
Warren Brooks Lynch, you’re right it always, always, boils down to fortifying the bottom line. And I’m all for that. I’m also wondering why players don’t have more input into these decisions. They should be involved in every decision, these owners are making windfall from their skill and focus. And I don’t think players would vote for a touchback going out to the 35. Or the 30 for that matter. I’m thinking the powers that be have screwed it up even worse than last year.
August 8th, 2025 at 9:52 am
Well, I guess my last post didn’t pass the test. Upon further research the NFLPA collaborated with the league on these new kickoff rules. I still think if all the players voted they’d have something better than what we’ve got.
August 8th, 2025 at 9:52 am
What has Shilo done to make people believe he’s a good enough football player to make this team? JJ Roberts had a really good college career and is turning heads and out there making plays in OTAs and training camp. I think he would make the team regardless of the kickoff rules change. Shilo seems like a nice kid and a talent at social media. He will do well in life but it’s not going to be on the football field unless he’s somehow miraculous in the preseason games. I wish him all the best I don’t say this to be mean or to be controversial.
August 8th, 2025 at 10:04 am
article on shilo/special teams by mike jones on TheAthletic this morning
August 8th, 2025 at 10:29 am
Todd Bowles … ‘But you gotta have guys to cover kicks now. Because two first downs — one first down and you’re in fourth-down territory every time. Two first downs. You got a good field goal kicker, you’re kicking the ball in there. So it’s very important for us to cover kicks this year.’
Sure does sound like Todd has decided to fight for every inch of territory this year. Finally. And hallelujah!
Just for the record, our Tampa Bay Buccaneers had the most field goal attempts against them by opponents in the 2024 NFL season, with 44 attempts. Following the Bucs, the Arizona Cardinals allowed the second-most field goal attempts with 41.
August 8th, 2025 at 2:05 pm
Josh Hayes “Likes” this post……
August 8th, 2025 at 2:57 pm
so is tez really like a carl the truth…?
if tez is the guy, then maybe sprinkle in a little tucker too…
i like the idea hodad tossed out there with culp…maybe they’ll experiment with the speedy TE
August 8th, 2025 at 3:03 pm
@stan:
imho the league is shifting more towards entertainment than sport…it’s a damn shame…
but with that being said, i think you can carry random whatever types on the back end of your roster in say the 52 or 53 man spot…
why…?…because with the relatively new deeper practice squad roster, you can funnel guys up and down as needed and when necessary anyway…
and…
now i’ve gotta literally go google the kickoff rules again to see what’s going on…have they reworked or changed the kickoff rules again…?…this is just crazy…!
go back to the original kickoff rules…and make teams go for 80 yard drives…don’t fix what was never broken
August 8th, 2025 at 3:04 pm
shilo will be “the swag man” in roster spot 52 🙂
August 8th, 2025 at 3:06 pm
umm…
where is ryan smith when you don’t need him……..lol
August 9th, 2025 at 8:09 am
The NFL Commissioner keeps playing with the NFL game. Eventually he will turn the game into of what happened with the football game we grew up to love.
Egos like his often end of destroying what was great. They can’t help themselves. They know better.
Remember fans, we are the ones funding his salary. Stop funding games
Don’t attending games. Let’s have fans have a say. His changes revolves around the money generated.
Keep the game fans love. You could have the final say!