Should The Bucs Hire A Special Teams Consultant?
September 28th, 2025
“Mr. Glazer, we need a new line item in the budget. We’ll take it out of Greenberg’s 2026 raise.”
Literally from the opening kickoff today, one the Bucs botched and let bounce at the 15 yard line and roll into the back of the end zone for a start-at-the-20 touchback, the Tampa Bay special teams were a wild roller coaster ride.
That exactly what you don’t want from your special teams. The goal is consistency with the occasional big play.
On kickoff returns specifcally, the Bucs ranked sixth-worst in the NFL entering today’s loss to the Eagles. One would think that fact would be enough to sharpen the Bucs in that area, but no. There was the gaffe referenced above and the Bucs’ net return average of 19.2 yards today dropped their season average.
Punt returns? Kameron Johnson has been exceptional, and the blocking has been right there with him. Bravo! Johnson cranked out a 46-yarder today and the Bucs have a legitimate punt return game.
Kicking? Chase McLaughlin made a record 65-yard field goal today and a 58-yarder after going 5-for-5 last week. Stunning after a rough Weeks 1 and 2.
However, the blocking on punts has been putrid. The Bucs had their second blocked punt of the season today and it probably cost them the game. A field goal was blocked earlier this season.
Also, Joe will pull All-22 video later, but on one Eagles punt today, Bucs receiver Ryan Miller had a clear line to block the kick yet stopped and turned around. Joe is sure that will land on TikTok as alleged proof the NFL is rigged.
Bottom line: Bucs’ special teams has been messy all season, though it’s not all bad.
Still, there’s no excuse for so many screwups through four games. Injuries cannot be blamed. Backups play special teams and they need to execute the basics.
Bucs special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey is in his second season. Joe’s not sure what is special about McGaughey.
Joe’s not advocating firing the guy, but Joe sure is in favor of Todd Bowles marching into Team Glazer’s office tomorrow and demanding funds to hire the best available retired special teams guru. They’re out there.
In Joe’s mind, only ego or frugality would stand in the way of getting a seasoned, fresh set of eyes on the Bucs’ special teams immediately.
Joe always hears about how the Bucs will go to any lengths necessary to be the best they can be. Time to walk that talk on special teams.
September 28th, 2025 at 6:50 pm
WE NEED AN OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR CONSULTANT!
Grizzard has been terrible.
We don’t even incorporate TIGHT-ENDS into our offense.
What are you watching??? –Joe
September 28th, 2025 at 6:51 pm
Consultant? Fire whoever the hell is failing at it and hire someone great at it.
September 28th, 2025 at 6:57 pm
Consultant?
I have no doubt that the Bucs would be better off if they just said “go out there and do your best.“
September 28th, 2025 at 6:57 pm
If we need a consultant, we need a new coach!!!
September 28th, 2025 at 6:58 pm
Just another band aid, we need a winning coach
September 28th, 2025 at 6:59 pm
How about a qualified coach that can prevent kicks from being blocked? Seems pretty simple from a statistical standpoint …
September 28th, 2025 at 6:59 pm
The downside to being in a horrible division is that mediocrity is been elevated to “champion” status. This team is what it is. The hiring and firing won’t mean a thing until it gets to the real culprits.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:00 pm
We have a game manager consultant, so we don’t need Todd anymore.
Love it.
Fire Todd Bowles
September 28th, 2025 at 7:01 pm
ST is just the tip of the iceberg here. It typifies the entire team. Hold someone accountable and send a message by firing the ST coordinator.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:03 pm
Are you kidding me?
I’d fire everyone associated with Special (not so much) teams.
Special teams are Pathetic.
You can’t tell me there’s a high school coach that wouldn’t do better.
A consultant – get outta here.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:03 pm
I would have been in no huddle at 6 mins left in the 1st quarter when we went down 14 let alone down 18. If we had done that, we would have had another drive left at the end despite the mistakes. Poor clock management AGAIN!!! Just ran out of time. It’s not against the rules to go into 2 minute or hurry up offense earlier!!! This would have likely wore out the Eagle’s defense and we probably win. How can Bowles and Grizz not see this? Unfortunately no one has the balls to take Bowles to task on this and ask him why!!!
We get Evans and Goedeke back we should be hard to beat. Defense played excellent the 2nd half. The whole team has to come out ready to play. Got to fix our blocking on special teams. 2 blocked punts, another punt almost blocked and a blocked FG so far is unacceptable.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:05 pm
We have a great coach.
Once we get healthy and clean up the penalties, this team will be dangerous.
Go Bucs!
September 28th, 2025 at 7:07 pm
Grizzard better get it together. The next four games are the season.
Seattle has a formidable defense.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:10 pm
No. We have a 50/50 HC/DC. No consultant will change that.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:11 pm
Is this a rhetorical question?
September 28th, 2025 at 7:12 pm
Firing the ST coach and keeping the players blowing assignments improves what exactly? We punted again after the first punt, none of those were blocked.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:13 pm
Yes, instead of just holding the ST Coordinator accountable, go ahead and waste more Glazer loot by bringing in yet another consultant to the league’s most bloated coaching staff.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:14 pm
No. Fire the Magoo, Todd is great at multiple hats, let him assume special teams duties.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:16 pm
I look at it this way, we pounded them when they had some injuries, they barely beat us with 3 starters on O missing…
Look forward to seeing them again, we won’t lose again
September 28th, 2025 at 7:20 pm
Damn, our offense is doing its damn best with the patch work Oline and Baker trying to make things happen. We competed against the SB Champs and if not for bad turnovers, would have probably won the game, but we are all bellyaching about how horrible Grizz is and the HC is the worst. HELLO, the HC/DC is who got us back in the game in the second half. If not for the fumble in our territory, that game is completely different.
Yes is sucks we lost, be we competed our asses off and showed we’re still resilient. IF, we don’t show up in Seattle, then start whining. If I remember, we crushed the Eagles last year and they went on run to win the damn SB after that. Let’s see what this is made of moving forward.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:23 pm
Was Culp dressed for this game? He should be a receiving size speed matchup to use especially now that Kieft is out.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:24 pm
No they need a DC. And a coach that prepares before the game not at halftime.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:26 pm
Remember when Keith Armstrong was ran out of town?
September 28th, 2025 at 7:28 pm
We’ll see the Eagles again this season.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Amen. Do it.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:31 pm
I only saw the one replay of the blocked punt, and had commentary turned off, but it sure looked like Otton completely whiffed on a block. Not sure how people take the punter was the issue when a guy goes through the blocking like he wasn’t even touched. If it was Otton, was he in there because Ko was injured – or is he always in there in the middle? I’m not sure I ever noticed him before if he always blocks – which means he’s generally doing his job.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:32 pm
That’s the new kickoff way- half ass the kick, let it take some weirds hops and teams either let it go or try and make a run at it. Either way it’s a gamble now
September 28th, 2025 at 7:34 pm
@Joe Also Important: anyone else notice how the Eagles STOPPED ATTEMPTING to block punts after they got the first and implied they noticed something on film that would lead to that block?!?
I guarantee they stopped in hopes that they wouldn’t let the Bucs know the tell(s) they can currently exploit, just in case they needed it for the end of the game and/or in the playoffs.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:36 pm
How about a new social teams coach instead.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:43 pm
Fire the punter and hire an Aussie that runs to one side and puts away from the rush.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:44 pm
I think Time management was great, Baker doesnt throw an interception in redzone and everything looks good. But thats not the case
September 28th, 2025 at 7:45 pm
Got it…HC/DC/STC
September 28th, 2025 at 7:46 pm
Get Coach Kevin O’Dea out of retirement to help. He has coached on two Bucs staffs in the past and before retiring fixed the Saints kicking problem as a consultant. He’s a good guy too.
September 28th, 2025 at 7:50 pm
Perhaps we need to do what the Falcons did with their WR coach. That would put the team and coaches on notice, real belt to ass style.
September 28th, 2025 at 8:01 pm
Canabuc Says:
September 28th, 2025 at 7:23 pm
Was Culp dressed for this game?
———-
Culp was active, but he was inactive for the previous 3 games. I don’t get a sense the coaches are very high on him, based on that and the fact I think he was still playing in the 4th quarter of the 3rd preseason game. I think he’s much more of a fringe roster guy than most people think (and I’m not sure why either).
September 28th, 2025 at 8:02 pm
They need a punter that doesn’t take forever to punt the ball. This is Riley Dixons 10th blocked punt. Its a Riley Dixon issue
September 28th, 2025 at 8:08 pm
Bucs Reality Check Says:
September 28th, 2025 at 6:50 pm
WE NEED AN OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR CONSULTANT!
Grizzard has been terrible.
We don’t even incorporate TIGHT-ENDS into our offense.
_________________________________
maybe the reason we dont incorporate tight ends into our offense is because the tight ends we have can’t seem to catch the ball when targeted? when they do catch the ball, it goes nowhere. the best thing otton has done so far this season is help out with blocking since we’re down so many on the oline.
September 28th, 2025 at 8:15 pm
UMM, Special teams fault. Bucky’s fault. Baker’s fault. Refs fault. His shin was down. Eagles secondary bout ripped our receivers shirts off.
September 28th, 2025 at 8:17 pm
bowles is more of a figure head he needs all these consultants. he needs a consultant on defense also
September 28th, 2025 at 8:23 pm
Consultant?
Isn’t that what a special teams coach does?
September 28th, 2025 at 8:55 pm
Our ST are like the girl with a curl.
When they are good they are very, very good. When they are bad they are horrid.
September 28th, 2025 at 9:03 pm
If we can get results anywhere similar to what we have in the clock management department, I think it’s worth it. I haven’t seen clock management this good in all my years as a Bucs fan.
P.S. I saw somebody complain about the size of the coaching staff a few comments up. That’s hilarious! It lets me know that us Bucs fans have been spoiled with winning the last five years. 😂
September 28th, 2025 at 9:04 pm
I say the same thing Joe I didn’t know who it was but it looked like it was going to be a block then they stopped and headed down field.
September 28th, 2025 at 9:05 pm
I don’t know that I have ever seen special teams this bad on a team that is supposed to be a playoff contender. It’s really amazing we are 3-1 because we could easily be 0-4.
September 28th, 2025 at 9:09 pm
Yes, Mike McCarthy, he can also handle head coaching duties
September 28th, 2025 at 9:23 pm
It cost us the game. You can argue Bakers pick, Bucky fumbling even though he was down etc but it wouldn’t matter if they didn’t get 7 points from a punt block. Three weeks in a row this has happened and it’s unacceptable. We lost to the eagles because of one blocked kick
September 29th, 2025 at 12:08 am
There’s no doubt in my mind that if our first punt had not been blocked , the Bucs would have beat the Eagles !!
From the time the football is snapped to the punter to the time it leaves the punters foot ideally should be 2.1 seconds or less. Any slower and your punts may be blocked. The Eagles saw how slow we were on film and took advantage of it for 7 points.
The Bucs have to improve this area of special teams immediately or more punts will be blocked.
Go Bucs !!
September 29th, 2025 at 12:34 am
Budget and roster priorities might take precedence over adding a new consultant.
September 29th, 2025 at 12:55 am
YES hire a special teams consultant or new coach–lets get this problem more investigation and then correct it
September 29th, 2025 at 1:21 am
If you need to hire a consultant in the middle of the season, then fire the ST coordinator and put Keith Tandy in charge. Let the consultant guide him while he’s getting up to speed.
Bowles I hope isn’t so loyal to his people to allow this season to be ruined. If they can somehow stop getting injured this team has contender status. Don’t let the kicking coach blow it for everyone else.
Call the code red!
September 29th, 2025 at 2:39 am
the special team situation is quite glaring…coach will probably be cool, calm and collected – and give the dude time to stabilize things…
if things aren’t flowing well by the bye week – make the change
September 29th, 2025 at 4:54 am
Can we hire a consultant for Bowles?
September 29th, 2025 at 6:39 am
Cn someone tell Rondé that yesterday’s 1st half is exactly why there are some that do not believe Bowles can get us to the promised land.
September 29th, 2025 at 6:51 am
What a clown show this team is. Soon they’ll go from 3-0 to 3-4. And NOBODY will be surprised.
September 29th, 2025 at 7:37 am
Good grief man seriously lol consultant for special teams? 🤣🤣🤣 a college coach could do a better job than whoever this guy is. The long snapper should be fired today
September 29th, 2025 at 7:44 am
if the punter is going to take time for his windup, THEN MAKE HIM STAND FARTHER BACK JESUS CHRIST
September 29th, 2025 at 7:49 am
They already pay for a Massive coaching staff!
September 29th, 2025 at 10:11 am
LVMYBUCS Says
“Just another band aid, we need a winning coach”
Um…3-1.
We have a winning coach.
September 29th, 2025 at 10:15 am
Bowles really needs a Defensive Coordinator. That doesn’t mean he can’t still participate in coaching the defense, but we need a second pair of eyes. Someone that can get them to start hot.
Thomas McGaughey is either a bad couch, or the players he’s been given are bad players. He needs better blocking, and if moving the punter back a few feet is too much to ask for the long snapper, then replace our punter.
September 29th, 2025 at 1:14 pm
100% agree with Joey here. I 100% do not agree with everyone else calling for new head coaches and offensive coordinators. The issue for the past 4 games has been special teams. They tried to lose all four of our games and they finally succeeded in game 4. Special teams coach either needs help or needs to be unemployed. Punter needs competition and we need to replace Ko with a decent blocker who probably can be picked up for nickels.
September 29th, 2025 at 1:19 pm
Agree Bonz. Bowles with a full time DC to mentor and also get feedback from would be huge.
As it is, the second half proves we can play elite defense. Just need to start that way.
September 29th, 2025 at 1:53 pm
Sigh…..Todd has 2 DCs on staff.
Many HCs are also calling plays on defense or offense. Are the people still beating this dead horse watching other games @ all ?