Todd Bowles Throws Support Behind Bucs Punter Riley Dixon
October 2nd, 2025
Punting issue diagnosed.
When Bucs special teams began breaking down this year (some would argue they were broken when the season began), Bucs coach Todd Bowles seemed to single out punter Riley Dixon for a punt blocked against the Steers.
On the BSPN game broadcast, analyst Troy Aikman made a big deal of Dixon taking too much time in his approach to punting the ball, which allowed the Steers to block it.
Bowles was asked about it the following week and he commented that Dixon could be and probably should be less deliberate.
Well, yesterday Bowles seemed to defend Dixon after the Bucs had another punt blocked against the Eagles. It was returned for six and that score determined the game.
Yesterday, Bowles fingered the punt team’s blocking, when asked about the punters the Bucs worked out this week but did not sign.
“It’s always good to take a look,” Bowles said. “I mean, Riley has been punting for us great – we’ve got to protect for him.
“He’s probably a tick [slow] getting the ball out, but we’ve got to protect for him. If you don’t protect for him, it’s hard to sign any punter.”
So it seems like the Bucs have found the culprits to the punting issue. Now the next step is, how do they resolve the problem?
If it means guys on the starting offensive line have to log an additional five or so plays and be on the punt team, that’s better than coughing up another touchdown after another Dixon punt is blocked.
October 2nd, 2025 at 9:06 am
Dixon ain’t the problem. coaching/ schem is.
October 2nd, 2025 at 9:14 am
Translation: “None of the guys we brought in off the street were better – so we are stuck with this slow delivery punter for now…. Only choice is to focus on blocking, try to boost Dixon’s confidence and hope for the best.”
October 2nd, 2025 at 9:18 am
Guessing with this story and today being Thursday with no news, we’re not signing the guy we brought in earlier this week. Whoever boards the plane for the seagulls game would definitely put it to rest.
October 2nd, 2025 at 9:21 am
The Cooter family was sitting on the deck this morning enjoying our fresh coffee with a Danish when the topic came up of this very subject. Ms Cooter believes since she played soccer in high school in 1974 that she could do a better job of punting then this Dixon fella
October 2nd, 2025 at 9:26 am
Well expect 1 punt a game to be blocked. If they keep having the issue then we just don’t punt. Play hero ball and go for it on 4th downs.
October 2nd, 2025 at 9:28 am
I don’t care how fast or slow he is, having someone in your face that fast is a problem. Fix the blocking first.
October 2nd, 2025 at 9:32 am
Just ordered a case of Nexium from the Amazon for Sundays game.
October 2nd, 2025 at 9:40 am
Seems Riley Dixon is this years JTS.
October 2nd, 2025 at 9:42 am
Maybe teach him, if you have to at this level…to u know, side step the punt away from incoming blocker! Just a thought
October 2nd, 2025 at 9:43 am
Do they even use many o-linemen on punt protection? In replays I see TEs, FBs, LBs and WRs.
October 2nd, 2025 at 9:43 am
No one can punt when the defender is taking the ball off of your foot!!!
October 2nd, 2025 at 9:47 am
@Pickgrin Agreed
Like Joe, I wondered why we don’t just have the O-line block.
Is the only reason teams don’t do this is because of injury risk? If the reason includes an ego dent to starting linemen for having to play special teams, than we are at a point where that has to be put to the side.
October 2nd, 2025 at 9:48 am
Punters are athletes, but they are typically not the most elite athletes. They have to trust their blocking just like the quarterback does. It’s like saying all sacks are on the quarterback for not getting the ball out fast enough. No, sometimes the blocking sucks. Of course. Also, sometimes they don’t get rid of the ball fast enough. I assume they’re looking at everything. The time it takes to punt and the time the line allows for protection.
October 2nd, 2025 at 9:49 am
so sean payton has outcoached bowles yet again by getting rid of dixon before he could do any damage to the broncos.
the only question now is are the bucs going to allow dixon to set a personal “best” by having three blocked punts with one team before getting kicked to the curb.
how many blocked punts can happen before a glazer makes a call? 4? 6? nobody cares about injuries. fix it they say.
again no accountability. todd will hum and haw all the way to mediocrityville….
October 2nd, 2025 at 9:50 am
I think someone detailed it elsewhere, but it isn’t Riley Dixon at all. The snapper is a hair too slow. .1 second if I recall. It is just enough to blow the block. He has to snap faster, and the defenders need to pick up the blocks.
October 2nd, 2025 at 9:51 am
“If you don’t protect for him, it’s hard to sign any punter.”
Is Bowles saying other punters chose to NOT sign because of the terrible blocking?
Brady reviewed our entire roster before he chose to sign here. He thought he was getting a good O-line, which he did get in ’20.
October 2nd, 2025 at 9:52 am
the punt formation we come out in is ugly and it allows penetration up the middle its the two guys in that formation on the right side interior they are slow and not handsy even one of them got crashed through…
October 2nd, 2025 at 9:57 am
Dont fire the ST coach
Dont bench the players
Dont replace the punter
Promblem solved Gesh !
October 2nd, 2025 at 10:13 am
just go for all the fourth downs
October 2nd, 2025 at 10:19 am
Stop punting so much–sstart with that
October 2nd, 2025 at 10:27 am
Good thing he was finally focusing on the special teams 🙃
October 2nd, 2025 at 10:36 am
How about we just put baker in there and have him either punt or fake the punt. That would throw off defenses big time and not allow other teams to plan for the block as easily
October 2nd, 2025 at 10:40 am
“Stop punting so much–sstart with that“
You’re right even if it feels like asking too much at this point, but it’s kind of that simple.
October 2nd, 2025 at 10:50 am
OK it’s been years since I played football BUT I do remember we had more than ONE “personal protector” back there in front of the punter. If I remember correctly Bucs only had 1 guy. We actually had 3. 1 was responsible for the left 1for the middle and 1 for the right. Has the game changed that much or is our ST coach trying some new formation?
October 2nd, 2025 at 10:52 am
The long-snapper OLE’d his block, dude for thru untouched.
Punt team is ALWAYS 8 guys blocking 8 OTHER guys, only so many ways to do that
October 2nd, 2025 at 10:52 am
What is history? Any blocks with other teams?
October 2nd, 2025 at 11:06 am
You can’t practice punting like it’s a wall through. It seems obvious to me we don’t practice full go drying to block punts. If we did we might have noticed our own weakness before other teams did. It’s the fault of our STs coach. Notice we never block a punt? You play as you practice. Punt team has not been put to task.
October 2nd, 2025 at 11:08 am
“He’s probably a tick [slow] getting the ball out”
This is FACT. Weak sauce.
October 2nd, 2025 at 11:12 am
Well if we are stuck with the same slow punter let him take his position further back. I’d rather give up five yards on a punt than whats happening now.
October 2nd, 2025 at 11:48 am
So I looked up different punt formations and what we ran in highschool and college is called the Shield Formation. It’s used to maximize protection. Seems this is what we need since Riley is a bit slow and methodical with his kick. Hopefully they get it fixed and we don’t have anymore blocks.
October 2nd, 2025 at 11:58 am
bowles making this statement tells me that he, the ST coach and Dixon have all:
-reviewed film
-identified the problem
-have come up with the correct protection and the correct personnel
punt team has been fixed!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
October 2nd, 2025 at 12:06 pm
Dixon is the problem. Teams such as the Eagles are focusing on blocking kicks and punts. A stationary American punter is a sitting duck. NCAA is going to former rugby and AFL (Australian Football League) players because they drop kick on the run like a Soccer Keeper and they can run the Ball like a running back when they get in trouble.
October 2nd, 2025 at 12:09 pm
Another Bowles Blunder
October 2nd, 2025 at 12:13 pm
Just make the special teams sit in the back of the plane and make them sing “The Old Grey Mare” all the way to Seattle.
October 2nd, 2025 at 12:13 pm
Good suggestion on Baker and fake punts but not worth the potential injury. A former AFL or Rugby player can run the Army option play and keep it or pitch out to a RB.
October 2nd, 2025 at 12:14 pm
The punts he manages to get off ain’t all that..
October 2nd, 2025 at 12:15 pm
The blocking setup/alignment/scheme is all jacked up, too! At least it was on the Philly Block-TD. They definitely need their better blockers in there, and why not bring three back like I’ve been seeing most college teams this year (when I’m paying attention).
October 2nd, 2025 at 12:27 pm
@ Pickgrin – (that idiot Dave’s voice on “Storage Wars”) Yeeeuuuuuup! 💯exactly what I was thinking while reading this. YOUR #1 JOB (no matter what) is to get the damn thing OFF. Period. Regardless, of what else happens. YOU YOURSELF, has to be able to make any and all ‘adjustments’ necessary. ESPECIALLY, when you already KNOW that we’re having OLine issues with injuries, & etc. I can’t stand him. I think he’s a DUMB-F.
October 2nd, 2025 at 12:28 pm
Well one thing is for sure. I hope the Bucs have the problem corrected, because every team we play this season is going to try and block a punt or two !! You can count on that !! I’m sure Coach Bowles knows it and is doing his best to fix it .
Go Bucs !!
October 2nd, 2025 at 12:33 pm
@ Kidfloflo – He can’t. He has ZERO peripheral vision. He’s not even trying to see ANYTHING other than just that ball. That’s it. Watch him next time. He’s not capable of it. He’s a DUMB-F.
October 2nd, 2025 at 12:37 pm
It was like Brady said during the telecast… “He just blocked-it with HIS ELBOW” LoL. He never even sped it up even a millisecond. Never ‘moved’ even an inch. Exact. Same. Routine. “I’ll Be DAMNED.” Every. Time.
October 2nd, 2025 at 12:39 pm
@ Nicholas Carlson – I’ve noticed this too, so you’re not wrong!
October 2nd, 2025 at 12:41 pm
Dixon my eed to sidestep and spin ocassionally. He is a tad slow. And so are our Specail team limemen. Seattle gonna try to block us too. We gotta be ready.
October 2nd, 2025 at 12:43 pm
Will Says: “OK it’s been years since I played football BUT I do remember we had more than ONE “personal protector” back there in front of the punter. If I remember correctly Bucs only had 1 guy. We actually had 3.”
Ding Ding Ding Ding.
October 2nd, 2025 at 12:54 pm
You can’t have all being just a buncha OLineman though, since SOMEONE has to get down there in coverage and make a damn tackle!
October 2nd, 2025 at 12:58 pm
MelvinJunior, you are spot on in terms of Dixon having ZERO peripheral vision. He just looks at the ball and he is more than one tick slow. Perhaps two or three ticks. Unfortunately, Dixon is not the answer and he needs to be cut and replaced.
October 2nd, 2025 at 12:59 pm
its bad enough that you are punting the ball. now you have to hold your breath with every punt smh
October 2nd, 2025 at 1:49 pm
I remember feeling soo confident with Jake Camarda, who was not just a great punter, but athlete.. and then POOF done.
Wish he could get “It” back
October 2nd, 2025 at 1:49 pm
So….the blocker getting thru the line untouched just doesn’t come into play here?
October 2nd, 2025 at 1:57 pm
“Bowles was asked about it the following week and he commented that Dixon could be and probably should be less deliberate.”
How about ‘will be or he’s gone?’
NFL head coaches, always to their detriment, seem intent on rationalizing poor decisions rather than owning up to them and fixing the problems. Must be an ego thing. And Bowles is no exception.
How about, “With a history of blocks due to his slow, deliberate kicking routine, we took a chance on Dixon due to his strong leg. We tried to alter his motion but it didn’t work out, and that’s on me. Time to move on.” ???
October 2nd, 2025 at 2:06 pm
SAY WHAT YOU WANT BUT THIS GUY IS SLOW ! SAW NO URGENCY .
October 2nd, 2025 at 2:08 pm
SAY WHAT YOU WANT BUT THIS GUY IS SLOW ! SAW NO URGENCY .not a dupilcatec
October 2nd, 2025 at 2:27 pm
Perhaps there is a rules analyst in the thread that can correct me, but I’m pretty sure that any deviation from ‘catch-step-kick’ makes the punter a runner and therefore, a legal target.
It’s possible that Dixon is a bit slow, but nobody is fast enough to avoid a free rusher.
Both punts were blocked by an untouched free rusher.
Blocking scheme, ie. coaching is the problem.
Fixable without pulling teeth!
October 2nd, 2025 at 2:46 pm
A lot more: Going for it on forth down.
October 2nd, 2025 at 2:56 pm
Next up “The Quick Kick” by Bake on 3rd down.
October 2nd, 2025 at 3:33 pm
The Eagles literally had two guys basically running free on the block, and people blamed the punter. Real low-IQ nimrods.
October 2nd, 2025 at 3:34 pm
KoD
October 2nd, 2025 at 4:13 pm
He has a history of getting punts blocked. Brining him in is a Jason L error and Jason, not Todd B should address it
October 2nd, 2025 at 4:56 pm
OMG. I agree with Rod