Still On The Hook
September 19th, 2025
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BY IRA KAUFMAN
You won’t find his name on Tampa Bay’s expansive injury list, but Thomas McGaughey is nursing a bruised ego.
The second-year special teams coach of the Buccaneers takes pride in his work. He knows his units could have easily been the goats Monday night had the Bucs not rallied past the Texans to go 2-0.
The Bucs allowed a 53-yard punt return, Riley Dixon had a punt blocked and Chase McLaughlin missed another routine FG attempt. That’s usually a trifecta disaster in the NFL, especially on the road, but Baker Mayfield directed an 80-yard drive that led to a jubilant flight home.
Kicker Chase McLaughlin
Still, that dramatic prime-time victory doesn’t obscure the fact McGaughey has work to do leading up to Sunday’s home opener against the 0-2 Jets.
Job 1 is to figure out what is going on with McLaughlin, who had been so reliable with Tampa Bay. After converting 59-of-63 FG tries through two seasons as a Buccaneer, many from long distance, McLaughlin had certainly gained the full confidence of teammates and coaches coming into a new season.
Suddenly, he’s a problem.
McLaughlin has already misfired on two routine FG attempts and he missed an extra-point try at Atlanta. To his credit, Todd Bowles offered no excuses for his veteran kicker.
The Bucs still have faith in McLaughlin, who signed a 3-year, $12.3 million contract extension with the Bucs in 2024. Tampa Bay didn’t usher in any kickers to One Buc Place this week as competition, but you have to think that will soon change if McLaughlin continues to struggle.
In a league that prides itself on close games, the Bucs are doing their part. Ten of their last 20 games, including the playoffs, have been decided by six points or less. The right kicker is often the winning edge in the NFL and right now, the Bucs aren’t quite sure what to think about their guy.
Monday’s 53-yard punt return by Jaylin Noel left Buc fans dismayed. He appeareed to be surrounded near the right sideline, but Noel soon found a wide-open lane down the middle of the field. That breakdown in coverage set up Houston’s go-ahead score in the final minutes before Tampa Bay’s winning drive.
Dixon boasts an impressive 50.9 gross average, but he’s one of only two punters to see a kick blocked this season. Give credit to Houston’s rush, but it’s also clear that Dixon needs to speed up his process.
It’s easy to forget the Bucs have done a lot of good things through the first two weeks.
They run the ball well and stop the run equally well. Mayfield has authored two late game-winning drives and rookie Emeka Egbuka has already reached the end zone three times. The offense has not turned the ball over and the defense made a remarkable goalline stand in Houston.
While Buc fans understandably fret about an injury-ravaged offensive line, horrid special teams play in Week 2 has everyone’s attention as the team seeks its first 3-0 getaway since 2005.
While all signs point to Tristan Wirfs returning against the Eagles, it may not be so easy to fix the kicking game and the coverage units.
The bottom line: Mayfield and Company let Thomas McGaughey’s group off the hook last week.
That’s a big ask — one that needs to end pronto.
September 19th, 2025 at 5:25 pm
The problem boils down to DIXON.
September 19th, 2025 at 5:27 pm
Agree. However, even with the oline decimated, still think we put on a clinic at home. say, 31-7ish, plus or minus 5. Defense, is actually a factor this year, wirfs/godwin back for eagles, defintely 3-0, most likely 4-0.
September 19th, 2025 at 5:35 pm
Mr Magoo and his bruised ego need to go coach junior college football. What a disgrace.
September 19th, 2025 at 5:44 pm
good write up. chase is a head scratcher for sure. 90% plus for two years and plenty of long FGs then this. obviously everyone hopes he can turn it around but only time will tell.
September 19th, 2025 at 6:00 pm
How does it boil down to Dixon, Grover? lol he didn’t miss any kicks that cost us points.
September 19th, 2025 at 6:09 pm
I’ve read in a couple places Dixon got the punt off 3 seconds from the snap (which is apparently the standard) They had great penetration, (and apparently Tucker missed a block?)
September 19th, 2025 at 6:17 pm
Dixon has the awareness of a fern.
September 19th, 2025 at 6:30 pm
Missing 2 out of 3 FG attempts in the first 2 games is a major problem. Missing 1 of 3 XPs, especially in close games, is a major problem. Allowing a blocked punt, especially in a close game, is a major problem. And 53 yard punt returns should never happen.
That was the worst single game S/Ts performance that I can remember as a Bucs’ fan. We were extremely fortunate to come out of that Texans’ game with a win. Bucs have the 7th most costly Special Teams in the NFL right now: McLaughlin $3.5 mil, Dixon $3.0 mil and Deckers $1.0 mil. They’re making that much because they’re supposedly very good. Now play like it.
September 19th, 2025 at 6:45 pm
The kickoff coverage was also horrible.
September 19th, 2025 at 6:51 pm
We have faith in you Chase kick a long one Sunday!
September 19th, 2025 at 6:52 pm
Grover blames Bowles for everything , now he is blaming Dixon..lol
Grover’s car won’t start it’s Bowles fault.He overslept for work it’s Dixon fault. 🥺
September 19th, 2025 at 7:11 pm
The blocking for those punts didn’t look to be very good
September 19th, 2025 at 7:12 pm
Excellent article Ira.
The special teams threefold blunder last week is shocking that we still won with having some horrible offensive line injuries as well.
Looking back —
1. Sean Tucker better learn to get a chip on that outside guy or Williams from LSU will be the 3rd active running back on game days instead of him.
2. Riley Dixon as you said better pick up the speed of his kicks for the Bucs sake and his sake of ever getting another job.
and
3. Personally, I think this may just be McLaughlin’s worst stretch in his Bucs history and I really think that he will start to line them up again. And I am not doubling down on Dixon — but he is the new holder this season correct. Maybe there is something they are still working out a little bit.
September 19th, 2025 at 9:53 pm
dixon’s lucky he wasn’t killed on that punt, and i liked his tackle attempt on the return. looked athletic. unblocked rusher = not dixon’s fault. i agree that these pooch kickoffs might be messing with chase’s ‘swing’ on FGs. not attacking ball like normal possibly and it got in his head. wouldn’t hayes have made the tackle if he wasn’t pushed in back? criminal missed call there imo, no matter what TV brown noser ref said.
September 20th, 2025 at 4:46 am
Great write-up, Ira.
Not understanding what is going on with McLaughlin. He has done so well. Going back to Ira’s last podcast, “Keeping focused” rings true. There was a lot of noise at Houston and the Falcons games in their domes. Could be a negative. Being at home this week, we will see McLaughlin bounce back.