Coaching, Playing Around Chase McLaughlin
September 19th, 2025
How much rope will Todd Bowles give struggling kicker Chase McLauglin on Sunday? And will the Bucs treat McLaughlin as if he’s the stud kicker they re-signed in March?
Yeah, it’s come to that.
Joe is very interested to see if the Bucs trust McLaughlin this week like they always have, even though he’s kicked away seven points in two games that would have been automatic in past seasons.
Have Bowles and his game/clock management guru held secret meetings in the Team Glazer cone of silence to talk about McLaughlin and adjust his analytics? H
Has Bowles had playcaller Josh Grizzard spend more time on 2-point conversions and fourth-and-short calls this week?
Joe always hopes kicking is a non-factor in every game. But if you haven’t noticed, it’s been a huge factor in both games this season and often was last season.
McLaughlin will bank $5 million this season and the Bucs don’t have another kicker on the roster. Not adding a kicker was a vote of confidence for one of the best kickers in Bucs history.
Last week, Bowles and Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht each said McLaughlin’s Week 1 struggles were a “one-off.” Well, they became a two-off. Some think a three-off will end McLaughlin’s Tampa Bay tenure. Joe won’t go that far.
Still, Bowles has a history of showing little patience for struggling special teamers. Just ask Tez Johnson.
September 19th, 2025 at 5:40 pm
Watson getting a workout?
Wouldn’t it be something if he turned out to be good…
September 19th, 2025 at 5:42 pm
One more game to see if he’s worked through this. If it continues, you unfortunately have no choice. And before this season, this was a guy I touted as the best kicker in franchise history given the accuracy and distance
September 19th, 2025 at 5:52 pm
“Still, Bowles has a history of showing little patience for struggling special teamers. Just ask Tez Johnson.“
Jake Camarda is a better example, we kicked him to the curb a little too fast last season imo, but we have Dixon now who’s also had a gaff since.
Bowles stated the week after the Falcons game he’s always had Kam Johnson in mind as our returner and he just needed him to be healthy. Tez too light in the ssa, and didn’t even dress last week.
September 19th, 2025 at 5:56 pm
Isn’t there a new holder? Doesn’t that frequently screw up timing? Or maybe the ball is tilted a bit differently? I remember reading about all the little things that go into kicking that can make a kicker look bad. Granted, the kicking trio has had plenty of time to get things worked out……
September 19th, 2025 at 5:56 pm
I don’t understand why the Bucs don’t use their back up field goal kicker for kick offs. Every team has a back up field goal kicker. Yes, someone who last kicked in high school that can kick the ball off a tee. It’s probably someone surprising is the emergency kicker. A great do it all high school athlete now in the NFL. I think watching McClaughlin kick of those weird short kick offs damaged his ego, timing, leg, etc. Think outside the box solution. Its worth a try.
September 19th, 2025 at 6:13 pm
Why are kickers so mental? Matt Gay could make a 50 yarder but couldn’t hit one from 35, and now it seems McLaughlin is going in that same direction.
September 19th, 2025 at 6:17 pm
Wasn’t there another kicker we had in training camp that looked good
September 19th, 2025 at 6:23 pm
Kicker’s are streakier than Ira’s skivvies after knocking back some media buffet at Ray Jay. I for one am concerned…as all three whiffs came in perfect indoor conditions.
September 19th, 2025 at 6:23 pm
Mr Magoo is pathetic. Now Griz has to run the offense knowing he can’t make
a FG, and can’t protect for or prevent a run back on a punt, so go for it on 4th down. Can’t make PAT so go for 2. With 5 way roulette as an offensive line.
Just awesome.
September 19th, 2025 at 6:31 pm
I wonder if the weird, short kickoff has changed his normal kicking swing. He doesn’t really have the same pre-kick routine with kickoffs and it seems very nonchalant compared to his field goal motion where he lines up, then swings his arms some, and then kicks it – a very set routine. I think the half-assed kickoff motion is creeping into his field goal swing. Bowles needs to let someone else handle the kickoffs ASAP. Then have McLaughlin review tape from last year about things like plant foot location, alignment, ball tilt, etc.
September 19th, 2025 at 6:38 pm
I’m afraid it’s between the ears and I’m afraid that chasm is growing. It’s being reported on. These guys don’t live in a bubble. Fans commenting about it. Whispers around the building. The players know what to do. Leave him alone! We know he’s got a heck of a leg. So let’s nobody talk about it or report on it or get anywhere near him. He will get focus back. Or he won’t. Kickers can be head cases but giving up 3 or 4 points a game will get you beat in this league. So hopefully he gets it together. Before it gets us beat.
September 19th, 2025 at 6:39 pm
maybe jimbob. interesting.
September 19th, 2025 at 6:47 pm
Jimbob that’s a great point. One I never gave a thought too. Alot of kickers struggling this year and that could be a reason why!
September 19th, 2025 at 6:50 pm
Go get him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Falcons release Younghoe Koo
September 19th, 2025 at 6:52 pm
This kicker should be working at Publix by now. Lucky he hasn’t cost us a game yet
September 19th, 2025 at 6:56 pm
He can’t miss any kicks on Sunday.
September 19th, 2025 at 7:00 pm
Koo, converted only 25 of 34 fields goals last season. Ouch! Who would want him?
September 19th, 2025 at 7:07 pm
Relax…..small sample…..
September 19th, 2025 at 7:20 pm
It’s not his fault, he gets 5 million $ to follow script. Easy and very real way to cover spreads for NGL. National Gambling League. Take it with a grain of salt. Only gonna get worse. Nobody complained about Roc Nation Illuminati fools running the entertainment side. Gamble it up man. Get over it. GO BUCS!
September 19th, 2025 at 7:23 pm
Can’t believe he’s still on the roster
September 19th, 2025 at 7:54 pm
Jesus… Chase McLaughlin has been money for years now – practically automatic. An under appreciated weapon.
So let’s fire him (and/or the ST coach) after a couple of bad kicks out of 100s.
Typical response from the expert coaches and GMs around here.
September 19th, 2025 at 8:08 pm
Looks like we brought Watson in for a workout. With the Eagles game on the horizon, it might make sense. Sub him in for the tush push, that’s 800 lbs of beef between Vea and him.
September 19th, 2025 at 8:18 pm
Yeah, I think it’s a bit of an overreaction to say “cut him”
His misses are concerning but people need to chill.
September 19th, 2025 at 8:51 pm
Dude missed two kicks all of last year. He is a stud hasn’t cost us anything with these early misses. He will figure it out and make them when it matters most in the playoffs.
September 19th, 2025 at 9:01 pm
Big Deal. He is in a slump in the very early season. He is a kicker and look at the 3 or 4 other teams jumping the gun and tossing their kickers to the curve with a short lease. I’m talking you SF and Atl. Could you imagine if Bowles CUT or threatened to cut one of his useless fringe defensive players that cost us games time and time again with poor tackling, low i.q. undisciplined penalties or blown assignments way more than Chase.
Let’s look at this objectively. Worry about gaining momentum and getting chemistry and improvement as a coaching staff. Todd has made amazing strides in the last 2 years and I do not want to see him regress with overreactions about a position that honestly is overvalued in today’s NFL. Ask Detroit about kickers. Let’s work on scoring 7 and PREVENTING teams from scoring “7”.
September 19th, 2025 at 9:09 pm
Give the guy a break.
September 19th, 2025 at 9:18 pm
Bowles game/clock management guru? That’s funny.
September 19th, 2025 at 9:36 pm
Why even kick anymore, just go for 2 & go for 4th down everyday time and let the chips fall where they may
September 19th, 2025 at 9:37 pm
I agree with the posters who say take him off kickoffs. If that’s the problem, it’ll fix it. If the problem is mental, there’s a good chance it will +still+ fix it.
September 19th, 2025 at 9:46 pm
He will be fine ,,,, if he keeps it up Prater (Bills ) might be available when Bass comes back (although he missed one last night and cost me the points)
September 19th, 2025 at 9:54 pm
Looks like Chase had lost his mojo.
Once that goes, it’s hard to get back and he may be done here. Unfortunately
September 19th, 2025 at 9:56 pm
*has
September 19th, 2025 at 10:15 pm
Maybe they can sign Mason Crosby or Justin Tucker. I’m sure Tucker is hanging out with Deshaun somewhere at a massage parlor or strip joint.
September 19th, 2025 at 10:22 pm
Chase McLaughlin will be fine. You don’t give up on the most accurate kicker in Bucs history after two or three bad games.
Get real people.
You want him to get out of his head? Show him the team sticks with him like they would any other player.
September 19th, 2025 at 10:32 pm
What happens to Bucs kickers? There have been so many from Gramatica to Succup when they lose the ability, it never comes back !! Hopefully McLaughlin will shake it off and earn Coach Bowles’ trust again. In the meantime, hang on to your chairs when it’s time for a FG or EP.
Go Bucs !!
September 19th, 2025 at 10:40 pm
Kickers should not be a roster spot and should be banned. It is logically equivalent to a pinch hitter with no ability to run – home run or bust. If you can’t get on the field, you don’t get to play.
September 19th, 2025 at 10:49 pm
Bartow Buc Says
“What happens to Bucs kickers? There have been so many from Gramatica to Succup when they lose the ability, it never comes back !!”
Um…first off, Martin Gramatica was must older and had a good run for us. Second, when he left Tampa, he played 4 more years, and in one he made 100% of his FGs.
We got Succup at the end of his career and he played for us for 3 out of his 14 years, and ended his career with a 80+% success rate.
Chase McLaughlin has missed 2 Field Goals and 1 Extra Point. That’s not a disaster…and we won those two games.
September 20th, 2025 at 2:36 am
@bucaneerbonzsai,finally a voice of reason.thank you sir!
September 20th, 2025 at 5:08 am
Not ready to throw in the towel on McLaughlin. Let’s see how he keeps doing. And we wouldn’t want Koo. No way.
Buccaneer Bonzai – Very true.
Politely adding one more kicker to the discussion, Matt Gay, 31 years old. He went on to play for the Rams, the Colts, and now the Commanders.
The future, Nico Gramatica? Soph and kicker at USF.