Extremes At Punt And Kick Returner
September 29th, 2025
Change coming?
Lotta wild extremes within the Bucs’ special teams.
Consider first that Bucs kick returner Sean Tucker ranks tied for 46th in the NFL among kick returners averaging at least one return per game — in a 32-team league.
Yeah, the Bucs’ kick return game has been that putrid. And look at the opening kickoff yesterday; it bounced in the landing zone and out the back of the end zone, which brings the ball out to the 20 yard line. Catch the ball! Most NFL teams are averaging more than 25 yards per return.
But in the punt return game, the Bucs led by Kameron Johnson have been stellar. Johnson ranks sixth in the NFL among full-time returners at 15.9 yards per return through four games. Ten yards a return is good, so Johnson truly has been special.
How does that happen? The Bucs can’t return a kick but they’re money on punt returns?
Joe’s already detailed the various woes protecting punters and kickers. The Bucs have had two punts blocked and one kick. Just one of those happening would be too many in one season. Three in four games is unheard of.
Joe wonders if the Bucs will move off Tucker this week at kick returner because Bucky Irving needs an MRI for an undisclosed injury. The team might want to preserve Tucker for the offense.
September 29th, 2025 at 1:50 pm
Put Johnson back there and see what he can do.
September 29th, 2025 at 1:51 pm
Mr slow to react Todd Bowles had better fix it and fix it fast. It’s a shame it takes 4 putrid performances before addressing it. How it got this bad is stunning. And knowing Todd Bowles we’ll see the same thing in Seattle next week.
September 29th, 2025 at 1:51 pm
Kameron Johnson should also be fielding kickoffs as the main returner he should touch the ball more on kickoffs instead of tucker
September 29th, 2025 at 1:51 pm
imo, k.johnson has won all return duties lol….
i thought bucky was injured on the tackle when he “fumbled”…he got bent up pretty good…
GO BUCS!!!!
September 29th, 2025 at 1:53 pm
do folks blame bowles for it being hot in july lol….geez…
GO BUCS!!!!
September 29th, 2025 at 1:58 pm
Kickoffs and punt returns are different, people. Success on one does not mean success on another. But you know what? Maybe I’m wrong. Put the kid in.
The scheme is horrible. The coaching is horrible. Maybe TB and JL need to put McGaughey on a PIP.
September 29th, 2025 at 1:59 pm
I thought Johnson was on the kick off return team. Could be wrong but I think the problem is, the team’s we play game plan for special teams and decide to kick it Tuckers way instead of Johnson’s.
September 29th, 2025 at 1:59 pm
I think the hate Bowles receives is unwarranted.
September 29th, 2025 at 2:02 pm
i would like to see TEZ or greene at kickoff return
GO BUCS!!!!
September 29th, 2025 at 2:03 pm
Watching Kam return a couple like that made me wonder if we could get him more touches ? Maybe in the run game ?
He’s had a mental block or something catching the ball but could the dude get a few touches from the backfield? He looked like a running back out there to me.
September 29th, 2025 at 2:05 pm
Seems punt returning is tougher of the two tasks. Not much chance of getting hit while catching the ball. Punt returning if it’s a high kick they have to decide to fair catch or get creamed. Our coaches will figure this out. Go Bowles
September 29th, 2025 at 2:09 pm
kam is a bright spot. he seems to have settled in and is confident on the returns.
September 29th, 2025 at 2:38 pm
A little unrelated, but I cant believe that I am just realizing the cast of guys that we have out there protecting/blocking for the punter on punts. Have they always been that small. On the replay of the block, I’m thinking in my head “why the **** Is Payne playing Guard?!”. I promise you, I know and follow this team religiously. Who played the line on punt protection is probably the one thing I was oblivious to. Is that common practice in the NFL to be so light up front like that?
September 29th, 2025 at 2:42 pm
They need to put TEZ back there with Kam.
Two extremely dynamic and explosive returners.
The biggest issue though, is the blocking on kicks. Maybe Riley can shave a half second off his punts but it’s the blocking. It has been atrocious.
That cannot happen again this season
September 29th, 2025 at 2:45 pm
Can the ST coach already, what are you waiting for? The whole unit needs a shakeup. What better way than to give them a fresh voice with a new perspective.
September 29th, 2025 at 2:48 pm
Kam needs to do both return duties.
September 29th, 2025 at 3:09 pm
The Cooter family has been talking and we believe that Mrs Cooter could do a better job punting then what the Bucs have now
September 29th, 2025 at 3:23 pm
Anyone who’s watched the blocking on kickoff returns can see solid evidence why Sean Tucker isn’t getting far. A couple of them have found him surrounded when he gets to the 20. When you have just a few of those stuff returns the average drops fast.
I don’t blame Tucker whatsoever. You can’t make chicken salad out of chicken s***.
September 29th, 2025 at 3:50 pm
Hey mouthbreathing inbreeder COOTER-Don’t you have a date with your Sister?
September 29th, 2025 at 3:59 pm
I am not sure why people on this website believes that you cannot have an opinion on the way the coach manages the Bucs. Just because fans have an option that is not the same as others does not mean that these fans hate Coach Bowles. I have watching football for over 60 years. I don’t hate anyone, but I think that I can have an opinion that deals with the coach’s coaching ability. I do believe that the coach appears to be a very likable person and. is well liked by the team members. Special teams have been below par on a game basis. This has been going on during the past several years. This should be a fixable issue that remains unsolved. The coach is responsible for less than stellar special teams play.
September 29th, 2025 at 4:02 pm
Joe tried to blame a blocked punt on Tucker, now he’s not returning kicks well enough 🙄
Also, pay better attention, Kam Johnson is 1 of 2 returners on the kick return.
September 29th, 2025 at 4:12 pm
I never know what’s worse than its press conferences his lack of answers or his repeat or the fact that our local reporters are so afraid to challenge him. They would ask about dennis suckayay.. so many missed tackles. He says he is adressing it but maybe we should challenge on y it isnt working. Stop being afraid press corp.
September 29th, 2025 at 4:47 pm
“I never know what’s worse than its press conferences his lack of answers or his repeat or the fact that our local reporters are so afraid to challenge him.“
They’re not afraid to challenge him, they just aren’t all that good at questioning him. Alot of the times you’ll hear different reporters asking the same question, or they ask questions loosely based on football. Like the week before the Jets game, Bowles had to be asked at least 5 different times how he felt about wearing the throwbacks and he legit found 5 different ways to tell thems respectfully that he didn’t care. Journalism has taken a hit in TB
September 29th, 2025 at 4:56 pm
Having a opinion and all out hate are 2 different things but there are more on here who spew hate than opinion.
September 29th, 2025 at 5:07 pm
I think Johnson and Johnson should be tried on kickoffs.
September 29th, 2025 at 6:04 pm
Sure looked like Irving’s leg and ankle was getting hella twisted on the fumble and when he got laid out his head bounced off the turf looking like a for sure concussion. I was shocked to see him stay in the game. What a warrior.
Put Johnson back there. He’s shown he’s fearless and shifty as a gray squirrel
September 29th, 2025 at 6:27 pm
I mean what do you have to do get fired as a special teams coach.
September 29th, 2025 at 6:35 pm
Its really hard to get fired in the nfl. I dont wwnt to hate on Bowles but thisbrealky needs to be addressed. GO BUCS!!!!@
September 29th, 2025 at 6:40 pm
Yeah the thought police wants only puppy dog tail type posters all happy go lucky. They don’t want differing opinions far from theirs. Reminds me of 1943 Germany or Italy
September 29th, 2025 at 7:26 pm
Give me a break. Punt returner has got to be/if not the most dangerous position to play in a dangerous sport. Look at all the Bucs injuries. They affect the ST. DavidBigBucsFan99: you volunteering to go play the position? Can’t wait to see the Code Blue DOA on that one. Bucs just have to get healthy plus OC needs to mature.
September 29th, 2025 at 7:46 pm
I only just watched the replay of that blocked punt, and that’s now two punts this year that have been blocked because Tucker has been beat. Get him off the field, immediately. He stinks as a pass blocker as well, which is why he doesn’t get on the field on offense. Tucker should never again be in a blocking role, wow.
September 29th, 2025 at 8:23 pm
“I only just watched the replay of that blocked punt, and that’s now two punts this year that have been blocked because Tucker has been beat”
Get your eyes checked, seriously the pressure yesterday came straight down the pike through the a-gap, Ryan Miller got lost in the sauce and decided to protect outside and let the free runner right down the middle. LensCrafters, ContactsDirect, maybe head to your local observatory and watch the game via telescope.
September 29th, 2025 at 8:29 pm
Awww poor lil Buc fans gettin all tiffy because I called tthem hought police how adorable!
orlbuc never said I wanted to or could do a better job you’re clapping at the wrong one Sgt. Slotter. Your favorite head coach is the one who caused this debacle because he hires bad coaches, based upon one thing as I can see because they’re definitely not doing a stand up job.
September 29th, 2025 at 8:34 pm
Every time the Bucs line up to punt it’s cringe time. The blocking is bad and the punter is ponderous. The special team coach should be on the hot seat.
September 29th, 2025 at 9:37 pm
Warren Brooks Lynch Says:
Get your eyes checked, seriously the pressure yesterday came straight down the pike through the a-gap
———-
OK, watching it live, I thought that was what happened – then watching the replay just a bit ago I thought I Tucker guys got the block, but you’re right – the ball just came off an angle where it looked like the guy that beat Tucker blocked it from the side, but it was up the gut that got there a split second earlier. But Tucker was also beat, again, and really have no idea why he’d be out there when he’s getting cleanly beat after already giving up a block.
In a mild defense of myself, I was watching it on a phone, and just rewatched it on a much larger PC screen where it was more clear. But still, dumb mistake on my behalf.