Bucs Special Teams Coach Makes An Opening Statement
October 2nd, 2025
It’s uncommon at One Buc Palace for a coach holding a news conference to make an opening statement.
But that happened today.
Bucs special teams coach Thomas McGaughey stepped to the podium and felt compelled to address the horror show that has been Bucs special teams this season.
“Hey, just before we get started. Obviously, over the last couple weeks there’s been some plays that have been made, the game-changing plays — we know that we can’t do that, right?” McGaughey said after saying hello to the local media.
McGaughey continued:
“I mean it goes without saying in this league, it’s hard enough to beat your opponent on game day, and then you’re trying to beat yourself and the opponent – like, it just doesn’t happen. “So, all of those things, we’ve addressed them: the two blocked punts, the blocked field goal, fundamental techniques, simple day-one stuff that we’ve all coached from the beginning. You know, it’s frustrating. Nobody is more frustrated than I am, and the guys in the room. You know, guys are really disappointed, just to start off the way we did having a good Week 1 and then regressing the way we have. It’s extremely disappointing.
“But collectively as a group, our job is just to get better. Our job is to get better, to make sure that we’re working on our individual fundamentals and techniques, our individual skills, and we’re all working to get better. And it starts with me. Right? Including myself. And more than anything, we had some of those plays in games that we won, but we know moving forward that you can’t do that. And that’s the whole goal: just to get better as a collective with our specialists, with our interior, and all of the core guys – just making sure that we’re getting better every week. Because like I said, that’s our mantra in the room. We’re always trying to get better daily and just working to make sure that we have a positive impact on the game. And winning because of, not in spite of [special teams]. So, feel free.”
It was cool to see a coach step up and own it without being prompted.
If the Bucs can’t stop the ridiculous special teams failures, then McGaughey actually seems like the kind of guy who would do the honorable thing and resign.
October 2nd, 2025 at 10:20 pm
Opening statements are usually for a trial.
He’s looking at 5-15 for aggravated assault on a Special Teams Unit.
Law & Order S.T.U.
October 2nd, 2025 at 10:32 pm
All that makes me hit my head with a hammer.
Why does it take four weeks of all that failure to realize you need to do something? And from Magoo’s drivel, here’s wagering that nada changes. He needs to be pushing self help meds on HSN or something, anything besides ruining the Buccaneers single handedly.
October 2nd, 2025 at 10:34 pm
I’m sure the special teams have been working hard to eliminate the blunders. One thing’s for sure, we will have a pretty good idea this Sunday, when the Buccaneers play the Seahawks!!
Go Bucs !! Beat the Seahawks!!
October 2nd, 2025 at 10:46 pm
I mean the return game has been fantastic and Money Mac seems to have found his rhythm if we want to find some silver lining.
October 2nd, 2025 at 10:46 pm
he’s smart to head that off. big time. i see he’s putting it on the center/guards primarily
October 2nd, 2025 at 10:50 pm
He should’ve started it by saying “FEEL FREE TO EGG ME IF YOU WANT.”
October 2nd, 2025 at 11:22 pm
How about, “I am a horrible coach and hereby submit my resignation.”
October 2nd, 2025 at 11:25 pm
This should have happened after week one or at the latest week two. Waiting until after it contributes to you finally losing a game in week four is reactive and the wrong mentality.
Media never pressed Bowles to address the issues because we were winning.
October 2nd, 2025 at 11:56 pm
Lots of words and stuff this week equates to Todd and Magoo “doing enough” in their minds. Come out ahead of the pitchforks. Granted, Todd is now wearing three hats and is extra busy so, there’s that.
Coming up on Sunday.
First drive Seattle score. Some kind of FG or punt horror in the first half. Again. Meanwhile a return to the soft shell turtle.
Bowles is as Bowles does. Injury excuses. Every play is blown by someone different. Communication breakdowns.
Here it comes.
October 2nd, 2025 at 11:59 pm
I don’t think the coach hasn’t tried to fix this fiasco already. It’s just he can hear the calls for his head and can see the torch-carrying crowds are right at the gates. If this doesn’t improve yesterday. There is obviously something all these other teams see that he apparently doesn’t…or can’t. I don’t have any way to rewatch the games, but I’d like to know if it’s been the same players dorkin’ it over and over or is it just random fails, or if it’s just the coaching. Hopefully DR or Joe will look at it and report. Maybe I’ll look for a cheap DVR. Of course with the DVR you have the same ball-centric view.
October 3rd, 2025 at 2:10 am
Fred McNeil … ‘There is obviously something all these other teams see that he apparently doesn’t…or can’t.’
After hearing that comment by Eagles’ HC Sirianni (‘See, I told ya’ or something similar) I was convinced that’s exactly what the case was … other coaches saw a weakness that we haven’t plugged & exploited it.
On Sunday’s blocked punt, the Eagle who blocks the punt (Latu) is a 6’5″/244 lb TE who came straight up the gut. Got past our long-snapper Evan Deckers (6’3″/252 lbs) quickly & the only other Buc who MIGHT have blocked him was #81, WR Ryan Miller (6’2″/221 lbs). Miller stepped right initially (putting him in a decent position to block) but then quickly stepped left to pick up Eagle #21 (came in free but probably couldn’t have blocked the kick). Also Ko Kieft was off to the right & tried to block Eagle #86 who was also involved in the block (Kieft missed).
Bottom line Fred: Looks to me from the replay that 3 Bucs didn’t do very effective blocking on that blocked punt. Latu made it past Deckers & Miller, and #86 made it past Kieft (who’s now on IR). However, a slow snap and a slow kicking motion also probably contributed to that punt being blocked. Still no idea though what weakness Sirianni thought he saw (there were several).
October 3rd, 2025 at 3:58 am
@Auqa, leader of the “Anti RCG” acolytes (Rossy Colored Glass club)
I sure hope the story changes. I’m teetering on giving Todd a break. I’ve taken and I’ve given. Trying to be fair..
God help him if he is responsible for blowing it because his job and his career is on the line this year. I believe it really is. The Glazers are only going to ride “Mr. Toads wild ride” for so long. And if they don’t see him changing the same old narrative, their going to get bored of the same old stalemate.
I also know that the Glazers are p!ssed at themselves for letting their guard down and letting the talent that Coen Definitely Is, walk out the door. Well, they didn’t “let him” walk away without trying but I have to say… They Should Have Found Away to Keep Him in The Building! It WOULD HAVE BEEN Coen if Todd didn’t do the remarkable this year.
Doesn’t mean they won’t trade Bowles in for an Offensive mind after this season concludes, if the remarkable doesn’t happen. It’s just that we Actually DID Have the answer to YEARS of Continued Success if we we’re able to keep him (Coen) around. He Already has the freaking Jags with a Strong Winning record. D@mn! A Big Mistake and an Even Bigger shame.
Spilled milk. O well.
I know you’re relentless but somewhere in there I see flashes of fair oozing out of you (slightly). At this point if Bowles can Actually and Finally pull it off, a “minimum” of 2 games from the Bowl WITH Momentum, We’re going to keep Todd around. You know that right…
On the other hand if that doesn’t come to fruition, it’s likely his last year running the show…. I can Easily see a Gruden/Dungy situation unfolding before all of our eyes.
Then again, I believe Miracles are possible. Bowles Does have a horse shoe up his behind. I have to admit, it’s going to be fun watching it all unfold… In one hand I’ve got an Axe. In the other, a dozen roses…
October 3rd, 2025 at 4:16 am
@Defense Rules
I can tell you what he saw. He watched the tape, us against the jets. It’s as simple as that…
How Many times did Dixon’s kick almost get blocked Until It Did? TWICE… Third time was the charm In that game. I’ve personally NEVER seen a kicker move so slow. He was OBLIVIOUS to the fact that twice before he was “INCHES AWAY” from being blocked Until he Surely WAS.
That’s all. The opportunity was there for a quick strike against the SLOWEST KICKER IN THE ENTIRE NFL! Seriously, I’ve Never seen Anything Like It!
I couldn’t have imagined in my Wildest Dreams that a pro football kicker could Actually move in SLOW MOTION in REAL TIME! Its utterly Mind Scrambling how slow Dixon actually is. What was “neat” about it was the way Dixon avoided getting hit after he was blocked in the Jets game. (Don’t recall in the eagles game) his movement looked Strange and Unnatural.
Just WEIRD….
PS…. us he probably saw the same blockers as in the jets game and realized that, That set up was flawed as well…
Either way, That’s your mystery solved… Go back and watch. You’ll see how easy that was to identify….
October 3rd, 2025 at 5:54 am
Three blocked kicks in 4 games, with two returned for scores. The ST coach had better assume full responsibility. What does an ST coach have to do to get fired around here? Hey Defense Rules, you must have inadvertently typed Ko Kieft’s name in when describing the Eagle’s blocked punt.
October 3rd, 2025 at 6:45 am
With all the hullabaloo about bringing in 2 punters for tryouts and then making no changes to roster or coaching staff this whole ST boondoggle will hang like an albatross around Coach Bowles neck if it is not fixed immediately.
Most troubling in the 2nd half was seeing #81 Miller break free up the middle and instead of going full bore up the middle to block an Eagles punt what does he do? Hesitates , stops and turns around instead of turning on the speed and trying to block a punt. Review the tape. I record every game and enjoy breaking down tape.
October 3rd, 2025 at 7:02 am
Just words! Can be ZERO blunders from here on out if we want to make the playoffs! His special teams units have been ranked new the bottom his entire coaching career! Yet JL still hired him 🤔
October 3rd, 2025 at 7:37 am
Coen has won some regulars season games. To early to call him a legendary coach. Easy now. Apply the brakes. Lots of ball to play.
October 3rd, 2025 at 8:22 am
BuckIt … ‘you must have inadvertently typed Ko Kieft’s name in when describing the Eagle’s blocked punt’.
You’re right BuckIt. I saw #44 blocking to the right and thought that number belonged to Ko Kieft. Wrong, Sean Tucker. Shoulda known it wasn’t Kieft since he’s now on IR. Lesson: don’t touch the keyboard at 2 AM.
October 3rd, 2025 at 8:30 am
I’ll give sincere credit and a compliment to Coach McGaughey for stepping up, making an opening statement and taking ownership of the situation.
I’ve watched several videos of our blocked punts a number of times.
From what I’ve seen, the punting unit as a whole isn’t working as it should.
Riley does look slow to get the punts off, at least to me.
But he has completely unblocked, untouched opponents in his face practically before he can get the kick off.
That’s on the rest of the unit. And on the coaching and play design.
Plus we have starters on our punting unit that are out because of injuries.
McGaughey’s acceptance of responsibility is an acknowledgement that he knows there’s a problem, and that he’s on the hot seat and under the microscope to fix it.
Will we necessarily see a complete turnaround in Seattle this weekend? I hope so, but I’ll be ok with an overall much better performance.
Certainly by the time the 49ers come to town, the situation needs to be corrected. No blocked punts. No untouched, unblocked opponents in Dixon’s face.
Given the fact that he’s publicly owning the situation, I’m willing to give him that chance.
October 3rd, 2025 at 8:31 am
Defense Rules: Don’t touch the keyboard at 2 AM, hahaha. . .
Wish we did have Ko Kieft back on ST. Your posts are one of the reasons, I visit Joe Bucs site. Really appreciate the detailed analysis/stats you provide.
October 3rd, 2025 at 8:44 am
Obvious One … ‘The opportunity was there for a quick strike against the SLOWEST KICKER IN THE ENTIRE NFL!’
I haven’t seen any stats to indicate that Dixon is the ‘slowest kicker in the entire NFL’ Obvious, but he’s probably not far from it (since he leads active punters with 9 career blocked punts).
Still tend to think that it’s a 3-headed monster that failed on the field: (1) the long snapper; (2) the punter; (3) the blocking. I’ve never been a punter, but I’d think that snap of the ball would be critical (that last blocked punt was snapped well off to Dixon’s right). Of course, Dixon didn’t help any by taking so long to go thru his punting motion. But then on rewatching the blocking on that Eagles block in slow motion I was amazed.
At least 3 Bucs didn’t do a good job of blocking IMO (Deckers #86 the long-snapper, Sean Tucker #44 & Ryan Miller #81). The latter 2 were back but didn’t make good blocks. Deckers looks like he stays down in his snapping position too long after he snaps the ball. Don’t know if that’s what Sirianni saw, but I’m gonna guess it was potentially one of those three things.
October 3rd, 2025 at 8:47 am
Is Rich Bisacia still available!? That guy never got a fair shake at head coach, but is always a stud as a S.T guy…would take him in a minute
October 3rd, 2025 at 8:48 am
Geeze, sounded like and read like dialogue out of the movie Idiocracy. I can see punts or kicks being returned but getting kicks and punts blocked comes down to blocking schemes and that does fall on coaching. Any more and this guy needs to be replaced.
“Number one your honor, just look at him. And B, we’ve got all this, like, evidence…”
October 3rd, 2025 at 9:12 am
Kidfloflo…
Bisaccia is Green Bays ST coach… and they’re having issues too, currently.
October 3rd, 2025 at 9:55 am
““Number one your honor, just look at him. And B, we’ve got all this, like, evidence…”
OK… Baker Fan… STOP IT. That sounds like me in court. LOL
October 3rd, 2025 at 10:02 am
To me it’s simple from this point forward. If there’s another special teams blunder he gets fired. Period. Either fix it or get someone who will.
October 3rd, 2025 at 10:30 am
Love the Idiocracy reference….
“Water?? You mean like what comes out the toilet?”….
“Go away…. Bate’n…”
October 3rd, 2025 at 11:43 am
Best last sentence to an article I’ve read in years