“Abysmal” Kickoff Coverage
November 17th, 2025
This Ray Davis return ended at the Bills’ 49 yard line yesterday.
So Joe caught up with core Bucs special teams player Josh Hayes yesterday in the locker room after the Bills buried the Bucs 44-32.
Joe wanted to ask Hayes about his forced fumble while covering a Bucs punt in Bills territory, and about the horrific Bucs kickoff coverage units.
Buffalo’s first 5 kick returns went for 220 yards. That’s no typo and, ultimately, it probably was the difference in the game.
Hayes lines up in the middle of the kickoff coverage line. Joe thinks Hayes might be better suited for outside, but that’s a thought for another day. The fourth-year cornerback/fourth-down specialist plays hard and has some dawg in him. Joe can’t say that about everyone the Bucs line up on fourth down.
So Mr. Hayes, what was going on with the kickoff coverage?
“Abysmal,” Hayes replied.
“I mean, shoot, if I had an answer, I feel like we’d have figured it out. I think there’s a lot of things, fundamentals and stuff, we got to go back to and figure out how to fix those and be able to correct those things. We can’t let the same thing happen five, six times in a row and then be surprised by it. So, I think someone’s just got to get back in the lab and figure out, ‘Ok, what is the issue and can we address it correctly before it becomes a continual thing.”
Joe asked Hayes if he thought he might be moved to the outside on kickoff coverage and if the Bucs were making adjustments.
“I mean, Coach [Thomas McGaughey], I think he’s done a great job and I think we just try to follow the gameplan as much as we can,” Hayes said. “I feel like in a sense [the Bills] had us kind of schemed up a little bit to where they kind of knew where they were going. If we did move one guy over here, one guy on the backside, [the Bills] found a way to be where they needed to be. We take it on the chin and find a way to fix it come next week.”
Joe’s watched the All-22 film of yesterday’s kickoffs and, of course, others in past games. Joe wishes the Bucs had more guys like Jacob Parrish and Josh Hayes to use. Chris Braswell seems awfully soft for his draft status, and others like Deion Jones don’t exactly play with their hair on fire.
Is McGaughey getting outcoached? He was earlier this season on the Bucs’ punt units. If that’s the case now, there are moves Todd Bowles could make other than saying, ‘We gotta coach it better and we gotta play it better.’
November 17th, 2025 at 12:12 pm
Derek Sharp
“Stick in the eye “
Wide Open lanes!
November 17th, 2025 at 12:15 pm
Embarrassing and Disgusted, I was there live!!! Thank God I had cool Bills fans around me!! Don’t care what anyone says special teams lost that game. Those holes were even bigger in person compared to on TV. Go Bucs
November 17th, 2025 at 12:21 pm
It was the 10th game of the season. How is it possible to give up 5 long kickoff returns in a row in the 10th game of the season? Yeah Toad I know, gotta coach em up better.
November 17th, 2025 at 12:24 pm
Seeing this live made it even more embarrassing. Out manned and out coached is the only way to describe it. Bills had great field position all game. We did have a couple good returns on our end (we had plenty of chances), Dixon had a solid game even though we gave up long drives right after.
November 17th, 2025 at 12:26 pm
So the ST Coach hasn’t been fired yet? Everyone knows they can’t even tackle when the catch the returner.
November 17th, 2025 at 12:28 pm
The worst consistently poor coverage I’ve seen in a game. After the third time, kick it in the end zone.
Special teams have been abysmal except for Chase, but TB never comes down with the hammer. Fire somebody!
November 17th, 2025 at 12:29 pm
Anyone who thinks McGaughey has even done a mediocre job should be locked out of the building.
That includes Todd Bowles.
THIS IS THE WORST SPECIAL TEAMS UNIT IN TEAM HISTORY (with exception to our GF kicker)
November 17th, 2025 at 12:30 pm
*FG kicker, not GF kicker lol
November 17th, 2025 at 12:31 pm
They run directly into the waiting arms of the blockers as though they are long lost family members in need of a long soothing hug. Please try to avoid those blocks in the future and hug it up after the game.
November 17th, 2025 at 12:32 pm
What you can do is say “You are fired!” to the ST coach.
November 17th, 2025 at 12:32 pm
Todd Bowles……
The WORST quote I despise hearing from him now….
“We gotta coach it better and we gotta play it better.”
🤢🤢🤮
November 17th, 2025 at 12:40 pm
Fundamentals…..fixable….basic…..on the same page…..communication…
Definition…….COACHING!!!
November 17th, 2025 at 12:48 pm
Bucs fan grappling with bad play making for bad football and blaming it on coaching is as consistent as I wish this team played.
November 17th, 2025 at 12:51 pm
I am truly concerned that this year we will lose in round one of the playoffs or worse and Todd Bowles will not be held accountable. Next year, same sht and on and on. They have already extended his contract without waiting to see results on this season.
November 17th, 2025 at 12:53 pm
“I mean, Coach [Thomas McGaughey], I think he’s done a great job”
Is that right? If this is a “great job,” what would a bad job be?
November 17th, 2025 at 12:57 pm
KO return 25th
KO allowed 28th
Punt return 24th
Punt allowed 21st
That’s consistently poor. New coach & new scheme required. Otherwise expect the same. It’s like running a car minus a spark plug. This team can’t afford to cede that kind of yardage.
November 17th, 2025 at 1:00 pm
I am trying to stay positive, but what Hayes just said about McGaughey doing a great job almost made me drop my lunch off my desk. Are you kidding me? Maybe he meant to say Chase is doing a great job. Because he really is.
November 17th, 2025 at 1:09 pm
Well guess braswell isn’t breaking out in special teams play Jason maybe they should put him at wr it’s possible they are just playing him out of position hell maybe play him at special teams coach might as well try everything.
November 17th, 2025 at 1:23 pm
unacceptable!!!!
no excuses!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
November 17th, 2025 at 1:25 pm
Absolutely embarrassing. Sickening. …then embarrassing again. Ridiculous how one team could be so awful. How are coaches not getting fired for this yet?
November 17th, 2025 at 1:31 pm
The Bucs coaching is probably one of the lowest in the league. You get what you pay for.
November 17th, 2025 at 2:03 pm
How does the Special Teams Coordinator still hold a job? Same with the DefensiveCoordinator/Head Coach and the genius offensive coordinators? Yesterday was a disgrace
November 17th, 2025 at 2:49 pm
I would say to fire Thomas McGaughe…but the Glazers do not fire coaches during seasons.
November 17th, 2025 at 2:52 pm
firethecannons Says
“I am truly concerned that this year we will lose in round one of the playoffs or worse and Todd Bowles will not be held accountable.”
I think we win 11-12 games and go to the NFC Championship game. If we go all the way, I do not think we win the SB…but I suppose the impossible can happen.
I suspect if we win a Superbowl, Bowles may well retire.