The 2003 Bucs let the Panthers block a FG and a critical extra point that would have won the game, and still it wasn’t this bad.
You’ve seen the old footage of Bucs kicker Neil O’Donoghue trying to kick the ball out of bounds but wiff on the ball as it goes nowhere but kicker goes down; it celebrates the old Bucs ineptness as a newborn franchise. And it still wasn’t this bad.
This year the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the worst special teams I can remember. Most teams do not allow a blocked punt and blocked FG in the same season, that is considered taboo in the NFL. The Bucs have allowed that twice this season! Two Blocked Punts and two blocked FGs, all from inadequate line play.
Punter Michael Koenen, known for his booming punts, continues to mystify the Bucs and fans, like yesterdays 18 yard punt. Thats not a typo, and 18 yard punt. I can go outside and punt a football farther.
Then we have the return specialist, who seem to specialize in giving heart attacks with their reckless returning skills. Marcus Thigpen muffed a punt last week at Washington, but that bad taste was washed away with the mouthwash known as winning. This week, he muffs another one, then bobbles the next!
The only bright spot for Bucs special teams is the kicking of rookie from Fordham Patrick Murray, who is Patrick Money as far as this writer is concerned. Moving past Connor Barth had to be a difficult decision, but one that has paid off.
So if anyone is going to call for a coaches head this season, special teams coach should be the first place to look. l
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