The Bucs have waived the white flag.

No, not in the season, although it may look like it after dropping seven of eight games. But on kick return coverage.

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles flat out admitted on Monday that Tampa Bay elected to just keep kicking the ball into the end zone on kickoffs for a touchback, giving the Dolphins the ball at the 35 rather than risk a big return. In the team’s eyes, its better to keep their opponents ahead of midfield than already have them in scoring position.

Bucs Have No Answers On Kick Return Coverage

Of course, the one time the ball wasn’t kicked into the end zone in Sunday’s 20-17 loss at Miami, it stung the Bucs. For all the mishaps of Tampa Bay’s defense in the first half of the team’s ninth defeat of the season, the unit only allowed three points in the second half of that game. That came early in the fourth quarter when Malik Washington returned a kick 57 yards to set the Dolphins up at the the Bucs’ 47. The Dolphins got two first downs on the drive and that’s all they needed to hit the field goal.

Not only Tampa Bay lose by three, but they also had a field goal blocked in the game.

“We talk about it, and we talked about guys being here just to cover kicks,” Bowles said. “Obviously, that wasn’t getting done the way we wanted it to get done. The next resort [after] that is to kick it into the end zone to start on the 35 [yard line] as opposed to starting close to midfield. Obviously, the one return we gave up – whether it’s missed tackles or a missed lane or a missed block – that’s kind of the result of it. We’re just minimizing the damage in that.”

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Nathan Ray Seebeck

Probably the worst moment in kick coverage by Tampa Bay came in Week 11 at Buffalo where they gave up 234 kick return yards against the Bills in a 44-32 loss. Specifically, the Bucs allowed returns of 61, 44, 41 and 44 that afternoon, essentially giving Buffalo half the field for most of it.

That’s just another example of the ongoing saga that is the Bucs special teams. Kick return coverage has been an issue as of late, but other areas of special teams have been problems, too. Early in the year there were several blocked punts. Then it became blocked field goals. Not long after the return game cooled off and now kick coverage is an issue.

Special Teams Woes Aren’t Seeing Many Adjustments

Todd Bowles has talked about players being on this roster just to play special teams. They’re not getting the job done, and that’s alarming they they’re just completely giving up on a unit.

“We’ve been looking,” Bowles said. “You can’t change them all out. We brought in J.T. [Gray], obviously we got [Anthony] Walker Jr. back in here…It’s hard to find 11 guys that you think can play special teams [from] someone’s practice squad.”

Maybe some of this would have been fixed had Todd Bowles made some adjustments on the coaching staff. Special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey has previously struggled with blocked punts in some of his other coaching stops and they continued since he came to Tampa. Week after week problems flared up on special teams and yet no move was made.

Bucs ST coordinator Thomas McGaughey – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Then look at a team like the Los Angeles Rams. Despite being an 11-win team, Sean McVay let go of their special teams coach a couple of weeks ago despite the team winning often.

While the Rams lost on Monday Night Football to the Falcons, which may end up screwing the Bucs, a big moment that got L.A. back into the game was a blocked field goal by edge rusher Jared Verse that he also recovered and took it to the house for a special teams touchdown.

The Rams constantly look to improve. Bowles and the Bucs stay too loyal to a fault and either don’t press the right button until it’s too late – or they don’t press it at all.

Bucs ST coordinator Thomas McGaughey, OC Josh Grizzard and HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Bowles was asked if he is opposed to make changes to any part of his staff during the season. His response:

“No, I’m not.”

Then he was asked if he’s considered making a change to the special teams coaching staff as it reared its ugly head again. His reply:

“No, I have not.”

And that’s some of the reason why the 7-9 Bucs are in the position that they’re in.