The secret is out with Bucs rookie tight end Ko Kieft. The sixth-round pick was used in a variety of ways in last Sunday’s victory over the Cowboys. Known for his blocking prowess, Tampa Bay has deployed him with a look we haven’t seen consistently over the past few years, at fullback. And the results were overwhelmingly positive.

Bucs RB Leonard Fournette – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Lined up in the backfield, Kieft consistently opened up holes for running back Leonard Fournette to run through. His blocking ability was on immediate display, taking Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch completely out of the play on several snaps. He helped spring Fournette for large rushing gains, including a 17-yard run. Bucs head coach Todd Bowles says that’s just a microcosm of Kieft’s game.

“He’s an old-school football player,” Bowles said. “He works hard. He can play fullback, tight end, he can play the F or the U position as well. He does a lot of things for us. He’s good on [special] teams. He can catch the ball, actually, too. You haven’t seen his receiving skills yet, but he’s a hard-nosed, tough guy that comes to work every day and tries to get better. He’s always out before practice, trying to stretch and warm up and do things that he needs to work on, and he’s been a joy to coach.”

That old-school mentality has been pointed out by several of his teammates, citing the grittiness he brings to the team. Kieft is still waiting for his first career reception, but he made his presence felt in the blocking game and on special teams. Preparing for a larger role on offense is something Kieft has put an onus on during training camp and preseason, so he’ll be ready for his opportunity when it comes.

“I’ve improved my route running a lot since I’ve gotten here,” Kieft said. “I just need to continue to work at that, being in and out of my cuts and being explosive.”

Bucs Trying To Be Multiple On Offense

Tampa Bay showcased Kieft in the blocking game with multiple snaps coming out of the fullback position. It’s a position the Bucs have not utilized much over the past three seasons, but offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich says that doesn’t mean that will be his only role in the team’s offense.

Bucs TE Ko Kieft – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“I don’t see Ko [Kieft] as a fullback,” Leftwich said. “I think that’s limiting what Ko can do, really. I see it as, we’ve always had guys back there and moved them back there – it’s just dependent on what year, who we have from a personnel standpoint. We actually put Cam [Brate] there last year. It’s not that I see Ko as a fullback, we’re just trying to be multiple like I said earlier. We want to be multiple – to be able to do enough things to have multiple ways to try to win football games.”

Kieft, who become a cult hero at the University of Minnesota due to his smash-mouth run blocking, agrees with Leftwich. He believes that the more multiple Tampa Bay can be on offense on a weekly basis the more opposing defenses have to prepare for in the film room and on the field during practice.

“The more multiple we can be in that area, can kind of waste some time for the defense game-planning for us,” Kieft stated.

Although it was just the first game of the season, the Bucs are just starting to carve out what Kieft’s role can be in this offense. One thing is for sure the tight end is sure to bring, “maximum effort” to whatever is asked of him.