Barth adds kickoffs to his repertoire

Bucs K Barth adds kickoffs to his repertoireBy Roy Cummings | Tribune Staff Published: October 30, 2015TAMPA — Buccaneers PK Connor Barth has never been known as a kick-off specialist. The fact he recorded only 11 touchbacks on 170 kickoffs prior to re-joining the Bucs a few weeks ago is one of the reasons.Since returning to Tampa Bay, though, Barth has reshaped his identity, proving that in addition to being an accurate field goal kicker, he can also be deeply effective with his kickoffs.In two games, Barth reached the end zone on each of his 15 kickoffs and, thanks to an offseason tweak of his mechanics, recorded touchbacks on all but five.“It’s really just a matter of technique, because the swing path for a kickoff has to be different than it is for a field goal,’’ said Barth, averaging a career-high 66.5 yards per kickoff. “With a field goal it’s more of an up-and-down motion, whereas with a kickoff it’s longer. You’re just trying to bring your leg back more than you are up, so it’s a technique thing.’’Barth credits his private kicking coach, Dan Orner, for helping him add the ability to kick off deep to his arsenal. He’s confident, though, the ability was always there.“I hadn’t had to kick off for so long that I just kind of got into a groove with my field-goal kicking,’’ said Barth, who yielded kickoff duties to punter Mike Koenen during his first stint with the Bucs. “But what you find is that the swing path for field goals is just entirely different than it is for kickoffs. And so I’ve just been working on my swing path and it’s paying off.’’