This is something that I haven't really considered recently, but after last nights performance from Nick Folk, I was just completely puzzled how he has had this big of a drop off in his career. It hasn't been until now that I can pinpoint a reason as to why our kicking has been awful these past couple of years (not that our kicking was any better before then).
I looked at Folk's stats game by game, that wasn't it. Then I thought of our Special Teams Coordinator, Nate Kaczor. I did a little research and this is what i put together as far as kicking performances under his coaching:
Kickers under Nate Kaczor
-
JAX
2008: Josh Scobee 19/25 76.0%
2009: Josh Scobee 18/28 64.3%
2010: Josh Scobee 22/28 78.6%
Fired by Jacksonville
Josh Scobee kicks 92.0% next season, and from 2011 to 2013, made atleast 89% of his field goals.
-
TEN
Promoted by Titans to ST Coach after a year as a OL coach
2013: Rob Bironas 25/29 86.2%
Bironas Retires
2014: Ryan Succop 19/22 86.4%
2015: Ryan Succop 14/16 87.5 %
After Kaczor leaves Succop has his 2 best seasons kicking 91.7% and 90.9%
-
TB
Hired By Bucs as ST Coach
2016: Roberto Aguayo 22/31 71%
2017: Nick Folk 6/11 54.5%(edited)
After seeing this, I was furious. Yes, we have seen a lot of special teams gems for our Bucs squad these past 2 years, Nate has done well with punters in Jacksonville and Tampa Bay, it can help with field position and getting us the ball back sooner with better field position. But, with this lack of consistency in the Kicking department, Jason Licht should have no choice here but to fire our ST Coordinator. We can't be a playoff team if we cant make our field goals, and that was evident last night. Had we made those 3 field goals, we would be 3-1. We are now that much further from a playoff spot this early in a season with a completely winnable game.
I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts on this.
Disclaimer: I am fairly new to the forum section of pewter report, so I haven't really delved into whether or not this topic has been brought up or if this is the right place to post this, sorry in advance.
