Buccaneers HC explains one very important aspect of making the team in 2023
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers still value one very underrated thing when it comes to playing on their team.Even in 2023, even with all of the rule changes as of late, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers still greatly value the ability to play special teams at a high level. Having bad special teams can make or break […]
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers still value one very underrated thing when it comes to playing on their team.
Even in 2023, even with all of the rule changes as of late, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers still greatly value the ability to play special teams at a high level. Having bad special teams can make or break a team. It can be the reason you lose.
For head coach Todd Bowles, you have to be able to play it if you want to play for him.
"You still got to make special teams to make this club," Bowles told the media on Tuesday. "If you're not a starter and you have a helmet on game day, minus the backup quarterback and maybe a backup offensive lineman, you should be touching the field at some point. Whether it's kickoff return, punt, punt returner, or kickoff – you should be on special teams in some way, shape, or form or you really probably shouldn't have a helmet."
Special teams can mean so many different things. There is punt, punt return, kick, and kick return, and there are different scenarios within special teams like onside kicks, squib kicks, and kicks that you want to make sure hang in the air for a long time. There are so many different facets to special teams and all of them are important.
Chances are, if an undrafted free agent makes a team, he usually does it because his play is first recognized on special teams. For Bowles, that is how you make his team. Sean Tucker, the Syracuse running back who didn't get drafted but signed a guaranteed deal with the Buccaneers, I'm sure he has played a bit of special teams already in OTAs even though his spot is easier to make because of the room he is in.
There is nothing wrong with being a special teams player. In fact, they are just as important as a guy who doesn't play special teams but doesn't get much playing time on offense and defense either. Because he harps on it so much, I expect the Buccaneers' special teams to be squeaky clean in 2023.
Featured Image Via Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
