It’s no secret that the Bucs have had bother with discovering a constant kicker. Earlier than Ryan Succop dealt with the kicking duties the final three years the group had gone by 11 kickers since 2009. Tampa Bay signed a number of free brokers that didn’t pan out, along with investing draft picks in two kickers, Roberto Aguayo and Matt Homosexual, till they signed Succop in 2020.
Succop introduced a degree of consistency throughout his tenure with the Bucs making 84 of his 99 area purpose makes an attempt. In 2020, he set the franchise report for factors scored in a season en path to serving to Tampa Bay win Tremendous Bowl LV. But Succop, who was 36 final 12 months, struggled with kicks from past 40 yards. That and a fairly excessive wage cap hit in the end led to his launch from the group.
To switch him the Bucs introduced in former Colts kicker Chase McLaughlin. Nonetheless, the group didn’t simply award him the beginning job. The Bucs signed one other former Colt in Rodrigo Blankenship to compete with McLaughlin for the beginning spot. McLaughlin had a resume of having the ability to hit the lengthy kicks however struggled with consistency within the quick recreation. Blankenship’s resume was simply the other.
Chase McLaughlin’s Good Preseason Earned Him Bucs’ Kicking Duties
By way of a month-long coaching camp battle each Chase McLaughlin and Rodrigo Blankenship had their hits and some misses. However when the lights got here on through the preseason McLaughlin rose to the event. He made each his further level makes an attempt within the opener in opposition to Pittsburgh. McLaughlin adopted that up with a made further level in addition to a area purpose from 48 yards out in opposition to the Jets.
In that very same Jets recreation, Blankenship missed two area objectives and was subsequently launched with McLaughin profitable the Bucs’ kicking battle.
Bucs Okay Chase McLaughlin – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
McLaughlin saved his greatest efficiency for the Bucs closing preseason recreation. He knocked in all 4 area purpose makes an attempt and two further factors to place little doubt in anybody’s minds on his capability to deal with the duties in Raymond James Stadium.
That features Bucs common supervisor Jason Licht, who commented on McLaughlin’s good preseason on his August makes an attempt.
“It’s at all times good,” Licht mentioned. “It’s at all times higher than the choice. Now we’re transferring into the common season the place they rely. I do know he’s up for it. I do know we now have loads of confidence in him. You possibly can simply see that in the best way he carries himself.
“So it was nice, however now it comes time to cross your fingers a bit of bit within the common season with no matter kicker. With whoever you might have as kicker. We’ve had loads of good kickers depart right here and go on to do nice issues too.”
On solely a one-year deal, McLaughlin will attempt to comply with the footsteps of Succop and safe a long-term contract to stick with the Bucs previous the season. At age 27, McLaughlin might assist the Bucs for fairly a very long time if he’s profitable. However first he’ll have to proceed to remain constant and make his kicks this season – or he might discover himself on the outs just like the 11 kickers that got here earlier than Succop.
