Buccaneers have legitimate competition brewing at key position
By Rob Leeds
Kicker Ryan Succop was a huge help for the Buccaneers in their quest for the Super Bowl, but no job is ever safe on a team that is constantly trying to get better.
The Buccaneers aren’t set to have a lot of camp battles this fall en route to another run at a deep postseason run, but there are still a few starters from 2021 that should start to feel some of the heat with potential replacements behind them.
Ryan Succop is one of these players.
Succop was undoubtedly a breath of fresh air when he first arrived in Tampa and transformed the kicking game, but he was inching closer to mediocrity over the past year.
There are some questions surrounding Succop’s play relative to his contract, and those questions are exasperated with the presence of Jose Borregales on the roster.
Borregales gives the Bucs a cheaper alternative, who, if he looks good in camp, could make an argument to take over as the guy at that position going forward.
This wouldn’t be the first time the Bucs gave the kicking duties to a new face when they already had an established option under contract. This is exactly how Succop got the job from Matt Gay in the first place, and this does show the Buccaneers are addressing the position in the right way.
There should be a competition at punter and kicker every season. Investing money in the position is almost always a mistake, and no team should ever expect consistency at one of the most volatile positions in the league.
If Borregales looks better in camp and costs less for the Bucs, there should be no doubt on the decision.
Ryan Succop will still get the benefit of the doubt and get plenty of time to prove himself during training camp, but he should start to feel some of the heat of a young leg behind him.
Trending. Buccaneers made mistake by passing on obvious trade. light
Want to write about the Buccaneers? Apply below!
Want your voice heard? Join the The Pewter Plank team!