While it seemed like Jose Borregales had a shot to win the kicking job for the Buccaneers at the start of camp, that dream appears to be dead.
The preseason wasn’t all fun and games for the Buccaneers. A couple of ugly games and near-countless injuries have a way of casting some shade on the growth of the team under new head coach Todd Bowles.
However, one bright spot has been that the Bucs have a clear answer as to who their kicker for 2022 will be.
Ryan Succop easily won the job, and Todd Bowles has has essentially confirmed as much:
#Bucs HC Todd Bowles says that K Ryan Succop "probably" won the kicking job.
— PewterReport 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) August 28, 2022
Bowles can’t just come out and say this with cuts just a little while away, but this statement mixed with the game film makes the entire situation pretty obvious.
Succop was the best kicker for the Bucs. Nothing else is really relevant when you are looking at a team like the Buccaneers that has to win in 2022.
You hold the tryout to see if a young guy like Borregales could steal the job away. The Bucs gave the young kicker every opportunity, and while he did make more of a case this year, Borregales still came up short when it mattered most.
Missed kicks in preseason games happen. They can’t happen as they did for Borregales if he is trying to get the Bucs to make a large change.
Sure, Borregales is cheaper and might have a bigger leg, but that doesn’t matter if the accuracy isn’t there.
Ryan Succop won the competition to keep his job for one more year. The Buccaneers should sleep soundly knowing they found the best player for the job and they don’t have to wonder if they needed to give more reps to the underdog.
Now, Succop just has to maintain this level of play through the season.
Want to write about the Buccaneers? Apply below!
Want your voice heard? Join the The Pewter Plank team!