By Buccaneers’ Special Teams Problems Continue Despite Preseason Win Over Jets
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — There was plenty for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to like about Friday night’s 24-16 preseason victory over the New York Jets.
The performance of the special teams wasn’t one of them.
For a Buccaneers team that entered the offseason determined to improve one of its biggest weaknesses, Friday night’s preseason opener looked familiar at times.
Tampa Bay hired veteran special teams coordinator Danny Smith during the offseason with the expectation that his experience and demanding approach would help clean up a unit that struggled last season.
One preseason game certainly isn’t enough to judge whether that move will work.
But the first impression wasn’t encouraging.
Punt Coverage Creates Problems
The most glaring problems came in punt coverage.
Jets returner Jamaal Pritchett broke loose for a long punt return in the first quarter, setting New York up with excellent field position and contributing to an early 10-0 Jets advantage.
It was a play the Buccaneers cannot afford to let happen once the regular season begins.
The concern wasn’t simply that New York produced a long return.
Tampa Bay had players in position to limit the play, but poor tackling made the return far more damaging.
Smith will no doubt emphasize that when the Buccaneers return to practice on Monday.
Preseason football is largely about evaluating individual players, and special teams will determine several of the final spots on Tampa Bay’s 53-man roster.
Missing tackles or assignments in the kicking game can be the difference between making the roster and being released.
Riley Dixon’s Inconsistent Punting Bears Watching
Punter Riley Dixon also had an uneven Buccaneers debut.
Dixon was brought in this offseason after Tampa Bay moved on from Jake Camarda, and the expectation is that the veteran will provide more consistency at the position.
Friday night was not reassuring.
Dixon had some good moments, including a punt that pinned New York deep, but some punts gave the Jets opportunities in the return game.
The combination of inconsistent punting and shaky coverage can quickly become a problem because of the hidden yardage involved.
Tampa Bay’s defense spent portions of the first half defending shorter fields than Todd Bowles would like to see.
The Buccaneers eventually overcame it, but doing so becomes much harder when games start counting in September.
One Bright Spot: Chase McLaughlin
Not everything was negative.
Chase McLaughlin remains the least concerning part of Tampa Bay’s special teams.
McLaughlin connected on a 23-yard field goal in the second quarter to cut New York’s lead to 10-3 and converted his extra-point opportunities.
His consistency is important because Tampa Bay doesn’t need uncertainty at every position in the kicking game.
But field goals weren’t the issue Friday. Coverage, tackling, and overall execution were.
Danny Smith Has Work to Do
That’s what makes Friday night’s performance worth watching going forward.
Smith wasn’t hired to maintain the status quo.
The 72-year-old has spent decades coaching special teams in the NFL and brings a reputation for intensity and attention to detail.
The Buccaneers are counting on him to set a new standard.
Friday showed that process isn’t finished.
Some perspective is necessary.
The Buccaneers rested most of their starters, meaning many of the players covering punts and kicks Friday night won’t be doing so when the regular season begins.
Tampa Bay was evaluating players throughout the roster, and several core special-teamers weren’t on the field.
Still, many of the players fighting for the final roster spots will make the team specifically because of their ability to contribute on special teams.
That makes these preseason snaps important.
There is no reason to panic after one preseason game.
The Buccaneers won 24-16 despite the special-teams problems, and several young players, including Jalon Daniels, Ayden Garnes, Ted Hurst, Jack Pyburn, and Elijiah Roberts, gave the coaching staff plenty to feel good about.
But Tampa Bay can’t ignore what happened in the kicking game.
The Buccaneers know firsthand how quickly poor special teams can change field position, momentum, and eventually football games.
That’s why Smith was hired.
The good news is that the Buccaneers have the remainder of training camp and two more preseason games to fix the problems.
The bad news?
After one preseason game, special teams still looks like an area Tampa Bay needs to worry about.
For a team hoping to return to the postseason, that needs to change before September.
