In recent years the Tampa Bay kicking game has been a constant thorn in the Bucs side. So horrible in fact that the Bucs front office thought it necessary to use a high second round draft pick on Florida State Roberto Aguayo to solve the kicking inconsistencies. As we all know too well, the most accurate college kicker ever made the situation even worse. He was so bad in fact that that he only made 71% percent of his kicks and 36% of kicks 40 yards or more in his rookie year.
After Aguayo practically handed the job to his replacement, Nick Folk, this summer he apparently passed on his bad luck too. As through the first 4 games of this season Folk only made 54% of his kicks (even though he has made 80% over his career). After that the front office had seen enough of Folk. Insert Patrick Murray, and through five games in he has made 83% of his kicks and 67% on kicks of 40+ yards.
Murray to date has done what good kickers do, they are reliable when it counts most. When it’s 4th and short at the 35 yard line you know he has the confidence of Koetter when the game is on the line. Since he has taken over, you don’t get worried about the kicker making the chip shot field goal to win the game or worry about him making the extra point after a TD. That is something that has been missing for quite some time in Tampa Bay.
Thus far he h
as been an anchor for our kicking department, and it seems like that won’t be changing in the near future. We have seemed to have found our kicker, and Licht, now is the time to pay the man. Back up the Brinks truck if you have to, but make sure he stays in Tampa Bay.
