The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have many problem areas, and it doesn’t seem like much has changed. Is Chandler Catanzaro as placekicker one of the problems?
Catanzaro was largely efficient prior to coming to the Bucs during his stints with the Arizona Cardinals and the New York Jets. In 2017 he made 25 out of 30 field goals for an 83 percent accuracy rating, and he had a perfect 29 for 29 in extra points.
Catanzaro has been less than automatic in extra points lately, including yesterday, where he hit two of three extra points but also made both his field goal attempts. While the Bucs would have still lost by a field goal, he’s currently at his lowest accuracy rating in extra points for his career, which are critical considering the close games the Bucs play. At 19 for 23, that goes to 83 percent, which is far below his average in the 90th percentile.
Catanzaro’s 83 percent accuracy rating in extra points is also the same percentage as his field goals percentage, having made 10 out of 12, which is closer to his percentage during his time with the Jets in 2017. While he did hit the game winner against the Browns last week in overtime, he still missed a field goal and an extra point, which would have necessitated the extra period.
Should Bucs fans be searching for another kicker? For now, he’s not costing the team games, but like the rest of the team, he’s also under-performing. Could the Bucs use the services of a Cairo Santos, who was released by the Los Angeles Rams following the return of their original placekicker Greg Zuerlein? Santos has been in the league as long as Catanzaro, but he’s more accurate with extra points.
For now, it’s premature to give up on Catanzaro since his misses haven’t cost the Bucs games yet. When he starts coughing up points in bunches like his predecessors, then the Bucs should consider other options like Santos.
