It’s been such a great camp with regard to the place-kicker position. A position that the team has been scrambling to find solutions for over the last several seasons is shaping up to not just be one of the most-watched, and entertaining competitions in camp, but looks like it could even be a position of strength.
Kicking news seems not as positive for the Cleveland Browns, who come to town Friday night to play the Buccaneers. The Brownies have also had kicking trouble over the last few seasons. They have two kickers battling in camp and both are having some struggles. Cleveland.com speculates that this is a continuing issue as the season approaches and even suggest that possibly the kicker for the season may not currently be on their roster, as seen in this video link.
Greg Joseph
Greg Joseph, the second-year kicker undrafted out of Florida Atlantic University, signed with the Miami Dolphins in 2018 and made all three kicks he attempted in the preseason. Joseph was signed by the Browns on September 17, 2018, after kicker Zane Gonzalez missed two field goals and two extra points in a Week 5 loss to division rival Baltimore.
Austin Seibert
Also on Cleveland’s roster is rookie Austin Seibert. Drafted in the fifth round by the Browns, the former Oklahoma Sooner set the record for most career points by a kicker in FBS history at 499. Seibert also competed on the 2018 season of American Ninja Warrior, making it all the way to Los Angeles. For all of his talent, Seibert has had some struggles so far this preseason.
Tampa to Cleveland?
With two kickers battling in Buccaneers training camp but seemingly on the other end of the debate. Both Cairo Santos and Matt Gay making the decision a little hard because both are looking so solid in the preseason. Would it seem like a stretch that head coach Bruce Arians would put in a good word with his friend Freddie Kitchens for one of the Bucs kickers who will be unemployed in two weeks? One wouldn’t think so. Would it be great to see both kickers who have worked so hard this camp, make it on NFL squads for the 2019 season? Yes, it would.
