Here we go again: Bucs bringing in two new kickers - Tampa Bay Times

TAMPA — Get ready for another dizzying spin on the Bucs kicking carousel.

Having watched Matt Gay and Elliott Fry fail to split the uprights consistently during training camp, the curse is back with two new challengers: long-time Titans place-kicker Ryan Succop and veteran Cody Parkey.

Both are going through COVID-19 protocol and could be cleared to work out for the team this week.

“I’m looking for consistency on the gimmes,’' coach Bruce Arians said. “We can’t miss extra points. We can’t give away the easy points. Kicks inside the 30 yard line. should be automatic.

“When we drive the back down to the 10 and you miss a field goal there’s nothing that tears a team more apart on offense than, ‘Hey, we just took the ball down the field and we didn’t get any points.’ The gimmes. Who’s the most consistent.’’

What in the name of Roberto Aguayo is going on with kickers in Tampa Bay?

Well, Gay missed a game-winning field goal in overtime against the Giants last season, then righted the ship before finishing poorly. He missed five of his last eight field goal attempts to finish the season with a 77.1 percentage. Gay was 43-of-48 on PATs.

Fry hasn’t posed much of a challenge. He missed an extra point in Friday’s scrimmage. “Obviously, (Elliott) Fry didn’t have a very good day and (Matt) Gay was OK,’' Arians said following the scrimmage.

Succop, an 11-year veteran, was the Titans franchise leader in field goal percentage entering last season but his recovery from off-season knee surgery led to two stints on injured reserve.

Parkey has kicked for the Eagles, Browns, Dolphins, Bears and Titans.

Gay said he is not surprised that more kickers will be competing for his job.

“Competition, that’s just the baseline in the NFL,’' Gay said. “Everybody is fighting for a job. I mean, if you don’t perform somebody is right behind you ready to take your spot. And so, it’s no news to me that guys are in here competing for a spot and they’re going to bring competition in because competition is going to breed success. And you know, I think the potential of our team this year is super high and I think the kicking position is very important. So I think obviously, they’re going to look for, you know, who they can feel confident going into the season with and if I come in and do my thing and do my part, if I feel confident in myself and take care of what I’m doing, that will be me going into the season.’'

Gay said he spent the off-season simplifying his kicking approach to make his performance more consistent and repeatable.

On Sunday, Fry went 3-of-5 on field goal attempts while Gay connected on 4-of-5, missing only from 50-plus yards.

‘‘I’ve had some really good days, some days I would like back,’‘ Gay said. “I feel really confident. I spent the off-season fixing some stuff and getting used to it. But with COVID it was really tough to get a live snap and hold and some real (opportunities) and things like that. Just taking kind of the new kicking style or technique that I’m using, and just kind of getting used to it with a snap and hold, a line in front of you...I think I’m getting more comfortable with it every day.’'

What’s the new technique?

“I just shortened it up a little bit,’' Gay said. “Simplified some things. Less room for error. Some things that are more repeatable, consistent, that I can draw on every day rep after rep. Just getting more used to it. Getting more confident day after day.’'

The only question is how many more days Gay will have with the Bucs?

Two weeks before the season opener at New Orleans, that’s hard to say.

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Here we go again: Bucs bringing in two new kickers - Tampa Bay Times
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