Punting issue diagnosed.
When Bucs special teams began breaking down this year (some would argue they were broken when the season began), Bucs coach Todd Bowles seemed to single out punter Riley Dixon for a punt blocked against the Steers.
On the BSPN game broadcast, analyst Troy Aikman made a big deal of Dixon taking too much time in his approach to punting the ball, which allowed the Steers to block it.
Bowles was asked about it the following week and he commented that Dixon could be and probably should be less deliberate.
Well, yesterday Bowles seemed to defend Dixon after the Bucs had another punt blocked against the Eagles. It was returned for six and that score determined the game.
Yesterday, Bowles fingered the punt team’s blocking, when asked about the punters the Bucs worked out this week but did not sign.
> “It’s always good to take a look,” Bowles said. “I mean, Riley has been punting for us great – we’ve got to protect for him.
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> “He’s probably a tick \[slow\] getting the ball out, but we’ve got to protect for him. If you don’t protect for him, it’s hard to sign any punter.”
So it seems like the Bucs have found the culprits to the punting issue. Now the next step is, how do they resolve the problem?
If it means guys on the starting offensive line have to log an additional five or so plays and be on the punt team, that’s better than coughing up another touchdown after another Dixon punt is blocked.